"This was his deserved karma" Neglecting others, even deceiving them into wading through the waters first so he could feel his way behind…now he faced disaster alone. Why expect others to care in return?
"But ambition is human nature, and selfishness is inherent" The likes of Sarah had ambitions for higher status, and he had ambitions for more care and affection "wanting to take without giving". Why?
"Because he was simply an ordinary person"
"An ordinary person with a selfish heart, full of contradictions, who suddenly found himself in an extraordinary position"
The banks of the Grieving River, Lakeside District Survivor Base, Military Complex, Third Battalion Command Center, Office of the Fourth Deputy Commander.A battalion typically consisted of one commander and three deputy commanders, but the Third Battalion was the only one to have a fourth deputy, newly appointed just three days ago.Everyone whispered that this new deputy commander was the most beautiful woman in the entire military. This was a point of contention, as Commander Sears still had many loyal "fans." However, to call her the most welcomed and beloved? That was indisputable.Commander Sears was notoriously hard to approach, while the new deputy was far more personable. Anyone suffering from illusions or dizziness could head to the Third Battalion to listen to her sing—a balm that dispelled their symptoms to some extent.Listening to her sing was the excuse, but gazing at her unparalleled beauty was the true reason. Who wouldn’t enjoy admiring such a stunning woman? Though
Wallflower let out a cold, angry snort. Abusing power for personal gain, especially during an apocalyptic crisis, was the epitome of corruption. However, she kept her composure, simply nodding and gesturing toward the table as she responded nonchalantly:"I understand. I’ll make the necessary arrangements. Thank you, Chief Massey, for your time and effort."Jedd didn’t press further. Confident that Wallflower understood his message, he placed the invitation on the edge of the table, bowed slightly, and turned to leave.If this deputy commander didn’t show up, he would simply be sent again with another invitation. No need to press the matter now. But if she did attend, well...Perhaps he could enjoy some side benefits. He’d done so before.But someone as stunningly beautiful and graceful as Wallflower was a rare find—a memory that would undoubtedly leave a lasting impression. He was already looking forward to it.After Willa escorted Jedd out, Wallflower picked up Percy’s red invitatio
According to the base’s rules, the central zone was always brightly lit with electric lights, ensuring the safety and security of its organizational headquarters. Naturally, no one objected to this arrangement—at least, the upper echelons of the base hadn’t received a single letter of protest, not even one.Percy’s private estate sprawled across 3,600 square meters. Before the apocalypse, he dared not flaunt such extravagance, and his father didn’t own a mansion vast enough to allow such indulgence. But after the apocalypse, property had lost much of its value, and no one dared question where Percy chose to live. He had claimed this estate as his personal residence.The estate was brightly illuminated, and a dozen beautiful women frolicked passionately in the swimming pool. Around them, more than ten men pursued them, entirely naked. Couples tangled freely, their bare flesh rubbing together, engaging in unabashedly intimate acts.Scenes of indulgence abounded: one man attended by seve
Murphy, Percy’s father, was neither a fool, a reckless man, nor a madman. Neither were the four battalion commanders or the thirteen vice-commanders under his command. At Lakeside Base, fools, reckless individuals, and madmen were either weaklings or under constant surveillance, which was why Percy had never feared anyone.Except for one glaring exception: the man currently floating above him.Verne was both a fool and the epitome of recklessness and madness, completely unchecked by anyone.Who would dare to restrain him?Rumors swirled within the military that when Riddle unleashed his fury, his power rivaled even Fergus’s. Though this claim remained unverified, no baseless rumor could persist for so long without merit.This was the person Percy feared most—someone he avoided at all costs. Percy had never initiated even the slightest contact with Verne. After all, who knew when the man might suddenly lose control and wreak havoc?And yet, here he was. What had provoked Verne’s fury t
The letter expressed Percy’s long-held admiration for Verne—specifically his unique way of eating cucumbers. It invited “her” to a moonlit tea gathering to build a closer bond, enjoy cucumbers together, and perhaps discuss unresolved logistical matters.Everyone who heard it felt a strange awkwardness. The tone of the letter… undeniably bordered on sexual harassment.The letter, of course, was originally sent by Percy to harass Wallflower, testing her reaction. In a normal context outside working hours, Percy could excuse it as a poorly conceived personal message—tactless but not actionable, especially in a post-apocalyptic world with fewer societal constraints.But it wasn’t intended for a man. Two men bonding over cucumbers? That was an entirely different story.Anyone here receiving such a letter from another man would be even angrier than Verne was now.At this moment, the chaotic emotions on Verne’s face seemed to have distracted him from his initial desire for revenge.Murphy’s
After completing his morning routine, Memphis officially began his 20th day in the apocalypse.First on the agenda: strengthening his abilities. Yesterday’s relentless assaults, especially from two Level 4 pieces of equipment, had made him forget all about the energy crystals he had collected from the Medi Sphere battlefield near Lakeside Bridge. Now, he retrieved 6,000 experience crystals and 4 potential crystals, systematically absorbing them into his body.Each crystal glowed and disappeared as its energy merged into his being. Even after using these countless times, Memphis still couldn’t quite grasp the mechanism. How did something tangible convert into numerical gains? Was his body crushing the crystals, or was the parasitic system aiding absorption? If so, were others also parasitized? Did zombies turn consumed humans into their own experience points...?As he consumed the resources, his mind wandered until 80% of the crystals were absorbed, and the cold, mechanical system voic
Not only were these foods delicious, but they also provided prolonged satiety. Memphis vividly recalled a single piece of mutant fish or dog meat being enough to sustain a person through a full day of combat. Currently, their catch included only Level 2 or Level 3 mutant fish and sewer rats—not high-level enough.Memphis identified three potential sources of high-level mutant animals. He ordered Allan to investigate one site that morning, assigned Lionel to another, and planned to inspect the third himself."Or we could butcher that dumb dog, salt the near-ton of meat, and ration it. That’d work fine too."The third solution involved studying and learning from the dumb dog. Big Black Dog could operate tirelessly all day, consuming zombie corpses and magical crystal shards as sustenance. This represented an abundant and potent source of energy. However, replicating this ability seemed challenging, humans clearly couldn’t consume zombies as food.Another possibility was investigating ho
The breeding section housed mutated rats—Level 2 and Level 3 specimens, plump and meticulously cleaned, each confined in individual cages and fed high-grade zombie flesh.This operation was extremely dangerous. Rats could carry diseases such as plague or even mysterious ailments causing sudden death. Memphis was well aware of this, which was why the task was assigned to individuals previously tasked with monitoring steel cages in Sunny Hills.If they lived, great. If not, so be it.Previously, these people had overseen women used as bait for zombies. Now they watched over mutant rats for fresh meat—a poetic twist of karma.Latest Chapter