As a Charming Mushroom, I Fell into the Apocalypse (MUSHROOM)
The group moved toward the forbidden zone with great fanfare.
It was the first time such a commotion had occurred in the forbidden zone at night. The mutant creature's earlier screams had jolted many from their sleep, and now they were all craning their necks to look.
No one paid any mind to the curfew; everyone's hearts were in their throats.
They knew something major was about to happen tonight.
As they passed through the ordinary people's area, Hui Gu, as if guided by some whim, glanced outside and happened to see Xiao Bao standing at the very edge of the crowd.
His expression was extremely anxious, his lips pale from barely eating all day. When he saw Gu Wang, his eyes lit up and he waved his hand: "Where's my mom? Have you seen my mom?"
The other adults didn't dare stand as close as he did, but Xiao Bao no longer cared. If other children hadn't been holding him back, he might have already run over.
His mother had long been gone.
Replaced by another monster.
Hui Gu knew very well that after complete contamination, what remained was merely an empty shell - no memories, no reason... and no soul.
And Xiao Bao's mother's situation was even worse - she had been infected through parasitism.
Even her corpse had been utilized by mutant creatures, becoming a breeding ground for some Spider Offspring.
Gu Wang didn't answer Xiao Bao's question, his dark eyes seemingly devoid of any emotion.
Seeing that they were about to pass by him, Xiao Bao quickly raised his voice.
The helplessness in the child's words didn't move these long-numbed adults. They watched uneasily, merely watching.
A new human grew annoyed with him and suddenly turned back just before turning the corner, grinning with sarcasm and clear malice: "Kid, your mom has already..."
But before he could finish his sentence, an overwhelming pressure from a higher level swept over him. Like a natural bloodline suppression, it left him too terrified to complete his sentence, his breath caught in his throat and his legs slightly weak.
Gu Wang walked past him while looking straight ahead. The man unconsciously held his breath, his neck forced to bend by the difference in rank, only able to stare in terror at his own toes.
Why?
How could this person have such intense pressure?
He certainly knew there was some special hierarchical suppression among new humans, but this man was clearly an A-level like Director Yu.
Even if he were a slightly stronger A-class than Director Yu, could the pressure difference really be this great!?
Only after passing him and when Xiao Bao was no longer in sight did Gu Wang slowly retract the invisible aura he had released.
The person beside the man poked him in confusion: "Why aren't you moving?"
"N-nothing." The man froze for a long moment, secretly wiped off his cold sweat, then hurried to catch up, not daring to say another word.
They soon reached the entrance of the forbidden zone. Before even entering, Hui Gu smelled an unpleasant bloody odor coming from inside.
He twisted in the pocket, somewhat disgusted.
So smelly, only slightly better than mutant creatures, but still unable to cover up that bloody smell.
In comparison, Gu Wang's scent seemed even more pleasant and unique.
Thinking of this, Hui Gu unconsciously swallowed.
As the only two high-level new humans present, Gu Wang and Yu Zhenxin naturally noticed this unusual bloody odor.
They had been here during the daytime, when there had clearly been no strange smell.
Something had happened to the people inside.
Realizing this, Hui Gu's first reaction was to look at Yu Zhenxin.
Unexpectedly, his face also showed signs of panic.
No one else had noticed, allowing Yu Zhenxin a moment where he failed to control his expression.
This instinctive shocked reaction couldn't be faked, nor was there any need for such performance.
Even he hadn't expected someone to die inside.
Everything that had occurred within this Shelter was already spiraling out of control.
Gu Wang’s brow furrowed tightly as he directly manipulated his supernatural ability to blast the door open. With a loud bang, the password lock flashed a few meaningless alarms before completely short-circuiting.
Yet no one paid any attention to his overly aggressive actions. They were all staring in disbelief at the scene before them—the oppressive crimson assaulting their optic nerves, transmitting terrifying signals to their brains.
Behind the shattered door, the gruesome scene inside was instantly laid bare.
The laboratory, which had housed four people, was now completely smeared with blood. Scattered bits of flesh and tissue were splattered across every facility and piece of experimental equipment.
Each corpse lay haphazardly, their bodies gutted, internal organs devoured, while the remaining fat and flesh were discarded like trash.
Though clearly human, in death they resembled pork displayed on a butcher’s block, rows of white ribs exposed.
