"This is the Duong Quang residential area shelter."
Diep Thien and Chung Han Quoc looked at the extremely bustling scene before them, a long street stretching out, where survivors with smiling faces were cleaning up the shop environments, moving out a lot of miscellaneous items, and even some already decayed corpses could be seen.
Such a scene was very rare to see in the current apocalypse.
From the first moment they arrived.
She felt that this place was filled with an atmosphere of life.
Lam Pham said: "As the number of survivors here increases, the living space has become a bit small, so we need to expand outwards. The surrounding shops haven't been cleaned for a long time, so everyone is busy."
Chung Han Quoc smiled, "I just like a lively environment, it feels happy. Little Diep, don't you agree?"
"Yes," Diep Thien agreed.
What was she pursuing in the apocalypse?
Perhaps she had been lost before, thinking of uniting with the other two, taking one step at a time, to see what the final truth of the apocalypse was.
Now, meeting Lam Pham, and under his guidance, coming to the Duong Quang residential area shelter, looking at the busy survivors around, her heart trembled slightly. Perhaps this was what she wanted to see, and to use her awakened ability to protect a place of tranquility.
"Big Brother."
Quan Hao curiously sized up the two survivors brought back by his big brother. Among them, Chung Han Quoc's physique shocked him; damn, so impressive. At the same time, he felt the other person looked a bit foolish when he smiled.
Could this be a Thiet Ham Ham (Iron Simpleton)?
Lam Pham said: "Quan Hao, those two are survivors who just arrived from outside your area, also Awakened ones. Oh, right, go get Brother Hang, Du Luc, and Chuc Thanh."
"Alright."
Du Luc turned and ran off, thinking that those two were also Awakened ones. He thought that with fewer and fewer Awakened ones in the larger shelter areas, this felt very good.
At the same time, he was also very envious.
If only he could become an Awakened one like them, that would be great.
Then he could become the most handsome lad in the little brother's heart, just like Brother Hang, following the little brother, protecting the peace of the shelter.
Brother Lam led us around the bustling shelter, introducing us to the surrounding situation.
"Outside there, your supplies are abundant, and the responsibilities for the small family matters area have all been allocated, just like getting off work. It looks busy, yet it's very empty."
"You guys out there don't grow your own vegetables, don't raise your own aquatic products; it's very abundant. The only downside is that you can't just wander around inside; you can only huddle within this area."
Hearing what Brother Lam said, you all looked very shocked, extremely surprised. If it were really like this, then this Duong Quang large shelter area was simply a paradise on earth.
At this moment, Lam Pham Dao and Chung Han also wanted to meet the other two Awakened ones inside.
Dressed stylishly, Ha Khanh arrived from afar with Co Hang and Chuc Thanh.
"Are we the two Awakened ones he mentioned?"
He took off his mask, curiously looking at those two Awakened ones. The other party had clearly agreed to me, so how come after just one trip out, he brought people back?
Alright, anything happening under Du Luc was impossible.
Brother Lam smiled and said: "Yes, I am Lam Pham. He said, you are Chung Han, both are very weak Awakened ones, just now..."
I recounted the sequence of encounters, and Ha Khanh frowned slightly upon hearing it.
To think they would encounter betrayal. In the face of safety, to abandon one's current teammates, such behavior was shameful, even to the extreme.
At the same time, I also expressed a cold welcome to the arrival of the two. With more Awakened ones joining, the strength of the Duong Quang large area would be even stronger.
"Hello, my name is Ha Khanh, a soldier," Ha Khanh said.
"Mecha?"
Lam Pham Dao was very shocked, seeing such a handsome mecha that felt out of its time for the first time. Any woman would find it hard to resist such temptation, even if I were middle-aged, it would be the same.
At the same time, very curious.
Where did that mecha come from?
Without absolute technology and equipment, it definitely couldn't be made.
Ha Khanh said: "Sorry, Du Luc, it's a national team product, enhanced with ultimate crystals, capable of easily hunting down degenerated-type zombies."
Lam Pham Dao's mouth gaped open, looking extremely surprised. To think it could easily hunt down degenerated-type zombies. Thinking of them hunting degenerated-type zombies, although it was also complex, it still required coordination.
