Fu Qinghai was unconscious, but Master Kunto’s work did not stop.
It was still the Age of the Warhammer 31K, the 31st millennium. The Imperial Truth, which opposed feudal superstition, was still the core mainstream value of the Imperium of Man. Except for those charlatans of the Word Bearers, even the Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus did not yet commonly stamp purity seals on machinery, nor was there a pre-surgery prayer ritual. Once Master Kunto was ready, he proceeded directly with the surgery.
He pressed a button on the side of the incubation pod, and the open pod lay flat. Yellowish cultivation fluid began to spread upwards from Fu Qinghai’s feet, gradually submerging his body.
A withered left hand extended from beneath Master Kunto’s robe; his fingers had been replaced by liquid syringes. His intricate mechanical right arm skillfully screwed on a needle, methodically injecting various medications sequentially into Fu Qinghai’s chest.
Another mechanical arm extended from under his left armpit, gripping a scalpel. With one cut, he precisely opened Fu Qinghai’s entire chest cavity.
Blood gushed out, dyeing the yellowish cultivation fluid red. A Servitor nearby promptly handed over a transparent jar.
Inside floated a vigorously beating red heart.
Modification Surgery Stage One: Second Heart.
This was the first implant for becoming a Space Marine, and also the most fundamental one. Subsequent modifications could only proceed based on the foundation of the second heart.
This heart could continue supplying blood to the body if the original heart was damaged, serving as a backup for the native heart. It enhanced adaptation to low-oxygen conditions and increased battlefield survival rates. When both hearts operated simultaneously, they could also provide the Space Marine with a surging and inexhaustible source of power.
After the heart implantation was complete, Master Kunto sequentially placed two small, complex flesh and blood organs into Fu Qinghai’s chest cavity.
They were, in order:
Modification Surgery Stage Two: Bone Strengthening Organ.
Modification Surgery Stage Three: Muscle Strengthening Organ.
The former secretes corresponding hormones to stimulate bone regeneration, promote bone healing, and absorbs ceramic compounds from the Space Marine’s specialized rations to participate in the formation of new bone.
This is incomparable to the hydroxyapatite skeletons of ordinary Humans.
Simultaneously, under the action of this organ, the Space Marine’s ribs would gradually fuse and close, forming sealed bone plates resembling Venetian blinds, better protecting the chest cavity.
The function of the latter is similar to the former. This small, spherical organ secretes corresponding hormones to stimulate muscle growth and also possesses the function of regulating human hormones.
Under the influence of the medications and the brand-new organs, Fu Qinghai’s body exhibited intense stress and rejection reactions. His limbs convulsed continuously, his eyes were tightly shut, and the veins on his forehead bulged and relaxed.
Kunto paused his work and silently observed Fu Qinghai’s reaction.
The sharp left eye under the hood, completely contrasting with his aged face, and the mechanical right eye emitting a faint green glow, were both closely observing Fu Qinghai’s body.
The cybernetic eye continuously transmitted readings to the brain for analysis by the Tech-Priest.
The convulsing Fu Qinghai suddenly stopped, his chest cavity retracted slightly, and then suddenly expanded outwards, spraying a large amount of black, foul blood from the unhealed wound.
After expelling the black, foul blood, Fu Qinghai’s chest rose and fell slightly, stirring the yellowish cultivation fluid. Fu Qinghai began to breathe normally.
Master Kunto heard the strong, synchronized beating of two hearts.
Relieved, he raised his hand to continue with the next stage of the operation.
Normally, after implanting these three organs, one would need to wait one to two years for them to grow and develop before proceeding to the next stage of organ implantation.
However, Kunto did not want to wait. Firstly, this recipient was already 17 years old, leaving no more time for slow organ development. Secondly, facing potential combat at any moment, one more Space Marine meant one more possibility of victory.
Kunto Anastasio was confident that he could complete Fu Qinghai’s modification surgery both quickly and excellently!
He immediately began—
Modification Surgery Stage Four: Blood Reconstitution Organ.
This organ, resembling a tube of liquid, was directly injected into the entire circulatory system. It increased the hemoglobin content in the recipient's blood, enhancing oxygen-carrying capacity, improving the efficiency of oxygen and nutrient transport, and simultaneously monitoring the function of other organs.
Modification Surgery Stage Five: Leman Organ.
As mentioned before, Ogedai relied on the Leman cells secreted by this golf-ball-sized, liver-like organ—commonly known as blood platelets—to rapidly scab and heal wounds.
Modification Surgery Stage Six: Rigidity Node.
Also called the Neural Knot, this soybean-sized organ implanted behind the head is responsible for regulating the brain's rest function, allowing Space Marines to carry out combat missions for extended periods without sleep or rest, achieving ultra-long standby time.
At the same time, when Space Marines can rest, it enables them to quickly enter deep sleep for rapid recharging.
Furthermore, through relevant training combined with this organ, they can even achieve what dolphins and whales do: artificially controlling one area of the brain to work while another rests, alternating in this manner—truly a boon for those working 996 or even 007 schedules.
