Top-Tier Mutation: Prequel

[Pairing: A gentle, measured bottom who won't bother you if you don't bother him, but always has a trick up his sleeve if you do x A carefree, righteous, stylish top with explosive action skills]

[Zhong Ji x Jiang Chuan]

Mutated pheromones are like time bombs hidden everywhere. Some people infected by them die, some become complete monsters, while others gain abilities as if blessed.

Your neighbor might suddenly turn into a monster with giant hands. Your friend might suddenly grow fangs or panda ears. One day, you might be able to connect with plants and make them grow, restore severed limbs in moments, control the wind in nature, the temperature of water, the surrounding air, or even space or other people's memories...

The International Bureau for Research and Protection against Variant Phenomena (BRPV) was established. Training bases in various regions cultivate superhumans with variant abilities. They are walking executioners in the mortal world, and weapons to defend humanity's survival and peace.

·

Zhong Ji had been living a peaceful life until one day he encountered something unusual, then met a handsome, upright man in a black leather jacket riding a motorcycle. After that, thunder suddenly began to crackle from the palm of his hand.

Zhong Ji: ?

Jiang Chuan: Congratulations, my friend. You must be an empowered one.

Zhong Ji: Meeting you was lucky, my friend.

But when Zhong Ji applied to join the empowered team, this friend turned around and voted against him.

·

In the end, Zhong Ji successfully joined the empowered team with a high ability rating. His superior patted Jiang Chuan on the shoulder and said earnestly, "He still managed to join, and his ability rating is higher than yours. Under the new rules, he'll be your superior."

Jiang Chuan, reduced to a subordinate: Huh?

As Zhong Ji's superior, he discovered that his subordinate friend was diligent and conscientious. His only flaw was that he treated Zhong Ji far too cautiously. During field operations, he would lock the door to keep him at the safe base and prevent him from going out.

To put it kindly, he was worried. But then again... wasn't that a little too distrustful?

Zhong Ji frowned, then gave a laugh and used his ability to tear apart the door of the safe base.

After the operation, Zhong Ji quietly demanded an explanation. Jiang Chuan silently used his light-based ability. The screens across the city's skyscrapers went dark, then flickered back to life, showing something other than advertisements: "Jiang Chuan apologizes to Zhong Ji."

[Bonus Scene]

During one operation, exposure to gas released by a variant creature caused hallucinations, and Jiang Chuan accidentally gave Zhong Ji a kiss.

Afterward, the two tacitly agreed not to mention it.

Acting calm, Jiang Chuan opened an online relationship advice forum.

Question: What should I do if I accidentally kiss a coworker?

Answer: What a jerk. Nobody does that by accident. You have to take responsibility for it.

Jiang Chuan spent half the night carefully thinking about how to take responsibility. In the end, he bought Zhong Ji a month's supply of yogurt.

Zhong Ji: Have you started working with a yogurt brand recently?

Jiang Chuan: No.

Years later, Jiang Chuan brought it up again. Zhong Ji asked, "So one kiss is worth a month's supply of yogurt? I should have been rich enough to rival a country by now."

Not a wasteland setting. Includes superpowers, tentacle monsters, and a hodgepodge of otherworldly elements.

Fantasy takes the lead, with logic in a supporting role.

The pairing is guaranteed sweet.

P.S. This can be read as a prequel to the completed novel in my collection, Top-Level Mutation. The main story's timeline does not overlap with that novel; they are set before and after each other, and this can be read as a standalone.

Theme: Humanity still has a tomorrow