Chapter 1: Rebirth

Lin Chen stood frozen, feeling the searing pain of betrayal wash over him as the mutant beast's jaws closed around his body. He had trusted his group, believed in their cause, but they had used him as bait and left him to die. His power, the ability to store items in a spatial dimension, had been useful but not powerful enough to save him. As the darkness closed in, Lin Chen vowed revenge.

Suddenly, everything went black. He expected the end, but instead, he felt a jolt. Opening his eyes, he found himself back in his old apartment, the familiar surroundings eerily comforting. He quickly checked his calendar—it was two days before the apocalypse began.

"I've been reborn," Lin Chen whispered, disbelief and determination battling within him. He had another chance to change his fate and exact his revenge.

As he tried to process what had happened, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind. "Hello, Lin Chen. I am the Wealth of God System, here to make you the one who stands above all creatures. But not in the way you might think. You will open a store in the midst of the apocalypse and sell goods—food, pills, and basic weapons. As you sell, you will grow stronger. The store is protected by the system, so no creature can destroy it. Inside the store, you are like a god."

Lin Chen's mind raced. A store? In the apocalypse? It seemed absurd, but the power it promised was real. He had no time to waste.

He felt a sudden rush of energy and a flood of knowledge about the system's functions. He could summon the store at will and stock it with items provided by the system.

Lin Chen immediately began preparations. He knew what was coming—the chaos, the fear, the fight for survival. This time, he would be ready.

Summoning the store for the first time, Lin Chen was amazed by its appearance. It stood gleaming and indestructible, an oasis in the impending chaos. Shelves were lined with essential items: food, basic pills, and simple weapons. For now, it was a modest start, but he knew it would grow.

"Welcome to Lin Chen's Apocalypse Emporium," he murmured, a grim smile forming on his lips. "Let's see who betrays who this time."

Finally, the day arrived. The sky darkened, and the first signs of the apocalypse began. People screamed, chaos erupted, and monstrous creatures roamed the streets. Lin Chen's former group, the ones who had betrayed him, were among the terrified masses.

As he conducted transactions, Lin Chen felt a surge of satisfaction. He was no longer the helpless victim but the powerful merchant who held the keys to survival. And with every passing moment, his plan for revenge solidified.

The system's voice echoed in his mind again. "To upgrade your store and gain access to more powerful items, you need crystals. These crystals can be found in zombies, mutant beasts, and powered humans. You must obtain them by selling goods to these creatures and collecting their crystals. The stronger the creature, the more valuable the crystal."

Lin Chen nodded, determination burning in his eyes. He had been given a second chance, and he would not waste it. He would become the most powerful being in the apocalypse, and those who had betrayed him would pay dearly.

The system continued, "Remember, Lin Chen, while the store is your sanctuary, you must venture outside to grow stronger."

As the apocalypse raged on, Lin Chen stood behind his counter, watching the chaos unfold with a sense of calm and control. He was no longer the hunted; he was the hunter, and his revenge was just beginning