Evolutionist

This sentence was not just for Wan Xing, but for everyone in this carriage.

Qi Xiaoba, sitting to the side, showed no change in expression.

Although he felt that Su Huan was not as simple as he appeared.

However, one must know how to repay kindness.

Wan Xing was stunned for a moment, then pursed her lips and said, "Okay."

Only then did Su Huan smile with satisfaction.

He liked those who were obedient.

The current progress of team building had far exceeded his expectations.

The butterfly effect he had inadvertently triggered had changed many things.

The steel dragon groaned faintly on the tracks, the last shred of twilight crushed beneath its wheels.

The Armed Train quietly pulled out of Wen'an City, heading toward a steel mill thirty kilometers away.

The light wrapped in iron plating looked like a melting sugar cube, spreading a warm yellow glow across the blood-rusted window.

Su Huan's pen tip rustled across his notebook, placing a checkmark behind the lines "Rail Repair" and "Material Collection."

These were some of the key requirements for the Armed Train he had listed earlier.

Closing the notebook and looking at the thickening darkness outside, Su Huan pulled the curtains shut.

In the dead of night, anything that emits light is either prey or bait.

Yu Yue was using a steel fork to flip luncheon meat in a frying pan, the sizzling oil popping loudly.

Qi Xiaoba asked in a low voice from the side, "Sister Xingzi, is your arm better?"

Seeing the concern in Xiaoba's eyes, Wan Xing remembered that her arm had been bitten by a zombie earlier.

Rolling up her sleeve, a slender scar could be seen coiled on her fair forearm, the shallow tooth marks almost hidden within the blood scab.

"It healed so fast; it seems evolution promotes cell growth," Yu Jing said in surprise.

"Evolution enhances an Evolutionist's physical fitness in all aspects, but physical strengthening is the domain of the Defender; the Collector's traits don't lie there."

Su Huan said this while unceremoniously picking up a piece of sizzling luncheon meat from the pan and popping it into his mouth.

Feeling the aroma of the meat mixed with just the right amount of salt rolling in his mouth, Su Huan felt his energy recovery speed increase by thirty percent.

"Collector... you also mentioned Visual Analysis earlier, right?"

Yu Jing was lost in thought.

"More accurately, it's Lv1 Visual Analysis. Wan Xing, tell us about your experience yourself," Su Huan said.

The reflection in Wan Xing's eyes vanished, replaced by a black-and-white, lusterless state that gave her a vacant look. She pondered for a moment and said.

"When energy surges into my eyes, the world turns a dark gray, and then some light spots appear, but currently, I cannot touch most of them."

"That is because you haven't learned 'Advanced Decomposition' yet. Once you learn that skill, you will be able to dismantle most common objects."

"Is it a skill?"

"You can understand it that way. Evolutionists can develop their own skills through special methods, and then form professions through different skill combinations."

Su Huan seemed to suddenly think of something and tapped his forehead with two fingers.

"Yu Jing, go tell Liang Kuan to find a place to stop the train; we're preparing to spend the night. Also, drag that Blood Hound carcass over."

"Okay."

Ten minutes later, the train slipped into an unknown small tunnel.

Accompanied by a slight tremor, the train came to a halt.

Liang Kuan also emerged from the locomotive.

"Just get it to Carriage No. 2."

Liang Kuan acknowledged the order, and before long, he came over carrying the bloody Blood Hound.

Su Huan had already directed the others to spread a plastic sheet over the carpet in the observation carriage.

"Thud!"

Liang Kuan dropped the Blood Hound, and the carriage gave a slight shudder.

Yu Jing made a quick estimate and clicked her tongue in secret; the Blood Hound didn't look big, but its weight was comparable to a lean domestic pig.

Wan Xing, standing to the side, suddenly let out a soft exclamation as she looked at the corpse on the floor, "I think I can touch this light spot."

"Then give it a try."

Su Huan pondered to himself.

With a Decomposer in the team, the speed of evolution would definitely increase by a significant margin.

Some corresponding plans could also be accelerated or pushed forward simultaneously.

Twenty minutes later.

The group looked curiously at the transparent crystal, no larger than a fingernail, in Wan Xing's hand.

"This is a Pan-Energy Crystal. Using it to cultivate is faster and safer than coming into contact with zombies. The zombies outside that haven't evolved—those in the Zombie Embryo state—can yield one about half this size," Su Huan introduced.

"Collector... so that's what it means. Being able to harvest pan-energy from other living organisms," Yu Jing realized with a start.

Su Huan stretched his back. "There are five major types of Evolutionists, and we already have three of them here."

Seeing everyone looking at him, Qi Xiaoba said bluntly, "I can manipulate metal, but I don't know which type that is."

"Manipulator," Su Huan said calmly.

"The five types are Energy Provider, Manipulator, Collector, Crafter, and Defender."

Ignoring the complex expressions on their faces, Su Huan continued.

"The trait of an Energy Provider is to generate energy and then convert it into various forms to power machinery and electronics."

"A Collector's trait is the ability to harvest pan-energy from zombies, plants, or mutant beasts into crystals that are easy to carry and absorb, and they can also collect unique materials found in the apocalypse."

"A Manipulator can control a certain element; for example, a Metal Manipulator can control metal."

"A Crafter can use the pan-energy in their body to erode matter, altering its physical properties and making minute adjustments."

"A Defender's 'Combat Factor' allows them to rapidly advance their abilities through combat."

"The trait of each type of Evolutionist is unique, even after subsequent advancements."

Afraid they wouldn't understand, Su Huan only gave a general overview of the Evolutionist categories.

In reality, the information regarding Evolutionists went far beyond this; the professional serums, training methods, and evolutionary paths developed by different factions were intricate and complex.

Su Huan had heard of dozens of paths by name alone.

Any single piece of information could create a top-tier powerhouse, but those were Su Huan's precious assets, so naturally, he couldn't just blurt them out.

I should find time to write them down and calculate the timing to see if I can intercept two of those opportunities.

A thoughtful look flickered in Su Huan's eyes.

"What are we going to do next?"

Qi Xiaoba suddenly asked.

"Are you asking about long-term goals or immediate ones?"

"Both."

"The long-term goal is to arm the Mobile Fortress beneath our feet and survive properly. You saw those beasts during the day; we can't take them down with our bare hands. Even Evolutionists need time to develop... As for short-term goals: eat, sleep. How about you?"

Su Huan countered with a question.

A trace of confusion, fitting for his age, finally appeared on the boy's calm face. "The Director is dead, the orphanage is gone, I don't know."

"Then do you trust me?"

Su Huan withdrew his smile and asked seriously.

Qi Xiaoba looked into Su Huan's cold eyes; his instincts told him this was not a good person.

But the Director had taught him.

To be a person, one must be grateful for kindness and, even more so, keep one's word.

"I trust you."