Chapter 1

Lin Chao woke up feeling something was off.

The putrid smell in the air had vanished, leaving no trace of any odor, and his breathing became incredibly smooth. Such fresh air was not only rare in the wilderness settlement but even slightly inferior to that in a B-level base city!

"Where am I?" Lin Chao immediately opened his eyes.

In his line of sight was an unfamiliar room of about ten square meters. Though not large, it was luxuriously furnished with an old-era soft bed, an energy-consuming chandelier, and a computer that only genetic researchers could afford. The room was clean to an exaggerated degree; there was not a speck of blood, odor, or even dust to be seen!

What's going on? Didn't I get killed by an Awakened?

Lin Chao's memory was still stuck at the last moment of his previous life...

***

Lin Chao was a survivor in the post-apocalyptic world, from 167 years after the Dark Age. His parents had died early, and he was forced to learn how to hunt at the age of six. He fought with rot-clawed young rats every day, using their slightly rotten corpses to fill his stomach, living in the dark corners of the wilderness settlement.

It was difficult for orphans to survive in the wilderness. Some of his peers starved to death in dark corners, others were eaten by rotting corpses while searching for food, and still others were captured by wild bandits and turned into food...

Lin Chao carefully endured the growth phase. On the day he turned sixteen, he was blessed by Lady Luck and unexpectedly captured a special rotting corpse. Using the energy within it, he became an Evolver!

In just three short years, he evolved from an F-level Evolver at the bottom to an A-level Evolver! This time, he tracked a rare A-level special rotting corpse in the wilderness, preparing to kill it, but encountered another Awakened who tried to snatch it. Without any chance of resistance, he was torn apart by a single claw!

He died at the age of nineteen.

***

"The Awakened are too strong..." Lin Chao came to his senses, still feeling a lingering fear. With his strength, he had no ability to resist.

Buzz~!

Suddenly, a wave of unfamiliar fragmented memories surged into his mind, colliding violently with his own memories. His brain felt like it was about to explode, and he broke out in a cold sweat from the pain.

"Who is this? Also named Lin Chao? Nineteen years old, a college freshman, living in 2017..." Lin Chao was somewhat bewildered. He looked down at his body, which matched the fragmented memories. This... was not his A-level Evolver body, but the body of the college freshman Lin Chao!

The same name, the same age.

One was a diligent student, the other a nineteen-year-old A-level Evolver who had survived in the post-apocalyptic world!

"I didn't die, but instead took over this person's body..." Lin Chao felt amazed. He had somehow come to the pre-Dark Age era, where there were no mutants, no rotting corpses, no monsters. The most ferocious animals on land were said to be unmutated lions and tigers, which were pitifully weak and could be easily killed with a single shot. Humans were the sole rulers of Earth!

In this era, people could enjoy three meals a day, turn on lights at night, and take baths at will... everything that was impossible to dream of in the post-Dark Age world!

Wait!

Today is December 21st?

Lin Chao suddenly woke from his pleasant thoughts. If he remembered correctly, the disaster would erupt on this evening. After sunset, the world would plunge into a long and chaotic Dark Age...

The origin of this disaster was a terrifying viral storm, which spread through the air at a speed over thirty-six times the speed of sound. It quickly swept across the globe. One-tenth of the global population would be infected in the first wave, turning into frenzied, biting rotting corpses. Anyone bitten or touched by them would also be infected and turn into mindless, terrifying rotting corpses! The disaster was only half a day away!

Lin Chao did not panic but quickly calmed down. He had heard from some knowledgeable elders that the rotting corpses and monsters in the early stages of the apocalypse were not terrifying, possessing only two to three times the strength and speed of ordinary humans. With his A3-level marksmanship and years of survival experience, as long as he was cautious, he could handle it.

"Heaven has given me a second chance, and I will seize it!"

Lin Chao thought to himself. He pondered the preparations he needed to make. After the disaster, the most important thing would be food!

When famine strikes, a bag of instant noodles could be worth a human life!

Lin Chao knew the pain of hunger. When one is hungry enough, they would do anything!

Besides food, weapons were crucial!

"Unfortunately, gun control is too strict here, unlike in America, where you can see gun shops on some bustling streets, though you need a gun license to buy one. Now, I can't hope for a handgun, but if I can get a long gun, or an axe, or a knife, it would be good."

