Wailing, screaming.
Lin An struggled to get up from the ground, his head splitting with pain.
The air was filled with the smell of burning.
What had been an orderly roadway was now completely clogged.
A cacophony of honking horns and screams filled the air.
"Bang!"
Lin An's pupils constricted violently as a truck loaded with goods roared past him.
He dodged hastily, his heartbeat stopping at the sight before him.
The runaway truck had crashed into a barrier, toppling over.
The cargo spilled everywhere.
The cab, now aflame, had its door open from the flip.
The driver, with a caved-in skull, who should have been dead, crawled out quickly from the damaged door.
Bloody handprints trailed on the ground.
With such injuries, a normal person would be dead by now.
This is... a zombie!?
His mouth went dry.
Lin An quickly pulled out his phone, and the time on the screen made his heart sink.
November 16, 2032, 16:22.
Three days had passed.
There were only eight minutes left until the apocalypse erupted.
His eyes widened in shock.
The memory of the catastrophe on the day of the apocalypse overlapped with the reality before him.
Lin An didn't have time to think about why he had been unconscious for three days after obtaining the ring.
It had disrupted his original plan.
Now, he had to immediately head to the apartment complex where his comrade lived.
At this moment, there were only 2 hours and 8 minutes left before An Jingtian completely turned into a zombie!
And the city center where he was located was quite a distance from An Jingtian's apartment complex.
"Roar!"
The zombie crawling on the ground shrieked hoarsely, lunging at Lin An.
A straight kick!
In his anger and urgency.
Lin An delivered a perfect kick, his sturdy shoe sole instantly crushing the head of the half-bodied zombie.
"Beep, detected zombie kill."
"Apocalypse player template activated early!"
"Savior template has been activated."
A light screen instantly appeared in front of him.
"Apocalypse player information: Lin An (Awakener Level 0, Player Level 0)"
"Attributes:"
"Strength 12 (10+2)"
"Agility: 12 (10+2)"
"Constitution: 12 (10+2)"
"Will: 14 (12+2)"
"Equipment: Ring of the Apocalypse (Special)"
Awakener Ability: Burst of Strength (Greatly enhances physical attributes for a short time, causes weakness after continuous use.)
"Level 0: All attributes +2 (Normal human limit for each attribute is 10, initial awakening will increase all attributes to max value!)"
Savior Template: Gains an extra special skill (Eye of Judgment, unlocked after completing the first mission)
"Mission start countdown: ???"
Lin An was stunned, his breathing growing rapid.
The player template was supposed to appear only after the apocalypse began.
Unexpectedly, it had appeared now.
Not only that, but the awakening ability he had longed for in his past life had also appeared.
This saved him the time of going to the energy node.
As for the newly emerged savior template, he had never heard of it in his previous life.
The associated skill hadn't shown up yet, it seemed it would reveal itself after the apocalypse started.
These unexpected changes were likely due to obtaining the Ring of the Apocalypse early.
In his previous life, the ring was taken after the zombie outbreak.
And according to survivors, there had been no unusual occurrences then, certainly no three-day coma.
Recalling the strange experience of taking the ring.
Lin An couldn't help but feel a chill.
Something was definitely trying to emerge from that black crack.
Suppressing his thoughts.
A unique power surged into his body after the prompt, his muscles tensed, and his original height of 1.8 meters grew by two centimeters.
Lin An took a deep breath, his right hand muscles tensed.
He threw a punch.
Twisting his waist for power, his arm swung with a whooshing sound straight at the thick car door.
"Bang!"
The car body jolted, the metal door caved in instantly, the several-ton vehicle's tires screeched as it slid half a meter sideways.
Lin An stared intently at the power of his punch.
Astonished.
This is the strength of an awakener?
The force of one punch was at least three tons!
If he hit a normal person, they would be shattered.
Lin An was overjoyed.
From now on, he had the means to struggle through the apocalypse.
His right foot pushed off, taking a step forward.
The asphalt cracked beneath him.
His body leaped lightly like a cannonball to the car roof, which dented under his weight.
