Chapter 263 Hope
March 13, 2030.
The biological warfare initially divided all bases into two factions: the White Shield Base and relevant departments. In the subsequent two-year war, it further fragmented into even more smaller factions.
The number of survivors in the country has decreased significantly again, but not as much as the population loss in the two years before the zombie outbreak.
In addition to soldiers who died in the war, there were also ordinary people who died together as the entire base fell due to the out-of-control half-infected program.
Lin Xi didn't actively inquire about these things, focusing instead on dedicating himself to scientific research.
It is now 2030, and there are 3 years left until 2033.
The 9th version of the vaccine is currently in the testing phase. The first five versions were all the result of Lin Xi's creation and improvement. After joining the headquarters research institute, more renowned senior researchers have joined the research and development, and the 9th version of the vaccine has a high probability of success.
Just as everyone was eagerly awaiting the vaccine test results, a muffled sound suddenly came from Lin Xi's laboratory.
Aside from the main laboratory where everyone works together on missions, only Lin Xi and Lu Wei are usually in this laboratory.
Because of the special nature of semi-infected individuals, others do not come frequently, and Lu Wei will not leave without permission.
At this moment, only Lu Wei could make a sound. Lin Xi suddenly turned her head and saw a white figure lying on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, its fingers digging into the ground.
"Lu Wei!" Lin Xi grabbed the medicine from the table and rushed over, skillfully rolling up her sleeves to prepare to inject the medication.
The hand she had raised suddenly swung out, but Lin Xi nimbly dodged it. She saw Lu Wei's red eyes and tightly clenched teeth, and his trembling hand showed that he was fighting a strong battle against the virus.
Even while busy with scientific research, they never stopped training. Through years of sparring, Lin Xi had become very familiar with Lu Wei's movements and quickly seized the opportunity to push the medicine in when the opponent was holding back.
Then Lin Xi could only stay away temporarily and wait for the medication to take effect.
The antitoxin has been updated several times, and the version that Lu Wei used had an extremely high concentration. The trembling stopped after a few minutes.
"The price of the shirt?" Lin Xi reached out to him, trying to pull him up.
Lu Wei did not rely on her strength, but instead propped himself up and replied in a low voice, "Nine pounds and fifteen pence."
“Let’s go check out Research Institute No. 3,” Lin Xi said.
Research Institute No. 3 downsized over the past year, retaining only a few academicians who had made special contributions to antitoxin research and development, while all other staff were transferred to help with the vaccine and inactivation projects.
The reason is simple: there is no hope for this project.
Just like Lin Xi back then at the Dawn Research Institute, the treatment plan for semi-infected individuals was gradually neglected and resources were reduced due to its lack of effectiveness.
There has not been a single case of a person being cured.
Despite several generations of updates to delay agents and antitoxins, they only postponed the time when half-infected individuals would completely turn into zombies. However, the raw materials for antitoxins and delay agents were precious and could not support the treatment of so many half-infected individuals. Ultimately, those half-infected individuals still turned into zombies.
Only Lin Xi insisted on using delay agents and antitoxins on Lu Wei. Since the zombie outbreak, they had made special contributions to humanity, and Lu Wei was also infected on duty, so he enjoyed the base's drug support and the research institute's treatment.
But Lin Xi could only watch as Lu Wei went from using one dose a day when he was first infected with the virus to using one dose every hour, and even so, he still experienced an out-of-control reaction.
Lin Xi noticed some obvious signs from the reddened eyes and abnormally pale skin.
She waited anxiously in front of the image. Academician Guo Xingyuan, who was in charge of the semi-infected person research project, frowned deeply. He glanced at Lu Wei and did not speak directly to him, but pointed to a few points on the image to Lin Xi.
Although Lin Xi was primarily responsible for vaccine research, she had spent a long time studying semi-infected individuals at the Watchtower Research Institute, and she understood Guo Xingyuan's meaning very well—
Even with increased drug dosage, the shadows in some areas became more pronounced, showing signs of encroaching on critical areas.
Based on past experience, once a lesion occurs here, it will quickly mutate.
Guo Xingyuan sighed: "We lock patients infected in this area in special beds to prevent mutations."
Lin Xi felt as if a huge boulder had sunk into her heart. She took a deep breath: "And then?"
What will the base do?
Guo Xingyuan remained silent; the answer was beyond question.
Lin Xi shook his head: "Increase the dosage of Alpha Antitoxin."
Guo Xingyuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He said, "Regarding Major General Lu's situation..."
Lin Xi interrupted him: "The access control for Laboratory No. 8 has been specially modified, so he won't run out without permission."
