The air was thick with the scent of cooked rice and the acrid smoke of a dwindling fire.
It was the fourth day since the apocalypse began, and the small sanctuary they had carved out of the school grounds felt both like a fortress and a cage.
Lin Kai, seated on a worn-out gym mat, ate his portion of rice with quiet efficiency, his mind replaying the previous days' events.
Around him, the other survivors, a mix of old and new faces, sat in small clusters, their conversations a low, murmuring symphony of relief and unspoken fear.
Jing Yu's voice cut through the noise, gentle yet firm. "Eat as much as you need, but remember to save what you can. Every grain counts."
His words were a sobering reminder of their fragile existence. They were just one unexpected horde away from starvation.
As Lin Kai finished his bowl, he noticed a small figure approaching. It was Mei, the little girl from yesterday. She moved with a quiet purpose that belied her age, her eyes, usually wide with terror, now held a glint of determination.
He put down his empty bowl, his gaze fixed on her. He had seen enough despair to know that a child's actions were never without reason.
When she stopped in front of him, she bowed her head, a gesture of pure, unadulterated respect. "Thank you, big brother, for saving us." Her voice was soft but clear.
The simple act, so unexpected in this brutal new world, shocked him. Lin Kai felt an unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest.
He stood up, his tall frame a stark contrast to her small one, and gently patted her head. "You're welcome. Stay strong, always, okay?"
She looked up at him, a genuine smile replacing her solemn expression, and nodded childishly.
After a few more quiet words, she returned to her father, who gave Lin Kai a deep, grateful nod.
The brief exchange drew the attention of nearby survivors. Lin Kai heard some whispers, their confusion evident. They had seen Han Zhe's leadership yesterday and assumed he was the one in charge.
Their understanding of power and hierarchy was still rooted in the old world. Lin Kai didn't correct them; the truth would reveal itself soon enough.
He watched Mei's small frame disappear into the crowd and his thoughts drifted to the boy, Tao. The image of the child frozen in terror yesterday flashed in his mind.
He was so unlike Mei, who, despite her fear, had found the courage to express her gratitude. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.
Why am I comparing them? he silently rebuked himself. They are both just innocent children caught in this hell. He hoped the boy would find his courage someday.
Soon after the meal, Jing Yu and Han Zhe called for everyone's attention. Jing Yu's voice was warm, a stark contrast to Han Zhe's usual commanding tone.
"Most of you know Han Zhe, and many of you know my group. Today, we want to introduce you to the person who made it possible for us to join forces and survive. This is Lin Kai."
Han Zhe stepped forward, his expression solemn. "Lin Kai saved my entire group and me when we were overwhelmed. He's powerful, far beyond anything you've seen. He has more knowledge about aether and its use than all of us combined."
The crowd buzzed with a mix of surprise and disbelief. Lin Kai remained silent, letting them continue. He understood the necessity of this introduction.
To lead and train them, he needed their trust and respect. This was the first step toward proving his worth. He would earn their respect not just through words, but through action.
He then stepped forward, his calm demeanor and piercing gaze silencing the whispers. "As you know," he began, his voice low but carrying, "today I will train you. The most practical training is to fight and kill the corrupted ones."
The crowd erupted in shock. Han Zhe, Jing Yu, and the others looked at him, surprised. This was not the plan they had discussed.
Jing Yu tried to intervene, but Lin Kai raised his hand, a silent command for him to stop. His expression was dead serious, leaving no room for argument.
A few voices of protest rose from the crowd. One young man, clearly a student, spoke up loudly, his tone rational but defiant.
"Why killing at first? Don't you have any training module for us to improve our strength and stamina? We don't have any weapons either."
Lin Kai's eyebrow shot up in disbelief. "Training module? You guys still don't understand the situation?"
He paused, letting his words sink in. "Training and exercise needs energy, and we are already low on food."
His voice grew louder, gaining a forceful cadence. "I will be direct. If you kill, some of your energy will be replenished in the form of aether and vitality. You can check your mental interference to see this."
He swept his gaze across the crowd. "Make anything a weapon around you. The utensils you just used, a stick, a piece of fence wire, a rod, anything. Even I can lend you my blades if you want, one by one."
Another person tried to speak, but Lin Kai calmly cut him off. "I need your will and courage only to step forward with me. I will be your guide to help you with anything."
His voice now filled with a burning passion that resonated with the raw energy of the youths before him.
"Who will come with me to become stronger and to protect?" he roared.
The question hung in the air for a moment before a sea of hands shot up. A ripple of excitement turned into a wave of shouts.
"I will!" "Me too!" The youths, their blood boiling with newfound purpose, clamored to join him.
