C6 Explosion

Maybe it was destiny or just good fortune, but this was certainly the best possible outcome in the worst of circumstances.

Jiang Feng offered words of comfort to a remorseful Jiang Wei, "There's nothing to be done about the accident now. Daddy has to get back to his research. If you're feeling bored, why not go play with that sister?"

Jiang Wei leaned in and whispered to Jiang Feng, "But she's so stern, I'm scared."

"There's nothing to be scared of. Let's go." Jiang Feng took Jiang Wei by the hand and led her to Urendir in the living room.

"Urendir, would you mind playing with her for a bit?"

"Are you kidding me? I've never really interacted with kids. And who is she to you, anyway?"

"She's my daughter, from the future."

"Damn." Urendir dropped the word like a stone and turned her head, clearly not in the mood to entertain Jiang Feng's fanciful talk.

Jiang Feng bristled at Urendir's dismissive attitude, but he was out of options. Unless Jiang Wei could demonstrate her fiery abilities, he'd have to wait for a crisis to unfold before Urendir would believe him.

"Daddy, I'll just watch TV then. The shows in the future aren't nearly as good as these."

"Perfect, enjoy the show." Jiang Feng switched on the large television in the living room and handed the remote to Jiang Wei.

Content with the simple pleasure, Jiang Wei eagerly flipped through the channels. Meanwhile, Jiang Feng retreated to his room to delve back into his strategies.

Urendir wasn't particularly fond of children, but she didn't despise them either.

"You're sitting too close; it's bad for your eyes," Urendir cautioned as she scooped up Jiang Wei and settled her onto the couch, taking a seat beside her.

Jiang Wei felt a twinge of fear, having barely spoken to Urendir before and aware of her considerable strength. Despite being only eight and quite petite, Jiang Wei was a purebred bioengineered human with dense bones, making her as heavy as an average adult. Jiang Feng had struggled to lift her in play, but Urendir managed it with ease.

After watching a few TV shows together, Jiang Wei began to relax. She turned to Urendir and asked, "Sister, you'll help Daddy, won't you?"

Urendir sighed with resignation, "Alright, I get it. You two really are an odd pair."

"Okay, sister!" Jiang Wei beamed with an innocent smile.

For Urendir, the time that followed dragged on endlessly, while Jiang Wei eventually dozed off in front of the TV. Occasionally, Urendir, out of boredom, would peek into Jiang Feng's room, only to find him furiously scribbling away, too engrossed in his work to even think about sleep.

As the living room clock edged closer to midnight, Urendir was gripped by a sense of inexplicable unease.

To quell her anxiety, she flipped through the channels relentlessly.

Then, she abruptly stood up, her attention captured by a startling news bulletin:

"Good evening, everyone. It's 11 PM. I'm a reporter with Bluecliff TV, reporting live from the entrance of Bluecliff City's First Hospital. As you can see, the crowd behind me is massive. The hospital is overwhelmed, with a steady stream of people affected by a mysterious radiation being admitted since 8 PM. The number of those impacted is growing, plunging the hospital into disarray. It's not just here—every hospital in the city is at capacity. All medical personnel have had their leave revoked and are on duty. The same goes for the police, public security, fire services, and other departments—all hands are on deck, yet we're still short-staffed. Rumors are circulating that this bizarre occurrence may be linked to the earthquake earlier today. So far, those affected by the radiation have been primarily the elderly and children with weaker constitutions, as well as individuals with pre-existing chronic illnesses. It appears that healthy adults are not susceptible to this condition..."

Without finishing the report, Urendir rushed into Jiang Feng's room, her voice tinged with urgency, "Jiang Feng, there seems to be a serious situation unfolding. Come quickly and watch the news."

Jiang Feng, initially skeptical, joined Urendir in the living room to see for himself.

"Now, do you believe me a bit more?" Jiang Feng asked, turning to Urendir.

"What exactly is happening?"

"Remember when I told you about the gas seeping from the fissure at the bottom of the Pacific? The people from the future call it Cyan Fluor Gas, and it's the harbinger of humanity's doom. This gas is laced with strange radioactive elements, and it's been drifting around the world. It's likely reached Bluecliff City by now, and by midnight, the gas concentration will hit a critical threshold. That's when those exposed to the radiation will start to mutate."

"Mutate into what?"

"Into crazed beings, commonly referred to as zombies."

"You're not joking, are you?" Urendir remained unconvinced.

Just then, Jiang Wei woke up, rubbing her eyes.

"Dad, is it time yet?"

"Almost. How did you sleep? Can you try to produce the flame now?"

Jiang Wei, ever so compliant, began to rub her hands together before her eyes were fully open.

With a "whoosh," a flame sparked to life in the palm of her small hand, swirling and spinning into a fireball.

After nearly a minute, the fireball slowly faded away, leaving Urendir awestruck, hardly able to believe the sight before her.

Crouching down, Urendir took Jiang Wei's hand and examined it closely. She noticed that despite the high body temperature, Jiang Wei's skin remained unscathed by the flames.

Glancing between Jiang Wei and the news, the reality of the situation sank in for Urendir, and she was forced to accept the truth.

She could never have imagined that all of Jiang Feng's ramblings were actually true.

"What do we do now?" Urendir's anxiety grew.

"We have less than an hour. Go to my room and check the files on my computer. A quick read should give you a basic understanding of what's to come."

Without a moment's hesitation, Urendir dashed into Jiang Feng's room to discover the truth for herself.

"Dad, aren't you going to study it?" inquired Jiang Wei.

