Vol. 3 Chapter 20: Pheromones

Chapter 20: Pheromones

The serpent giant towered over the ice coffin monster, with its scaled claws poised to strike. The ice coffin creature, a bizarre monster formed by activated floating algae and numerous floaters inhabiting the morgue's ice coffins, remained unresponsive to the serpent giant's approach. Only when the serpent giant slashed its trunk deeply did the ice coffin monster react.

This creature, made up of countless floating organisms, unscientifically inherited the cold-releasing trait of the ice coffins, resulting in a mobile meat tree-like form. Such creatures had significant flaws compared to normal organisms, particularly in their consciousness. Their consciousness, formed by countless floating organisms, was still in a dazed state due to the short time since their formation. Even their movements were merely reflex actions.

As a new species, they lacked the concept of danger. Hence, the ice coffin monster didn't react to the serpent giant's approach until a single slash killed numerous floaters, transmitting the death sensation to the surviving floaters. For the first time, the ice coffin tree monster felt pain.

Lacking sensory organs like vision and smell, the most flexible parts of the ice coffin monster—its tentacle-like roots—flailed aimlessly, while the coffin-shaped canopy released copious amounts of cold air in a futile attempt to defend itself.

When the serpent giant severed its tentacle roots again, the combined consciousness of the floaters began to awaken rapidly, extracting information from the ice coffin. Glass-like structures appeared on the trunk, reflecting light.

However, these efforts were in vain. The serpent giant grasped the ice coffin, ignoring the cold air, and grabbed the trunk with the other hand. The roots flailed weakly against the serpent's grip, unable to harm the giant.

The serpent giant's grasp drained the life from the creature, tearing the coffin apart. Without its coffin, the creature lost its anchor, swayed, and fell dormant, lifeless in the serpent giant's hands.

The floaters attached to the coffin squirmed, trying to grow new limbs. However, lacking sufficient energy, they couldn't produce new floaters, and the creature withered in the serpent giant's grasp.

Lu Li closely observed the ice coffin, unable to discern the mechanism behind its cold air emission. The ice coffin should have required electricity to function, yet this creature continued emitting cold air despite the apparent lack of power.

"It seems there's much we don't understand here," Lu Li thought, adhering to the principle that existence implies reason. If such phenomena occur, there must be factors beyond current comprehension.

After slaying the ice coffin monster, the serpent giant's form dissipated, revealing the nurse, now extremely fatigued, barely able to stay awake.

"Does your transformation always consume so much energy?" Lu Li's question roused the nurse, who responded with effort, "Master, the energy consumption isn't that high, but in this environment, transforming makes me feel increasingly drowsy."

"You inherited the beast's traits as well?" Lu Li nodded. Snakes, being ectothermic or cold-blooded, enter a dormant state in low temperatures to conserve energy.

On the other side, Min Zidong's battle with the beast types was nearing its end. These beast types behaved like actual beasts, lacking any special abilities. Min Zidong, belonging to the mutation category, had modified his sweat glands, transforming some into complex pheromone organs.

While humans may not rely heavily on their sense of smell compared to vision, it still significantly influences behavior. Pheromones, or ectohormones, can transmit information through smell, prompting certain behaviors, emotions, psychological, or physiological changes in the recipient.

When detected, pheromones stimulate the brain's emotional cortex and neural excitement centers, sending signals to the central nervous system. These signals vary depending on the pheromone, contributing to personal charm, among other effects.

Min Zidong could release specific pheromones, such as one that made others feel happy, secure, and trusting. This pheromone, combined with his good looks and eloquence, formed his strong charm.

Pheromones also serve other purposes beyond enhancing charm, such as marking. Min Zidong had marked Lu Li with a pheromone, allowing him to track him through the cold air by sensing minute traces of the mark with his modified glands.

Additionally, while ectohormones evaporate externally, hormones, or endohormones, circulate internally through the bloodstream, influencing various bodily functions. Adrenaline, for instance, speeds up breathing, heart rate, and blood flow, dilates pupils, and enhances energy and reaction speed, often termed "going berserk" or "unlocking genetic potential."

Min Zidong enhanced his body with internal hormones and influenced other organisms with external pheromones. After a period of collection and adjustment, he released pheromones to calm the beast types, conveying friendliness. Some beasts fled, while three succumbed to Min Zidong's influence, demonstrating his beast-mastering prowess.

Having studied various organisms' pheromones, Min Zidong understood that different species responded uniquely. Despite the beast types resembling animals, they had significant differences, preventing immediate control through pheromones. Nonetheless, he managed to tame a brown bear, a tiger, and a wild boar.

Approaching Lu Li confidently with his tamed beasts, Min Zidong said proudly, "How about it? Most irrational creatures can be tamed given time. Even so-called intelligent humans will obey me under bodily influence."

"Of course, you're an exception, brother. How about it? Let's cooperate again!" Min Zidong extended another invitation to Lu Li.