“You … do you… feel anything different about your body?” Lu Xi clearly remembered that Gu Wang should have awakened his lightning ability. And yet, the man before her looked utterly unaware of it—as if nothing had changed at all as she think about it . “Zzzzz—” A thread of lightning suddenly coiled around Gu Wang’s fingertips, crackling softly as it slid from his fingers to his palm, until his entire right hand was wrapped in a vivid glow of purple electricity. The current didn’t stop there. It pulsed, thickened, gathering strength—until it slowly condensed into a ball of lightning, about the size of a clenched fist, humming faintly with restrained power.
“You mean this?” Gu Wang leaned lazily against the wall, posture loose and unbothered, as though the lightning in his hand was nothing more than a toy. He idly tossed it between his fingers, his brows relaxed, his gaze drifting toward Lu Xi with a hint of teasing mischief. Lu Xi: “…?” For a moment, she felt… humiliated. As if she were being quietly looked down upon. How could he be this strong already, right after awakening his ability? She had exhausted nearly all her strength just to freeze a single drop of water into ice. Meanwhile, Gu Wang casually gathered a fist-sized ball of lightning as if it required no effort at all. No wonder… he was destined to become that terrifying figure in the future—the one who could stand against both the male and female leads, and even the entire human survivor base.
Still Lu Xi shot him a look filled with envy, jealousy… and just the faintest trace of resentment. On the other side— After learning that Gu Wang had awakened his powers, Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun immediately opened the door connecting the supermarket and the warehouse. Lu Xi glanced toward the warehouse—and froze. The space was divided into two stark halves. One side… was piled with corpses of zombies. The other side… held the remaining survivors, huddled tightly together, as if drawing warmth and comfort from each other’s presence. “Seven days ago, during the blood moon , many of us fell into a coma,” Xu Qiaoyun began quietly. “Lin Bai and I woke up first. And when we did… we realized we had awakened powers.” Her voice faltered slightly. “Some of our classmates awakened abilities too. But most… most turned into zombies after waking up.”
Which meant— She and Lin Bai had personally killed those former classmates. The weight of those words hung heavily in the air. Xu Qiaoyun lowered her gaze, her tone subdued. Lin Bai stood beside her in silence, his expression unreadable. “Host… don’t be sad…” 003 (the system bound to Lu Xi) spoke awkwardly, its usually mechanical tone carrying an unusual hint of hesitation. Lu Xi really was in a bad mood. Even though she already knew that only a small number of people could awaken abilities… Even though she didn’t truly belong to this world… Seeing humanity so fragile in the face of the zombie virus still made her chest tighten with unease. How many innocent people would have to die… before the male and female protagonists could grow strong enough to save this world?
And then there was Gu Wang. That troublesome villain. If he still chose the same path—if he still insisted on destroying the world— Then everything would collapse. Not just the protagonists. Not just the survivors. But all of humanity. Lu Xi’s gaze shifted toward Gu Wang, who remained leaning against the wall, looking utterly indifferent—as if the fate of the world had nothing to do with him. A fire ignited quietly within her. Saving humanity… would also be her responsibility. And then— Her thoughts drifted back to everything written about Gu Wang in the original story. His past. His suffering. The countless misfortunes that had shaped him into the man he would become.
In an instant, her mind conjured scene after scene—cruel, painful, pitiful images of him being tormented. Her eyes softened. Filled with compassion. She clenched her small fists tightly. She would make sure… that this villain came to understand something. That there was still genuine warmth in this world. That there was still love.
On the other hand Gu Wang: “Why is she looking at me like that…?”
003: “…”
As expected of its host… she really was kind. Outside the door, low, guttural growls echoed endlessly. The sharp, grating sound of fingernails scraping against the door sent chills down the spine. A few days ago, there had still been screams. Now— Aside from the restless roars of zombies, Shandong University had fallen into an eerie, suffocating silence. Perhaps the students were still waiting for rescue. Or perhaps… There simply weren’t many survivors left. Lu Xi turned her gaze toward Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun. “Lin Bai, Qiaoyun… have you ever thought about leaving the school?” The first blood moon had already descended. Humanity had begun to evolve.
It wasn’t difficult to guess— The zombies would evolve too. And reality had already proven it. Compared to the first day of the apocalypse, the zombies outside were now noticeably faster… more agile… more dangerous. Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun exchanged a glance. As understanding flashed in their eyes. They had clearly thought about this as well. For a long moment, no one spoke. Then— Gu Wang, who had been silent all this time, suddenly let out a low chuckle. “Heh.” His voice was cold, edged with faint mockery.
