Apocalypse Escape: Day One of Survival

”Child’s play!” he roared, dashing toward the window.

”Zong Xuan, get out of the way!” Song You’ai shrieked in terror.

BOOM!

It was too late for Wang Zongxuan to dodge. A massive force burst through the window, hitting him head-on and sending him flying.

He was slammed hard against the stair railing on the other side.

As the railing splintered with a series of cracks, Wang Zongxuan collapsed to the ground like a broken ragdoll!

”Wang!” Song Kexin bounded down the stairs, rushing to the side of the blood-covered Wang Zongxuan.

Xiao Huang Mao and the Song Youyi couple also burst in, scrambling to get the first-aid kit.

Meanwhile, the pressure of holding back the dozens of people at the door fell entirely on Song Shijun.

The young man’s handsome face grew even more grim. He pressed his lips together without a word, endlessly unleashing a gale of Wind Vortex Blades.

”Let me teach you something! Before a Third Rank, you’re all nothing!” Zhang Zhennong sneered. His two enhanced arms, now like steel bars, slammed viciously into Song Youzhi.

THUD! Song Youzhi spat out a mouthful of blood, clenching his jaw tightly.

The difference of a single rank created such a vast disparity in power.

Though he was a Second Order Power-type Superpower User, before a Third Rank Enhanced Superpower User, he was like an ant trying to shake a tree.

”Do you agree or not!” Zhang Zhennong roared.

”Stop!” Song You’ai screamed at the top of her lungs.

”DO YOU AGREE OR NOT?!” Zhang Zhennong grabbed Song Youzhi by the neck and drew back his fist to strike him in the face.

”Two conditions!” he bellowed, a cold, murderous glint in his eyes.

He always got what he wanted.

Killing one or two people to achieve his goals meant nothing to him.

’This family was just ordinary, working-class before the apocalypse. They think they can rise just because they got some superpowers? They’re completely overestimating themselves!’

”What two conditions?” As a cool, yet incredibly gentle voice slowly rose, the eyes of the two City Defense Team members watching the commotion at the door suddenly bulged.

Blood gurgled from their wide-open mouths as they collapsed heavily to the ground, their breathing ceasing entirely.

Xie Ning walked in, followed by three others.

Ji Taixian’s jaw dropped as he took in the wrecked courtyard, his gaze landing on Zhang Zhennong in disbelief.

Xie Ning, too, was staring coldly at Zhang Zhennong.

The man was still holding her uncle, whose face was contorted in pain, yet he stood there with an expression of supreme arrogance, looking down on everyone.

Excellent.

Quite the character.

A cold light flashed in Xie Ning’s narrowed eyes, and she instantly conjured a Spiritual Blade, sending it slashing toward him.

The blond-haired boy behind her widened his eyes, staring at Xie Ning in shock.

’I can feel a powerful spiritual fluctuation... It’s incredibly strong!’

”Argh!” Caught completely off guard, Zhang Zhennong cried out, letting go of his captive to clutch his head.

Though Xie Ning’s expression remained unchanged, she felt a slight wave of dizziness.

’Forcing myself to use a Spiritual Blade attack, something only a Third Rank Spiritual System user should be able to do, is definitely a strain. But the results seem pretty good.’

Song Youzhi seized the opportunity to break free, clutching his throat as he coughed.

Song You’ai hurried forward to help him, her eyes brimming with tears.

”Ms. Ning,” Ji Taixian said, picking up a torn contract from the debris-strewn floor. He flipped it open, pointed to a line, and read aloud, ”It says here that Aunt Song is to report to the base’s water-filling station at 6:00 AM every day to use her Water Ability. She gets off at 10:00 PM. No leave for any reason; she must work even through minor illnesses. No days off, and she is forbidden from ever leaving the base.”

Ji Taixian let out a laugh of pure fury at the outrageous terms. ”And the monthly salary? Two thousand points.”

Ji Taixian slammed the tattered contract on the ground, then stomped on it for good measure. ”Who the fuck do you think you are? How much did you drink to get this deluded?”

”Do you think you’re God Almighty descending to Earth? Does the whole world revolve around your sorry ass, huh?!”

Xie Ning raised a hand to stop the furiously cursing Ji Taixian and looked coldly at Zhang Zhennong, who was still clutching his head. ”What was the second condition?”

”Ningning, don’t ask. He’s just a madman,” Song You’ai said, wiping away her tears.

”What is it!” Xie Ning roared. Seven or eight Metal Spikes shot from her fingertips, burying themselves one by one in the necks of as many City Defense Team members.

The scene was so gruesome that Zhang Zhennong’s eyes nearly split with rage.

”Xie Ning, don’t you fucking push it!”

The moment he spoke, he felt his brain get hammered again. With a dizzy roar of ”Argh!”, he staggered.

Xie Ning’s pale face was a mask of cold fury as she lunged forward. Her fist, encased in metal, shot up in a vicious uppercut that connected squarely with Zhang Zhennong’s jaw.

”ARGH!” The sharp CRACK of his jaw breaking sent a surge of frantic anger through Zhang Zhennong.

He clutched his face and stumbled back a few steps, growling, ”Xie Ning, don’t be reckless.”

BAM!

Zhang Zhennong crossed his arms in front of him, blocking a powerful kick from Xie Ning.

”Third Rank,” Xie Ning said, her voice icy. ”No wonder you’re so arrogant, daring to bring your men to my home to cause trouble.”

Zhang Zhennong gave a ragged, bloody grin. ”Heh... heh heh... You can’t kill me. You’re just a measly Second Order Gold Ability User. So what if you attack head-on? You can’t break my Third Rank defense, heh heh.”

”Just be a good girl and become my, Zhang Zhennong’s, woman. Maybe then your family will have a chance at a good life. Otherwise, I’ll make sure none of you can survive in this base!”

”So, your second condition...” Xie Ning’s voice was bone-chillingly cold. ”Is me?”

”Heh, so you know... ARGH! AARGH! AARGH!” Zhang Zhennong suddenly let out a string of hoarse screams, collapsing and rolling on the ground while clutching his head. ”You... what did you do?! ARGH! AARGH! AARGH!”

”Woman!” The blond boy, Cres, widened his eyes. He rushed to Xie Ning’s side and yelled, his brow furrowed, ”Are you trying to kill yourself? Stop right now!”

’This psycho! Is she really willing to suffer a great loss just to inflict a greater one on her enemy?’

’I can feel it—the spiritual energy she’s forcibly channeling is doing massive damage to her, too.’

Xie Ning’s face grew pale. She bit her lip and swayed on her feet.

”Hey, stop it now!” Cres yelled angrily. ”Don’t you dare die on me, woman! You’re my meal ticket! What am I supposed to do if you die?”

”Ms... Ms. Ning!” Ji Taixian also rushed to support her.

Just then, Song Kexin burst out of the house, letting out a heart-wrenching scream, ”Sis!”

”Wang is dying!”

”What?” Ji Taixian’s hands trembled in shock. He immediately bolted for the house. ”Old Wang! Old Wang!”

”Go get Yu Tianfeng.”

”You... you think controlling Yu Tianfeng means you can control our entire base?” Zhang Zhennong clutched his throbbing head as he struggled to look up at Xie Ning.

”If you’ve got any guts, d-don’t use Sorcery! Fight me for real!” Zhang Zhennong staggered to his feet, hunched over and slapping at his head.

The Fire Element and Wind Ability Users beside him suddenly charged toward Xie Ning.