Master of Time

Chapter 185: The Meaning of Immortality

That regeneration speed exceeds even mine, but it is at a terrible cost. A cost that I am quite unwilling to pay even though I can probably afford it. Definitely can afford it.

It is the plethora of side effects that are of a great concern.

For example, I wouldn't want all the cells within my body to be in a state of unending flux, threatening to break down any moment, especially when I lose focus or somehow render unconscious.

I am unsure why Mo Shu is not reduced to a pile of bloody mush at the moment due to his cells being in such an unstable state, but I suppose I will find out right after I turn him into a bloody mush myself.

It shouldn't take much effort at all, considering that my speed exceeds his greatly. In this kind of battle, speed is more important than anything, and I do not mean only movement speed.

While I am impressed at his regeneration speed, it is ultimately pointless, considering with my current biomechanical body, I can match that regeneration speed. Surpassing it even.

That is actually more than possible.

This is because unlike my real biological body, the regeneration speed for a biomechanical body is only limited by how much raw materials are available for me to consume.

And with my spatial compression technology, the lack of raw materials isn't really a problem.

One would think that energy is a limitation, but I am powered by a Stellar Reactor. In fact, a couple of Stellar Reactors. Each encapsulates a miniature sun within, so I basically have unlimited power at my fingertips.

I can also direct all of that solar power in the form of an energy beam just like when I blasted Zeus into the planet in an alternate reality. Those attacks are powered by supernova explosions, but the concept is the same.

And with my biomechanical body, I would never get exhausted in battle. Always relentless. I wouldn't need to eat or drink or even breathe.

I am basically a terminator.

Immortal too just like Mo Shu is.

Not invincible. Just immortal. Although, it is probably near impossible to kill me since this form doesn't really have any sort of weakness aside from the usual destruction from overwhelming power.

Then why didn't I just trade my biological body for this biomechanical one? It seems like a no brainer.

I didn't for the same reason to why Hydra had abandoned the Hybridization Project. The human body is actually capable of so much more, and any impurity or mutation within its genetic makeups appears to prevent it from reaching its fully potential.

Psionic potential, that is.

I want psychic powers. The powers to manipulate the world with just my mind.

It is simple as that.

And I do wonder whether the evolution of mankind is naturally occurring or not. From my intuition, I don't think that is the case, but I guess I will get the answers sooner or later.

In any case, human will eventually become more powerful than even the most powerful Hybrids. This includes Mo Shu.

"Wow. You can clone yourself too? Didn't expect to run into a fellow Shinobi all the way out here."

I comment sarcastically as I level my glowing katana to my eyes.

The laser edge of the weapon is very effective at slicing anything regardless of whatever it is, including me. This is because no materials can remain solid when coming into direct contact with the laser edge due to the intense heat.

Several millions of degree Celsius intense heat.

There is obviously a downside to the laser blade aside from getting close and personally. It doesn't cut through everything instantly since the heat transference for some materials are kind of slow.

As fantastical laser-based weapons are, it still governed by science after all. An upgrade would be using magic for enhancement, but it is unnecessary against someone like Mo Shu.

"I might have been one in the past. I just cannot remember right now. And please don't interrupt me when I am feeding."

One of the Mo Shu responses to my sarcastic question. It is the one that had regenerated from just a severed arm. Since that one could talk as if he was the original Mo Shu himself, it appears that Mo Shu does have genetic memory.

Great.

I don't think the original Mo Shu is even the original. This could be a problem.

Before I could reply, Mo Shu rushes at Xi Shi, attempting to attack and consume her again. The version that is closest to me immediately engages me, trying to slow me down.

I wonder why Mo Shu is so set on absorbing Xi Shi, but it could be because of her powers and abilities as a Chimera. It could also be because I am a biomechanical construct, thus he is unable to absorb my cells and steal my abilities.

As a parasitic Hybrid, Mo Shu can take the powers and abilities of others through a form of biological assimilation. It is something that I could do with the micromachines.

Xi Shi is quite fast when she is running for her life, but Mo Shu is a lot faster than her.

He is still super slow when compare to me, so the distraction only lasted a fraction of a second before I intercept the one that is trying to eat Xi Shi.

Mo Shu isn't too surprised at my speed, allowing me to dismember him. He is more surprised that my weapon is capable of slashing through his carapace like a hot knife through butter. He probably wasted quite a bit of biomass in their creation, only for them to be completely useless against me.

"It seems that I will have to defeat you first."

Mo Shu points out as he regenerates his arm within a second. His rapid generation speed does make him hard to kill, but not impossible. I just need to make sure I destroy every single cell within his body.

"You may find that is an impossible task for even you, Mo Shu."

I response before casting a glance at Xi Shi, who is sweating profusely. Her fear is understandable since coming into physical contact with Mo Shu will instantly result in her demise.

My eyes are telling her why she isn't escaping. There is no point of her being here only to be eaten.

Xi Shi is smart enough to understand, and when she runs off, Mo Shu didn't chase after her since I will not let him. He has finally decided to face me even though he probably won't get anything in defeating me.

I am not someone he can kill and absorb, and the reason why he had crushed Sun Xiao's head before consuming the corpse, it is probably to prevent himself from absorbing the memory, thus making him forgets more of himself.

The instant that Xi Shi vanishes from view, I take the initiative of engaging Mo Shu. Since my katana is deadly to him, he has no choice but to avoid my slashes. That is something harder to do than said, and after a handful of seconds, he collapses onto the ground without his arms and legs.

His limbs are scattered across the room since I was moving way too fast. Much faster than the speed of sound, which unfortunately has caused some quite deadly shockwaves and sonic booms.

"This is a problem."

