Chapter One: Escape from the City
First Quarter – Struck by Lightning
Early autumn, 2030.The night had fallen over Beijing bringing with it a faint, much-needed coolness that softened the heat radiating from the earth. Surrounded by distant, shadowy mountains, even that slight chill felt like a gift hard-won from the day's scorching air.
Lucien Voss was a salesman by trade. Though he came from the northern provinces, people often mistook him for a southerner. He stood at a modest height—barely one meter seventy-three—and back home, his friends liked to joke that he qualified as a "third-class cripple." His skin was a shade darker than most, his eyes bright and clever, and his narrow, slightly pointed face gave him a trace of gentleness that some might call delicate. In another time, he could've passed for a scholar. But in today's world, looks had little value; money spoke louder than faces.
That night, the air outside had cooled, but Lucien's body was soaked in sweat by the time he stumbled back to his rented room. Business had been terrible lately. He'd been unlucky with deals, unlucky with clients—unlucky, period. Working overtime had become routine, and wandering the streets after eleven was just another part of his exhausting days. By the time he reached home, it was almost midnight.
His "home" was hardly more than a box—a small, ten-square-meter room carved out of a shared three-bedroom apartment. The only reason he'd chosen it was the narrow balcony attached to it, which made the cramped space feel a little less suffocating. For that minor luxury, he paid eighteen hundred yuan a month.
Lucien tossed his sweaty shirt into a corner, grabbed a towel, and darted to the bathroom before any of his flat mates could claim it. After a quick shower, he stepped out onto his tiny balcony, shirtless, letting the cool night wind brush against his damp skin. It felt good—momentarily freeing.
He didn't notice the thick clouds gathering above the city. Hidden by the darkness, they swelled and rolled, blotting out the faint light of the moon. Had he seen them, Lucien would've gone back inside immediately. His grandfather had always warned him that lightning could strike through open windows—and Lucien, usually a cautious man, took superstitions seriously.
But tonight, fatigue dulled his instincts.
Without warning, a jagged flash tore through the clouds, splitting the sky like a blade slashing a curtain of ink. For a split second, light poured through the tear—blinding, searing—and then the first bolt of lightning came roaring down, carrying with it something else… something alive.
It struck the earth, fast as thought.
Unfortunately, the exact spot it hit was Lucien Voss, standing half-naked on his balcony.
He had no time to scream. The world went white, and then everything went black.
Lucien had no idea how long he was unconscious. When he finally stirred, his head throbbed as if filled with static. His body felt numb, his skin icy cold. Then—"Ah-choo!"—a sudden sneeze snapped him awake.
He groaned and sat up. He was still lying on his balcony, his skin slick with rainwater, wearing nothing but a pair of damp trousers. "What the hell…" he muttered, rubbing his forehead.
Then, a voice spoke in his ear."Slacker, get up already!"
Lucien froze."Who—who's there?" He glanced around, heart hammering. The balcony was empty. The door was shut. "Did I… get a ghost?"
"You're the ghost, idiot," the voice replied, sharp and female. Still, there was no one around.
Lucien's skin prickled. "You… what are you? Where are you talking from?"
"Look at your hand."
He blinked, glancing down. On his right wrist, an unfamiliar watch was strapped tight—a sleek electronic model he didn't own before. And floating just above it was a miniature figure—a girl no bigger than his thumb, glowing faintly, wings like shimmering glass fluttering behind her. She looked straight at him.
Second Quarter – The End of the World
"What the… what are you?" Lucien stammered, eyes wide.
"Watch your mouth! You dare call your savior a thing?" The tiny girl puffed her cheeks indignantly.
"My… savior?" Lucien frowned, still half dazed. "When was I in danger?"
"When you got struck by lightning last night, genius! If I hadn't absorbed most of that energy, you'd be a pile of ash by now."
Lucien blinked, then laughed nervously. "Energy absorption? Lightning strike? Okay, this is too much. Maybe I hit my head. I should go to the temple or something…" He traced a clumsy cross over his chest.
