Chapter 4, In Mutation, The Alienator

Really? No exaggeration? I expressed my astonishment; even as an awakened one, it is extremely difficult for me to kill monsters even with a super short knife. Yet Chen Hui, as a human, is actually able to do it

What? I quickly stepped back, not expecting Chen Hui... As fellow underachievers, this guy has a pretty good relationship with me

"There will be no infection; as long as one endures the three days before the end of the world, the body will naturally develop immunity, and one will no longer turn into a monster," the doll shook its head and said. Only then did I feel relieved, but Xia Mingxuan cast a suspicious glance at the doll.

The doll's expression was indifferent, and its tone carried no emotion, yet everyone around changed their expressions in unison, retreating together. Fang Min was so frightened that she scrambled to the corner, rolling and crawling.

There will be a total of five types of mutated monsters. I have not reviewed the information for the time being, and I have not witnessed the mutation process due to my drowsiness. However, Fang Min has seen it, and Xia Mingxuan has seen it as well. The horror of that process can be inferred from their pale faces. Xia Mingxuan was even bitten while trying to save a few of the students.

This is not a chemical leak; it is the end of the world! Do you not see that the entire world is shrouded in smog? I said with a bitter smile, looking at Lin Xiu's astonished face, but I was too lazy to explain. Once we find the others, I will have the doll recount everything from the beginning.

However, the number of escapees was only 2% of the total population of Southeast University, amounting to just over two hundred individuals. The remaining faculty and students were rapidly infected by the smog, leading to swift death or falling into a coma, and subsequently, they gradually mutated into monsters

The sound of monstrous howling has been heard from the ventilation duct, and several smaller split entities seem to be attempting to burrow in

Cao Yang, you are not being fair; I am the impressive one, okay? I infiltrated the school supermarket three times. Chen, who was beside him, boasted, "And do you know? I also took down a monster, ha!"

At the same time, some messages should also be exchanged.

Are there any other survivors at the school? I asked

No, I can't explain clearly, but... never mind, he wasn't infected; it was my mistake. The doll shook its head and then crawled towards the ventilation duct

Ah! I slipped down and fell headfirst. Just as I was about to get up, a doll sat right on my face, causing me to fall again

Xia Mingxuan also sighed, stating that their survival was entirely due to Lin Xiu's selfless rescue, as he led them into the ventilation duct, infiltrated the gymnasium lounge, and sealed the doors and windows. Additionally, it was because Chen Hui risked his life to make several trips to the school supermarket, bringing back a few bottles of mineral water and instant noodles

"Brother Caoyang, let's leave first. The lounge leading to the gym is sealed off; the monsters can't get in there," Lin Xiu said urgently. I nodded and was about to slip inside when the doll suddenly grabbed me.

He has the smell of a monster on him! the doll murmured

Before long, the ventilation duct had reached its end. I followed Lin Xiu and leaped out, only to feel a sudden clarity before my eyes

It is indeed a mistake. In fact, the dolls do not rely on smell, but rather on an internal radar. The radar response of a normal person is green, while that of someone who is infected and about to die is black. Those who are on the verge of transforming into monsters exhibit a deep red color.

However, this fellow always stares at Fang Min while speaking, indicating that his reckless behavior is not for everyone, but rather for... Ah, poor loser, he is truly willing to go to any lengths to pursue the goddess.

I witnessed Miaomiao's transformation with my own eyes. First, her hair fell out, then her face began to rot, her muscles and bones twisted as if possessed, and she kept vomiting red mucus. She was originally very beautiful, but..." Fang Min said in a hoarse voice

As she spoke, the doll suddenly leaned in to sniff Chen Hui, its expression growing increasingly serious

The doll said that in this apocalypse, the most troublesome issues are not the monsters, but rather food and water sources, as cosmic bacteria have polluted even the air. The biosphere is dying one after another, and even vegetation will wither extensively. In such an environment, even if humanity survives, they will be physically weakened, and it will take several decades, or even up to a hundred years, for the red haze to gradually dissipate, absorbed by the ozone layer

Hey, what are you talking about, Cao Yang? Who is this girl? I've never seen her before. She said I'm a monster? Don't joke around!" Chen Hui's expression turned sour.

However, by that time, he would likely have forgotten that he was human, forgotten what his name was. Although he could maintain a human appearance, beneath the surface lay a terrifying monster, more fearsome than a ghoul, continuously devouring his thoughts and relentlessly consuming his humanity

"It is I, Cao Yang, a junior. Hello, Teacher Xia," I replied busily

Lin Xiu did not leave, as he discovered that my sister, Cao Ting, was missing, and thus he turned back halfway

Lin Xiu is a very handsome young man, but he is rather slender, has a somewhat effeminate appearance, and often blushes

Finally seeing the teacher and classmates, my repressed emotions finally relaxed. I affectionately stepped forward to support Xia Mingxuan, but he stiffened and pushed me away, saying: "Don't! I was bitten, and I might..."

"Cao Yang, try not to make too much noise," Lin Xiu said with frustration. I nodded hesitantly and reached out to wipe away the blood from my nose. With * pictures * and * books.