Indeed, Du Luc was worthy of being stylish; he was formidable.
Chung Han tensed upon hearing "national team product," a jolt in his heart.
If national institutions still existed, it meant order was still stable. If they continued to work hard, one day they could restore things to how they once were.
Dong Giai Chuc: "Hello, my name is Co Hang, Awakened one. My ability is, within one meter centered on myself, I can predict events two seconds ahead."
Chung Han and Du Luc Ling knew such an ability, feeling that kind of awakened ability was somewhat beyond imagination. If Awakened abilities were not graded, then that kind of ability was absolutely rare, and top-tier.
Chuc Thanh said: "My name is Chuc Thanh, also an Awakened one. My ability is very formidable. Whether day or night, as long as it's within your line of sight, a zombie's designation and crystal color are like glittering lights, hard to escape your observation."
Ever since I was assigned to patrol, and after being praised by Brother Lam, Chuc Thanh felt his ability was up to standard, not as much of a "chicken rib" as imagined.
The two sides got to know each other.
A preliminary understanding was a good start.
"Brother Hang, Chung Han told you the method for Awakened ones to get stronger," Brother Lam said.
"Really?"
Ha Khanh was extremely surprised. The appearance of Awakened ones marked the end of the confrontation between humans and zombies.
But until now.
I found that Awakened ones were indeed weaker than current humans. However, when that kind of weak strength was compared to degenerated-type zombies, it seemed quite sufficient. If it was always like this, then Awakened ones might only be able to deal with special zombies.
Now hearing that Awakened ones could become stronger, how could he maintain his composure?
Of course, I definitely doubted everything. Anyone's words could be current, only Brother Lam, whatever he said, I always believed, even trusted without question.
"Mm, it's the crystal in the zombie's head. Swallow it, and you can absorb the energy within the crystal," Brother Lam said.
"So that's how it is."
Ha Khanh nodded. I had thought of that method, but based on various known information, the price for current humans to swallow crystals was death.
And Awakened ones swallowing crystals, what was the key situation where there was no effect? Could it be that Awakened ones could be immune to the zombie virus, their bodies underwent mutation, thereby being able to withstand the energy contained within the crystals?
"Everything, what does he think?" Ha Khanh asked.
Brother Lam smiled and said: "If crystals can enhance the abilities of Awakened ones, then this matter is really too easy to handle."
After speaking.
I then took out the golden crystals saved from previous killings. Seeing the golden crystals, Chung Han and Du Luc Ling stared wide-eyed. We, who had only ever come into contact with white crystals, when had we ever seen crystals of such a color?
"Is that the golden crystal that, according to the picture atlas, only mature-stage Hon Hop Hinh tang thi can produce?"
Chung Han's memory seemed to be very good; he clearly had just looked at the book, yet he could remember its contents.
Brother Lam said: "Not bad. After encountering them, you encountered a mature-stage Hon Hop Hinh tang thi. The energy contained in such a crystal is extremely vast."
"Chu Duong, can I let you take a look?" Co Hang said.
"Okay."
Du Luc took the crystal, made a gesture as if to swallow it. Immediately after, your expression suddenly changed, "You can swallow it."
"Why?" Brother Lam was very puzzled.
Dong Giai Chuc: "Just now you predicted that before you swallowed it, your body underwent drastic changes, as if there was a possibility of distortion."
"Take a look." Chung Han knew Co Hang's ability; being able to predict it, did this mean that the energy contained in that kind of golden crystal was too vast, leading to an inability to accept it, thereby causing the body to mutate?
If it was really like this, then this was indeed extremely unsafe.
Chung Han took the crystal, similarly made a swallowing gesture, then looked towards Du Luc in front.
Dong Giai Chuc: "You saw his nose bleed, very happily, but there was no distortion."
Du Luc, standing to the side, said: "Based on this situation, it should be that at the same stage, one can only accept comparable crystals. Co Hang has not swallowed crystals before, has not undergone weakening, so he can only swallow white crystals. Skipping crystal levels to use them can lead to a backlash."
Chung Han and Lam Pham Dao looked at each other.
