In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

Can one evolve only by being in a poisonous zone?

Damn it.

Su Ran suddenly cursed under his breath and slammed his fist heavily on the conference table, causing the teacup to shake slightly.

What an irony!

The Noah's Ark, built with the nation's utmost efforts, may, in a sense, become a massive genetic prison.

"If that's really the case..."

Li Guodong's Adam's apple bobbed, his face turning deathly pale. "Then aren't we trapped in a vicious cycle? If we open the door, most people will turn into zombies; if we close the door, humanity will stop evolving and wait to be surpassed and devoured by the monsters outside."

"Therefore, the most urgent task is to figure out the nature of red rain."

The leader stood up, interrupting the panic among the crowd.

The old man's back was still straight, a spine that had been tempered by storms and could withstand even the collapse of the sky.

"Li Guodong, how's the analysis of the red rain samples going with Academician Chen Changhe?"

"Sir, Elder Chen has been working continuously for seventy-two hours in the P4 laboratory."

Li Guodong immediately checked his watch to confirm the time, speaking rapidly, "He said he discovered something that challenges conventional wisdom and is preparing to give you a special report after the meeting."

Su Ran took a deep breath and stubbed out her cigarette.

Whether this situation can be broken depends on Academician Chen's research results.

If we can crack the secret of the red rain and find the "key" to unlock the gene lock, we might be able to artificially usher in an era of national awakening without sacrificing the population.

"Let's go to the lab."

The leader straightened his collar, his eyes turning cold again. "Go see what Old Chen has discovered."

Without further delay, the group quickly left the command center and headed towards the top-secret biological laboratory.

at the same time.

The Academy of Sciences, the highest-level P4 laboratory.

The robotic arm is carefully picking up a drop of dark red rainwater sample that has just been collected from the ground.

Under the lens of a high-powered microscope.

The raindrop did not remain still like an ordinary liquid; instead, it was writhing, splitting, and engulfing everything in a frenzy.

Academician Chen Changhe stared at the image on the screen, his pupils contracting sharply.

"This, this is not something that should exist on Earth."

With trembling hands, he typed a line of code in a document that could only be opened with highest privileges:

"【Ω-9】"

……

At that moment, a group of people rushed into the biology laboratory.

The most powerful people in the Great Xia sat around the table, but no one spoke; only heavy breathing could be heard.

"Old Chen, just tell me the result." The leader tapped the table.

"well."

Chen Changhe took a deep breath and, without saying a word, projected the holographic image of the "Raging Red Rain" drop directly onto the center of the hall.

The hideous, writhing dark red substance, like an invisible giant hand, instantly gripped everyone's hearts.

"This is not a virus."

Chen Changhe's voice was dry, as if it had been sanded, "This is a 'death warrant' that God, or rather a demon, forcibly imposed on Earth."

"We subjected the samples to a 72-hour continuous bombardment test."

Chen Changhe pulled up a set of data, a red curve that was almost vertically upward. "We discovered a substance in it that has never appeared in Earth's periodic table before. It has an extremely high energy level and extremely domineering properties."

"How domineering is he?" An elderly man with a general's star on his shoulder frowned.

"It's completely unreasonable."

Chen Changhe gave a wry smile. "We'll temporarily name it 'Ω-9.' Ω-9 will forcibly tear apart the DNA double helix structure of carbon-based organisms, and then, like a robber, insert a new piece of genetic code."

"What is its function?" the leader asked, his eyes sharp.

"It can be both a death sentence and a catalyst."

Chen Changhe pointed at the cell model dividing on the screen, his eyes revealing deep fear.

"It can enable biological cells to complete the evolutionary journey that would take nature ten thousand years to complete in 24 hours."

"Whether it's mice or primate subjects, as long as they are exposed to trace amounts of Omega-9, their cell activity will increase a thousandfold. The original metabolic patterns are completely disrupted, and the law of conservation of energy completely fails."

Chen Changhe turned around and stared intently at everyone present. "This is why those zombies and mutated beasts outside were able to evolve shells and claws in just seven days. They're not sick; they're evolving."

"This is a mass extermination of species."

"In the face of Omega-9, the original human genes are too fragile, like an old Nokia trying to run the latest artificial intelligence program. There are only two results: either a complete crash or a forced system reinstall."

"Turning into a zombie is a sign of system crash. And those who awaken are the very few lucky ones who successfully 'rebuild the system'."

Dead silence.

The sense of being outmatched at the species level sent a chill down the spines of all the seasoned veterans present.

"And there's even worse news."

Chen Changhe didn't stop; he switched the screen to display an atmospheric composition analysis chart.

"The red rain is evaporating, and the Omega-9 element is merging with the atmosphere."

"Current air samples show the presence of an inert gas called Omega-9. This gas would have been a slow poison for the old humans."

"In other words..."

Su Ran rested his chin on his hands and continued, "In the future, if people don't awaken, even if they aren't bitten to death, just breathing will shorten their lifespan."

"Earth is becoming a giant gas chamber, and all life is being forced to evolve. Those who do not evolve will be forcibly eliminated from Earth's ecosystem."

This conclusion is too disheartening.

In war, they can fight with bayonets.

But this is God changing masters; humans don't even have the right to sit on the table.

"Bang!"

A young staff officer couldn't help but slam his fist on the table, his face turning pale.

The leader remained silent until the atmosphere in the meeting room was on the verge of collapse, at which point he slowly turned his head, his gaze landing precisely on Su Ran:

"Xiao Su, you have experience from two lifetimes, tell me your opinion."

"Old Chen is right, but not entirely right either."

Su Ran spoke, her voice not loud, yet strangely penetrating, "I agree that this is a mass extinction of species; survival of the fittest is the only law of nature."

"Since the environment is forcing us to die, then we will evolve faster than the environment."

He walked to the holographic screen and swiped his finger across the red data representing Omega-9:

"Being infected with Omega-9 and turned into a zombie is just passive selection. It's like the Black Death in the Middle Ages; it's essentially selection, but we can 'cheat'."

Su Ran interrupted Chen Changhe's hesitant words, her eyes filled with fervor and determination.

"Ω-9 is forcibly embedded genetic code, and all code can be cracked. Zombies are failed products of 'crashing,' while Awakened ones are new models of 'successfully upgraded systems.'"

"I suggest starting with the Awakened and exploring their genetic sequences."

Su Ran stated decisively, "Once we crack the gene lock, we can artificially create Awakened Ones! We can forcibly upgrade the systems of all humanity!"

This is the only way to survive right now.

All eyes were on the leader, awaiting the final decision.

The old man slowly stood up, placed his hands on the table, and straightened his back like a mountain.

After a three-second silence, he suddenly raised his hand and slammed it heavily on the table.

"Su Ran is right. It's better to live life to the fullest than to prolong one's life in vain."

"Pass on my orders!"

"The Chinese Academy of Sciences shall immediately establish a special task force to tackle the 'Ω-9' gene mutation! Academician Chen Changhe shall be the team leader. Regardless of the cost, let's break this genetic lock!"

"Old Chen, we'll give you manpower and money, even if it means tearing a hole in the sky, we'll carve out a path for the Great Xia people to evolve!"