Chapter 188: Drawbacks
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Tao Tao finally calmed down.
However, this only meant that he stopped causing trouble in the cafeteria; instead, he ran wildly all over the base, biting here and tearing there.
She was covered in a thick layer of black ash, which kicked up dust as she ran.
Anno couldn't stop her no matter how much he called her; she ran to the fighter jet parking area and almost crashed into a fighter jet that was about to take off.
In the end, Cyrus used his powers to immobilize her, took her to a flat area outside, connected a large hose to a fire pump, and gave her a good shower.
Her current size is too large, probably due to the degenerative genes of the Fallen Race affecting her physical form. She is more than twice the size of her previous beast form. One water pipe is not enough to wash her, so Caesar and Mingxiao each took a water pipe to rinse her.
The water flowing down her body was black, and it took a long time to wash it clear.
Anuo stood to the side, watching Tao Tao Le frozen in place, unable to move, with only her eyes rolling around and her tongue sticking out, looking incredibly silly.
Anaya stood beside her, looking at Tao Tao and sighing, "I never expected to see this silly dog here."
Back when they were in the West District, there were many of these mutated large dogs in the base, but the mutation only affected their size. The mountain-sized huskies would run around the base and destroy things every day.
If it weren't for the fact that they needed these dogs to scavenge for supplies outside, they would have stewed them long ago.
We rinsed Tao Tao Le several times. A dozen or so professional staff members used specialized tools to clean and groom her fur, tidied her tangled fur, dried it, and then applied insect repellent.
It took almost half a day to clean her up.
After finishing, Tao Tao Le fell asleep.
Her enormous body lay sprawled on the main road, drooling as she slept.
Anno looked at her for a while, then asked Caesar, who was standing beside him, "Where did you find her?"
Caesar replied, “Your Highness, on a very remote asteroid, in a nebula to the west of the frontal view of the Northern Star System, there is an asteroid belt with many such abandoned and harsh asteroids.”
Anno pondered for a moment and asked, "Any news about the others?"
"His Highness is not yet here, but we have expanded the search area."
Anuo walked up to Taotao, squatted down, and reached out to pat her head.
She pondered for a long time before turning on her personal terminal and dialing Anaiya's number.
The communication was quickly established, and a half-body projection of Anaya appeared on the personal terminal. "Nono, what's up?"
Anno asked, "Sister Nai, do you have a way to enhance the genes of the Fallen Race?"
Anaya said, "The Fallen Species are very similar to the Calamities of our Tianyun. Both have genetic degeneration that affects their mind and mental state. However, the genes of the Fallen Species are different from those of Tianyun. I can't be sure, but it's highly unlikely that they can be improved."
After saying that, she added, "Are you still at Zone 1 landing and takeoff area? I'll come find you."
"Yes, it's still here."
Ten minutes later, Anaya appeared in front of Anno.
Anaya looked at the giant husky sleeping in front of her, walked up to it, and used her power.
She placed her palm on Tao Tao Le's body, and energy threads extended from her hand and entered Tao Tao Le's body.
After a while, Anaya withdrew the energy strands and shook her head at Anno.
"Actually, the genes of Beihe and Tianyun are not that different, but there is one thing: their genes are locked. If they have not yet become corrupted, we can still help them improve their energy. But once they become corrupted, their genes are locked, and the purification energy can no longer work on them. I think this should be related to the way their star system was born."
The people of the Northern River Star are born in petri dishes, and they specifically select superior genes for cultivation. In this process, they manipulate the genes, and countless eras have passed. To this day, their genes are indeed superior, and some are born with very high gene levels. Although there is a slow degeneration, with the help of the Fire Seed to stabilize them, their gene levels can be said to be rising steadily.
However, this kind of artificial improvement still has a significant drawback, namely gene mutation.
This mutation is unpredictable; even people with very high genetic levels can instantly become degenerate.
Unlike the Tianyun Star People who gradually degenerated into monstrous beasts, the Tianyun Star People did not undergo this mutation.
The way the Northern River people deal with this is by exiling people who have mutated or degenerated severely, in order to reduce the probability of mutation.
However, such an approach has very little effect.
The Zerg's transformation was not about purifying the corrupted race, but rather about shattering the lock and taking their genes along with it, making them their own race.
Therefore, after Anno integrated with the Northern River genes, she could help the Fallen Race improve their genes. She was no longer the "hammer" that broke the lock for the Zerg, but a key that opened the lock.
This is why some high-ranking officials in the Northern River Federation who are aware of the situation are holding onto her so tightly.
But now, the Northern River genes in Anno's body have long been devoured. Even if she helps the Fallen to purify and improve their genes, she will still mark them, which is not much different from Sevier and the others directly converting them.
The only difference is that the transformation of Sevier and Augsis will not change the original abilities of the Fallen Ones too much; it will only restore their consciousness and make them insectoids.
The abilities of the Anno Sparkling Clan can greatly enhance the abilities of the transformed Fallen Ones.
As a support class within the Zerg, the Fireflies routinely assist their members in enhancing their abilities. When corrupted individuals transform into Zerg, the Fireflies help them maximize their powers.
This is a new branch of their Zerg, fresh blood for their legions, and the best sword pointing towards the North River.
It seems that only by converting TaoTaoLe's mark can she be restored; otherwise, she'll just be a husky.
Anno also took Baroque, but Tao Tao didn't recognize him; she didn't recognize anyone anymore.
Baroque looked at Tao Tao Le with teary eyes. Tao Tao Le and Mao Mao were chasing after a transforming ball and having a great time.
She is now about the same size as Mao Mao, and her personality is similar as well.
Tao Tao Le wakes up and eats, then runs around the base.
Tanvel said, “Your Highness, she seems quite happy like this. If you don’t want to mark her, it’s fine to let her be a dog.”
Upon hearing Tanvel's words, Baroque immediately knelt down, hugging Anno's legs, and said in a tearful voice, "Seventh Prince, Your Highness, I don't want Fifth Sister to turn into a dog. I want Fifth Sister to turn back."
Seeing Baroque clinging to Anno's leg, Tanville and the others smiled at him, their consciousness carrying a sense of oppression that terrified Baroque within the consciousness network.
He immediately released Anuo and held back his tears.
Anno reached out and wiped away the tears from the corner of Baroque's eyes, then patted his head. "Okay, let Fifth Sister turn back, but we'll have to wait a few more days."
She wanted to wait and see if she could find her adoptive parents and Hicks.
At least let them make the decision. Baroque was unintentional, but Peach Joy had a choice.
If they were adults now, she would simply tag them and let them choose.
The moment the mark is applied, their human consciousness is briefly restored. This gives them a choice: to transform into the Zerg, regain their human form and human consciousness, or to continue as a corrupted species.
Tao Tao is still young, and she doesn't understand what it means to become a Zerg.
With the arrival of Tao Tao Le and Ma Mao, the base began to become lively.
Although these two are quite mischievous, the allied forces from other star systems like them very much, always taking them out to play and feeding them.
Anuo would check on Tao Tao Le from time to time to see if she was causing any trouble.
Although Tao Tao Le doesn't recognize her anymore, she still listens to her and becomes obedient when she sees her.
They were closest to her and were not afraid of the oppressive aura emanating from her queen insect.
Looking at Tao Tao Le, who only knows how to laugh foolishly every day, she also felt that she was happy and content just the way she was.
But she was born as a human, she wasn't born a member of her insectoid race, so she can't make decisions for her.
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