As the surgery progressed, Fu Qinghai was suspended entirely in the cultivation fluid, with countless metal tubes and transparent infusion lines inserted into his back.
Master Kunto gazed at the screen data on the nearby workbench, which monitored Fu Qinghai’s physiological condition in real-time.
The Tech-Priest muttered to himself, "Hmm... the rejection reaction is a bit severe. Let's put him in the low temperature cultivation room to nurture him for a few months."
As he gave the order, Servitors pushed the incubation pod containing Fu Qinghai into a chamber.
After the pod containing Fu Qinghai was moved inside, Kunto stood before the workbench, pondering for a long time.
Finally, he drew out a tube glowing with blood-red light from a hidden compartment beneath the workbench.
He named this potion: Kunto's Blood.
This was the product of Kunto’s centuries of dissection and research on various Xenos races and cosmic behemoths, possessing many miraculous effects.
One or two tubes of miraculous medicine were useless for the vast territory of the entire Imperium. Kunto had originally intended to create an energy-based potion.
However, he failed to replicate the active compounds found in the bodies of many cosmic behemoths.
Experimental materials were ultimately limited. After multiple failed experiments, he refined and extracted the remaining scarce experimental materials into this single tube of potion.
Kunto intended to use this potion to accelerate Fu Qinghai’s cultivation and growth process.
His hesitation was not because he was reluctant to part with the potion.
It was because he worried that using this potion would cause the mutation of Fu Qinghai’s gene-seed, indirectly contaminating the White Scars' gene-bank.
If such a thing happened, let alone Ogedai, even Chaghatai Khan would not spare him.
Yet, he desperately wanted to know what would happen if he used this potion.
Kunto toyed with the tube of liquid with his exquisite mechanical hand, muttering softly:
"Mutation... what a captivating mutation, what a magnificent mutation. Humans were born from mutation, Orks were born from mutation, Eldar were born from mutation... the origin of all life comes from mutation. Why do ignorant people fear mutation so much..."
"Praise the Omnissiah. Mutation in nature is mutation, and mutation in the laboratory is also mutation."
"The Omnissiah will permit me to do this."
...
Five months later.
“Hiss—” Accompanied by a burst of white mist, the incubation pod containing Fu Qinghai was dragged out of the chamber by a Servitor.
Master Kunto had long been waiting at the workbench.
Ogedai’s words had stimulated him somewhat. Like many scientific researchers, Kunto also possessed a degree of perfectionism.
He wanted this youth, whom he had personally operated on, to become one of his many exquisitely brilliant works.
Not just an assembly-line product.
Products are judged by pass rates; works are judged by artistry.
No mistakes were permissible.
Kunto looked at Fu Qinghai beneath the transparent glass cover. He had grown significantly taller and larger compared to when he first underwent surgery.
Master Kunto had accelerated this process using his unique technical methods.
After opening the incubation pod and observing the situation for a while, the scalpel precisely cut open Fu Qinghai’s abdomen again.
Modification Surgery Stage Seven: Pre-gastric Sac.
This is a stomach implanted between the native stomach and the esophagus, used to detect toxic substances entering the esophagus. It either neutralizes and absorbs them or encapsulates them with secretions and expels them through vomiting.
Master Kunto cut open the skin and muscle of Fu Qinghai’s back, exposing the stark white spine.
Modification Surgery Stage Eight: Gene Detection Nerve.
This organ is placed within the spinal cord, connected to the native stomach. By digesting and absorbing the genetic material of lower organisms through the stomach lining, it "analyzes" some of the organism's gene-level memories and instincts, thereby enhancing the Space Marine’s wilderness survival capability on an alien planet.
The emphasis here is on gene-level memory and instinct. This organ does not mean the Space Marine can directly learn others' knowledge and skills by eating them, as those are acquired, not innate genetic instincts. At most, this organ allows the perception and learning of survival skills from alien organisms, and the initial grasp of the natural environment information of an unfamiliar planet.
Modification Surgery Stage Nine: Third Lung.
This auxiliary lung allows Space Marines to survive in low-oxygen or toxic gas environments, including underwater, enabling them to adapt to various alien atmospheric environments.
Master Kunto cut an opening in Fu Qinghai’s eye socket and gently removed his eyeball with a pair of tweezers.
Modification Surgery Stage Ten: Visual Controller Organ.
This does not directly modify the eyeball but adds an organ at the connection point between the eyeball and the brain. It releases hormones to regulate the eyeball's regeneration and enhances the Space Marine’s vision in normal and low-light conditions.
After putting the native eyeball back, Master Kunto cut off Fu Qinghai’s ear.
Modification Surgery Stage Eleven: Leman's Ear.
This ear completely replaces Fu Qinghai’s original native ear, including the ear canal, eardrum, cochlea, etc. Externally, it looks identical to the native ear, but it enhances resistance to vertigo, including nausea and dizziness caused by disorientation and dizziness caused by shock. It also allows the recipient to autonomously filter certain sounds while amplifying others.
