Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Plan ; a second outing?

Although Lucien and the others had left quietly, their return was anything but.

Arriving with a creature most people had never seen sparked widespread curiosity. However, seeing the leader and his team heading deeper into the city, everyone understood that this was serious.

Upon returning, they went straight to the research department at the core of the city.

There, Daemon was observing the few humans working. These were the researchers of the shelter, and in terms of importance, they stood on the same level as the Semi-Awakeners. After all, they would determine whether the shelter progressed or failed.

Click...

The door opened.

Daemon looked up in surprise as Lucien and the others entered—but they hadn’t returned empty-handed.

"Here," Lucien said as the insect was placed on the ground.

Daemon stepped forward to meet them, and they exchanged greetings.

Some guards remained behind to help move the creature. The researchers, however, were visibly excited as they rushed toward the insect. Some were biologists, their curiosity piqued, how could an insect grow this large, and why?

Even without proper equipment, they were brilliant minds. They immediately began discussing and debating, while Jeff, Daemon, and Lucien moved into another room.

Daemon stayed silent. He noticed both Jeff and Lucien were quiet, and the atmosphere was heavy.

"Well... we lost an Awakener," Jeff finally said.

Daemon’s eyes narrowed.

Until now, only elite zombies had been capable of killing an Awakener. Yet the moment they stepped into the outside world, they encountered something that could do exactly that.

Just how dangerous was the outside world?

And more importantly... were there many creatures like this?

"Well, we can’t say for sure if animals mutate beyond this," Jeff continued. "But we were caught off guard and couldn’t react in time. What if we encounter more creatures like that?"

Lucien turned slightly at his words. Daemon nodded.

Going deeper might prove disastrous. They could lose more people.

"So... what now?" Daemon asked, looking at the silent Lucien.

"We still have to go back," Lucien said.

Both Daemon and Jeff felt their hearts tighten.

They had just returned with a dead creature, yes but at the cost of an Awakener. In this new world, Awakeners were incredibly valuable. They were key to humanity’s survival.

And yet... they were going back?

"We still don’t understand this world," Lucien continued.

"And staying here won’t help. If even the weakest creatures can kill an Awakener, what about stronger ones? What if animals have evolved even further?"

His words carried weight.

As the leader, the burden he bore was far beyond what the others could fully understand. He was responsible for their survival.

"So we go back," Lucien said. "But this time... only the three of us."

He glanced at his SP. He might need it for their next journey.

Jeff and Daemon were stunned—especially Daemon. He had often remained behind to ensure stability. If anything happened to Lucien or Jeff, he would hold the shelter together.

But now, all three leaders would go?

Before they could object, Lucien added,

"If our group is smaller, I’m more confident I can protect you both. And I want you there, Daemon—in case we find something valuable."

Daemon paused... then nodded.

If insects, plants, and everything else were evolving... then perhaps the Earth itself was evolving too.

He might not be an expert in everything, but he had ideas. Maybe this trip could provide answers or maybe..even solutions.

The mission had just become even more important.

"Yes, Leader. When do we leave?" Daemon asked.

"A week from now," Lucien replied. "I want preliminary results from the research on that insect. Maybe it can benefit us."

Jeff and Daemon nodded.

What Lucien didn’t say... was that he needed time.

Time to refine his strength...especially his reaction speed.

He didn’t want to be caught off guard again.

Didn’t want to lose more people.

Jeff and Daemon were too important. If either of them fell, the shelter itself could collapse.

It was risky.

But they had no choice.

This world was moving forward—with or without them.

Adapt... or be consumed.

Lucien let out a quiet sigh. Their lack of strength meant they would have to take greater risks.

"Understood, Leader," Jeff and Daemon said.

The short but crucial meeting came to an end.

***

At the back of the city, Lucien stood among the ruins and smiled faintly.

"We meet again... old friend," he muttered as he took a fighting stance.

---

Back at the research institute, the scientists had already begun their work.

They had split into two groups.

One group focused on the soil they had collected. They planted maize seeds—once normal crops—and divided them into two test conditions.

In the first, they attempted to recreate the old Earth’s environment, hoping to see if the seeds would grow normally.

In the second, they planted them in different types of soil from the new world.

They wanted to see

Would the crops mutate?

And if they did...

Would the changes be beneficial?

Or dangerous?

Would they become poisonous?

Or evolve new properties entirely?

On the other side, another group of people—both male and female—stood with unkempt hair, looking like madmen.

"Come on... smash it!" they chanted from the side.

The Awakener felt his back drenched in cold sweat.

The pressure he felt from this group... was even worse than what he felt from Lucien.

There was always this subtle feeling—

Like they wanted to dissect him.

To study him.

And he knew he wasn’t wrong.

If not for the fact that they lacked enough Awakeners... maybe he would have already been on that table.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he brought his strength down with full force.

Boom!

Crack!

The exoskeleton shattered, and a faint glow emerged from within the creature’s body.

"Yes..." a voice whispered—low and eerie, almost devilish.

The Awakener didn’t wait.

He hurried out of the research institute, ignoring everything behind him.

The researchers paid him no attention.

They rushed toward the insect, their eyes glowing as if they had just discovered the most precious treasure in existence.

Outside, the soldier took deep, shaky breaths.

"Never again..." he muttered, glancing back at the institute with fear before quickly leaving.

"Jejejeje..."

Strange laughter echoed from within.

The researchers put on masks and gloves as they began dissecting the creature.

The sounds of tearing flesh and cracking bone filled the room.

A yellowish, blood-like fluid spread across the floor.

But instead of disgust...

Their faces showed only excitement.