Chương 80: Chapter 80、Man-Eating Fungus: The New Crisis in the Sanctuary!
"Sir!"
Jiang Xiaoci hurriedly ascended to the sixth floor, her heart racing with anxiety.
As she made her way up, she saw the walls of the building were already infested with the terrifying fungus. These fungal growths had spread beyond just the walls and ceilings—they were even creeping along the stair railings. The building was alive with the sounds of desperate screams.
Anyone who accidentally brushed against the fungal masses—just a mere touch—was immediately attacked by the tendrils that shot out from the fungus, ripping off pieces of their flesh.
Jiang Xiaoci's worry for Yi Bai intensified as she witnessed the carnage unfolding around her. She knew all too well that Yi Bai's greatest vulnerability was his lack of combat ability. Unlike the survivors like Wang Daniu, who had battle-oriented abilities, Yi Bai's talents were more supportive—effective, but not suited for direct combat.
The man had no fighting skills, and now, in the face of a new crisis—the deadly man-eating fungus—he was at the mercy of a threat that ordinary humans could hardly withstand.
"Sir! I..."
Jiang Xiaoci froze as she reached the sixth floor. The door was slightly ajar, and inside, she could hear Yi Bai's calm voice talking with Li Ya.
"... Based on the current situation, the upgrade projects for the shelter should effectively slow the spread of the man-eating fungus," Li Ya was saying. "This means that advanced technological methods can help control its growth. While the fungus is highly aggressive and has regenerative abilities, it is still far easier to contain than the viral infections we're used to. Its threat level might be on par with zombies."
There was a pause before Li Ya continued, "While it poses a serious threat now, it may not be enough to destroy the shelter. If we had more samples and experimental subjects, I could study it further. Of course, my analysis isn't conclusive yet—we've only just encountered this strange biological entity..."
Jiang Xiaoci cautiously pushed the door open.
Li Ya was sitting across from Yi Bai, discussing their findings.
"Ah, Xiaoci," Yi Bai smiled and waved to the empty seat beside him. "Come, sit. How's the situation outside?"
"The man-eating fungus has infiltrated the complex," Jiang Xiaoci reported, her tone serious. "Our building hasn't been spared. Lin Yue has dispatched troops to handle the threat, but we can't say how effective it will be yet."
"It's fine, just take your time." Yi Bai nodded, unfazed. "Keep researching. We need to find a way to deal with this."
He paused and then added, "Make sure to keep an eye on the wounded, especially the ones who were injured by the fungus. I want Chen Qiuren to handle them; he's a professional."
Jiang Xiaoci nodded but couldn't help but feel the weight of Yi Bai's words. The second round of the apocalypse wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Yi Bai sighed and gazed out the window at the red sky. His voice dropped, his expression dark. "You know, the heatwave from the first apocalypse hasn't disappeared."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he continued, "I always thought that with the cycle of apocalyptic events, one would fade as the next took over. But it seems I was wrong. That mysterious force never intended for the first apocalypse to end."
He turned his gaze back to Jiang Xiaoci. "It's layering new apocalyptic threats on top of the old ones. This... this isn't just an apocalypse—it's manipulation."
The heatwave rages on, and now we have these man-eating fungi.
Yi Bai took a deep breath, his mind racing as he imagined what it would be like if the world faced not just two apocalypses, but seven, eight, or even a hundred. Meteors falling, zombies running rampant, fungus spreading across the land, and the relentless heat… how could humanity survive?
Not even the strongest shelters would withstand such a barrage of disasters.
"Sir, we can't worry too much about the distant future right now." Jiang Xiaoci gently reminded him. "The most important thing is staying alive in the present. As long as we're alive, there's still hope for the future."
Her words were a calming influence, but Yi Bai's mind was already miles ahead, preparing for what was to come.
"Let's get Li Ya out of here," Yi Bai said. "Have her join up with Chen Qiuren. For anything biological, we'll need their expertise."
He paused, then added, "Also, I need you to gather all the survivors with relevant expertise from the peace time records you compiled. Our only goal right now is to understand the man-eating fungus and find a way to stop it from spreading. If we can't solve it entirely, we must at least ensure the safety of the shelter using whatever we have."
Jiang Xiaoci nodded and left the room with Li Ya, her mind already working through the next steps.
Outside, Wang Daniu was furiously hacking away at the fungus with his machete, relentlessly severing chunks of the thick, green mass. But his thoughts weren't on the task at hand.
Every so often, he would glance toward the slightly ajar door, his curiosity piqued by the low hum of conversation coming from within.
"This must be the boss's room," he muttered to himself. "Guess I'm the only one allowed to be this close."
He grinned, feeling the weight of his importance, especially now that he was so near Yi Bai. "The boss is truly something else. While most people use bodyguards, he's got a robot guarding his door. That's the real deal."
The robot, an imposing figure in the hallway, kept its mechanical eyes locked on Wang Daniu, its sensors scanning him from head to toe. Several gun barrels emerged from its shoulders, pointed directly at him, giving off an unmistakable aura of caution.
Most people would have been unnerved, perhaps even frightened. But not Wang Daniu. He gave the robot a dismissive glance and continued his work.
"It's all just for show. No way that thing would dare shoot me. The boss is inside."
The door swung open just as Wang Daniu was lost in thought. He caught a glimpse of the room inside—futuristic, sleek, and stark, with Yi Bai sitting thoughtfully on the sofa.
"So, this is the boss?" Wang Daniu was stunned. "He's so young..."
Before he could contemplate further, Yi Bai turned and their eyes met. Wang Daniu straightened, breaking into a wide, eager grin.
"Sir!" he exclaimed, bowing respectfully, his machete in hand.
Yi Bai stood and walked over to him, eyeing him carefully for the first time. "You're Wang Daniu, right?"
Wang Daniu's face lit up. "Yes, sir! I am!"
"No need to be so formal," Yi Bai smiled, shaking his head. "Xiaoci should have told you by now—I'm just a survivor, like everyone else. Not a government official or anything."
"I'm your soldier, so I have to show respect!" Wang Daniu replied without hesitation. "Defending you is the same as defending the whole shelter. You're the boss, you're saving us all!"
Yi Bai chuckled. "Alright, well, keep doing what you're doing."
"Of course!" Wang Daniu declared, gripping his machete tightly.
Just then, a shriek echoed from downstairs, followed by the sound of panicked voices.
"Someone's turning into a zombie!"
"Quick! Shoot him! He's infected!"
Yi Bai's expression sharpened, and he rushed back to the room's monitors.
Meanwhile, Wang Daniu grabbed his machete and stood guard in the hallway. "A zombie? I'll handle it!"
Inside, Yi Bai watched as a once-salvageable injured man suddenly erupted with man-eating fungi from his severed arm. The infection spread quickly, and within seconds, the man was fully transformed into a monstrous, fungal abomination.
"Damn it," Yi Bai cursed, his eyes wide with horror. "This thing is worse than I thought. The second apocalypse is definitely more dangerous than the first."
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