Ling Cage, pick up Lu Mingfei at the start.

Bai Yuekui had already put down the controller, and the game screen behind her was paused by her hand. She listened quietly to Mai Duo's still-shaken description and Lu Mingfei's occasional clumsy supplementary explanations. Her delicate face showed no expression, except for her slightly furrowed brows, which showed that she was thinking seriously.

"So you mean that during your sparring session with Maido, in a moment of desperation you triggered the same ability you had during the shielding tower mission, resulting in a comprehensive enhancement of your body?" Bai Yuekui sat cross-legged on the small cushion, looking up at Lu Mingfei standing beside her. The afternoon sun slanted in through the window, casting a warm gold hue on the tips of her silver hair.

"Yes, it should be the same." Lu Mingfei nodded, then added, his tone tinged with uncertain excitement, "And now it seems like it can be triggered actively, just like using a game skill. You can use it as soon as you think about it."

"Can it be triggered actively?" Bai Yuekui was stunned.

She lowered her hands from her lap, leaned forward slightly, and fell into deep thought. She had seen it, witnessed it with her own eyes. At the top of that colossal steel structure, the shielding tower, she was there, seeing it more clearly than anyone else. Lu Mingfei's outburst at that moment was nothing short of a god descending to earth—speed, strength, and reaction all leaped to an astonishing level. Bai Yuekui had privately assessed that Lu Mingfei's strength at that moment was perhaps almost equal to her own normal, full-power outburst.

Decades of arduous training. From a neuroscientific genius before the destruction of the old world, to a survivor after the apocalypse, and now the leader of Dragonbone Village. She has walked a path unimaginable to ordinary people, endured losses unbearable to ordinary people, struggled on the edge of life and death, and pushed herself to her limits time and time again in despair, finally reaching this point today.

And this guy...

Bai Yuekui glanced at Lu Mingfei. The boy was still standing there, his black trench coat making him look tall and straight, but his eyes still held a bit of a sleepy look and a hint of unease, as if he had gotten into trouble.

It only took a few minutes to learn the Return to Origin skill, and now they say that the terrifying explosive power can be actively triggered. If this is true, then Dragonbone Village will have another truly high-end combat force. No, perhaps it's more than just "high-end".

But... what is the price?

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. The greater the power, the more cruel the hidden price is. Bai Yuekui knows this very well. Her own battles have come at the cost of overdrawing her cells. However, now that Lu Mingfei has said "Don't die," this price can be said to be gone.

"When you use that ability, are there any side effects?" Bai Yuekui's eyes sharpened; she needed to know the answer.

"Um..." Lu Mingfei scratched the back of his head, carefully recalling the feeling he had just experienced on Dingmao Peak. The heat surged from his heart to his limbs, the world slowed down in his eyes, and power coursed through his muscles—it felt amazing, truly amazing. But aside from the fatigue from the power expenditure, there didn't seem to be any other discomfort. "It seems not. It's the same energy I used when I used 'Don't Die'... uh, how should I describe it, probably the same 'energy'. As long as I don't overexert myself, there's nothing particularly special about it."

Bai Yuekui could no longer sit still.

Is it the same power consumed by using "Don't Die"? In other words, as long as you don't exceed the limit, there's no additional cost?!

She stood up, her movement so swift it stirred a gentle breeze. Her eyes, usually as calm as a deep pool, now shone brightly at Lu Mingfei, reflecting a complex mix of emotions—shock, assessment, expectation, and a hint of barely perceptible worry.

"If you don't exceed your limits, how long can you maintain this state?" Bai Yuekui asked the most crucial question. Duration determines the strategic value of this ability.

Lu Mingfei was a little nervous because of Bai Yuekui's sudden serious attitude. He counted on his fingers, recalling the physical sensations he had experienced after activating his state on the mountain—the feeling of being full of power was very clear, but he could also vaguely sense that the "energy" was slowly dissipating. Like a battery, although it has a large capacity, it is still discharging.

"About... an hour?" Lu Mingfei gave a somewhat uncertain estimate. "It might be a little shorter, or it might be a little longer. I didn't push it to its limit."

Bai Yuekui began pacing back and forth in the living room.

One hour.

In the apocalypse, there are so many things you can do in an hour: a raid, a siege, an emergency rescue, or even a small-scale cleanup operation.

