After a brief chat, Michael prepared to leave the farmhouse for his treat. But the guard hesitated, his expression serious. "Young Master, forgive me, but I think you should finish your work first. You've got only fifteen days of school break, and eight are already gone. Focus on your task before heading out." Michael paused, the guard's words striking a chord. The man was right. His mission to reconstruct his DNA was too critical to delay. With a nod, Michael turned back toward the basement, determined to complete the next phase of his experiment.
Michael had already prepared everything necessary to completely destroy his DNA and reconstruct it in a new way. He knew the task he was undertaking was incredibly difficult, but he took the risk because he had no other choice. Michael didn't want to live an average life and die like an ordinary person. Despite the substantial wealth his grandfather had amassed for him—$100 million, which seemed like a fortune but in reality could only buy a few luxuries in this world—Michael knew it wouldn't allow him to achieve anything extraordinary. He wasn't content with a normal life. Moreover, he possessed the knowledge of the Akashic Records, an ancient and profound source of universal wisdom. With such knowledge at his disposal, living an ordinary life would be akin to being a fool—no, worse than a fool, because even a fool with such information would achieve something. Michael was mentally sound, and on the day he connected with this universal knowledge, which contained the most advanced technology in the cosmos, he decided to take his life down an entirely different path.
At that moment, Michael had two insects and a pill in his possession. He immediately took out the red insect and placed it in a jar containing the DNA reconstruction pill. As soon as the insect entered the jar, it began consuming the pill. Watching this, a wide grin spread across Michael's face, stretching from ear to ear. He observed the insect devouring the pill and estimated it would take about two hours to finish it completely. Next, he took out the black insect and hesitated as he prepared to place it in his mouth. The thought of deliberately putting a living insect in his mouth made him recoil.
Michael hesitated, knowing that what he was about to do was unavoidable. Another problem loomed before him: if he succeeded in destroying his DNA but failed to reconstruct it, his life would end. The dream he chased was beautiful but fraught with danger. A single mistake could mean a death no doctor in the world could prevent. This fear made him hesitate even more about placing the black insect in his mouth. After all, it was a matter of his entire life, and no sane person would willingly write their own death sentence. Yet Michael also knew that if he succeeded in breaking down and reconstructing his DNA, he would gain powers seen only in comic book superheroes or supervillains. Michael had been fascinated by such powers since childhood, so despite his reluctance, he knew he had to go through with it. If he succeeded, not only could he become a superhero, but with his knowledge, he could make his grandfather even more powerful. Who wouldn't want their loved ones to live longer and stronger lives? So, Michael calmed his mind, looked at the black insect, and placed it in his mouth.
Before doing so, he set aside the lid of the jar containing the red insect, which was still consuming the DNA reconstruction pill. He wasn't worried about the red insect escaping, as he had already programmed its DNA with codes to prevent it from fleeing. Once the black insect was in his mouth, it immediately began its work. The insect released a liquid into Michael's body, and as soon as it made contact, it spread throughout his system. This liquid reached every part of his body—his blood, organs, and brain—and began breaking down every cell. Since the human body is entirely constructed from DNA, from blood to organs to muscles, the insect's liquid targeted the DNA itself, determining the strength or weakness of each part. As it did so, the insect died, having completed its task.
The liquid it released continued its work, systematically destroying every cell in Michael's body. As this process began, an unbearable pain surged through him, a pain so intense it was impossible to describe. It tortured him both mentally and physically, yet the liquid didn't stop. Michael's brain, in a desperate attempt to protect itself, released a chemical to counter the liquid. However, Michael had anticipated this and programmed the black insect's DNA with instructions to ensure his brain's defenses would fail. As expected, the brain's counterattack had no effect. The pain grew unbearable, and Michael began to feel dizzy, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness. He fought to stay awake, but his body was deteriorating. His hair vanished first, followed by his fingers, and then his hands began to degenerate. The pain was excruciating, and unable to endure it, Michael finally passed out.
Even in his unconscious state, his body continued to disintegrate. If an outsider had seen him at that moment, they would have witnessed a horrifying sight—one they could never forget. About 50% of Michael's body had disappeared, and he was in a nightmarish state. A child seeing him would have been traumatized for days, unable to sleep. By this point, nearly 80% of his DNA had been destroyed, and the process was accelerating. If Michael had been conscious, he would have felt that his hard work was finally paying off. But a critical question remained: if his entire body disintegrated, how would the DNA reconstruction pill work? It wasn't as if the pill could rebuild his body from ashes. Michael knew this, which is why he had already devised a solution and taken the risk with confidence.
Michael had known from the start that this process would take at least half a month, so he had taken a long leave from school and kept his plans a secret from his grandfather. If his grandfather had known about this dangerous endeavor, he would have stopped him. As Michael's body reached the final stages of degeneration, the red insect, having fully consumed the DNA reconstruction pill, spread its wings and flew toward him at full speed. Only his head remained intact. The insect entered his mouth and released the substance it had consumed, which now carried the instructions to rebuild his body.
At that moment, Michael Anderson ceased to exist in this world. His physical presence had been entirely erased from the universe. However, complete annihilation was nearly impossible, as all information about a person's life—from birth to death—was stored in the Akashic Records, a fragment of which existed within Michael. Anticipating this, he had encoded his memories, personality, and essential information—including details about his grandfather—into the red insect's DNA. He knew that before his body was fully destroyed, the red insect would enter him and complete the process.
Suddenly, pluripotent stem cells appeared out of thin air, capable of transforming into any organ. Michael's body began to reconstruct itself, much like an embryo forming in a mother's womb. Guided by golden blueprints of light, his organs took shape. The process, which typically takes three months, was completed in mere days. His new heart began to beat. Billions of neural connections sparked in his brain like a lightning storm. The new DNA was billions of times superior to his old one, making every part of his body—bones, organs, muscles—thousands of times better. His body was not only flexible but also incredibly strong and agile. Michael felt as though he had broken the limits of human potential, though he would need to test this to confirm.
His new body was complete, and he was breathtakingly handsome—far surpassing even the most attractive Hollywood actors. His skin was flawless and smooth, capable of outshining any model's complexion. Standing naked, Michael smiled at his transformed body. He quickly tried to put on the clothes he had brought, only to find they no longer fit. His height had increased, and his physique was now more muscular. Realizing this, he measured himself, ordered new clothes online, and once they arrived, dressed and stepped out of the basement.
Michael was incredibly happy at that moment because he had achieved something that no one else in the world had ever achieved before. Now, he simply wanted to check how powerful he had become and what kind of advantages his DNA had given him. He knew very well how terrible the suffering he endured was. When he recalled the pain he experienced as his DNA was breaking down, it sent shivers down his spine. He could only pray to himself that the pain he had suffered had not been in vain.
Had Michael truly broken human limits and reached Level Zero, or was he still within the Mortal Realm? To find out, stay tuned for the next chapter of Cosmic Devourers!