Life always finds a way and creates miracles.
Driven by the primal forces of the world and catalyzed by this nuclear radiation event, the entire planet’s ecosystem has been shattered and reshaped.
Wu Ming specifically visited several large human settlements and found that although the survivors outwardly seemed unchanged, a strange transformation had gradually begun within their bodies, enabling them to withstand the current harsh planetary environment.
“New humans?”
He looked at the collected data, speechless: “After the transformation is complete, the strength of these new humans will be four times that of the past, their speed fivefold, and the probability of awakening extraordinary abilities will be extremely high…”
“Never thought this world would complete its transformation in such a manner…”
Now, the world’s energy activity is extremely high, making it highly suitable for the existence and combat of individuals with special abilities.
In contrast, ordinary humans from the past would certainly struggle to adapt here.
“After all, it has ultimately chosen the path of the extraordinary… What will this world become in the future? A post-apocalyptic world of mutants? Or a combination of special abilities and technology? Or will it simply regress back to a primitive slave society, with the extraordinary becoming nobility?”
One question after another surfaced from Wu Ming’s heart.
Undeniably, this global transformation has allowed him to glimpse deeper mysteries of the world, enhancing his understanding of the information left behind by that great being.
“Although this process is not yet complete, the most critical part has already become very clear…”
A glint flashed in Wu Ming’s eyes, and suddenly his figure vanished.
…
Bang!
Before him, inside a building that was mostly ruined, a loud mechanical sound came from within, followed by the wall caving inward, revealing a hidden passage.
Several dark figures emerged, moving cautiously.
They were wrapped tightly in thick clothing, wearing what appeared to be sunglasses.
Wu Ming knew quite well that these were civilians from an underground shelter who could no longer endure the isolation and had come out to investigate.
“Is this still our city, Dole?”
One explorer clearly couldn’t accept the reality, sobbing uncontrollably: “How did our planet become like this? How should I explain all this to my wife and daughter?”
“This damned war!”
All the explorers gritted their teeth angrily, then a woman came over and patted his shoulder in comfort.
“Pull yourself together, Shelford. You’re the only environmental scientist in our team. There are tens of thousands of people underground waiting for our report!”
“I know! I know…”
The explorer, named Shelford, finally recovered from the shock and pulled out various instruments to begin testing: “Damn it!”
After glancing at the readings, he immediately cursed: “Radiation levels are off the charts! The oxygen and nitrogen content in the air has decreased, while nitrogen oxides have significantly increased… Our atmosphere is likely full of holes, leaving us constantly exposed to extremely high levels of ultraviolet radiation…”
“These were already mentioned by the first few groups…”
The woman frowned discontentedly.
“But more importantly…”
Shelford suddenly removed his hat, coat, and even his glasses.
“What are you doing?”
“Have you gone mad?”
Others were alarmed, but Shelford remained calm: “Compared to environmental changes, we ourselves have changed more. We might as well be called ‘radiation people’ now…”
Shelford smiled bitterly: “Didn’t our shelter’s doctor already suspect this? In just a few short months, we’ve undergone changes that would normally take ordinary life hundreds of millions of years!”
“Actually, although the sunlight still feels somewhat glaring, it doesn’t feel particularly uncomfortable!”
The woman hesitated, then also removed her gear, revealing golden curly hair and a fair, beautiful face.
“How is this possible? Have we adapted to this ecological environment?”
Others did the same, curiously examining their surroundings.
“Yes… This planet has undergone some unknown transformation!”
Shelford murmured, looking at the roadside plants, withered and blackened.
He pulled out a machete, slicing open the surface and immediately revealing fresh veins and moisture inside.
“The plants are the same. Although many appear dead, they still retain some vitality. Perhaps with just one rainfall, new mutated plants will grow…”
“Even so, is this planet still our familiar home?”
The woman murmured in a reflective tone.
“Look around. The once-familiar city has turned to ruins. Rebuilding will be extremely difficult. Most importantly, we lack manpower…”
Shelford sighed deeply: “What will happen in the future, even I can’t predict anymore. In any case, the regression of civilization seems inevitable!”
The woman looked around.
