The apocalypse has arrived, and a terrifying pollution disease is sweeping the world.

“We call it distortion, and perhaps future history books will say this was a process of evolution.”

The world of evolution is extremely competitive.

Today, someone splits into two heads; tomorrow, a flower grows fangs; the day after, a fish steps onto land...

Adam Carter: As for me, I’m just an ordinary doctor who treats pollution disease.

*

Patient A: Back then, I grew 18 tentacles and happily ate [beep——] by the seaside. As soon as Dr. Carter arrived, he cut off 17 of them for me—truly miraculous hands!

Patient B: I’m a poisonous mushroom. My spores are highly toxic and can parasitize others. I produced hundreds of thousands of little spores, making my already poor family even worse off. As soon as Dr. Carter arrived, he helped me practice family planning. I’ll never forget this immense kindness!

Patient C: I grew eight mouths and was a picky eater, only eating meat. I even set up a slaughterhouse for it. Dr. Carter cured my picky eating. I, a devout woman, am willing to be vegetarian for life in exchange for Dr. Carter’s lifelong happiness and health.

Adam Carter, the apex of the food chain, the eternal god.

Chapter 1, 001

　　001/Brian Clark

　　For a doctor, working nonstop on surgeries every day is a common occurrence.

　　So when he received a call from the director in the middle of the night asking him to come back for some overtime, Adam Carter had no objections.

　　After all, his surgical skills were recognized as the best in the hospital. Because he was young, he also knew many new techniques. Whenever there was a difficult or complicated case, the director always liked to have him lend a hand.

　　But today’s surgery seemed a bit different.

　　Even after entering the pre-op room, Adam Carter still hadn’t seen the patient. He also wasn’t clear on what kind of surgery he was supposed to perform.

　　This was clearly unusual.

　　In the pre-op room, Adam Carter changed into surgical scrubs, listening to the others whispering.

　　“It seems there’s another outbreak of pollution disease in the coastal areas...” Head Nurse looked worried. “Experts say pollution disease was caused by East Island dumping nuclear waste into the Pacific last century, leading to genetic diseases in humans from nuclear contamination. Now, H City has already been locked down. Fortunately, this disease only appears in coastal areas...”

　　Adam Carter said, “It’s not just the coast; there are cases inland too. The cause is definitely more than just nuclear pollution.”

　　“Ah, how does Dr. Carter know that?”

　　Adam Carter stated calmly, “My father also contracted pollution disease. On the second day after the distortion symptoms appeared, the authorities took him away.”

　　Adam Carter still remembered it was winter. His father’s head had swollen abnormally, like a water-filled soccer ball. On the tumor that grew at the back of his head, a second face faintly appeared.

　　That was the happiest day of his life.

　　“...Sorry.” Young Nurse lowered her head.

　　Adam Carter comforted her, “It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

　　In the same operating room, Dr. Thompson glanced around, a bit nervously pulling out his phone.

　　“My friend is a reporter and happened to be sent to H City. He sent me this in the middle of the night.”

　　Adam Carter couldn’t help but lean in for a look.

　　The video was very shaky; judging by the angle, it looked like it was filmed secretly.

　　The camera was pointed at the ground. It was nighttime, the streetlights were on, and a military riot shield glinted coldly. In the background, there were faint sounds of crying and gunfire.

　　The camera slowly panned upward.

　　When everyone saw what the guns were pointed at, they couldn’t help but gasp.

　　“What... is that?”

　　In Adam Carter’s understanding, distortion caused by pollution disease usually manifested as physical deformities—like tumors, bent bones, abnormal brain development... but at least the person still looked human.

　　However, the thing in the video was hard to identify as a person.

　　Under the dim light, a vaguely human shape stood at the office building entrance. This thing had no head; instead, tentacles spewed from its neck, making the whole person look like a strangely growing tree.

　　These tentacles spread in all directions, and at the end of each one hung a corpse. Blood dripped onto the marble floor, making a terrifying sizzling sound.

　　“—Ready! Fire at will!”

　　A military officer shouted, his voice betraying an undisguised fear of the unknown.

　　Intense gunfire erupted, bullets raining down.

　　The bullets tore through the monster’s body, blood blossoming everywhere. Its body was almost blasted into a pulp.

　　The monster collapsed to the ground, silent for a long time.

　　Someone in the video asked, “Is it over...?”

　　But the next second, that mass of tentacles broke free from the pulp and slowly crawled forward.

　　The video cut off there, plunging into darkness.