Chapter 440 - Finding Food

As the Origin of Mutation delved deeper into its research on zombies and their crystals, the connection between the two gradually came to light. Eventually, it discovered the crystals’ true nature.

They were actually condensed hormones produced when humans were infected by the virus! The higher the compatibility between the virus and the host, the higher the crystal’s quality. Once that purity reached a certain threshold, the crystal would mutate into an ability crystal that granted the mutated zombies their powers.

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

After understanding the crystals’ formation, the Origin of Mutation proposed to Han Wu that they administer the substance to a few humans to test its hypothesis. If successful, this would mean the discovery of a way to artificially create ability users.

This discovery was vital to Han Wu, but he still had a bottom line. He refused the proposal for the time being. Even though he cared little for the survivors’ lives, he still couldn’t bring himself to force them into experiments with the zombie virus. As such, he proposed that they volunteer instead.

Those who chose to participate would receive daily food and a chance to become ability users. The reward was meager, but many still stepped forward. In a world where survival itself was uncertain, even the faintest hope for tomorrow was enough to make people risk everything.

The Origin of Mutation got the subjects it needed and started the human trials immediately. Meanwhile, Han Wu focused on nurturing his locusts. With the zombie horde’s corpses as sustenance, he could feed far more of them and soon expanded his swarm. Soon, he commanded 200,000 Unique locusts.

Moreover, the Locust Dragon had devoured vast amounts of flesh and successfully evolved into a Lord life form. After ranking up, it was the size of a buffalo, and its combat strength soared.

However, as Han Wu summoned more locusts, a new problem arose. His swarm was great in battle but consumed food at a staggering rate. Even the zombie corpses at hand could only sustain them for a few days. If he wanted to maintain or expand his swarm, he would need to secure more food.

After consulting the survivors, Han Wu learned that their camp was situated on Tanuki Town’s outskirts. The number of zombies increased drastically as one ventured toward the town center.

Determined to replenish his resources, he resolved to lead his swarm into the center of the town.

Han Wu left the Origin of Mutation at the camp to continue its research, then mounted a flying locust and set off. Within five hours, he reached Tanuki Town’s borders. Extending his senses, he detected numerous zombies wandering among the skyscrapers, and more than a few survivors scattered within.

Han Wu directed his locusts toward a nearby building and started clearing it floor by floor. The locusts entered one after another and used the sound of the elevators to lure the zombies near them. Without hesitation, they activated Sixfold Artifact and summoned their bows and arrows to attack the zombies.

Although these bows were Divine weapons, one rank below God weapons, they possessed destructive power comparable to that of a sniper rifle. The zombies never had a chance to resist; the arrows struck them down immediately. Their corpses then became food for the locusts, which devoured the flesh before collecting the crystals and delivering them to Han Wu.

He hardly needed to move to amass a fortune in crystals. Yet his calm exterior was deceptive. Even as he rested, he maintained control over 200,000 locusts at the same time. Only through his precise control could the entire swarm swiftly kill the zombies in the building.

When the last zombie fell, the survivors hiding inside finally dared to emerge in search of supplies. Some saw Han Wu directing the swarm and begged him for protection, even promising to pay a million credits.

Han Wu ignored them. He had no intention of wasting energy to protect them, and 1 million credits meant nothing here. The world had already ended, and money was as worthless as scrap paper. If anything, toilet paper had more value. Thinking they could buy his protection with a stack of bills was laughable.

When a man realized that Han Wu wouldn’t respond, he raised his offer from 1 million to 5 million, then 10 million. When that failed too, he accused Han Wu of being too greedy.

Irritated, Han Wu ordered one of his locusts to bite off the man’s head. Silence returned at last, allowing him to focus on controlling the swarm to eat the zombies so that they could evolve.

It didn’t take long before his activity drew attention. With so many locusts swarming the area, it was impossible to stay unnoticed. A helicopter patrolling the skies over Tanuki Town had been observing zombie activity when its crew noticed something unusual: that area was empty of zombies and crawling with locusts instead.

The scout onboard immediately grew alert. “Tanuki Town, Mammoth Sector. We’ve spotted a huge swarm of locust-like organisms, which are ten times larger than normal locusts. They appear to have mutated from the virus.”

He paused, eyes wide. “Wait... These organisms appeared to prey on zombies. Hold on—what’s that? The unknown organisms are extracting the polymer from the zombies’ skulls and delivering it to a man!”

A moment later came another exclamation. “Who is that guy? To think that those organisms that killed the zombies aren’t attacking him at all...”

The scout relayed everything to their superior through the radio.

A response came quickly. “That man is most likely a special ability user that has obtained the powers to control locusts. Capture him alive. The organization wants him for research. We might be able to extract some rare gene from his body.”

“Copy that.”

The helicopter banked and descended toward Mammoth Sector, landing on the rooftop helipad. Three heavily armed scouts disembarked and headed down the stairwell.

Along the way, they passed clusters of locusts feasting on zombie corpses. They braced themselves for an attack, but the locusts didn’t react. Even after several tense moments, not one turned toward them.

One of the scouts voiced the thought they were all thinking. “What if the locusts don’t harm humans?”

To test it, he stepped closer to one. The locust noticed him and clutched the zombie corpse beneath it with its spindly legs, blocking his hand from touching it.

The scouts misread the gesture, assuming that the locust was timid and would latch onto nearby objects out of fear. In truth, the locust was protecting its food.

“What a cute fella,” the scout muttered.