C9 The Apocalypse Was Coming!(2)

The earth shuddered once more, prompting Lin Ya to voice her fears to Lin Chen, "Brother, could it really be the end of the world?"

Lin Chen responded with a reassuring gravity, "Yaya, don't be scared. I'm here for you."

At 2 PM, within the Janville Zoo, Lin Ya posed the question to Lin Chen again, "Brother, the animals seem so listless. Could the end of the world actually be upon us?"

Lin Chen answered obliquely, "Yaya, the animals are seizing the moment to cultivate."

Indeed, animals possess the keenest instincts and were fervently harnessing cosmic energy.

Lin Chen thought to himself with a heavy heart, "It's no surprise that after the apocalypse, there would be an abundance of powerful mutated beasts."

A bystander interjected, "Cultivate? Are these animals about to become spirits?"

Lin Ya gave the person a disdainful glare, "I'm speaking with my brother. Why is that any of your business?"

Meanwhile, the government had grown uneasy. The central pivot had been receiving reports of unusual animal behavior from all over. Officials surmised that Earth might soon experience a significant event, though its nature remained unpredictable.

The central pivot had no choice but to implement an emergency response plan, silently bolstering defenses while maintaining a semblance of calm. Police forces nationwide were on high alert.

Military units stationed across Hiekith's seven major districts quietly entered a state of martial law.

These preparations weren't entirely futile, yet they offered little solace.

The apocalypse would not adhere to logic; the more people congregated, the greater the potential peril—a fact unknown to them at the time.

When the earth trembled once again at 4 PM, the pent-up fear in people's hearts burst forth. Many became convinced that catastrophe loomed, and a frenzy of stockpiling essentials ensued.

Chaos engulfed the globe, with disorder reigning on streets worldwide.

Hiekith's police, having anticipated such events, managed to keep the nation's losses minimal in the absence of a specific disaster.

The 4 PM quake marked the day's ninth, as Mother Earth completed her release of primordial energy.

Yet, as the hours passed—5 PM, 6 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM—the earth lay still, silent.

The unrest in Hiekith had largely subsided by seven in the evening, and by eleven, the other nations had quelled their disturbances as well.

As the citizens of Hiekith breathed a collective sigh of relief, they remained unaware that the overture to the apocalypse had nearly finished playing. The end was indeed approaching.

Apocalyptic-themed works of art were all the rage in Hiekith. Coupled with the afternoon's shopping frenzy that started around four, the people had significantly increased their stockpiles at home. Thus, when the apocalypse did arrive, the survival rate in Hiekith was expected to be among the highest globally.

At seven o'clock in the evening, inside Lin Chen's room.

"Yaya, do you trust me?"

"Of course."

"Then drink this water."

...

"Ah, brother, it hurts so much!"

"Yaya, stay strong!"

...

"Wow, brother, I'm bursting with energy, and I feel amazing. But why is my skin so dark? I need to take a shower."

After completing her marrow cleansing, Lin Ya emerged from the bathroom and asked Lin Chen with curiosity, "Brother, where did you find this miraculous water?"

"Yaya, it's a secret. If it leaks, it could endanger me. Please don't ask, and never tell anyone else, okay?"

"Alright, I've already forgotten about it."

"Now, Yaya, take some time to get used to your new body."

...

At ten-thirty at night.

"Yaya, now that you're accustomed to the strength of your body, let's head up to the rooftop garden and relax."

On the rooftop garden.

"Yaya, here are all your favorite snacks. Help yourself."

Lin Ya, with a big question mark looming over her head, silently started munching on the snacks while Lin Chen remained silent.

...

At eleven-thirty at night.

Lin Ya fixed her sparkling eyes on Lin Chen. "Brother, isn't it time you gave your sister an explanation?"

The multitude of questions she had been holding back were ready to burst forth.

Lin Chen gestured dismissively. "Yaya, don't fuss. I need to call our parents first."

Lin Ya fell silent for the moment.

"Chen, what's the urgency with calling so late?"

"Dad, Mom, did you take care of the things I asked you to? Are there any strangers at home right now?"

"You little rascal, don't you trust your old man? Everything's been handled. Rest easy, no one outside knows, and there's nobody else here."

Lin Chen's anxiety eased.

"Dad, Mom, I need you to listen to me without interrupting. You can ask questions when I'm done."

"Alright, we're listening."

"There are four things you need to know. First, the apocalypse is going to hit in twenty minutes. Second, Yaya is with me, so don't worry—I'll keep her safe. Third, global communications will go down in twenty minutes, and that's when the divine light will fall from the sky. Fourth, starting tomorrow, there will be zombies and mutated beasts. Getting bitten will turn you into one. Their weakness is their head; they won't die unless their heads are destroyed. Please be extra careful."

Lin Yuanshan and his wife were stunned.

"Chen, are you alright? Has something happened to you?"

"Dad, Mom, you have to trust me. This is highly classified information from the government. Get dressed now and be ready to stand in the courtyard at midnight to receive the divine light. Focus on letting it into your body. The light will last about five minutes. Once it fades, the disaster will start, so hurry back inside. Fight off sleep as long as you can once you're indoors. And use the supplies I told you to buy yesterday."

"Chen, this is hard to believe."

"Dad, Mom, please just trust me this time. Even if it turns out I was misled, it's better to be safe. If communications cut off and the divine light appears, do exactly as I've instructed. Also, there's a doomsday novel in my room called 'Emperor of the Apocalypse.' Make sure to read it—it has vital survival tips. You both need to stay safe. I'll come back home with Yaya."

"This... This is a lot to take in."

"Dad, Mom, in twenty minutes, you'll see for yourselves. Just indulge me this once. Yaya, say hi to Mom and Dad, so they know you're okay."

Lin Chen held the phone up to Lin Ya's mouth.

With a complex look, Lin Ya glanced at Lin Chen and began, "Dad, Mom, we've witnessed something incredible here. Rumor has it that there have been nine earthquakes around the world today. You should take Brother's words to heart—it's better to believe than to dismiss them. Dad, Mom, if the apocalypse is truly upon us, I pray you both survive. Wait for Brother and me to return."

Lin Ya's voice trembled with emotion, betraying her growing fear. She was starting to believe her brother's dire predictions and worried for their parents.

Lin Chen added, "Dad, Mom, I've got things to handle here. If the phones are still working after midnight, give me a call and let me have it. Also, if this turns out to be real, never speak of it again—it could cause me serious trouble. And one last thing: be merciless with the zombies. They're not human anymore. Keeping them around will only endanger more lives."

After hanging up, Lin Chen clicked his tongue in frustration.

This was the only way he could assist his parents from afar. Speaking out earlier would have led to endless questions and potentially dangerous leaks, especially considering the nosy relatives on both sides of the family.

But now, even if his parents were to accept the possibility of an impending doomsday, it was too late to warn the extended family. Besides, he had explicitly warned of the personal risks should the information get out.

Given their deep affection for him, he trusted his parents would keep the secret.

As Lin Ya opened her mouth to voice her doubts, Lin Chen placed a finger to his lips and whispered, "No talking. Midnight is just ten minutes away."

Lin Chen's message was crystal clear: let the facts speak for themselves.

In a mountain village to the north of Seamoor Province, Lin Yuanshan stared at the disconnected phone, exchanging a bewildered look with his wife, Chiang Lian.

"Our son is grown now; we should follow his advice. It's only a matter of minutes. What if he's right? Let's get dressed," he said with a nod from Lin Yuanshan.

Time ticked by, inching closer to midnight.

The era of peace was slowly slipping away from humanity on Earth.