The bloody scent, once trapped by the tightly sealed door, now rushed forth, overwhelming everyone’s nostrils.
The silence in the air felt like accumulating punishments, pressing down until it was hard to breathe.
Gu Wang stepped forward to examine the innermost corpse—the one with the most brutal death, its face completely gnawed away. From the empty bottle clutched in its hand, he identified it as a special anesthetic.
A drug specifically designed for high-level mutant creatures.
Gu Wang brushed the dust off his sleeves and straightened up. "It was killed by a high-level mutant creature. Judging by the state of the bodies, it must have escaped about an hour ago."
That was precisely when they had been inspecting the corpse of "Xiao Bao’s mother."
Hui Gu paid no attention to the bodies on the ground, his gaze still fixed on Yu Zhenxin. He had been observing this person the entire time and hadn’t missed the intense fear that flashed across Yu Zhenxin’s face upon hearing the word "escaped."
Despite having mentally prepared himself, when the irreversible truth was laid bare before him, Yu Zhenxin’s hands still spasmed uncontrollably, his fingers trembling incessantly. He instinctively reached to adjust his glasses, a small gesture that only made his panic more glaring.
All the carefully crafted excuses he had prepared now seemed pale and feeble in the face of this bloody tragedy.
The others were also horrified by the sudden crime scene, so for a moment, Yu Zhenxin’s behavior didn’t stand out.
Only Hui Gu noticed—unlike the shock and fear of the others, Yu Zhenxin’s discomposure stemmed from regret.
Regret that he hadn’t done better, not regret for what he had done wrong.
And in his eyes, the corpses of these researchers weren’t even human lives—just collateral damage from a failed experiment.
At the deepest part of the laboratory stood a nearly two-meter-tall container. The originally transparent, slightly greenish liquid had long since flowed out, congealing into a large, semi-solid puddle on the floor after the specialized glass shattered. The pungent smell of chemical mixtures, mingled with the scent of fresh blood and flesh, became even more nauseating.
Yet, from within it, Hui Gu still detected that damned, familiar presence.
No mistake—it had definitely been here before.
Hui Gu stopped focusing on Yu Zhenxin, his round, beady eyes darting around nervously. Even confined to the pocket with limited visibility, he could sense that the spider wasn’t here right now.
He didn’t know whether to consider that a good thing or not.
It was definitely looking for him.
Though they had just missed each other now, being discovered was only a matter of time.
This made him feel like a lamb waiting for slaughter.
Hui Gu was so furious he wanted to jump up and give Yu Zhenxin a good beating.
How utterly audacious! Only someone with water for brains would dare hide that stinky spider in the Shelter.
Who knows how many people he'll get killed—and now he's going to harm this innocent mushroom too!
Gu Wang didn't know what Hui Gu was fuming about, but judging by the chaotic state of the laboratory, he could roughly guess what had happened.
Not to mention the strong scent of mutant creature still lingering in the lab.
The evidence was overwhelming, leaving Yu Zhenxin no room for denial.
Darkness pooled in Gu Wang's eyes as his voice dropped to an icy tone: "Yu Zhenxin, you actually kept a high-level mutant creature?"
These words finally shattered the suffocating silence in the room, and everyone's expressions shifted immediately.
Some looked shocked and terrified, while others appeared guilty.
The most dramatic reaction naturally came from Director Yu, whose dark secret had just been exposed publicly.
Yu Zhenxin clenched his fists tightly: "I don't know what you're talking about."
He tried to remain calm, but his uncontrollable body language betrayed him.
The others could no longer stay seated, all speaking at once.
"Wasn't the A-level mutant creature we've been transporting just an experimental specimen?"
"You've been lying to us all along? It was a living mutant creature?"
"We've been traveling with a mutant creature ever since we escaped the base!?"
"Where is that mutant creature now? How are you going to take responsibility for this?"
"Shut up! How dare you speak to the Director like that!?"
"If it weren't for the Director protecting us all along, would any of you still be alive?"
The new humans immediately split into two factions—one questioning and distraught, the other unconditionally defending Yu Zhenxin, both sides arguing fiercely.
The scene became as chaotic as a brawl.
Just as the verbal conflict was about to escalate into physical confrontation, Gu Wang let out a low chuckle, spreading boundless chill through the air.