"Stop mumbling nonsense," the girl snapped. "Name's Yiling. I come from Planet R. My master sent me through a space-time tunnel before… before everything collapsed. I got stuck here, and now—lucky me—I'm bound to you of all people. Ugh, my life just keeps getting better."
Lucien rubbed his temples. "Planet R? Space-time tunnels? Binding? You sound like a bad sci-fi script."
"Focus, human! Put some clothes on. You're half-naked in front of a lady. No wonder you don't have a girlfriend."
Lucien scowled. "I am wearing pants! And how do you even know I don't have a girlfriend?" But he pulled on a tracksuit anyway and sat at his small desk. "Fine, Yiling. So what's this 'important thing' you had to tell me?"
The little being puffed out her chest proudly. "First of all, I'm not an elf. Second—your world is about to end."
Lucien raised an eyebrow. "The end? As in… apocalypse-end?"
"Exactly. My planet was destroyed by necromancers who created a zombie virus. It infected nearly everyone. That same virus is about to reach Earth."
He chuckled weakly. "Right. Zombie virus. Like Resident Evil?"
"Similar, but much more advanced. Your fictional viruses are primitive by comparison. Ours can evolve. Zombies grow stronger, faster, even intelligent after level ten. Once that happens… you humans won't stand a chance."
Lucien stared. "Zombies that evolve? That's ridiculous… no one could survive that."
"It's not hopeless," Yiling said, floating closer. "Each zombie carries a crystal nucleus in its head—a core of condensed energy. Those crystals can help normal humans evolve too. I've prepared a Survival Manual for you. It has everything you need to stay alive. Try not to die before you open it."
Lucien sighed. "Great. And how exactly do I read this 'manual'?"
"Press the button on your watch, open the display menu, and select Information. Honestly, do I have to explain everything?"
Third Quarter – The Survival Manual
Lucien followed her instructions, pressing a tiny icon on the holographic screen that appeared over his wristwatch. The display flickered to life, projecting a list of files labeled Survival, Characters, Monsters, Weapons, Equipment, and Items.
He squinted. "This looks like a game guide."
"You're welcome," Yiling said cheerfully. "I made it simple—Earth-style."
He nodded, amused despite himself, and tapped Survival. A virtual page opened like an e-book.
Chapter One – Survival
In the apocalypse, the first rule is to live.To live, one must prepare: food, weapons, armor. Without materials, survival chances drop drastically.In the early phase of a viral outbreak, secure a defensible shelter and avoid crowded places. Strengthen your position. Stockpile supplies. Above all, stay hidden.
Lucien flipped to the next page—blank. He frowned. "That's it?"
"Enough for now," Yiling said, waving her hands. "You'd just forget the rest anyway. One step at a time."
He sighed and tapped Characters. A profile appeared—his own.
Name: Lucien VossAge: 32Skills: NoneStatus: GoodHealth: 10 Mana: 10Attack: 1 Defense: 0Strength: 1 Speed: 2Constitution: 1 Wisdom: 5Personality: A cautious, soft-hearted man with traces of literary talent. In ancient times, he'd have been a scholar. In modern times—just another broke romantic.
Lucien's jaw dropped. "Seriously?"
Yiling giggled. "Don't blame me. It's accurate."
He rolled his eyes and switched to Monsters.
Level 0 ZombieSkills: Bite, Grab, Endless StaminaHealth: 10 Attack: 2 Defense: 1Weakness: HeadNotes: Sensitive to sound.
Level 1 ZombieSkills: Strong Hug, BiteHealth: 15 Attack: 4 Defense: 2Notes: Faster, stronger, more dangerous. Still sensitive to sound and blood.
The rest of the pages were blank.
"It'll update as you encounter new ones," Yiling said lazily.
Lucien grumbled. "Perfect. Guess I'll find out the hard way." He scrolled to Equipment—
Sportswear (Level 0)Defense: 0 Magic Defense: 0Notes: Ordinary athletic wear. Offers minimal warmth above 10°C. No real protection.
Lucien sighed, half-laughing, half-crying. "So I'm a weakling in track pants, about to face evolving zombies. Wonderful."
Yiling smirked. "Everyone starts somewhere, hero."
(End of Chapter)
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