The Absolute Favorite in the Apocalyptic Rebirth

The next day dawned overcast and gloomy, the air heavy with the promise of snow, causing the temperature to plummet.

For ease of movement, Lou Ling wore only thermal underwear beneath a large down jacket. A knitted hat covered her head, a knitted scarf wrapped around her neck, and woolen gloves protected her hands. Thus bundled, she stepped outside.

In contrast, Lou Dian looked every bit the elegant gentleman. Black thermal clothing lay beneath a stylish overcoat, his neck wrapped in a matching black scarf. From afar, he appeared graceful and handsome. However, his attire also sent a shiver down one's spine; he looked far too thinly dressed for the biting cold.

Only Lou Ling knew that he genuinely didn't feel the cold and thus saw no need to bundle up. It would only hinder him should any unexpected situation arise.

The car waited in the villa's courtyard. Lou Dian checked its condition. The last time they left the desert and entered the city, they had rescued a group of people surrounded by zombies. Among them was a metal-type ability user who, in gratitude, had reinforced their vehicle. For the time being, they could drive recklessly without worry. After confirming everything was in order and filling the tank, they set off.

Sitting in the car, Lou Ling clutched a hand warmer, her gaze drifting towards the neighboring villa. She noticed it was empty. Had everyone gone out? They and the ability users in the next villa were aware of each other's existence. However, uncertain of each other's strength and intentions, they maintained a pretense of ignorance, avoiding unnecessary complications. This was the norm in the apocalypse; without conflicting interests, people rarely bothered each other.

In the end, they were strangers. Lou Ling glanced once more, then dismissed them from her mind.

Before the apocalypse, their city hadn't been coastal. However, with the rising sea levels caused by the continuous disasters, many coastal cities had been submerged, and many inland cities, like theirs, had become coastal. Sure enough, after less than half an hour's drive, they reached the sea.

While winter posed challenges for humans, it also hampered the zombies. Along the way, they encountered few, only a scattered handful easily dispatched.

Lou Dian's spatial blades had reached a level of effortless precision. His spatial teleportation also allowed him to move freely in this apocalyptic world. While Lou Ling seemed weaker in comparison, she was still considered a formidable force in this new world. Her combat prowess far exceeded her ability level, making short work of third and fourth-tier zombies.

After a smooth journey to the coast, they parked in an open area and got out of the car.

They stood on a half-submerged building. Before the apocalypse, it had been a seven-story residential building. Now, five floors were underwater, and the surrounding area was overgrown with seaweed. This wasn't ordinary seaweed; it was mutated. Regular plants couldn't possibly sprout such vibrant green shoots in this frigid weather.

Lou Ling examined the thriving seaweed. It resembled reeds, spreading across the ocean surface, connecting to the land, and concealing the treacherous waters beneath a dense cover. This deceptive greenery provided perfect camouflage for the ferocious mutated beasts lurking below, waiting to strike.

Lou Dian glanced at the seaweed, his fingers twitching. With a soft plop, the water surface rippled, and dark red blood bloomed beneath the seaweed, staining the dark green seawater a gruesome hue.

Lou Ling watched, unblinking, for a moment. Exhaling, she said, "The ocean has become even more dangerous."

As soon as she finished speaking, the calm sea surface churned like boiling water. The seaweed swayed violently in the wind, and a swarm of basin-sized sea crabs emerged, scuttling towards them.

Did she have the power of a jinx? Lou Ling's face darkened. A simple observation had attracted so many terrifying crabs. It was outrageous.

Despite their numbers and the unsettling sight of their massed ranks, the crabs didn't intimidate her. After swiftly repelling the first wave, they retreated several thousand meters. Then, Lou Dian suddenly asked, "Xiao Ling, do you want crab roe buns tonight?"

"…Yes!" Although puzzled by the sudden question, she wasn't one to refuse a treat.

Lou Dian's smile deepened. "Since you want some, let's kill more crabs. These sea crabs are quite plump, and their roe is fragrant. They make excellent seafood."

Hearing his words, Lou Ling looked at the crabs menacingly waving their pincers and realized her perception of crabs had been completely overturned. Well, they were certainly large enough, and their roe should be plentiful. Seafood was a rare delicacy after the apocalypse, and Lou Dian's spatial storage had little to offer. A change of pace would be nice. Moreover, Lou Dian's food-based enticements usually signaled the start of another combat training session.

Taking the half-meter long, silver-grey rod from her backpack, Lou Ling channeled her ability into it. The unassuming, thumb-thick rod transformed, growing to a meter in length and sprouting sharp, needle-like thorns. When she struck a crab's shell, the thorns pierced straight through.

An hour later, a pile of crab carcasses lay around them. Some, still twitching, feebly waved their pincers. The crab tide had receded, leaving only a few stragglers on the shore, which Lou Ling poked at playfully.

