"How can I help you? What do I get in return?" Richard continued to inquire.

  The mass coalesced again into a human head, its expression one of agony. "Over there, on that table, is 487. Use it on me, and I can finally die. Hurry, I’ve endured this pain for too long."

  The various creatures near the tank quickly cleared a path, and a table with four legs began to walk toward him.

  "487?! Sounds like a relic," Richard said, reaching out to grab it, but Charles seized control of his body.

  "Are you willing to risk your life for a relic?! We need to get out of here—this place isn't right!"

  "Hey, why are you running? This guy seems reasonable. What’s wrong with helping him?"

  "This is my time to decide!"

  "How about I lend you my body? You can pay me back with interest tomorrow."

  In the lab, a bizarre scene unfolded: a young man moved erratically, sometimes advancing and sometimes retreating, while the giant head in the tank continued to wail in despair.

  "Ah! Hurry up!" the head screamed, and the surrounding organs surged forward, blocking their escape. Despite most lacking eyes, Charles could clearly feel their anger.

  Realizing their path was blocked, the two stopped arguing and turned their attention to the chaotic table filled with crawling objects. Among them, Charles spotted a short staff that resembled a lightning bolt.

  "Is this 487? Is this relic powerful?" Richard asked, curiously examining the object.

  The staff’s head bent slightly, seemingly gazing at the human who held it.

  Charles scanned the table with his eyes, controlling another arm to pick up a quivering notebook.

  **Experiment Name:** Activation (Dawn Experiment Subproject 1/3)

  **Date:** July 12, 74

  **Objective:** To test the retention of rationality in product 041-1 under the activation radiation of project 074.

  **Materials:** Project 074, Project 041, D-Class Super Large Tank.

  **Method:** Cut a portion of 074 and command 041-1 to touch it with its forefin for ten minutes.

  **Results:** Due to a mistake by researcher Foss, he accidentally fell into the tank, and the experiment succeeded in a unique way. The unknown substance perfectly absorbed Foss's cognitive perception and emotions, but unfortunately, it also carried the activation radiation from project 074, necessitating further optimization of the experiment. Currently, this experimental product is designated as number 1002.

  **Summary:** The theory proposed by Dr. [REDACTED] is correct; we are one step closer to success.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Although this place is very strange, we will one day dominate this marvelous sea like our human predecessors did on the surface.

  I have a premonition that the various knowledge in this sea will elevate human development by an entire dimension. This will be the second technological explosion in human history.

  (The proposal to use humans as experimental materials has been submitted to the Washington Foundation headquarters by Dr. [REDACTED].)

  Reading the contents of the notebook made Charles's heart race with excitement; he suddenly realized much of the information he had previously lacked.

  First, the organization called the Foundation aimed to analyze everything here scientifically and use it to aid human civilization's development.

  Second, their headquarters is on the surface, proving they also came from above and often communicate with the surface. They know where the exits are, or perhaps this place is the entrance they dug out!

  "Will you help me or not?!" The booming roar shook the entire tank, and 1002 inside began to coalesce and dissolve.

  "Here it comes! I think I’ve figured out how to use this thing," Richard said, raising the staff.

  A bright arc of electricity shot from the staff’s head, striking the tank.

  But in sync with this action, Charles's body jerked as if electrocuted, his hair standing on end from the high-voltage shock.

  When Richard stopped, the new relic in his hand was smoking, and he felt an overwhelming pain throughout his body.

  "Wow, this relic has quite the side effect!" Richard remarked, ignoring the other personality’s complaints.

  Charles caught a whiff of a nauseating burnt flesh smell.

  Looking up, he saw the water in the tank boiling violently, the pale gray masses turning white and floating on the surface.

  "Is this... a task completed? Usually, others chase us, but for the first time, someone is asking us to kill it. So this little stick must be our reward!"

  As he surveyed the motionless creatures around, Charles slowly maneuvered his numb body toward the exit. "Let’s head back to Coral Island, gather a fleet, and clear this place out. Once we occupy the island, we can explore it slowly."

  But just as they had moved halfway, the white masses floating on the water turned gray again, coalescing into the massive head that appeared before Charles once more.

  The lab echoed with its wails. "Who are you? No matter who you are, please help me! Kill me! I’m in so much pain! I can’t take it anymore!"

  "I can sense its memories have been reset to before we arrived," Charles realized sharply.

  "What do we do? Shock it again? This thing can really take a beating; if it doesn’t die from the shock, I’ll be done for."

  "Let’s give it a shot. This time, once we’re done, we bolt for the exit." Charles raised the trembling staff again.

  Just as he was about to unleash the electric arc from 487, he suddenly heard a squeaking sound beneath him. Looking down, he saw Lily’s mouse convulsing on the ground.

  With a couple of pops, the mouse's eyes shot out from its head, followed closely by its other organs.

  In no time, only a mouse carcass remained on the floor.

  Watching the lifeless body rise like a zombie, Charles felt a chill run down his spine.

  "Is this the activation radiation mentioned in the experiment record? Being near it causes constant activation? Does that mean I…"

  As Charles pondered this, he suddenly felt a change in his vision; his right eye was bulging outward.

  A wave of cold dread washed over him—he was right!

  He forced his right eye shut and sprinted through the carcasses and activated organs toward the exit.

  "Where are you going?! Come back! Kill me!" the roar of 1002 echoed behind him.

  Charles dared not return; if he lingered even a second longer, all his organs might gain self-awareness.

  "Go get him back! My suffering must come to an end!"