The Beginning of the Apocalypse Era

Emily stood by the window, and the night outside seemed darker than usual, like a vast, invisible black net silently spreading out, enveloping the entire world.

She gazed at the sky, her emotions swirling.

Suddenly, a few bright streaks pierced the pitch-black night—a meteor shower, one after another, each shooting star trailing a glowing tail as it fell.

The meteor shower was magnificent, lighting up the sky with fiery brilliance. The air was thick with the smell of burning, and the unexpected event quickly captured everyone's attention.

People on the streets cheered with excitement, while social media exploded with videos and pictures of the dazzling display.

On the surface, everything seemed calm, but Emily knew all too well—it was merely the calm before the storm.

Time passed by, second by second, as the night deepened. Emily stood by the window, feeling unusually alert, silently wondering if it had something to do with her spatial ability.

What frustrated her, though, was that just like in her previous life, her other powers had yet to awaken.

An unprecedented darkness swallowed the city. Neon lights still flickered, but the eerie silence around her made it seem as if the world had been pulled away from reality. Just as she was about to turn away, a sharp scream tore through the quiet night.

The scream was like a signal, as if the gates of hell had suddenly swung open. Screams erupted one after another, and an icy chill rushed into the room. Emily's eyes lowered, and through the dim glow of the streetlights, she saw strange, shambling figures stumbling down the street.

These people were no longer human—ashen skin, gaping mouths, stiff, unnatural movements, and hollow eyes. They were no longer living—they were zombies. The people in the streets ran in terror, chased by these infected monsters.

Chaos descended quickly. Bloodcurdling screams echoed from all directions. The panicked crowd shoved and trampled each other. Some fell to the ground, only to be overtaken by the ravenous zombies, their blood spraying into the air. The once-quiet street had turned into a scene from hell—cries, pleas for help, and the overwhelming stench of pain and despair filled the night.

From the windows of tall buildings, some people, driven by fear, jumped, crashing onto the streets or on top of vehicles. The once-pristine streets were now littered with blood and body parts. Emily watched it all, knowing that the apocalypse had truly begun.

Calmly, she drew the curtains shut and took a deep breath. The zombies were already wandering toward the hotel, and the flimsy locks on the doors wouldn't hold them off. With her powers still dormant, staying here was a death sentence. She quickly gathered some supplies, slung on her backpack, and opened the door.

The sound of the door immediately attracted the zombies roaming the hallway. They began to shuffle toward her, drawn by the noise. Without a second thought, Emily pulled a long blade from her spatial dimension and, with strength far beyond that of an ordinary person, swiftly decapitated the nearest zombie.

Rancid blood and decayed flesh splattered everywhere as the zombie collapsed. The other zombies, slow and unaware of the danger, continued to lumber toward her. Emily's speed was unmatched. She efficiently dealt with several more zombies that approached, then swiftly made her way out of the room.

As she reached the back door, she noticed an off-road vehicle parked nearby. The zombie in the driver's seat was furiously pounding at the door, unable to figure out how to open it.

Without hesitation, Emily smashed the car window and swiftly killed the zombie in the driver's seat. After a quick cleanup of the blood inside, she started the engine, driving the SUV out of the city now plunged into chaos.

The night in S City was as brightly lit as ever, with streetlights and decorative lights weaving a net that illuminated every corner of the city.

But tonight, terror hung in the air, and nothing was the same.

Zombies roamed the streets, and panicked crowds scattered in every direction. Speeding vehicles occasionally slammed into the decaying bodies, sending their broken remains flying, while those who couldn't get into a vehicle in time were dragged down by zombies, torn apart into gruesome pieces.

Screams and desperate cries for help echoed through the city, while Emily maneuvered the car down side streets, trying to avoid the crowds. However, she hadn't anticipated that the small roads were also blocked by abandoned vehicles, completely cutting off her path.

In just a few hours, S City had become unrecognizable, as if it had been utterly destroyed.

Suddenly, the car's radio crackled to life with a burst of static, and a deep male voice broke through intermittently, "An unknown virus outbreak… rescue teams will be dispatched… bases are being set up… remain calm…"

The signal was weak, and the transmission kept cutting in and out, making the message hard to understand. Just like in her previous life, no one had been able to figure out the cause of all this. The sudden meteor shower, followed by human mutations, had stalled all investigations. The authorities could only hastily decide to establish twelve temporary bases nationwide to shelter survivors.

