Chapter Seven: System Rewards

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully conquering the target, Chen Jiahe. System reward granted!"

As the mechanical voice echoed in Mu Chen's mind, a scorching torrent of energy exploded in his chest, instantly surging through every inch of his body.

"Damn!"

Mu Chen bolted upright from the edge of the bed, his legs turning to jelly, and he nearly lost his footing. The blood within him began to boil instantly, searing and unbearable. Every single muscle fiber was being forcibly torn apart by a barbaric force, only to be frantically reorganized into a tougher, more resilient state.

Chen Jiahe, startled by his sudden movement, instinctively clutched her bath towel tighter and shrank back into the corner of the bed. "What... what’s wrong with you?"

"I'm fine." Mu Chen gritted his teeth, one hand bracing firmly against the doorframe, veins bulging on his forehead. "I’m going to the bathroom."

Before he could finish the sentence, he swayed and rushed out. The bathroom door slammed shut with a bang.

Mu Chen leaned his back against the cold door panel, his chest heaving violently, gasping for air. The reflection in the mirror was undergoing a terrifying transformation visible to the naked eye—his once slightly thin frame expanded rapidly, solid muscles bulging with clear definition, and even his facial contours became sharper and more angular.

"Holy crap, what the hell is this?"

He raised his hand and clenched his fingers. "Crack!" The tiles on the edge of the vanity shattered, sending shards flying.

In front of him, a light blue system interface popped up automatically:

【Host: Mu Chen】
【Level: LV2】
【Strength: 15 (+8)】
【Agility: 12 (+5)】
【Constitution: 18 (+10)】
【Spirit: 20 (+3)】
【Special Abilities: Material Summoning LV2, Danger Perception LV1】

"My strength... it more than doubled?"

Mu Chen clenched his fist and released it, feeling the surging, brand-new power coursing through his limbs. "Now, those mutant monsters—hmpf, no matter how many come, it’ll just be target practice!"

About ten minutes later, Mu Chen stepped back into the bedroom. Chen Jiahe was still curled up in the corner of the bed, wrapped tightly in her bath towel. She no longer dodged him; instead, she looked straight at him, her expression complex and unreadable.

"You... you’re a completely different person." Her voice was soft and trembling slightly.

"Is that so?"

Mu Chen didn't commit to an answer. With a flick of his wrist, a steaming double-patty beef burger appeared out of thin air in his palm, and he tore the wrapper open with a loud rustle. The rich, overpowering aroma of meat instantly filled the room.

Chen Jiahe’s throat bobbed involuntarily, and her empty stomach let out a "gurgle" of protest, which sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet room. She hadn't touched hot food in two whole days.

"Want some?" Mu Chen took a large, careless bite, the beef juices running down the corner of his mouth, which he wiped away without a second thought.

"I..." Chen Jiahe’s fingers were practically shredding the edge of the towel.

"Call me Master." Mu Chen’s voice was flat, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

Chen Jiahe’s cheeks flushed deep red instantly. She lowered her head, her voice barely audible: "Ma... Master."

"Louder, I can't hear you." Mu Chen’s voice remained calm.

"Master!"

She practically screamed it, her throat filled with stifled humiliation and anger. Only then did the corner of Mu Chen's mouth curl up as he handed her the burger. "There you go, eat."

Chen Jiahe snatched the burger, her hands shaking uncontrollably. As she took the first fierce bite and the piping hot food hit her stomach, tears fell against her will. She was starving, so starving. And that sense of humiliation made her whole body burn.

"Ding! Chen Jiahe’s favorability +15. Current favorability: 42/100."

As the system notification rang in his mind, Mu Chen grinned. Food, as it turned out, was an excellent tool for winning hearts. He softened his tone: "Eat slowly, no one is going to snatch it from you. Be obedient from now on, and you’ll have all the good stuff you want."

Chen Jiahe looked up abruptly. The hatred on her face had faded slightly, replaced by a sense of dependency she couldn't quite explain herself.

Mu Chen wouldn't let this opportunity pass. His phone clicked as he aimed the lens at Chen Jiahe, who was busy devouring the burger.

"What are you doing!" Chen Jiahe jumped, hurriedly trying to shield her face.

"Posting to my moments to let them see what they're missing." Mu Chen’s fingers flew as he opened the residential group chat. He wanted those guys still chewing on compressed biscuits to see what a real quality of life looked like!

Below the photo, he added a caption: "Third day of the apocalypse, my little beauty is enjoying a double-patty beef burger. And some of you said my conditions weren't up to par?"

Once the message went out, the group exploded instantly.

"11-904 #ManLikeTheWind: Holy shit! Is this for real? It’s the apocalypse, Brother Mu, where did you get a burger?!"

"8-1104 #ShenLinlin: Mu Chen, you bastard! So what if you have food! Stop showing off!"

"11-2704 #NoCilantro: Brother Chen! Brother Chen is the man! Please protect us, Brother Chen! I’ll be your servant!"

"11-1602 #ChenJun: This burger... it looks like it's still steaming... Mu Chen, just how much good stuff have you hidden away?"

Mu Chen scrolled through the messages of envy, jealousy, and hatred, feeling quite pleased with himself. Just as he was contemplating posting a few more photos of his supplies to further provoke these punks, a new message popped up.

It was from an unfamiliar ID: "7-1205 #PanGuang."

"Neighbors, this is Pan Guang from Building 7. I’ve just awakened an ability and am planning to start a mutual aid society. If you're interested, feel free to message me privately."

The moment this was posted, the group went strangely silent for several seconds. Then, a discussion ten times more intense than before instantly flooded the screen!

"Ability? What kind of nonsense is that?"

"Is this for real? Pan Guang usually seems so quiet; is he just trying to stir up trouble now?"

"Don't talk nonsense, I know Pan Guang. He’s an honest guy; he doesn't seem like the type to pull a prank like this."

Messages flooded in, filled with skepticism and curiosity. Before they could reach a consensus, Pan Guang dropped a video directly into the chat.

The footage was a bit shaky. A man in his early thirties—Pan Guang—was standing in his living room. He thrust both hands forward suddenly!

An invisible wave of force swept out, and several cups on the coffee table tipped over with a clatter. The video wasn't long, and Pan Guang’s voice followed immediately, filled with uncontrollable excitement: "My ability is telekinesis. It’s very basic, but I’ve truly awakened! The end of the world is here; if we don't unite, we’re all going to die!"

Mu Chen watched the screen, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

An ability user.

So, they were popping up this quickly. Much sooner than he had anticipated.

His phone buzzed—Pan Guang had sent a private message.

"Brother Mu Chen, your supplies are top-tier. Are you interested in starting a mutual aid society together? We can share resources and look out for one another. That’s better than going it alone."