When the smog first envelops, even if living beings are infected, they do not immediately transform into monsters. The doll stated that the entire process lasts from 24 to 48 hours, beginning with unconsciousness, followed by decay, skeletal distortion, and only then do they become the flesh-eating beasts and split bodies that I have witnessed.

Bite? Infection? Transform into a monster? I was stunned on the spot. Could it be that the monster scent mentioned by the doll is what he brought to Lin Xiu?

I truly am not a competent older brother, I really...

Moreover, they do not have antibodies; even if their physical constitution prevents them from being infected, they are still choking and coughing in the dense red mist. Their physical condition is extremely poor, and Xia Mingxuan has also been injured, while the lounge is lacking in food and water

"Isn't it quite normal? There are monsters everywhere; we should have some within us as well, right?" I replied, scratching my head.

Where is Tingting? Is she with you? How is she? Has she been infected? I grabbed Lin Xiu tightly, my tone urgent, but he shook his head with a bitter expression, and my heart instantly sank to the bottom.

He is currently only a Level 1 Mutant, so he is not even aware of it himself. However, when he ascends to Level 2, he will find that normal food has become unpalatable to him. He will crave blood, and even yearn for raw flesh

Speaking of which, this is actually my first time crawling through the ventilation duct. It is quite frustrating to go up and down. Going up is somewhat manageable; I can barely climb by gripping the gaps. However, going down is...

Master, do not approach him, he is a mutant and is undergoing transformation

Stop talking! I raised my hand to interrupt her, covering my mouth as I felt like throwing up. If it's the end of the world, does it have to be so grotesque

Lin Xiu's radar response is indeed green, but it is surrounded by many red threads. The specific reason for this is not explained by the doll

The apocalypse has been underway for five days, and I truly do not understand how they have survived. It is known that the university is filled with monsters, numbering nearly a thousand. They do not possess awakened genes, nor do they have the protection of inflatable dolls.

The situation has become clear; the red reaction on Lin Xiu's body is due to the fact that he has been living with Chen Hui for a full five days

Initially, I really disliked such boys, and I was even more upset that my sister was in a relationship without informing me. However, considering that he was willing to take risks for my sister, my mood improved significantly. After chatting for a bit, I found myself getting along well with this guy.

Lin Xiu said in a hoarse voice: "I’m sorry, Brother Cao Yang, I didn’t take good care of Ting Ting, I don’t know where she is..."

As I expected, having just conducted a disaster drill, the school responded very quickly during this apocalypse. The teachers led the students to immediately flee to the southern mountainous area, as the haze in the forest was relatively thin, or at least they thought it was

Teacher Xia Mingxuan also realized only after getting on the school bus that there were several students with fevers and colds in the infirmary. He immediately returned but was only able to save Fang Min, while the other students...

"Cough, no need to rush, take your time to explain," I said while sitting on the sofa, glancing around the room. It was pitiful that out of more than ten thousand teachers and students from Southeast University, only five of us remained, along with an inflatable doll.

Well done, truly impressive! I said, patting Lin Xiu on the shoulder. Despite his thin and frail appearance, this guy has managed to play the role of a savior time and again, which makes him worthy of my sister.

The reason for Chen Hui is somewhat inexplicable. This guy, like me, is a loser. He said he stayed up all night playing online games, and as a result, he overslept in the morning and was discarded by his roommate as if he were a corpse. What a sweat.

In pain yet joyful, she was not wearing any underwear

"That's not right, and *the picture* book!" With a sharp cry, the child suddenly pulled me away from Chen Hui, and with a serious expression, said: "You can kill the monsters, perhaps because they do not attack you first. You can rush out to find food, perhaps because..."

At that time, there were not many living organisms left on Earth

The person on the bed is Teacher Xia Mingxuan from the infirmary. I also recognized the other two; the male student is Chen Hui, a junior from the same department as me, who greeted me with a warm and friendly wave. The female student caught my eye; she is one of the campus beauties of Southeast University, Fang Min

How? I turned my head in confusion, and the doll did not respond, merely leaning closer to Lin Xiushen, its little nose wrinkling a few times

Well, there are still three lounges, but there are more deceased students. This smog, I don't know which chemical plant has had a leak, sigh...

I did not know that after the smog appeared, the teacher led everyone who had not been infected to escape to the southern mountainous area. Originally, Tingting and I were also following, but halfway there, she suddenly went missing. That is why I secretly returned to look for her, only to find that the school was already filled with monsters

The lounge's doors and windows were sealed shut, and the light was dim. I could barely see a man and a woman crouching on the floor. Upon our entrance, they immediately stood up nervously. On the sofa, there was another person who struggled to sit up and said, "Is Lin Xiu back? How is it outside? Huh? Who is that with you!"

Do not be afraid, this place is well-connected, and the monsters cannot be found. Just dive in. Lin Xiu explained, leading the way deeper inside.

No! It is already commendable that he was able to disregard danger and return to school to find my sister. The one who should apologize is actually me. As an older brother, I failed to protect my sister during the apocalypse. I wanted to find her, but I was too weak to break through the encirclement of monsters, and I was saved by Lin Xiu.