The Holy Grail Federation's countermeasure was to gather almost all biochemical Origin Ability users, the best field doctors, and various authoritative elites in the medical field. Everyone gathered together to come up with a strategy and research the antidote together.
Xueyan's expression seemed to have become fearful.
"People of your generation definitely can't imagine the scene back then. After the fallen cities were recovered, all the facilities in the sky and on the ground were destroyed. The land became a swamp for the Devourer World. Although those monsters were chased away, the virus still spread in the air. Every day when you woke up, you would see human soldiers shooting at groups of monsters. However, those monsters themselves were humans who had mutated after being infected by the virus …"
Ding Meng was stunned. "Isn't that killing one's own people?"
Xueyan sighed and said, "But the military had no choice. If they didn't kill them, the virus would spread even faster and wider. More people would be infected and mutated. In the end, they would either die or be assimilated by the Devourer World. If this continued, the Federation would be destroyed sooner or later and completely become a land of monsters."
Ding Meng nodded. "Therefore, speeding up the research and development of the antidote was definitely the most important thing for the entire Holy Grail Federation at that time."
Xueyan sighed deeply. "It's a pity that the medical elites gathered together were divided into two completely different camps at that time."
"Oh?" Ding Meng was puzzled. "Why were there still differences at that time?"
Xueyan said, "Let's call one of the camps the 'Positive Camp' for now. The 'Positive Camp's' strategy was to take the traditional route. They collected samples, observed the changes, simulated the environment, analyzed the data, designed the formula, and conducted clinical trials. After obtaining certification, they would mass produce the product … It might sound a little strenuous to you, but let me put it simply. This process is just like how we Origin Ability users cultivate. We accumulate points one by one, followed by cultivation techniques, martial arts techniques, and leveling up … It's all done by the book, step by step."
Ding Meng frowned. "Is there a problem?"
Xueyan said, "In theory, this step is the most correct, but it faces a very serious problem. It will take a very long time to develop an antidote. During this time, billions of humans will die. The higher-ups and researchers have the time, but the infected patients don't have the time. Take Little Red Riding Hood as an example. If they can't be cured within a few hours, humans will have to give up on them. However, the Devouring World won't treat them as their own kind. Their final outcome will be tragic beyond your imagination …"
Ding Meng was also a little speechless. He continued to ask, "Then what is the opposing party's strategy?"
Xueyan said, "The opposing side's strategy is to take an unusual route. After collecting all kinds of samples and materials, they'll develop it as quickly as possible. The premise is that they'll conduct experiments on living people."
Ding Meng was shocked again. "This... this is too crazy, isn't it?
And as far as I know, the Holy Grail Federation's laws don't allow that, right?
It goes against the spirit of humanitarianism. "
Xueyan nodded. "Actually, as origin ability doctors, how can we not know these things?
However, the cruel environment back then was like this. Every second you hesitated, thousands of people would die. There were as many as 138 types of poison weapons in the Devourer World, and we only managed to decipher the principles of 26 types. It took us eight months to decipher these 26 types of antidotes. I don't dare to imagine if there will be any normal humans left in the Federation when all 138 types of antidotes are produced.
Perhaps only the army and researchers are left. Ordinary humans have long been turned into ashes. If we follow the opposing side's method to develop an antidote, what's the point?
Moreover, we can't do anything about a powerful high-end poison like Little Red Riding Hood … "
Ding Meng took a deep breath. He had experienced life and death, but he had never experienced such a large scale of survival and death. Just like on the day of the solar eclipse at Black Gold Base, he felt uncomfortable just thinking about how he had not seen with his own eyes tens of thousands of workers die in the mouths of monsters. If he had lived in Xueyan's era as a doctor, how would he feel when he saw billions of humans turn into monsters? In the end, they either turned into poisonous pus or died under the guns of their own people?
Just as Xueyan had said, no matter how you thought about it, it was impossible to imagine.
After a long time, Ding Meng spread his hands and said, "Alright, even if we want to test it on living people, we still need people, right?"
Xueyan revealed a serious expression. "Back then, when this news was leaked, a total of more than 86,000 Origin Ability users from the Holy Grail Federation volunteered to be used in the virus research within a month. Most of them were Origin Ability users, but there were also a small number of soldiers and War Venerables. There were even five War Generals and one War Monarch. They rushed over from all over the country overnight in order to develop an antidote as soon as possible. They were willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of all the citizens of the Holy Grail Federation …"
Ding Meng was deeply shocked. It was a long time before he was able to speak. "There were even War Generals and War Monarchs who went?
They were willing to go themselves? "
Xueyan said solemnly, "Under normal circumstances, no one would be willing to go. Who knows how much a price an Origin Ability user would have to pay to become a War Monarch? However, they were willing to test the poison. One of the reasons is that Origin Ability users are naturally resistant to poison. The higher a person's Origin Ability user level is, the stronger their resistance to poison will be. This kind of person's research value is extremely high."
