Job Creation System: Apocalypse Workforce

The microbes seeped into the creature's body, moving rapidly like swarms of ants beneath the skin. Adam could feel the structure of the ape's body—its bones, organs, and muscle fibers—forming a clear image in his mind.

"Success."

He scanned through the corpse, searching for crystals, parasites, or anything of use.

And he found plenty.

"More than one crystal?"

He detected multiple crystals—one hidden in the gallbladder, another in the liver, and even some lodged within the bone marrow. However, what caught his attention the most was something strange in the ape's left calf.

It felt... like a dried-up branch.

Adam tightened his grip on his machete.

Without hesitation, he swung several times, cutting deep into the flesh.

Srekk!

After a few precise strikes, the muscles split apart, revealing a blue-violet object embedded inside—about 15 cm long.

Adam grabbed it and checked its system description.

[Essence of Speed] A rare essence imbued with the power of swiftness. When fused into equipment, it grants enhanced agility, increasing movement speed and reaction time. The stronger the vessel, the greater the acceleration.

Adam skimmed through the description quickly.

"So it can only be used on equipment?" he wondered, intrigued.

It wasn't exactly disappointing. He stored the blue essence in his pocket and continued his search.

As his red microbes reached the ape's brain, he sensed something different.

There was something alive inside.

"Found it."

Without wasting time, Adam carefully cut open the skull.

The soft, pulsating brain matter was revealed, and within it…

A black parasite.

The thing was small and slimy, with tiny hair-like tendrils covering its surface, almost as if it were alive.

Adam focused his vision, and the system displayed its information.

[Evolution Gene] A mysterious gene fragment containing the power of evolution. When absorbed, it triggers a rapid transformation, enhancing the host's physical and mental capabilities. The evolution depends on the host's potential and environmental factors.

"Huh...? This is different..."

Adam frowned.

He recalled the Evolution Gene he had previously obtained from the system—but this one had a completely different description.

For a moment, he considered asking the system about it.

But he stopped himself.

"System-generated items must be different from those found in this world..." he reasoned.

For now, there was another problem.

"Where do I store this parasite?"

He glanced around, searching for a container.

His eyes landed on a box-shaped bag lying among the rubble.

Adam hurried over, unzipping it. Inside, he found two small glass compartments—perfect for storing specimens.

"Did they prepare this in advance?"

This case clearly didn't belong to the ape. It must have been carried by those people before they died.

Without hesitation, Adam placed the black parasite into one of the glass compartments, feeling much safer knowing it was sealed.

Then, he noticed something else—a long, oval-shaped slot on the other side of the case.

"Is this meant for the Essence of Speed?"

Taking the blue essence from his pocket, he placed it into the slot.

It fit perfectly.

Adam smirked.

"Good."

Satisfied, he closed the case and turned back to the ape's corpse.

After ensuring there was nothing else valuable, it was time to gather the crystals.

His red microbes had already marked their exact locations within the body.

Total count?

21 crystals.

There was no need to be cautious anymore. Adam sliced through the carcass swiftly, extracting every last crystal from within.

Five minutes later.

Adam stood, 21 crystals gleaming in his hands.

"Done."

He let out a small sigh, then glanced at his watch.

17:40.

"Shit… I need to head back now."

Wasting no time, he left the area, taking an alternate route back. He wasn't interested in surprises from other gangs, so he avoided any areas marked with tents on the map.

Along the way, he eliminated zombies when convenient, but he didn't bother chasing any that were too far.

After 30 minutes of travel, Adam finally arrived at the main road where the computer store—his base—was located.

Adam moved cautiously, scanning the surroundings.

No signs of fighting.

No gunfire marks.

Nothing had changed.

With careful movements, he unsheathed his machete and slowly pushed open the store's door.

The room was dimly lit, just as he had left it.

In the corner, Serina and Amel turned to face him, eyes wide with surprise.

"Boss! You're back!"

Both women quickly stood, their expressions a mix of relief and excitement.

"Boss, we thought you were an intruder," Serina said, her voice still holding traces of tension.

Adam raised an eyebrow. "Did something happen?"

Serina nodded, still looking unsettled.

"No one came inside, but we heard loud announcements from the military speakers. They kept broadcasting recruitment calls. We were scared they might search the buildings."

"Luckily, they just shined their lights on the store for a moment, then moved on," she added.

Adam scoffed.

"Yeah… I ran into them earlier too," he muttered. Then, his tone became firm. "For now, never have any dealings with the military. Got it?"

Both women nodded immediately.

Adam exhaled.

"It's late. You both should rest and recover your strength."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out several crystals, handing them over.

"Try to see if you can absorb these."

Serina and Amel took the crystals hesitantly, curiosity in their eyes.

"What are these, Boss?" Amel asked.

"I call them Power Crystals. When absorbed, red ones boost attack power, blue ones increase speed, and yellow ones improve physical endurance."

Serina frowned slightly. "How do we absorb them?"

"Focus your mind on the crystal," Adam instructed. "Feel the energy inside it, then draw it into your body."

Both women sat cross-legged, each holding a red crystal, concentrating on it.

A few seconds passed.

"My hand feels warm…" Amel said with excitement. "Does that mean it's working?"

Adam observed as a faint red glow slowly flowed from the crystal into her palm.

"Good. Keep absorbing it until it's gone."

He watched them for a moment. Their absorption speed was extremely slow, similar to when he first started using crystals.

To ensure they improved quickly, he left 12 crystals with them.

"I'm leaving these crystals for you two. Make sure you absorb all of them before going to sleep."

"Understood, Boss," they replied in unison, still focused on their absorption.

Adam turned and walked toward the back shelves, grabbing several padlocks to secure the store's entrance.

He also pushed several desks to reinforce the door and set up makeshift curtains to cover the glass windows—limiting visibility from the outside.

Once everything was secure, he moved toward the hidden elevator at the back of the store.

As the elevator doors slid open, the system's voice echoed in his head.

[Welcome to the Factory.]