Chapter 15

The brief conflict brought by Luo Heng was like a thorn, lodged in Chen Mo's heart, and also in the hearts of all team members. In this world where order has collapsed, strength is the only pass and talisman. Zhang Zhen's protection is not omnipotent; moreover, Zhang Zhen's attitude toward Su Yu itself carries an elusive probing.

Inside the base room, Chen Mo dismissed the others, leaving only Su Yu. He returned the copied volume of his mother's diary (the original he had carefully kept) to her, then took out the remaining two vials of 【Primordial Blood (Diluted)】.

The crimson liquid flecked with specks of gold slowly flowed in the crude glass tube, emitting a palpitation-inducing energy fluctuation.

"I need strength, greater strength." Chen Mo looked at Su Yu, his eyes sincere and sharp, "Not only for myself, but also to guard the secret on your body, to protect our team. This thing can help me."

Su Yu looked at the two vials, then at Chen Mo's wounds not yet fully healed; in her mind flashed the image of herself losing control during the monster tide, and Luo Heng's greedy, nauseating gaze. She nodded firmly, voice soft but resolute: "Use it. Mom left it for perhaps this moment."

Chen Mo hesitated no longer, picked up one, unscrewed it, and swallowed it with his head back.

A feeling similar yet utterly different from the first intake burst forth! The warm, moist energy spring flowed again, but immediately followed by a more massive, more violent torrent of power! It was as if countless red-hot needles pierced his muscles, bones, even his soul! Veins bulged on his skin, blood vessels writhed like coiling dragons, his temperature soared, and his whole body began to emanate a faint vapor mixed with blood-red and gold energy.

【Consuming Primordial Blood (Diluted): all attributes temporarily +4, energy limit temporarily +150, duration 12 minutes!】

【Warning! Consecutive short-term consumption of the same-source high-energy substance increases bodily load! There is a risk of triggering unknown mutations!】

【The Death Echo talent receives strong stimulation, its hidden effect further enhanced: skill duplication probability greatly increased, skill effects significantly strengthened!】

The system's warning prompt was cold and glaring, but Chen Mo had no time to spare. He steadied his mind, fully guiding the surging, roaring energy torrent within his body toward his limbs and bones, merging it into every cell. The excruciating pain struck his will's bulwark like wave after wave, yet the light in his eyes grew brighter.

He could feel that, with the temporary boost, his attributes had reached an unprecedented height; more importantly, the Death Echo talent seemed to have been injected with a stimulant, becoming unusually active, his perception of surrounding energy fluctuations sharpened manifold.

He immediately sat cross-legged, sank his consciousness into his body, and tried to actively touch and guide the power originating from the Primordial Origin.

Time passed second by second. Su Yu, guarding the door, anxiously watched Chen Mo, watching his face where pain and resolve intertwined, watching the ever denser energy halo around him that seemed about to solidify.

The twelve minutes of temporary enhancement quickly passed; the surging sense of power receded like a tide, replaced by extreme weakness and a feeling as if his body had been emptied. Yet deep within that weakness, Chen Mo clearly sensed that a certain barrier had been broken.

【Ding! Detected host's bodily potential breaking through limits, base attributes permanently increased: Strength +2, Agility +1, Constitution +2, Spirit +3!】

【Level raised to LV9!】

【Death Echo talent gains growth, current skill duplication limit +2, existing skills automatically receive a slight boost!】

Done!

Chen Mo flung his eyes open; a gleam like substance flashed in the dim room, then swiftly retracted. He felt the more solid power within his body, and in his mind the clearer, more tightly linked imprints of many skills; a heroic spirit surged in his heart.

Although the process was perilous, the gain was immense! Not only did his level rise, his base attributes were permanently strengthened, and even his talent itself grew! This is the true value of Primordial Blood—breaking limits, catalyzing potential!

He looked at the last vial in his hand, carefully putting it away. This thing must not be used lightly; it must be saved for the most critical moment, or… a safer way of using it must be found.

"How do you feel?" Su Yu asked, rushing forward with concern as soon as she saw him awake.

"Never felt better." Chen Mo stood, stretched his limbs, emitting a series of crackling pops. He looked at Su Yu: "Next, it's your turn."

