Chapter 18
Fai stood amidst the crowd of excited students, so much anticipation filling the air.
Most of them were ecstatic, their lifelong dreams were finally materializing: they were now Mutated Humans, now with this, they now had a chance at life.
Meanwhile, Fai meticulously processed the information he had gathered.
Scientists explained that Mutated Humans came into existence due to an energy leakage from the Catastrophe, a cataclysmic event that ripped open dimensions across the planet.
This raw energy, having permeated the environment, then combined with human genes, giving rise to the very first mutated humans.
Interestingly, humans could no longer mutate naturally.
This was attributed to the energy's disappearance, it was said that either it had been fully depleted or had simply returned to its source, no one really knew.
Nevertheless, this chaotic energy had already accomplished its primary task, to open dimensions and plunge the planet Earth into disarray.
Also, upon contact with human genes, the energy didn't just mutate them; it profoundly enhanced every single one of their senses.
Sight, hearing, feeling, taste, and smell were all sharpened to an extraordinary degree.
Furthermore, it bestowed upon them a sixth sense: surrounding awareness.
This new sense proved incredibly valuable in combat, enabling individuals to perceive their environment without needing their eyes, thereby allowing them to defend against attacks from any direction—left, right, or even behind.
Beyond sensory enhancement, the energy also initiated a remarkable internal transformation.
Once inside an individual, it gravitated towards the lower abdomen, near the navel, where it would create what became known as a mutant core.
The fundamental purpose of this core was to store energy, which individuals would then harness to perform their unique mutant abilities.
Crucially, a mutant core at a given stage could only hold a specific amount of energy, much like a one-liter bottle cannot hold more than one liter of water.
Consequently, the mutant core of a certain stage could not store more energy than its default capacity.
The higher the stage of a mutant core, the greater the amount of energy it could possess.
Humans had identified six distinct stages of mutant cores: Bronze, Copper, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Platinum.
These stages ranged from Bronze, the lowest, to Platinum, the highest, representing the pinnacle of human mutation so. far.
The progression from one stage to the next wasn't merely about an increased energy pool; the strength gap between stages was so immense that someone at a lower stage could never hope to defeat an individual of a higher stage.
Moreover, each mutant core was unique, a reason for the vast array of mutant abilities in existence.
This meant that each core stored energy specifically tailored for a particular mutant ability.
For instance, an earth mutant core would store energy exclusively for earth-based abilities, while an ice mutant core would hold energy for ice-related abilities, and so on.
There was also a critical limitation, an individual with no energy in their mutant core could not perform mutant abilities until that core was recharged. Some-what like a phones battery, you can't use it if it's low.
Likewise, individuals who lacked a mutant core altogether would be completely incapable of any mutant activity.
Reflecting on all this, Fai became even more certain: his system was not his mutant ability, and the chances he didn't even possess one was high .
He wasn't even sure if he ever would, considering he wasn't truly human anymore, a secret that should be fiercely guarded.
Now, Fai stood amidst the other students, all of whom had taken their pills and confirmed the presence of a mutant core within them.
They could feel it, pulsating just beneath their navels, radiating energy that coursed through their entire bodies.
Every cell thrummed with this newfound vitality, an amount of energy that surge stemming from their mutant cores.
Suddenly, a "bip" sound resonated through them all. Looking around, they quickly pinpointed the source.
Their watches had changed color from red to green. Everyone's, that is, except Fai's. However, this didn't perturb him.
Although his pill wouldn't grant him mutant abilities, he knew it would still provide a significant advantage in the upcoming assessment.
Just then, Janet stepped forward, preparing to address the group.
"Well, I believe my job here is done," she began, a familiar, almost serene smile gracing her lips.
"But I still have one crucial thing to tell you all: give it your absolute best! Make sure you give it your all, because I'm expecting to see all your faces back at the academy."
As she spoke, her gaze briefly flickered towards Fai, a subtle acknowledgment. "Good luck," she added, before turning and walking away.
Behind her, the stoic man with the briefcase and others in pure white lab coats followed suit, their quiet professionalism a stark contrast to the students' vibrant energy.
Once she was gone, the bald-headed man, whose presence commanded an undeniable seriousness, stepped forward.
"Follow me," he commanded, his voice a gravelly monotone, devoid of any further explanation.
It was just two words, but the students were well-accustomed to his brusque manner, so no one dared complain. As they trailed behind him, they were heading to meet the other large group of students.
Upon nearing them, a murmur of recognition rippled through the dispersing crowd as students eagerly sought out familiar faces, their friends, and began recounting their recent experiences.
Through the shifting bodies, Johnson easily spotted Fai, his distinctive curly black hair standing out against the other students.
"Hey, buddy! Over here!" Johnson shouted, signaling his position as he slowly navigated his way towards Fai, a wide grin stretching across his face.
Once they stood side-by-side, Johnson, brimming with curiosity, immediately inquired about Fai's group's experience.
Fai meticulously explained everything that had transpired: from the detailed explanations they were given, the mysterious pills, and even the astonishing fact that he hadn't consumed his pill but was still permitted to keep it with him.
Of course, he omitted any mention of the system to Johnson; it was his deepest secret, a profound mystery that he himself was struggling to comprehend.
Furthermore, Fai couldn't shake the unsettling realization that he didn't even truly know Johnson.
In his mind, he was certain that, sooner or later, Johnson would inevitably leave.
He was painfully convinced that the moment Johnson discovered his perceived uselessness, his weakness, his reality of having no family or any strong backing, he would abandon him, just like countless others had before.