How to Gain Superpowers?

Ma Tianming from the Sports Department: "How do we make the trade? I need to get the water before I tell you how to gain superpowers. What if you back out after I tell you?"

Ma Tianming from the Sports Department: "To prove I'm telling the truth, I'll show you some photos."

Ma Tianming from the Sports Department sent you photos.

In one photo, two guys had their arms around each other's shoulders.

Several other photos looked like they had just been taken. They showed a tall guy talking with a few students.

Ma Tianming from the Sports Department: "The one in the red T-shirt is Zhao Tao. You've probably seen the video he posted earlier, so you should recognize him... The other one is me. These photos prove we're roommates, and we're close. I wouldn't lie to you!"

Shen Yi studied Ma Tianming's messages, deep in thought.

He had serious doubts about what Ma Tianming was saying.

If Ma Tianming really knew how to gain superpowers, why hadn't he done it himself?

Unless the method was difficult—or he was lying!

But even if there was a better-than-even chance Ma Tianming was lying, Shen Yi had to give it a try.

After all, superpowers would surely matter when it came to surviving the apocalypse!

Of course,

Shen Yi wasn't about to stupidly deliver the water himself.

That would be ridiculous.

Shen Yi from the Foreign Languages Department: "If I'm not mistaken, you're in the gymnasium. It's not far from me."

Shen Yi from the Foreign Languages Department: "How about this? We each go halfway and trade in the garden outside the boys' dorm. I'll give you the water, and you tell me the method."

Ma Tianming from the Sports Department: "Uh, that sounds reasonable, but it's too risky!"

Shen Yi from the Foreign Languages Department: "So you want me to deliver the water to you? Forget it! You're afraid of danger? So am I, damn it!"

Ma Tianming from the Sports Department: "Wait, wait, bro! I've got another idea!"

Ma Tianming from the Sports Department: "You're in the dorm building, right? Could you go to my room? I've got a drone there, one with a long battery life. You can hang the water from it, and neither of us has to take a risk to complete the trade."

Shen Yi from the Foreign Languages Department: "What floor is your room on?"

Ma Tianming from the Sports Department: "Fifth floor, room 509! There's no one inside, so you might have to break in."

Shen Yi thought it over briefly.

That could work.

His original proposal had been to send Xu Wanting downstairs to make the trade while he stayed out of sight.

That way, even if something went wrong, he wouldn't be in danger.

But if there was a drone, Xu Wanting wouldn't have to take that risk either.

After all, Xu Wanting was still very obedient.

After thinking it over, Shen Yi sent Ma Tianming a reply.

Shen Yi from the Foreign Languages Department: "I'll contact you once I have the drone."

Ma Tianming from the Sports Department: "No problem!"

Ma Tianming from the Sports Department: "Bro, please hurry! I haven't had any water in over twenty hours. I'm dying of thirst..."

Shen Yi from the Foreign Languages Department: "Oh? Didn't your roommate Zhao Tao awaken lightning powers? Why hasn't he gone out to find water? The supermarket should have some, right?"

Ma Tianming from the Sports Department: "Don't get me started! His lightning can barely shock a bird or knock over a soda can. It's weak as hell!"

Shen Yi from the Foreign Languages Department: "All right. Wait to hear from me."

That was further proof that Zhao Tao's power was nothing special, and it gave Shen Yi something to think about.

Were all superpowers this weak, or was it just Zhao Tao's?

Was the problem the person or the power?

Either way, he needed to get the drone first.

With that in mind, Shen Yi looked at Xu Wanting. She was dressed and had started cleaning up the trash. "How badly are you hurting? Can you still walk?"

"I can. It hurts a little, but it's not too bad."

Xu Wanting answered at once.

She didn't want to seem too delicate and upset Shen Yi.

"Okay. Finish cleaning up, then we'll go to the fifth floor." Shen Yi had considered sending Xu Wanting alone, but she might not know how to force a door open.

He would have to go out himself.

Going to the fifth floor shouldn't be too risky.

"O-okay..." Xu Wanting stiffened for a moment, regretting her answer.

If only I'd said it hurt too much to walk!

She really didn't want to go out.

The cramped dorm room wasn't exactly safe, but it was far safer than the fifth floor, which was filled with black fog.

Shen Yi got dressed too and checked his equipment.

Not that he had much.

His only effective weapon was the folding fruit knife Xu Wanting had brought.

It was hardly reliable for killing mutated animals or plants!

But

it could be used against people!

In the apocalypse, people could sometimes be more dangerous than monsters...

"Let's go."

Once they had gathered their things, the two of them left the room.

It was the first time Shen Yi had stepped outside his room since the strange black fog descended!

As for how he had gone to the bathroom before, that was simple: he used plastic bags and the like, then tossed them out the window.

It was the apocalypse. There was no point being fussy.

"Um, Shen Yi, what are we going to the fifth floor for?" Xu Wanting clutched his arm nervously.

She had finally settled somewhere with enough food and water. She didn't want to go out and risk her life.

Why couldn't they stay put and wait for rescue?

Even now, Xu Wanting still held out hope that the government would rescue them.

Most people did.

After all, the water and electricity were still running, and the network was still working. The authorities, however, had done nothing beyond telling people to be careful.

That made some people wonder whether the government was deliberately controlling the network to make things appear normal... People had died, yet the authorities hadn't responded at all. Something was clearly wrong.

"Don't talk. Just follow me." Shen Yi offered no further explanation.

His reason for bringing Xu Wanting was simple: if they encountered danger, having another human decoy would improve his own chances.

It was cruel, but it was the only way he could think of to increase his odds of survival.

If possible, he didn't want Xu Wanting to die either.

Having someone to talk to during the apocalypse was nice.

And she could occasionally help with other things...

Shen Yi moved cautiously through the silent corridor.

He figured the fifth floor was probably relatively safe.

Otherwise, Xu Wanting couldn't have made it up to him so easily.

At the stairwell, Shen Yi saw thick black fog filling the fifth-floor corridor.

At last, I'm about to come into contact with that strange black fog!

He took a small breath and stepped down.

Xu Wanting gripped Shen Yi's hand tightly and followed him, tense with fear.

As he entered the black fog, Shen Yi instinctively held his breath.

But he couldn't keep it up for long and had to breathe.

Black fog rushed into his body...

Yet his body showed no unusual reaction.

At most, it smelled unpleasant.

And its hunger- and thirst-inducing effects didn't take hold that quickly.

That made sense. If it instantly left people unbearably hungry and thirsty, more than ninety percent of the world's population would probably be dead.

Relieved, Shen Yi began searching the fog for room numbers.

Visibility was poor, but not terrible. He could still see a few meters ahead.

"507... 508... 509. This is it!"

Shen Yi tugged at the door. It was locked.

But that wouldn't stop him.

These old dorm rooms had traditional wooden doors, and the locks hadn't been replaced in years. They were easy to pry open. In fact, with a meal card, Shen Yi could open every door on the floor without even prying!

He had learned that skill back in high school.

After a few dozen seconds, the lock gave way with a creak.