A/n :- Wassup cuties! Here's the second chapter. First off, a big thanks for the powerstones! And secondly, if we hit the goal of 120 powerstones, I'll treat you to two more chapters. You all are simply the best!
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Lin Chen, a 23-year-old young man, has recently completed his first year in the workforce after graduating from university.
He is a diligent office worker in Yancheng, despite grappling with persecution and paranoia.
As a recent graduate, he lacks substantial work experience, which has proven to be a double-edged sword. While finding employment was not a challenge, excelling in his job was a different story.
He often found himself caught between a rock and a hard place - either the remuneration was insufficient, or he was dismissed as a novice.
Consequently, his first year in the professional world did not yield any significant achievements.
His half-sister, Lin Xue, is an 18-year-old high school student in her final year at a school in Yancheng. Despite her petite stature, she is quite popular among her male peers, thanks to her adorable face.
Dressed in a princess gown and sporting twin ponytails, she transforms into a picture of loveliness!
The bond between Lin Chen and Lin Xue is not just familial but also stems from their shared circumstances. When Lin Chen was three, his parents divorced, and he was raised by his mother.
A few years ago, their father's business collapsed, and his second wife absconded with all the money, leaving behind only Lin Xue. In his final days, their father sent Lin Xue to live with Lin Chen and his mother, entrusting them with his life savings to care for Lin Xue.
The prospect of turning away a playful and endearing 15-year-old girl was unthinkable for both Lin Chen and his mother.
Thus, the siblings started living together with their mother. Although Lin Chen was in college and their time together was limited, he developed a deep affection for his sister during their brief cohabitation.
Their lives were expected to follow a predictable trajectory - Lin Xue would grow up, marry a wealthy man who adores her, and lead a contented life with her family.
However, their ordinary lives took an unexpected turn a few days ago when the apocalypse arrived.
On that fateful morning, Lin Xue was at school, while Lin Chen, who was unemployed, was at home in his rented accommodation.
While others were lamenting the dense fog and fearing the monsters, Lin Chen had a unique encounter.
A meteorite, about the size of a fist, crashed through his roof and landed in his living room, creating a hole in the floor. Luckily, Lin Chen's rented accommodation was on the ground floor, preventing any damage to other residences.
The meteorite was not just an ordinary space rock.
It contained a potent form of energy and housed a highly advanced artificial intelligence (AI). Upon picking it up, Lin Chen discovered that the AI could provide him with information.
The data revealed that the meteorite was a core energy stone from an extraterrestrial high-tech chariot. The AI was embedded into this energy stone using space technology.
Due to a massive interstellar war, the energy stone was low on power when it teleported to Earth. To function, it needed to be refueled.
The monster crystal cores in this world could serve as a substitute energy source. Recognizing Lin Chen as its master, the AI sought his help in finding these crystal cores.
In return, it assisted Lin Chen in controlling a minibus and used its power to modify the vehicle comprehensively, transforming it into a chariot designed for the apocalypse.
Lin Chen drove this apocalyptic chariot to his sister's high school for a rescue mission. Together, they managed to escape and have been on the run since.
During their journey, Lin Xue, looking at the three robots scanning the monster corpses.
She asked her brother, Lin Chen, in a hushed tone,
"Shouldn't we be helping others too?"
"Absolutely not!" Lin Chen asserted,
"Our survival hinges on this vehicle.
What would happen if someone attempted to steal it from us?"
"Until I've gained more strength, it's wiser to avoid rescuing others…"
"Indeed, that's the correct approach!"
Lin Xue, deep in thought, nodded in agreement "However, didn't you mention earlier that combat could potentially lead to a breakthrough?
How are you feeling about that now?"
"I constantly feel like I'm falling short…"
Both vehicles and individuals require upgrades.
The car was parked in this specific location with the sole purpose of facilitating Lin Chen's breakthrough.
"Really?
Well, don't worry, I'm quite capable now, I can ensure your safety!"
"Indeed, I'm aware of your capabilities," Lin Chen chuckled, "But I still feel the need to caution you about the monsters."
