Lin An's heart pounded, blood surging hot to his head.
Although the difference between a first-level psychic plant and a second-level one seemed only a word apart, the gap in effect was an unbridgeable chasm.
In his past life, three long years had passed before he even heard rumors of such a treasure. Once, in the East China War Zone, whispers of a suspected second-level plant had thrown dozens of second-level Awakeners into madness. That brutal struggle had ended with thousands of corpses and one survivor—an elite second-level powerhouse clutching the prize.
And now, here it was. Right in front of him.
There was no time to wonder why. Lin An swallowed it whole.
"Buzz—"
A molten current rushed through his body, burning like violet fire as it dissolved. His limbs trembled under the sudden onslaught of power. Every nerve screamed as psychic energy tore through him, remolding flesh and bone.
A surge welled up from his lower abdomen, wild and unstoppable.
Ding! Devoured [Level 2 Psychic Plant]. Strength +2, Agility +1, Constitution +1, Willpower +1.Ding! Exclusive amplification acquired: Explosive Force +10%.Ding! Exclusive enhancement acquired: Movement Speed +10%.
Lin An collapsed to one knee, drenched in sweat, chest heaving. When the light screen finished refreshing, his lips twisted into a grin.
Too powerful.
Not only attributes—two rare effects stacked onto his body. Ten percent more explosive force meant attacks beyond his limits. Ten percent more speed meant the difference between life and death in the apocalypse.
An illusion of infinite power coursed through him. He knew it was the rush of sudden strength, but he couldn't help testing it.
He clenched his fist and drove it into the air.
Boom!
The punch cracked the air itself, sending a vacuum shockwave rattling through the shop. Dust and petals scattered. Lin An turned toward the reinforced concrete wall, exhaled, and struck again.
A deafening crack—stone split like tofu. A hole gaped open to the street outside.
Behind him, the florist owner froze. Her jaw hung slack, eyes wide like broken glass. She had watched Lin An fight earlier—seen him kill with calm precision. But to punch through a wall bare-handed? That was no longer human.
She shuddered, neck shrinking into her shoulders, praying he wouldn't notice her trembling.
Even Wen Ya, standing at his side, was momentarily silent. She knew he was strong, but this was different. Her gaze lingered on his fist, unscathed except for a faint red mark.
Lin An flexed his hand. Not even pain. His body's resilience had hardened with the upgrade—ordinary blades would find little purchase on him now.
Was he still human?
Before the thought settled, a roar erupted from beyond the shattered wall.
"Roooaaar!"
Countless footsteps pounded closer. Through the opening, scarlet eyes gleamed in the shadows. A tide of zombies pressed forward, filling the street.
The florist owner screamed. "Monsters! Monsters!"
The cry only agitated the horde. They slammed against the blocked storefront in a frenzy.
Pale with terror, the florist bolted upstairs, moving with surprising speed for her heavy frame. The door slammed shut, locks clicked, and something heavy scraped against the wood.
Wen Ya frowned. Locking herself in? Pitiful. In this world, hiding alone was a death sentence. The only way to survive… was to follow Lin An.
"Go."
Lin An's voice was calm, cold. He had seen this cowardice too many times before.
He scanned the street—at least four hundred zombies closing in. Without hesitation, he swept Wen Ya into his arms. She weighed almost nothing against his newfound strength.
"Burst."
Golden light flared across his body. His muscles tightened, swelling with violent force. The world slowed—the frantic horde seemed to drag in syrup as his perception sharpened.
Boom!
Lin An lashed out with a kick. The half-ton shelving that barred the entrance flew like scrap, crashing through dozens of zombies. Metal bent, flesh broke, bodies flung ten meters.
"Drink!"
With a guttural roar, Lin An bent low, cradled Wen Ya tight, and launched forward. His first step cracked the tiles beneath him, propelling him ten meters in an instant.
Zombies clawed at empty air, too slow to react as he shot like an arrow from the bowstring.
But the sound drew more. The city stirred. Waves of roars answered, and within minutes, the street below was drowning in undead. Thousands converged on the flower shop, blackening the road in every direction.
The florist owner peered through her upstairs window, face drained of blood. From above, she saw what looked like an endless sea of corpses swallowing the city. Her lips trembled, despair hollowing her eyes.
The motorcycle roared down the cracked asphalt, weaving through ruined cars. Wen Ya held Lin An's waist tightly, her cheek pressed against his back.
"Lin An… where are we going?"
She didn't know why, but despite their brief time together, there was an uncanny familiarity about him. As though she had known him long before.
"City center."
His eyes narrowed, carrying both calm and anticipation.
He remembered. In his last life, on the outskirts of Linjiang's city center, lay a piece of equipment every early-stage survivor dreamed of. The best of its time.
The plan had been to wait five days before venturing deeper. With millions of zombies and dozens of mutants lurking inside, it was suicide for the weak.
But now? His strength had soared past his expectations. He even carried poison resistance from the plant.
The risk was no longer unthinkable.
He whispered the name to himself, voice like a vow:
"Hand of the Skullcrusher."
The only blue-grade equipment in Linjiang City. His next goal.