C16 The Butterfly Effect!

On the morning of the 22nd, at 8 a.m., the earth-shattering screams and commotion simultaneously jolted awake all five residents of Dormitory 4014 in Dormitory No. 47 at the Engineering Department.

Tian Dagang, who slept nearest the door, flung off his blanket, clad only in his shorts, and grumbled as he swung the door open to investigate the chaos outside.

No sooner had the door opened than a ghastly creature with a green face and sharp fangs, alerted by the noise, spun around and lunged at Tian Dagang.

"Ghost!" Tian Dagang yelped in terror.

With a 'bang,' he slammed the door shut and fumbled to lock it manually, his heart racing as he clutched his chest.

Outside, the relentless pounding of zombies on the door continued until they were distracted by other living people attempting to flee, and they gave chase.

Inside, the other four roommates exchanged bewildered glances.

Kong Yifan whispered urgently, "Fourth Bro, what the hell is happening?"

"Damn it! There's some kind of monster outside, like... like the zombies from Resident Evil. Could that online post from the day before yesterday actually be true? Is today really doomsday?"

Kong Yifan leapt from his bed and rushed to the window, yanking back the curtains to peer below. After a moment, he turned back, his face ashen, "Looks like the internet prophecy was right. The end of the world might be late, but it's never absent. Ugh, what's that awful smell?"

They all started searching the room and discovered that Yu Yang's face and arms were smeared with a black, foul-smelling substance.

Xu Peng's body bore similar black grime.

Du Hai was also covered in a blackish-yellow substance.

Yu Yang let out a low gasp and dashed into the bathroom, stripping down and starting to wash without even noticing the water was ice cold. In the dead of winter, the chill seemed to barely register.

From outside the bathroom, Tian Dagang's voice rang out with a hint of mockery, "If it's the end of the world, maybe Old Sixth and the others are undergoing some kind of transformation. But why aren't Second Bro and I included?"

Yu Yang's expression shifted at the mention of "the end of the world" and "marrow cleansing."

Unbeknownst to his dorm mates, Yu Yang had possessed a special talent since childhood—his sense of smell was extraordinarily keen. He had kept this secret to himself, fearing ridicule for what some might call a "dog's nose."

Upon awakening, he detected a unique, pleasant scent mingling with his boss's familiar presence. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: Had the boss secretly returned last night?

Yu Yang also noticed his exceptional state of being; his body felt unusually light and powerful, as if he could take flight with the slightest effort. Additionally, there was a sensation of energy coursing through his abdomen.

When he focused on this energy, he discovered a transformation—he had vanished from sight!

He had become invisible!

Indeed, he had awakened an ability of Extrasensory Perception and acquired enhanced speed!

In his state of invisibility, Yu Yang was astounded.

With just a thought, he materialized once more.

Students admitted to Y University were certainly not lacking in intelligence. Yu Yang pieced together the clues: his boss's aura, the mysterious fragrance, the reality of the apocalypse, Tian Dagang's mention of "Purification," the disparity in the level of Purification between Xu Peng, Du Hai, and himself, and the unaffected state of Kong Yifan and Tian Dagang.

The puzzle was coming together.

In the bathroom, Yu Yang's face was a canvas of complex emotions, his heart a tumult of thoughts.

Boss, did you foresee the apocalypse?

Boss, did you stumble upon some divine treasure? Was it because there wasn't enough to go around that you chose me first, then Xu Peng and Du Hai, leaving Kong Yifan and Tian Dagang out in the cold?

Boss, it's clear now—you've always cared for me the most. To spare my feelings, you've helped me in secret all along. This time, you've given me the most crucial assistance without wanting me to know. If not for my unique ability, I'd still be oblivious.

Boss, if secrecy is your wish, I'll guard it with my life!

Boss, I, Yu Yang, am an orphan with no parents to speak of. From this moment on, my life is in your hands!