"Alright, alright, I understand! So, what's our next move?"
"I believe we need to alter our course," Lin Chen suggested.
"Alter our course?
But why?"
"The path ahead is heavily obstructed, we can't proceed.
We can't afford to be as impulsive as we were before," Lin Chen explained calmly.
"If it weren't for the monsters that were previously cleared from the road, with the car's remaining energy, it would be challenging for us to escape from the monsters that are pursuing us."
"Okay, I trust your judgment!"
"Let's get moving then!"
With a buzzing sound, three spider-like mini-robots swiftly returned to the secret door of the black CMB.
Lin Chen promptly got into the car, closed the door, and steered the CMB in a new direction, heading towards the other side of the street at the Rhine Hotel.
Sometimes, fate works in mysterious ways.
In the direction Lin Chen was heading, there was a Baiyun Street two kilometers ahead, and then a right turn. In the middle of Baiyun Street, there was a police station, one of the few remaining official armed forces in Yancheng.
However, the current situation was grim… the desperate screams of a young man echoed from an interrogation room.
Ahhhhh!
"You'll pay for this, you brutes, even if I turn into a zombie, I won't spare you!"
The man's body was bruised and battered, his hands were bound to a bench, and his face was etched with despair.
His agitation was understandable.
He was about to marry his girlfriend.
They had ventured out in the morning with plans to book a hotel for their wedding banquet, but they hadn't anticipated the sudden apocalypse.
They sought refuge in the east and eventually arrived here, hoping to find protection from the police.
Little did they know that most of the police officers had lost their lives in the line of duty, protecting the people.
Now, only a group of thugs occupied the place.
The man was merely a programmer.
His fiancée was a hotel receptionist.
They had weathered many storms together, and finally found each other.
Who could have foreseen such a turn of events?
The memory of his beloved being disgraced by a gang of twelve ruffians is etched indelibly in his mind.
A virtuous woman subjected to such torment is akin to a specter, a phantom of her former self. Ultimately, death becomes a merciful release from the relentless torture.
This moment starkly exposes the depths of human depravity.
While the moral decay of an average person might be gradual, for these brutes, it's as if they've been catapulted into an abyss of malevolence.
They are inherently demonic, embodying the annihilation of humanity.
Presently, there are sixteen individuals here, most of whom are hardened criminals. Their crimes range from fraud and robbery to sexually assaulting women and even murder.
In essence, they represent the vilest elements of society, committing all manner of atrocities. The one with the shortest sentence has been incarcerated for at least 20 years.
Following the apocalypse, some of them developed unique abilities and subsequently launched an assault on the local police force.
They seized control of the area and used the guise of police uniforms to lure unsuspecting survivors into their trap.
"Even if I turn into a zombie, I won't let you guys go?"
The young man's words were met with a scornful smile from the tattooed leader of the gang.
Hahahaha!
"Sure, when the monsters outside become too much to handle, I'll toss you out to feed the zombies."
The gang members erupted into laughter, dismissing the man's words as ludicrous.
"This fool! Does he think he'll retain his consciousness after turning into a zombie?"
Amidst the laughter, one of the men had a sudden thought: "Speaking of which,
Brother Leopard, that policewoman has been holed up in the police dormitory for quite some time, hasn't she?
Should we send someone to check on her?"
"No rush," replied the man known as Brother Leopard, a burly figure with dark skin.
"That woman is quite skilled. We might end up at a disadvantage if we confront her directly. Let's just station a couple of our guys to keep an eye on her.
She's got no food, so in a couple of days at most, she'll have no choice but to surrender…"
A lecherous grin spread across one man's face as he thought of the attractive policewoman.
"Hey, Brother Leopard!
I've never had a chance to 'play' with a policewoman before!"
"Don't worry," Brother Leopard reassured him,
"Once the policewoman is weakened, we'll all get our turn."
Hahahahahahaha!
The men erupted into raucous laughter once again.
A/n :- Dear readers, I welcome your suggestions and feedback in the comments section below. If you find the story engaging and enjoyable, I would greatly appreciate it if you could leave a review for this novel.