23: Awakening of Superpowers

After living in Sea City for a month, while tracking the movements of the Japanese undercover team, they discovered that the zombies had mutated once again.

"Before, they could only use their noses to smell, but now their eyes can see as well. Their bodies are more agile, and their combat strength has improved significantly."

Shen Mo Chi looked at the lush green plants in the courtyard.

"I'm afraid the plants are about to mutate as well."

"More than that. I went out today and killed a big rat that tried to pounce on me. It was as large as a small dog."

Lin Wan said expressionlessly while drinking a cup of pearl milk tea.

"Plants! Rats bigger than dogs! Oh my god!"

Xia Yue had a look of utter despair.

"This world has finally gone crazy! The natural disasters have paused, but the animals, plants, and zombies... tsk tsk tsk."

Lin Wan had anticipated all of this, so she felt relatively fine.

Except that everything in this life was developing faster than in her previous one.

But what about abilities? Where were the abilities?

Without a doubt, the first batch of Ability Users to appear in the Apocalypse would become the absolute powerhouses of the future.

In her previous life, Shen Mo Chi and Xie Ji Chuan were among this first batch to awaken.

She remembered it seemed to start after the first zombie mutation.

But now the zombies had mutated twice, and there was still no movement from them.

Although she hadn't heard of any other Ability Users awakening, Lin Wan was still worried.

She was afraid that because no system had appeared in this life, their ability awakening might have been affected.

This was a very serious matter.

Perhaps it was related to her own appearance; after all, many things had changed by chance after they got together.

But it couldn't be like this!

Zombies and mutated animals weren't strong enough to have crystal nuclei yet, so the method using crystal nuclei wouldn't work either.

In her previous life, Lin Wan hadn't awakened an ability even until her death. Aside from this known method, she couldn't think of any others for the time being.

But she couldn't let Shen Mo Chi be held back because of her again.

So from that day on, Lin Wan frantically fed them spiritual spring water.

Others had two cups a day, while Shen Mo Chi had three or four.

Well, she was being a little biased...

Half a month passed like this.

One morning, as she woke up groggily, she heard movement outside.

When she went out, she found it was Shen Mo Chi.

"Mo Chi? What's wrong? Are there mutated animals below again?"

Shen Mo Chi looked at her with eyes full of smiles.

"Wanwan, come here."

"What is it? Why are you so happy so early in the morning?"

Lin Wan walked over, and Shen Mo Chi took her into his arms and gave her a firm kiss.

"Wanwan, your spiritual spring water wasn't wasted."

Lin Wan's eyes lit up.

"You mean! You've awakened an ability?"

"Yes, look."

Shen Mo Chi opened the window and with a casual wave of his hand, a bolt of lightning struck a wandering zombie, instantly turning it into charcoal.

"Mo Chi, that's amazing! Yes, it's the Lightning-type, your Lightning-type ability!"

"How about it? Are you relieved now?"

"Mhm, I wonder how Ji Chuan and the others are doing?"

Just as she finished speaking, there was a knock at the door.

"AChi, open the door quickly!"

The voice sounded quite urgent.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"It seems they have them too!"

Lin Wan happily ran to open the door.

But she found that Xie Ji Chuan's face was swollen like a pig's head.

Meanwhile, Xia Yue's hand was red, clearly burned.

Yet both of them were grinning like big idiots...

"What happened? Come in quickly!"

Xie Ji Chuan spoke unclearly but gestured excitedly:

"Abilidy, I have... we have abilidies!"

Lin Wan applied burn ointment to Xia Yue.

"What did he say?"

Xia Yue held up her hand, her eyes curving:

"He said, we have abilities!"

"Really? So you two are...?"

At this, Xia Yue's expression became a bit unnatural as she mumbled.

"We're just not used to using them and accidentally hurt each other. It's just the beginning, so it's inevitable not to control them well. It's normal, normal..."

Xia Yue's face turned beet red as she recalled the scene.

Xie Ji Chuan drank a cup of spiritual spring water and took a Detoxification Pill.

Ten minutes later, he could finally speak normally.

"I was about to burst!"

"You don't know, I was with my wife... mmm..."

Xia Yue rushed over and firmly covered his big mouth.

She threatened through gritted teeth:

"You'd better not say another word, or I'll poison you again!"

Ji Chuan pried her hand away.

"We're an old married couple, what are you shy about? We're all family here."

"Shut up!"

"Oh!"

Only then did Xia Yue feel relieved, but when she looked up, she found Lin Wan burying her head in Shen Mo Chi's chest, laughing uncontrollably.

Shen Mo Chi also had a meaningful look on his face.

"Lin Wan! How dare you laugh at me!"

Flustered and exasperated, Xia Yue stood up to tickle her, and the two of them dissolved into a fit of laughter.

A few minutes later, Uncle Wang arrived.

In the previous life, he and Lin Wan were the same; neither had awakened an ability.

It was the same in this life, but since he drank the spiritual spring water every day, many of his old ailments were mostly cured.

