Chapter Twenty-Four: Devouring with Superior Abilities

A new week has arrived, and I'm hoping for a few recommendation votes to help my book climb the new releases chart. Could everyone spare some? Please…

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The term "Half-Zombie" sounds rather unpleasant, evoking an image of some weak, insignificant failure—why not just call it a zombie? Half a zombie? It’s as if weakness is written all over it.

But reality is different. The other half of a Half-Zombie is not an ordinary human, but a genetically enhanced individual.

The reason a Half-Zombie comes into being is due to the rarest of gifts—a person with extraordinary talent and formidable willpower. When such a person is captured by zombies, they do not immediately succumb. Even after a day, they continue to resist the virus, striving for evolution, but the path is nearly insurmountable. Ordinary people, unprepared by any genetic treatments, have no hope of successfully adapting to the virus’s evolution. Ultimately, loss of consciousness and transformation into a zombie is the only outcome.

Yet, even as a zombie, they are not entirely mindless. They retain the ability to utter fragments of human language, though this consciousness is far from normal—more a chaotic, bloodthirsty awareness tilted toward the zombie state.

“Ugh, ugh!”

The Half-Zombie groaned in torment. Just moments ago, Qi Xi’s kick had exploded its skull, brain matter still oozing out. Despite this, the creature did not die; it had already become an evolved form, possessing remarkable self-healing abilities. Left alone, it might recover fully in a few days.

But unfortunately for it, in Qi Xi’s hands, such a possibility was out of the question.

Qi Xi, expressionless, wielded the standard dagger, calmly gutting the toppled zombie. He took out a syringe he carried, plunged it into the zombie’s heart, and drew out ten milliliters of corrosive blood.

“If such a being successfully evolves into a Genetic Human, it could easily become a Genetic Commander.” At this moment, Watermelon entered, leaning against the wall and speaking in a cool tone.

Qi Xi said nothing, holding the syringe filled with corrupted blood, examining it closely. With his free hand, he brought a cigarette box to his lips, took a cigarette, and lit it.

Exhaling a plume of smoke, Qi Xi steadied his excitement, squinting as he spoke, “But if he succeeds in evolving, I would never have the chance to obtain a sample of this blood.”

Watermelon asked, “What are you planning to do?”

Qi Xi’s face remained blank. “I’ll inject it directly, of course.”

———

Watermelon shook his head. “That’s a big risk.”

Qi Xi was unconcerned. “It’s fine. One of my special abilities, ‘Devour,’ is enough to perfectly digest this blood. I hope the virus inside won’t disappoint me. If I can evolve early to Genetic Commander, it would greatly benefit our plans.”

Watermelon nodded. “True, though I’m still just an Advanced Evolver. My high-level ability ‘Devour’ hasn’t fully formed, so I can’t absorb this myself.”

Qi Xi finished his cigarette, his mind now calmer. He spat, rubbed a spot on his vein, and plunged the needle in.

Unlike the first time he injected viral fluid—a discomforting warmth flooding his body—this time it was like molten lava coursing through his veins. Waves of searing pain washed over him, making Qi Xi grit his teeth fiercely, his face twisted in agony. “This feeling is wild… ha…”

Within Qi Xi, his genetic chain began to evolve frantically, while his special ability ‘Devour’ absorbed the zombie’s unique powers.

Special abilities are innate gifts that emerge as the body evolves, influencing matter itself.

For example, Qiu Xiaoyan’s ability is ‘Manipulate Earth and Stone’—she directly influences the molecules of earth and stone, shaping them at will. As an Advanced Evolver, her molecular influence is limited; she can repair collapsed walls, but as she evolves into a Genetic Human or Genetic Commander, her power will grow. According to Watermelon, if this ability reaches the level of Genetic Marshal, she could build a city from nothing in a single day.

Qi Xi and Watermelon share the high-level ability ‘Devour,’ which allows them to copy others’ talents onto themselves. The process isn’t brutal—after absorbing ten milliliters of Qiu Xiaoyan’s blood, Qi Xi gained the earth-manipulation ability.

Li Feidao and Xiao Fengyu are also Advanced Evolvers. Their special abilities are ‘Amplify Strength’ and ‘Manipulate Flame.’

Amplify Strength and Manipulate Flame, like Manipulate Earth and Stone, are ordinary abilities—not high-level ones like ‘Devour.’

It’s likely because of ‘Devour’ that American forces crossed the Pacific, halfway around the world, to retrieve these two.

That’s the function of the golden finger ‘Identity Traction’—though really, ‘Devour’ itself is another golden finger.

In summary, Qi Xi now possesses four special abilities: ‘Devour,’ ‘Amplify Strength,’ ‘Manipulate Flame,’ and ‘Manipulate Earth and Stone.’

———

Soon, the heat began to dissipate. Qi Xi gulped fresh air, his body drenched in sweat from the torment.

“Nearly lost it…”

He muttered, feeling his power. The path from Genetic Human to Genetic Commander was now reduced to a third of its original length. With some time, Qi Xi would surely reach Genetic Commander.

The prey had given Qi Xi a peculiar manipulation ability—an attraction and repulsion force.

This, too, is a high-level ability. At the Genetic Human stage, it cannot be used as combat power; only as a Genetic Commander can it manifest fully.

Qi Xi frowned, his mood unreadable.

“If this creature were at Genetic Commander level, and I were as well, I might not be able to kill him at all.” Qi Xi looked up at Watermelon beside him. “Repulsion and attraction—this ability is very special.”

“Oh? Isn’t that—”

“I know what you’re about to say, so shut your mouth.”

“Uh…”

“Alright, let’s go. The stench of this zombie is overpowering.” Qi Xi walked out.

…