The former commercial pedestrian street, skyscrapers, and other buildings had now become ruins.
“The entire world is like this? No! I don’t believe it!”
She seemed to be strengthening her own resolve: “Perhaps somewhere else in the world, there is still a paradise where we can continue our existence…”
The thought of living in such ruins made the woman feel despair.
“Where is this pure land in the world?”
Shelford scoffed disdainfully: “Even if it exists, it’s probably just a fabrication by the Salvation Church priests. Before the apocalypse, I even heard a joke from Caspar City… That Pope Steven claimed he could transport believers’ physical bodies to the divine kingdom, causing many devout believers to rush to Caspar City. But now, that place has become a pile of ashes!”
“Still, we can check out shelters in other cities. There must be many people there!”
The group walked along the empty streets, stepping over broken walls and ruins, like tiny ants.
“Wow!”
Suddenly, the woman cried out in surprise: “Mary’s Tulip counter? Wow, I’ve always wanted their perfume series, but unfortunately, a single bottle used to cost me several years’ salary!”
Inside a half-ruined store by the roadside, the glass display cases were covered in dust, as if decades had passed, though the luxury brand logos were still faintly visible.
Bang!
Unmoved by the woman’s excitement, Shelford stepped forward without hesitation and smashed the glass with a hammer: “You like this brand’s perfume? Take as much as you want!”
The woman opened her mouth in shock, unable to react immediately.
Shelford’s voice carried a sense of depression: “Perhaps only our shelter’s people remain alive in this city. Everything here belongs to us now. Take whatever you want; food won’t be a problem either!”
Although much of the warehouse had been destroyed, Dole City was a major metropolis, and scavenging alone would be enough to sustain the shelter for a long time.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One glass pane after another shattered, revealing gold and silver jewelry, jade and gemstones, fox fur coats… These were things once unattainable for ordinary people, now within easy reach.
“Sigh… Never thought the world would become like this!”
The woman picked up a bottle of perfume, then listlessly put it down.
“Have you realized it now?”
Shelford’s expression was serious as he gathered all the team members: “What do we need now? Money and luxury items? No! The bank is right there, but without human authority defining its value, the money inside is just worthless paper! Gold and silver are the same. How many people in the world today still recognize them as wealth?”
“I can confidently say that for a long time to come, if there is any trade, bartering will be the mainstream! Therefore, right now we only need things that are useful to us!”
Shelford declared loudly: “Food! Purified water! Medicines! And transportation!”
Upon hearing this, the other team members suddenly understood, though many still stuffed their pockets with diamond necklaces.
“Really…”
Seeing their behavior, Shelford shook his head, unsure what to say.
“Shelford, do we need to bring people up from the shelter?”
After regaining her composure, the woman immediately asked a very practical question: “To rebuild a city, even just transporting supplies, the few of us are far from enough!”
“Not yet. Anyway, the supplies are definitely sufficient and won’t run away…”
Shelford sighed: “Lancôme, haven’t you realized yet? To the people in the shelter, we are not just explorers but also test subjects!”
“Test subjects?!”
“Exactly. Although we seem fine now, what about in a few days, or even a couple of weeks?”
Shelford countered: “Therefore, we must stay on the surface for at least forty-eight hours to prove to the shelter people that it’s safe up here…”
Boom!
Shortly after, the sound of boilers and engines roared.
Several off-road steam cars drove on the bumpy road surface, with Shelford fully focused on the steering wheel: “This road condition is the worst I’ve ever seen, but having a car is still better than walking!”
The other team members remained silent, looking out the windows at everything outside.
The city, mostly destroyed, pockmarked with bomb craters, bearing scars of flames, and countless corpses.
The once-luxurious pedestrian street, bustling shops, and crowded crowds had completely vanished.
All of this made the city look like hell.
This scene immediately silenced the previously somewhat excited team members, some looking at the gold and diamonds in their arms, others lowering their heads in quiet sadness.
“So quiet…”
The woman’s face showed a hint of melancholy: “Are we the only survivors in this city?”
“Not necessarily!”
Shelford’s expression turned serious as he stared at several dark spots in the distance: “Something’s moving!”
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