Chapter 26 The New Humans
"First, I shape the oven using clay," Elbert began, his tone serious.
"Next, I light the lychee wood underneath. Then, I place the beef inside to roast. Enclosed in the oven, the beef not only retains its flavor but also takes on the fruity scent of the lychee wood. Rich beef, smoky undertones, and a fruity aroma—three distinct flavors fused into one."
Elbert stood with his arms crossed, looking up with pride. "This, my friends, is authentic fruitwood barbecue."
The two little twins could hardly contain themselves, practically drooling over the barbecue.
Lori swallowed hard, struggling to maintain her composure.
With a slight smile, Elbert elegantly twirled his knife, skillfully carving a large chunk of beef. He then raised the knife and deftly sliced the meat into thin, 0.4-inch strips.
"The seasoning? Simple and pure—just plain sea salt." He grabbed a handful of sea salt and elegantly sprinkled it across the plate, creating a cascade down his arm.
"Wow!" The Brown sisters' eyes widened in amazement. The beef on the plate was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and sizzling invitingly. The translucent sea salt crystals slowly melted into the fat, releasing an enticing aroma.
"I want to eat the beef!" Mary declared; her eyes locked on the plate as she approached.
"Hold on." Elbert halted her with a smile. "How much of my debt does this meal cover?"
"While, as for that..." Mary hesitated, her mind racing to the bank card hidden in the sunroom, suddenly at a loss for words.
"I want some, too," Lori chimed in, her wide eyes showing her eagerness.
"Alright, but let's set the rules first," Elbert said as he walked over to an ice block, knife in hand, and marked a corner.
"For the beef, you're limited to three pieces on the table. For the fish, just this corner. The rest is all mine!"
"That’s not fair! Why do you get so much? If we only have that tiny piece, we will get hungry." Mary protested.
"Well. I know you all ordered takeout just now, and you won't get hungry," he answered.
The sisters exchanged glances, Lori's cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Without waiting another second, Mary grabbed a slice of beef and popped it into her mouth. "Then I'm starting!"
Susan also joined in, eagerly devouring her share. Lori, maintaining her elegance, delicately used a knife and fork to enjoy her beef.
Three minutes later, all three sighed contentedly. It was truly a meal to die for them.
"Slow down. Save some for me!"
"This is the survival of the fittest! First come, first served!"
"Didn't you swear off eating meat at night? Why are you indulging so much now?"
"You're already on your 50th slice of fish and 6th slice of beef!"
Lori's pace quickened; bite after bite—the aloof goddess was no more.
She was utterly convinced. Elbert wasn't just boasting this time. His culinary skills were indeed top-notch. He shouldn't have been a driver; he was born to be a chef.
Watching the sisters devour the feast, Elbert couldn't help but smile knowingly. Now, it was his turn to eat.
In the past five hours, Elbert's body had reached the peak of human performance. Now, he needed to break through the genetic limit, surpass humans' natural physical limits, and overcome ordinary genetic constraints.
Robert's enhancement of Elbert's body depended on the energy he consumed.
With nearly 30 pounds of beef and over 20 fish—all rich in protein and energy—combined with water, they were the perfect materials for synthesizing muscle fibers. Fully charged, Elbert demonstrated what being a big eater really meant. He swallowed a pound of beef in just two bites. Hundreds of fish slices disappeared in a single gulp. Thanks to Robert's energy conversion technique, Elbert didn't have to worry about overeating.
‘Beef protein detected, 0.3 grams of muscle fiber synthesized, muscle strength increased by 1.6%...’
‘Beef protein detected, 0.5 grams of muscle fiber synthesized, muscle strength increased by 2.1%...’
‘Beef protein detected, 0.9 grams of muscle fiber synthesized, muscle strength increased by 4.6%...’
‘Strength enhancement achieved: 895%!’
‘Body strength enhancement: 630%!’
Robert's voice echoed.
Half an hour later, the sisters had eaten less than a tenth of their portion and were thoroughly satisfied. Elbert, however, finished all the food left and still felt unsatisfied.
"What's wrong with him?" Mary said, staring at Elbert in awe, burping uncontrollably. "How could he eat so much without bursting?"
"He's a true glutton!" Susan added.
Lori looked on, her expression a mix of awe and concern. "Maybe he's endured too much hardship before."
Elbert sat in meditation. Just ten minutes ago, his enhancement value had skyrocketed to 1000%. At that moment, he heard something akin to the sound of cracking glass—a long-imprisoned cage finally breaking open.
In the last half-hour, Elbert felt a surge of strength, his power reaching its peak. Now, everything had settled down. His immense strength was still there, but it had become more controllable. He could now manage it to be as gentle or as forceful as needed.
Robert spoke, "Elbert, you've broken through the genetic limit. This marks a fundamental transformation of life. You've moved from merely controlling your body to unleashing all its potential."
"This first stage of the genetic limit, which we call the second stage of the human mystery, makes you more than human now."
"You can now overpower 99.99% of humanity. You're in a league of your own."
"And the other 0.01%?" Elbert asked, puzzled.
"Those are the naturally gifted among us, akin to intellectual geniuses but in physical form."
"That sounds a threat to me."
"Rest easy. Their genes may be superior, but they are fixed. You, on the other hand, are just beginning."
As Elbert focused on the new sensations within his body, Lori suddenly spoke up. "After eating so much, we can't just sit around. Let's go exercise!"
"Oh my god. Boxing again?" Mary looked distressed.
"Yes, boxing! Until we've burned off all the calories from tonight!" Lori stood up, glanced at Elbert, and said, "Join us!"
Mary's eyes lit up. "Let Elbert be your sparring partner. We've forgotten the moves from last time. Maybe next time!"
Lori paused, then nodded. "Alright. Elbert looks like he could use some self-defense skills if he ever faced danger. He should practice."
"You're in for it. Ever since that incident, Lori has been practicing Taekwondo like a fiend. She's a red belt now!" Mary said.
She thought about Elbert getting tossed around by Lori and felt a hint of guilt. She grinned and said, "Don't blame me. I'm just as scared of her! She's made us practice for three years, insisting that we women need to know how to defend ourselves."
Elbert opened his eyes, his expression unreadable, and said slowly, "Are you sure you want to spar with me?"
"Absolutely," she replied.
"Then let's not waste any more time talking."
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