A few moments ago, the scout had only gone to check the situation inside the safe house. His task was simple... It was to see if the two survivors who had consumed the Mutagenic Gene Enhancement Serums had completed their transformation.

But as soon as he approached, a low rumble shook the walls. It wasn’t machinery... it was a roar coming from inside!

The scout froze as he tightened his grip on his weapon.

None of them had any idea how the Mutagenic Gene Enhancement truly worked. No one had ever dared to use it before, except for these two.

Would they still be in their right mind after the transformation? Or would they become feral monsters?

Another roar followed, and this time, it was deeper... The sound itself started vibrating through the wooden planks of the house. Then came the sound of splintering wood.

Crack! 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The door shuddered once, then exploded outward as if struck by a battering ram.

Shards of wood were scattered across the ground. The scout stumbled back, before raising his gun instinctively.

"This..." he whispered in disbelief.

Two figures stepped into the open. He recognized them even through the changes... Jonathan and Wesley.

They were larger now, their bodies stretched beyond normal human proportions. Their skin was still human, but lined with new thickness of muscle and strange markings.

Both had four eyes, glowing faintly as they scanned the surroundings. But their mutations were not identical.

Jonathan’s transformation was quite terrifying. His frame had thickened and a long tail protruded from his spine... The tail alone looked thick and muscular.

Furthermore, it was thrashing violently against the broken doorframe. He probably couldn’t control it yet since each swing cracked wood and sent splinters flying.

Then, his hands had changed too, each palm bearing eight fingers! These long and sharper fingers were probably capable of gripping and tearing metal apart!

"We did it!" Jonathan shouted and, needless to say, excitement was flooding his tone. He flexed his new fingers, marveling at the strength coursing through his body.

Still, Wesley’s mutation was different.

His body was leaner and seemed more agile like that of a panther... His four eyes were large and his pupils were shifting independently...

Indeed, the pupils were scanning in multiple directions at once!

Furthermore, his tail was thinner but whip‑like. Unlike Jonathan’s, it was moving with speed rather than brute force.

Then, his arms had elongated slightly, and his eight fingers were narrower...

When he moved, his body seemed to be leaning as if preparing to move on all fours...

"We’re still us... but stronger!" Wesley laughed, raising his arms.

He lashed his tail against a broken beam, splintering it instantly with a sharp bam.

His movements were quick, almost too quick for the scout to follow.

The scout lowered his weapon as he felt relieved...

Their voices were familiar. Their minds were intact.

"Jonathan... Wesley! You’re you! Amazing!" the scout exclaimed, unable to hide his excitement.

He immediately reported the news to the higher‑ups.

Soon, others gathered, drawn by the noise.

Angelo himself arrived, Plasma Rifle slung across his shoulder, his elite crew close behind.

"Ho~ They look strong," Angelo commented, stopping at the sight of the two transformed survivors. The rest of the men wore expressions of awe and caution.

Angelo stepped forward, studying them carefully. "You’re still in control?" he asked.

Jonathan nodded as he looked at Angelo. "Yes, Leader. I’m still Jonathan. The serum changed my body, but not my mind."

Wesley added, "I remember everything, Leader. I was a wrestler back on Earth, and now I can fight better than ever. Faster, stronger. We won’t be dragged into the dark like before."

Angelo’s lips curled into a rare smile. "Good. Then the sacrifice was worth it."

The crowd murmured, some in disbelief, others in admiration.

Both mutants radiated strength, but in different ways... Jonathan seemed to be built to brute force, while Wesley seemed like the agile predator.

Angelo raised his voice so all could hear.

"The serum works. It makes us stronger. Anyone who wants to take their own serums, you can come forward. With this power, Haven‑28 will rise again!"

The survivors cheered as their voices echoed through the fog.

Many immediately lined up, eager to follow Jonathan and Wesley’s example.

Of course, Jonathan and Wesley laughed as they saw the line forming.

They were proud of their transformation, proud that they had been the first to dare.

They were no longer ordinary survivors, they were proof that human survivors could adapt, even in monstrous ways.

***

Just like that, all nine extra Mutagenic Gene Enhancement Serums had been consumed.

The transformations were violent, as their bodies were reshaped.

When the process ended, nine more mutants emerged... each different, each carrying strange new traits.

Unlike Angelo and his elite crew, none of them had Superior or Master‑Grade Talents.

Angelo had refused the serum, confident in the strength granted by the System.

His sharpshooter’s precision, James’s hardened skin, and the others’ advanced abilities were already far beyond what the serum could offer.

The rest of Haven‑28, however, had only Common, Uncommon, or Rare Talents... They were useful, but limited.

One survivor had the Sharp Nail Talent, able to grow knife‑like nails quickly.

Another possessed Fast Hand Talent, granting dexterity for reloading weapons or crafting.

A third had the Glider Talent, ensuring survival from any fall, no matter the height.

Others had minor abilities like Stone Skin Talent, which gave a faint resistance to blunt force. There was also Echo Voice Talent, allowing shouts to disorient enemies, and Quick Breath Talent, letting them recover stamina faster after sprinting.

Now, with the serum, those weaker talents fused with their DNA in unpredictable ways. Some grew tails, others sprouted extra eyes, and a few developed hardened scales across their arms. They were still humanoid, but their bodies carried marks of mutation, each unique and sometimes unsettling...

But two days after the last transformation, the scouts reported movement beyond the fog!

A group of people was heading toward their village!