If Lu Mingfei could maintain that state for an hour, he could practically fight his way through a horde of superhuman Devouring Beasts. Even if he encountered a mutated type, as long as it wasn't a multi-beast attacking from different directions simultaneously, he could escape unscathed.

More importantly, this ability is part of the same system as "Don't Die," which means that in team battles, Lu Mingfei can simultaneously serve as both an assault soldier and a medic—a near-perfect tactical core.

Lu Mingfei watched Bai Yuekui pace back and forth in the living room, his steps sometimes fast, sometimes slow, his silver hair swaying gently with his movements. He didn't know what Bai Yuekui was thinking, but the serious atmosphere made him a little uncomfortable.

His gaze secretly drifted to the game controller on the floor, then glanced at the paused game screen. It was a classic side-scrolling platformer, the screen frozen at a save point before a boss battle.

He quietly moved his feet, shuffling little by little to the small cushion where Bai Yuekui had just been sitting, then squatted down and stretched out his finger to touch the handle.

What are you doing?

Lu Mingfei froze, slowly turning his head to meet Mai Duo's cold gaze. The girl stood to the side with her arms crossed, her eyebrows raised high, giving off a "I knew it" look.

"I'll just... take a look." Lu Mingfei forced an awkward smile, his finger hovering in mid-air, unsure whether to pull it back or extend it further.

"Look?" Maiduo walked over and lightly tapped Lu Mingfei on the head without any hesitation. "You clearly just want to play games! We just finished talking about something so important, and you're already thinking about playing!"

Lu Mingfei covered his head and laughed awkwardly.

Bai Yuekui noticed the commotion and turned around to see Lu Mingfei sitting cross-legged in front of the game console, just like she had before. A hint of helplessness and amusement flashed in her eyes. This kid still doesn't know what he means to her or what strategic value he has.

He was unaware that his seemingly casual remark might alter the strategic landscape of the entire Dragonbone Village, and even all the surface survivors' fight against the Mana ecosystem. He was also unaware of how precious a spark of hope his suddenly awakened power was in this despairing world.

He was still thinking about playing video games.

Bai Yuekui walked over and squatted down next to Lu Mingfei. Her movements were very gentle, and she kept her eyes level with Lu Mingfei. This angle allowed Lu Mingfei to clearly see the seriousness in her eyes, a solemn and earnest look.

"Lu Mingfei," Bai Yuekui's voice was soft, but every word was crystal clear, "From today onwards, you will officially enter the top combat ranks of our Dragonbone Village."

Lu Mingfei and Mai Duo were both taken aback upon hearing this.

Maido glanced at Lu Mingfei, then looked down and touched the web of her hand. There were no more wounds there; the power of "Don't Die" had healed everything, but the memory of the impact on her bones remained deep within her body. Recalling the spear thrust on Dingmao Peak, that pure burst of power, without any technique, just the simplest and most direct stab, she felt a faint phantom pain.

In that state, she was far from being a match for Lu Mingfei. If Lu Mingfei were to further hone his marksmanship and develop his combat awareness, she might not even be able to defeat Lu Mingfei in his normal state.

Maiduo suddenly felt a little depressed. She had been practicing martial arts since she was a child, enduring the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer. She had suffered a lot and shed a lot of sweat to become one of the top fighters in the village.

And what about Lu Mingfei? In just a few months, he went from being a loser chased by the Devouring Beasts to a monster who could suppress her with a single blow. The key point is that she was the one who taught him how to shoot!

No, Mai Duo secretly decided that from now on, she would let Lu Mingfei fight on missions and just watch from the sidelines. The capable should do more, after all.

Thinking that things might be easier in the future, Mai Duo's mood improved. She walked to Lu Mingfei's other side, squatted down, and patted his shoulder with a smile: "It's up to you from now on, Lu Mingfei. Please bear with me when it comes to fighting. I'll cheer you on from behind."

Top-tier combat rank? Him? Lu Mingfei?

He looked cautiously at Bai Yuekui, then at Maiduo, trying to find any trace of joking on their faces, but Bai Yuekui's eyes were serious, and although Maiduo's smile was teasing, it did not mean she was denying it.

"Is our village... that bad?" After holding back for a while, Lu Mingfei asked a question that left Bai Yuekui and Mai Duo speechless. "Can I become a top-tier fighter?"

