"This humanoid toad, its saliva is corrosive, comparable to aqua regia."
"It exhibits a clear reaction to human flesh, aligning with the aberrant pattern of polluted patients."
"The epidermis is pliable, waterproof. Vulnerability lies in the abdomen."
"Most of the body consists of fast muscle fibers, suggesting strong explosive power but lower endurance."
Lu Yan meticulously jotted down the relevant data in his work log.
After two days of recovery, his injuries no longer hindered his movements.
A doctor's place had everything. Hence, having a set of surgical scalpels for dissection didn't seem odd.
This low-grade pollutant had essentially lost human characteristics, entirely forfeiting rationality, retaining only the primal desire to feed—it was no longer human. Moreover, it intended to kill him.
So, despite retaining respect for the overall structure, Lu Yan didn't hold back when taking action.
As Lu Yan tossed the frog flesh into the grinder and flushed it down the drain, the system's voice expressed regret: "The meat from these frogs... it's actually quite tasty."
Lu Yan replied, "I believe at least humans shouldn't, or perhaps, ought not to."
"...Alright."
A day had passed since dealing with the body, and Lu Yan hadn't closed his eyes for nearly thirty hours.
He lay down to sleep, yet was still roused by a knock on the door at ten in the morning.
His sleep was always light—there was no helping it.
The property maintenance guy yelled from outside, "Mr. Lu, are you awake?"
The maintenance guy's name was Shen Qingyang, having worked here for two years.
The door lock had corroded away previously. During such special times, Lu Yan couldn't find anyone to replace the lock, so he did it himself with a new one.
An electronic lock, fingerprint-activated, without a keyhole.
He checked the peephole monitor and inquired through the intercom, "What's the matter?"
"Do you know where your neighbor across went?" Shen Qingyang asked, his gaze somewhat vacant, holding a bottle of mineral water, taking a sip every thirty seconds. "He hasn't taken water in the last two days. We checked the surveillance, but no sign of him. It's a bit curious."
"I don't know," Lu Yan calmly replied.
"Okay. If you hear anything, you can contact me through the property group. I'll go deliver water to the next unit."
Lu Yan wasn't sure if Shen Qingyang himself noticed, but as he left, he was walking with small, skipping steps.
If it were a child, it might have seemed cute.
Lu Yan fell silent for a moment, sensing that there might be more infected individuals in this city than he had imagined.
The system also lamented, "The rate of evolution is accelerating. Normally, it would take at least a month to progress from the first stage to the third stage. The situation in City K might spiral out of control faster than anticipated."
After a moment's hesitation, Lu Yan asked, "Isn't there a Disease Prevention and Control Center?"
"The number of Harbingers was never enough to match the pollutants, and now, their rate of advancement can't keep up either. Fires are breaking out worldwide, with only a single bottle of water—how can we save it all?"
Lu Yan felt it made sense.
He waited for a while, brought the water and groceries inside, and as usual, turned on the television.
Though he had stocked up on many supplies, most were instant foods. Fresh ingredients needed to be delivered.
The TV station was broadcasting the news, currently the only program City K residents could receive. The station was severely understaffed, now broadcasting only at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 8 PM, each session lasting an hour.
There was no more glossing over the situation. On the screen, the female anchor was somberly introducing the polluted disease.
The anchor perhaps encountered this data for the first time, her news delivery slightly tremulous.
"Since entering the new century, this is the most severe challenge faced by humanity worldwide."
"Currently, City K has issued a pollution yellow/alert. This polluted disease is being circulated through parasitic fish eggs, and those affected can be partially infectious. The parasitic fish eggs survive mostly in tap water. Citizens, please be cautious of drinking water safety."
"According to intelligence, those affected by parasites undergo three stages of distortion. The first stage's characteristics... with a distortion period ranging from 7 to 50 days. Eventually forming three types of pollutants: frog people, fish people, algae people, in ascending order of danger. These distorted individuals possess strong aggression and are no longer human. If encountering a distorted person, seek shelter immediately. If you notice someone in your home starting to distort, please report it immediately."
"Despite the extraordinary strength of the enemy, we must not give up hope. City K authorities have never abandoned assistance to ordinary residents."
"In addition, if any citizen has been contaminated but shows no symptoms of distortion, they can call the Control Center. In this crucial life-and-death moment, we need everyone's strength!"
...
...
Accompanied by a series of pixelated images cycling through the television screen, the final veil of secrecy surrounding the Pollution Disease was ripped away, leaving a sense of dread and unease hanging over everyone.
Many, prompted by the TV broadcasts, became aware of the severity of the issue and voluntarily or involuntarily made their way to the shelters.
Some citizens chose to flee under the cover of night, gunfire echoing until dawn. While societal order hadn't collapsed entirely, armed forces still held sway.
On the fifteenth day of the lockdown, someone reached the outskirts of the city for the first time.
It was a taxi driver who, relying on familiarity with the city, shook off pursuers behind him. He drove along the highway out of town, his face a mix of relief for surviving the ordeal.
The streets were eerily deserted, more desolate than ever. The driver navigated towards a smaller road—a rougher path but bypassing toll stations—to reach the highways and head to other cities.
Crossing the ancient tea-horse trail led to the neighboring city of M.
