The field hospital's nursery.

A nurse was attending to Xiao Li Du — just past his first month. He'd grown considerably more appealing since birth. Both parents were gone, but he'd become the ward's most visited patient, receiving regular calls from Zhao Weiliang, Zhu Li, and much of the senior leadership.

Today's visitor was different: a figure in full armor. Colonel Hu Ge, Edge of Evolution.

"Colonel Hu." The nurse came to attention immediately, visibly nervous.

The nervousness wasn't purely about rank. Shen Cong's pressure aura had real physical presence now — not just evolved beasts with low Activity Values responding to it, but ordinary humans as well, feeling it as a nameless tension in the air around him.

He gave both nurses a brief nod. "I'm here to see Xiao Li Du."

"Of course — please come in."

The other nurse moved to pour water. "Colonel Hu, some water—"

"Not thirsty." He never accepted food or drink from others. Everything he consumed was something he'd prepared himself.

He looked at the infant in the small bed.

Xiao Li Du looked back.

The Half-Activated Armor had been refined since its early form — evolved beast materials worked into the detail sections, improving ergonomics, the overall profile cleaned up. Shen Cong had aesthetic preferences, and they'd had time to develop.

"Gah gah gah."

The baby laughed at him. Not startled, not disturbed — genuinely amused. Whatever pressure aura the nurses were feeling registered not at all on Xiao Li Du.

The bolder nurse offered: "He likes you, Colonel Hu."

Shen Cong didn't respond to her. He examined Xiao Li Du's Activity cores — the four canines had grown more pronounced since the last observation, longer and larger. Activity Value had increased to 0.057H. The infant was physically larger than a normal one-month-old by a visible margin, and the eyes had a brightness that suggested cognitive development running ahead of schedule.

He removed his Jiao-hide glove and touched Xiao Li Du's face.

The baby immediately clamped his gums — and the four canines — down on his finger.

"Careful, Colonel Hu —…