Mutation Abyss-Chapter 26: Cosmos Corporation

"What happened?" Theo asked, frowning as he looked ahead.

"There-" Calix pointed, narrowing his eyes. "Someone just ran across the road. Geez, she didn't even look before crossing!"

A group of people were rushing toward a grocery store, pushing past each other and shouting. "It's panic buying," Aries muttered, watching the scene unfold through the window. Her voice was quiet, but there was a trace of unease in it.

Calix slowed the car a little more, keeping a careful eye on the road as the chaos spilled closer to the sidewalk. Theo clenched his jaw.

"We need to get out of here fast," he said. "Before the streets get worse."

Calix nodded, gripping the wheel a little tighter as he focused on the road. Beside him, Theo quietly opened his system interface, eyes scanning the tabs as lines of data scrolled across the screen only he could see.

He tapped on a tab and checked the gold coins he had accumulated from his quests. With a swift motion, he selected five hundred gold coins in his mind to convert it into Nexa currency.

[Ding! Inventory: Currency Conversion Complete]

Theo clicked on the notification. A new window appeared:

[Gold Coins Converted: 500

Total Nexa Money Equivalent: 50,000,000

Transfer to Bank Account? > YES | NO]

His eyes widened slightly. 'Wait... Can I really transfer this directly into my real account?' he thought, his heart skipping. 'Is that even possible?'

Without hesitation, Theo pressed YES.

Another screen popped up, asking him to confirm the linked Nexa bank account. He selected his personal account, and after a brief pause, the system responded:

[Ding! 50,000,000 Nexa Money successfully transferred to your Nexa Bank Account.]

Theo gulped when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He quickly pulled it out, eyes narrowing as he checked the screen.

There it was... a notification from his bank app.

50,000,000 Nexa Money has been credited to your account.

He stared for a moment. Actual Nexa paper money now sitting in his account. He leaned back against the seat, mind reeling. The system he had... it wasn't just about survival anymore. It was a weapon. A lifeline. A way out. And now, it was in his hands.

"Everything good?" Calix asked, throwing him a quick glance from the driver's seat.

Theo quickly locked the screen and nodded. "Yeah," he said, a faint, knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Better than good."

It seemed like he had barely scratched the surface of what he could do with the Mutation System and yet even now, it was already making his life so much easier.

Theo stared out the window, the city blurring past. He wondered what else could this system do?

He exhaled slowly. This wasn't just a second chance, it was a tool, a weapon, maybe even a miracle. One that came with its own shadows and rules, sure... but also power. And Theo knew, with everything going on, he'd need all the power he could get.

"You two should take a nap," Calix suggested. "It'll take around three hours, maybe less if there's no traffic, to reach my province. Have either of you ever been to Argo Province?"

"We haven't," Theo replied with a yawn. "Let's hit a drive-thru first and grab some burgers for dinner," he added, glancing at his sister. It was already dark, and he figured Aries had to be getting hungry too.

"Yeah, sounds good. There's one a few blocks from here," Calix said as he turned at the next corner.

Once they reached the drive-thru, Theo placed their orders. With food in hand and the road stretching ahead, he leaned back in his seat and began watching the news on his mobile while chewing on a burger. Aries quietly munched at the backseat, her gaze fixed outside the window, lost in thought.

The soft hum of the engine and the quiet munching of fries filled the car, broken only by the voice coming from Theo's phone.

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

"...and in today's update," the news anchor announced, "the government has released a formal statement regarding the increasing chaos surrounding rifts and mutated Infectees. As of today, the Armed Meteor Survivors Order, or AMSO, is officially open for enlistment."

Theo raised an eyebrow, his chewing slowing as he turned up the volume.

The screen shifted to a press conference, where a sharply dressed government official stood at a podium.

"The AMSO is a specialized unit created to protect citizens and restore order across the country. Awakened Meteor Survivors, or AMS, who register will receive monthly compensation, housing benefits, access to exclusive training, and the right to legally carry their awakened abilities in public spaces. This includes full medical coverage for themselves and their families."

Aries glanced at the phone. "They're trying to sugarcoat it," she muttered. "All those perks, just so more people will risk their lives."

Theo nodded slowly, eyes narrowing at the screen.

The broadcast continued, showing brief clips of other AMS in training, some hurling fireballs, others manipulating water or shielding with walls of energy.

"All registered AMS will undergo a classification process. Higher-ranked individuals will receive greater rewards, leadership opportunities, and high-level clearance. We encourage all awakened meteor survivors to report to the nearest AMSO recruitment center and help protect the nation from collapse."

"Basically," Theo said under his breath, "join them, or stay powerless and poor."

Aries gave him a side glance. "You thinking of joining?"

Theo didn't answer right away. He wasn't just any awakened. He had the Mutation System. He had a feeling that with it, he could do more, be more, if he chose to.

"I don't see a reason to join it for now, Aries," he simply answered, brushing a crumb off his shirt.

Aries frowned but nodded. "Still... it sounds serious. Like, really organized."

"That group is sponsored by the wealthiest man in the country," Calix interrupted.

Aries blinked. "Wait, you mean..."

"Yeah," Calix continued, his voice lowering. "Chairman Kael Dravien. The founder of Cosmos Corporation, the company that built half the infrastructure in the capital. They started with high-level construction and tech innovations. Now? They're knee-deep in bioweapons research, defense systems, and advanced combat gear. Some say they've even been experimenting with mutated DNA for weapon-grade soldiers."

Aries swallowed hard. "Sounds shady."

"More than shady," Calix murmured. "The fact that he's backing AMSO? It means they're not just trying to protect the people. They're preparing for something bigger... something worse."