"Why did she scream? It must have been my imagination... Stone statues can't feel anything... The scans already showed that their bodies have been completely consumed by the silicon-based virus, turned entirely to stone, completely dead..."
...
"The stone statues screaming in the incinerator... it's happened six times. Today was the seventh. The statue we burned this time was Third from our squad..."
"Are they really still alive? Alive in the form of stone statues? Then what am I doing every day? Am I burning living people?! Am I a murderer?!"
"I've been to the team doctor for counseling ten times this month. I think the higher-ups have noticed me... Ha, I'm not fit to be a captain anymore."
...
"Today, I executed three criminals who broke into a patient's home to loot. They were patients too, actually—early-stage ones. Their joints were already stiffening, creaking and cracking as they walked."
"But social order must be maintained. We're still human, after all... The population is down by about a fifth, so social resources have become quite abundant... Hahaha, maybe soon none of us will need any social resources at all..."
"All the mid-level team captains had a video conference together. They conveyed the grim situation. Many small countries have already been wiped out by the Petrification Disease. Only a few major powers, using the highest level of epidemic prevention measures, are still barely holding on."
...
"The vaccine is here! The first batch has been delivered to the cold storage at the Qi City Epidemic Prevention Center. They say all the Incinerator Technicians will be vaccinated starting tomorrow!"
"The National Academy of Sciences is the only national-level research center left in the world. They really came through for us!"
"I'm so glad I'm an Incinerator Technician! We're saved! Human civilization is truly invincible!"
"Tomorrow! Tomorrow is vaccination day!"
...
"Vaccination's done. I feel much more energetic. Xiaowang and the guys in the squad aren't even wearing their protective suits anymore, saying the vaccine protects them so they're not afraid of the Stone Statue Virus. I still ordered them to put them on, though. After all, nobody knows how long it takes for the vaccine to take effect."
"Thankfully, the dawn of human civilization has appeared. Soon, we will completely defeat the Petrification Disease, return to our normal lives, and save the world!"
"It's just... my skin is a little red and itchy today. It's probably because of the vaccine..."
...
"Pain! So much pain! My skin feels like it's splitting open! There's something wrong with the vaccine! That fucking director of the Epidemic Prevention Center actually said this was a normal reaction! My skin feels like it's on fire! Right in front of my eyes, Niu Guodong, the captain of Squad Five, his skin just cracked all over, flaking off like flour at the slightest touch! I can't take it anymore, my hand... I can't hold the pen anymore! This must be retribution! Someone... kill me!"
This was the last page.
The last few words were written in a monstrous, twisted scrawl, stained with traces of a pale yellow fluid. It was clear the pen's owner could no longer bear the agony at the very end.
Shen Feng closed the notebook, a chill running down his spine.
'These mutated Skinners... they're the product of the first failed vaccine batch!'
'But if it was a vaccine, it must have gone through multiple rounds of testing before being administered on a large scale. Why would such a horrific side effect occur?'
'Could it be that the virus mutated again, causing a reaction between the vaccine and the new strain?'
'In a way, the vaccine was still a success.'
'Though they lost their skin and became frenzied and mindless, at least these Incinerator Technicians didn't turn into stone statues. I don't know if that counts as a dark form of humor...'
Compared to the origin of the Skinners, Shen Feng was more concerned about the Incinerator Technician Zhang Hui's records about the stone statues.
'The stone statues could scream? Could it be they still have their own consciousness?'
'Are these stone statues... alive?'
Shen Feng looked up at the statues standing in various poses in the hallway, feeling his hair stand on end, as if they could leap at him at any moment.
But then he shook his head.
'No matter how you look at it, these statues show no signs of life. They're just stone.'
'Zhang Hui hearing the statues scream was probably just a hallucination caused by the high-stress incineration work.'
Putting the notebook away, Shen Feng took out his phone.
'In any case, I've figured out the reason for the Skinners' mutation and collected ten brain tissue samples. The mission should be complete.'
"The Skinners' mutation is the result of the first-batch vaccine injections. Ten brain tissue samples have been collected. Requesting mission reward."
After Shen Feng finished speaking, the phone paused for several seconds as if evaluating the results, then a few lines of text flashed on the screen:
"Skinner Mission Phase One complete. Reward has been issued. Please proceed to the director's office safe to collect.
Phase Two Mission initiated: Acquire one sample of the vaccine injected into the Skinners."
Fuck!
Shen Feng cursed. He just knew this wasn't over!
'Still, at least the mission reward has been issued. I hope it's something useful.'
Returning to the director's office, he opened the safe, and several sheets of paper immediately came into view.
Shen Feng frowned and took them out, but then his eyes lit up.
The first was a map of downtown Qi City, with all its various buildings and streets marked in extreme detail.
Then there were several documents:
_Report on the Construction Approval for the Qi City Epidemic Prevention Center's Auxiliary Solar Power System_
_Report on the Construction Approval for the Qi City Epidemic Prevention Center's Underground Sealed Diesel Reserve Facility_
_Notice Regarding the Forwarding of the National Academy of Sciences' "Notice on Ensuring the Final R&D Breakthrough for the Type-3 Vaccine"_
It was only then that he realized the Qi City Epidemic Prevention Center was the very same building where he had seen lights the previous night!
'That means the solar power system on that building is still running!'
The diesel reserve was even more important. It would determine whether he could travel to the National Academy of Sciences to find the final, perfect vaccine.
All fuels have a shelf life. Gasoline oxidizes after just a few months of storage, forming resinous deposits and losing its octane rating. After a few years, it basically turns into toxic waste.
Diesel, however, is relatively stable and can be stored for at least six or seven years if sealed properly.
'If there really is diesel there, it's probably still usable. And if there are vehicles in storage, I'll have transportation!'
'Otherwise, if I have to go on foot, I'll probably turn into a statue halfway to the National Academy of Sciences in the Capital.'
Shen Feng took a deep breath. It seemed 'the game' was dead set on making him go to the Epidemic Prevention Center.
'And that place is likely crawling with hordes of Skinners!'
After resting for a while, Shen Feng packed up, filled two large bags with guns and ammunition, loaded everything onto a small pushcart, and began heading toward the Epidemic Prevention Center in the city center, following the directions on the map.
Although only a little over a day had passed, Shen Feng's mindset was now completely different from when he first arrived.
After all, having hunted a tiger and a dozen monsters, having been blooded, his entire outlook had undergone a massive shift.
Perhaps it was related to his lonely upbringing. As an orphan, he had always had to rely on himself for everything and had grown accustomed to it.
Walking through the desolate, dilapidated streets, holding a pistol in one hand and pushing a cart full of weapons, ammo, and food with the other, Shen Feng's expression was much more relaxed.
'Having weapons changes things.'
Soon, he had passed several city blocks and arrived next to a school.
Children. It was all children, a dense crowd of them, standing on the school's playground as if listening to a lecture.
Some were still whispering to each other, their faces bearing innocent smiles.
Beside them stood the statues of several teachers who had been maintaining order, their expressions still tinged with annoyance.
Clearly, no one had expected the final outbreak of the Stone Statue Virus to be so brutal, so sudden.
Everything descended in an instant, faster than the volcanic ash of Pompeii, freezing in place the final scene of this broken human society.
Perhaps millions or tens of millions of years from now, a new civilization will emerge on this Earth and wonder why the ancient civilization before them left behind so many stone statues.
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps and low snarls echoed out. Seven or eight wolves rounded the street corner, freezing for a moment when they saw Shen Feng, before baring their fangs in unison and letting out greedy, vicious roars!
Unhurried, Shen Feng raised his pistol to the sky and pulled the trigger.
"BANG!"
~