Rebirth: Exclusive Love in the End of the World-Chapter 15 - Awakening Ability

Han Jiaojiao grabbed Han Yi’s hand, coquettishly unwilling to let him leave.

“What? Can’t bear to part with me?”

Han Jiaojiao nodded her head.

Han Yi’s eyes were filled with a deeper smile, “Be good, wait until you’re grown up to sleep with brother.”

“I am grown up already!” she said, and then her face flushed red. That’s not what she meant at all! She just couldn’t bear parting with her brother, not that she wanted to… ah, but her response sounded so impatient…

“Bad guy!” Han Jiaojiao lightly called out in shy anger and turned to close the bedroom door.

Han Yi stood outside her room, quietly standing for a long time before leaving.

—The next morning, Xiao Jian and Yan Xiao were ready to set off, but plans don’t always keep up with changes, and Yan Xiao suddenly fell ill.

Yan Xiao had felt off since he got up in the morning, feeling groggy; it was only after Xiao Jian used a thermometer that they discovered Yan Xiao had a fever.

When Han Jiaojiao came downstairs, Yan Xiao was leaning on the couch, looking very weak. Han Yi and Xiao Jian were sitting aside, talking.

She went to the fridge to get some milk and bread, heated them up, and brought them over as a simple breakfast.

Xiao Jian took the bread and said to Han Yi, “Yan Xiao can’t travel in this condition, I’ll go alone.”

Yan Xiao also knew his current physical state was not suited for the road. He weakly rubbed his head, mumbling, “It’s just a slight fever, but why do I feel so rotten…”

Han Jiaojiao looked thoughtfully at Yan Xiao.

Yan Xiao said feebly, “Han bro, do you have any fever-reducing medicine? Give me a couple, I feel awful.”

Han Yi got up to fetch the medicine, but Han Jiaojiao tugged at his sleeve and turned to Yan Xiao, “I’ll go get the medicine, you wait a moment, alright?”

Han Jiaojiao suspected that Yan Xiao’s fever was a precursor to the awakening of an Ability. The symptom of a low-grade fever was the initial response of the body’s native antibodies to the entry of microbial spores.

After the apocalyptic world began, a type of microbial spore started to spread across the Earth. When these microbes came into contact with an infected individual, they would autonomously alter their genetic composition to ensure their survival within the host. Due to the random nature of these genetic changes, some hosts would not be able to adapt and would die out violently, some would turn into monsters, and others would unlock the human body’s potential, awakening various Superpowers.

In his past life, Yan Xiao had an Ability, though it was not clear which one. However, Han Jiaojiao was certain that he would not die at this time, nor would he turn into an Alien Species. Moreover, individuals who mutated into Alien Species did not begin with a fever, but with an increased appetite and a sensitivity to light.

Han Jiaojiao pretended to rummage through the medicine cabinet and emerged with a pill and a cup of hot water in hand.

With some effort, Yan Xiao lifted his arm, took the cup, and swallowed the medicine. Eyes closed and leaning on the sofa, he hummed, “This pill is oddly sweet…”

Han Jiaojiao felt guilty and blushed, hiding behind her brother.

Xiao Jian helped Yan Xiao to his feet and said to Han Yi, “Han, I’ll help Yan Xiao upstairs to rest.”

Han Yi nodded.

Once they had gone upstairs, Han Jiaojiao hurriedly explained to Han Yi, “Brother, he’s about to awaken his Ability. Taking random medication is bad for him, so that’s why I didn’t give him any fever-reducing medicine. I didn’t mean to withhold it…” She knew that Yan Xiao was one of her brother’s most important friends and was somewhat afraid that her brother would be angry at her for this.

Although Han Yi’s face was as stern as usual, the eyes that looked at her still held warmth. “Brother’s not angry. Brother knows you meant well.”

Relieved, Han Jiaojiao patted her chest and stuck out her tongue at him playfully.

“What did Jiaojiao give him just now?”

“Uh… vitamin candy.”

Han Yi pinched her face playfully, “You little rascal.”

Xiao Jian soon came back down, as he was one for action. After greeting Han Yi and Han Jiaojiao, he grabbed two pieces of bread and set off.

Han Jiaojiao stood in the yard, watching the large trucks drive away from the gate, silently praying for Xiao Jian and the distant Lu Changyuan to return safely.

After Xiao Jian left, Han Jiaojiao and Han Yi began their usual physical training as per routine. Next to the swimming pool on the first floor was an open space with various gym equipment, sufficient for most of the basic training found in a regular gym. The garden in the backyard of the villa served as a shooting range.

Han Yi ordered takeout for lunch, and Yan Xiao managed to eat a little, his fever symptoms no different from the morning. His temperature had neither risen nor shown any trend of decreasing.

Han Jiaojiao quietly told Han Yi that it would take three to five days to recover. She explained that the shorter the process, the better, as a longer duration meant greater damage to the body. A short duration indicated a high degree of acceptance by the body to the foreign microbial colonies, which meant greater Abilities obtained. A long duration meant that the microbial colonies and the body’s native cells would resist and negate each other; even if Superpowers were ultimately acquired, their potency would be considerably limited. Therefore, in a sense, the length of the awakening process determined the quality of a Superpower User.

Seeing that Yan Xiao’s condition was relatively stable, they went downstairs to start checking the supplies placed in the outer courtyard.

Han Jiaojiao grabbed a paper cutter, hopped to the outer courtyard, and excitedly sliced through the tape on the outer cartons.

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Han Yi had only allowed for a two to three-month supply to be delivered, so most of the items here were easy-to-store staples like rice, canned goods, and the like. Warm clothing wasn’t needed for the moment and wasn’t brought over. Aside from food, Han Jiaojiao also found large amounts of gasoline, diesel, and various tools for outdoor exploration. When Han Jiaojiao opened the boxes full of firearms and ammunition, she was so thrilled that she began jumping on the spot.

Han Yi watched Han Jiaojiao’s excited little figure with a pleased expression. However, when he saw his sister expertly install a scope onto a sniper rifle, his expression turned back to its usual gloom, darker even.

——Han Jiaojiao’s skills were too polished; that wasn’t something one could learn in a dream. Only through countless rehearsals could one assemble a sniper rifle so swiftly and cleanly in such a short time.

His sister had always been with him, and even when he wasn’t by her side, there were always at least two bodyguards following her. Everything about her had been under his watch for years. When had she ever come into contact with knowledge about firearms?

Han Yi’s heart kept sinking. He wanted to ask her, but when Han Jiaojiao turned around, holding the rifle with a brilliantly bright smile aimed at him, all his doubts stuck in his throat, and he found himself unable to voice them.