Chapter 1 Prologue

Chapter 1: Prologue

In the seventh year of the apocalypse, torrential rain lashed against the window, its relentless drumming on the ground tightening already frayed nerves to the breaking point. The air was thick with restless tension—hollow, wide-eyed stares of fear, emaciated arms wrapped tightly around gaunt bodies, and the occasional muffled sob punctuated the atmosphere.

Ji An stood in the corridor, gazing at the downpour outside, momentarily unable to tell whether it was merely rain from the heavens or a water-type superpower barrier constructed by the superpowered to shield against all harm.

"Brother Ji An, I'm scared. The storm outside is so heavy, but Brother Chen and the others still haven't returned from their supply run," Tang Tang said, her large eyes brimming with unease, her fidgeting feet tracing nervous patterns on the floor, each movement keeping time with the rain's beat, adding to the rising agitation.

"Remember how that night before the apocalypse began was also filled with rain just as terrifying and unsettling? When the downpour stopped at dawn, the end of the world arrived, and the streets were overrun with zombies that only knew how to bite.

Maybe because of that night, I've always been afraid of storms like this. Tonight’s rain reminds me of that pre-apocalyptic downpour. My heart is all jittery—I can’t stop worrying about Brother Chen and the others... What if something happens to them?" Tang Tang shivered slightly, rubbing her arms and hugging herself tighter.

"No!" Ji An cut in sharply.

His tone was unshakable, as if even entertaining the thought was unacceptable. Anyone could hear the depth of his concern—a conviction so firm it allowed no room for doubt.

Again, just like always. Whenever she voiced worries about Brother Chen, he silenced her with that same tone, as though she were some jinx whose words might bring disaster.

But wasn't it natural to worry when someone you cared about was out on a dangerous mission? Wasn't asking a question or two perfectly normal?

Yet in Ji An’s eyes, she was just an immature nuisance, while he was the calm, strategic one.

Tang Tang lifted her gaze to Ji An, resentment flickering in her eyes—until she met his deep brown irises and froze.

The man's eyes were faraway yet deep, not showing the numbness and fear seen in the gazes of ordinary survivors who had not awakened their powers, nor the hopeless resignation found in the eyes of other superpowered drifting through life. Instead, they held an undying hope for the future, as if the starry sky from the world before the apocalypse had poured into his pupils—bright enough to pierce the night, brilliant beyond belief.

For a moment, Tang Tang was lost in that galaxy of light.

By the time she snapped back to reality, the man had already turned away, leaving behind only a cold back figure—just as he had done for the past seven years in this ruined world.

Tang Tang bit her lip, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes as she hurried after him.

Sure enough, upon hearing that Chen Chen might be in danger, the man couldn't help but rush out to assist.

Tang Tang shadowed him, searching along the possible route Chen Chen’s team might have taken.

Suddenly, she pointed at a horde of zombies ahead and shrieked, “Brother Ji An, look over there! Is that Brother Chen? Ah! That green jacket—I remember you gave it to him for his birthday last year. He’s worn it ever since. Could that person surrounded by zombies be Brother Chen?”

Ji An, who had been walking ahead, abruptly halted. When he turned and caught sight of the familiar green, his eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

“Ah Chen!” Ji An roared, charging forward with lightning speed, swinging his arms as he charged into the zombies, heedless of the danger. It was as if they weren’t zombies—not the kind that could turn you with a single bite—but harmless creatures.

Ji An had never awakened a superpower in this apocalyptic world, so he didn’t have the speed or power of the superpowered. All he had was the agility gained through brutal, endless training day after day.

Swinging a machete, he fearlessly hacked his way through the zombies, his goal clear—the man encircled at the center.

By the time his vision blurred with blood, Ji An finally reached the tall figure clad in green. The man’s back was turned to him. Ji An reached out, eager to spin him around, but instead of familiar features, he was met with a gaping, bloody mouth. Blood dripped from the stranger’s lips as the yellow-toothed zombie, catching the scent of living flesh, lunged for Ji An’s arm.

Before the shock could set in, years of muscle memory forced Ji An to yank his arm back.

Before he could process it, a panicked cry for help rang out behind him. “Brother Ji An, save me! Save me!”

The girl was surrounded by seven or eight zombies, struggling and on the verge of being overwhelmed. Ji An knew that though she was superpowered, her ability—a non-combative spatial superpower—was practically useless in a fight. Without hesitation, he turned and rushed back to rescue her.

His blade cut viciously as he fought his way to her side. Relieved to find her unharmed despite her exhaustion, he barely had time to exhale before a tremendous force slammed into his chest. Caught off guard, Ji An was sent flying backward.

There was no time to steady himself. A searing pain shot through his back as if he could hear the zombies’ long nails piercing flesh and bone. The metallic scent of his own blood filled his nose.

Ji An’s usually composed eyes widened with disbelief. There was no time for questions—only battle.