The oppressive aura of a powerful being acted like a pause button, instantly silencing everyone as they involuntarily turned to look at him.
Only then did Gu Wang speak slowly: "Director Yu is quite skilled at winning people's hearts."
Even at this point, there were still loyal dogs protecting their master.
Yu Zhenxin maintained strong composure. Even after discovering that the trump card he had carefully cultivated for so long was missing, he didn't completely lose his cool and quickly responded: "They all recognize my leadership."
Simultaneously winning over hearts once more.
Hui Gu finally couldn't hold back: "Squeak!" Pah!
They're all just as black-hearted as him.
Yu Zhenxin immediately shot a venomous glance toward Gu Wang's pocket where the small noise had originated. His earlier suspicions were confirmed, his sinister expression shifting as he felt he had grasped leverage.
But now wasn't the best time to expose this.
He needed to use this man.
Yes, there was still a chance to salvage everything.
As long as he could recapture it.
This man calling himself Gu Chen clearly had been someone in power before—he didn't believe anyone who had tasted authority would willingly abandon it.
Why would he deliberately expose all this, if not to get a share of the benefits here too?
He could pretend to submit temporarily, until everything returned to its original plan...
With so many loyal followers, surely he could handle one Gu Chen?
When the time comes, just let him become "nutrients" like those foolish new humans who let their guard down before.
His thoughts racing, Yu Zhenxin steadied his trembling hands, still appearing as the ever-smiling Shelter director.
Had Hui Gu not been distracted earlier, he might have truly believed the situation was still under control.
Yu Zhenxin pushed up his glasses, which had slipped due to sweat, and suddenly snapped at those around him: "Is now really the time to argue about this?!"
"......"
Even though they had doubts about him, faced with the director's sudden outburst, they instinctively fell silent.
Everyone's expressions were filled with shock and uncertainty.
Gu Wang's smile didn't reach his eyes: "Oh? Director Yu has figured out how to explain this?"
Yu Zhenxin gave him a deep look, then let out a breath: "I admit I hid the truth from many people from the beginning. The so-called specimen research was actually studying live creatures."
"But have any of you considered why I would take such great risks to do this? It's all for our Shelter!" His tone grew agitated.
"This is a high-level mutant creature so severely injured it can barely move. And wasn't the very reason we established our Shelter here because this area contains high-level mutant creatures that don't actively attack humans?"
Relying on a wild, now missing S-class Mutated Plant meant risks could emerge at any moment.
But what if they possessed their own high-level mutant creature that could intimidate other beings?
It didn't need to be particularly active - as long as it could continuously produce high-level pheromones, theoretically the Shelter wouldn't need to worry about mutant creature invasions anymore.
Perhaps he had been a silver-tongued orator even before the apocalypse, as Yu Zhenxin spoke with such convincing tears and emotion that he seemed completely selfless.
"For your sake, how much pressure have I borne alone? And now that something has gone wrong, you come to blame me?"
"Search your consciences - have I ever treated any of you new humans who escaped disaster together with me poorly?"
His expression suddenly shifted as he glared fiercely at those who had voiced the strongest doubts earlier.
Those few people, startled by his rapidly changing demeanor, quickly lowered their heads.
Gu Wang's lips straightened into a thin line as he looked meaningfully at Yu Zhenxin: "So Director Yu has been acting with the noblest intentions all along."
He could even justify privately raising mutant creatures with such lofty rhetoric - likely half-truths and half-lies.
Still hiding plenty.
But it was enough to fool these people.
Watching these wavering individuals, Hui Gu shook his head helplessly in his pocket.
Sigh.
So foolish.
These humans still understood far too little about that dead spider.
Thinking it was some easily controlled puppet doll that could be freely used once locked in the forbidden zone.
It was sinister and cunning, exceptionally skilled at pretending weakness in early stages - exactly how it had deceived the mushroom when willingly serving as its subordinate before.
Now that it could so easily break through specially designed containers, silently kill everyone in the room and escape smoothly, at least eighty percent of its "severe injuries" had long since healed. It was nowhere near as easily controlled as Yu Zhenxin claimed.
And this wasn't even the worst scenario.
What if...
Hui Gu sniffed the lingering scent in the air, his unease gradually spreading.
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