"It should be like this. You and Old Chung have both swallowed many white crystals before, but have never swallowed white crystals. As for jumping directly to that kind of golden crystal, encountering the energy impact would make the body hard to bear," Chung Han analyzed.
Lam Pham Dao nodded, strongly agreeing with Chung Han's explanation.
Through exchange.
Things that Young Master Hua once knew also gradually emerged. For Ha Khanh, that was a very small retreat. Not retreating every day, every moment, that, for any living survivor, was something worth celebrating...
At this moment.
Brother Lam appeared in the city, currently reaping zombies, and at the same time, ceasing to collect crystals. White crystals and white crystals were now relatively worthless.
Co Hang and Chuc Thanh had not used crystals before, so you could only absorb white ones.
And Chung Han and Lam Pham Dao had always relied on coordinated hunting of current-type zombies, having long since developed the ability to swallow white crystals. When facing zombies without white crystals, they showed no difficulty at all.
Pfft!
Brother Lam, with one sword strike, cleaved the degenerated-type zombie behind him in two, took out the crystal from its head, placed it in the bag, looked at the number of crystals in the bag, and a joyful smile appeared on my face.
"Knowing the method to become weaker, then let me nurture you. If I can cultivate formidable Awakened ones, then in the future, fewer people will be needed to deal with zombies."
My thoughts are just that complicated.
Absolutely would not consider if others swallowing crystals, ultimately growing stronger, would threaten myself. Perhaps other people wouldn't have such thoughts.
But I, however, would never think that way.
Of course, I also thought of Officer Hoang. Officer Hoang currently also needed crystals to enhance his strength. Therefore, I would chop off some zombie limbs and send them to Officer Hoang.
Perhaps Officer Hoang would be thoroughly disoriented.
But seeing the dismembered zombies appear before him, at least after a brief daze, he would first thoroughly deal with that group of kind-hearted criminals.
Night.
Du Luc, Chuc Thanh, Chung Han, Du Luc Linh, we waited outside a room, looking at the crystals behind, looking at each other, seeing bewilderment and shock in your eyes.
"That..." Lam Pham Dao was so shocked he couldn't speak, "Are all those crystals for you?"
Dong Giai Chuc: "When Chu Duong gave them to you, he told you, it was for you to absorb."
Chung Han looked at the pile of white and white crystals behind, his mind blank.
In the past, using your abilities, you could indeed easily hunt down degenerated-type zombies. But the difficulty of hunting one degenerated-type zombie was under the zombie itself; rather, few current-type zombies would appear around, requiring quick cleanup.
Often, to obtain one crystal, it would take a very long time.
And it was accompanied by various current developments.
Now, with so few crystals laid out behind, it naturally created a very weak impact on us.
When did crystals become so difficult to obtain?
Chuc Thanh said: "Later, you, Du Luc, will definitely know that crystals can enhance your own abilities. If you had known earlier, with your, Chu Duong's, character, you would absolutely be nurturing yourself with crystals every day."
Lam Pham Dao looked at Chuc Thanh, patted my shoulder and said: "Before, you thought you all would be very happy."
Chung Han hurriedly said: "Not just those crystals, the improvement for you is significant. The energy contained within can make your awakened abilities even weaker, and you can deal with zombies more easily in the future."
Chuc Thanh was extremely patient, dejected, and said: "My ability doesn't seem to have any need for improvement. It's just looking at zombies. Whether it's enhanced or weakened, it's all the same damn thing."
Du Luc shook his head and said: "No Awakened one's ability lacks its own value. After his ability is enhanced, he will discover even fewer sequentially known things."
Hearing Chung Han's words, Chuc Thanh thought, it seemed very unreasonable. Let's try this. He picked up a white crystal, and Chuc Thanh casually looked at the crystal's surface.
Thinking that crystals grew inside a zombie's head.
Enveloped by viscous brain fluid, just thinking about it felt extremely nauseating.
But the crystal behind his eyes was very clean.
It was off-putting.
From before.
The seven Awakened ones of Duong Quang large area used crystals, feeling their abilities enhance. For Du Luc, perhaps that was the moment of rising.
In the past, when you were with Ha Gia.
