Survivors

After hours of observations, trial, and error, and with the help of his guinea pig, Gran has finally found a way to use mana.

Although it can't directly improve his cultivation level, it could still help increase his combat strength by a bit. And the result was what May was witnessing right now. A birth of something truly unique.

For the first time since his experiments, he was trying this new move to test his conjectures. And like always, it didn't disappoint.

...

[Enhanced Water Style: Whirlpool]

!!

As the arms of the zombies reached out toward him, planning to claim his life, Gran started spinning, his arms accurately hitting parts of the zombies as he spun. As he gained momentum, the air around him and the mana in the surroundings started to resonate with his movements. They too started to spin.

Like a whirlpool from the depth of the ocean, he felt a connection with the mana as they start to take shape, swirling along with him.

His eyes closed, and he felt the surroundings using his connection with the mana around him. At this moment, the mana around him solely belonged to him. He felt and controlled the mana, like currents moving unimpeded, bringing the helpless zombies with them.

May could not believe her eyes as a faint outline of a terrifying whirlpool surrounded Gran and the zombies, continuously picking up speed. Although Gran himself wasn't moving too fast, that could not be said for the mana whirlpool that manifested because of the new move.

As the momentum of the currents reached its climax, everything exploded with the greatest ferocity as Gran did a last forceful twirl.

That last spin sucked the whirlpool and the zombies trapped within towards him before everything came to an abrupt halt.

*Splurt* *Splurt**Splurt*

Due to the sudden increase in velocity at the end, the arms of the zombies got swept away in all directions before they committed mutiny against their own kind. Now, all that is left around Gran is a pile of corpses, some torn apart by the mana whirlpool, most had an arm punctured into their skull.

"Gaia Martial Arts Final Form: Free Style" Gran whispered, and if not for the deathly silence which lingered in the room, May would have missed the words of her teacher. Her heart was beating furiously as she felt that once again she had fallen in love with this crazy martial arts fool. 'So cool..' Gulp.

...

Gran had a faint smile on his face as he walked toward the stunned May. Of course, he would be happy, he had successfully created, no, reinvented the Gaia Martial Arts series. Perhaps he would have to rename it to something else, Mana Arts? Enhanced Martial Arts? He needed more time to organize his thought, but one thing he knew was that he couldn't wait to improve on the other styles and forms in the Gaia series.

But then.

"H-help us". A weak small voice sounded out from one of the hallways. Suddenly, more and more voices started sounding out from the numerous hallways connected to this room.

"Please save us!" "Help me! I don't want to die! *Sobs*" "Mister, please save us, you are so strong!"

One by one, survivors begin to come out of their homes. Although they looked fine with their clean clothes, their face gave others the impression that they have not slept for days. Although the apocalypse started only today, people unable to accept reality have been going through hell in their mental state. Oftentimes, the mind is the greatest enemy in times of great changes, many times more damaging than the likes of the zombies.

"I have money, power, authority! Anything you want, just stay by my side, please!" A man with a slim build shouted as he stared at Gran with desperate eyes, lightly tainted with a hint of madness.

"I-I can warm your bed! I am a top model! You must've seen me on television at least once! I can do anything, just take me with you!" Followed a beautiful, tall woman with a slim figure fit for the runway. She held a look of hostility in her eyes as she glanced at the man with a slim build.

After the two, more and more rich people began selling themselves, trying to prove that they are more worthy than the others. What a sight indeed. Not surprising either as people living in this estate are mostly made up of the top 10% of the society, and if Gran was any normal person he would no doubt be tempted by some of their offers.

...

"Please accept me, master!" A young boy around the age of 17 bowed his head towards Gran, fascination could be seen in his eyes as he remembered what he saw through the gap from his front door.

'An immortal master! That definitely a peerless heavenly being, sent down in secret to maintain the balance of this world. If I can be his disciple, I'll be unstoppable in this world.' With his fist slightly clenched, he begins to fantasize about his protagonist's future.

Not knowing what the young boy was thinking about, Gran casually swept his senses throughout his body and let out a disappointed sigh. "Boy, your body is not good enough. Besides, there is no need for me to teach anyone how to be stronger. All you need is a determined will. Kill these monsters and you will naturally grow. That applies to everyone here, I am not going to waste my time babysitting all of you." With that Gran left and headed back to his home. It was getting late.

...

May was placed in an awkward situation, she cursed herself for not following Gran back when she had the chance to. Now, she was stuck with numerous eyes staring at her filled with hope.

"Umm this, young lady, could you perhaps help say a few good things to that friend of yours. I am sure we must help each other out in the future, we could be of great use to him!" The slim build man was called Opal, he was the CEO of a fairly large group. After hearing Gran's speech, they have woke up a bit, somewhat. Some are still in partial denial, some are just fighting with themselves trying to make a decision. One thing is for sure, they probably would not be 'normal' again after this.

Despite being so young, May had some people managing skills, probably because of her time helping out with the family business. Although May was not from this building estate, she had no worries about her family's safety. Their family had guns! Despite her bearing and weird behavior, she came from a very influential family. However, her family teachings forbid her to disclose her background to the outside, otherwise, things will be too 'easy' for them.

Maybe because of that, May had the 'privilege' of going through a ruthless heartbreak, or else she would have to withstand those fake young masters trying to win her over instead.

And although the people here in normal times would usually be more skilled in people management, now, however, their foundation from where they got their power was threatening to fall apart; society as a whole. They could only look for a guide toward a new order in this changing world, and the young lady in from of them seemed to fit the bill in their subconscious mind, or perhaps it was more accurate to say it was the person she represented.

...

After a long tiring process of giving out false promises to the survivors, May finally managed to escape from them and enter Gran's apartment.

"So, how did it go?" Gran said as he lay leisurely on the sofa after a nice warm shower.

"Well, I really got to then it to them, they are not as bad as they seem. They are after all elites of our society. It would take more than the end of the world to break them thoroughly. Heh." May chuckled at the nonsense she was spouting. "Anyways, most of them are willing to fight, while those unwilling are able to contribute in some way," May said as she thought about the outcome of the prior discussion.

"Great!" Gran stood up, a mysterious smile appeared on his face. 'More test subjects.' He thought.