Reward #3: One Quantum Backpack, capable of two-way transfer of items between your original world and the mission world...
'Quantum Backpack? Why does that sound like some counterfeit garbage? Like those "quantum shirts" and "quantum socks" that just slap "quantum" on the label to sound high-tech?'
Shen Feng frowned. Just as he was about to ask, the rewards had all been announced, and a new line of text appeared on the phone's surface:
"Please choose whether to convert the game system into a portable form."
Shen Feng immediately tapped "Yes."
He'd previously found the phone's interface to be a real hassle. Even though the modified phone had plenty of battery and was good quality, if he ever lost the thing, he'd be as good as dead in the mission world.
'There'd be no way to turn in the mission!'
"Please select a portable form."
Four options appeared on the phone screen: a wristband, a collar, glasses, and a bow tie.
Shen Feng was speechless. He thought it would be something like a high-tech electronic skin implanted in his body, not such a low-tech modification.
'And what the hell is with the bow tie? Is there a Detective Conan Doomsday World or something?'
After a moment of thought, Shen Feng chose the wristband.
Relatively speaking, a wristband was far more convenient and secure.
As soon as he made his choice, the crappy little phone immediately emitted a buzzing sound. Then, before Shen Feng's eyes, the device began stripping away its various components, streamlining and modifying itself until it quickly became a black wristband.
The thing was about the size of a fitness tracker and was extremely light.
Shen Feng raised his hand and put on the wristband. A beam of light shot out from its display, forming a holographic virtual screen in mid-air!
Displayed on the interface was the icon for the "True Apocalypse Game"!
Shen Feng nodded. 'This is a bit more like it. At least it has a hint of high-tech.'
"Please select the items you wish to bring from the Stone Statue Doomsday World."
A line of text appeared again, this time urging him to choose what he wanted to take back.
He could choose a total of four items, as long as he didn't exceed the energy transfer limit.
Shen Feng immediately picked up the external hard drive filled with virus research data.
This was a must.
Just then, the heavily injured golden-haired dog staggered in and sat down in front of Shen Feng, its eyes full of anticipation.
Shen Feng's heart warmed. 'Could it be that you understood that line of text, too?'
The wolf pack was currently prowling the hallway, tearing at the dead apes and letting out ferocious barks from time to time.
The golden-haired dog was too seriously injured. It needed medical treatment and rest, or it would be difficult for it to survive in this cruel environment.
Shen Feng had originally thought freedom would be better for it, but after this silly dog had chased him so far, he couldn't bear to disappoint it again.
'So be it.'
Shen Feng walked over, stroked the dog's head, and indicated that his second item would be this silly dog.
Then, Shen Feng turned to look at the center of the research lab, where the statue of the young woman named Ji Jiuyun stood.
Now that he had obtained the lab's vast amount of virus research data, he was certain that this young woman was the creator of the Pangu Virus and the final Stone Statue Disease Vaccine—a genius medical scientist.
For some reason, Shen Feng had a nagging feeling that he should take this statue with him, if only to show his gratitude for what she had done.
Although he had already obtained the vaccine, he understood that the research on the Petrification Disease was far from over. In fact, it had barely scratched the surface.
There was still no definitive conclusion on the current state of the petrified humans.
'Taking this statue could also provide a research specimen... I just don't know if it's carrying any residual virus. Can it be disinfected?'
As he was thinking, the game system displayed another line of small text: "Mission world items will undergo comprehensive disinfection."
Looking at the statue's face, Shen Feng nodded slightly and pointed at it, indicating it was his third choice.
'As for the fourth item...'
He turned to Kuafu and said:
"I need gold. Lots of gold."
'He wasn't some Saint. After risking his life like that, he at least had to get something that could improve his life back home.'
'A Savior has to eat, too! And I want gourmet food!'
Kuafu was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said:
"That's simple. We of the Ape Race also like shiny things. Many of the gold bars in the Capital's banks were taken by our kind to build nests..."
"And as far as I know, all the core labs in the epidemic prevention centers stored some gold ingots for emergencies."
With that, he struggled to his feet and limped over to a corner of the lab. After a bit of pounding, a safe was revealed inside.
When the safe was opened, it was packed full of various metal ingots, all seemingly for experimental use.
Among them was a large gold bar, weighing a full five kilograms, with scrape marks on it.
Shen Feng nodded. He picked up the heavy gold bar, and a line of text immediately appeared on the wristband's holographic screen:
"Energy transfer limit reached..."
Shen Feng couldn't help but purse his lips. 'I can't believe I'm already at the limit. Looks like I can't even take a few more pounds.'
He then said to Kuafu:
"Kuafu, I'm leaving now. When I return to this world, I hope you will have led the Ape Race to be ready to accept my rule."
Kuafu nodded and chuckled.
"Please rest assured, Mr. Shen. I also hope that you can find a way forward for us of the Ape Race soon."
He also understood that the other party might very well never return after leaving. But regardless of the outcome, the intelligent apes needed this hope, this ray of light, right now!
Shen Feng nodded and said to the wristband, "Return."
A line of text appeared on the screen: Performing dimensional space disinfection and cleanup. Returning to original Doomsday World.
Then, Shen Feng's vision went black in an instant, and everything seemed to turn into a wisp of faint smoke...
Kuafu's eyes shot wide open, filled with utter shock. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
In an instant, Shen Feng, along with the golden-haired dog, the statue of the young woman, and the gold bar, had all vanished without a trace.
"So that's how it is..." Kuafu murmured, looking somewhat dazed. He had clearly seen something that had shaken him to his core.
"HUFF! Kuafu!" An urgent roar came from the other end of the hallway, along with the sound of dense footsteps and running.
Kuafu didn't turn his head. Wuzhiqi and Changmao rushed in, panting heavily, and let out a long sigh of relief when they saw him sitting there.
They had just returned to the ruins of the Capital city from the wilderness when they heard gunshots from afar. After learning from a few female apes that Kuafu had returned, they immediately rushed over.
But the further they went, the more horrified they became. The path was littered with the gruesome corpses of apes, all of whom were Stone Eye's subordinates.
They had even imagined scenes of Kuafu's demise and couldn't bear the thought. Now, seeing that Kuafu was injured but not in mortal danger, they could finally relax.
"Respected... Kuafu... what... happened? You're injured?" Changmao asked cautiously.
Kuafu tossed an object up and down in his hand as he said flatly:
"Stone Eye tried to kill me to become the Commander of the Ape Race. It was that human boy who saved me. We misunderstood him.
He is not an old-world human. He is the Savior of our Ape Race, our dawn!
From this day forward, we will revere that boy as a Saint, call out his name, pray for him day and night, and await his return!
He is our Sakyamuni, our Jesus Christ, our god!"
Wuzhiqi and Changmao were shocked beyond words. They were Kuafu's most loyal followers, but they had never heard him speak like this.
Wuzhiqi asked cautiously, "Kuafu, that boy... that Saint's... name... what is it? And what... what is that in your hand?"
Kuafu's expression turned grim. He tossed the object in his hand again and continued, "This Savior's name is Shen Feng. As for what's in my hand... it's my eyeball."
...
A dull ache spread through his body, followed by a deep sense of dizziness.
Shen Feng's eyes snapped open. The sky was dim—it was dawn, and he was lying in bed in his rented room.
It was a quiet dawn, no different from any other.
'Was everything that just happened a dream?'
Shen Feng stared blankly at the ceiling. He turned his head, and what appeared before him was the delicate white face of a young woman—the stone statue was lying on its side in his bed!