On the way into the park, Lin Zichen found the rotting meat in his hands cumbersome. He tossed the bag into some bushes.

The spoiled Ghost Shadow Squid meat stank, the odor nauseating. There was no point in keeping it.

At least nature’s scavengers would feast on it.

As for explaining it to his parents, he’d say cultists caused chaos and he lost it in the panic.

In the future, to avoid trouble, he’d need someone else to buy Aberrant Beast meat for him.

Lost in thought, he followed the Security Team into the park.

Violet-blue smoke lingered but was fading, revealing scorched earth.

At the center, a crater a meter wide.

Inside lay a charred corpse—the cultist who had transformed into a Giant Aberrant Rat.

Lin Zichen was surprised.

Such a powerful laser cannon, yet it hadn’t erased the Ratman completely, only reduced him to ash?

Fusion genes were indeed formidable.

“Civilians keep back. Student, leave at once!”

A guard barked, but the captain intervened, “Let him stay, we’ll take him to the office for a statement anyway.”

“Statement?” The guard didn’t understand.

He didn’t know Lin Zichen was the one who had intervened.

Lin Zichen’s phone rang. Shen Qinghan’s worried voice came through, “Xiao Chen, it’s been over ten minutes, did something happen?”

“No, don’t worry. The Ratman was dealt with by a Cyborg. I’m checking the site. Wait in the store, I’ll come soon.”

“I’ll come to you.”

“No, it’s not safe. I’ll pick you up.”

He hung up, ran and soon brought her to the park.

She stared wide-eyed at the scorched ground.

She couldn’t imagine what had happened.

Meanwhile, the Security Team hauled the body onto a stretcher and into the van.

Lin Zichen recalled the captain’s words—Rat King gene fusion.

If so, could he devour the Rat King gene from the corpse?

He decided to try once they reached the office.

Soon the scene was cleared.

The captain asked, “We’re heading to the Security Office. Can you two ride there?”

“Our bike chain snapped.”

“Then come with us.”

“Could we bring the bike too?”

“Yes, tie it to the roof.”

They loaded up the bike and there was no sign of Teacher Strawberry—she must have been taken to the hospital.

Since both Lin Zichen and Shen Qinghan were minors, the captain told them to call their parents.

* * *

Ten minutes later, they arrived.

Lin Zichen helped unload the body. While no one watched, he touched it.

It worked!

Genes were Life Origin—or at least a form of it!

[You have devoured a trace of the Life Origin of ‘Giant Aberrant Rat’]

[Giant Aberrant Rat Compendium: 5%]

‘Five percent?!’

Lin Zichen was stunned.

More than the percentage, he wondered what ability the Compendium would unlock.

Aside from eight eyes and toughness, Giant Aberrant Rats had no special power… unless humans didn’t yet understand them fully.

‘Forget it. Once the bar is full, I’ll know.’

He glanced at the corpse. It showed no change, maybe the gene loss was delayed.

* * *

At the office, he and Shen Qinghan gave their statements.

The captain was curious—how did a middle schooler hit the cultist’s hand with a rock at that distance, at night?

Lin Zichen gave his excuse: a slingshot.

“Where is it?”

“I lost it while fleeing.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

The captain nodded, skeptical but dropped it.

Soon, statements were done.

Their parents arrived, anxious. Neither family had expected such danger.

At least the children were safe.

Lin Zichen asked, “When can I apply for the bravery reward?”

“Fingerprint check first. If confirmed, I’ll submit it.”

He went with a young officer for prints.

The parents, stunned, finally learned he had saved someone.

“You have a remarkable son,” a passing officer said, “So young, yet brave and calm. A little hero.”

Zhang Wanxin only smiled politely. She wanted her son safe, not a hero.