“Aren’t you afraid… of being eaten by zombies on the way?” All three of them instinctively turned to look at him. “The supermarket is near the east gate,” he continued lazily. “Quite far from the main gate.” He tilted his head slightly, gaze drifting toward them. “Leaving aside how you plan to cross that distance…” His eyes settled on Lu Xi, dark and unreadable. “Where exactly… do you think you’ll go after you escape?” As expected— The girl’s brows slowly furrowed, her expression tightening with worry. Gu Wang almost laughed. “We can go through the garage.” Lin Bai suddenly spoke, breaking the tension.
“From the basement of the residential complex behind the supermarket warehouse, there’s a passage that leads directly into the underground parking garage.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bunch of keys, the metal clinking softly. “Exit B of the garage connects to the outside of the campus.” After a brief pause he said . “I have a car. It belongs to the supermarket owner—it’s parked down there.” His grip tightened slightly around the keys.
“If we can make it to the garage… we can drive away. Lu Xi’s eyes lit up instantly. Right—Lin Bai worked part-time at the supermarket, helping the owner restock goods. Because of that, the owner had entrusted him with the keys to a small truck. “I have an apartment in the suburbs,” Lu Xi said quickly, her tone brightening. “I left a lot of supplies there. We can stay for a few days first there , and then make further plans.” The original owner of this body had been born into wealth. Even though her parents had never been particularly attentive, they had never once been stingy when it came to money. When she first entered university, her father had bought her a small apartment in the suburbs. She rarely stayed in the dormitory, only returning occasionally. This time, she had come back merely to pick up a few belongings— And then the apocalypse struck.
Thinking about the original owner’s extravagant lifestyle—her refusal to compromise on comfort, her obsession with quality—Lu Xi could almost imagine it. That apartment must be fully stocked with everything one could possibly need. For a moment, she was so delighted she could barely contain herself. “I agree,” Lin Bai said without hesitation.
“Me too,” Xu Qiaoyun followed.
“Then it’s settled. We leave tonight.” Lu Xi’s smile curved brightly, her eyes crinkling as she turned toward Gu Wang.
Gu Wang: “…”
So— No one was going to ask for his opinion? On the seventh night of the apocalypse, inside the supermarket warehouse of Shandong University—
“Everyone,” Lin Bai began, his voice low but steady, “the supplies in the supermarket won’t last us much longer. We can’t stay here forever.”
He looked at the group of students before him—their spirits worn down, their eyes dulled after seven days of fear and despair. “We’re planning to leave the school tonight. We want to hear your thoughts. Anyone who wants to leave… pack your things and come with us.”
“We’ll be leaving through the underground parking garage of the main building. There’s a small van there—big enough for all thirteen of us.”
His voice softened slightly at the end. “But… there are zombies outside…” someone whispered. The words spread like a ripple. “Yes, there are zombies everywhere.”
“No one who went out came back.”
“Those who tried to escape before … they all died.” Lu Xi felt a flicker of impatience. “You’re only focusing on the fact that there are zombies outside,” she said, her voice gentle—but firm. “So you conclude that escape is impossible.” She paused, her gaze sweeping across their faces. “But have you thought about this?”
“If humans can evolve into superhumans (people who awaken supernatural abilities after the apocalypse)… then can zombies evolve too?” A silence fell. “Right now, zombies are slow,” she continued softly. “But what about later?” “What if they can climb walls… leap across rooftops?”
“When that happens…” Her voice dropped slightly. “Will you still be able to escape?” Her words were soft— Yet they struck like a heavy hammer against their hearts. If zombies could evolve… Then how could humans survive? Some of them began to waver. Should they leave? “But… the distance from here to the main building is nearly a kilometer,” a girl whispered, clutching the sleeve of the person beside her. “What if we run into zombies on the way?” “Yeah… if we stay here, these supplies can last a month or two.”
“I heard gunshots the day before yesterday. Maybe the army is already nearby… maybe they’ll come rescue us.”
“That’s right. It’s not like the outside is any safer. Going out now is basically suicide.” The fragile courage that had just begun to form— Collapsed instantly. and silence returned once again. Lu Xi lowered her gaze slightly. She had already expected this. They were afraid. Afraid of dying on the way to the main building. Afraid of the unknown world outside. And more than anything— They were clinging to a hope. The hope that someone else would come and save them. But Lu Xi knew the truth. She had read the original story. After the outbreak, the authorities did send out the army immediately.
But zombies could only be killed by destroying the brain. They were relentless, tireless, and terrifyingly infectious. The rescue forces were quickly overwhelmed. In the end, to preserve what remained of their strength, the central government issued an order— All remaining troops were to retreat to City A and establish a survivor base. On the very first day of the apocalypse, when communication networks were still functioning, everyone had received an emergency alert: Store food. Stay indoors. Wait for rescue. After that— The network collapsed. Only radio broadcasts remained. About ten days into the apocalypse, a final broadcast was sent out: All survivors were to make their way to the base.
