Palworld creatures lay sprawled across the base in every direction.
The luckier ones wore miserable faces; the worse-off ones could not get out of bed. Every last one had an ailment above its head, such as [Cold], [Binge Eating], [Fracture], or [Stomach Ulcer].
A few more lay atop the Campfire. They seemed to have been gone for a while.
In the vast base, only Penking was out in the field, watering crops with a watering can.
"Why is Penking the only Palworld creature working... What the hell? Penking's down too???"
Zhong Yi had barely gotten the words out when Penking's brow furrowed. A [Cold] suddenly appeared above his head, and he turned and ran toward the hot spring.
"Senior Brother Zhong, your Crow's Mouth Spiritual Root is getting more ridiculous by the day..."
Zhou Qiaoling muttered under her breath.
"That's not right. Is it really a plague? It shouldn't be..."
Zhong Yi stroked his chin and began analyzing the scene before him.
"Pengullet... wake up! Pengullet!!"
Zhou Qiaoling walked over to the straw mats where the Palworld creatures slept and nudged a Pengullet with [Fracture] above its head.
The creature rubbed its bleary eyes and struggled to lift its head toward Zhou Qiaoling, letting out a plaintive "cheep, cheep."
"Who knew Junior Sister Qiaoling cared so much about little animals..."
Zhong Yi nodded approvingly.
"Could you make me a few Pal Spheres? I need them urgently... Huh?"
The moment Zhou Qiaoling finished speaking, the [Fracture] above Pengullet's head changed to [Depression]. Its eyes rolled back, and it passed out cold.
"..."
Zhong Yi took a deep breath, raised a hand, and slapped himself across the face.
"Senior Brother Zhong! Senior Brother Zhong!!"
Zhou Qiaoling's eyes lit up. As if she had discovered something, she waved excitedly at Zhong Yi.
"Give