At night, everyone rested in the car.
Mingyuan heard a strange noise coming from the back seat where the unfamiliar investigator was being housed, so he went to investigate.
The person was already showing signs of necrosis; his fingernails were bluish-gray and his eyes were bloodshot.
Mingyuan sensed something was wrong and quickly woke everyone up.
Ye Nianzhen was also surprised: "He's actually just an ordinary person..."
Everyone assumed that the person who would leave the base to do missions was a superhuman.
"Perhaps he's not the only one on their team, the others are..."
The rest is self-explanatory.
Luo Shui was a little panicked, having never encountered such a situation before: "What should we do? Is there any hope?"
Mu Guang was woken up and yawned listlessly.
Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but retort, "What should we do? The transformation has already begun. If you don't want to be eaten, you'd better strike first!"
Everyone fell silent.
Ye Nianzhen decisively said, "I'll see him off."
Mingyuan stopped her from drawing her dagger.
"Xiao Ye, let me do it."
His expression was gentle, without the ruthlessness of someone about to kill, nor any struggle or hesitation.
Ye Nianzhen then asked everyone to step back and give Mingyuan some space.
Mingyuan took out a handy knife.
This was the same gun he had borrowed from the mass grave. He later brought the man's body back so his family could bury it.
They were also given contribution points so that they would have no worries about food and clothing.
The knife had been melted by saltpeter, but he carefully put it away and had it reforged after returning to the base.
Monster materials were incorporated during forging, making it lighter, thinner, and sharper.
The dying investigator, still retaining a sliver of reason, looked pleadingly at Mingyuan.
Mingyuan said softly, "Don't worry, I won't let you turn into a monster."
The man closed his eyes and awaited death.
Mingyuan moved so fast, at a speed invisible to the naked eye, that the person felt no pain and left peacefully.
At this moment, his previously composed expression suddenly turned slightly surprised.
Because with the man's death, another empty box in his mind was filled.
The two empty boxes in front contain earth-based abilities and metal-based abilities, respectively.
He took it all from those two villains.
Death is the best form of despair; the moment he killed them, he gained their abilities.
Strangely, there was another box containing Hongxiao's fire-based abilities, but it was sealed and could not be used.
Mingyuan nearly destroyed the opponent's crystal core, which must have made him feel desperate.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have briefly possessed his superpowers.
But this ability has been unusable because Red Nitrate is indeed still alive?
Or was it that he wasn't truly driven to despair back then?
Leaving that aside for now, what truly shocked Mingyuan was the box that had just been filled.
The man who had died was clearly not a superhuman, nor did he feel despair; rather, he felt a sense of relief.
Why did he gain a new superpower?
He opened the box and briefly examined it.
The superpower I received from the man was... emotional perception.
It's a minor superpower, capable of sensing the emotional changes of the target, and might play a role in interrogation.
After leveling up, it is possible to develop mind-reading ability, which allows you to briefly capture the thoughts of others.
Doesn't that sound a bit practical?
In reality, people's thoughts are ever-changing and can change in an instant. A small segment that is captured may not be any useful information.
In short... Mingyuan is constantly exploring his own abilities.
At this stage, he cannot explain why he received his superpowers from men.
But even a seemingly useless superpower can be very effective if used correctly.
This was a pleasant surprise.
Mingyuan wrapped the man's body in a bed sheet, then found Luoshui and put some ice nearby.
Once they reach the northern base, they can contact his family and give him a proper burial.
...Death always seemed to be lurking around him.
Mingyuan lowered his eyes slightly. The dim lighting in the carriage made him look like a perfect yet lonely statue.
At this moment, Ye Nianzhen leaned closer and handed over a corner of the clothes.
Mingyuan was confused.
Ye Nianzhen gestured with her chin towards him: "Here, you can hold his hand."
Mingyuan suddenly realized what she was saying and was both amused and exasperated.
When he saw Ye Nianzhen return safely from the bottom of the cliff, he couldn't contain his emotions and secretly grabbed a piece of her clothing.
Seeing that he didn't move, Ye Nianzhen stuffed the corner of her clothes into his hand: "It's always there when you need it."
—I'll be there whenever you need me.
Mingyuan stared at that corner of clothing and clenched it tightly in his hand.
Fortunately, there was moonlight, willing to shine upon the statue.
*
The RV set off early the next morning.
This time, it only took less than a morning to see the outer wall of the Northern Base.
The Northern Base was rebuilt on the ruins of the original city, preserving some of the better-preserved buildings.
The city wall uses special materials developed by the military, making it exceptionally strong. Its unique structure also allows it to deform under certain conditions.
The surrounding area was heavily guarded; not even a fly could get in without being checked by the gatekeepers.
Who could have imagined that such an impregnable fortress would eventually be breached from within by maggots?
Amidst the raging storm, Ye Nianzhen left some people in the car and led Luo Shui and Lei Lang to the city gate.
A single door separates us, yet the world is vastly different.
An energy shield has been installed over the northern base to protect it from most sandstorms and harmful substances.
Not to mention the mutated creatures in the air, which, if they get too close, will be cut into mincemeat by the fine energy net and then broken down into harmless components.
When the city guards saw someone approaching, they ordered their soldiers to be on alert, opened the small window of the city gate, and looked out a few times.
Ye Nianzhen and his companions were dressed in the most shabby combat uniforms, and they were not even equipped with basic firearms.
A simple-minded young man, a troublemaker, and the leader is an ordinary-looking woman.
The man's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of contempt crept into his heart.
—Most of them escaped from some small base and went north to seek refuge.
He didn't want to make things difficult for these people, so he began his routine questioning in a calm tone.
What are you doing?
Ye Nianzhen: "We will discuss the alliance with your base."
Gatekeeper: "...You're not mistaken?"
Yeh Nien-jen: "Of course."
The man frowned, thinking to himself, "What kind of ignorant little brat is this?"
His tone was naturally impatient: "Who are they? Are there any wounded?"
Ye Nianzhen: "They're all in the car. There's one wounded soldier, but..."
Before she could finish speaking, the man interrupted her: "You need to undergo screening, and that injured person needs to be isolated."
Yeh Nien-jen: "No need, he's dead."
The man seemed unfazed, and casually asked, "Dead? How did you die?"
"I killed him."
Actually, it was Mingyuan who did it, but it doesn't really matter.
Gatekeeper: "..."
There's no need to be so honest.
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