For example, flashbangs commonly used by counter-terrorism police on Earth in his previous life would be ineffective against Fu Qinghai.
Furthermore, Fu Qinghai’s ears function like the active noise-canceling headphones frequently worn by Earth's special forces in his previous life, capable of actively filtering out background white noise and amplifying critical sounds like footsteps.
It feels like cheating in CS.
After implanting the Leman's Ear, Master Kunto took out a delicate, small power saw.
Cranial surgery requires caution in any era.
Modification Surgery Stage Twelve: Sanguine Membrane.
This organ is implanted in the upper part of the brain and fuses with the brain tissue. After special training, the Space Marine can enter a state of suspended animation, allowing them to survive for decades without eating or drinking. This is a self-protection measure for when timely medical aid cannot be received on the battlefield. Once in suspended animation, the assistance of a Legion Apothecary is required for reawakening.
Modification Surgery Stage Thirteen: Pigment Controller Organ.
This organ controls the melanin content in the skin to resist high-intensity sunlight or other forms of radiation damage.
The pigment controller organs differ depending on the gene-seed of the Legion, and this organ is also what causes Space Marines of the same Legion to have very similar skin and hair colors.
For instance, the skin color of the 18th Legion's Salamanders warriors turned dark black after implanting this organ.
After closing the skull of the wildly imaginative Fu Qinghai, Master Kunto cut open Fu Qinghai’s lower abdomen.
Modification Surgery Stage Fourteen: Pebble Kidneys.
Like the native kidneys, the pebble kidneys control the body's entire fluid circulation system and possess detoxification functions far superior to the native kidneys.
Kunto cut open Fu Qinghai’s tongue.
Modification Surgery Stage Fifteen: Taste Detection Nerve.
This enhances the Space Marine’s sense of taste, enabling them to identify and track targets by flavor.
Kunto slowly cut the skin.
Modification Surgery Stage Sixteen: Sweat Gland Improvement Organ.
This causes the Space Marine to secrete protective sweat in extremely cold or hot environments to cover the skin. This sweat can even allow the Space Marine to survive briefly exposed to a vacuum and also possesses certain antibacterial and self-cleaning functions.
Modification Surgery Stage Seventeen: Betcher's Gland.
Also known as the Corrosive Venom Gland, this gland is located where the salivary glands are. It allows the Space Marine to secrete toxic saliva that is not only blinding but, with continuous spitting ("Pah! Pah! Pah!"), can even corrode metal.
At this point, the modification surgery was nearing its final stages.
Modification Surgery Stage Eighteen: Gene Storage Gland.
This organ is crucial for the continuation of a Space Marine Legion. This gland concentrates and stores the hormones produced by other modification organs, forming two gene-seeds. The gene-seeds require five to ten years to mature, after which the Legion Apothecary can harvest them for expanding the Legion.
Side note: Recovering gene-seeds from fallen warriors and maintaining the Legion's gene-bank is also the duty of the Apothecary.
Once Fu Qinghai’s vital signs stabilized, Master Kunto made adjustments on the workbench console and took out a large, dripping black sheet-like substance from the culture jar held by the Servitor.
From a distance, it looked like a plastic sheet; up close, it resembled the chitinous casing of an insect.
Modification Surgery Stage Nineteen: Black Carapace.
The final modification stage is the most iconic and recognizable implant for a Space Marine, besides their Little Giant-like physique. These thin plates grow and spread beneath the skin, extending nerve bundles into the Space Marine’s body. Once this organ is fully developed, the nerve bundles can connect to nerve sensors fixed on the Space Marine’s skin surface, which in turn connect to the interfaces of the Power Armor.
This allows the Space Marine to directly control the Power Armor using their own nerve signals, as if it were an extension of their limbs, turning the sturdy and massive Power Armor into another layer of the Space Marine’s skin.
Simultaneously, these nerve sensors feed the Space Marine’s physical condition back to the Power Armor in real-time.
Without the Black Carapace, a Space Marine cannot wear Power Armor.
Black Carapace implantation complete.
Modification surgery, entirely finished.
A rare trace of fatigue appeared on Master Kunto’s face. Performing nineteen consecutive implantations of Superman organs was not an easy task, especially while ensuring speed and quality.
“Push him into the cultivation chamber, inject ceramic compounds into the incubation pod, increase the nutrient paste concentration by 275%, inject... concentration... inject... concentration... monitor vital signs and development status at all times, and alert me if there are any issues,” Master Kunto instructed the Servitor.
Two strong Servitors obediently pushed the incubation pod containing Fu Qinghai away as ordered.
…………
PS: In the original work and LEX translations, the Gene Detection Nerve organ was not mentioned 【. It could only 】 "taste" the habits and environmental knowledge of lower life forms. This is a patch I added myself, otherwise, simply tasting an enemy's flesh to learn their skills and know their memories would be too much of a cheat, and it's also very unscientific, as acquired memories are not stored in the genes.