C26 The Guard Team Advanced

Per Chen Yu's plan, the first group of guards to consume the mutated wolf meat totaled ten individuals. Like Lee Hao and his companions, they experienced a surge of power as the meat was digested. The genetic energy within the flesh, while milder than that of the crystal nucleus, permeated their systems with astonishing speed, leaving each guard feeling as though they were on the brink of bursting.

Seizing the moment, Chen Yu began to subject them to a rigorous pounding, one by one. Unlike the brute force approach at X Supermarket, Chen Yu's attentiveness to the guards was nothing short of thorough. Consequently, the pain they endured was significantly less than that of the supermarket group, yet the sensation of power vibrating into their bones and cells was almost too much to bear.

If any guard couldn't withstand the process, unlike those at the supermarket, Chen Yu allowed them to opt out and use the crystal nucleus to achieve their breakthrough. The neighborhood guards had to endure the entire procedure, with Chen Yu personally verifying that they had reached their physical limits before granting permission for advancement.

After some time, nearly every guard had successfully completed their breakthrough, reaching the peak of their potential. It took Chen Yu close to two hours to assist the first batch of ten guards through their evolution.

Upon inspection, Chen Yu could confidently assert that the guards, now Evolvers, were twenty percent stronger than those from the supermarket. When compared to average Evolvers, they boasted a thirty to fifty percent increase in strength. Moreover, with their richer combat experience, the guards could take on two supermarket adversaries single-handedly without falling short.

This was sufficient. Even without the emergence of new Awakened individuals, Chen Yu felt content.

The second batch...

The third batch...

The fourth batch...

No new Awakened ones appeared...

Observing the final six guards before him, Chen Yu inwardly lamented the exceedingly low odds of awakening such abilities. It was indeed a stroke of luck that within two days, his team had seen the emergence of seven Awakened individuals like Lee Hao, Liu Qiqi, Soong Yue, Chu Chenhao, Liu Xingzhong, Cui Yingying, and Bai Zijian—a true miracle.

The simultaneous awakening of Lee Hao and his three companions was a pleasant shock for Chen Yu.

"Is everyone ready?" Chen Yu inquired, looking at the six radiant individuals before him.

"We're ready!"

Their voices thundered in unison, their spirits soaring.

For these six, today was bound to be etched in their memories forever.

They would never forget the events of this day for as long as they lived.

Today marked a pivotal moment in their destinies.

Today—they would become Evolvers!

They would stand as the bulwark of human survival in this post-apocalyptic world, transforming into the superhumans that others looked up to.

This transformation promised them not just glory, but also a safer existence for themselves and their families in this ravaged world.

Thus, despite Chen Yu's stoic and slightly icy demeanor, everyone felt closer to him, filled with a mix of warmth and admiration.

These guards were selected for their sharp wits and rapid adaptability.

Unlike ordinary people still paralyzed by the terror of the apocalypse, they understood the significance of what Chen Yu meant to them.

Without further ado, Chen Yu got to work. After the six consumed the flesh and blood of the mutated wolf, he promptly employed his power vibration technique to diffuse the energy from the awakened beast within them, unlocking their full physical potential and compelling them to unleash their power.

An hour passed.

Having endured the ordeal, the six sat cross-legged before Chen Yu, consuming crystal nuclei to advance further.

Chen Yu watched them, his expectations for another superpower awakening tempered by experience.

Yet, life has a way of surprising you just when you're about to give up hope.

Against all odds, two of the six miraculously awakened their superpowers.

Wind Blade and Stone Skin were common abilities, but becoming superpowered meant their strength now eclipsed that of all other guards.

Chen Yu did not hesitate to express his approval and satisfaction with the two.

The pair, a man and a woman, were so overwhelmed with emotion that they were nearly at a loss for words.

Chen Yu was thoroughly pleased with how things were progressing.

After the entire guard squad had achieved their breakthroughs, Chen Yu, who had been on edge for two days straight, finally allowed himself a moment of relaxation. But this brief respite made him acutely aware of the overwhelming fatigue weighing on both his mind and body. The intense workload and two sleepless nights had pushed him to his breaking point. Subconsciously, his mind went blank and his body staggered slightly.

Chu Chenhao picked up on Chen Yu's fatigue almost instantly. "Boss Yu, you need to rest!" he urged. "You've been up for two days and nights. With the guards and us four, the neighborhood is in good hands!" Chu Chenhao quickly steadied Chen Yu, concern evident in his voice.

Chen Yu was well aware that he had hit his limit. Without further ado, he briefed the four companions and headed home. Instead of going to his own room, he moved a sofa into his parents' room to check on them. Since Chen Yu had been preoccupied, Lee Hao and the others had been caring for his parents. Following Chen Yu's instructions, they periodically placed a crystal nucleus in his parents' mouths.

Despite his parents still being unconscious, their health was remarkably better than when they were awake, with a healthy, rosy complexion and robust vitality. Once Chen Yu was satisfied that his parents were stable, he lay down on the sofa, still fully clothed. Within moments, he fell into a deep, restful sleep, his breathing slow and strong.

Yet, as Chen Yu slipped into a profound slumber, his half-closed eyes suddenly snapped open, revealing his black pupils flashing with a stark white imprint. It was the hazy projection of a fragment...

Thousands of miles away, deep within a secret base in Yan Capital, a girl looked at a pendant around her neck with astonishment. The pendant featured a piece of meteorite that was now emitting a red glow. The blood-red color swirled within the cellular structure of the meteorite fragment, which resembled a beating heart, seemingly imbued with life. In the girl's mind, the sound of a strong, steady heartbeat echoed. Her heart, which had remained unshaken even in the face of the apocalypse, now felt a mysterious ripple spreading through it, as if touched by an unseen force.

In an instant, the girl thought she saw a distinct silhouette dart before her eyes.

Instinctively, she reached out to caress the apparition's cheek.

But in the blink of an eye, it vanished, leaving her with nothing but the chill of the metal wall and the flurry of scientists working behind her.

"Was it just my imagination?"

Holding the meteorite fragment, indistinguishable from the ones she'd held before, the girl whispered to herself.