"What's going on with you all? I heard you two crying and laughing early this morning, and I wondered what had happened!"

Lin Wan couldn't help but chuckle again. Seeing Xia Yue so embarrassed she wanted to sink into the ground, she suppressed her smile and said:

"Uncle Wang, good news! Mo Chi has a Lightning-type ability, Ji Chuan has Fire-type, and Yue Yue has Poison-type!"

"Really! That's great. I've seen the mutated animals getting more and more terrifying lately. That mutated pig we encountered a couple of days ago—tsk tsk—it's not something an ordinary person can handle. With abilities, we'll have more confidence in the future."

"That's right, we're having a feast for lunch today!"

Xia Yue's face was still hot.

Early in the morning, Ji Chuan was holding her and wouldn't let go. The two were in the heat of the moment, doing... that.

Who would have thought that just because she kissed him, he would cry out about a headache, and then his face would rapidly swell up?

Out of an instinctive defensive reaction, Ji Chuan's small flame also burned her hand.

Only then did the two realize their abilities had awakened. Although they had been hearing Lin Wan talk about it recently, who would have thought it would happen at a time like this...

Sigh, it was indeed a bit awkward.

Lin Wan saw through it but didn't say anything. She brought a cup of her favorite Roasted Grass Jelly drink and coaxed her with a few words, and Yue Yue immediately beamed with joy.

Lin Wan felt relaxed; fortunately, they still had their abilities.

They had hotpot for lunch.

Fresh beef, mutton, and shrimp, paired with spicy hotpot base—in the cold weather of the Apocalypse, it brought a strange sense of satisfaction.

Sated and content, the few of them sat and chatted.

"Now that you have abilities, you should go out and practice more so you can control them better. There are plenty of mutated animals and zombies ready for you!"

"Once they evolve crystal nuclei in a while, you'll be able to level up even faster!"

Xie Ji Chuan was eager to try.

"Yeah, definitely! Those Japanese bastards are hiding quite deep. It's been a month, and we've only killed some small fry with bad intentions. We still have no clue about their main force."

Shen Mo Chi arched an eyebrow.

"No rush. Recently, people have started claiming land to establish small bases. Let's start as well. What do you all think?"

"Okay."

The others agreed in unison.

Lin Wan was the first to support it. The situation in the Apocalypse changed rapidly, so this was bound to happen sooner or later. Now that their abilities had awakened, what were they waiting for? Let's do it!

Always be the first person to eat the crab!

"Mo Chi is right. There's no need to rush regarding the Japanese. Their territory isn't even as large as one of our provinces, and they've been hit hard by disasters with a shortage of resources. So they're putting all their eggs in one basket this time!"

"The Japanese are famous for being patient 'ninja turtles.' They've always been crafty and cautious. This time, they're not just after our supplies; they want the land and resources of all Huaxia!"

This analysis struck a chord with everyone.

"Exactly. They're lurking deep and planning to infiltrate slowly with a detailed plan and wild ambitions."

"So we need to build a base. Once we grow stronger, they'll naturally come looking for us on their own!"

Xie Ji Chuan was surging with excitement, feeling full of energy!

His life had been unfortunate in the first half, but from the moment he met Shen Mo Chi, his life had been completely transformed.

Before the Apocalypse, the brothers had gone through blood and storms together and reached the peak.

In the Apocalypse, they each had someone to walk beside them.

This time, they would reach an even higher peak and carve out their own apocalyptic era!

Yue Yue felt the same.

"Then we'll take action this afternoon and find a site for our base?"

Lin Wan was also quite excited, the smile never leaving her face.

"No need. I've already chosen it. I'll take you to see it this afternoon."

"Ah? When? Sister Wanwan, you're doing big things behind our backs!"

The location Lin Wan mentioned was the site of the First Base from her previous life.

From the past life to the present, it was now a perfect closed loop.

Shen Mo Chi's life, which was meant to be brilliant, wouldn't stall because he met her. She wanted him to be even more of a powerhouse than in his previous life. And she would be his "cheat code"!

Shen Mo Chi put his hand on her shoulder.

"Are you that happy?"

"Of course. You don't understand; this is of great significance to me!"

Seeing her happy, Shen Mo Chi was happy too.

"Then shouldn't our team have a name? I see other teams all have names."

Xie Ji Chuan grinned and was the first to speak:

"Of course we should! Let me think... let's call it the Invincible Whirlwind Team! How cool is that? AChi, what do you think?"

Everyone rolled their eyes together.

"Not great!"

Xia Yue said disdainfully:

"Tacky! Utterly tacky."

"Let me think of one. How about the Wang Wang Team? It's cute and has a good meaning! Prospering all the way!"

...

Fine, fine, fine, you two really are a couple, a match made in heaven...

"How about calling it the Qingyun Team?"

Uncle Wang, who had been watching them joke around, spoke up.

"Rising straight to the blue clouds, riding the wind and breaking the waves! Good, that name sounds nice."

And so, their five-person team had a name.