And after that— Complete silence. Humanity’s last thread of communication… severed. Seeing the hesitation lingering on Lu Xi, Lin Bai, and Xu Qiaoyun’s faces— Gu Wang felt an inexplicable irritation rise within him. “Heh.” His voice was cold, edged with disdain. “Then let them stay here and wait to die.” He couldn’t understand it. Why bother trying to bring along people like this? Weak. Cowardly. Completely dependent on others for survival. Even if they survived today— They wouldn’t last long anyway. Lu Xi let out a soft sigh. Without saying anything, she reached out and tugged lightly at Gu Wang’s sleeve, pulling him toward the supermarket.
She could see it clearly— Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun were reluctant. They understood what leaving these people behind meant. And Lu Xi knew— The male and female leads would definitely try again. Whether these people chose to leave or not… That was their own decision. “003, I want to exchange for system space,” Lu Xi said inwardly. She had noticed it earlier—the exchange panel had an option for “system space” (a portable storage dimension that exists outside normal physical limits, commonly used in transmigration/apocalypse novels). It only cost 100 points. In a world like this— It was practically essential. And right now, Lu Xi happened to have exactly 100 beginner points. “Host,” 003 reminded her gently, “system space is theoretically unlimited. However, 100 points will only unlock ten cubic meters for you. Additional space can be expanded gradually. Confirm exchange?” Lu Xi paused.
“…What exactly is this point system?”
“Points are obtained by exchanging zombie crystal cores (energy cores formed inside zombies after evolution).”
“A first-tier core is worth ten points. Second-tier is one hundred. Third-tier is one thousand—each level increases tenfold.”
Lu Xi’s eyes brightened. “So if Gu Wang kills a ninth-tier zombie… I wouldn’t have to fight zombies for the rest of my life to earn enough points?”
003: “Host, there are no ninth-tier zombies.”
“…Oh. Right.”
After the reminder, Lu Xi recalled the setting of the original novel. To give humanity a sliver of hope, the author had capped superhuman levels at nine. Zombies, however, could only reach level eight. And by the end of the story— Only one level-eight and one level-nine superhuman had ever existed. And Gu Wang— Was the strongest of them all. A terrifying existence who could walk freely through both human bases and zombie hordes. Unfortunately— He was also the ultimate villain. And he did not stand with humanity. “…Alright. 003, exchange it.” A translucent panel appeared in her mind. Lu Xi decisively pressed [Confirm Redemption]. And just like that— She was completely broke. Staring at the now glaring [Points: 0], Lu Xi felt a sharp pang of heartache and her gaze drifted unconsciously toward Gu Wang.
He stood by the window, practicing his lightning ability. A corner of the newspaper taped over the glass slipped loose, allowing a thin beam of moonlight to fall across his face. It softened the sharp lines of his features. For a moment— He didn’t look like a villain at all. Lu Xi instantly revived. It’s just crystal cores! If she could win Gu Wang over— If she could cling tightly to this walking powerhouse (often called a “big boss” in web novels, referring to an overwhelmingly strong character)— Then becoming rich again would only be a matter of time! Her gaze toward him grew warmer. Brighter. Filled with unmistakable affection. This wasn’t some terrifying demon king. This was her personal ATM.
Walking ATM Gu Wang: “…”
Why— Was she always acting so strangely again ?
On the other side, just as Lu Xi had expected— Not a single student was willing to leave with them. Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun exchanged a quiet look. Though helpless, they both understood one thing clearly: in the apocalypse, no one could truly save anyone else. Everyone… had to rely on themselves. And everyone had to bear the consequences of their own choices. They had already done all they could. “We’ll only take a portion of the supplies,” Lin Bai said at last, his voice low. “The rest… we’ll leave here for the students.” He turned toward Lu Xi and Gu Wang, silently seeking their opinions. “I have no objection,” Lu Xi replied lightly. “There’s food in my apartment.” As she spoke, she reached under the table and tugged gently at Gu Wang’s sleeve.
He glanced sideways at her— Only to meet her eyes, filled with exaggerated suggestion, practically urging him to agree. Gu Wang: “…Tch.” Through observation, they had already noticed a pattern— Zombies were most active during midday, when sunlight was strongest. At night, their movements slowed significantly. Their vision and hearing dulled. As long as one kept enough distance—and avoided letting them catch the scent of living humans— It was possible to move safely. So the four of them quickly finalized their route, packed a small amount of food, and prepared to depart.
In the fornt Lin Bai carefully pushed open the supermarket window. With a light movement, he jumped out and disappeared silently into the darkness ahead, scouting the path. The area they choose to travel was thick with trees and overgrown vegetation, providing natural cover.
About ten minutes later— Lin Bai’s figure appeared at an intersection ahead. He leaned out slightly and raised his hand, giving a small wave. It is the agreed upon signal. Just as they had planned. If the path was relatively clear, he would call them forward. Lu Xi and the others slipped out one by one, moving carefully, keeping low as they advanced under the cover of trees. Xu Qiaoyun walked at the front. Lu Xi followed closely behind.