Standing at a higher vantage point, Lin An carefully observed his route forward.
Not far away, some weaker ordinary people had begun turning into zombies.
Mindlessly, the zombies, driven by hunger, devoured any living creature.
With his enhanced willpower, his thoughts raced, his mind clear.
In just a few seconds, Lin An quickly mapped out his route.
Linjiang Street, City Center Plaza, Ring Road, Heyuan Community...
These were the fastest ways to An Jingtian's location.
The Linjiang Avenue he was on was already in chaos.
Hundreds of chain collisions completely blocked the road.
He had to traverse the most chaotic part of the city on foot, then find a way to drive the rest of the way.
Otherwise, it would be hard to reach his destination within two hours on foot alone.
Brother...
Hold on!
No time to waste.
Lin An bent his legs, jumping to the roof of a Bentley.
The car shook, the zombie that had been gnawing on the driver inside the cab sensed the presence of a living person.
It stopped eating mechanically, then grabbed a piece of flesh with its right hand, quickly lunging toward the roof.
Lin An ignored the disturbed zombie, pushing off with his legs again.
Like bouncing on a trampoline.
With his enhanced physical strength, he crossed the accident site in just a few seconds.
Not far away, a middle-aged man stared in shock as Lin An jumped down from the car roof.
Lin An's terrifying jumping ability looked like something straight out of a movie.
For a moment, the man forgot the dozens of zombies chasing him.
"Help! Me!"
A stumble.
The man staggered, tearing at his vocal cords, shouting like he saw a lifeline.
Lin An heard the call and looked up slightly.
Seeing Lin An's attention, the man showed a look of ecstatic relief.
"Help... help me!"
Lin An looked at the man running for his life, almost exhausted, and frowned.
He didn't want to waste time saving people.
There were too many zombies.
Only six minutes left until the virus outbreak.
The zombies appearing now were mostly those with weaker constitutions or people killed in the crashes.
Once the virus fully erupted, 60% of the city's population would turn into zombies.
Another 10% would turn gradually, like ticking time bombs.
And now, the city had a population of over three million!
He wasn't some saint, saving everyone he saw.
They passed each other by.
The man's eyes went from hope to despair, his lips trembling.
His energy nearly exhausted, his legs buckled under fatigue.
Once he stops, the zombies behind him will devour him completely.
Despair and helplessness.
The doll the man instinctively clutched while running fell to the ground.
It was a birthday present for his daughter.
Lin An's face was expressionless as his peripheral vision passed over the doll.
His original route slightly deviated.
Punch!
Lin An charged toward the zombie closest to the man, his right fist shooting out like a sharp sword.
Flesh and blood splattered.
The immense impact pierced straight through the zombie's chest, leaving a gaping hole.
With a swift motion, Lin An yanked out the zombie's spine to use as a weapon.
The bones of zombies, strengthened by the virus, were extremely hard!
In the apocalypse, where resources are scarce, they are often used as weapons.
A backhand chop!
The white bone sliced through the air, producing a sharp whistling sound.
With one strike, the zombie on his right was cleaved in half, swaying before falling to the ground in two pieces.
The middle-aged man behind him thought he was doomed.
Seeing Lin An still choose to act, his expression became extremely agitated.
Watching Lin An move through the zombies like a tiger among sheep, displaying strength beyond his imagination, the man felt his mouth go dry, thinking he was witnessing a monster.
Looking at the distant crowd continuously pounced on by zombies and the apocalyptic city, a thought suddenly sprang to his experienced mind.
This world is doomed!
Follow him!
He can save me!
He can save my daughter!
"Thud."
The man suddenly knelt on the ground, his expression humble, shouting desperately at Lin An, who was fighting through the zombies.
"Please save my daughter! She's still at school!"
Lin An's face remained cold. He could only deal with the closest zombies to his limit.
Save people?
Who will save his brothers then!?
Lin An didn't look back.
After clearing the zombies blocking his path, he walked away.
"Run!"
"Survive! And rely on yourself!"
Hearing Lin An's parting words, the middle-aged man smiled bitterly.
