Xu Hua's display had indeed convinced many around him. Everyone still felt uneasy about the deaths of Hao Lei and his two companions today, and Xiao Zhe's concession made everyone lack a sense of security. If a strong person like Xu Hua became the leader, it would naturally enhance the team's combat effectiveness and deterrence.
Several girls also cast passionate glances at Xu Hua.
In this apocalyptic world, it was particularly difficult for girls to survive, needing to please men with their looks to obtain food and protection.
Xu Hua glanced around, feeling very pleased with himself.
"Hehe, good, very good!"
Xiao Zhe clapped his hands and took two steps forward before suddenly lunging directly at Xu Hua with lightning speed, taking everyone by surprise.
"Ah!"
The crowd was shocked. Xiao Zhe's attack was completely unexpected to everyone, as with Xiao Zhe's abilities, it would have been impossible to challenge Xu Hua after his mutation.
"Seeking death!"
Xu Hua, provoked by Xiao Zhe's challenge, thought angrily, I gave you face, and you still don't know when to advance or retreat?
Intending to show off his tough skin, Xu Hua braced himself to take Xiao Zhe's hit head-on. He wanted to see what Xiao Zhe could do to him.
In an instant, Xu Hua felt a sharp pain in his chest and cried out, stumbling several steps backward. Looking down, he saw his shirt had been torn, revealing several scratches of varying depths on his bronze skin, three of which had even broken the skin and were bleeding. Although they were minor injuries, they left him immensely shocked.
Xu Hua had personally tested the day before and couldn't even scratch his skin with a fruit knife. What was the deal with Xiao Zhe?
Naturally, the crowd was stunned, and when they looked at Xiao Zhe again, they were shocked beyond belief.
Xiao Zhe's hands had turned dark, and his ten fingers had become sharp and claw-like as a wolf's.
"You, you're a mutant too?"
Xu Hua asked with a trembling voice.
"Hmph, you think you're the only mutant? I'm telling you, all of us will mutate sooner or later. Just because you have copper skin, you think you can be the boss? Dream on!"
Xu Hua's confidence had stemmed from his invulnerable copper skin, but he now realized that his copper skin wasn't invincible after all, at least not against Xiao Zhe's wolf claws. His arrogant attitude had dissipated significantly.
Xiao Zhe was also a clever man. In times of great adversity, having another mutant like Xu Hua in the team was an extra strength. It was better to unite if possible, so he spoke indifferently:
"I understand your desire for revenge, but have you ever thought, Yang Xiao could have easily killed Hao Lei and the other two for a reason?"
Xu Hua was taken aback and asked:
"Is he a mutant too?"
Xiao Zhe nodded,
"I guess he mutated earlier than any of us. Otherwise, where would he get the confidence to confront so many of us alone?"
"Boss, does that mean we're not avenging them?"
Someone asked; Hao Lei's few friends were still brooding over it.
Xiao Zhe immediately exclaimed:
"I will definitely avenge Hao Lei and the others, but not right now. Our bodies have just started mutating. At this time, everyone needs to stay calm. Yang Xiao is strong, but he's just one person. Once all of us have mutated, taking care of one Yang Xiao will be a piece of cake, won't it?"
Xiao Zhe said this, and the little friends around him all nodded, thinking it made sense.
"Actually, our real enemy is not Yang Xiao,"
Xiao Zhe sighed again and continued.
"Our enemy?" Xu Hua was stunned.
Xiao Zhe glanced at everyone, his expression grave as he said,
"You must have heard as well, recently many mutated creatures have appeared nearby. Like the man-eating monsters in the pond, dogs as large as calves, and giant spiders, ants, and so on. According to Gu Bo from the Genetic Store, in seven days, these creatures will complete their mutation process. By then, they will have formidable attack power, and the environment we humans face will become even more dire. Think about it, when the mutated creatures swarm over us like a tide in three days, how will we defend ourselves?"
A deadly silence fell over the crowd.
Everyone looked at Xiao Zhe with a sudden chill, terror-stricken.
In recent days, everyone had been busy fighting for food and struggling for survival resources. They hadn't paid much attention to the consequences of Earth's biological mutations mentioned by Gu Bo. Now, hearing Xiao Zhe bring it up, they realized, the consequences were unimaginable.
Compared to the siege of these mutated creatures, what was Yang Xiao?
The fear of everyone instantly shifted towards the mutated creatures, and the hatred for Yang Xiao dissipated by a great deal.
Xu Hua retracted his Copper Skin, returning to his normal state. Although he was unwilling to accept it inside, reality left him no choice but to submit, and even his tone of speaking became softer.
"Xiao Zhe, then what do you suggest we do?"
Seeing that he had subdued Xu Hua and at the same time strengthened his credibility in the team, Xiao Zhe patted Xu Hua's shoulder in a friendly manner.
"Xu Hua, we should join forces. We should all stand united. There are three days left, everyone pay close attention to any changes in your bodies. If you undergo Mutation, grasp the new abilities of your body as soon as possible. Strive to have the ability to defend ourselves before the mutated creatures invade. For those who have not mutated, work a bit harder in these days, and make sure to do the logistics and protection work for everyone."
The crowd was convinced by Xiao Zhe's words. He then instructed people to take inventory of how many Mutants there were in the team. Anyone with special dietary needs due to their Mutation should be accommodated as much as possible, especially meat, which from now on would be provided only to Mutants.
The crowd dispersed. Xiao Zhe saw Qin Yu among the people, and his heart had always been filled with desire for the school belle, Qin Yu.
Xiao Zhe walked over to Qin Yu,
"Qin Yu, have you felt any changes or Mutations in your body?"
Qin Yu shook her head.
"Uh, it might take a bit longer then. Of course, not everyone will undergo Mutation. Those who actually mutate are less than 20%."
Qin Yu was astonished and said,
"But didn't you just say everyone would mutate?"
"Heh, that was just to comfort everyone, to prevent panic. Don't worry, I'll protect you. As long as I'm here, I'll ensure your safety."
After saying that, Xiao Zhe's hand unintentionally but purposefully landed on Qin Yu's shoulder.
Qin Yu's expression changed, she shifted slightly to the side, avoiding Xiao Zhe's unwelcome hand, and said "thank you" in a low voice before quickly walking away.
Watching Qin Yu's attractive retreating figure, Xiao Zhe sneered inwardly, not believing she could escape from his grasp. When the time comes for the mutated creatures to invade humanity, you'd throw yourself into my arms without me asking.
Qin Yu returned to the tent where the girls gathered, looking somewhat downcast.
Her close friend Deng Xiao approached, glanced at her, sighed, and said helplessly,
"In the face of a great disaster, we women are the vulnerable ones. Just accept it!"