Chapter 390: Recruitment

Kai held the Status Crystal toward Hanabi.

"You just need to hold this for a few seconds."

Hanabi looked at the strange crystal in his hand before carefully taking it.

The moment her fingers wrapped around it, the crystal began glowing.

A translucent screen appeared in front of her.

[ Name: Hanabi ]

[ Title: None ]

[ Level: 6 ]

[ Health: 45 / 95 ]

[ Spirit: 85 / 85 ]

[ Physique Rating: D ]

[ Active Skills: None ]

[ Passive Skills: Adaptive Regeneration Lv1, Pain Resistance Lv2 ]

[ Adaptive Regeneration Lv1: Slightly accelerates the recovery of damaged tissues and improves the body’s ability to adapt to biological changes. ]

[ Pain Resistance Lv2: Significantly reduces the effects of physical pain and improves resistance to prolonged suffering. ]

[ Status: Bilateral Lower-Limb Loss. Extensive Genetic Modification. Body has undergone significant biological adaptation due to prolonged experimentation. ]

Hanabi stared at the information in disbelief.

"Level 6..."

She had never known.

She had never even realized that her body had become this strong despite everything that had been done to her.

Kai’s expression also changed slightly.

A Physique Rating of D wasn’t particularly high compared to the strongest Foreign Survivors, but for a native Survivor who had spent years being experimented on, it was impressive.

More importantly, her body had developed skills that were directly related to her experiences.

Adaptive Regeneration...

Pain Resistance...

She wasn’t useless. Not even close.

In fact, with proper resources, Hanabi’s potential might be considerably higher than her current strength suggested.

The Status Crystal’s light faded.

Hanabi slowly lowered it.

"I... didn’t know I had any of this."

"Most Survivors don’t."

Kai smiled.

"But now you know."

Hanabi looked at him before nodding. Just like that, Kai turned toward Wilson who was watching them outside the truck...

"You’re next."

Wilson hesitated before accepting the crystal.

The moment it activated, his expression changed.

[ Name: Wilson ]

[ Title: Mutated Survivor ]

[ Level: 8 ]

[ Health: 210 / 240 ]

[ Spirit: 60 / 60 ]

[ Physique Rating: C- ]

[ Active Skills: None ]

[ Passive Skills: Enhanced Metabolism Lv2, Mutagenic Adaptation Lv2, Pain Resistance Lv3 ]

Similar to Hanabi, he only possessed Passive Skills! Still, these weren’t just skills but Genetic Abilities that could greatly improve in due time...

In any case, with the time remaining, Kai checked the skills as well.

[ Enhanced Metabolism Lv2: Greatly increases the body’s ability to process nutrients and convert consumed food into usable energy. ]

[ Mutagenic Adaptation Lv2: Allows the body to adapt to extensive genetic alterations, increasing tolerance toward biological mutations and foreign substances. ]

[ Pain Resistance Lv3: Greatly reduces physical pain and improves resistance to prolonged injuries and biological stress. ]

[ Status: Extensive Genetic Modification. Multiple Organ Replacements. Mechanical Implants. Severe Physical Mutation. ]

Wilson stared at his status for several seconds.

"A C- Physique..."

He almost laughed.

After everything that had happened to him, he had never imagined that his body could actually be considered strong.

Kai, however, was more interested in the abilities.

"Interesting..."

The machines had experimented on Wilson so extensively that his body had developed abilities specifically suited to surviving their modifications.

He had also reached Level 8.

That was already considerably higher than most ordinary Survivors.

Kai looked toward the other rescued prisoners.

"Let me check everyone else."

One after another, the survivors stepped forward.

Kai used the Status Crystal repeatedly.

Some had lower levels...

Others had strange passive skills.

One woman possessed a skill that increased resistance to extreme temperatures. Another had developed enhanced sensory perception after years of exposure to experimental energy. A man with heavily modified muscles possessed an unusually high Physique Rating despite his damaged body.

Some had completely useless abilities.

Others had skills that Kai immediately recognized as valuable.

But there was one thing they all had in common.

None of them were ordinary.

Their bodies had been pushed beyond their natural limits through years of cruel experimentation.

The machines had failed to create what they wanted.

Yet in the process, they had accidentally created Survivors with unusual abilities and powerful adaptive traits.

Then, there was another interesting Survivor among the crowd.

[ Name: Kennedy ]

[ Title: Mutated Survivor ]

[ Level: 9 ]

[ Health: 260 / 260 ]

[ Spirit: 90 / 90 ]

[ Physique Rating: C- ]

[ Active Skills: Overdrive Mutation Lv2 ]

[ Passive Skills: Enhanced Muscle Density Lv2, Rapid Recovery Lv1 ]

[ Overdrive Mutation Lv2: Temporarily stimulates the user’s mutated tissues, greatly increasing physical strength, movement speed, and reaction speed. The user’s mutations become more pronounced while the skill is active, but the increased strain can cause temporary weakness after the effect ends.

Spirit Cost: 30

Duration: 60 seconds

Cooldown: 120 seconds ]

[ Enhanced Muscle Density Lv2: Significantly increases muscle strength and physical durability. ]

[ Rapid Recovery Lv1: Slightly accelerates the recovery of damaged tissues and reduces recovery time from physical injuries. ]

"Overdrive Mutation... Interesting Skill..."

Kai slowly lowered the Status Crystal as he checked that there were only a few charges left...

A faint smile appeared on his face.

He had initially intended to rescue these people because they were victims.

Now he realized something else. They had potential... a lot of potential.

"If I bring all of them to the Codebreakers Shelter..."

Kai glanced at the survivors.

He began imagining what they could become after receiving proper food, equipment, training, and medical treatment.

Their current conditions were terrible.

But that could change.

He could give them better Gene Serums. Then, if he wanted them to fight, he could provide high-grade weapons, give them armor, or even find ways to help stabilize their mutations.

And resources?

Kai almost laughed.

He had the Infinite Gift Pack Talent.

As long as he had enough time, resources were hardly his biggest problem.

Food... water... medicine... weapons... serums... and equipment.

He could obtain all of them through Gift Packs.

Why would he leave these people behind?

Kai looked toward Farrah.

"They’re coming with us."

Farrah smiled.

"I was wondering when you’d say that."

Wilson immediately looked toward him.

"You... want us to join your shelter?"

"Yes."

Kai nodded.

"If you’re willing to work for the shelter, you’re welcome to stay."

The survivors exchanged glances.

Some looked shocked while others looked uncertain.

They had spent so long being treated as experiments that the idea of actually being accepted somewhere felt almost unreal.

Hanabi quietly held the Limb Reconstruction Capsule against her chest.

Wilson looked down at his mutated hands.

They could feel that despite being failed experiments, they were still survivors.

And perhaps, with Kai’s help, they could become something more.

Kai looked at the group before turning toward the damaged vehicles...

"If there’s no one against it... Then, I’ll fix these trucks so we can use them."