Read Novel Full Chapter 369: DNA Test
Chapter 369: Chapter 369: DNA Test
Changes began spreading across the base like ripples in still water.
As Ivy constructed additional floors across her housing units, tall silhouettes rose one by one, transforming the once-humble settlement into a towering residential zone.
Each new level appeared with a faint shimmer of white light, a soft hum trembling in the air like a heartbeat beneath the ground.
What amazed everyone, far more than Ivy expected, was how she could construct these floors from a great distance.
She didn’t need to stand near the buildings; she just thought it, and the structures expanded upward as if obeying her silent command.
In only a few hours, rooms multiplied, balconies took shape, rooftops climbed into the sky, and suddenly, the entire population that once struggled for space could now be comfortably accommodated within the newly formed five-floor complexes.
Life in the base slowly settled into efficiency again... until the tenants noticed a particular detail.
There were elevator shafts. Empty elevator shafts.
Curiosity turned into suggestions. Suggestions turned into written proposals. And soon Ivy’s inbox was flooded.
At first, Ivy rubbed her temples in dread, elevators seemed like the one thing she hadn’t prepared for.
But to her surprise, when she began reviewing the proposals, she discovered that one of her tenants had actually worked for an elevator manufacturing company before the apocalypse.
Not only that, he had been a senior engineer with years of experience. He confidently assured her he could design everything from the cabin structure to safety protocols.
Another tenant stepped forward, a construction specialist with hands-on experience in installing elevators. He claimed he could build the system with a proper team.
After carefully screening their applications, and testing their claims, Ivy finally assembled a team dedicated solely to constructing elevators for the new towers.
Once she confirmed the final list, she exhaled slowly. This base is really becoming something else...
The thought made her imagine what future upgrades of her space might allow her to build, perhaps even modern architectural wonders.
’Maybe one day I could replace the cement buildings entirely... maybe I could even build glass structures... futuristic and beautiful.’
Another memory surfaced, the farming space she had glimpsed earlier in the menu. The idea tempted her like nothing else.
’If I could unlock that... I could grow food. Real food. Humanity could become self-sustaining again.’
Motivation flared in her chest.
As she considered her next steps, her gaze drifted to the necklace Silas held.
A burst of curiosity struck her. What functions might his necklace unlock?
Before she could linger too long on that thought, her heart softened with another realization.
’I haven’t seen him in days...’
She suddenly felt a tug of longing. He must be exhausted. And probably not eating well.
She made a silent decision: she would cook something warm and comforting and personally deliver it to him at the military base.
Maybe she would even take the chance to advise him to move permanently to her base.
Just as she was planning the dishes in her mind, a soft knock echoed on her office door.
"Enter," Ivy responded.
Bella stepped inside, her expression gentle yet carrying her usual composed intelligence.
Ivy’s mood brightened instantly. Bella was one of the few people she felt genuinely comfortable around.
Bella smiled and dipped her head slightly. "I came to thank you. Last time, I didn’t get the chance."
Ivy returned the smile warmly. "It was nothing. Really."
Bella opened her mouth to say something else but paused abruptly, her eyes widening a fraction as she stared at Ivy.
Ivy frowned. "What’s that look for?"
Bella blinked rapidly, her voice puzzled. "I... thought I saw sparkles around you."
Ivy laughed lightly. "You really know how to flatter someone."
But Bella shook her head with serious intent. "No, Ivy. I’m not joking. I genuinely saw sparkles, like tiny floating lights."
Ivy’s smile faded as confusion crept in. "Sparkles?" She turned her head, then froze.
Because now she saw it too, white, shimmering sparkles flickering faintly around Bella, delicate like fireflies drifting in a summer night. Ivy rubbed her eyes quickly.
’Am I hallucinating?’
But the sparkles persisted, glowing faintly around Bella’s form.
Her heart skipped. ’Is this a new power? A compatibility reaction? Something evolving?’
She turned toward Bella.
"What exactly are your powers? Silas mentioned they were related to zombies somehow, but he wouldn’t explain. He said the rest depended on you."
Bella hesitated, shifting her weight.
Then she spoke softly.
"It’s something... unusual. I can scream, and when I do, zombies listen. They don’t fully obey, but they respond. They hesitate. They freeze. Some even retreat."
Ivy’s breath caught. She stared at Bella.
’This is... too strange. I can turn invisible to zombies. Bella can command them.’
Her mind flashed to her previous life, Helena and Victor. The way they had doted on her the moment they met.
The way they always seemed... different. And now, in this life, they were almost never seen. Even her parents seemed distant.
A headache pressed behind her eyes. ’Something is not right... I need answers.’
She turned sharply back to Bella. "How is your pain tolerance?"
Bella blinked. "Pain tolerance? Why?"
"Do you heal faster than normal people? Even before the apocalypse?"
Bella looked away, then nodded slowly.
"Yes. Even before everything collapsed... my wounds always healed quick. My sister used to joke that I was made of rubber."
Ivy’s stomach tightened. She exhaled shakily. "Where are your parents?"
Bella’s face grew somber.
"They died long ago. I was young. My eldest sister raised me, but a human beast killed her after the apocalypse arrived. Now it’s just me."
"I’m so sorry," Ivy whispered.
Bella waved a gentle hand. "It’s alright. I’ve survived this far."
Ivy hesitated, the question was risky, absurd even, but something inside her insisted. "Bella... can we do a DNA test?"
Bella stiffened. Her gaze sharpened into disbelief.
"What? Ivy, what are you implying? A DNA test? Do you think I’m some long-lost daughter of someone?"
"No," Ivy said quickly. "Not exactly."
Bella crossed her arms. "I know who my parents were. My sister was my real sister."
Ivy wet her lips. "Have you ever done a DNA test between yourself and your sister?"
Bella paused. She bit her lip before speaking.
"Once. The match percentage was only five percent. But that doesn’t mean she wasn’t my sister."
Ivy shook her head slowly. "Bella... five percent is extremely low. Almost... impossible."