As victory seemed within reach, the smile on the driver's lips froze in place.
At the outskirts of K city, a wall several meters high had been erected, its surface smooth and endless, resembling a colossal cage.
Reinforcements from the headquarters had indeed arrived—the Harbingers.
Ah Bai, the leader of Special Operations' second unit and captain of the first squad, with a psychic threshold of 8700, perched atop the towering city wall. He listened to Lin Sinan's report, impatience etched across his features.
"I'm not cut out for brawls, never have been. If it weren't for the fear of death, I wouldn't have awakened this talent. Besides, I'm not built for combat; I'm no berserker... What? I wasn't cursing anyone. I can hold this earthen wall for a week at best. One week to contain all pollutants within the city. Otherwise, HQ will consider using hot weaponry. You know, the kind that goes 'biu,' mushroom clouds and all. Got it?"
On the sixteenth day of the lockdown...
Shen Qingyang's face had started to exhibit pronounced abnormal features—protruding eyeballs.
Lu Yan had dissected Zhou Kaiwen; his brain had shrunk significantly, no bigger than a walnut, rid of all convolutions, resembling a smooth, tender foie gras. This cerebral mutation evidently stripped pollutants of human rationale.
Of course, some pollutants continued moving even after their brains were blasted into pulp. Laughable—brains were unnecessary.
Shen Qingyang paused at Lu Yan's door.
He pressed the doorbell and inquired, "Mr. Lu, are you in?"
Moments later, Lu Yan's slightly distorted voice crackled from the intercom, "I am."
"It's good you're here. This is my last time delivering water. The inspector from the Pollution Center said I'm about to enter the second stage of mutation. Though I don't know where it's happening, I can sense it. Everyone's become afraid of me." Shen Qingyang's voice dragged, "We're short-staffed now. If someone didn't replace me, I would've gone to the shelter long ago... Do you know about the shelter? It's where they concentrate treatment for mutated individuals."
"They call it the concentration camp of the 22nd century. No mutated person sent there has ever made it out alive. But there's no other way. I've seen the news; those who lost their rationale only retain the instinct to feed. They say we're made of memories. By then, I won't be 'me' anymore. So, I think it doesn't matter if my body perishes in the shelter."
"Though I can't see my own mutation, there have been changes. Dr. Lu, I want to warn you... You smell different from normal people, fragrant. Please be cautious. Despite the zoning and tests underway, it's chaotic outside. It's best if you stay indoors. I've deleted the surveillance from that night; you're safe."
It was as though he was settling affairs, Shen Qingyang rambled on.
"Oh, and thank you, Dr. Lu."
Shen Qingyang came from a rural background and dropped out of junior high school. Later, while working as a bricklayer on a construction site, he broke a leg, and it was Lu Yan who performed the surgery. Though saved, he was left with a limp, rendering him unable to return to work. Just then, Lu Yan noticed a job opening downstairs and recommended it to him.
Shen Qingyang's stomach emitted a few untimely "gurgles" of hunger. Despite still consuming meals regularly, food no longer provided him with a sense of fullness. This morning, due to hunger, he even secretly cut a piece of flesh from his own body, surprisingly feeling minimal pain.
Glancing one last time at Lu Yan's house, Shen Qingyang turned and walked away. Subsequently, under the supervision of Disease Prevention and Control Center personnel, he headed to the quarantine facility.
In this residential area, a total of seven people were going to the quarantine facility. The number of individuals affected by pollution in City K was more than expected, making bed space exceptionally scarce.
The quarantine facility offered single rooms for accommodation, hastily converted and cramped, separated by iron sheets resembling train sleeper compartments. Sound insulation was virtually nonexistent in such places; one could hear the sound of the neighbor chewing an apple with perfect clarity.
Fortunately, Shen Qingyang was accustomed to hardship, so he didn't find it unbearable. His only concern was Dr. Lu, who was still in the neighborhood. Thus, the first night was somewhat sleepless.
City K bordered City W.
A figure in black robes stood in the outskirts, gazing at the earthen wall beyond City K.
This high wall not only blocked the land above but also extended downward, obstructing the river flow. An effective agent to kill fish eggs had been discharged into the water. In about two days, it would completely eliminate pollutants in the river.
The gender of the figure in the black robe was indiscernible, completely concealed.
"The quarantine facility is the best incubation ground. Only through consumption can one achieve better evolution. Sometimes, I truly appreciate the bright aspects of human nature. At least they built a quarantine facility, didn't they?"
The figure in the black robe stood still, with no one around. Strangely, the voice speaking seemed to come from the back of their head.
"I wonder which lucky individual will end up with that kingfisher fish egg… For this incubation, I deliberately caused chaos in City H, keeping headquarters too occupied to spare any energy here."
"Yes, I know, your son is still in City K. But that's not important, is it? And don't tell me you feel paternal love."
"This process will inevitably involve many sacrifices. But all sacrifices are for the coming of the great god."
As the wind blew, it happened to lift the hood of the black robe. The front face revealed only one upright eye, devoid of a mouth, with bloodshot veins in the eye white. Behind it was a constantly changing face, alternating between male and female.
"City K is just the beginning. Sooner or later, this world will be filled with the remnants of the gods!" The expression on that face was full of fanaticism, then it calmed down. "And we are the creators of the god."