Inside the house, Lu Ye sat at the perception console, activating the long-range scan of the Eye of the World. Within a ten-meter radius, the magnetic field began to tremble. The sensory circuit automatically narrowed, entering a one-minute high-frequency sweep.
Zhao Yang stood beside him, hat off, gaze steady.
"This ability… it's more than just detection."
Lin Lan reviewed the incoming data.
"Magnetic feedback runs deep. It's like something is shielding itself."
He Xuan confirmed:
"Not military tech. Not leftover Maker systems." "It's natural—but not normal."
Lu Ye spoke quietly:
"Let's go see."
The target zone was an abandoned underground parking structure. Magnetic suppression was intense. Sensory layers flickered in and out.
As the squad entered, the air carried a strange corrosive sensation— like the magnetic field was slowly tearing space apart.
Chen Mo led the way, his gauntlets switched to stability mode. Hu Hao synced his mental frequency from the rear, ready to suppress at any moment. Zhao Yang pulled his hat down, blood mist expanding to cover the entrance.
Lin Lan whispered:
"The magnetic field is warping."
He Xuan added:
"Not artificial interference. Environmental induction." "This place… is generating mutation."
The ground trembled. A zombie crawled out from the shadows.
It wasn't large, but its skin had a metallic sheen. Cracks ran across its eyes. Its movements were erratic—unstable.
It didn't roar. It lunged straight at Chen Mo— as if it had predicted his position.
Chen Mo activated Phase Four of his Shattered-Time Fist. Space trembled. But the zombie was unnaturally agile— dodging the fracture before it fully formed.
Lin Lan gasped.
"It's learning."
Zhao Yang deployed blood mist interference to cloud its judgment— but the effect was limited.
He Xuan attempted magnetic lockdown— but the creature tore through it with brute force.
Hu Hao gritted his teeth and initiated mental control. Upon contact, he found something strange.
"It's not multi-layered consciousness." "It's… self-dividing awareness."
The zombie began to counterattack. Its movements accelerated— as if evolving mid-combat.
Chen Mo landed a punch to its chest. Space collapsed. Phase Four fully stabilized.
A clean fracture split the air. The zombie froze—locked in place.
Hu Hao seized the moment, completing a deep sync. Control time extended to fifteen seconds.
But the creature began to resist. Hu Hao's voice strained:
"It's fighting back."
Zhao Yang flanked from the side. A blood needle pierced the back of its neck— disrupting neural feedback.
The zombie's coordination collapsed. Its core crystal dislodged. The magnetic field stabilized.
Lin Lan confirmed:
"Tier 3 Peak. But its magnetic structure is approaching Tier 4."
He Xuan logged the data.
"Mutated entity. Naturally evolved. Designation: X-1."
Zhao Yang spoke quietly:
"It wasn't made." "It made itself."
Lu Ye stared at the crystal, voice calm:
"We're not clearing zombies." "We're clearing… evolution."
Chen Mo leaned against the wall, gauntlets trembling faintly.
"It was faster than me."
Hu Hao sat down, breathing uneven.
"It was deeper than me."
Zhao Yang adjusted his hat.
"Then we'll have to hit harder."
Lin Lan opened her notebook, jotting down key terms:
"Magnetic induction. Self-learning. Consciousness division."
He Xuan spoke softly:
"If this is natural evolution… our edge will be swallowed piece by piece."
Lu Ye didn't respond. He simply pocketed the crystal.
He knew— this wasn't the last mutated entity. And it wasn't the strongest.