Chapter 10: Transformation of the Holy City

"What is this thing?" The first batch of fifteen team members to undergo the transformation stood hesitantly in front of three strange giant cocoons of different colors. Yang Huawei voiced everyone's question.

"According to the information we have, this should be a body modification device," the old director explained, pointing to the first black cocoon. "The monsters in the parallel space are extremely powerful, so you must also have a superhuman physique. This device is for enhancing your physical strength. All the wires outside connect to the power source."

It turned out that the two-meter-tall oval object was hollow, designed for people to enter. The outside was wrapped with electric wires. But what about the other two? Everyone turned their gaze simultaneously to the second gray cocoon.

"This is a brainwave restructuring device. After your physical transformation, your memories will be sealed. When you enter this space, a different set of thoughts will be imprinted into your mind, turning you into a warrior of the Holy City. All your original memories will be gone, and you will become someone else," a scientist carefully answered.

"Reincarnation?" The bearded captain sharply pointed at the cocoon, and seeing the scientist's expression, the group felt a sense of heroic sacrifice. Even Yang Huawei couldn't help but glance at his mother, Fang Zilan, standing by the third device. Her face was as gray as the second cocoon.

No mother would feel comfortable seeing her son replaced with a stranger's mind. But she was a scientist, a soldier, a soldier's wife, and a soldier's mother, so she had no choice.

Seeing his mother's bleak expression, Yang Huawei sighed almost inaudibly and then pointed to the third colorful cocoon. "What is this one for?"

"Time-space transfer device," Fang Zilan explained after regaining her composure. "The calendar in the parallel space is five hundred years ahead of ours. That's why we need this to cross over. Our normal space on Earth is currently March 2009, but in the Holy City, it's March 2509. You will be sent back to the year 2010 of the Holy City. It's not possible to trace history within the parallel space, but crossing over to a parallel space with less than a ten-month gap is relatively simple. This scientific instrument will send you to the parallel interface of 2010."

Understanding all the doubts, the team members fell silent. Yang Huawei rubbed the small bump on his head and sighed, finally understanding Xiao Ruyun's painstaking efforts. She didn't want him to become a reincarnated being in another space, even if it was similar to their current Earth. So she preserved his memory, clearly not trusting the Holy City's claim of preserving memories.

"Although this space is enough for five people, let me experiment first," Yang Huawei sighed and entered the first cocoon. Unexpectedly, the bearded captain and two comrades, including one with a scar on his head, squeezed in with him.

"It's inevitable. Sooner or later, we have to go through this. Besides, I'm the captain. Let's do it together," the bearded man made a face and stood in the human-shaped slot, prompting Yang Huawei to join him and the other three.

Twenty-four hours later, the five people in the cocoons simultaneously opened their eyes. The others stared at Yang Huawei in amazement, who looked puzzled at the four of them.

They didn't seem to have changed much, maybe taller, stronger, and darker. But why were they so shocked? As the cocoon door opened, Yang Huawei naturally walked out and realized he might be taller now, over 185 cm from his original 180 cm.

Stretching his arms and legs, Yang Huawei finally noticed his physique was no longer scholarly. His arms were muscular, full of explosive strength, and his previously fair skin had turned bronze. Before he could finish admiring, the scientists around him gasped.

"Mom?!" Yang Huawei called out to Fang Zilan, who was also stunned.

"Have I changed that much?" He looked at his comrades, who had also changed but not as drastically.

"Huawei?" Fang Zilan hesitantly took his hand and led him to a mirror-like glass wall. "See for yourself."

Looking at his reflection, Yang Huawei groaned. "Is this really me?"

His once handsome face now looked ordinary but filled with a sense of strength. The tough, rugged lines had nothing to do with his former elegance but gave him a more manly look. After a moment, Yang Huawei laughed and said, "Mom, don't you think I look better and more manly now?"

Hearing this, Fang Zilan finally relaxed. Her son had always been dissatisfied with his overly handsome appearance. She didn't expect the transformation to turn him into a tough guy. While her son was pleased, why did he change so much more than the others? This question puzzled not only her but also the scientists and his comrades.

"Don't look at me like that. You should know that my next step is the mind transformation. There's no time for research on why I'm different," Yang Huawei shivered at their fearful gazes and quickly played his trump card. Hearing this, everyone showed a disappointed expression, except for Fang Zilan, who smiled and patted his arm as he made a funny face at her.

Seeing his tough guy image making a silly face was comically incongruous. Fang Zilan finally couldn't hold back her laughter. Her son was still her son.

After a day's rest, feeling no issues, the team, now with enhanced physiques, entered the second mind transformation cocoon at dawn on the third day, with everyone anxiously waiting outside.

After another twenty-four hours, the cocoon's red light flickered, and the door finally opened. Led by Yang Huawei, the five walked out.

"Where is this place?" Seeing the people waiting outside, they all exclaimed in unison.

"This is the parallel space between Earth and the Holy City," Fang Zilan replied with a trembling voice.

"Yes, we will make a stop here and then be sent back five hundred years," Yang Huawei naturally answered, then smiled at Fang Zilan. "Thank you. When will you send us over?"

"Yang Huawei?!" Fang Zilan's tears flowed as she looked at his unfamiliar face and indifferent reply.

"Yang Huawei?" He frowned at the small, gentle woman. As a steel warrior of the Holy City, no one had ever called him by such a sickening name. But the woman's tears inexplicably pained him, giving him a sense of familiarity.

Seeing Fang Zilan's distress, the old director quickly pulled her aside and signaled the five to enter the time-space transfer device. Yang Huawei, somewhat dissatisfied, muttered, "This machine better not have any more glitches. If it goes wrong again, I'll tear down your lab."

The old director hesitated, wondering if their experiments were not as precise as claimed. But there was no turning back. Watching the five enter the transfer device, he decisively pressed the button. With a muffled sound behind him, he saw Fang Zilan had fainted.

"Get her to the medical room, quickly!" The old director's voice snapped the stunned scientists into action, and they hurriedly took Fang Zilan away.

When she awoke, everyone had already been sent off. Staring at the empty cocoon, her tears fell like broken pearls. Yang Huawei's question made her realize that this unknown journey might be more precarious than imagined. All they could do was hope for the best for their future.