Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 14 Extraordinary Virus, Transcending Time!
If the S-1 virus was a natural disaster, something that humanity could not predict or prepare for in advance to combat, then it is something that humanity could not foresee.

So the S-2 virus is definitely a man-made disaster, originating from human greed and the desires within our genes.

"Hiss, isn't that the Armored Titan from Attack Titan?"

Scrolling down to the first illustration of an infected creature, the familiar shape made Cheng Ye feel somewhat dazed.

The giant, about twenty meters tall, was covered in insect-like armor, and his weapon was the pillar that spewed white smoke from the chemical plant. Together, they gave off a bizarre feeling reminiscent of Lu Zhishen uprooting a willow tree.

Opposite the giant were eight massive cannons, each over a meter in diameter.

Cheng Ye wasn't sure what would happen if the two came into contact, but he knew that the giant would definitely die a terrible death.

After all, modern technology isn't like the 3D devices in comics that require people to fly around and chop off necks.

The truth lies within the range of the cannon's muzzle!

Further down, there are a few more illustrations: a speed-growing infected whose Achilles tendon has grown up to its neck; a flying infected with a pair of wings growing from its back; and an intelligent infected whose brain occupies half of its body volume.
Compared to zombies, Cheng Ye actually found these infected people rather silly and cute.

That exaggerated shape is clearly a wrong approach. Even if humans are incredibly stupid, they wouldn't think it's reasonable or sustainable.

Naturally, it was only a matter of course that they were wiped out and suppressed in just over a year.

"If it happens once, twice, it's not surprising that it will happen again and again."

Cheng Ye didn't find the question at the end of the page strange at all; in fact, he thought it was quite normal.

The S-series viruses are extremely harmful, but they also harbor corresponding benefits.

Turning to the next chapter, sure enough, the S-3 virus has been freshly produced.

'The S-2 virus was eradicated in the summer of 2043. Over the next five years, human civilization rapidly recovered, sheltered cities were demolished, and humanity returned to familiar urban life; everything seemed to be back on track.'

'Until the S-3 virus reappeared!'

Despite decades of research on the S-3 virus, its origin remains unclear. It no longer infects humans but instead targets animals and plants, perfectly combining characteristics of both S-1 and S-2 viruses. Spreading through water, it spread globally in just six months and helps plants and animals exceed their limits, resulting in numerous incredible effects.

"It's unimaginable that this planet could be so insane. Ordinary soil and plants, catalyzed by a virus, can actually nurture a special plant that can reverse aging: the 'Nine-Turn Ginseng Fruit.' Eating it can instantly turn an eighty-year-old back into their twenties, regaining their youth."

Even more unimaginable is that with the appearance of the Nine-Turned Ginseng Fruit, more and more bizarre mutated creatures and plants were born one after another: mutated beef that could instantly grant humans the strength of tens of tons, the Hundred-Jointed Grass that could regenerate severed limbs and grant super regenerative abilities, the Lava Lotus that could grant fire-breathing abilities, and the Wind-Swept Leaf that could fly at low altitudes.

Many say this is a spiritual resurgence, the beginning of a great era of conflict for humanity. Others say it's the return of the primordial era, with ancient mythical creatures resurrecting and leading humanity back to the primordial age, to stand at the pinnacle of the universe. I don't know who's telling the truth, but I know for sure this is a virus far more terrifying than S-1 and S-2!

'It perfectly grasped the human heart, exploited human weaknesses, and precisely targeted humanity's ultimate desire for immortality, power, and transcendence. When the fruit that could restore youth was fiercely contested by humans, and when the fruit that could grant humans extraordinary abilities appeared on the black market, the S-3 virus, with the gentlest of intentions, accomplished a more thorough massacre than the previous two disasters.'

'It doesn't even need to destroy human order; human greed alone will automatically shatter everything!'

'Humans have gone mad, everyone's gone mad! They've gone insane in their pursuit of the extraordinary, of becoming stronger!'

'.(Violation), (crossed out)'

'It's laughable that humanity survived repeated bombardments from the S-1 and S-2 viruses, which targeted itself, without showing the slightest sign of civilizational collapse. Yet, after experiencing the completely unaffected S-3 virus, it suffered heavy casualties, vast swathes of cities were depopulated, and all-out war was ignited.'

End of page.

No illustrations.

