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

Chapter 296: The golden fruit 7.

The system says the tree is extremely unusual. It’s not just a normal pomelo tree that somehow produced a larger fruit. The tree itself has changed because of the energy released after the apocalypse. Its roots absorbed enormous amounts of mutated energy from the soil and the environment around it, and over time that energy condensed inside the tree.

"The result was a strange kind of mutation. The tree stopped developing normally. Instead of producing many fruits, its life energy became concentrated into a single fruit. The system said the entire tree is basically pouring everything it has into that one fruit. That’s why the energy inside it is so dense. It’s almost like the tree spent all its resources making one perfect result instead of making dozens of ordinary ones."

Yan Cijin listened carefully.

Bai Li continued.

"The Golden Fruit looks like a pomelo, but according to the system it will be different from an ordinary pomelo in almost every other way. The outer skin is supposed to be golden, not yellow, but a kind of deep warm gold. The surface will have thin patterns on it, like veins running across the skin. The system said those patterns are actually channels carrying energy through the fruit. Once the fruit is ripe, those patterns will glow faintly.

"The fruit’s flesh is supposed to contain an extremely pure form of life energy. Normally, human bodies can only absorb a limited amount of mutated energy at once. That’s why some people awaken abilities slowly, and why others get sick when exposed to too much energy. But the Golden Fruit is different. The energy inside it has already been refined by the tree. The human body doesn’t need to process it from the beginning. It can absorb much more of it directly."

Yan Cijin’s expression became more serious.

"How much stronger could someone become?"

"The system doesn’t have a fixed answer. It depends on the person. Some people may experience a massive physical improvement. Their bones could become stronger. Their muscles would become denser. Their recovery speed would increase. Their senses would become sharper. Their stamina could rise dramatically. The body might even become more resistant to certain toxins and infections carried by mutated creatures.

"For awakened people, the effect can be even more dramatic. It could increase the strength of the ability they already have. It might help someone reach the next stage. And for people who have not awakened at all, there is a possibility that the concentrated energy can stimulate their body’s potential and force an awakening."

Yan Cijin’s eyes narrowed.

"Force an awakening?"

"Maybe. The system said it’s not guaranteed. But the possibility is real."

Bai Li leaned back slightly.

"That’s why I think we can’t leave it there."

Yan Cijin stayed quiet for a moment.

There was a lot to think about.

A fruit that could improve the body to that degree was not just valuable.

It could change the balance between groups of survivors.

It could create powerful awakened people.

It could turn an ordinary person into someone capable of fighting zombies.

It could make a weak awakened ability much stronger.

And in the apocalypse, that meant everything.

"Where is it?" she asked.

"Jiangbei City."

Yan Cijin frowned.

"That’s not exactly nearby."

"No."

"Where in Jiangbei City?"

"Inorbit Supermall."

Yan Cijin stared at her.

"The mall?"

"Yes. Top floor."

A faint crease appeared between Yan Cijin’s brows.

"How certain are you?"

"The system was certain about the location."

There was a tiny pause.

Yan Cijin could have asked how the system knew.

She could have asked why it was telling Bai Li these things.

She could have asked why the system seemed to give Bai Li information that could change their future.

But she didn’t.

Instead she asked the question that mattered most.

"What is the danger?"

Bai Li’s face became more serious.

"A lot."

Yan Cijin waited.

Bai Li continued slowly.

"The fruit’s energy isn’t something only humans can sense. Zombies can sense it. Mutated monsters can sense it. The stronger the creature, the more strongly it responds. The fruit is like a beacon. Once it fully ripens, the energy spreading out from it will be strong enough to pull nearby high level zombies toward the mall.

"The system warned me that creatures from the surrounding area may gather there without even understanding why they’re moving. Their bodies will recognize the value of the energy before their minds ever could. Lower level zombies might simply become restless and move toward the source. Stronger zombies may actively fight each other to get closer. Mutated monsters will probably behave the same way.

"And humans aren’t immune either."

Yan Cijin’s eyes became colder.

Bai Li nodded.

"That’s the worst part. Awakened humans will be strongly attracted to it because their bodies can sense what kind of power it contains. But ordinary humans will feel it too. Even someone who doesn’t understand what the fruit is may feel an instinctive urge to get closer once they learn that it can make them stronger.

"The apocalypse already pushes people toward survival. Hunger, fear, desperation, and the instinct to become stronger are constantly fighting inside everyone. A fruit like this would hit all those instincts at once. Someone who normally acts rationally might become reckless because their mind keeps telling them that if they can just get the fruit, everything will change.

"The stronger their desire for power, the harder it will be to resist. The system described it almost like an instinct becoming amplified. Not mind control, exactly. More like greed, fear, and survival instinct being dragged right to the surface."

Yan Cijin slowly exhaled.

"So it won’t just be zombies."

"No."

"It will be everyone."

"Exactly."

Bai Li looked at her seriously.

"The mall could become a battlefield. High level zombies will gather. Mutated monsters will gather. Survivors will come. Awakened people will come. Groups will fight each other. Zombies will attack humans. Monsters will attack both. And anyone who gets there first may not be able to keep the fruit because everyone else will keep trying to take it.

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TO BE CONTINUED.