"I've thought it through. I can't come up with a better plan right now; we'll have to adapt to the situation as it unfolds."

"Dad, are you sure about showing the end-of-world guide to that lady? The future you said we shouldn't share it lightly," Jiang Wei voiced her concern gently.

"I'm taking a gamble. After piecing together the guide and Director-general Lee's assessment of Urendir, I believe she's a straightforward and principled individual. She's likely to be trustworthy."

"Mm, okay, I'll listen to Daddy."

Meanwhile, Urendir was in Jiang Feng's room, breaking out in a cold sweat. The thought of the document's contents soon becoming reality made her heart quiver with fear.

As time ticked by, Urendir's heartbeat accelerated, her brain throbbing with the influx of too many unbearable truths.

For Jiang Feng, Jiang Wei, and Urendir, every passing minute was fraught with tension.

At 11:58 p.m., Jiang Feng led Jiang Wei to the floor-to-ceiling window, drawing back the curtains.

Below, a throng of people reveled in the grand New Year's Eve celebration hosted by Heyday Real Estate Corporation.

To Jiang Feng, this festive jubilation was indistinguishable from a prelude to death.

As the clock on Heyday's tower struck midnight, Bluecliff City's sky burst into a spectacle of fireworks.

Through the glass, Jiang Feng watched the pyrotechnics soar, tracing brilliant paths that lit up the night.

So beautiful, so splendid.

Yet, as the starry sparks cascaded back to earth, screams of terror supplanted the cheers. The harrowing cries of death drowned out the fireworks' booms, tearing through the sky...

The apocalypse had erupted...

One moment, the elderly and ill were happily watching the show; the next, they were frenziedly biting those nearby. Those bitten let out brief shrieks before turning to assault others.

Panic erupted among the crowd, who were clueless about what had transpired, plunging the scene into chaos.

The zombies' growls and the people's screams echoed in a chilling chorus.

From Jiang Feng's room, Urendir watched the gruesome reality unfold without mercy.

Zombies, with their superior speed and strength, overpowered the defenseless civilians, who were as vulnerable as lambs to the slaughter. Those bitten transformed within seconds or minutes.

As each victim turned, the zombies sought new prey, causing the infection to spread at an alarming rate.

Slowly, Jiang Feng pulled the curtains closed.

Though they were strangers, unconnected to him, the unfolding tragedy filled him with remorse. Unable to bear the sight any longer, Jiang Feng chose to look away.

The phone on the table buzzed to life. Jiang Feng glanced at the caller ID—it was Director-General Lee. He didn't answer, instead heading to his room to grab Urendir's phone.

"What are you doing, Jiang Feng? I need to call the station," Urendir protested, still shaken, as Jiang Feng's actions baffled her.

"Director-General Lee already called. I didn't pick up. If I don't, he'll call you next, and you're not to answer either."

"Why not? Director-General Lee has been a great help to me. I can't turn my back on him now," Urendir said, her voice tinged with urgency.

"Take a breath and calm down," Jiang Feng replied, his own voice louder now.

"How can I be calm when the screams have reached the 27th floor?" Urendir yelled before bolting from Jiang Feng's room, dashing back to hers. Moments later, the distinct sound of bullets being chambered echoed through the space.

Jiang Feng anticipated her next move and positioned himself at the exit. When Urendir emerged, she was decked out in a bulletproof vest and a black coat, her Sand Eagle pistol gleaming at her waist.

"Out of my way!" Urendir demanded.

"Have you forgotten your mission?" Jiang Feng countered.

"I remember. I'll save Director-General Lee first, then come back for you," she insisted.

Urendir shoved past Jiang Feng, but he was resolute, wrapping his arms around her from behind. Urendir, however, was no stranger to combat. She seized Jiang Feng's hand, swung around, and sent him crashing to the ground with a judo throw.

"Boom!" Jiang Feng hit the floor hard, his mind reeling, back throbbing with pain.

Knowing he couldn't physically stop her, Jiang Feng yelled, "Damn it! Charging out like that won't save anyone—you'll just be risking your own life!"

"How will I know if I don't try?"

"Stop kidding yourself! What's more important to you—the world or Director-General Lee?"

His words struck a chord, and Urendir paused momentarily.

Jiang Feng realized that while Director-General Lee was indeed a good man, he wasn't Urendir's kin or someone of personal significance. Urendir was simply not the type to abandon others in need, which is why she felt compelled to rescue him.

"But, but..."

"Don't forget the mission we carry," Jiang Feng said, fighting through his pain as he slowly rose to his feet. He stepped in front of Urendir, gripping her arms firmly, his gaze locked with hers.

Urendir's face was a tapestry of emotions, uncertainty written across her features.

"Urendir, you've read the strategy document. You know that in the future, it's not that humanity isn't strong—it's that we're not united. We need a sovereign to guide us."

"But..."

"No 'buts.' We have only 20 years. If we fail to unite Chaudon within that time, humanity won't stand a chance against the onslaught of other races. The burden we shoulder is immense; we can't afford to act rashly and throw our lives away."

"So, for the sake of becoming king, you would abandon Director-general Lee to his fate?"

"It's a harsh reality, but the road to kingship is paved with sacrifices. We cannot save everyone."

"Are you pursuing the crown for your own sake or for the sake of humanity?" Urendir's suspicion that Jiang Feng's ambitions were self-serving began to grow.

Sensing the doubt in Urendir's heart, Jiang Feng raised his voice, "Urendir, to me, 'king' is merely a title. If I can't fulfill that role, then you will. If either of us ascends to the throne, we can lead humanity toward unity. And that will be the key to altering the future of our world."