Su Yu blinked.

"Your ability needs control and guidance, not passive endurance or uncontrolled outbursts when emotions flare." Chen Mo said sternly, "Starting today, I will accompany you in perception training. You must learn to actively switch it on and off, to filter information, to find the thread you need amidst the chaotic energy fluctuations."

He could not let her lose control again as she did in the tide battle; that would be too dangerous.

Su Yu understood Chen Mo's intent, took a deep breath, and nodded firmly: "I'll learn!"

Over the next few days, the refuge was busy cleaning the battlefield, repairing facilities, tallying casualties, and distributing rewards. Chen Mo's team, for its outstanding contributions, earned a large amount of system points and supplies, and formally obtained Zhang Zhen's promised independent authorization—they could freely organize and name their own awakened squad, having an independent camp and a degree of autonomous authority.

Chen Mo named the squad "Echo".

At the same time, Chen Mo began Su Yu's "special training." He chose a relatively quiet room inside the base. His demand was simple yet extremely difficult: have Su Yu, without causing violent emotional fluctuations in herself, actively perceive information about specific targets around her.

At first, once Su Yu focused her mind, the chaotic flood of information surged in like a breached dam, making her head feel like it would split, almost instantly reaching her limit. But under Chen Mo's calm guidance and encouragement, she began to try, like adjusting a water valve, to gradually open and tighten her perception.

She first tried to perceive fixed objects in the room, such as a chair's "structure" and a cup of water's "temperature fluctuations." Then she gradually expanded to sense the faint life energy emitted when Han Qing and others in the next room moved. The process remained painful, progress slow, but she could feel her "mastery" of that ability increasing bit by bit.

That evening, after completing a round of perception contraction training, Su Yu leaned wearily against the wall to rest. Chen Mo, meanwhile, organized the more detailed information sent by Zhang Zhen's emissaries about the "Regional Barrier" and the distribution of surrounding forces.

Just then, Su Yu suddenly frowned slightly and whispered, "Chen Mo… it seems… someone is 'watching' us."

Chen Mo's motion paused, his eyes instantly sharpening: "Can you confirm direction and distance? What does it feel like?"

Su Yu closed her eyes, focusing hard on the perception she had just gathered, carefully sensing that extremely subtle, spider-silk-like probing feeling.

"Very far… direction… roughly toward the refuge's center, the command tower side… feeling… very cold, very… curious? No, it's… analytical… like observing a specimen…" She described it haltingly, fine sweat beading on her forehead.

Command tower? Zhang Zhen? Or… someone else?

Chen Mo's gaze darkened slightly. He trusted Su Yu's perception. This feeling of being watched made him very uncomfortable.

"Can you try to trace it back or shield against this probing?" Chen Mo asked.

Su Yu shook her head, somewhat dejected: "I… I can't do it yet. That feeling is too subtle, like wind—you can't grasp it."

"No problem, take it slow." Chen Mo consoled, though his vigilance rose. It seemed the refuge's interior was not monolithic. Zhang Zhen might harbor no ill will, but others? Like Luo Heng, who showed strong interest in Su Yu's ability? Or… other hidden forces lurking in the shadows?

He walked to the window, gazing at the distant towering command tower that symbolized the refuge's supreme authority, his eyes deep.

"The Echo squad has just begun; the road ahead remains thick with thorns. Outside are monsters and mysterious cleaners; inside are covetousness and probing. Yet he fears nothing."

He raised his hand, looking at his palm, feeling the surging power within and the many skills awaiting discovery.

Whoever it is, if they intend to target Su Yu or hinder his quest for the truth of the apocalypse, they must first ask his axe and his ever‑strengthening Echo talent.

Just then, a hurried footsteps approached from afar; Zhang Yang, in charge of outer‑perimeter guard, came running, his face showing a hint of tension and excitement:

"Brother Mo! A few people have come from Refuge No. 3, claiming to be envoys, specifically requesting to see you and Sister Su Yu! Their leader is a woman who looks… not insignificant!"

Chen Mo and Su Yu exchanged a glance.

Trouble, indeed they wouldn't keep us waiting long.

What was bound to come, eventually arrived.