Looking at the zombies gathering again not far away, he quickly picked up the fallen doll and turned to flee.
. . .
Downtown, Wanda Shopping Plaza.
Lin An was covered in blood, the thick liquid dripping from his hair.
He stood silently on top of a residential building, staring at the shopping center.
The apocalypse is about to begin, and there will be a global mental storm.
During the mental storm, people will briefly lose their senses.
Being disturbed while on the move is extremely dangerous.
No matter how anxious he is, he can only wait it out.
. . .
The parking lot in front of the building was a mess.
People hiding in cars were like delicious cans of food.
Maybe the car doors could block the zombies, but the fragile windshield could not.
Zombies, driven only by their hunger, continuously banged their heads against the car windows, undeterred by pain.
Within seconds, the windows shattered.
The swarming zombies opened the cans, enjoying the human flesh inside.
. . .
On the first floor of the shopping center.
The people hiding behind the iron gate helplessly watched a car outside.
The silver-white car was surrounded by zombies.
They stretched their hands greedily towards the inside of the car.
Inside the car, a beautiful woman in professional attire screamed in despair.
She clutched the car roof, her straight, white legs kicking repeatedly at the closest zombie.
The sharp heels kicked off bits of zombie flesh, but it wasn't lethal.
"Save me...!"
"Please, someone save me!"
The skirt fluttered revealingly.
The beautiful woman frequently turned her head, her pleading eyes looking at the people just a door away.
"Don't open the door!"
"We can't open the door!"
A few patrolling security guards instinctively wanted to open the gate but were loudly stopped by many people.
"If you open the door, we won't be able to hold off the zombies! Are you trying to kill us!?"
A strong man furthest from the door urgently pushed aside the closest guard, glaring at him as if looking at an enemy.
If it were an ordinary day, he wouldn't mind playing the hero to save the beauty.
But facing the zombies, he just wanted to save his own life.
Crying, chewing, screaming, until there was no more sound.
The people inside the iron gate could only watch as she was slowly torn apart, but no one dared to go out.
The guards holding batons stood numbly, their legs trembling.
A few tall fitness trainers lowered their heads, not daring to look again.
The crowd was silent.
Amid the fear and sorrow, there was a slight sense of relief.
Relief that they had timely hidden in the building and locked the iron gate.
It was not only safe here, but also well-stocked with food.
. . .
On the rooftop, Lin An saw everything.
Looking at the people saving themselves, he couldn't help but sigh.
It wasn't because no one dared to go out to save her.
In the apocalypse, self-preservation is normal.
There's nothing to blame.
He sighed for the people inside the building.
At this time, nearly 30,000 people had squeezed into the shopping center.
The dense crowd was packed like sardines.
And now, there were only 10 seconds left until the apocalypse began.
By then, the power would fail, and the virus lurking in human bodies would simultaneously explode.
This place would relive the horrors of his previous life and turn into hell.
"Buzz!"
Ten seconds passed in a flash.
A high-pitched, piercing buzzing sound.
Suddenly, a mocking and brutal voice sounded in everyone's mind.
"Doomsday has arrived, the game begins!"
"Welcome to the Doomsday Game, little worms."
"Struggle to survive in this game!"
Without warning.
The sky instantly turned dark, strong winds roared, and the earth trembled.
An invisible mental shock swept over everyone.
The violent mental shock hit like a heavy hammer to the depths of the soul.
Briefly losing their senses.
Countless terrifying, chilling wails sounded, directly hitting the deepest fears in people's hearts.
A global mutation occurred simultaneously, with people standing still on hospital beds, streets, and roads.
One second later, the zombie virus erupted!
It was as if their souls were sucked out.
Humans turning into zombies had bulging eyes.
Their skin rotted and peeled off, revealing raw muscles.
Pupils disappeared, leaving only a bloodthirsty gleam.
And at that moment.
Inside the crowded mall, the panicking crowd dropped the shelves blocking the door.
"Pop."
The lights at the top of the mall went out, and thousands of pairs of dense, red eyes lit up in the darkness.