Mo Shu speaks up after I decapitate his head, showing me that decapitation will not kill him. I wonder if that is due to his genetic memory or due to his godly regeneration speed.

"So, what do you mean by you know who I am?"

I question after picking up his head. He is actually regenerating his entire body from his head, causing me to pin him against the wall with some micromachines Kunai. They are like throwing daggers, but a lot more heavier.

The micromachines will slow his regeneration speed down, allowing me to ask him some questions. It isn't possible to download his memory from his mind due to his memory being locked within his own cells.

"There is only one group that has this kind of technology. You are from Hydra. Possibly a captain-class from your speed and power. It seems that even after all of this time, I am still unable to fight against one."

Mo Shu responses.

Captain-class is a rank within S.W.O.R.D. division. Since that division is combat orientated, their ranks are based purely on speed and strength. Techniques and abilities too, but thanks to memory mapping and body augmentation technology, those can be learned fairly easily.

"It seems I am mistaken. I thought that you were someone else, considering your power. Did you come into contact with that person?"

I question. If that is the case, it could be a huge problem.

"That person?"

Mo Shu utters as he tries to search his memory.

I allow him to do so while thinking about where Xi Shi has run off too. I will hunt her down later. There isn't really anywhere that Xi Shi can run to unless she can somehow fly herself out of the country.

But from her genetic makeups, I don't think she can spout wings.

If she uses a private jet, I will have some drones shoot her down. I wonder if those orbital cannons are operational yet. Probably not, so drones it is.

It didn't take long for Mo Shu to remember something. His expression changes instantly. His eyes look directly at me while his limbs are regenerating at an incredible speed.

Within another second, Mo Shu is no longer limbless.

But to be able to do that, Mo Shu must have burned up quite a lot of energy.

Where does he store all of that energy though? I will need to have a look into this.

"Mo Shu?"

I question when he keeps staring at me creepily, but I don't think I am talking to Mo Shu anymore.

It is not the side effect of having such an absurd regeneration speed. It is the side effect of consuming way too many people and taking in their memory. It might also due to his cells renewing themselves imperfectly, but cellular mutation is very rare.

"Mo Shu… is that my current name? It has been so long since I remember who I am, Hydra. I remember you. Very clearly. What did you use to call me? I think it was an ace.

An ace of something."

Mo Shu ponders questioningly, making me smile.

It seems that Mo Shu is who I assume that he is. He is the pinnacle of parasitic perfection. One of four biological perfections that Hydra had managed to create in their pursuit of human perfection.

"Ace of Diamond."

I remind him, causing his eyes to widen for a second before returning to glaring at me. His memories are coming back in full, and the hatred within his eyes is noted. It is expected, considering that Hydra had hunted him down to exterminate him.

Not only him, but all the other Aces as well.

Before the discovery of psionic potentials, Aces of the Hybridization Project are stated to be biological perfection. They are so perfect to the point that many members within Hydra Genetics had submitted requests and suggestions about putting them all on ice.

It is to prevent a possible catastrophe, as Aces themselves are an actual threat to the human race.

They cannot even consider as Hybrids anymore due to their blood being highly cannibalistic. Their cells actually cannibalize human cells to the point that humans are considered as mere sustenance.

That alone warrants their extermination as the Hybridization Project isn't about replacing the human race with another subjectively superior species. If that was the goal, I would have scraped the project before it had even started.

Like everything that Hydra had done thus far, the Hybridization Project is to ensure the survival as well as the prosperity of the human race.

That is the cause. It has always been the cause.

It is also the very same reason to why I cannot allow the Ace of Diamond to remain alive, but I think I am too late as the seed has been sown. It has been a few decades after all.

Plenty of time for him to infest countless people.

"I remember now. You are those bastards. I will kill you!"

Mo Shu roars. I am still going to call him that since Ace of Diamond doesn't really have a name. It was known as Ace of Diamond or a number. Either is a mouthful.

I cock my head to see that I am completely surrounded by Mo Shu.

They have regenerated from those severed limbs, including the limbs from the first clone.

I also note that all the dead goons are gone, consumed for their biomass to produce more Mo Shu. It is how Mo Shu able to able to make more of himself, which makes him incredible hard to kill, but not impossible.

To kill him, I would need to burn him to the last cell.

It is what Johnathan had done in the past, but I guess he misses a few cells.

"Alright. Let's see if you actually can."

I snort and take my stance. From the suffocating killing intent filling the room, Mo Shu seems to be a lot more stronger than before.

The closest Mo Shu attacks, but I turn him into bloody cubes. It is much easier to slice through fleshes and bones than before, meaning that he no longer wasting precious energy and biomass to manifest carapace. Instead, he puts all of that energy and biomass into rapid regeneration.

That is smart.

Before another Mo Shu even have time to attack me, the bloody cubes become a more Mo Shu. From that alone, there seems to be no limit to the speed of his regeneration. He has become a lot stronger over the years.

Unfortunately, his speed is not on par with me.

"Honestly, I should call you Black Sperm from now on. That is basically your power."

I point out after I dice a couple more, making the situation worst.

Mo Shu didn't understand my reference since One Punch Man doesn't exist yet, and instead of trying to understand, he continues his attack, swarming over me with sheer numbers.

As if that is going to work.

While I could ignite my katana and start torching him, burning him into ash instead of dicing him up, I decide to stop playing around. There are no witnesses left anyway.

The last Mo Shu is shocked to see everyone else in the room turning into dust in an instant.

"It seems that you are not immortal after all."

I comment. The only question remains is whether this is the last instance of the Ace of Diamond, but it is likely isn't, considering that Johnathan had failed to eradicate every single cells, thus allowing him to be reborn once more.

That is another form of immortality.

How fucking annoying.