Cheng Ye was deeply shocked. These words seemed to pull him into that crazy era, allowing him to see how humanity was dissected in the extraordinary era, and how weapons that should have been used against the outside world were ultimately turned into bayonets piercing civilization.

"In a world of great strife, everyone can become extraordinary."

"Even ordinary people hiding in the sanctuary city have become greedy, so the foundation will naturally begin to get out of control, leading human civilization toward the abyss."

For some reason, Cheng Ye suddenly thought of Earth. If this virus appeared on Earth, could humanity really withstand the continuous catalysis from S-1 to S-2, and then to S-3?

Moreover, there was one thing that Cheng Ye had always been puzzled about.

The wasteland on Earth where he is now is exactly the same as the Earth he was on before he transmigrated, except for some geographical terms.

"Could it be that I didn't travel to another world, but rather traveled through time?"

Cheng Ye couldn't help but speculate.

Changing a place name is not difficult; with the emergence of supernatural powers, redefining territorial boundaries is a piece of cake.

The subsequent descriptions of the transition between the new and old eras in the text seem to continuously confirm his judgment.

'The chaos caused by the S-3 virus lasted for fifteen years. The population of Earth plummeted to less than two billion. Wars raged across the chaotic planet, and the appearance of each new supernatural entity sparked a massive spectacle involving millions. This farce ended not because humanity realized the virus's danger, but because the S-3 virus mutated again, and S-4 emerged!'

'In the autumn of 2063, during the Old Era, the S-3 virus mutated, giving rise to the special S-4 virus. Ironically, it seems like a cycle has begun; the S-4 virus has reverted to its S-2 form, losing its ability to spread widely and instead transmitting through the air only to a specific group of people—those very same superhumans from before!'

"what?"

Cheng Ye was startled and almost cried out in surprise.

If one were living in the eras described in the book, perhaps one could not so clearly feel the terror of the S virus.

In summary, from S-3 to S-4, isn't it just a telecom fraud tactic of luring people in first and then slowly exploiting them?

'Those infected with the S-4 virus experience a rapid loss of control over their internal powers. As their genetic chains break, they transform into mindless zombies, surviving only on biological instincts—what we commonly call the "original source of infection."'

'Although the S-4 virus does not directly affect ordinary people, the mutated power within superhumans remains a deadly source of contamination. A very small number of people may be fortunate enough to inherit a trace of superhuman abilities after coming into contact with this power, but most will repeat the same mistakes, gaining power while losing their rationality, becoming infected beings who can only act based on biological instincts, residual memories, and habits from their previous lives, repeating fragmented moments of their lives.'

'The various infected individuals we encounter today can all be traced back to these extraordinary beings from the old era; we can find the source of their abilities in them.'

"Due to the covert and unique nature of the original source of infection, the lethality of human technological weapons has become extremely limited. In order to perpetuate civilization, various regions have begun to restart the Sanctuary City project, protecting ordinary people while isolating the source of infection from further spread."

The first city, a sheltered city built after the reboot, was completed in 2070. To prevent future generations of humanity from retracing history and repeating past mistakes, the surviving humans made a bold decision: to sever ties with the old era, redraw the planetary map, completely erasing continental plates and ruined cities contaminated by the original infection source from the map, burying a portion of history that caused immense damage to civilization, and thus beginning the path of a new era of development.

'In the year 2070 of the old era, one year into the new era, human civilization has returned to normalcy. This is a difficult struggle destined to last for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, my lifespan is short, and I will not live to see the true end of this catastrophe!'

"But perhaps there's also the S-5, and the S-6, what do you think?"

Wow.

Before he knew it, Cheng Ye had turned to the last page of "The Origin of Infection," his gaze lingering on the question the author had written with all his might.

S-5?

S-6?

The S-series viruses mutated only four times, yet they nearly pushed human civilization to the brink of collapse.

If there were another large-scale mutation or several more shifts in direction, resulting in a widespread spread pattern similar to S-1, zombies would reappear, and these would be zombies that had exceeded the limits of carbon-based life forms.
Cheng Ye couldn't help but shiver, instantly realizing that this wasteland might be far more dangerous than he had imagined.

at the same time.

"It is now the 35th year of the new era. If we can find the buried history, it will prove that this is the Earth."

"Does that mean I didn't go to a parallel world, but traveled to 80 years in the future?"

Monday was another dismal day for reading and adding to favorites. Please give me some monthly votes, have pity on this newbie!
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(End of this chapter)