Nightmare at Dawn

(This is a hard-hitting post-apocalyptic novel that explores human nature. The story begins with a lot of worldbuilding, so be prepared.)

In a wasteland overrun by mutated creatures, a group of tech-minded survivors known as the Bookworm Army have built a tiny home in an abandoned school. Their leader, Chen Tianhe, harbors the secret of the first-generation HIM-1 serum, which can grant incredible strength but also brings terrible pain.

When their allies, the Animal Gang, go deep into the dead city of Wuhan in search of life-saving medicine and lose contact, Chen Tianhe leads a team to their aid. They cross zombie-infested wilderness, encounter terrifying mutations unlike anything they have seen before, and enter the ruins of Wuhan, shrouded in deadly fungal mycelium. They must search for survivors while also facing the danger of the serum inside Chen Tianhe spiraling out of control and the dark past of the New Chang'an test subjects.

Typhoon season arrives, and an even larger horde of the dead surrounds their base. The Bookworm Army fights for survival while dealing with an internal crisis of trust and the mystery of the serum they brought back, which could change humanity's fate. Torn between his determination to protect his home and the monster inside him, Chen Tianhe must fight to the very end for what remains of humanity and the faint hope left in this despairing wasteland.