Surviving the apocalypse with a wife and a system! [GL]

Chapter 292: The golden fruit 3.

The thought stayed in her mind for only a second before she pushed it aside.

There was no point thinking about that yet.

First, she needed to know where the fruit was.

"Where is it?" Bai Li asked.

The system answered immediately.

"The Golden Fruit of Immortality is located in Jiangbei City."

Bai Li frowned.

"Jiangbei City?"

"Yes. Its exact location is the top floor of the Inorbit Supermall."

Bai Li blinked.

"Inorbit Supermall?"

"Yes."

The name immediately brought an image to her mind.

Before the apocalypse, the Inorbit Supermall had been one of the most crowded places in Jiangbei City. It was a huge commercial complex filled with shops, restaurants, entertainment areas, storage rooms, offices, and countless other businesses. The upper floors were normally restricted to staff and maintenance areas, while the topmost section of the building had been designed as a large indoor garden and leisure area.

But after the apocalypse, a place like that was no longer a harmless shopping mall.

It would be a giant concrete graveyard.

Bai Li’s expression slowly became serious.

"The top floor. Is the fruit growing there?"

"Yes."

"On the Pomelo Tree?"

"Yes."

"Then why did you say it has been born now?"

"Because the fruit has completed its maturation process. Until this moment, the Golden Fruit of Immortality was not fully formed and could not provide its complete effects."

Bai Li thought about that for a moment.

"So it was growing there the whole time?"

"Yes."

"And nobody knew about it?"

"Some beings are already aware of its existence."

Bai Li’s eyes immediately sharpened.

"Who?"

The system’s answer came without delay.

"Zombies. Mutated monsters. High-level evolved creatures. Awakened humans. Ordinary humans with sufficiently strong senses. Any living creature capable of sensing energy may notice it."

Bai Li’s face became slightly darker.

"How far can they sense it from?"

"The exact distance varies according to the strength and sensory ability of each individual. However, the attraction produced by the Golden Fruit of Immortality is extremely strong. As the fruit has matured, the amount of energy it releases has increased significantly."

Bai Li’s fingers slowly tightened.

"So everyone nearby is going there?"

"Most likely."

"Most likely?"

"The system cannot predict the actions of every individual. However, the instinctive attraction produced by the fruit is extremely powerful. Zombies may become agitated. Mutated monsters may change their routes and begin moving toward the source of energy. Awakened humans may be drawn toward the location by their own bodies sensing an opportunity to increase their strength. Ordinary humans may also develop a strong desire to obtain it after learning what it can do."

Bai Li’s gaze turned cold.

"You said instinctive attraction."

"Yes."

"How serious is it?"

The system was silent for a brief moment before giving its answer.

"Extremely serious."

Bai Li raised an eyebrow.

"That does not sound very scientific."

"The simplest explanation is that every creature capable of understanding the value of power will be affected. The fruit produces a powerful energy signature that resembles an irresistible source of life and evolutionary energy. To zombies and monsters, it is like a source of nourishment many times more valuable than ordinary flesh or energy crystals. To awakened humans, it represents an opportunity to increase their strength. To ordinary humans, after learning of its effects, it may represent the possibility of changing their fate."

Bai Li was silent.

The system continued.

"In addition, the Golden Fruit contains a unique type of energy that can stimulate mutation. High-level zombies and monsters may instinctively sense that consuming the fruit could push them into a higher evolutionary stage. Therefore, the stronger creatures in the surrounding area will be more strongly attracted to it."

Bai Li stared ahead.

That was the important part.

The stronger the opponent, the stronger the attraction.

"How many high-level zombies are around the mall?" she asked.

"The system cannot provide a complete exact count."

Bai Li frowned.

"Why not?"

"The density of hostile lifeforms around the target area is constantly changing. However, the system can confirm that multiple high-level zombies and mutated monsters are already moving toward the Inorbit Supermall."

"How high level?"

"There are numerous lower-level creatures, many intermediate-level creatures, and several higher-level zombies and monsters."

Bai Li’s expression grew more serious.

"Several?"

"Yes."

"Can you estimate their strength?"

"Some individuals are strong enough to pose a serious threat even to powerful awakened humans. Their exact abilities cannot be confirmed until they are observed."

Bai Li slowly exhaled.

The system did not need to say anything else.

She already understood.

The Inorbit Supermall was about to become a battlefield.

And not an ordinary battlefield either.

Every creature in the surrounding area would be fighting over a single fruit.

A fruit that could strengthen the body, extend lifespan, repair injuries, potentially evolve an existing superpower, and possibly awaken an ability in someone who had never possessed one.

In a world where people were desperately trying to survive from one day to the next, something like that would drive people mad.

"Is there only one?" Bai Li asked.

"Yes."

"Only one Golden Fruit?"

"Yes."

"What about the tree?"

"The Pomelo Tree is also a valuable mutated life-form. Its leaves, branches, roots, bark, and fruit can contain different concentrations of life energy. However, the Golden Fruit of Immortality is the rarest and most valuable part of the tree."

Bai Li immediately understood.

"So if someone destroys the tree while trying to get the fruit, they could lose the whole thing."

"Correct."

"And if someone gets the fruit first?"

"Then the remaining value of the tree will decrease substantially."

Bai Li gave a small nod.

Her mind was already starting to work.

The top floor of the mall.

A mutated Pomelo Tree.

One Golden Fruit.

Large numbers of zombies and monsters gathering around it.

Humans being attracted to the same place.

And possibly even stronger creatures coming from farther away after detecting the energy.

It would be chaotic.

It would probably be dangerous enough that most people would choose to stay away.

.

.

.

TO BE CONTINUED.