Volume One, Chapter Seven: The Genetic Serum
“Beginner’s gift pack?!” Lin Ye’s heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed instantly by immense joy!
Starting out with system rewards—this was practically the norm for apocalypse survival! He had been so focused on exploring the system’s functions that he nearly forgot this crucial detail!
“Accepted!”
[ Ding! Congratulations, Marshal, on successfully claiming the ‘Rising Commander’ beginner’s gift pack! You have received the following items: ]
[ 1. Marshal-exclusive military uniform set (including everyday wear, formal attire, and combat uniform) x1 set ]
[ 2. Basic anti-zombie virus serum x1 ]
[ 3. Basic gene enhancement potion x1 ]
[ 4. Random elite special operations squad from the Great Summer Empire (12 members) x1 ]
[ All items have been delivered to the system storage. The Marshal may retrieve them at will through mental command. ]
“Hiss—!”
Staring at the item list in his mind, Lin Ye gasped, a refreshing thrill shooting up his spine straight into his mind!
An exclusive uniform?
A symbol of status, overflowing with prestige! He might not need it right now, but it was undeniably handsome!
In fact, the design looked even better than some military uniforms crafted by certain art students.
Anti-zombie virus serum? This was essentially a golden ticket to survival in the apocalypse! Priceless and irreplaceable!
Gene enhancement potion? The name itself was impressive! A full-body upgrade?
But the heaviest hitter was the random elite special ops squad from the Great Summer Empire?!
Twelve live, highly trained, and well-equipped special forces soldiers!
This wasn’t a beginner’s pack; it was practically gifting a divine army right from the start!
“Treasure! Absolute treasure!” Lin Ye’s fingers trembled with excitement.
Without hesitation, he summoned into his hand two syringes: one filled with a pale blue, clear liquid, the other with a vibrant green potion inside a glass vial.
He grabbed the anti-virus serum first.
A clear label was affixed to the syringe: [ Basic Anti-Zombie Virus Serum: Injection grants 90% immunity to zombie virus infection (bites, scratches, blood contact, etc.) ]
“Ninety percent? That’s enough!” Lin Ye didn’t hesitate. Rolling up his sleeve, he aimed for a vein and swiftly injected the chilling liquid.
A slight cool tingling sensation spread along his veins before fading away as if nothing had happened, but Lin Ye knew he now held a life-saving talisman.
Next, he took the vial of the emerald green gene enhancement potion.
The label’s description made his heart race: [ Basic Gene Enhancement Potion: Oral administration. Significantly improves user’s genetic sequence, comprehensively enhancing physical attributes (strength, speed, endurance, reflexes, self-healing, neural response, etc.). Effectiveness approximately five times that of an average top-tier soldier. Note: The transformation process is accompanied by intense pain; not recommended for the weak-willed. ]
“Five times a top soldier?!” Lin Ye’s eyes nearly popped out!
A normal human’s physical limit index ranged roughly from 1 to 9. Through grueling training and exceptional talent, elite soldiers could reach about 10 to 15.
Five times that?
That meant terrifying values around 50 to 75!
This was far beyond human limits!
“This… this is godlike! A cheat code tailor-made for the apocalypse!” Lin Ye felt his blood boil.
“Though it defies logic, the apocalypse is here, zombies roam everywhere—who cares about logic? I like it!”
Without further hesitation, he pulled off the vial’s stopper and tossed back the strange, herb-scented green liquid in one gulp.
The liquid felt cool and carried a peculiar sweetness as it slid down his throat.
But that sweetness lasted less than three seconds!
“Ugh—!!!”
An indescribable agony, as if his body was being torn apart and crushed down to the cellular level, exploded without warning from every corner inside him!
This wasn’t mere surface pain; it was a terrifying transformation reaching down to his marrow, nerves, and genetic chains!
Lin Ye felt his bones groan under unbearable strain, muscle fibers forcibly torn and rewoven.
“Thud!” He couldn’t even let out a full scream before his vision went black.
His whole body collapsed stiffly onto the floor, convulsing uncontrollably, curling up.
Beads of sweat soaked through his freshly changed clothes; his face was pale as paper, teeth grinding so fiercely that his gums bled!
This torment far surpassed the pain of being ripped open by zombies in his past life—that was physical pain.
This was a torture of body, mind, and soul forcibly elevated to a higher plane!
With his current willpower, he simply couldn’t endure!
Less than a minute later, the intense agony completely swallowed his consciousness.
Lin Ye’s vision was plunged into utter darkness; his body gradually stilled in unconscious convulsions, with only the gentle rise and fall of his chest proving he was still alive.
…
Outside, the crimson-black rain continued to