In the year 2020, Earth’s magnetic field vanished. Cosmic radiation scoured the planet, bringing humanity to the brink of extinction. A century later, the world is a graveyard of mutation. Surviving creatures have twisted into monstrous forms, locked in a perpetual feast upon one another. The last remnants of humankind, mere tens of thousands, cling to life within fortified bases, their existence a daily struggle. Deep within the Abyss, the domain of these mutated xenogenics, a sentient mushroom grows. Nourished by the flesh and blood of a deceased human named An Ze, it has taken a humanoid form and a similar name: An Zhe. Driven by a singular purpose, An Zhe ventures into the human base to recover his stolen spore. To survive, he must hide his true nature in a world where discovery means instant death. The greatest threat comes from the Judges, zealous enforcers tasked with identifying and eliminating any xenogenic infiltrator. The most feared among them is Colonel Lu Feng, a man renowned for his perceptive gaze and merciless efficiency. His judgment is final, his execution swift. Yet, for reasons unknown, An Zhe’s mutation escapes Lu Feng’s detection. Their unexpected encounter sets in motion a complex and dangerous story where the lines between human and monster begin to blur, challenging the very foundations of a dying world. Winner of the Silver Award at the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards.