I transformed into a cute girl and lived a carefree life in the apocalypse.

Yan Shan frowned: "What did you call me?"

"Ah, oh... I'm sorry, Marshal."

Qin Tianhai waved his hand impatiently: "There are only so many people here, don't be so rigid."

"Yes, you don't need to be nervous. Just treat us like a group of ordinary old men," the Chinese leader joked.

An ordinary old man...

If you're all just ordinary old men, then what about those truly ordinary elderly people?

Yan Ziming muttered a few words to himself, then turned to look at Mu Mu sitting beside him, his eyes questioning. The latter rubbed his temples, looking troubled.

"Don't ask me. I only found out a few minutes before the meeting, so I can't give you much information."

Compared to Yan Shan's seriousness, Mo Sheng was much more amiable: "Little sister Zi Mo, let me show you a video."

With a casual swipe, a video file automatically opened in front of Yan Ziming. It showed a man in his thirties, Peng Guang, whom Yan Shan had just mentioned. He was currently located in the Hehua Scenic Area in Yong'an City.

Mo Sheng pressed the pause button.

"Let me introduce you to him first. Peng Guang is a seventh-level ability user. He and Qin Di were transferred here a few days ago to investigate some strange events in the Hehua Scenic Area."

Yan Ziming's lips twitched slightly, which Mo Sheng keenly noticed.

"What's wrong?"

"Uh...they're investigating that 'lake monster' that's been circulating online, right?"

"Yes, what's the problem?"

"The lake monster's true identity... is the Black Calamity," Yan Ziming said, covering his face.

"......"

Yan Ziming could see that the faces of the bigwigs present were frozen; none of them had expected such an outcome.

After a long while, Mo Sheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. This was a good thing; a large bomb called "Black Calamity" had been found, which at least put their minds at ease.

"We'll talk about that later. Let's get back to the main topic. In short, Peng Guang is an excellent ability user with his own unique skills in fire-based abilities."

In other words, it can be understood that he has forged his own path, which is enough to prove his talent and makes it possible for him to advance to the ninth rank.

"Now, take a look at this video."

The still image then moves, revealing that it is a surveillance video, though it is rather blurry.

During his free time, Peng Guang visited the park. He was swaying unsteadily, clutching his chest, taking one step forward and three steps back, and almost fell to the ground several times. People passing by avoided him, afraid of catching some disease.

Finally, he arrived at a place.

That place was where the incident occurred.

He walked to this point, but could no longer hold on. He collapsed to the ground with a thud, and then flames erupted all over his body. A few seconds later, his muscles seemed to melt away in the flames, forming something resembling a pupa.

Then the explosion happened, and the surveillance footage ended there.

"........"

Yan Ziming was unable to regain his composure for a long time.

It is now confirmed that the "Flame Demon" was Peng Guang himself in disguise!

This is something that could completely overturn human values; if it got out, the entire country... no, the whole world would be thrown into chaos!

Qin Tianhai took over the conversation: "This is just one example. We also have surveillance footage of other cities where similar incidents occurred, and without exception, they are all the same; including that SSS-level mutated species, which was transformed from an eighth-level ability user!"

"We'll temporarily call this phenomenon 'alienation.'"

"Judging from the current situation, superhumans... ha, they should probably be renamed 'mutants,' right? They—"

"Old Hai!" Yan Shan shouted sternly, "Watch out for this kind of talk. We can't give them that title yet."

The Chinese leader also echoed this seriously, saying, "Yes, we must pay attention to the emotions of all parties. If this title gets out of hand, it could escalate the conflict."

Qin Tianhai pondered for a moment, then looked ashamed: "...Okay, I will criticize myself."

"Continuing the topic, as things stand now, it seems that after a superhuman mutates into a mutant species, their strength will increase by a level."

"A seventh-order mutation becomes SS-level, an eighth-order mutation becomes SSS-level, and a ninth-order mutation..." Qin Tianhai gritted his teeth, "It will very likely be a sequence-level mutation!"

After a long silence, Huang Tao gestured to Yan Ziming, "Now that you've finished watching and listening, share your thoughts."