"Boss, the apocalypse is upon us. Where are you now? Are you alright?"

"Boss, I'm waiting for your return!"

The pounding on the bathroom door by Xu Peng shattered the silence, breaking through Yu Yang's reverie.

"Kid, hurry up and get out once you're done showering. Hai and I reek over here."

While Yu Yang was lost in contemplation, the others had discerned the transformations in Xu Peng and Du Hai.

To sum it up, Xu Peng's strength had tripled, and his vision and hearing had significantly improved. Yet, it wasn't off the charts—he was just a notch above an elite athlete.

Du Hai, on the other hand, had seen his physical condition double, making him far stronger than the average person.

Their curiosity about Yu Yang's changes was palpable, with Kong Yifan and Tian Dagang wearing particularly complex expressions.

It dawned on everyone that in this irrational apocalypse, the better one's physical condition, the greater the odds of survival.

Sadly, the fates hadn't favored the self-important Kong Yifan and Tian Dagang.

Emerging from the bathroom in his bathrobe, Yu Yang responded coolly to the barrage of questions, "I think my physical condition is similar to Third Brother's. The most notable difference might be my running speed—it's probably quite fast now."

Cautious Yu Yang kept his invisibility ESP to himself. He had sensed a shift in the dormitory's dynamics, particularly in the treatment from the boss.

Kong Yifan took charge, "Okay, Third Brother and Fifth Brother, wrap up your cleaning quickly. Then we'll strategize our next move. Brothers, the apocalypse is both peril and prospect. This could be our moment to shine."

A tentative Du Hai chimed in, "Does anyone know how the Boss is faring?"

Kong Yifan's face tensed as he replied, "Boss was likely with Ya yesterday. This zombie mutation seems to favor the physically fit. Both Boss and Ya are in top shape; they should be fine."

Inwardly, Yu Yang mused, "Even if everyone else is in trouble, the Boss will be fine."

Lin Chen's covert maneuvers had subtly shifted Yu Yang's perspective on his brothers, particularly his wariness towards Kong Yifan and Tian Dagang.

He was convinced that Lin Chen had good reason for treating them differently.

Yet, he hadn't yet realized the shift in his own mindset.

Simultaneously, in a small mountain village in the northern part of Seamoor, Lin Yuanshan and his wife awoke.

"Child, why do I feel like there's something moving in my belly? Could it be happening again? Oh dear, I'm already so old, how could I possibly..."

"Oh, child, why are my palms sweating nonstop? Oh no, am I dying?"

"Child, why is your skin glowing with a golden light? Child, have you turned into a monster too?"

Twelve minutes later, the couple opened their bedroom door to find a dog face that seemed to be grinning at them.

"Oh, child, what kind of creature is this? It looks a bit like Dahei, only much chubbier."

After a tumult of confused voices, Lin Yuanshan's resonant voice emerged: "Wife, it looks like the apocalypse has indeed arrived. The power's out, the phone won't turn on, we've developed Extrasensory Perception, and even Dahei seems to understand human speech. I'm concerned about Chen and Yaya. I hope they're safe and have also gained these abilities. Let's stay inside today and see what changes occur. Once we understand what's happening, we can check on our relatives tomorrow. For now, fetch my old radio and let's see if we can catch any broadcasts from the government. Thank goodness Chen advised us to stock up on batteries. Today, we'll read through 'Dragon Emperor of Doom' as Chen suggested and see what insights it offers."

At that moment, Lin Yuanshan was unaware of the extraordinary favor the heavens had bestowed upon his family!

His son Lin Chen was a one-in-a-billion Awakened, while he, his wife, and their daughter Lin Ya were among the rare one-in-ten-thousand Innate Evolvers, with Lin Ya possessing the unique ability to perceive through four different senses.

Even Dahei, the family's loyal guard dog, had transformed into an 'evolved beast' rather than merely a 'mutated beast'.

Such was the butterfly effect of Lin Chen's rebirth!