Guo Xingyuan said worriedly, "I'm worried about your safety. Apart from the scheduled image check-up, this is the first time you've come here with Young Master Lu on your own initiative. I think something special must have happened. Has he acted aggressively? If so, it would be better to leave him in our research institute and have him taken care of in a special ward."
Lin Xi watched Lu Wei silently get up, finding it hard to imagine what it would be like to handcuff him to the hospital bed and slowly wait for him to turn into a zombie.
She said in a muffled voice, "I can handle it."
Guo Xingyuan did not object to her and turned to attend to his business.
Lin Xi raised her face and said to Lu Wei with a calm expression, "Let's go back to the lab."
Lu Wei did not move his feet.
Aside from discussing studies and research, he rarely spoke during the past year, and Lin Xi gradually grew accustomed to his increasingly cold demeanor.
But there are other reasons for their current refusal to respond.
Lu Wei stared intently at Lin Xi, as if saying with his eyes, "I should listen to Academician Guo and stay here."
"Let's go." Lin Xi also pulled him forcefully.
They returned to the lab, where Lin Xi fiddled with things and took some protective measures for Lu Wei.
It was supposed to be for protection, but it was actually for her own safety.
Lin Xi finished connecting the last lock and knot, then patted her cold wrist: "All done."
A pair of bear-themed gloves were on his hands. The thick cotton padding could protect his hand from sudden slashes when he lost control, and also cushion the damage from his iron fists.
In stark contrast to the cute gloves, Lu Wei wore a bite guard, the cold metal covering the lower half of his face.
"It can only prevent me from suddenly mutating and launching a surprise attack, but it can't fundamentally solve the problem." Lu Wei's voice was slightly hoarse.
"I know."
"Then what."
Lin Xi didn't look up at her, but said with her head down, "I guess I'll just have to kill you. The virus you're infected with doesn't include eye hardening, which I can handle."
"……good."
-
Some things cannot be rushed. The vaccine project is not yet completed, and there is another important project, the antitoxin research project. These two are related to solving the zombie crisis and saving the world.
Then came the treatment program for semi-infected individuals, which saw almost no progress.
When will I be able to join the treatment program for semi-infected individuals? Will this program ultimately succeed, or is it simply that the relevant departments are unwilling to abandon their obsession with protecting the survivors?
Lin Xi didn't know.
She could only focus on doing her job well.
-
The 9th edition of the vaccine has passed all tests and, after successful trials on animals, will soon be put into human trials.
Who will test the vaccine and the virus?
If the vaccine is harmless, the first batch of experimental vaccines will be used by soldiers who frequently leave their bases for field operations, at which point we will know whether the vaccine is effective.
However, a ceasefire has now been entered, and the remaining bases are all recuperating, with few teams going out to fight in the field.
Who would be willing to risk experimenting with vaccines and viruses? After all, if it fails, they would become half-infected and eventually mutate into zombies.
-
"How much does the shirt cost?"
Nine pounds and fifteen pence.
Lin Xi pulled over a wheeled chair and initiated a conversation with Lu Wei: "I want to personally test vaccines and viruses."
Lu Wei paused, staring at the data on the tablet, then turned away and shook his head slightly, saying in a hoarse voice, "It's too risky."
Lin Xi: "It's not risky. All the previous tests have been successfully completed. Besides, someone has to do this. This is the vaccine project I'm involved in, and it's the most promising one. I'm willing to try."
Lu Wei looked at her silently for a long time before saying, "What if we fail?"
Lin Xi thought, then I'll become a half-infected person, then I'll mutate into a zombie.
The research institute will eventually destroy us all.
But she didn't say it aloud. Instead, she forced a smile and said, "You're so pessimistic about our results? What if we actually succeed?"
Sometimes people both anticipate a one in ten thousand chance of luck and fear that luck might disrupt their existing peace.
When Lin Xi used the vaccine and the virus on herself, she thought about many things, including Zhao Jing and Qu Shuran, and herself who had voluntarily contracted the virus a long time ago.
She did the same thing as Zhao Jing.
All the curtains in Laboratory No. 8 were opened, and only Lu Wei, wearing a bite shield, was guarding Lin Xi inside. Lin Xi herself sat quietly in a chair, her body connected to various testing instruments. Researchers would observe the results of the vaccine use from outside.
There were many figures in front of me.
Lin Xi didn't know how much time had passed.
-
"All indicators are stable. 168 hours have passed, and Dean Lin shows no signs of mutation. All tissue tests are negative, indicating no signs of viral infection. Phase 1 vaccine testing is a success!"
Someone opened the door to Laboratory No. 8 and removed the various instruments from Lin Xi's body.
