Corpse Crystal

Biodata

Background / History

Corpse Crystals were first discovered by an unnamed fire ability user after burning a relative’s corpse. A milky-white crystal remained among the ashes, unaffected by the flames. By examining zombies he subsequently killed, he established that the crystals occurred only in their brains, where the pineal gland had originally been 18.

An unnamed psychic ability user later discovered their practical use, though the method of discovery was not publicly known. Their ability to strengthen ability users and mutants made them a preferred currency after gold, silver, and banknotes lost their value. Their circulation also gave survivors an incentive to hunt zombies 18.

Appearance & Properties

Corpse Crystals are milky-white crystals extracted from zombie brains 6 7.

• Exceptional toughness: Even ability users cannot smash them. Survivors can therefore pulverize a zombie’s skull with a hammer without destroying the crystal inside 16.
• Resistance to fire: The first discovered crystal survived the flames that reduced its host’s corpse to ash 18.
• Consumed through absorption: Nan Shao’s first absorbed crystal was reduced to white powder 18.

Abilities & Uses

Ability Cultivation

Corpse Crystals help ability users and mutants improve their abilities; ordinary people cannot cultivate with them 18.

• Meat Tower Chen’s speed mutation improves slowly through absorption, and he absorbs crystals faster than Li Muran during her first session 37.
• After Nan Shao’s intensified cultivation, his stamina more than doubles and his movements become more agile 39 41.
• Li Muran first clearly senses the ability within her body after absorbing a crystal 39.

Energy & Physical Recovery

Absorption replenishes depleted ability energy and helps users recover from exertion 39 50.

• Nan Shao restores his ability after the mysterious black stone drains it completely 39.
• After a long hunt, Nan Shao and Li Muran quickly regain stamina and substantially recover from muscular fatigue through absorption 50.
• Zhang Yi, who has no ability, must instead recover through ordinary rest 50.

Absorption Method & Limits

• Method: Hold a crystal in the palm, focus between the eyebrows, and mentally follow the rotation of the tiny white point of light sensed there 18.
• Time required: Nan Shao’s first absorption takes nearly an entire night. Absorption speed varies with the user and experience 18 37.
• Loss of awareness: Nan Shao becomes oblivious to his surroundings while absorbing. Zhang Yi advises him to cultivate in town or with someone guarding him 18.
• Bodily limits: Nan Shao cannot replenish himself indefinitely. During repeated depletion-and-absorption experiments, his third crystal is followed by widespread pain and bloody sweat, forcing him to stop 39.
• Uncertain enhancement: Absorption becomes smoother and produces a stronger sensation of internal energy after the black stone drains Nan Shao. He cannot determine whether the improvement comes from the stone or from cultivating after exhausting his ability 39.

Acquisition

• Extraction: Survivors break open zombie skulls and retrieve the crystals from the brain matter, then wipe them clean 7 26.
• Tool choice: Rebar, cleavers, machetes, and hammers are used. The group later favors smashing skulls with a hammer when possible to reduce blade wear 7 14 48.
• Delayed collection: When immediate extraction is unsafe, survivors carry severed heads to a sheltered location and process them together. The heads can still bite 41 48.
• Safety over profit: Crystals are sometimes abandoned because approaching zombies leave no time to retrieve them. Killing zombies therefore does not guarantee collecting their crystals 40 41 43.
• Unusual extraction: The group finds a zombie whose crystal has apparently been removed through a small hole between its eyebrows. They regard this as extraordinary; even powerful ability users normally split open the skull 42.

Currency & Exchange Rates

Recorded Prices in Wangyang Town

Economic Constraints

• Zhang Yi initially earns approximately five crystals a day—about 150 a month—leaving safer accommodation beyond his means even before food, water, and ground rent 10.
• Water is costly enough that Zhang Yi sometimes goes without food to buy it for Zhang Ruiyang 9.
• After moving into the apartment, the group’s minimum daily expenses, including rent, approach forty crystals 50.
• Crystals do not guarantee access to scarce goods: suitable medicine may be unavailable regardless of a buyer’s funds 27.

Major Story Events