Bai Yuekui took a deep breath, reached out and vigorously ruffled Lu Mingfei's hair, ruining his carefully styled hair: "You brat! Do you think everyone is like you? Do you know that in just a few months, without even cultivating every day, you've reached the strength that others achieve in ten years of arduous training!"

Lu Mingfei was stunned, letting Bai Yuekui ruffle his hair. He looked down at his hands, hands that used to only be used for typing and holding a mouse, and at most, for doing a pull-up in PE class. Now, his fingers were well-defined, his palms had a thin layer of calluses, and his wrists were strong and powerful.

So I'm actually this strong now...?

Lu Mingfei recalled the day he first transmigrated, the roar of the Devouring Beast, the crimson mist, and how he scrambled to escape for his life, his heart pounding in his chest. He also remembered the feeling of wind pressure tearing through the snow curtain when he thrust his spear at Dingmao Peak today.

Power gathered and exploded at the tip of the gun, and the whole world seemed to make way for him.

For a moment, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

Just over three months ago, he was a loser who slept in class, spent his free time in internet cafes, and had a crush on his goddess for three years but dared not confess. Now, he stands on the ruins of the apocalypse, expected by a group of people to become a "top combatant".

"I..." Lu Mingfei opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say. In the end, he just lowered his head, gently clenched his fist, and said, "I will try my best."

Seeing Lu Mingfei's reaction, Bai Yuekui's seriousness softened slightly. She released her grip on Lu Mingfei's hair and patted his shoulder instead.

Then, she suddenly remembered something.

On June 30th, the source material was activated.

It's only been a few days since today. Her original plan was to wait for Lu Mingfei to be able to awaken his potential on his own one day, since naturally awakened potential is often more compatible with the awakener. But seeing Lu Mingfei's current situation, Bai Yuekui changed her mind.

Lu Mingfei's "Don't die" is too special. As long as someone is injured, he can heal them with just one sentence, and they will almost never be in a real desperate situation.

Without desperate circumstances, it is difficult to generate that strong "willpower" that is enough to break free from shackles—that is the key to unleashing potential.

But what if Lu Mingfei can successfully activate his potential through artificial awakening?

What if there are still untapped powers hidden within his bloodline?

Bai Yuekui's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and a vague idea surfaced in her mind: perhaps, Lu Mingfei's existence could enable them to establish a completely new plan to counterattack the Mana ecosystem, apart from the "Attacking Blood Plan".

"Lu Mingfei," Bai Yuekui's voice pulled Lu Mingfei back from his thoughts, "Get up early on June 30th, I'll take you to participate in the new round of Source Activation."

"Does Lu Mingfei still need potential activation?" Mai Duo asked in shock. In her opinion, Lu Mingfei was already ridiculously strong. If he activated any more potential, what would he become?

"In this world, the stronger the better." Bai Yuekui nodded, her gaze falling on Lu Mingfei. "Every bit of strength could potentially save a life or change the outcome of a battle in the future."

She paused, then asked Lu Mingfei, "You're going, right?"

"Of course!" Lu Mingfei's eyes lit up. He had been wondering what his potential was like for a long time. Seeing Mido and Chagai's shared vision and Tasia's teleportation, he had imagined countless times what kind of ability he would awaken. Now that this day had finally come, the anticipation instantly overwhelmed all his uncertainty. "What do I need to prepare? Should I train beforehand? Or adjust my state?"

Seeing Lu Mingfei's eager expression, Bai Yuekui couldn't help but laugh: "No need to prepare anything, but don't eat breakfast that day."

"Huh? Why?"

"Artificial potential awakening isn't something that can be successfully activated in one go; the process... it's not pleasant at all." Bai Yuekui recalled her own experiences back then, and the reactions of the young people she had witnessed when presiding over awakening ceremonies over the years. "I'm afraid you'll throw up your breakfast."

"I can't eat breakfast..." Lu Mingfei deflated like a punctured balloon, completely listless. For him right now, not being allowed to eat was torture. "Okay, okay, I can endure it. For the sake of awakening, I'll endure it!"

Bai Yuekui looked at Lu Mingfei's "heroic sacrifice" expression, feeling both annoyed and amused. She stood up and waved her hand, "Alright, I've said what I needed to say. Go do what you need to do, don't just stand here."

Lu Mingfei and Mai Duo exchanged a glance and stood up as well.