Lin Kai raised his hand again, and the ruckus slowly died down. He calmly explained the plan.
"We will form four teams of 20 people each. We will go in four different directions to kill as many corrupted as possible for evolving you guys. We will select you now, and the rest will go tomorrow."
The logic was sound, but a new wave of arguments broke out. Why did some have to wait? Lin Kai, his patience wearing thin, released a small fraction of his immense power.
The oppressive atmosphere of his peak power settled over the crowd, silencing the arguments instantly. His voice, now low and dangerous, resonated in their minds. "Enough. We can't waste a single second."
Without another word, Lin Kai, Han Zhe, Jing Yu, and the other lead by (Zhang Hai, Xiao Rong, Lian Hua, and Guo Yan) selected their team members.
They chose a mix of people with physical prowess and quick wit. Once the teams were formed, they moved to the barricade.
They had decided that they would return by sunset. After a round of good wishes and silent prayers, the four teams headed out in their different directions.
Lin Kai led his group, his focus sharp, his mind set on a single goal: survival and strength. The future of everyone rested on their shoulders.
----------------------------------------------------
At the second day of Apocalypse, the morning light was gray and thin, filtering through the dirty windows of the office building in the corporate tower of Shanghai.
Lin Mei woke up on the cold floor, every part of her body aching. She knew she had to get up and keep moving.
The pain was just a reminder that she was still alive, and that was all that mattered.
She ate a small bowl of gruel she'd cooked the night before. It was boring, but it gave her the energy she needed.
With her small survival knife in hand, she stepped out into the hallway. Today was the day she would stop hiding and start fighting.
She had a new determination, a fire in her belly. She would hunt the corrupted and get stronger.
Quietly, she moved through the upper floors, a ghost in her own former workplace. She couldn't shake the chilling thought that some of her old colleagues might be the monsters she was hunting.
She tried to push the idea away, focusing on her plan: hide, watch, then act. She wanted to evolve, to get to a higher level.
"How many do I need to kill?" she wondered, a steady eagerness building inside her.
After an hour of tense searching, she found one. A corrupted creature was hunched over a body in the break room likely eating a part of the body and its back to her.
Lin Mei's stomach twisted into a knot at the sight. Her first instinct was to run, but she knew she couldn't.
The corrupted was a "Zero Order (High)," a powerful type she was no match for in a direct fight.
But a reckless, daring idea flashed into her mind.
I can get it from the back. I can stab it in the neck with my knife.
The thought made her hesitate. Is it worth the risk? she questioned herself.
Then she remembered her life before, in the corporate world, where she had always been the one to take risks and come out on top.
"I have to do this," she told herself. "This isn't about a promotion. This is about living. This is about my children."
She moved like a shadow, getting into position. Her heart hammered in her chest.
With a sudden burst of speed, she lunged forward, her knife aimed at its neck. The blade struck, but it didn't cut as deep as she expected. The corrupted's skin was as hard as stone, and it began to react.
The creature's head twisted all the way around, its eyes, now red and empty, locking onto hers. Its hand shot back and grabbed her, a steel grip she couldn't break.
The knife was stuck in its neck, and Lin Mei was caught. It was a terrifying stalemate. Time seemed to slow down. Her breath came in ragged gasps.
She thought of her children, the only thing that mattered.
With a desperate cry, she used every last bit of her strength to twist the knife. She felt a strange surge of power—her aether—rushing to her arm.
With a final, powerful jerk, the knife sliced through the corrupted's neck. The creature's head came off with a sickening snap, and its body went limp.
Lin Mei collapsed, her body heavy and shaking. She fell to the floor, breathing hard, trying to get air into her lungs.
A wild, crazy smile stretched across her face. It was the most thrilling thing she had ever done.
She heard as usual the Primal Decree emotionless voice,
"Soul Reclaimed: 1"
She was surprised that she didn't evolve on killing this creature a level high than her and thought, Hmm I still needs to kill more okay then.
She checked her mental interference that shows her condition.
Vitality: 100/250
Aether: 50/300
Order: Zero Order (Mid)
Rune: Locked
Her aether was nearly gone, but she felt it slowly returning. She knew that power had come from deep inside her, and she would have to learn how to control it.
She sat there, leaning against the wall, thinking. She had been reckless. She was a quick thinker, but she needed to be calmer, more rational.
Yet, a part of her was excited. She looked at her blood-stained hands, and a new kind of confidence settled in her heart.
She wasn't just surviving anymore. She was fighting. She was ready for whatever came next.
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Author's Note:
Sorry for late update guys. I have decided to continue my story whether it's rejected or not. I will not stop from here, share with ur friends also who likes a story packed with thrilling, actions and adventures.