Big Doggy!!

Apparently noticing their awkward male pride, Professor Ji reassured them, "It's fine. If you use them well, the beastlike parts can actually give you additional abilities."

For example, manifested claws could be used to scratch people. With feline paw pads, they could even leap from great heights without getting hurt, just like cats.

A manifested tail could help maintain balance, or even be used to attack people.

A crocodile tail, for instance.

At this point, Professor Ji added very seriously, "You need to choose mutant cores that are as compatible with you as possible. In other words, ordinary ability users can't withstand injections made from too many different mutant cores. Five types is the absolute maximum."

But he recommended no more than three. Ideally, they should find the most suitable one among those three, then stick exclusively to that type from then on.

Otherwise, their bodies would explode.

"You've probably also noticed something else. After receiving a mutant core injection, you'll develop animal traits like a mutated person. That means mutated people can't use these injections. However, they can increase their level by consuming Mutant Core Diluent of the same type. We've also discovered a new problem."

With a somewhat heavy expression, Professor Ji clicked to the next slide in his presentation. It was a video of a lizard-man screaming in agony, going berserk while insisting that he didn't want to lose his mind. He was in a state of utter frenzy.

In the end, he still lost his mind completely, leaving them no choice but to kill him.

"Whether you're an ability user or a mutated person, an excessive viral load in your body will make you lose your mind. Ability users must never chase shortcuts by eating mutant cores directly or injecting too much diluted mutant core solution at once."

Professor Ji stressed how serious this issue was and urged them to remember it. Otherwise, they would ultimately become terrifying, mindless monsters.

The subject cast a heavy pall over the room.

Rather than worrying about themselves, Qin Luo and the others all turned to look at Xu Duoduo.

The little zombie was still looking up at the presentation, watching the lizard-man scream in agony, sobbing that he didn't want to die, begging someone to save him, saying he didn't want to lose his mind.

It was as though she might end up just like him one day.

It was hard not to grieve for someone whose fate could become her own.

Professor Ji noticed this too and smiled. "I didn't expect your squad to be so close. Don't worry. With proper management, mutated people won't turn into monsters that quickly. Remember our Base Principles? We will never surrender to the apocalypse. We will never abandon a single human being. No one is going to give up on you."

That last sentence was directed at the little zombie. Xu Duoduo couldn't help looking at Professor Ji. His smile was deeply reassuring, so she nodded. She was willing to trust these hardworking researchers.

Professor Ji then turned his smiling gaze on Qin Luo and the other three. "So, what do the four of you think? Want to try a Mutant Core Dilution Injection and see how it feels? Within the normal dosage, it isn't life-threatening."

The side effects were just a little unpleasant.

The injections were hard to come by.

Qin Luo and the other three exchanged glances, looking back and forth at one another.

Eventually, they nodded in resignation.

What else could they do?

They had to keep up. If their strength fell behind, they wouldn't survive in the apocalypse.

They had seen a seventeen-year-old girl, who had attended a martial arts school but had never served in the military, kick a two-star lizard monster's head apart...

Meanwhile, they were a squad that had trained painstakingly for so long and had been honing their skills since the apocalypse began, yet they still struggled against two-star mutation monsters.

If they didn't close that gap, the next generation really would leave them in the dust.

Seeing all four nod, Professor Ji took out several combination-lock cases with a satisfied smile. "Come on. Have a look at what I prepared for you."

Since he knew them well enough,

Professor Ji had actually selected the Mutant Core Dilution Injections best suited to them long ago.

He had only been teasing them on purpose.

He had also known they would agree. The 3A Team was such a formidable squad, so devoted to combat strength. How could they possibly be content to watch others surpass them?

Qin Luo and the others awkwardly took their respective injections and went out to find someone to administer them.

Chen Xiaofei was still muttering away. "Boohoo, please don't let me grow an eagle's head. That'd be so ugly! I'd rather grow eagle feet than have my head turn into an eagle's!"

Xu Duoduo stayed in the conference room to wait for them, swaying a little in anticipation. Although she couldn't receive a Mutant Core Dilution Injection, Professor Ji had given her a case of twelve bottles of Mutant Core Diluent. It was pink.

"This one's strawberry flavored. A young girl should like it. It's made from a one-star Mutant Flower Core. You can drink some whenever you like. It'll help improve your strength a little too."

Xu Duoduo didn't dare tell Professor Ji that she crunched mutant cores like candy. Instead, she obediently typed [Thank you] on her tablet and put the case of diluted solution away.

