Chen Wei's heart raced as the pain from swallowing the crystal core surged through his body. It was a familiar, excruciating feeling, one he had endured once before. This time, however, the agony felt different—less suffocating, but more profound. His body burned with a fiery intensity that radiated from his chest and spread out to every inch of his limbs. His veins bulged under the strain, the pressure building as his muscles seemed to tear and rebuild at an accelerated pace. The very cells in his body felt as if they were evolving, being reshaped by some external force, pushing him beyond his human limits.
Chen Wei's mind fought to stay clear amidst the overwhelming pain. He was aware of the changes, the burning hunger that gnawed at him, the relentless need to consume. His body screamed for nourishment, a primal urge that he could not ignore. It was as though the crystal core had triggered an insatiable hunger, a need for resources to fuel his transformation.
"I can't waste this opportunity," Chen Wei thought, gritting his teeth against the pain. He staggered to his feet and made his way to the small kitchen, his limbs still shaking from the intensity of the transformation. The supplies he had been storing in the space—things he had collected from his parallel world—lay just within his reach. They would be his salvation now.
He tore into the food, eating with the ferocity of a starving man. First, he devoured a full day's worth of rice and meat, followed by a mountain of vegetables, bread, and fruit. As he ate, the pain in his body began to recede, replaced by a feeling of euphoria that surged through him. It was a strange sensation—like his very body was being reprogrammed, renewed. He could feel his strength growing with every bite, his muscles swelling, his mind sharpening.
By the time he had eaten enough to fill an entire day's worth of meals, the pain had all but dissipated, leaving behind a feeling of absolute clarity. His body was no longer just a vessel—it was a weapon. His mind felt clearer, more focused, as if every neuron in his brain was firing at full capacity.
Chen Wei began to test his physical limits. He performed push-ups, squats, sit-ups, and every physical exercise he could think of. His body responded effortlessly, his endurance seemingly endless. With each repetition, his muscles burned, but the pain was no longer something he feared. He was stronger—far stronger than he had ever been. His speed, strength, and reflexes had all surpassed the human limit. He was no longer just a man—he was something more.
But there was still something that gnawed at him, something he couldn't quite place. The gray space in his mind, the one that had expanded ever so slightly after each transformation, had grown yet again. It had doubled in size this time, now capable of storing far more supplies. The question lingered in his mind: Was this growth a direct result of the crystal cores, or was there something more to it? Was it possible that his connection to the parallel world was evolving as well?
Chen Wei pondered the implications of his newfound power as he continued to explore his abilities. His space was no longer just a storage unit; it was a lifeline. He could store food, tools, and even precious items like gold and jewelry. And with each new item, his space seemed to grow larger, more expansive. What would happen if he continued to collect more crystal cores? Could he continue to expand his abilities? Or would the power become uncontrollable, like the very apocalypse he was fighting to survive?
The thought was unsettling, but there was no time to dwell on it. Just as he was about to settle into his thoughts, he heard a knock at the door.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
Chen Wei's heart skipped a beat. It was a sound he had come to dread—another survivor, perhaps, or worse, a zombie. He quickly grabbed two machetes from his storage and held them in his hands. He had learned from past experiences that there was no room for hesitation. He couldn't afford to be caught off guard.
"Who's there?" he called out, his voice cold and controlled.
There was a brief pause, then a faint voice responded, "I'm not a zombie, I swear. Please, I need help."
Chen Wei narrowed his eyes. A voice—a human voice. He hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to stay cautious. In the apocalypse, trust was a luxury he couldn't afford. But the voice sounded desperate, and the word "help" stirred something deep within him. He had seen enough suffering to know that sometimes, even in the harshest of times, people still needed help.
Slowly, he moved to the door, peering through the peephole. A woman, young, with long dark hair and a slim figure, stood outside. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear, but there was something else—something familiar—about her.
"Who are you?" Chen Wei demanded, his grip tightening on the machetes.
The woman hesitated for a moment before speaking. "My name is Lin Yuwei," she said, her voice shaky. "I... I know who you are. I saw what you did outside 1902. You killed three zombies. Please, I'm starving. Can you help me?"
Chen Wei's mind raced. Lin Yuwei. The name was unfamiliar, but her appearance struck a chord. She had the look of someone who had once been wealthy—her posture, the way she carried herself despite the obvious exhaustion. She was far too composed for someone who had been surviving in this nightmare for long.
For a moment, Chen Wei was torn. His instincts screamed for caution, but he couldn't ignore the hunger in her eyes. The desperation. She wasn't a zombie. But there was something else—something off about the whole situation.
"Well?" Chen Wei asked, his voice still cold, as he continued to assess her.
Lin Yuwei shifted her weight nervously. "I'm... I'm from a wealthy family. My family was in the jewelry business. But everything collapsed. I've been trying to survive on my own. I haven't had food for days, and I… I saw you in the building earlier. You didn't hesitate when you killed those zombies. I need your help. Just some food."
Chen Wei paused, considering her words. He had no interest in the history of her wealth or her status. It was meaningless now. In this new world, only survival mattered.
"Why should I help you?" Chen Wei's voice was as sharp as ever.
"I can offer you something in exchange. I know it doesn't seem like much, but I have… I have a valuable necklace. It's a rare blue diamond. It was worth a fortune before the collapse," Lin Yuwei said quickly, desperation creeping into her voice. "It's all I have left. Please, I'll trade it for food."
Chen Wei raised an eyebrow, intrigued. A blue diamond? It sounded too good to be true. Yet, in a world like this, things had become strangely twisted. A rare gem might not have the same value it once had, but it could still be useful. It could be traded for supplies, or perhaps even used in ways he couldn't foresee.
"Alright, come in," Chen Wei said, unlocking the door.
Lin Yuwei stepped inside cautiously, her eyes scanning the room before landing on the food that Chen Wei had prepared earlier. She didn't waste any time, moving toward the small stash of supplies.
Chen Wei's eyes followed her movements carefully. She was clearly hungry, but her composure was unsettling. She seemed too polished for someone who had been living through this nightmare. Was she hiding something? Could she be trusted?
As Lin Yuwei sat down and began eating, Chen Wei observed her silently. She ate slowly, savoring each bite, but her eyes kept darting to the space around her. There was an odd sense of urgency in her movements, as though she was calculating every moment, every interaction.
Chen Wei decided to test her. "You said you had a necklace. Let's see it."
Lin Yuwei hesitated, then pulled out a small velvet pouch from her pocket. She opened it to reveal a stunning blue diamond, its color vibrant even in the dim light. Chen Wei's eyes glinted as he looked at the jewel. It was far more valuable than anything he had in his space.
"Is this really worth anything in this world?" Chen Wei asked, his tone skeptical. "In the apocalypse, diamonds are just shiny rocks."
Lin Yuwei looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and frustration. "It's not just a diamond. It's *Haoyu Blue*, the rarest gemstone in the world. It was my family's most prized possession. You can use it to trade, or maybe even find someone who still values it."
Chen Wei considered the offer. The blue diamond was certainly a tempting prize, but he had learned to trust only what he could take from his space. He wasn't about to let an outsider manipulate him with sentimental value or promises of luxury. Still, her desperation intrigued him.
"Two days of food. That's all you'll get from me for this," Chen Wei said, his voice firm.
Lin Yuwei's eyes flickered with surprise, but she quickly regained her composure. "Fine," she said, removing the necklace and placing it in his hand. "I'll take the food."
Chen Wei took the necklace, storing it in his space with a flick of his wrist. His mind raced as he weighed the pros and cons of this exchange. Was this a fair trade?