Chapter Nine: Moonlight Base

Chapter Nine

It took them two full days to wipe out all the zombies in the small mountain village. During that time, they even encountered a more advanced metallic-type zombie, which took considerable effort to deal with. The crystal core in this zombie was twice the size of those found in ordinary zombies, and naturally, it could store twice as much energy.

Mo Chen gazed at the core with a hint of regret—why couldn’t it have been lightning-type? Over these two days, he had thoroughly come to appreciate the benefits of these cores and was now exceptionally eager to collect as many as possible. Unfortunately, mental-type and lightning-type zombies were exceedingly rare; even after clearing out an entire village, not a single one had appeared.

After looting the village of all its grain, spices, seeds, cured meats, and anything else useful, they finally set off again.

After two more days on the road, the pair finally reached the Yuehua Base shortly after ten o’clock on the morning of the third day.

“So many people!” Mei couldn’t help but sigh in amazement as she surveyed the long line outside the base. It was the first time she had seen so many living humans in one place.

Aside from those waiting to enter, a good number of soldiers, armed and alert, were stationed in plain sight and hidden spots around the entrance. Anyone wanting to gain entry had to be inspected for signs of the zombie virus. First-time arrivals not only underwent the inspection and registration but were also required to hand over half of all the supplies they carried. Only then could they enter and receive standard treatment; those without supplies were allowed in as well, but could only expect the most basic accommodations.

When Mei and Mo Chen reached the gate and stepped out of their vehicle, the staff on duty immediately took notice. Their appearance alone was striking, but the cleanliness of their clothes—far above the norm in the apocalypse—made them stand out even more. After all, those who could maintain their appearance in these times were either powerful or, before the end, had been wealthy and now possessed considerable resources. The former needed to be remembered and avoided as potential threats, while the latter were fat sheep ripe for shearing.

“Your first time here? Please fill out these forms.” The official handed each of them a sheet. The form was simple—name, age, special skills, and whether they possessed any abilities. Mo Chen wrote “Lightning” in the abilities column, while Mei put down “Light.”

“Lightning? Light?” The official glanced at the forms and looked up in surprise, his gaze lingering on Mei for an uncomfortably long moment. Light-type abilities were extraordinarily rare; in fact, this was the first one discovered since the apocalypse began.

Feeling the intensity of his stare, Mei shrank behind Mo Chen like a startled rabbit.

“What level are your abilities, do you know?” The official’s attitude softened as he recovered from his surprise.

“We don’t know. How are abilities ranked?” Mo Chen asked, genuinely curious.

“There’s a place in the base specifically for testing and ranking abilities. Once you pass the inspection, someone will take you there.” The official gestured them to the side for inspection and discreetly signaled the vehicle inspection team to go easy on their belongings.

Testing for the zombie virus was conducted with specialized equipment. After drawing blood and scanning them with a unique device, both received a base insignia badge. Their vehicle was returned, although half their food was gone, and a small drum of gasoline had also been taken.

“As ability users, would you like to have your abilities officially evaluated now?” A girl with a ponytail approached, her gaze lingering on the half-hidden Mei.

Compared to the cold indifference shown to other ability users, it was clear that the base took those with light abilities very seriously. Mei and Mo Chen exchanged a glance and nodded.

“Are there very few ability users now?” Mo Chen asked casually as they walked.

“Official figures put the ratio at about one ability user per ten thousand ordinary people. But with our population, the number is neither too large nor too small. There are just over twenty ability users in the base, but there are far more mutants—at least three hundred,” the girl replied without hesitation; this wasn’t classified information.

“Mutants? You mean those whose strength or speed has suddenly increased?”

“That’s right.”

“Does the base offer special treatment for ability users and mutants?”

“After evaluation, ability users are provided with a private residence. If they join the base’s teams, they receive two free meals a day, a set of clothes each month, and three liters of drinking water per day, among other benefits. If they don’t join, they must periodically submit contribution points, and all expenses are their own responsibility. All base transactions are made with contribution points, and the exchange rates are clearly posted in the information hall. Mutants receive half the benefits that ability users do.”

Mo Chen’s eyes flashed with understanding, and he asked no more.

The base was divided into inner and outer cities. The inner city was home to the authorities, ability users, mutants, and those with power or influence. The outer city was left to ordinary people who survived on a daily ration of coarse steamed buns.

Along the way, gaunt and ragged beggars occasionally tried to approach, but they never dared to come too close. If ignored, they quickly moved on to the next potential donor.

Mo Chen remained as nonchalant as ever. Mei, though she thought these people were pitiful, felt little true sympathy. In her previous world, she had seen slaves in far worse conditions, and before she gained strength, she herself had been bought and sold as a slave more than once. Pity was a luxury she no longer possessed.

To avoid drawing attention to her indifference, Mei slipped her arm through Mo Chen’s, leaning against him with her head lowered, looking for all the world like a girl frightened by the surrounding misery.

The evaluation hall was located at the border between the inner and outer cities, guarded by soldiers at the door. The man who received them wore a white lab coat and glasses.

He led them into a room resembling a shooting range, lined with humanoid targets. Two others in lab coats and two soldiers were adjusting some equipment.

“Please direct your strongest attack at any of the targets. The machine will analyze the energy released and determine your ability level,” the man explained.

Feigning nervousness, Mei tugged at Mo Chen’s sleeve, signaling him to go first.

Mo Chen did not hesitate. He unleashed a bolt of lightning that struck a nearby target dead-on. A flash of violet light, and the mannequin was instantly reduced to charred remains.

The man in glasses stared, wide-eyed, at the pile of blackened debris, then quickly checked the instrument’s readout. When he looked back at Mo Chen, his eyes were alight with excitement.

“Congratulations, Mr. Mo Chen, your ability level is four! There are only two other level fours in all of Yuehua Base—you are the third! Here is your level badge. This badge is recognized at other bases as well, so please keep it safe,” he said, handing over a special badge marked with four stars.

All eyes then turned to Mei.

Level four? Mo Chen’s full-strength attack roughly equated to a second-level mage in her world, and there were only three such individuals in the whole base?

Mei glanced nervously at the man in glasses. “May I use a bow?”

“Aren’t you an ability user?” he asked, frowning, suspecting a lie.

“It’s just… I can only use my ability with a bow!” Mei’s large eyes brimmed with apparent distress.

After a moment’s thought, the man relented. No matter the method, the higher-ups were eager to confirm whether she truly possessed the light ability.

“Very well, but you must use the bow and arrows we provide,” he said.

Mei nodded eagerly, flashing a brilliant smile.

A lightweight bow was quickly brought over, suitable for her small frame. She tested the string, then nodded to the man in glasses, notched an arrow, drew back, aimed, and released.

The ordinary-looking arrow streaked toward the target, gleaming with radiant white light. With a thunderous bang, the mannequin exploded into fragments.

After consulting the instrument, the man in glasses presented Mei with a level three ability badge.

“Would you like to join one of the base’s teams?” he asked as a matter of procedure.

“We’ll consider it and let you know,” they replied, wishing to observe a while longer.

The man in glasses said no more and left. Soon, someone arrived to show them to their assigned housing.

Elsewhere in the base, a man was watching a video. It contained the entire sequence of Mei’s arrival at the base and her ability evaluation. The footage froze on the moment she raised her bow, drawing it to its full extent.

Stroking his chin thoughtfully, the man finally smiled with keen interest.

“How very intriguing…”

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