Professor Ji smiled and nodded. Just then, another combat squad arrived, so he went to answer their questions. It would only take a few words.

Someone suddenly glanced inside, his gaze fixing on the little zombie before moving to the collar around her neck. Xu Duoduo touched her collar uneasily, her spirits suddenly sinking.

She even bared her teeth at him in irritation.

"Pfft, this is the 3A Team's new member? Aside from a pretty face, she seems pretty ordinary. No idea why Captain Qin would take someone like her."

Hearing that, Professor Ji warned him, "Did you feed your manners to the dogs?"

Only then did the man offer a perfunctory apology. "Oh, sorry, sorry. I just say whatever's on my mind."

Little Zombie was getting angry! She was just about to go out and beat up this condescending bastard, then pull out her chainsaw and give him a taste of that too.

But the very next second, the burly man went flying. Yes, literally flying. A faint flicker of electricity flashed through the air, along with a familiar scent!!

Xu Duoduo's eyes widened. It was the refreshing scent of mint fruit candy!

At the same time, Qin Luo's outrageously cocky voice rang out from outside. "Since when did any random nobody get to judge my teammates? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Professor Ji's delighted exclamation followed. "You brat, impressive! You manifested your animal traits that quickly? It hasn't even been ten minutes, has it? Other people take at least two or three hours, and the slowest take ten. Nicely done! Good lad! Quick, come with me so we can measure your ability output."

Qin Luo told Professor Ji to go ahead. "You go first. I'll be there in a bit."

Seeing him glance into the conference room, Professor Ji smiled and patted his shoulder. "All right, I'll wait for you over there. Hurry up. Don't waste time."

With that, he hurried toward the Testing Room, his face brimming with excitement.

Qin Luo had delivered astonishing results yet again. The sooner someone successfully manifested animal traits, the more readily they could absorb the injection. His future potential was limitless!

As for the loudmouthed bastard who had been hit, Professor Ji paid him no attention whatsoever. Aside from the fact that a beating might teach him to watch his mouth, ability users weren't that fragile. One kick wouldn't kill him. At worst, he would ache for a few days.

Professor Ji was busy preparing the test. Qin Luo was the truly important research subject.

"Look at you. What good does puffing up in anger do when someone insults you? Snap back at him! Once I'm back, I'll help you settle the score. You can beat him up however you want."

The moment Qin Luo entered, he launched into a lecture at Xu Duoduo. He was still dizzy and burning hot from the injection. He had only just stepped out of the clinic when he heard that bastard mouthing off at her, and he had rushed over in a few furious strides.

Little Zombie felt wronged. She had been just about to fight back, but then he showed up!

Still, the instant she got a good look at him, all her anger vanished.

With the weather inexplicably hot, Qin Luo had gone out wearing a black tank top and a jacket. He had taken the jacket off for his injection and, still feeling overheated afterward, hadn't put it back on. He carried it in his hand instead, leaving his fine physique on full display.

His 189-centimeter height was no joke. He was tall, with a solid chest, beautifully defined arm muscles, and a taut abdomen. His camouflage combat pants and black boots made his legs look especially long and straight.

That waist really looked powerful!

His face was strikingly handsome, with sharp brows, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and red lips. He looked especially cocky when he was impatient, but his casual, carefree manner gave him an adorably roguish air. That little pointed tooth on one side made him even more distinctive.

But now!!

Now he even had an upright, fluffy gray ear on top of his head!! A big doggy!!

Little Zombie stared, spellbound.

He was frowning and grumbling at her, complaining about how easily she got bullied.

"You're already so tiny. Getting bullied just makes you look even more pitiful. Forget it. From now on, stick close to me. Wherever I go, you go. Got it?"

Qin Luo spoke with complete seriousness. If his face hadn't been flushed red, she might really have thought he was being perfectly solemn. Then he noticed that the little zombie had spaced out again.

"Comrade Xu Duoduo, your captain is lecturing you! How dare you let your mind wander?"

But the next second, the little zombie tugged at his tank top, forcing Qin Luo to bend down. Otherwise, his black tank top would become a plunging V-neck that showed off his cleavage!!

Another second later,

She grabbed the ear on his head. The little zombie was so excited that she actually let out an "Awoo!"

Qin Luo's face instantly turned scarlet. He abruptly straightened, and the wolf tail behind him gave an involuntary swish. With another "Awoo," the little zombie lunged over and hugged his big tail, making his whole body shudder.

A tingling jolt shot straight from his tailbone to the top of his skull!!

Fuck!

He had actually forgotten about his animal traits!