"Boss Bai, we're leaving," Lu Mingfei said.

"Hmm." Bai Yuekui had already sat back on the cushion, picked up the controller again, and the game screen resumed its smooth flow, with the BOSS battle music playing.

Lu Mingfei and Mai Duo tiptoed out of the room, gently closing the door behind them. The sound of a game character jumping could be heard from inside, along with Bai Yuekui's faint muttering to himself: "Where exactly is the hidden item in this level...?"

Stepping out of Bai Yuekui's courtyard, the warm afternoon sun shone on Lu Mingfei. He took a deep breath and felt a little lightheaded, not in a vacant way, but as if he were walking on clouds, light and unreal.

Top combat sequence.

He pondered those six words repeatedly, each one heavy, pressing down on his heart, yet inexplicably invigorating him.

"Hey, what are you daydreaming about?" Maido's voice came from the side. The girl had already returned to her usual cheerful self, with her hands in her pockets, tilting her head to look at him.

"N-nothing," Lu Mingfei said, snapping out of his daze and touching his nose. "It just feels... a little unreal."

"That's what makes it unreal," Mydo laughed, revealing a set of white teeth. "I felt the same way when I first awakened; for days I felt like I was dreaming. But you get used to it—anyway, you're a monster, so you'll definitely get used to it faster than I did."

"Who's the monster?!" Lu Mingfei protested.

"So that's you." Mai Duo said bluntly, "What normal person can train like you in just a few months? But seriously," her tone suddenly became more serious, "Lu Mingfei, I'm glad you've become stronger. In this world, every bit of strength brings a bit more hope of survival. The stronger you are, the more people you can protect."

Lu Mingfei was stunned.

He looked at Maido. The girl's eyes were calm when she said this, without any sentimentality or exaggeration, as if she were stating a very simple fact. But Lu Mingfei understood. In this wasteland swallowed by the Mana ecosystem, the meaning of power was never to show off or dominate, but to protect.

To protect the land beneath our feet, to protect the people around us, to protect those faint glimmers of light that struggle to survive in despair.

"Yes." Lu Mingfei nodded, his voice not loud, but firm.

The two walked side by side on the village's stone-paved road. At this time, there weren't many people on the street. Occasionally, a few villagers would pass by and greet Lu Mingfei with a smile. After that time at the medical center, almost everyone in the village knew him.

As he walked, Lu Mingfei suddenly remembered something.

"Maiduo," he turned to the girl beside him, "let's go play games, Xia Dou and the others might be there too."

Mai Duo was taken aback, then chuckled, "Just now at Boss Bai's house, he was saying you only knew how to play games. Now that we're out, not only do you want to play, but you're also dragging me into it?"

"Are you going or not?" Lu Mingfei was a little embarrassed, but still insisted, "Anyway, I don't have anything else to do today."

Looking at Lu Mingfei's expectant expression, Maiduo shook her head helplessly, but the smile on her lips betrayed her. In fact, she also really wanted to go. She had been either on missions or training lately and hadn't had a proper chance to relax in a long time.

"Alright then." Mai Duo relented, and the two reached an agreement. They quickened their pace and headed towards the "Play and Read for Fun" arcade at the east end of the village.

The arcade was bustling today.

Before even entering, you can hear music, button clicks, and familiar game sound effects coming from inside.

Lu Mingfei spotted several familiar figures at a glance.

In front of the innermost racing game machine, Tasia was intently staring at the screen, her hands flying across the steering wheel and gearshift. Today she was wearing a dark gray work vest, revealing her smooth arms, and her long golden hair was tied into a neat ponytail at the back of her head. On the screen, a red sports car was drifting on the track, its tires rubbing together and creating dazzling sparks.

In the fighting game area next door, Xia Dou and Shan Hui Shi were squeezed in front of a machine. Xia Dou was almost pressed against the screen, frantically clapping her little hands on the buttons while shouting, "Shan Hui Shi, let me have a turn! I'm going to win this round!"

Shan Hui sat on the small stool next to him, his little face tense, his fingers flying across the keys. Hearing Xia Dou's words, he said without turning his head, "Auntie, games should be fair. I finally learned some skills from my older brother, so I won't let you win."

"I don't care! Let me win one game!"

Lu Mingfei and Mai Duo exchanged a glance and both laughed.