Gu Wang stayed beside them. Compared to Lu Xi and Xu Qiaoyun—who moved cautiously, every step measured— Gu Wang looked completely out of place. He strolled leisurely, hands loose at his sides, as if he were taking a casual walk through his own garden. Lu Xi couldn’t help but keep glancing at him, her nerves stretched tight. She was genuinely afraid— That if she didn’t watch him closely, he might make some careless noise and doom them all. Finally, they regrouped with Lin Bai. Lu Xi and Xu Qiaoyun both let out quiet breaths of relief. “Let’s go,” Lin Bai murmured. “Into the main building.”At this time a scream tore through the night.
“Help—! Ah—!”
Lu Xi’s head snapped around, her scalp prickling violently. Not far away— A boy was running in panic. Behind him— A swarm of zombies were coming . Than they caught him in seconds. His body was dragged down, swallowed instantly by the horde. His scream cut off abruptly— Replaced by the horrifying sounds of tearing flesh and chewing. The moment that scream rang out— The zombies that had been wandering aimlessly nearby suddenly froze— Then surged forward. As if injected with adrenaline. “Run!”
Lin Bai roared, grabbing Xu Qiaoyun’s hand as he sprinted toward the main building. Lu Xi took two steps— Then suddenly turned back. Gu Wang beside her was still walking. Leisurely. As if none of this concerned him. In that instant, Lu Xi cursed him and his entire lineage in her heart.
This man was nothing but trouble! Without hesitation, she spun around, grabbed his arm, and pulled him forward with all her strength, chasing after Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun. Gu Wang paused, slightly surprised. His gaze dropped— To the hand clutching his arm. Her fingers were small, barely able to wrap around him. Against the dark fabric of his black windbreaker, her hand looked especially pale… delicate. And yet— She was holding on to him so tightly. Refusing to let go.
Her breathing quickly grew uneven, her steps faltering. Seeing that she was almost unable to keep up, Gu Wang clicked his tongue softly. Speechless. He reached out, grasped her hand in return, and pulled her forward instead. Her physical fitness is really poor, he thought indifferently. “Quick! Get in! Lu Xi! Gu Wang!” The moment Gu Wang dragged Lu Xi through the entrance— Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun slammed the emergency exit doors shut behind them, locking the safety latches in place. Lu Xi was already exhausted, her chest heaving— But she didn’t dare stop. She knew— Those doors wouldn’t hold for long. In just a few minutes, this place could be completely overrun.
At this moment, the only thing she felt grateful for— Was that the underground parking garage only had one or two zombies. Something Lin Bai could easily handle. Then she heard Footsteps. Chaotic. Rapid. Closing in fast. From behind the emergency exit door. Their hearts sank. It had been broken through… far too quickly. “The car’s here—hurry!” Lin Bai found it first. Xu Qiaoyun immediately jumped into the passenger seat. Lu Xi also didn’t hesitate—she shoved Gu Wang into the car and climbed in right after him. Almost the same instant— The engine roared to life.
And at that exact moment a mass of zombies poured into the entrance . From afar, it looked like a dense, writhing black tide.
Lu Xi didn’t doubt it for a second. If they had fallen into that swarm. They wouldn’t even last a minute. There wouldn’t even be enough left of them to become zombies. Other than there bones.As Lin Bai slammed on the accelerator. The small truck shot forward, racing toward Exit B. Lu Xi twisted around, looking out through the rear window. The sight behind made her breath catch. The horde was overwhelming. Zombies at the front were being crushed forward by those behind them, their pale faces contorted as they roared, chasing relentlessly after the car.
Only when they finally broke onto a wide, open road— Did the suffocating tension begin to ease. Inside the car Gu Wang lowered his gaze calmly. To Lu Xi’s hand. Still clutching his. She hadn’t let go since getting in. Her grip was tight. Her palms damp with cold sweat. She was afraid. Very afraid. And yet— She had still turned back for him. Remembering that moment— Gu Wang let out a quiet scoff. Cowardly. And meddlesome. Another label was silently addedGu Wang: “Another label—‘Lackey Lu.’”
Lackey Lu … ·_·
. “Ding—current world stability progress: 32%. Host, please continue your efforts~” Lu Xi’s heart, which had just begun to settle, leapt again with excitement. So it worked! The villain must have felt that long-lost warmth just now. After all, she had turned back and dragged him away to safety! She had got another step closer to her goal! Her future was looking brighter already. As it was deep into the night. The streets were nearly empty, save for scattered zombies wandering aimlessly.
So the roar of the engine drew their attention instantly. Without hesitation— Lin Bai drove straight through them. The small truck sped forward, cutting through the darkness. Heading toward the suburbs. Because in three hours dawn would arrive.