8:00 AM, June 14th.
Only 16 hours remained before the full eruption of doomsday.
The atmosphere in the villa was heavy with tension.
Though Novak had meticulously arranged everything beforehand, he hadn't appeared for the past two days and nights, leaving Daphne, who was used to his commanding presence, feeling uneasy.
Especially now—with less than a day left before the world would undergo its drastic transformation.
However, Daphne wasn't an ordinary woman.
She had made all the necessary preparations. In the past few days, she had liquidated her assets as quickly as possible, acquiring an abundance of supplies and even purchasing the entire Ocean Blue Villa Area in De-M-anila.
Meanwhile, over 500 well-trained security personnel, along with elite veteran bodyguards led by Nicole, were stationed at Ocean Blue Villa, ready for the chaos to come.
Despite their readiness, there was no guarantee that all their family members would survive without turning into the walking dead. It was impossible to ensure that none would fall to the zombie virus.
Yet, Daphne had done everything in her power.
Using blueprints of the zombie virus serum, she had produced many serum tablets. These serums, derived from zombie blood, were something she could easily obtain, given her influence and connections.
Although Novak had assured her that this virus serum would guarantee immunity from turning into a zombie after being scratched by low-level infected, there was still a limit. The virus's effects, when amplified by the doomsday's magnetic field shift, would only be slightly reduced.
Still, any level of protection was better than none.
With this, her team could remain loyal—and more importantly, alive.
But for now, it was a waiting game, which was the hardest part.
Daphne glanced at Aria and Dane, both trying to mask their nervousness but clearly feeling the pressure. Smiling, she wiped her mouth and stood up slowly.
Their worries differed from hers.
She had just received a special call—'that' host from De-M-anila TV was coming over for a chat.
And what could they possibly talk about? The host's intentions were obvious.
Dane watched Daphne with growing irritation, her annoyance evident in her eyes. She felt disgust toward the woman who had raised her—a woman who now felt more like a stranger.
After her father had died, his memory long faded, Daphne had shown her true colors. Like a black widow spinning her web, she seized control of the family business, ensuring no part of it slipped through her fingers, leaving predators circling hungrily but powerless. She had even changed her surname to her mother's, a clear testament to her ambition, ruthlessness, and self-interest.
And now, here she was again—manipulating events as if they were chess pieces on a board.
"How can someone be like this?" Dane thought, her frustration mounting. "Does she really think this is some ancient era?"
And 'that' man—she hated him too.
The more Dane thought about it, the angrier she became. But what could she do? She could only watch as the TV host, once a familiar face on the screen, walked into their yard, heading toward the villa.
As Dane stewed in her anger, Aria tugged on her sleeve.
"Sister Dane, didn't you ask Aunt Song to find this host, Ruri?"
Dane shot an irritated glare at Aria, who was clearly oblivious to the real issue. She waved her hand dismissively and retreated to her room. The world hadn't even changed yet, but people were already behaving strangely.
It was exhausting. What was this nonsense about a zombie virus and the end of the world?
Meanwhile, Daphne had no time for her daughter's frustrations. She focused on Ruri, who had just arrived at the door, holding a cup of morning coffee. Despite her modest clothing, Ruri's petite frame still drew attention to her curvy figure, which made her visibly uncomfortable.
Daphne, however, was unfazed.
'This woman is something else,' Daphne thought with a smirk. 'A true beauty, the kind that could have toppled kingdoms in ancient times.'
Ignoring what others might think, Daphne asked casually, "Miss Ruri, have you made up your mind?"
Ruri bit her lip. She had.
A few days ago, tragedy had struck her family. A sick relative, quarantined during the virus outbreak, had transformed—along with the entire family—into bloodthirsty monsters.
Ruri was determined not to let that happen to her or her parents. She couldn't bear the thought of becoming one of those hideous creatures.
As she stood before Daphne, her mind kept drifting back to the man she had met two days earlier—a man with unimaginable power. If anyone could protect her family from the zombie virus, it was him!
Under Daphne's gaze, Ruri exhaled slowly, finally speaking:
"I don't want to die. And I don't want my parents to die either. If you can help me, I'll do whatever you ask. Or… whatever 'he' asks."
Daphne smiled at her response, standing up slowly. At 1.75 meters tall, Daphne's height matched Ruri's, but her presence made her seem much more imposing.
She loved this feeling—holding someone's fate in her hands. It was a power even more exhilarating than before the apocalypse. In the modern world, such control was hard to come by, but in these turbulent times, life and death hung in the balance.
She relished the feeling of standing above others, like a queen surveying her kingdom.
Approaching Ruri, Daphne's purple eyes locked onto hers, but her tone was light and playful as she asked, "What man? From now on, remember to change how you address him."
Ruri blinked, momentarily stunned, her eyes clouded with confusion. But almost on instinct, she asked, "What should I call him?"
With a smile, Daphne's gaze softened. She reached out, gently stroking Ruri's face, just as Novak had done to her the night before.
"Remember," Daphne whispered, her voice dripping with satisfaction, "from now on, you'll call him 'Master'."