Group Awakening Abilities

Lin Chen turned around and disappeared down the corridor with several team members, heading downstairs.

For the next fifteen minutes, short gunshots and the muffled thuds of zombies falling echoed from the thirteenth to the fifteenth floors. The process was thrilling but ultimately safe, and more than a dozen people were rescued from various corners: a trembling waiter hiding in the cleaning room, an elderly couple supporting each other, and a child curled up in a closet.

Faced with these terrified faces, Lin Chen rarely spoke. He simply stood there, occasionally tapping unconsciously on the holster at his waist with his fingertips, or casting his gaze toward the ceaseless rain of blood outside the window.

No further explanation is needed. The weight of reality hangs in the hearts of everyone.

Soon, all the newly rescued people "voluntarily" gathered on the cleaned thirteenth floor.

Lin Chen used shelves and heavy objects retrieved from his spatial storage to block the main passage leading downstairs, and also managed to jam the elevator car on the ground floor. The thirteenth floor and above temporarily became an isolated island that was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Only after doing all this did he return to the fifteenth floor.

In the presidential suite area, Li Ya and the twins were busy arranging accommodations, trying to place acquaintances next to each other.

Su Yun accompanied Liu Feifei out of the bedroom. Liu Feifei had changed into a slightly oversized tracksuit, her long hair tied in a ponytail, her face bare, the shock still lingering in her eyes, but her expression had calmed down considerably.

"Brother Lin," Su Yun said softly, "Miss Liu wants to come with us."

Lin Chen looked at Liu Feifei. Her eyes were firm, and her face showed a pleading expression. More importantly, her aura was pure, unlike someone with any ulterior motives.

"We are not an official rescue team, and we have no obligation to bring anyone along." Lin Chen's tone was calm but serious. "If you come with us, you must follow the rules, face the battle, and contribute your strength. Most importantly, you must be loyal and never betray us."

Liu Feifei nodded vigorously, her voice soft and clear: "I know. I... have nowhere else to go."

For the past two days, she has been hiding in her room, repeatedly dialing her parents' numbers. Busy. Always busy.

Her father was a well-known businessman in Shanghai, and that family background was once her source of confidence in the entertainment industry, allowing her to say no to unspoken rules and gradually rise to the spotlight through her work. But now, all that glory, resources, and connections have vanished in the face of zombies and bloodshed.

She was acutely aware that at this moment she was just an ordinary girl, unarmed and unsure if she would even be able to open her eyes again tomorrow.

Lin Chen stared at her silently for a few seconds, then nodded: "Okay. Welcome to the team."

Those four simple words were like the most effective tranquilizer. Liu Feifei's eyes welled up with tears, but she desperately held them back, only managing a heavy "Mmm."

Lin Chen turned to Li Ya: "Xiao Ya, it's about time. Gather everyone in the lobby on the fifteenth floor. It's time to get down to business."

"Okay." Li Ya immediately understood and turned to go downstairs.

Ten minutes later, in a spacious banquet hall on the fifteenth floor, all 158 people rescued by the art academy, along with the newly joined Liu Feifei and the core team members, were present. The brief period of safe rest allowed the fear on many faces to fade, replaced by a bewildered anticipation.

Lin Chen walked to the front, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his voice steady and powerful:

"I promised you before that I would give you the opportunity to change your fate and gain the ability to protect yourselves. Now, I'm fulfilling that promise."

A suppressed commotion arose in the hall. Whispers mingled with surprise and trepidation.

With a thought, Lin Chen took out 159 Creation Crystals that emitted a soft, faint glow from his spatial storage. The crystals were translucent, with a milky white halo flowing inside, mysterious and beautiful. This was most of his accumulated stockpile, and he had given away almost everything he had this time.

"Line up, one pill per person, swallow directly." Lin Chen said succinctly, "There may be some unusual things during the process, don't panic, just keep your mind calm."

Under Li Ya's command, the team quickly formed a line. Every pair of eyes was fixed on the spirit crystals, and their breathing quickened involuntarily.