They walked over and arrived at Tasia's side first. The race on the screen had just ended, and Tasia's car crossed the finish line by a narrow margin. She released the steering wheel, breathed a sigh of relief, and turned her head to see Lu Mingfei and Maiduo.

"Medoo! What a rare guest!" Tasia wasn't surprised to see Lu Mingfei, but she didn't expect Madoo to return as well. "You're with Lu Mingfei? Did he bring you here?"

Lu Mingfei explained, "We just came from Boss Bai's place, and since we had nothing else to do, we came to play some games."

"From Boss Bai?" Tasia caught the key phrase. "What, another new mission?"

"It wasn't a mission," Maiduo replied, pulling up a chair to sit down beside her. "It was Lu Mingfei. He triggered that state when we were sparring at Dingmao Peak today."

"That state?" Tasia was taken aback at first, then realized, "You mean... the state of the shielding tower back then?"

"Yes." Mai Duo nodded, then pointed at Lu Mingfei, "And he can control himself now. Boss Bai just officially announced that he has entered the top combat ranks."

The air was quiet for a second.

Tasia's smile vanished, and she turned to look intently at Lu Mingfei.

"Can it be actively controlled?" Tasia repeated, "And the duration?"

"About an hour," Lu Mingfei answered honestly.

Tasia didn't speak; she just stared at Lu Mingfei for several seconds, then suddenly laughed.

"Great, Lu Mingfei!" She reached out and patted Lu Mingfei's shoulder with considerable force. "It's only been a few months? What kind of monstrous growth rate are you at?"

The commotion attracted Xia Dou and Shan Shi Hui. Xia Dou abandoned the game she was destined to lose and skipped over, asking, "What? What happened to Lu Mingfei? What kind of monster speed is that?"

The limestone also followed.

Maiduo briefly recounted what she had said today and what she had just said at Bai Yuekui's house. As she spoke, Xia Dou's eyes widened, and Shan Shihui's little mouth opened slightly.

"So Big Brother is now even stronger than Sister Maiduo?" Shan Huishi looked shocked, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Yes, that's true when we're sparring, in my burst state," Maido readily admitted, reaching out to rub Shan Shihui's head. "In his normal state, he still needs more practice, but at this guy's rate of improvement, it's only a matter of time before he surpasses me."

"Wow!" Xia Dou exclaimed, jumping up to Lu Mingfei and looking up at him with her little face. "Lu Mingfei, Lu Mingfei, so now can you smash Snake Dog's head in one punch?"

Lu Mingfei was left speechless, both amused and exasperated by the question: "I guess... it's okay? But there's no need to use your fists to fight snake dogs, we have guns."

Shan Hui's eyes lit up. He tugged at Lu Mingfei's sleeve: "Big brother, can you take me on missions in the future? I want to see you fight the Devouring Beasts!"

"Little Stone!" Xia Dou quickly pulled Shan Shi Hui back. "How old are you to be thinking about missions? Wait until you're older!"

"It's only right that our big brother protects his little brother!" Shan Hui puffed out his chest.

Maiduo looked at Shan Huishi's serious expression and couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, alright, when you grow up, your older brother will take you under his wing, but for now..." She looked at Lu Mingfei, "You should hone your skills first."

Lu Mingfei nodded, then remembered something and said to everyone, "Oh right, Boss Bai also said that I should participate in the Source Activation on June 30th."

After these words, there was another moment of silence.

Then Xia Dou was the first to jump up: "What?! You're going to participate in the Source Activation?!"

"Do you still need to activate your potential?" Tasia frowned. "I thought your current power system was already independent of conventional potential."

"Boss Bai said the stronger the better," Lu Mingfei repeated Bai Yuekui's words. "And I also want to see what kind of ability I can awaken."

Shan Hui tilted his little face up and murmured, "If Big Brother awakens his potential, he'll be even stronger than Boss Bai, right?"

Tasia smiled and said, "Alright, we'll all come and cheer you on. I want to see what kind of trouble you monster can get up to."

"Me too! Me too!" Xia Dou raised her hand. "I want to witness history with my own eyes!"

Shan Huishi also raised her little hand, just like Xia Dou: "I want to go too! I want to see what potential Big Brother can awaken!"

Looking at the two people, one big and one small, Maido smiled helplessly: "Looks like the Awakening Room is going to be lively on the 30th."