The once-ordinary daily life seemed destined to be broken.
What lay ahead would be a new era!
It was precisely because of the battle unfolding before their eyes that people came to understand more clearly: the initial awakening of superpowers was not the herald of a wonderful age for humanity alone, but for all living creatures on Earth.
Yet before that age could arrive, there would always be those who fell as sacrifices.
Either they couldn’t withstand the baptism of the new era, or they gave their lives protecting ordinary folks like them.
And this period would be unbearably long—so long that many might never live to see that beautiful era.
“The world is changing—it really is changing big time!”
“Man, I thought about this day when I first awakened my power, but I didn’t expect it to hit so suddenly! No time to prepare at all.”
“According to those novels, this should be the second spiritual storm. The first one was way too gentle—this time, it’s the real deal.”
“Those mutant beasts are no joke. Can you believe a rat as big as half my body? That’s a rat we’re talking about!”
“That’s nothing. Didn’t you see the military district video before? They had mutant rats too—just not that big.”
“It’s not just the beasts. I can feel my ability getting stronger too. I’m gonna head out later and see if I can take down a couple of mutant beasts. Hiding at home won’t do any good…”
—
Inside the Imperial Capital Spiritual Energy Bureau headquarters.
Qin Tian, who was in the middle of receiving the spiritual baptism, suddenly snapped his eyes open. His normally black pupils transformed into golden, slit-like dragon eyes in an instant. His entire body was covered in hard scales, and he radiated an awe-inspiring presence.
“The spiritual tide… my Divine Dragon ability is evolving.”
“Now I need to choose a direction—Black Dragon, Golden Dragon, Azure Dragon, Crimson Dragon…”
“If there are racial differences, I’ll choose the Azure Dragon without hesitation.”
Given the Azure Dragon’s status as one of the Four Sacred Beasts, he wouldn’t hesitate for a second. But unfortunately, this was merely a racial divergence—the only difference lay in the type of power.
“Alert: Anomaly detected at the Imperial Capital Mutant Beast Observation Center. Please proceed immediately to provide support upon awakening, Director Qin Tian of the Imperial Capital Spiritual Energy Headquarters.”
He glanced at his communicator. The message made his expression shift.
The Imperial Capital Mutant Beast Observation Center was a facility that gathered mutant beasts from within the capital and surrounding cities for testing and observation. The creatures kept there had all made their mark during the first wave of spiritual revival.
Not only were there specialized Beast Tamer ability users communicating with them, but armed personnel were also stationed to keep them under control.
Under normal circumstances, he would never receive an emergency alert like this. But clearly, this mutation had exceeded everyone’s expectations.
Roar!
Without a moment’s delay, Qin Tian transformed into a dragon-shaped phantom and rushed toward the observation center.
—
Meanwhile, at the Imperial Capital Mutant Beast Observation Center.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
A mutant wild boar kept slamming into the reinforced glass before it. The glass was made from specially formulated materials—under normal conditions, even missiles couldn’t penetrate it.
No matter how hard the boar tried, it couldn’t leave a single scratch.
But then, the small, unknown black horn on the boar’s head began to glow with a dark luster. With its eyes burning crimson, the boar charged again, unleashing terrifying force against the specially-made glass. This time, spiderweb-like cracks appeared across its surface.
And it wasn’t alone—mutant tigers, mutant lions, mutant gorillas… every beast held in this facility had undergone unimaginable changes. While a few had burst apart from being unable to withstand the spiritual baptism, the rest had all gained horrifying power.
“Open fire!”
Bang bang bang—
The mutant boar had already broken out, its blood-red eyes locked onto the humans ahead.
Bullets bounced off its hide like they were hitting solid steel, leaving no wounds at all.
Boom…
It charged forward like a cannonball, limbs thrashing, wind howling in its wake. But just then, countless vines and foliage wrapped around it, binding its limbs with glowing green grass, pinning it in place.
“All personnel, evacuate now! Don’t stay here!”
“We can’t hold them for long—run!”
The ability users stationed there used their powers to restrain the mutant beasts, shouting at the top of their lungs.
What they didn’t notice was a mutant white snow leopard, coiled low, its predatory eyes gleaming with cold cruelty.
Boom!
In an instant, with a sonic boom, the snow leopard tore through space and lunged straight at one of the ability users.
But at that very moment—
Thump!
A black-and-white figure intercepted the attack. Its soft yet rock-solid belly acted like a trampoline, sending the snow leopard flying backward.
As it tumbled through the air, the leopard’s eyes betrayed a hint of dazed confusion.
“P-Po?”
The ability user stared at the mutant panda standing before him, utterly bewildered.
If other beasts could mutate, then pandas naturally could too.
And because most pandas were raised by humans, they didn’t pose a threat to people. Even during the global awakening, when their bodies underwent changes, they showed no signs of aggression. In fact, if not for their suddenly explosive appetites, no one would have even noticed the change.
Po was the name of one such panda—and he had the biggest appetite of all the mutant pandas.
“Wuu wuu wuu~”
Though his body had mutated and his intelligence had grown, Po’s attitude toward humans remained unchanged. Hearing the ability user call his name, he lowered his soft head and nuzzled against the man’s neck.
Then he raised his head and fixed his gaze on the mutant beasts that had broken free from the observation area.
ROOOAR!
A majestic, earth-shaking roar tore through the sky.
The mutant beasts that heard it froze in their tracks, eyeing Po with clear wariness.
Clearly, Po’s strength was no less than theirs—if anything, he was even stronger.
After all, the spiritual revival awakened the power of ancient myths slumbering in their bloodlines. And in ancient times, the giant panda was known as the “Iron-Eating Beast”—the very mount of the war god Chi You.
In terms of raw power alone, it feared no beast.
Po’s massive body gleamed like forged steel. In a single burst of speed, he grabbed the previously restrained mutant boar by the neck, ignoring its frantic struggles, and slammed it headfirst into the ground.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
With each earth-shattering impact, the mutant boar was treated like a mere toy, tossed around at Po’s whim. No matter how enraged it was, no matter how desperately it struggled, it couldn’t change its fate.
Eventually, whether bored with the game or realizing that simply smashing it wouldn’t kill the beast, Po extended his sheathed claws and drove them straight through the boar’s neck.
Squeal—!!!
Agonized shrieks tore from the boar’s throat as Po’s claws pierced clean through its body, its entrails spilling across the ground.
It didn’t last much longer. The massive body collapsed heavily onto the floor.
ROAR!
