The Fog

Chen Fei gained electrical elemental power, Chen Lu developed ice elemental power, Chubby acquired a mane of wild hair, and the other girls all had increased strength after their mutations. However, Huang Wen's hands were covered in feathers, which didn't seem to serve any practical purpose. 

Yang Xiao of course couldn't understand why, so he tried to reassure her, "Your mutation isn't complete yet. After it's finished, you'll know the results. Maybe you'll become a phoenix able to soar through the skies!"

Hearing this, Huang Wen laughed right away. "Phoenixes only exist in myths. Where could a real phoenix come from?"

Chen Lu, Chen Fei, Chubby, and the other girls also comforted Huang Wen, telling her to be patient.

Among the mutants, few exhibited beastly traits or elemental powers. Most only felt their strength growing and their senses sharpening.

"Huang Wen, to speed up everyone's mutation, let's have dog meat again tonight. Eating more may quicken the genetic changes."

So that night, they feasted on dog meat once more.

Sure enough, their evolution progressed much faster.

Huang Wen's feathers had grown to her lower arms, and her entire lower arms had transformed into something resembling wings.

Yang Xiao believed that Huang Wen's transformation was heading in the direction of avian characteristics.

Huang Wen also gained confidence, excited by the thought of someday flying through the air as a bird.

A night passed without incident, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the sixth day after the great catastrophe.

Recently Yang Xiao had gotten used to sleeping early since Huang Wen's crew stood guard for him. But today he was woken early by Huang Wen and the others.

"Boss, are you awake?"

Yang Xiao grunted affirmatively.

"Boss, if you're up, come take a look outside. Something seems off."

Alarmed, Yang Xiao leaped out of bed, reflexively grabbed his backpack, and went out gripping his black sword.

"What's the situation? What's wrong?"

Outside stood Huang Wen, Chen Lu, Chen Fei, Chubby, and over ten other girls. Some were still asleep from the night watch.

Yang Xiao's first impression was that the girls looked frightened. He quickly asked, "What happened?"

"Look!"

Huang Wen pointed outward.

Peering out, Yang Xiao saw it was early morning, and a faint blue mist permeated everything as far as he could see. Though not dense, the fog had an eerie quality.

"Cough...is this smog?"

"This doesn't look like smog at all. When you look at this mist from a distance, it's light blue, and if you try to touch it, there's nothing there—no color, no smell. Smog is definitely pungent."

Yang Xiao vaguely recalled emerging from the rubble on the first day of the calamity and seeing this pale blue mist. But it seemed to have vanished in the following days.

Though he also found it strange, to reassure them he chuckled and said, "It's fine, it's just fog. Once the sun comes out, it'll disperse quickly. Hmm, today's the sixth day since the calamity. Everyone should stay within 50 meters of the Gene Store today. Anyway, we still have some food. Huang Wen, have everyone roast the remaining dog meat over the fire and divide it evenly by headcount. Keep your own portions. Tomorrow's the seventh day, no telling what may happen."

Huang Wen nodded, and the other girls agreed. The girls got busy starting fires, cutting meat, and weaving scrap metal into grills to roast the dog meat.

The taros they'd dug up the day before slowly baked in the embers, with the skin still on.

Per Huang Wen's instructions, some girls boiled water, and then poured it into mineral water bottles once cooled, dividing it evenly among people.

The pale blue mist blanketing the land didn't escape Yang Xiao and the others' notice. Other students took note as well, discussing it although the fog caused no harm. After some deliberation, the matter was dropped.

Still uneasy, Yang Xiao went to the Gene Store and sat facing Gu Bo.

"Old Gu, this fog seems strange."

Gu Bo smiled slightly. "Wait patiently, you'll soon know the answer."

"You know about this fog?"

"Hehe, kid, don't try to trick me. You've already accepted what I said about the coming earthly catastrophes. You've been preparing for the apocalypse accordingly. What you and your companions must do now is wait patiently for the world to change, improve your abilities, and fight to survive."

As he spoke, Gu Bo looked seriously at Yang Xiao.

Yang Xiao had always felt confused about Gu Bo's identity and background. Although he guessed the sudden apocalyptic crisis on Earth must be connected to the power behind Gu Bo, presently he had no power to oppose Gu Bo, let alone the mysterious force backing him, one that could destroy the Earth overnight.

For humanity to survive, the survivors had to improve their survivability. Otherwise, they too would vanish with the apocalypse.

Yang Xiao nodded and left the Gene Store, feelings complicated. Passing the two iron tower warriors at the door, he studied them closely. The formidable aura they gave off made his heart tremble.

"It seems like we humans have truly entered a survival of the fittest era, returning from modern civilization to the Stone Age overnight!"

Entering the tent, Yang Xiao saw Huang Wen and the others busily roasting meat and boiling water. He said to Huang Wen, "Huang Wen, go tell everyone on the playground to retreat to a location within fifty meters of the Gene Store."

Huang Wen was puzzled, unsure of his intent.

"Sigh, it's all I can do for everyone. Tomorrow is when Earth's creatures complete their genetic mutations. The area within 50 meters of the Gene Store should be safe but further may be dangerous. Over 1,000 people have gathered on this playground, and I see that most of them are already outside the fifty-meter range. If something happens, the consequences could be unpredictable."

"Yes Boss, you have my thumbs up for your kind heart."

Huang Wen smiled and left the tent.

Huang Wen went from camp to camp, advising everyone to relocate their tents to a location within 50 meters of the Gene Store.

Since Yang Xiao had killed some of Xiao Zhe's crew two days prior, and the mutated black dog yesterday, most knew he led Huang Wen's team and held her in greater respect.

"Sister Huang Wen, why retreat to the Gene Store area? Our spot's perfectly fine."

"Sister Huang Wen, too many of us crammed together will be uncomfortable. We don't want to move."

"Sister Huang Wen, do you have any dog meat left? Some broth would do, I'm starving."

...

Huang Wen could only reply, "I'm passing along our boss's message. Whether to listen is up to you."