The Future of Humanity

In CoBIS1 Laboratory, which occupies the largest space in the building, everything has undergone a complete makeover. A team of security guards, dressed in uniform black outfits, stand armed and vigilant, patrolling the area. This is not to mention the sophisticated security measures installed both visibly and hidden throughout.

"Oh my God! Are you turning this place into a military base or a prison?" Gilbert Gordon exclaimed, his eyes widening at the sight of rows of cells made of special steel deep within the lab.

"Dr. Gordon, you are the one I have the highest hopes for. I am entrusting you with Solar Corona Company's most core and critical research project," Bruce said, hands behind his back, observing the newly transformed but still rudimentary lab.

"What exactly is this experiment?" Gilbert couldn't help but ask curiously, being the only lab head who hadn't received the new research plan. If Bruce didn't fulfill his initial promise to lead his team in cutting-edge genetic engineering research, he would leave Solar Corona Company without hesitation.

"Dr. Gordon, what is the future of humanity?" Instead of answering, Bruce leisurely walked forward, stopping in front of a steel cage housing a chimpanzee, who looked at him with curiosity and wariness.

"Are you talking about the future of human development?" Gilbert didn't understand and looked puzzled.

"Where do humans come from?"

"What is the essence of humanity?"

"Where is humanity headed?"

Bruce threw out these questions one after another, tapping his fingers against the thick bars of the cage, producing a clear sound. The chimpanzee inside, agitated, howled but dared not approach, pacing restlessly.

"This is the ultimate question that has always troubled humanity. Doctor, what's your take on this?" Bruce, watching the chimpanzee's actions as if they were the most interesting thing in the world, casually discussed the future of humanity.

Who am I? Where am I from? Where am I going?

These three questions, known as the ultimate philosophical questions of humanity, have also been the greatest mysteries perplexing scholars throughout human history. In the end, different disciplines offered completely diverse explanations – theology, Buddhism, chemistry, biology, physics...

And Bruce, posing this question to Gilbert Gordon, was obviously doing so from the perspective of biology.

In fact, there are different views in the scientific community regarding the future of humanity.

Some believe that humans can no longer evolve into several species, as they now occupy all conceivable ecological niches. With today's global integration, interactions within the human community are too frequent to allow for any form of long-term effective isolation that might lead to allopatric speciation.

Despite the presence of genetic variations in humans that could serve as suitable materials for selection, current conditions are different from those when Homo erectus evolved into Homo sapiens. Humanity now forms one large societal whole, with no signs of natural selection that could filter out superior genotypes, and thus, no chance of evolving into a more capable and superior species.

With selective pressures that improve the species no longer in effect, there's no opportunity for the evolution of a superior human species.

Another view, however, suggests that genetic engineering research on microbes, plants, and animals has made progress. By deleting harmful genes or adding beneficial ones, altering the original gene structure or the amount of gene expression, it's possible to improve the genetics of the subject to obtain desirable traits.

Therefore, conducting genetic engineering on humans, altering their own genes, and even reconstructing the human genome to improve the species, is also seen as a possibility!

Gilbert Gordon clearly supports the latter view. He didn't notice the distant and cold tone Bruce used when referring to humans. Instead, he became interested in the question and thoughtfully replied, "Humans are intelligent beings, and the rapid development of technology determines that we can certainly find ways to perfect ourselves through the reconstruction of our genome."

"Doctor, I have researched your work extensively. Your research is in human genetic engineering, right? – that is, 'improving' human genes," Bruce nodded, not surprised. Knowing Gilbert Gordon's relentless research direction, he could guess which viewpoint he supported.

"More precisely, it's about 'correcting' and 'improving' individual genes in human germ cells to achieve a complete reconstruction of the genome," Gilbert calmly clarified Bruce's statement when discussing his expertise and research direction.