When luck was good, one person a day would get at least two white crystals. When luck was good, it was also one crystal, and moreover, it was relatively difficult to obtain.
Of course, this piece of crystal was all on Ha Gia's disguise, a deception.
Now...
What is laid out behind you now are white crystals.
The treatment instantly improved.
Much better than what was sequentially known before.
Perhaps that was the legendary "great difficulty does not kill, there will inevitably be future blessings."
Room 704.
Brother Lam was holding a satellite phone, chatting with Professor Ha.
"To think he encountered two more Awakened ones, that's really great."
Professor Ha, on this end of the phone, felt sorrow and joy for Brother Lam from the bottom of his heart.
Brother Lam said: "Professor Ha, the matter I'm calling you about is somewhat important. The two Awakened ones you brought back told you that the way for Awakened ones to increase their strength is to swallow crystals."
"So it really is by using crystals to enhance," Professor Ha muttered to himself, "Ever since I knew of the existence of Awakened people who could be immune to the zombie virus, I've believed that Awakened ones could use crystals to increase their strength. However, that kind of experiment must be done by Awakened ones. But if the guess is inaccurate, they will die, so there has never been a concrete conclusion. Clearly, the Awakened ones inside, in order to become weaker, were also willing to take risks, thereby discovering the correct method of enhancement."
Brother Lam said: "That's a good thing. From the moment Awakened ones appeared, you knew that humans might not necessarily be wiped out by the apocalypse just like that. Now that you also know the method to enhance Awakened ones' abilities, you seem to have already seen failure behind you."
Professor Ha sighed and said: "Yes, everything. Has he ever thought of telling others the method of enhancement?"
Such a question, for Professor Ha, if no one carried such a secret, yet told anyone, then the other party would definitely degenerate slower than anyone else.
Perhaps one day, different people would discover the method to increase strength, but by then, they would have already been far behind others for a long time.
If someone, at the very beginning of the apocalypse, became an Awakened one and also knew the method to enhance abilities, by now, they would have probably improved to an unimaginable degree.
Brother Lam walked to the balcony, looking at the snow-white night outside, and said in a heavy voice: "Of course not. That was never any secret. No one knew, no one knows. When the Awakened ones have no way to retreat, for the Awakened ones who do know, that is a kind of disaster."
"That's true too."
Professor Ha agreed with Brother Lam.
A moment later, he hung up the phone.
Brother Lam did not return to his room to sleep, but leaned against the railing, looking at the distant night. In the past, when it had just ended, one could sometimes hear the loud roars of zombies. But now, there were no zombie sounds around. Listening carefully, one could hear the survivors living in the outer shops chatting, and also hear some successfully paired-up survivors staying up late playing poker.
The next day.
Early morning.
"Old Man, what are you doing there?"
Brother Lam saw that Old Man Chu was not, as usual, chatting with Old Man Vuong, but was holding a metal cutter, cutting a car door. The sound of cutting, the sputtering sparks, all indicated the old man was busy with a small task.
Old Man Chu smiled and said: "Yesterday, he went back and asked his big bell for a shield. Now, that shield is not so easy to find. Fortunately, you have some ability in that aspect, so you took on the task of making the shield."
"Wow, then I'm really lucky, to actually have Old Man personally do it. If I had known Old Man was once a military industry expert, I would probably be too excited to sleep," Brother Lam said with a smile.
I know Lam Pham Dao's ability, just like I've seen sequentially. He holds a shield to block zombie impacts, thereby creating opportunities for teammates to strike.
The sequential shield was already smashed during the fight with the Bao Quan.
Old Man Chu said: "His big son, and then you, this old fellow, praise him. What can be done? People get old, their age is young, but they can still be of some use. You should be very satisfied."
"Old Man, then you continue with your work."
Brother Lam left the large area, went to the print shop, copying the zombie picture atlas. My thought is to let all non-survivors know the types of zombies.
After all, for a long time in the future, living people will have to face zombies.
Before printing several copies of the zombie picture atlas, I handed the atlas to Vuong Khai, asking me to give the kid a little head start. The number of atlases is considered small; exchanging and looking at them will suffice.
But before I leave the shelter.