Chapter 5 - Chapter 4: The Rebirth of a Genius

The shadow of death looming over him became the most powerful catalyst that awakened the sleeping genius deep within Edward. Instead of surrendering to the illness that was eating away at his life, a blazing determination took over his entire being. He lay on the cold ground, gasping for breath, yet his eyes shone with a fierce light that had never been seen before. "I won't let it end like this… I absolutely won't," Edward whispered through gritted teeth, his voice weak but filled with unshakable resolve. "I'm going to survive. I'm going to stand tall again and show all of them that I am not a failure, nor a toy to be played with and discarded." This was no longer the timid and helpless Edward of the past. He was undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the dual forces of survival instinct and burning ambition. His first step was to arm himself with knowledge. Even though he had no formal medical training or professional background, he started devouring all kinds of books and documents related to rare diseases, biotechnology, and advanced engineering like a starving person grabbing food. Every morning, as soon as the library doors opened, Edward would be the first to rush in, and he would stay until the staff urged him to leave. "Young man, you come here every day and read such thick professional books. Do you understand all of them?" asked Mrs. Lopez, the kind-hearted senior librarian who had noticed this thin, pale young man lingering in the corner for a long time. Edward looked up from the heavy medical journal, a faint but confident smile appearing on his face. "I'm doing my best to understand them, Ma'am. Every bit of information might be the key to saving a life." Mrs. Lopez looked at the books piled up in front of him, which covered multiple complex fields, and couldn't help but nod with admiration. "You really are different from the others. Here, take this." She handed him a bottle of mineral water and a pack of biscuits. "You look like you haven't eaten properly for days. Don't wear yourself out." "Thank you, Mrs. Lopez. I really appreciate it," Edward said sincerely, holding the things tightly in his hands. When the library resources were no longer enough to satisfy his needs, he began searching for discarded electronic devices and spare parts in garbage dumps and second-hand markets. He carefully disassembled them, analyzed their structures, and finally managed to piece together a crude but usable device that allowed him to access online information in secret. His sharp mind, which had been filled with business theories and dreams of building an empire, was now fully focused on exploring the mysteries of the human body and the boundaries of modern technology. The narrow space under the bridge became his secret laboratory. Wires were tangled everywhere, and various metal parts and glass bottles were neatly arranged on the wooden boards he found. He even dared to collect some usable medical materials from the hospital waste bins, transforming what others considered trash into vital components of his project. "You're crazy! You're actually messing with these dangerous things!" said Rico, a homeless boy who sometimes shared food with Edward. He looked at the weird machine Edward was building with a shocked and confused expression. "What on earth are you doing? You might get yourself killed!" Edward, who was recording the experimental data, didn't stop what he was doing. "I'm saving my own life, Rico. No one can help me except myself. Trust me, this is the only way." "But…it looks so complicated. Can you really make it work?" Rico asked worriedly. "I have to make it work," Edward replied firmly. "I don't have a choice." He experimented on himself repeatedly, carefully recording every reaction of his body to different drugs and materials. Every fever, every wave of nausea, and every moment of dizziness was an important piece of data for him. Through research and analysis, he gradually understood that his disease was destroying his body's ability to regenerate cells, which would eventually lead to multiple organ failures. To solve this problem, he had to create a device that could stimulate cell repair and regeneration beyond the limits of current medical technology—a bio-regenerative system. Time passed day by day, and Edward was fighting against the illness and the harsh living environment at the same time. He often worked until he fainted from exhaustion, but as soon as he woke up, he would immediately throw himself back into his work. His face became thinner and thinner, but his eyes were getting brighter and brighter. Finally, after months of hard work, the first prototype was completed. It was made of various scrap materials, looked rough and clumsy, but it emitted a steady and powerful energy. Edward connected the pipes and wires to his body with trembling hands. "Please…please work," he murmured nervously. A strange tingling sensation spread all over his body, followed by a warm stream of energy flowing into every cell. Slowly but surely, the pain in his body began to ease, and his fever gradually subsided. As the treatment continued, amazing changes took place in his body. Not only was the disease cured completely, but his physical condition was also optimized. His skin regained its radiance, his muscles became stronger, and his whole person showed a completely new look. The once weak and embarrassed boy had been transformed into a handsome and confident young man. More importantly, his mind became clearer than ever. The pain and shadows of the past seemed to be purified by this magical treatment. The fear and cowardice disappeared, replaced by wisdom, calmness, and an overwhelming momentum. He was no longer Edward Garcia who could be bullied and abandoned at will. He was a brand-new existence created through pain and wisdom. Looking at the machine that saved his life and changed his destiny, a sharp light flashed in his eyes. He knew that this machine was not only a miracle in medicine but also the beginning of his counterattack against the whole world.