Lin Chao had practiced with a nine-foot-nine-inch-long cold weapon since childhood, not a handgun. Handgun bullets were too expensive in the future, and before he evolved, he couldn't even afford to eat, let alone buy bullets. Therefore, he chose to practice with cheap cold weapons!

Among various cold weapons, he was most passionate about the long gun!

If he could get a long gun, his survival capabilities would greatly improve!

Lin Chao quickly put on his clothes and went out.

His wallet contained a bank card and a few hundred dollars in cash, totaling several ten thousand yuan, which could buy a lot of food.

First, he needed water!

After the disaster, the water supply system would be damaged, and even if some water plants were still operational, the tap water would not be safe to drink. Who knows how many rotting corpses might be floating in the reservoirs?

He went to a purified water company and bought twenty barrels of purified water, then wrote down a delivery address, with the recipient being his sister.

This Lin Chao's parents were elite scientists who died in a failed experiment when he was two years old, leaving him and his eight-year-old sister. The experiment also affected his sister, causing her body to stop growing at the age of eight, maintaining the appearance of an eight-year-old child.

He was raised by his sister, who took care of his meals, laundry, and education. Fortunately, his parents left them a considerable amount of wealth, so their lives were not too impoverished.

"I have taken over your body to be reborn, and I will protect your sister for you..." Lin Chao thought to himself.

After buying the water, he then bought rice, various vegetables with a long shelf life, and processed foods. Finally, he bought a large amount of candy, instant noodles, and chocolate—foods that could fill his stomach and were high in calories.

It took a considerable amount of time, but Lin Chao finally bought everything he needed. Next, he needed weapons.

He roamed through most of the city but could not find a long gun or a sharp battle knife. In the end, he had to settle for an iron rod.

Additionally, he bought some throwing knives, which he was most skilled with besides the long gun. As a child, he often used stones to smash rotting corpses. Later, as an Evolver, he specifically crafted a set of throwing knives and practiced his throwing knife skills to A1 level!

Finally, he bought a telescope and two maps, one of the city and one of the country. These items were as important as weapons in the post-apocalyptic world, where electronic networks would be down, and understanding the geographical environment was crucial.

***

In front of Unit 9, 16th floor, Room 1 of the Riverside Community.

Several barrels of purified water were stacked outside the door, and a little girl in a black dress sat on top of them. She looked to be only seven or eight years old, with a brown ponytail and black rubber glasses. Her fair face was puffed up in anger, and her small body seemed like a bomb ready to explode.

As soon as the elevator door opened, Lin Chao saw her. It was his sister, Lin Shiyu!

"Are you crazy?" Lin Shiyu's patience had clearly run out. As soon as she saw his face, she ran over like a flash, her young voice filled with anger. "Why did you buy so much water and rice? Are you causing a famine? My place is already stuffed!"

"Sis!" Lin Chao touched his nose, feeling a bit awkward. Since he had memory, he had never spoken to anyone with such a gentle tone.

"What 'sis'? You dare to be so rude?" Lin Shiyu puffed up her cheeks and glared at him.

Lin Chao inwardly smiled bitterly. Is this considered rude? He cleared his throat and tried to make his voice even softer. "Sis, let's go inside and talk."

"Hmph!" Lin Shiyu's expression improved slightly at the gentle tone.

...

As the sun set, at the dining table.

Lin Shiyu's gaze swept over the room, which was filled with rice and purified water. The veins on her forehead bulged as she stared at Lin Chao. "Can you explain this?"

Lin Chao kept his eyes straight and said, "I can, but... can you put the knife down first?"

Lin Shiyu huffed and put down the kitchen knife, gnashing her little teeth. "If you don't give me a reasonable explanation, I'll freeze your bank card!"

Lin Chao thought that since the money was already spent, it didn't matter if the card was frozen. He checked the time; it was already sunset, and the disaster would likely erupt soon. There was no harm in telling her. He looked at her seriously and said, "If I tell you that the world is about to end, would you believe me?"

Lin Shiyu stared at him for three seconds, then grabbed the phone and dialed three numbers. "Hello, is this 120? My brother is seriously ill..."

Lin Chao quickly snatched the phone and hung up, saying helplessly, "You'll know in a few hours that what I said is true."

...

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I once disappointed and angered many of you. This new book will be updated diligently, and I won't let you down again. If I do, feel free to criticize or even leave me.

Starting with this book, I will reform and reignite my passion.

I hope you enjoy reading it. If you don't like it after ten thousand words, feel free to criticize me!

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