After a few seconds, Yan Ziming finally managed to open his mouth with difficulty: "Is this... related to the second wave of changes in the apocalypse?"

"It's pretty much true. I used to think the second wave of changes was related to people with superpowers, and that it was largely driven by the activity of people with mystical superpowers. But now it seems that's not the case..."

Bai He closed her eyes, revealing an uneasy expression.

"Then..." Yan Ziming asked in a trembling voice, "All people with superpowers will eventually...?"

"No, that won't happen. People with superpowers are still the mainstream in this society. Only a minority will end up like this."

"A minority? What is the specific percentage?"

"Sigh..." Bai He sighed deeply, "Probably one or two tenths..."

The bigwigs present, including Yan Ziming and Mu Mu, held their breath; the atmosphere was extremely tense!

One to two percent... one to two percent!

Of the 700,000 people with superpowers worldwide, even if only 10% of the lowest percentage is taken, 70,000 people with superpowers will "mutate" and become mutant species! If it's 20%, that's 140,000!

OMG!

—If that's the case, then could I be the next one to become alienated?

This idea instantly sent chills down everyone's spine!

"Now, what should we do?"

Yan Ziming was certain that he looked completely bewildered, and his throat was incredibly dry.

She herself is not afraid of becoming alienated; she is confident.

Because she is already a Thunder Spirit, and no longer human, common sense and such do not apply to her at all, and mutation and such are mostly ineffective on her.

But her relatives and friends are different!

Ye Qianxue, Qin Di, Yan Shan, Mo Sheng, Li Haoyi, Tian Tian...

Every day...every day?

Yan Ziming's pupils suddenly contracted violently, and his breathing almost stopped!

Chapter Forty-Two: Undercurrents

She suddenly remembered that when she saw Tiantian that day, her pained expression was just like Peng Guang's in the video!

Logically speaking, it is virtually impossible for people with superpowers to get sick; there are very few examples of people with superpowers getting sick in the world.

But she gets sick every day, and she gets very sick, which is absolutely illogical!

It's possible that it's not an illness, but rather the prelude to alienation...

—Something terrible has happened!

With a growing sense of unease, Yan Ziming immediately took out his phone. After discovering that the signal was blocked, he rushed out of the meeting room and turned on the surveillance camera installed in Tiantian's home.

"Phew...that was close, that was close."

Seeing Tian Tian lying safely in bed in the camera's view, Yan Ziming subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, but the next moment, her heart jumped into her throat again.

Because, Tian Tian, ​​who was lying on the bed, looked like she was in great pain, and her hands were flailing around unconsciously.

The pillow, sheets, and blankets had been torn to shreds, and now she was tearing her own clothes, half of which was ripped apart, revealing the girl's delicate skin.

Yan Ziming quickly called Ye Qianxue, who was still waiting at the military district reception center, and took her to Tiantian's house.

Upon entering Tian Tian's home, Yan Ziming barged into her room and found her completely disoriented, with half of her body leaning out of the window. Yan Ziming forcibly pulled her back.

"Tian Tian, ​​wake up! It's me!"

After being pulled back, Tian Tian continued to struggle, and it was a crazy twisting that disregarded the damage to her body, almost breaking free from Yan Ziming's grasp.

"Qianxue, help me!"

"Ok!"

Ye Qianxue rushed in from outside and joined forces with Yan Ziming, one taking care of her hands and the other her legs, firmly pinning her to the bed.

Recalling what Tian Tian had said during their last meeting, Yan Ziming decisively entered her elemental state. Rolling dark clouds gathered, and a pure aura naturally emanated from her body.

Infected by this atmosphere, Tian Tian's condition improved significantly in an instant; at least he stopped moving around like a mental patient.

A moment later, Tian Tian fell asleep, holding Yan Ziming's arm.

Despite this, Yan Ziming was not happy at all, and his mood became increasingly heavy.

When you see someone else's alienation from a third-person perspective, you might feel shocked, and then just laugh it off. But when it happens to someone close to you, it's truly... an indescribable feeling.

Ye Qianxue leaned against her back and said softly, "Big sister, what happened?"

"Hmm...it's a terrible thing."

"..."