C27 The Prelude

With a gasp, Chen Yu bolted upright and touched his cheek in astonishment.

"Was that an illusion?"

His brow furrowed, Chen Yu ran his palm over his face, eyes slightly closed, as if trying to recapture the fleeting, mysterious sensation that had just brushed against his skin.

A warmth both familiar and foreign was fading from his nerves.

"It must have been a dream."

Lowering his hand, Chen Yu lingered on the thought of the familiar figure that had darted through his mind, a hint of sweetness surfacing in his heart.

The image of the lively, dashing figure grew increasingly vivid in his thoughts.

"I'll definitely find you once Base City is established!"

"Wait for me!"

He spoke with unwavering conviction, a softness in his eyes that had never been there before.

Rising to his feet, Chen Yu glanced at his parents, sleeping soundly, then strode to the window and flung the curtains wide open.

The tender glow of dawn bathed his face, prompting him to instinctively close his eyes and bask in the warmth that seemed to echo the tender touch from his dream.

Moments later, a knock at the door snapped Chen Yu back to reality.

In a flash, the softness vanished from his eyes, replaced by a steely resolve.

"Come in," Chen Yu called out, his voice detached.

Chu Chenhao entered, catching a glimpse of Chen Yu's enigmatic silhouette bathed in the golden dawn light, momentarily losing his train of thought.

It was Chen Yu who broke the silence, prompting Chu Chenhao to hastily report:

"Boss Yu, there's been an anomaly in the city center."

"Some guards on duty reported seeing a light above the city center."

Chu Chenhao paused, searching for the right words to convey the report, when Chen Yu's voice cut through his hesitation.

"A streak of light, like a spear piercing the sky?"

Chu Chenhao's expression flickered with surprise, then respect, as he nodded in affirmation. "Exactly. The guard described it as a spear-like light cutting through the dawn and into the clouds, tearing open a rift..."

"Understood," Chen Yu replied, his demeanor unflappable.

Noticing Chen Yu's silence, Chu Chenhao felt compelled to ask, "Boss Yu, shouldn't we send someone to investigate?"

Chen Yu dismissed the offer with a wave of his hand. "No need!"

"Let the brothers know there's no reason to be on edge!"

"Also, let's have half the guard team join me at X Supermarket today. We'll aim to clear out the zombie horde by noon."

"As for the city center, I'll handle that myself this afternoon—I've got someone to meet."

Someone?

A flicker of realization crossed Chu Chenhao's eyes, followed by a hint of bewilderment.

Reading his thoughts, Chen Yu clapped a hand on Chu Chenhao's shoulder and reassured him, "Don't overthink it. He's just an old friend."

Chu Chenhao nodded in acknowledgment, turned on his heel, and set out to execute Chen Yu's orders.

"Spear Emperor—Shen Yu!"

"It's been too long!"

A wave of nostalgia washed over Chen Yu, conjuring an image in his mind.

A lone figure, spear in hand, standing in the void.

With a thrust of his spear, he challenged the corpse king and tamed the king beast!

One man, intimidating an entire city!

One night, slaying ten thousand beasts!

One spear, quelling the tide of the undead!

That figure, unmatched in its domineering presence.

Snapping back to reality, Chen Yu fetched water from the kitchen to gently cleanse his parents' faces and limbs, and to replenish their supply of crystal nuclei.

Once done, he took a seat at the dining table and heartily devoured the awakened beast meat that Chu Chenhao had thoughtfully placed there for him earlier.

Chen Yu's physical prowess had escalated to a level that was nothing short of terrifying.

He hadn't yet become an Evolver or unlocked the pathways of genetic energy.

But even so, his strikes—be it a punch or a palm—could easily overpower a high-level Evolver, including those with advanced superpowers.

And this was only day three of the Apocalypse.

To be exact, counting from the previous afternoon, it hadn't even been a full 48 hours.

Forget high-level Evolvers; intermediate Evolvers hadn't even made an appearance yet.

As for the beginner Evolvers—across the globe—

Based on the knowledge Chen Yu had accumulated over five years since the Apocalypse began,

At least one in five were now under his command.

Judging by the sheer number and caliber of Evolvers, Chen Yu was unequivocally the preeminent force on the globe!

As Chen Yu savored the flesh of the awakened beast, the warm energy swiftly diffused through his body, enveloping him in a cozy sense of contentment.

With his physical condition now superhumanly enhanced, ordinary food could no longer satisfy the energy demands of Chen Yu's body.

Consequently, Chen Yu had come to rely on consuming crystal nuclei periodically to replenish his energy reserves.

Only the flesh of the awakened mutated beasts could provide Chen Yu with a true sense of satiety and the neural gratification that came with replenished energy.

After finishing his meal, Chen Yu headed to the rendezvous point.

At the entrance of the residential area, the guard squad assembled by Lee Hao was ready and waiting.

The twenty members of the guard squad were brimming with vigor. Upon Chen Yu's arrival, their eyes gleamed with a sharp, eager light.

Overnight, they had become accustomed to their newfound Evolver powers, their capabilities vastly improved from the day before.

This only deepened their reverence for Chen Yu, their savior and mentor, bordering on the fanatical.

Their longing and admiration were plainly visible as they stood before Chen Yu.

Indeed, it took just one night!

All members of the guard squad had become ardent supporters of Chen Yu.

Chen Yu wasn't taken aback by this in the slightest.

Having endured the five-year apocalypse, he understood all too well.

It was an instinct, hardwired into human DNA and lurking in the subconscious—a deep-seated veneration for strength and those who wield it.

Chen Yu's unmatched power, combined with his role as their rescuer, ticked all the boxes for such fervor.

Thus, the fanaticism among the guard squad members came about as naturally as breathing.

Confronted with their admiring gazes, Chen Yu's expression turned steely, his aura charged with lethal intent.

"Lee Hao should have briefed you on your next assignment. Don't let me down," he commanded.

"Arm yourselves! Harness your inner strength!"

"Kill!"

At Chen Yu's command, the guards echoed in unison.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"KILL!"

A fierce resolve flared in their eyes.

"Move out!"

Chen Yu nodded in approval, then, like a bolt, he surged forward, taking point.

The guards wasted no time in following suit, keeping pace as they charged out of the residential area behind Chen Yu.

Lee Hao and his companions didn't join the expedition this time.

With Chen Yu reassigning half of the guard team, it was crucial to ensure the neighborhood's defenses remained impenetrable. Consequently, Lee Hao, Liu Qiqi, Soong Yue, and Chu Chenhao were tasked with holding down the fort and continuing the cleanup of the surrounding areas.

Chen Yu took only half of the guard squad, along with two individuals who had awakened their mutant abilities just the night before.

Their mission was twofold: to assist in clearing the horde of corpses at the shopping mall and to provide a trial by fire for the new recruits.

True warriors are forged in the crucible of the apocalypse, amidst blood and flames.

As the group made their way to X Supermarket, Chen Yu held back, allowing his team to take the lead.

Mutated beasts and zombies encountered along the way were left for the guards to dispatch.

Should they come across any awakened mutated beasts, Chen Yu delegated the challenge to the two newest awakened members of the team, giving them a chance to test their mettle in combat.