During the battle, he turned his head and in a daze met a pair of eyes filled with malice. The owner of those eyes had somehow retreated from the zombie horde and was now standing safely in a corner, arms crossed, watching him coldly.

Only then did Ji An realize that the girl he had rescued from the zombie horde, the girl he had raised himself, actually harbored hatred toward him!

And not just any hatred—it was deep, burning hatred!

He didn’t know how long the battle lasted. His body ached to the point of numbness, but finally, it was over. Around him lay decapitated zombies, and in the center stood Ji An, drenched in blood. His long blade was planted firmly on the ground as he leaned on it, barely supporting his exhausted frame.

Like a hero who had fought to the bitter end.

This only made Tang Tang more jealous. Jealousy was poison, eating away at her limbs and bones, like thousands of ants gnawing incessantly at her heart. She was consumed by envy—why was it that no matter the time or place, no matter how battered he was, this man always stood tall and unyielding, as if he could never be defeated?

Even now, covered in wounds, on the verge of turning into a zombie.

"Why?" Ji An had calmed down by now, the disbelief in his eyes fading, leaving only simple confusion.

And Tang Tang, who had always appeared meek and harmless, finally showed her true colors. Her face twisted into a horrifying expression. "Why? How dare you even ask why? Do you think I don’t know what you’re scheming? You saved me—was that out of genuine kindness? No! You just used me as a tool to show off your supposed virtue!

You had your eyes on the base commander. You wanted to win people over, and I was just a convenient pawn. If it wasn’t me, it would’ve been someone else. You’re nothing but a hypocrite, a total fake!"

Tang Tang spat out everything she had suppressed for seven years in one breath. "You're worthless! You didn’t even awaken the most basic superpower—how dare you cling to the finest man alive, Chen Chen!

Chen Chen is the base commander, the most powerful dual-element superpowered with thunder and fire abilities. He should be with me, someone equally rare and precious, a dual-element superpowered with space and healing abilities.

But just because you met him a few years earlier, you shamelessly clung to him. You disgust me!"

"He’s my boyfriend. He has been since before the apocalypse," Ji An didn’t defend himself, only stating this fact calmly when Tang Tang mentioned Chen Chen.

But this simple truth made Tang Tang bristle like a cornered cat. She suddenly drew her long knife and rammed it into Ji An’s chest, savagely twisting it. Blood gushed from Ji An’s mouth—he was too exhausted from the battle to resist.

Tang Tang grinned like a devil. "Lies! Disgusting! You like men, and you shamelessly cling to Chen Chen—you make me sick!

Chen Chen told me himself—he doesn’t love you. He only stays with you out of obligation because you’ve been by his side for seven years in this apocalypse, surviving life and death together. So he can’t abandon you. But once you’re dead, Chen Chen will be mine."

With a sudden jerk, Tang Tang pulled out the knife, and blood sprayed everywhere. "Goodbye, Ji An!"

Ji An collapsed weakly into the pool of blood, his eyes wide open, sightless.

His glazing eyes reflected the image of the girl raising her knife and bringing it down. He watched as his head was severed from his body, then as the girl dug out the Superpowered Crystal Core from his brain.

Ji An didn’t understand how Tang Tang knew he was a superpowered. Due to the nature of his ability, he had never revealed it to anyone.

Then he watched as she threw his corpse into the oncoming zombie horde, drawn by the scent of blood.

The girl clutched the crystal core tightly and made a clean escape.

Later, Ji An saw her return to the base, where Chen Chen was waiting, now dressed in clean clothes—though not the green one he always wore.

Chen Chen asked where she had been and if she had seen Ji An.

With innocent eyes, the girl shook her head.

When Chen Chen questioned the blood on her clothes, she played innocent, claiming she had gone out searching for him, encountered zombies, and barely escaped after a fierce fight.

Chen Chen, heartbroken, embraced her.

Days passed with no sign of Ji An. Only then did Chen Chen grow frantic. After searching for days, he finally found bloodstained fragments of Ji An’s clothing, realizing he had been killed long ago.

He grieved bitterly for days, and then—then he and the girl became a couple.

Within months, they held a grand wedding in the base, celebrated by all as the union of the base commander. It was the wedding Ji An and Chen Chen had dreamed of for seven years, through countless life-and-death struggles, yet never obtained.

At the height of the ceremony, during the exchange of rings, the girl presented Chen Chen with the Superpowered Crystal Core that had once belonged to Ji An. Overwhelmed with emotion, Chen Chen wept with happiness.

Later, Chen Chen absorbed the crystal core extracted from Ji An’s brain, and his superpower surged multiple levels, making him the strongest in the base and securing his position as commander.

As for the girl, her "priceless gift" made her Chen Chen’s most cherished treasure—treasured in his hands, afraid to lose her; cherished like delicate glass, feared to break. She lived a life of endless privilege and luxury.