In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

Kunlun Base, underground biological laboratory on the second floor.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant.

Professor Zhang Qian, clutching a thick stack of reports, strode up to Su Ran.

"Advisor Su, the conclusion is in!"

The old professor's voice trembled as he took several high-resolution brain CT scans and placed them on the stainless steel lab table.

"This is the final data we obtained after comparing slices of nearly a hundred first- and second-order mutant biological samples."

Su Ran's gaze swept across the table.

On the left is a brain image of a level one zombie, which is grayish-white with obvious dissolution cavities in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

On the right is a scan of a second-tier zombie. Around the edges of those hollows, numerous fine, dark red neurons, resembling a neural network, have grown.

"Advisor Su, your prediction is completely correct."

Zhang Qian pointed at the dark red organizations, his tone fanatical.

"The Omega-9 virus is not only a destroyer, but also a reshaper."

When an organism crosses the threshold of the first stage and enters the second stage, viral cells mutate and begin to repair the host's damaged brain tissue on a large scale.

Once repaired, they will not only regain basic sanity, but may even develop a decent level of intelligence.

Su Ran picked up the report and quickly flipped through it.

Zhang Qian then pulled up another set of data slices.

"It's not just zombies. The cerebral cortex activity of second-tier mutated beasts is also twice that of first-tier mutated beasts."

The omega-9 virus does indeed remodel damaged brain tissue in infected individuals.

The higher the energy level of the infected organism, the more complete its brain structure.

"Advisor Su!"

Zhang Qian's voice trembled, "This means they are evolving from mere feeding machines into species capable of thought. They're developing brains!"

Su Ran closed the report document, her expression serious.

The direction is correct.

Only after the hardware is fixed can the software be installed.

"The brain region of the second-order mutated creature has begun to repair itself."

Su Ran's voice did not sound cold.

"Does that mean that mutated organisms have already acquired the basic material basis to accommodate 'thought imprints'?"

"That's how it is in theory."

Zhang Qian nodded, "But this only requires the experimental subject to be capable of being manipulated mentally."

However, the extent to which second-tier alienated organisms can withstand mental interference requires data from live experiments.

"No rush."

Su Ran turned and walked out. "This week's points competition has reached its final sprint stage."

Once Bai Lu's match is over, I'll have her come to the lab to report for duty immediately.

At that time, we will directly conduct mind control tests using second-order living subjects.

"Understood, I'll have someone prepare a Tier 2 special isolation pod immediately!"

Zhang Qian walked away quickly, shouting back from behind.

Leaving the laboratory, Su Ran immediately went to the special monitoring room of Jiangcheng Mother Nest.

This is also one of his key strategies.

Pushing open the heavy lead door, hundreds of display screens emitted a faint blue light.

"How is the situation?" Su Ran pulled out a chair and sat down.

The major in charge of monitoring immediately stood up and reported, "Advisor Su, the situation has changed. But it's still under control."

The major zoomed in on the image on the central screen.

The camera overlooks the Jinmao Tower in Wuhan.

The original gray and white reinforced concrete building is now completely unrecognizable.

The enormous fleshy ball at the very top has more than doubled in size.

"Three days ago, the swarm of drones on the periphery detected a high-energy reaction."

The major switched to another set of infrared thermal imaging images. "Look here."

In the video, the fleshy pipes at the bottom of the building wriggle wildly, and then with a "plop," they spit out a monster covered in slime.

It was a newly hatched hellhound.

Its muscles were bulging, and sharp bone spurs even grew on its back, making it the size of an adult water buffalo.

"The energy level detection results are in."

The major swallowed hard and said, "This batch of newly hatched hellhounds were born at Tier 2."

Thirteen of these new hellhounds have appeared in the past three days. The nest hatched units have completed their energy level leap.

Su Ran narrowed her eyes slightly.

Born at level two?

"It seems the mother nest has advanced."

Su Ran said with certainty, "It is now a third-order life form."

Several gasps of surprise rippled through the hall.

"What's the situation with the blockade?" Su Ran asked in a deep voice.

"Ten additional Crystal Core Warriors have been deployed to patrol the area 24 hours a day."

Meanwhile, firing position 17 conducted suppressive fire on the trespassing Hellhound hatchlings yesterday.

The officer quickly pulled up the battle footage.

"The target group is still firmly suppressed within the ten-kilometer red line."

The drone formation is well-equipped with ammunition and can conduct carpet bombing at any time.

Su Ran nodded slightly.

"Keep a close watch."

Su Ran issued the order: "Any living person who crosses the red line must be killed without permission, no questions asked."

"yes!"

After dealing with these two matters, Su Ran returned to the central command hall.

Staff members hurried to and fro in the hall, while red and blue dots flashed alternately on the huge electronic sand table.

Su Ran walked to her designated command console, sat down, and rubbed her temples while leaning back in her chair.

Even this powerful body felt quite tired after working at such high intensity all the time.

Moreover, this fatigue is more reflected in the mental world.

Just then, a rough, large hand offered me a cigarette.

"Xiao Su, you need to give yourself some time to relax and don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Li Guodong stood beside him, holding a lighter in his hand. With a "snap," a flame shot up.

"Pressure is a good thing; it helps you improve faster."

Su Ran smiled, took the cigarette, and lit it.

"But excessive pressure can also destroy a person."

Li Guodong didn't laugh; he stared intently at Su Ran's face.

"I come from the National Security Bureau and have spent my whole life doing interrogation and psychological profiling."

Your facial expressions don't lie; you've been under a lot of stress lately.

He pointed to Su Ran's eyes.

"Your eye muscles are twitching involuntarily, which is a sign of extreme anxiety and nervous tension."

Su Ran subconsciously reached for that spot, never expecting that Li Guodong's insight would be so sharp.

"Old Li, you've got those huge dark circles under your eyes!"

"We are different. I have been through thick and thin for decades, and my spiritual world has long been eroded by the years."

Li Guodong said earnestly.

"Once we win this doomsday war, we'll need young people like you to rebuild our country."

Don't always think that the future of the Great Xia Dynasty rests solely on your shoulders; that's too heavy a burden.

Li Guodong turned around, pointed to himself, and then to the busy figures in the hall.

"Whether it's us old guys, the Awakened, or the millions of warriors outside, we're all standing by your side, sharing the burden with you."

Give yourself some time, even if it's just ten minutes.