Chapter 95: Adaptation

"What... what happened to me..."

Bai Qi groggily opened his eyes. He felt like he had just had a dream, a dream where he and his roommate were happily attending a comic convention at the mall, only for the people around them to suddenly turn into something like the zombies from the movies.

Then came the brutal chase. Everyone died. Everyone went mad.

He had barely managed to find a place to survive, but when he came out, he accidentally alerted those bloodthirsty monsters.

Fortunately...

Just then, a voice spoke up, "You're awake. Are you feeling any discomfort?"

Bai Qi rolled his eyes. Zhao Kuo was leaning against the wall not far from him, his eyes filled with concern.

Bai Qi moved his lips but couldn't say anything.

Seeing this, Tang Yingying brought him a glass of water and helped him drink.

His parched throat felt like it had been reborn the moment the water flowed through it. Bai Qi finally managed to speak slowly, "No... no discomfort. In fact, I feel like... my strength has increased a lot..."

As he spoke, he slowly sat up and raised his hands.

Along with his hands, two incredibly thick, hairy legs also rose.

Bai Qi was stunned. He looked down at his original legs, then turned to look at the two legs he had raised, and finally his gaze settled on his chest, where the third rib was.

He felt like he should scream, feel fear, or have many other emotions, but instead, he felt numb.

"What... is this?" Bai Qi asked.

Zhao Kuo sighed, "It's obvious. You've mutated. It seems the [M Virus Essence] isn't entirely safe... I'm sorry."

Bai Qi stood still for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "There's no need to apologize, Brother Zhao. Our economics teacher once said that all energy comes at an equivalent cost. There's no such thing as a free lunch. And... my strength has indeed increased."

After saying this, Bai Qi walked over to the standing refrigerator, wrapped his arms around it, and lifted it with ease.

It wasn't too difficult. Based on his abilities, Bai Qi's strength attribute after mutation should be between 20 and 25.

This was comparable to an ordinary second-tier class holder. The effects of the [M Virus Essence] were indeed overwhelming. If it weren't for the glaring side effects, Zhao Kuo would have wanted to try it himself.

Bai Qi didn't grieve over his extra legs for too long. He knew that, in a way, he had come out ahead.

What was once a certain death situation had now improved significantly.

Moreover, he discovered that these extra legs weren't useless. They were not only incredibly sturdy, but after some adaptation, Bai Qi had already learned to control them with ease.

He had even started using the legs for some blocking and attacking drills.

Seeing Bai Qi's performance, Zhao Kuo was very pleased.

It had to be said that this kid had a strong mindset. If it were an ordinary person going through something like this, they would have probably already broken down. Zhao Kuo hadn't misjudged him.

The clock on the wall showed that it was daytime outside.

During the day, the zombies' senses would be even sharper. Going out now would be no different from seeking death.

After a night of chaos, Zhao Kuo was also feeling exhausted. He glanced at Tang Yingying, and when she nodded, he pulled up a chair and sat down to rest.

Why not sleep directly on the floor? Probably because Bai Qi was around.

Although Zhao Kuo had acknowledged Bai Qi in his heart, he still maintained a certain level of vigilance. After all, you never truly know a person's heart. Sleeping while sitting allowed him to respond to any changes in the environment immediately.

Tang Yingying was also extremely tired, but she didn't sleep, partly to keep an eye on Bai Qi.

Both of them were seasoned survivors, so they were naturally in sync on this point.

However, Bai Qi didn't seem to realize this. He was completely immersed in his unique transformation. The extra legs, combined with his arms, had created a synergy. He believed that now, facing zombies, he wouldn't be so passive.

He just had to be careful not to get bitten or scratched. If he mutated into a zombie, it would probably be a big problem.

Thinking this, Bai Qi trained even harder. He wanted to survive, and after undergoing mutation, this belief had only grown stronger.

Although Bai Qi was a college student, he had already foreseen part of the future.

Mutation was the only way out for all humans. In this apocalyptic world, being able to mutate was an incredibly fortunate thing.

Thinking this, Bai Qi felt even more grateful to Zhao Kuo.

It was around four in the afternoon when Zhao Kuo finally woke up from his sleep. Surprisingly, he had slept very deeply this time, even though he was sitting, he had been lost in his dreams.

"You're awake," Tang Yingying said softly.

Zhao Kuo nodded, his stomach growling loudly.

Tang Yingying immediately brought out the reheated steak and a bowl of noodles.

To put it simply, she was very thoughtful.

Zhao Kuo didn't fuss and started eating heartily. Once it got dark, there would be a fierce battle.

At the same time, he also saw Bai Qi lying on the floor, snoring loudly, with only a chef's jacket covering his belly button. But his mutated physique was strong, so he probably wouldn't catch a cold.

Tang Yingying said, "He fell asleep around one in the afternoon. He'll probably sleep a while longer. This kid... he's really good, to be honest."

Bai Qi had been training hard all afternoon, and Tang Yingying had seen it all. She knew he was determined to survive.

"I wonder how many [M Virus Essences] he needs now to continue mutating," Zhao Kuo said slowly.

"Mutation isn't a one-time thing?" Tang Yingying was surprised.

Zhao Kuo shook his head, "I don't know. Who knows? Maybe. But there's no harm in trying. Right now, he might not be strong enough to help us get out."

Although Bai Qi had become much stronger, breaking through a floor full of zombies was still a pipe dream.

So Zhao Kuo reasonably speculated that mutation might not be a one-time thing. With enough [M Virus Essences], one could continue mutating until they completely turned into a terrifying monster!

Perhaps this was the Metro World's trap. Or perhaps he was wrong.

Zhao Kuo shook his head and tore into the juicy steak in front of him. It was delicious. Tang Yingying's cooking had always been good. Her nickname as the "little chef" wasn't for nothing.

Seeing this, Tang Yingying brought him an energy drink and then sat down beside him, quietly watching him eat.

For a moment, Zhao Kuo suddenly felt a sense of warmth.

After eating and drinking, Zhao Kuo slowly stood up. Looking at the clock on the wall, which now pointed to six, he said softly, "Judging by the clothes people here are wearing, it should be autumn. Around six, the sun should be setting."

But this time, no one responded. When he looked back, Tang Yingying was already asleep in her chair.

Zhao Kuo sighed and draped a coat over her.

...