Reality fell short of Tong Yinyin's expectations. Despite her early arrival at Yun'an Mountain and the apocalypse unfolding exactly as she had written, her much-anticipated ability awakening had yet to occur.
In the novel, her ability had emerged dramatically during a desperate moment when she was bitten by a zombie while saving her family. Now, with her family safely tucked away in a well-stocked inn, thanks to her foresight, there was no such life-threatening situation to catalyze her awakening. What was she supposed to do? Throw herself at a zombie? Besides, zombies wouldn't follow her script. What if they bit her face, her chest, or somewhere even worse? The thought of their fetid stench and the gruesome aftermath of a bite—bloody, mangled flesh—was too much to bear. She quickly dismissed the idea.
Being a "prophet" wasn't as easy as she had imagined. Writing the novel had been straightforward: the protagonist dictated the narrative, and the world unfolded around her. But in this world, things were different. It wasn't a simple one-dimensional story but a complex, multifaceted reality. The protagonist's perspective was just one small slice of the larger whole. Before Wen Xinyu's arrival, much of Yun'an Mountain was an enigma to Tong Yinyin. She was flying blind in a world she had ostensibly created.
Fortunately, she had remembered the base leader's name and had prepared meticulously in advance. Her efforts had secured her a modest foothold within the base before her cousin Wen Xinyu's arrival. It wasn't much, but it was better than most ordinary people in the base. Still, for someone who saw herself as the world's creator, being ordered around by her "subjects" was a bitter pill to swallow.
Finally, Wen Xinyu arrived, albeit a week later than expected and accompanied by Gao Rui. Worse yet, Wen Xinyu hadn't offered her the life-saving spring water from the dimensional space. Tong Yinyin couldn't ask directly without raising suspicions about how she knew of its existence.
To make matters worse, rumors circulated that Ji Ruyi had died in a mutant beast attack, and Zichen hadn't awakened his abilities. Anxiety gnawed at Tong Yinyin. The storyline was unraveling in unexpected ways. Could her presence have caused a butterfly effect?
Then she saw Ji Ruyi, alive and as infuriatingly brash as ever. Relief flooded her. If Ji Ruyi was still the same, perhaps the deviations weren't too severe.
"Stop rushing me! You'll get your turn," Tong Yinyin snapped at Ji Ruyi, her tone dripping with irritation. Taking a deep breath, she handed the ability badge to a middle-aged man and instructed him to wear it at all times. But as she turned back to her clipboard, her eyes darted toward Ji Ruyi. A thought escaped her lips before she could stop herself: "You have an ability? That's... impossible."
Ji Ruyi arched an eyebrow and smirked. "Impossible? For someone like me—stunning, brilliant, and destined for greatness? Awakening an ability is nothing. And not just one, mind you—dual abilities. What's with the face? Let me guess, you haven't awakened anything. Not surprising, given your mediocre talent."
Tong Yinyin's lips twitched, her frustration barely contained. "Don't let it get to your head. So what if you have abilities? Speed and strength, isn't it? Nothing remarkable. My cousin Wen Xinyu, on the other hand, has level-three lightning abilities. Only three people in the entire base can claim that. Compared to her, you're nothing."
Ji Ruyi's expression darkened briefly before she snorted dismissively. "You haven't even tested me yet. How would you know my level? Cut the chatter and get on with it. And while you're at it, tell me where Wen Xinyu is. I've been meaning to... catch up with her."
Tong Yinyin's face stiffened, but she focused on the task at hand. When Ji Ruyi's abilities tested at level two, Tong Yinyin's lips curled slightly. Speed and strength were far from versatile compared to elemental powers. Wen Xinyu's lightning abilities could synergize with wind to amplify her attacks, whereas Ji Ruyi's abilities were static. While her speed and strength might improve her chances of survival, they lacked the flair and devastating potential of elemental combinations.
Ji Ruyi maintained her air of arrogance but inwardly seethed. Wen Xinyu's effortless progress to level three, despite her endless distractions, was a bitter contrast to Ji Ruyi's grueling efforts. The disparity gnawed at her pride.
Ji Ruyi had no time to dwell on her frustrations. She had more pressing matters. Wen Xinyu needed to pay—not with her life, but enough to make up for what she'd suffered. Since surviving the mutant beast attack, Ji Ruyi's approach had shifted. Clinging to Wen Xinyu's coattails was no longer an option. From now on, her mission was simple: survive, gather energy, and thwart Wen Xinyu at every opportunity.
The protagonist's golden aura meant nothing. Ji Ruyi was determined to rewrite the story.
She tightened her grip on her bat, adjusted her backpack to conceal the items from her space, and set off. Her first priority: disrupt Wen Xinyu's foundation and tip the scales in her favor.