Seeing Li Luo's confused expression, Station Chief Liang sighed and explained, "These are Theseus Cells. Some people also call them anti-cells."
'Theseus Cells?'
'Anti-cells?'
'What are those?'
Hearing the name, Li Luo picked up her data pad and started looking it up.
Mo Ling also hurriedly looked at the information on the screen.
...
Theseus Cells.
This was a life-form that people had only recently discovered.
Why were they only discovered after exploring for so long?
Because they were simply too well-hidden.
They had always existed, but no one had ever found them until a strange incident occurred at the Seventh Monitoring Station.
For a time, Researchers discovered that in a certain area on the first level of the Abyss, the biological samples brought back by Hunters all tested as the same species.
At first, the Researchers thought the Hunters were faking their findings and even presented evidence to that effect.
They thought the Hunters were trying to fool them.
But the Hunters wouldn't stand for it, arguing their case vehemently and presenting their own video recordings.
In the videos, the Hunters had indeed killed those creatures.
After some discussion, they suspected the samples had been swapped.
So, they checked the station's surveillance footage but found nothing unusual.
Next, they suspected it was a relic-related phenomenon, but a large-scale investigation revealed the area to be completely normal.
No one was found using a relic to cause trouble within the station either.
The investigation stalled.
So, the Seventh Monitoring Station dispatched a special team composed of Researchers and Hunters.
They ventured into the area together and hunted several creatures.
These biological samples were placed under strict quarantine, watched by the Researchers every step of the way as they were transported from that area to the institute's microscopes.
Yet even so, the organisms detected were still the same species.
This bizarre phenomenon brought the investigation to a halt.
Until one Researcher discovered that even for the same species, the cells of individuals from within this area were completely different from those of their counterparts outside the area.
With this breakthrough, the Researchers continued to study the area.
They finally figured out the cause of this strange phenomenon.
It was because of a type of cell.
It would mimic any life-form. From birth to death, any offspring produced during this process were also composed of these cells.
That was why all the creatures in that area were made of these cells.
Organisms composed of these cells showed no abnormalities. They ate and drank as they normally would, living ordinary lives.
They also didn't infect other, normal organisms.
It was just that individuals made of these cells would mix into the population and gradually spread.
When they reproduced with a normal individual, these cells would appear in the offspring's body.
Then, they would replace the normal cells within the individual, one cell at a time.
This would continue until the offspring was completely converted into an organism composed of them.
While the individual was alive, even the most sophisticated instruments couldn't distinguish these cells from normal ones.
Only after death would they revert to their original form.
Upon learning about these cells, the station went on high alert. The Researchers nearly wanted to take tissue samples from everyone in the entire station.
In the end, to prevent a panic, the station drew blood from everyone under the pretext of a mandatory physical exam.
Fortunately, no one at the station had been replaced by these cells.
Because of this strange characteristic, the Researchers named them Theseus Cells.
All of a creature's cells are replaced by another kind, yet these new cells can perform all the same functions without affecting the creature's self-awareness.
Is it still the same creature?
Theseus Cells cause no direct harm, which makes them incredibly stealthy. But this bizarre trait sent a chill down everyone's spine.
When an entire species has been replaced, can that species be considered extinct?
What if the members of a species discovered their entire race was composed of Theseus Cells, that the continuation of their kind served only to ensure the survival of these cells?
How desperate would they be?
Reading this, Mo Ling felt a chill run through his entire body.
He looked again at the slowly moving, perfectly normal-looking cells on the screen and suddenly understood why the Researchers had been so panicked.
Station Chief Liang walked to the screen, his back to Li Luo.
His voice trembled slightly:
"Theseus Cells. Some people also call them anti-cells."
"Just imagine, if one day, the world is filled with creatures made of Theseus Cells, and you, the only one with normal cells, are discovered by them."
"They will only capture you, study you, and then reach one conclusion."
"You are the anomaly!"
When the anti-cells become the majority, the normal cells become the anomaly.
At that point, what is normal? And what is not?
Li Luo was too shocked to speak, frozen in place.
Station Chief Liang comforted Li Luo, "Thankfully, these cells can only spread within a species."
He stared intently at the screen, his face etched with worry.
"Initially, some Researchers planned to use these cells to develop medicines."
"We extracted Theseus Cells from newborn offspring, before they had begun the replacement process."
"They can replace all sorts of organs, regenerate severed limbs, and even take the place of the brain."
"Do you know what that means?"
"Humanity could use those powerful relics without paying the price!"
"You must know about the 'Enchanted Pickaxe,' right? The relic that can dig up any mineral you can imagine from any location, at the cost of the user's hands."
"Theseus Cells could allow that relic to be used indefinitely!"
"But the use of these cells was strictly forbidden. No one dared risk the consequences of humanity being contaminated by Theseus Cells."
Station Chief Liang sighed.
"That area was sealed off. And now, Theseus Cells have actually appeared somewhere else."
It was only then that Mo Ling realized he had underestimated the gravity of the situation.
Outside the already sealed-off area, in the habitat of the Vibrating Beasts, Theseus Cells had appeared!
No wonder Station Chief Liang had confirmed things with Li Luo over and over again.
"I will send people to reinvestigate the Vibrating Beasts' habitat. You should go back for now." Station Chief Liang sighed wearily. "And thank you, Li Luo, for uncovering such a huge hidden danger."
"It was nothing."
After a simple farewell with Station Chief Liang, Li Luo returned to her room, but she still seemed unable to shake off what she had learned about the Theseus Cells.
Mo Ling, meanwhile, was filled with questions.
'The biological sample they brought back was collected right after they entered the valley.'
'I didn't see any difference in the Red Rope Worms inside the other Vibrating Beasts either.'
'I don't know how many of the Red Rope Worms were composed of Theseus Cells, but either way, all the Red Rope Worms have dissipated.'
'But why would Theseus Cells, which never alter a creature's habits, suddenly replace the Red Rope Worms and then, against all precedent, cause a massive infection?'