Of course, although a "new project" was mentioned, developing the Blacklight Virus wasn't urgent for Luca.
At least, until a stable, ultimate version of the Blacklight Virus appeared, Luca had no desire to use that kind of enhancement on himself.
If it was just to enhance his subordinates, Luca had plenty of methods available right now.
Leaving aside the mechanical field he was more familiar with and the somewhat risky demonic enhancements...
The Stabilized Extremis Virus before him was also a pretty good option.
According to Sherry's introduction:
The Stabilized Extremis Virus could also regenerate severed limbs, and the speed and strength of the repair were no weaker than the original version.
As long as it wasn't a fatal injury like the loss of the brain, heart, or multiple internal organs, tissue loss of less than 30% could be fully repaired within a minute.
At the same time, although the physical enhancement was weakened, it still granted users decent combat abilities like high-temperature attacks and fire breathing.
However, even though Luca had asked Sherry to fetch him another dose of the Extremis Virus, after some hesitation, he chose not to inject it into himself.
After all, various mechanical arms were currently Luca's primary means of combat and survival.
In the Universal Capsules Luca carried, he had several mechanical arms that didn't require special materials, such as the electric hand [Overture] and the healing hand [Sweet Surrender].
Although Luca could technically build wearable gauntlets with similar functions if his arm fully regenerated, the corresponding conceptual powers would definitely not be retained.
Carrying the Extremis Virus was mostly for emergencies—to save himself or allies who couldn't accept the "treatment" of [Sweet Surrender].
Besides, Luca was actually hoping he might synthesize even stronger mechanical arms in the future. If he injected the Extremis Virus, he wouldn't be able to chop off his arm even if he wanted to later.
Forget it, forget it~ Mechanical arms are fine too. Once the Pink Dragon Fruit is synthesized, I won't be lacking in physical enhancements anyway.
While introducing the Extremis Virus, Sherry also explained the situation with APTX4869 and the "Shrinking Pill."
The "Shrinking Pill - Sherry Edition" had basically the same effect as the original Gray Wolf product, shrinking the user to one-tenth of their original size.
However, since there was no corresponding "Enlarging Pill," Luca only planned to have Sherry produce a small amount to prank people later.
Unlike the "Shrinking Pill," APTX4869 was a product Sherry had researched independently for years. Now, she had not only removed the lethal toxicity and stabilized the effects, but she had also developed the corresponding antidote.
"So, with this drug, I can rejuvenate myself indefinitely and change size whenever I want?"
Although using "rejuvenate" for a young man like Luca wasn't quite accurate, who wouldn't want infinite lifespan and youth?
However, seeing Luca's eager look, Sherry, hands in her pockets and expression still cool, spoke up again.
"APTX4869 essentially works by stimulating the body to inhibit sphingomyelinase, promoting telomerase production, extending chromosome telomeres, allowing cells to break the division limit, and reversing stem cell differentiation to restore a juvenile state. So..."
Sherry stopped her theoretical explanation helplessly when she saw Luca's eyes practically spinning in a daze. She cut straight to the point.
"In short, APTX4869 can only revert a person to a child state of about 7 years old. Without the antidote, the user will remain in that 7-year-old body. But if the antidote is taken, stopping the telomerase production, the user will return to their original age."
"Meaning, unless you want to stay in a 7-year-old body forever, immortality is impossible."
Hearing Sherry's blunt explanation, Luca paused for a moment but didn't care too much.
Immortality? He wasn't in a rush.
Besides, Luca believed his System would definitely have other paths.
Like the [Blacklight Virus] he just got?
"Alright. So, does this drug have any side effects?"
Seeing Luca didn't mind, Sherry didn't elaborate further and just followed his question. "Well, if you insist on side effects... maybe it hurts a bit when shrinking? Or, repeated shrinking and growing consumes a lot of energy, so you'd need to eat to replenish protein? Other than that, I can't think of anything else."
Hearing this, a smile immediately appeared on Luca's face.
"So basically no side effects then~"
Seeing Sherry nod in confirmation, Luca tossed the APTX4869 pill into the air and caught it in his mouth.
"I'll test the effects first~"
"Ah, don't!"
They spoke at the same time. But compared to Luca's eagerness, Sherry's usually calm face was now filled with a mix of speechlessness and panic.
"Huh?"
Seeing Sherry's expression, Luca froze for a beat.
The reason he dared to eat APTX4869 directly was that he trusted Sherry, who was endorsed by his System, would never lie to him.
If she said no side effects, there were none.
If she said there was an antidote, it wasn't false intel.
Is she worried I can't handle the pain?
Before Luca could say anything else, a wave of numbness washed over his body. Then came a feverish heat, accompanied by weakness and muscle soreness.
Although it was uncomfortable, it wasn't the bone-crushing, heart-wrenching pain Luca had imagined.
This is fine, right? It doesn't hurt that much?
Then, Luca felt everything around him rapidly growing taller.
Clang.
His right mechanical arm detached and fell to the floor due to the body changes.
His previously well-fitted clothes now hung loosely on him, with sleeves and pant legs dragging on the ground.
Raising his hand to look at the oversized sleeve, Luca found it amusing.
"Not bad, not bad. I'll use this to prank Tony later~"
After muttering to himself, he looked back at Sherry and asked curiously in a slightly strange, childish voice.
"It hurt a little, but it wasn't that serious, right? So, what were you worried about just now, Sherry?"
However, facing Luca's question, Sherry didn't speak. She just looked at him with a weird expression.
But Luca, caught up in the novelty, didn't pay much attention. instead, he started plotting how to prank Tony Stark.
"Feels pretty good. Prepare more APTX4869 for me later. Hehe, maybe one day I can form a Young Avengers team."
"Alright, Sherry, give me the antidote. These tiny arms and legs are really inconvenient."
Unexpectedly, hearing Luca's request, the weird expression on Sherry's face turned into a smile. She even quietly took a half-step back.
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