Lin Xi looked at the people who rushed in, clapping and cheering, and her vision blurred.
Five years after the apocalypse, everyone had been waiting for this moment.
Lin Xi spotted Lu Wei in the bustling crowd; he was standing in a corner outside the crowd.
Lin Xi slowly walked to his side, unsure of what to say.
Lu Wei forced a smile onto his bloodless lips.
Then they looked at each other and asked in unison, "How much does the shirt cost?"
"Ha..." Lin Xi laughed in anger, but tears also came with her laughter.
Once the vaccine is successful in her, it will enter the next phase of clinical trials. If all goes well, the vaccine project will be successful soon.
Humans may be saved, but there is still no cure for those who are partially infected.
There may not be an apocalypse in 2033, but there will definitely be no more friends for Lin Xi.
-
Two months later, the vaccine went into mass production and was supplied to the military in batches.
Lin Xi had no way to interfere with what happened next. After finishing up the work at hand, Lin Xi immediately joined the detoxification research project team.
Back then, four out of the five laboratories at the Dawn Research Institute were conducting research on detoxification. However, the zombie virus was too powerful, and apart from high temperatures, there was no particularly effective way to detoxify it.
Lin Xi had always been engaged in vaccine research, and when she first came into contact with this project, she could only familiarize herself with previous research results and case analyses like a newcomer.
Perhaps it was the good news of the successful vaccine that boosted morale, and by the end of that year, the antiviral drug was initially established.
When they heard the news, Lin Xi and Lu Wei were simultaneously studying the research results on detoxification in Laboratory No. 8. Upon hearing the good news, Lin Xi instinctively jumped up and gave Lu Wei a high five.
My hand slapped against the bear-shaped glove and bounced off softly.
It looks like it's shaking.
Before Lin Xi could even feel happy about the news, she suddenly realized that it wasn't the gloves that felt so soft and bouncy, but rather Lu Wei trembling.
He was trembling again.
However, now the antitoxin and delay agent are directly attached to him and delivered to him at all times.
He was still trembling.
Lin Xi's gaze lingered for a moment—
She sees Lu Wei almost every day, so some changes aren't immediately obvious to her, but once she comes to her senses, she realizes that some of the mutations have spread to her appearance.
Lin Xi stroked the bear's paw: "Once the antitoxin is developed, we'll all join the semi-infected research group. Let's wait a little longer..."
There will be hope soon.
Lin Xi wasn't one to make empty promises, so she didn't say the second half of her sentence aloud.
Lu Wei understood, and he looked steadily at Lin Xi and nodded: "Okay."
But his actions included retracting the bear's claws.
-
After successfully developing the antitoxin, they urgently invested in weapons development, integrating the antitoxin into weapons to eliminate zombies by killing the virus on their bodies.
Lin Xi seemed to see a glimmer of hope for victory.
-
War has once again broken out in the wasteland.
This time, the initiative was in the hands of the relevant departments. The troops they dispatched eliminated zombies along the way, wiped out the bases that used zombies as biological weapons, and gradually subdued the various bases.
Lu Wei couldn't leave Laboratory No. 8, but Lin Xi would tell him the battle reports from outside.
She greeted Lu Wei every day: "How much is the shirt?"
Lu Wei answered patiently, his voice growing hoarse day by day, until later even when he could react quickly, he had to try hard to control his mouth to speak.
It's a bit of a pity that Major General Lu, who had trained hard for several lifetimes, was not qualified to participate in this war. Like the King of Soldiers who was swallowed by the desert, he had no chance to participate in this war.
-
October 14, 2032.
With the number of zombies within the territory reduced to zero, returning to the surface is just around the corner.
-
December 22, 2032.
In the imaging room, the person lying down could no longer control their trembling body and needed auxiliary tools to stabilize them so that they could see the images clearly.
Guo Xingyuan led Lin Xi outside the imaging room before shaking his head: "Dean Lin is familiar with the mutation process of semi-infected individuals, so I don't need to say more."
Lin Xi lowered her eyelids.
Guo Xingyuan: "The antiviral treatment is not applicable to semi-infected individuals. Their organs have been infected by the virus to varying degrees and have stopped functioning. Even if the virus is killed, the mutated organs will not recover."
Lin Xi whispered, "I know."
The infection process of the zombie virus is irreversible. Once the virus enters the bloodstream, turning someone into a zombie is only a matter of time, unless they have been vaccinated in advance and developed effective antibodies.
Guo Xingyuan sighed again: "Actually, none of the semi-infected individuals survived a year; they had already mutated and been destroyed. Only Major General Lu remained..."
Lin Xi insisted on using potent medication to keep him alive until his last breath.
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