Wearing plastic gloves, Lou Dian expertly extracted the crab roe with a short Tang knife designed for food preparation, discarding the rest. As mutated creatures grew stronger, pre-apocalypse weapons became less effective. Many cold weapons needed to be enhanced by metal-type ability users to remain useful. However, Lou Dian's Tang knife, combined with his spatial blades, was unmatched.

Lou Ling thought of steamed crabs, spicy crabs, and her mouth watered. The mutated crabs had even more succulent meat, likely delicious whether steamed or stir-fried.

After collecting enough crab roe, they left the area and continued along the coast.

Their trip to the seaside was primarily for reconnaissance, and they were in no hurry. As they walked, Lou Ling reflected on the ever-present dangers of the apocalypse. If they hadn't reached their current level of strength, they wouldn't dare venture into such a place. Even on this short journey, they had encountered numerous attacks from marine creatures. If the creatures inhabiting the shallows were this powerful, the deep-sea creatures were likely beyond even Lou Dian's confidence.

Perhaps this was nature's retribution, knocking humanity from the top of the food chain and creating numerous predators.

Lost in thought, she suddenly heard sounds carried on the wind – the sounds of battle ahead.

"Let's go see!" Lou Ling tugged at Lou Dian, running towards the source of the commotion.

Lou Dian's expression softened. He didn't object or tell her to mind her own business, indulging her impulsive nature. While it might lead to trouble, rescuing those with ulterior motives or lacking gratitude, he knew she couldn't simply walk away when faced with such a situation. She wasn't the type to rationalize inaction by claiming she wasn't a savior or had no obligation to help others. That simply wasn't Lou Ling.

There was nothing wrong with that, Lou Dian thought with a smile. If she weren't like this, she wouldn't have been so beloved in her past life. Like sunshine, she brought warmth to the increasingly cold and cruel apocalyptic world, reminding people of the preciousness of life. Of course, she wasn't naive or incapable of discerning right from wrong. If a situation proved too dangerous, she would know when to retreat.

He didn't consider himself a good person. Why should the lives of strangers matter to him? Yet, he was drawn to her way of doing things. It felt authentically her.

They quickly reached the scene. On the beach, a group of people battled a gigantic octopus lurking in the shallows. This wasn't an ordinary mutated octopus; it was unbelievably massive, its eight tentacles churning the water and sending sand flying.

Seeing a man sent flying by a tentacle, Lou Ling instinctively reached out to catch him, but the man beside her was faster, grabbing the man's collar and softening the impact.

The man who had been flung back was dark-skinned with handsome features, though his complexion was quite tanned. His expression conveyed a sense of honesty and simplicity, like a hardworking farmer.

The rescued man didn't acknowledge them, rushing back towards the beach to help a woman dodging tentacles. Lou Ling squinted, finding the woman vaguely familiar yet also unfamiliar.

Seeing the group struggling, Lou Ling pulled a wire vine seed from her pocket and handed it to Lou Dian. "Brother, can you get this inside the octopus?"

Lou Dian raised an eyebrow, understanding her plan. The mutated vine seed was imprinted with her mental mark. Once inside the octopus, she could induce it, destroying the creature from within, a far more efficient method than their current external assault.

Taking the seed, Lou Dian instructed, "Stay here and wait for me."

"Mm, I promise!" She raised her hand in a solemn vow. As long as he remained safe, she was generally obedient.

After Lou Dian joined the fray, Lou Ling stood guard with her modified rod. Whenever someone was injured, she dragged them to safety, tending to their wounds with medicine and bandages from her backpack.

The others had noticed the newcomers but were too preoccupied to react. Fortunately, they appeared to be strangers, not members of a rival ability user team, which was a relief. Indeed, seeing the man in black join the fight, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

However, that relief was short-lived.

The newcomer moved with uncanny speed and grace, effortlessly dodging the octopus's flailing tentacles and rapidly closing in on the half-submerged creature. Without any visible action, he darted away, nimbly leaping across the thrashing tentacles before landing lightly on the beach.

As he touched down, the collective breath held by the onlookers whooshed out, only to catch in their throats again. The octopus suddenly thrashed in agony, its body swelling. With a bang, metallic objects erupted from its skin, ripping it apart from the inside.

Everyone: ( ⊙ o ⊙ ) Ah! Killed so easily? Then what was the point of their desperate struggle just now?

Author's Notes:

Today's Goals:

Lou Ling's Goal: Ooh, delicious mutated seafood!

Lou Dian's Goal: Diligently satisfy my little sister's every culinary desire!

URGENT: Our Google Ads account was blocked due to violations. We'd deeply appreciate your support through donations to help us continue our work. Or we won't be able to continue the translations.

ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ

Love what you read?