Chapter 35: Recessive and Dominant

The convoy traveled through the Territory, passing rows of dilapidated factories and chimneys belching thick smoke. Moments later, it stopped before the only tidy manor surrounded by walls and housing a villa.

The villa inside the manor was quite large, appearing clean and imposing. Compared to the low, flat houses full of old industrial-era style in the Territory, it was undoubtedly luxurious. Besides luxury, the manor was also guarded by a group of armed henchmen on patrol. As soon as the convoy stopped at the gate, Chen Chong saw servants and Stewards already waiting respectfully. When the vehicle halted, they even bowed and greeted:

“Welcome back, General!”

By now, the drowsy henchmen in the vehicle had all woken up, and they all gazed at the impressive manor with extremely envious and longing eyes. By the window, Chen Chong thought to himself:

“This is the Blood General’s residence? With this kind of setup, he’s no different from a local emperor here.”

The contrast between the Blood General’s luxurious manor and the shabby state of the entire settlement was very stark. The survivors Chen Chong had seen along the way into the Territory were all gaunt, with barely any clothes on their backs. Yet in the Blood General’s manor, even the servants were well-fed and neatly dressed. Comparing the two living conditions was like comparing heaven and earth.

Just as Chen Chong was pondering, the Blood General leaped down from the vehicle and said to Tie Shan behind him: “Arrange everything properly, then come see me.”

“Yes!”

Tie Shan immediately acknowledged the order. Then he stuck his head out the window and yelled to the convoy behind:

“To the underground vault!”

The vehicles continued moving, and the Blood General’s figure disappeared from sight. Chen Chong turned his head, thinking to himself:

“Judging by the appearance of the Blood General’s Territory, its development level is probably only around the early stages of industrial civilization. However, the base where Diris and his people are has high-tech instruments and standard firearms. Does this mean some regions still have relatively intact sparks of civilization preserved?”

“Also, the appearance of these white people like Diris defies common sense. Before the Cataclysm, this was the southwestern region of the Hua Nation mainland. How did these people get here? Did the Cataclysm cause plate movements that started merging the continents, or is there some other reason?”

“Diris and his group go out once a month to receive supplies. Where exactly do they go?”

A jumble of thoughts whirled through his mind. Then a jolt came, and the convoy stopped in front of a warehouse guarded by many henchmen. The henchmen in the vehicles jumped out noisily.

Chen Chong got out as well and saw Tie Shan roaring at the warehouse entrance: “You idiots! Send a few men to drag those eight rats out of the vehicles and lock them in iron cages! If even one escapes, I’ll chop off all five of your limbs!”

“The rest of you, check the supplies on the vehicles with the warehouse manager, then move everything down, sort it properly, and send the inventory list to the General’s manor!”

“When handling the supplies, you all know the rules. I don’t need to repeat them. Whoever can’t keep their filthy hands clean…”

Tie Shan directed while cursing. The eight Scavengers from the Dawn Gathering Place were dragged down by the henchmen. Amidst pushing and shoving, they were taken away to who knows where. The remaining henchmen began strenuously moving bundles, which contained the flesh and fur of Radiation Species, as well as all sorts of strange items like scrap metal, plants, and fruits.

Chen Chong stood calmly in place, having no intention of participating. After giving his orders, Tie Shan walked over, looking at Chen Chong with a playful expression, and said:

“Let’s go, kid! I’ll take you to where you belong!”

Chen Chong could vaguely sense a hint of malice in Tie Shan’s eyes. He sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he asked calmly:

“Where are we going?”

Tie Shan laughed heartily: “To arrange your accommodation, of course! The General said to give you special attention. I can’t let you sleep on the street, can I?”

After speaking, Tie Shan led Chen Chong on foot along a filthy road. A foul smell drifted in the air. He pointed to several factories with chimneys belching thick smoke in the distance and said:

“Kid, the General’s Territory doesn’t support parasites. Everyone must work for the General and create their own value. Do you have any professional skills? Mechanics, engineering, chemistry, sewing, planting, anything like that.”

Chen Chong shook his head. In his previous life, he worked in the IT industry. A skill like coding was a complete joke in this wasteland world.

Tie Shan nodded knowingly, with a hint of contempt: “You were probably just a little kid during the Great Cataclysm. It figures you wouldn’t have any skills worth showing off. I heard from the General that you’re an Awakener?”

Chen Chong nodded, not caring about the contempt in Tie Shan’s tone at all. He glanced at Tie Shan’s tower-like body:

“You should be an Awakener too? I wonder, between you and Qiao Jun, who is stronger?”

By now, Chen Chong could faintly sense the difference between an Awakener and ordinary people. However, this feeling was very vague, and he only had a rough sense when two people were close. At this moment, Tie Shan beside him gave him a persistent sense of pressure and danger, fully indicating that Tie Shan was definitely an Awakener with a much stronger Life Field than his.

Tie Shan immediately burst into laughter: “What is Qiao Jun worth? I am the General’s most capable lieutenant. I became a High-order Awakener long ago with the help of the General’s Bloodline Gu. The only thing Qiao Jun is good at is being as slippery as a loach. Otherwise, he would have died at my hands during that encounter long ago!”

“Oh? Truly a top general under the General.”

Chen Chong offered a compliment with a fake smile, then asked:

“But, what are the differences between different Awakener levels besides Life Field Intensity? Awakening abilities?”

“Kid, you just awakened and know nothing, and now you’ve come to me to fish for information?”

Tie Shan immediately swept a mocking glance over Chen Chong:

“But it’s no big deal to tell you. None of this is really a secret. The General has some expectations of you, so I’ll tell you some basics to keep you from provoking the wrong person and dying on the spot.”

“The Awakening ability you mentioned? Not every Awakener has one. Awakening abilities are varied and strange, divided into Recessive and Dominant types. Recessive abilities are those invisible to a bystander’s naked eye, like enhanced sense of smell, night vision, underwater breathing, and so on. The few I just mentioned are among the more valuable Recessive abilities. In reality, most Recessive abilities are either completely meaningless, as good as having none, or the Awakener themselves can’t even detect or trigger it, leaving it in a wasted state.

As for Dominant abilities, they are abilities more suitable for combat than Recessive abilities. They are extremely rare; not even one in ten Awakeners will produce one. The General’s ability is a Dominant ability.”

“But the fundamental reason Awakeners are powerful lies in their continuously enhanceable Life Field. The strength of the Life Field is a concentrated manifestation of vitality, personal potential, physique, and other aspects. That is the root source of an Awakener’s power. The so-called Awakening ability is merely a surface phenomenon, at best just the icing on the cake.

For most Awakeners, powerful strength, speed, and reaction are the sharpest weapons. Otherwise, an ordinary person with good marksmanship could blow your head off from a distance. What use would even the rarest ability be then?”