CHAPTER 1192: CHAPTER 282: THOSE IN FAVOR, THOSE OPPOSED

"Ah, youth is truly wonderful, so full of vitality even when their limbs are severed," Professor Jin remarked, standing in front of Guo Kai, observing his condition. It was indeed a pitiful sight, reduced to a human stick.

"Ah..."

Guo Kai roared and struggled. Even though he was an Awakener with greatly enhanced abilities, tied up like this, he was utterly helpless. "Why are you doing this? Let me go."

Professor Jin chuckled, "Adorable human, don’t shout like that. You were the puppet we raised, and you are already quite admirable. It’s time for you to be used as material; otherwise, did you really think you could hold your position at the settlement so easily?"

Lying there, Guo Kai glared at Professor Jin.

He understood.

He finally understood everything.

He once thought he was the victor but realized everything was under someone else’s control.

Professor Jin smiled, untying the ropes, and carried Guo Kai away.

On the way, Guo Kai was terrified. He didn’t know what awaited him, but when he saw the flesh tentacles writhing down certain corridors,

he felt a deep sense of dread.

A foreboding feeling emerged in his heart.

When he arrived at the place where Qin Ling was, he stared in disbelief at the horrific zombie-like figure, utterly petrified.

"Monster, what kind of monster is this?"

Guo Kai shouted in panic.

Qin Ling was clearly enraged, being called a monster was something he despised most. He didn’t want to be in this form either, but he had no choice.

Therefore, the look he gave Guo Kai was like that of prey.

Plop!

A thick, long tentacle slithered like a python, approaching, and as it got closer, Guo Kai was utterly panicked, his face turning deathly pale.

The tentacle wrapped around Guo Kai’s body, pulling him closer.

"No, please, no."

Guo Kai struggled, yet no matter how hard he tried, it was always the same outcome, without any change.

Qin Ling’s lower body suddenly split open, revealing a maw lined with sharp teeth, a sight that made Guo Kai break out into a cold sweat, unsure what to do.

"Ah..."

Squelch!

Squelch!

The tentacle delivered Guo Kai into the maw.

It closed.

Then the sound of chewing came.

Qin Ling showed a satisfied expression, slowly savoring the taste of the body.

Professor Jin, on the side, remained indifferent.

He had seen all sorts of disgusting scenes.

Compared to those, this was nothing.

"Excellent, splendid genes," Qin Ling was very pleased with such prey, and his gaze toward Professor Jin was much calmer, thinking that this guy did something relatively commendable.

"Are you satisfied, Boss?" Professor Jin asked.

"Very satisfied," Qin Ling gave a very approving answer, "How is the settlement being handled?"

Professor Jin replied, "Boss, humans are social creatures. The settlement losing him doesn’t affect anything. It won’t be long before a new controller emerges. Only the strongest can rise to power, leading to rapid cultivation and the emergence of similar food like just now."

"Good, I already feel the genes within me boiling. I am about to transform."

Qin Ling felt the changes within.

Replacing genes was a monumental task that would cause a chain reaction.

Professor Jin slowly retreated. He knew the upcoming scenes were best not witnessed as they might somewhat impact his senses.

The settlement.

The disappearance of Guo Kai brought a brief tranquility to the settlement.

Despite the rampant zombies, for some Awakeners, the settlement remained the safest place. Here, strength spoke volumes; as long as you were powerful, you ruled.

During this period,

survivors began arriving one after another.

They learned many things. Some wanted to go to the Sunshine Shelter, but the Awakeners here held a poor impression of Lin Fan because he threatened their interests.

Various reasons prevented them from speaking favorably about the Sunshine Shelter.

Therefore, they often told the newcomers that going to the Sunshine Shelter was the most foolish act. In the midst of exaggerated tales,

many were deceived.

After all, if one person says something, it might not matter much, but if everyone says it, the truth becomes irrelevant. The truth is determined by these people.

"Bro, Guo Kai hasn’t shown up for several days. Do you think he might be dead?"

Nearby a tent, five people were gathered together, their attire indistinguishable from wasteland adventurers of bygone days.

They were some of the earliest Awakeners to reside here.

They had lived through the era of Lu Hao,

experienced the era of Pang Yuan,

and even the time when Mutants hunted them.

Yet the era of Guo Kai was more dangerous than any they’d encountered before; his tyrannical and ruthless manner left no room for dissent.

The one addressed as "Bro" was a burly man, covered in countless scars, each a souvenir from battles against zombies.

Having faced life and death, these Awakeners bore different mindsets.

"Hard to say, don’t rush, just wait,"

the burly man’s gaze was as fierce as a predator’s, watching the surrounding Awakeners intently, waiting for someone to step up.