"Then what about the other reason?" Ding Meng couldn't help but ask.
Xueyan's expression became solemn and pious. "I remember that War Monarch said something when he entered the poison gas research lab."
Ding Meng asked, "What did he say?"
Xueyan said word by word, "The mission of us Origin Ability users isn't to go into battle to kill the enemy, nor is it to pursue fame and fortune, nor is it to achieve great feats. Rather, it's to fight for those who can't fight."
At this moment, Ding Meng felt as if something was stuck in his throat, and the blood in his body seemed to be heating up. He couldn't say a single word because he knew that if he were in these people's shoes, he might not have the courage to do so.
However, at this moment, he thought of many people and things. Those "masters" of the T-shaped claw blade, those "big brothers" who bravely advanced, and Sleman and Gulaga, who were protecting the refugees on planet KV303. Weren't these people the same?
They had always been fighting for those who couldn't fight.
This was what Xiao Ai had explained to him before. When value and rationality prevailed, humans would give their all and even sacrifice themselves for a certain person, a certain matter, or a certain goal. Sometimes, this trait would cause irreversible disasters, but at other times, it would also create indescribable miracles.
After a long time, Ding Meng was finally able to speak. "It was only then that I found out that the Holy Grail Federation managed to develop an antidote in just two short years. It quickly drove the Devourer World out of the Zeratul Star Field completely. So, it was this group of people who were silently contributing."
Xueyan's tone became downcast again. "It's a pity that most of these Origin Ability users didn't survive."
Ding Meng asked, "Why?"
Xueyan said, "Because in the early stages of the research, we took a lot of detours. As a result, many Origin Ability users couldn't withstand the effects of the poison and died in the end."
Ding Meng said, "So, in the later stages, you guys came up with a solution and successfully developed an antidote?"
Xueyan shook her head and said, "Not in the later stages. Because there weren't enough volunteers, the government protested to the Federation's higher-ups many times. We were under a lot of pressure from the higher-ups, and the research was interrupted several times."
Ding Meng said, "Then how did you guys survive?"
Xueyan did not answer him directly this time. Instead, she slowly got up and walked to the tatami mat. She looked at the mural on the wall with an indescribable expression and did not speak for a long time.
Ding Meng finally understood. "Doctor Zhu is someone from the opposing camp?"
Xueyan replied calmly, "He's the one who proposed the Anyways Strategy. He's the overall person in charge of this project and serves as the chief research medical officer."
Ding Meng also stood up and silently looked at the righteous-looking man in the mural. He sighed. "If I were Doctor Zhu, I might have joined the opposing camp as well."
Xueyan turned around and silently looked at him. "I also know that Little Yan wouldn't bring an outsider to our place for no reason. Mr. Ding Meng, you and my husband are very similar in some ways."
Ding Meng sighed and said, "I can't be compared to Doctor Zhu. I'm not as capable as he is. I'm just curious about how the antidote was finally developed."
Xueyan took two steps forward and said in an unusually calm tone, "After the research was interrupted, this group of doctors decided to test the poison themselves in order to develop the antidote as soon as possible. They even persuaded their families and children to join the team of drug testers. In the end, they developed all 138 types of antidotes."
Ding Meng was so shocked that he was speechless. He did not think that these people were crazy. Instead, he felt that these people were really … He could not describe it, because he could not do it. It was also because he could not do it that he could feel the greatness of these people.
Ding Meng had always respected those who dared to sacrifice themselves. He silently walked forward and bowed slightly to the mural to show his respect.
"I didn't expect that the peace of the Holy Grail Federation for 70 years was obtained this way." Ding Meng could not help but sigh.
"Unfortunately, the peaceful and beautiful life did not come. The nightmare has just begun," Meng Yan answered him coldly.
"Oh?" Ding Meng was shocked again. "Why?"
Xueyan sighed and said, "Although the war has ended, things have not calmed down. Because the live human experiments were completely exposed by the media, it led to a large-scale protest by the people. They asked the Federation's higher-ups to severely punish those inhumane medical scholars who opposed the war."
"This …" Ding Meng was stunned. He really could not understand this. "If it weren't for the great sacrifice of these opposing doctors, these people who protested might have died long ago. They were the ones who saved them, so why are they still protesting?"
Meng Yan gritted her teeth and said, "It's not that these people are ignorant. Someone is instigating them because Uncle Zhu and the others contributed too much. Some people are jealous."
Ding Meng immediately reacted. "Those people who supported the war?"
Xueyan said, "There are many factors involved. The thoughts of the higher-ups are different from those of ordinary people."
Ding Meng nodded. He did not understand the complicated game of politics, but it was easy to understand if he looked at it from another perspective. It was like a group of people going out to hunt. Before the prey appeared, everyone would definitely be united. However, after the prey was caught, everyone's thoughts would change. They would think of ways to share more of the prey or even take it all for themselves.