The first to step forward was Ye Qingyu. Another famous beauty from the art academy, she majored in guzheng and had a cool and aloof temperament.

Her slender hands trembled slightly as she took the warm, smooth spirit crystal from Lin Chen's hand. Her heart was pounding with anxiety—she was terrified that she had awakened a useless ability. Yesterday, when she was trapped in the teaching building, she had witnessed Lin Chen's figure traversing the horde of zombies through the window, and the shock and longing she felt were deeply etched into her heart.

She understood that in the apocalypse, beauty might bring temporary convenience, but only one's own strength was the most solid reliance for survival.

The spirit crystal melted instantly upon entering the mouth, transforming into a warm and powerful current that surged throughout the body! The sensation was not pain, but an indescribable comfort, as if every cell was rejoicing, gently cleansed and reshaped by a soft yet powerful force. A slight itch ran through the bones, and the blood flowed even more vigorously.

A moment later, a strange phenomenon occurred!

The air around Ye Qingyu distorted slightly, and several translucent strings, seemingly woven from light, materialized out of thin air in front of her! The strings trembled slightly, and without being plucked, a clear and ethereal sound wave naturally rippled out, like a breeze brushing across a still lake, carrying a unique rhythm that refreshed the mind of those who heard it.

"Wow!" Jiang Yingyue couldn't help but exclaim, "Void Condensation! That's so cool!"

Ye Qingyu slowly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with unbelievable surprise. With a slight thought, she gently plucked a string of light, and a tiny crack appeared in the empty glass on the distant table.

"Rank A ability - Sonic Slaughter." She felt the information naturally appear in her mind, her voice trembling slightly, "It can condense spiritual power into sound strings and control sound waves of specific frequencies to attack. The range and intensity are related to mental strength."

She glanced at Lin Chen instinctively, her eyes filled not only with gratitude but also with a quiet, almost devout trust and sense of belonging. He was the one who gave her the spark to ignite her own light in this dark world.

"Not bad." Lin Chen nodded. The potential of sound wave-type superpowers is considerable.

Witnessing Ye Qingyu successfully awaken such a dazzling ability, the crowd erupted in cheers! Anxiety was replaced by ecstasy, expectations soared, and confidence spread like wildfire.

When it was Liu Feifei's turn, Lin Chen handed her the spirit crystal as well. Liu Feifei took a deep breath, solemnly accepted it, and swallowed it. She closed her eyes and waited quietly, her eyelashes casting faint shadows on her pale cheeks.

A moment later, she suddenly opened her eyes!

In that instant, a deep starlight seemed to flow through her already bright eyes, making them even more dazzling and captivating. She gazed intently at Lin Chen, her eyes flashing with indescribable shock and excitement.

"Sister Feifei, what kind of superpower is it?" Jiang Yingyue asked excitedly in a low voice.

Liu Feifei calmed herself down, trying to keep her voice calm, but she couldn't hide her pride and surprise:

"S-level mind control".

She paused, carefully sensing the information in her mind: "It can simultaneously influence or control the thoughts and behaviors of multiple targets. The intensity, number, and duration of control depend on the strength of my mental power and the target's willpower. My initial impression is that... controlling ordinary people or low-level zombies is easier, but the effect is weaker on those with strong willpower or powerful creatures, requiring further testing."

S-rank! Mind control!

The two words silenced the surroundings instantly, followed by an even greater burst of astonishment.

Countless gazes were fixed on Liu Feifei, filled with envy, awe, and a hint of barely perceptible apprehension. Mind control was undoubtedly an extremely terrifying and practical top-tier superpower in the apocalypse.

A flicker of surprise crossed Lin Chen's eyes, which quickly turned into admiration. This was undoubtedly an unexpected delight, and would become a highly valuable asset for the team in the future.

The awakening ceremony continued, with flashes of light occasionally appearing among the crowd, accompanied by gasps and exclamations. Each person, after consuming a spirit crystal, faced a turning point in their destiny. Hope, like a torch lit in the darkness, burned ever brighter in the temporarily safe hotel lobby.

Lin Chen stood calmly in front, watching this team that was rapidly transforming.