Germ cells refer to the total name of cells in the human body that can reproduce offspring, as opposed to somatic cells, whose genetic information is not passed on to the next generation. This means that modifications to somatic cells are limited to the subject itself, while modifications to germ cells are corrections to the future of the entire species group.

"Sorry, what I said might not be very accurate. You're the authority here."

Bruce casually made an apologetic gesture and continued, "A great scientist once put forth this view – human genetic engineering, through external non-biological means of information transfer, could elevate humanity above the rest of the world and enable exponential population growth. We could enhance the complexity of our internal record, our DNA, without waiting for the slow steps of biological evolution, and completely redesign DNA to create improved, even superior, human species."

"That was said by Mr. Stephen William Hawking, unparalleled in greatness," Gilbert Gordon's face showed fervent excitement, like a believer hearing someone mention God. Stephen William Hawking is recognized as one of the most outstanding physicists after Newton and Einstein, known as the 'King of the Universe'.

"But, Mr. Hawking also said that even after hundreds or thousands of years of research, we have only a slim chance of improvement. So why are you still willing to work in this field, Doctor?" Bruce gazed at Gilbert Gordon, his eyes deep and inscrutable.

"Scientific progress requires the sacrifice and dedication of countless people! Besides, many cases of gene therapy have already succeeded. Since genetic manipulation in somatic cells can be achieved, I believe that human genetic engineering targeting germ cells will eventually be realized!" Gilbert Gordon became agitated, his face reddening and spittle flying, as if he felt his research was being underestimated like by others.

"I admire your willingness to sacrifice for humanity, for science, Gilbert," Bruce subtly changed how he addressed Gilbert Gordon, his lips curling slightly as if watching prey step into a trap. "What if there was a way to accelerate this process, shortening the research time from hundreds or thousands of years to just decades, years, or even less?"

"What?! How is that possible?" Gilbert was stunned. While he firmly believed in the bright future of human genetic engineering, he had no hopes for such rapid achievements, considering even minor breakthroughs to be significant.

"What if there's a species more perfect and evolved than humans? By incorporating their genes into human modification, your research could be more effective than your current blind efforts, right?" Bruce's smile was unarguable yet profound.

"Humans are the most advanced intelligent beings among all known life forms..." Gilbert Gordon was speaking passionately when suddenly, his voice stopped abruptly, as if his throat had been clamped.

Before him, Bruce, who had appeared handsome, began to transform. Countless deep red, blood-like scales burst through his skin from the top of his forehead, spreading down his face and covering every inch of his body within seconds. His muscles and skeleton grew wildly, making his skin undulate like waves, undergoing indescribable changes, and in the blink of an eye, he turned into a demonic figure over two meters tall.

This terrifying demon had six horns in three pairs, large, medium, and small, on its forehead. His eyes turned completely black, and his body was covered with armor that had a metallic texture. The scales were deep and vivid like blood, with intricate, mysterious patterns faintly visible, radiating an endless, destructive aura.

Gilbert Gordon felt as if everything around him had disappeared, leaving only Bruce in front of him. Though completely transformed, he exuded a divine pressure, filled with a strange, mysterious, yet seamless beauty, as if each scale and piece of armor was a perfect creation bestowed by the heavens.

The various experimental creatures in the cages, making strange noises until now, seemed to sense something and were terrified into silence.

Bruce, revealing his true form, slightly bowed his head. His black, nightmarish eyes now showed a pair of golden pupils that slowly rotated, focusing on Gilbert Gordon. Opening his mouth, he revealed rows of sharp teeth, his voice ethereal and grand:

"Gilbert Gordon, are you willing to submit to me, to contribute your strength for science, for humanity, for the evolution towards a more perfect species?"

The existence of such a perfect species! Gilbert felt his breathing and heartbeat completely controlled by the majestic being before him.

He tried to speak several times, but only managed futile, meaningless sounds in his throat. The overwhelming, mysterious aura dominated his mind, and finally, with a barely audible sigh, he lowered his forehead in submission...