Emily calmly eyed the approaching horde of zombies. With the road ahead blocked, she had no choice. Without hesitation, she pushed open the car door, prepared to face the fight head-on. She pulled a lightweight short sword from her backpack, and with a slight movement of her foot, the blade extended into a sharp long sword.

The cold night wind carried a biting chill, and Emily's face was set in a steely expression as her long hair fluttered lightly in the breeze. She knew that without her powers awakened, she needed to conserve her strength and quickly deal with the immediate threat.

Her eyes narrowed, and she charged into the crowd of zombies. Her long sword sliced through the air, cleaving the head of a zombie in an instant, its foul blood spraying out. Moving with agility, she dodged another zombie's attack and swiftly plunged the blade into its skull, yanking it free just as she kicked a nearby zombie away.

The zombies moved sluggishly, and with precise strikes, Emily took them down one after another. Her blade moved effortlessly, every strike hitting its mark. The zombies, oblivious to fear or exhaustion, kept coming from all directions. Emily stepped back a few paces and leaped onto the roof of the car, looking down at the swarm gathering below.

Her twin blades gleamed coldly under the moonlight, and just as she was about to strike again, a sudden surge of elemental power erupted in front of her. Earth and wind elemental abilities intertwined into a destructive force, sweeping through the horde of zombies in front of Emily.

A violent gust of wind roared through, toppling several zombies instantly, while sharp wind blades mercilessly sliced through their decaying bodies. Simultaneously, a solid earthen wall rose from the ground, tripping the zombies and then crashing down on them like a barrage, smashing the fallen ones into pieces.

Within seconds, the ground was littered with defeated zombies. Emily, breathing heavily, glanced toward the group that had suddenly come to her aid, her pupils contracting in shock—it was them.

There was no time to dwell on it. She quickly teamed up with them to finish off the remaining zombies. When the last zombie fell, the street was strewn with severed limbs and rotting flesh, the air thick with the stench of blood.

A man in a light gray shirt, with a slightly androgynous appearance and a faint smile on his face, stepped forward. His tone was playful as he remarked, "Not bad, kid. What's your name?"

Emily recognized him immediately—Liam Brown. Her gaze shifted past him to two other men standing nearby, Jacob Jones and Lucas Miller. They stood a short distance away, their expressions calm and steady.

Jacob, the stern-faced man, was silently watching her. His eyes were deep and hard to read, though there was a hint of warmth in his gaze, but mostly, an endless depth. Seeing him made Emily feel a momentary sense of confusion. In her previous life, she hadn't had much interaction with Jacob, but she had heard many stories about him—about how he had become a ruthless and powerful figure in the apocalypse.

Jacob came from a distinguished family. His mother was a top-tier scientist, and his father was the head of a powerful conglomerate. As the eldest son of the Jones family, Jacob was the pride of his lineage, excelling in ability, appearance, and moral character.

In her previous life, after Emily had accidentally saved one of Jacob's teammates, he had helped her out on several occasions. Although he noticed the strange behavior of the Carter family towards her and even warned her, she had been blindly loyal to Natalie. Ignoring his advice, she cut her mission short to appease Natalie's displeasure, only to meet a tragic end.

Now, seeing the three of them in front of her, Emily still found it hard to believe. Lucas and Liam had grown up with Jacob, and despite their different personalities, they shared a deep bond. Liam was carefree and playful but always aware of his surroundings. Lucas appeared gentle and refined, yet his true nature was hard to read. Jacob, on the other hand, was resolute and steady. Despite their differences, the three rarely had any conflicts.

"Are you alright?" Jacob's gaze shifted from the fallen zombies to Emily, quickly masking the brief surprise that had crossed his face as he asked her gently.

Liam chimed in with a grin, "Hey, girl, how about telling us your name? After all, we did give you a hand just now."

Emily sheathed her long sword, seemingly oblivious to the stains covering her tan coat. She shook her head slightly. "My name's Emily. Thanks for your help."

Liam continued to smile, his tone playful. "No need to thank us. I'm Liam, and these two are Jacob and Lucas. Where are you headed?"

Emily glanced at her SUV before answering simply, "I heard on the radio that there's a base in Q City. I'm planning to head there. What about you?"

She couldn't help but feel curious. In her previous life, she had never heard of Jacob being in S City.

Lucas adjusted his frameless glasses and spoke with a smile, "We're still observing the situation for now. Miss Emily, would you like to travel with us?"

Emily was surprised. Lucas was always cautious, so why would he invite a stranger to join them? Was it because of Jacob? She quickly dismissed the thought—Jacob wasn't the type to do something so trivial.

"Miss Emily is heading to Q City, but we're not going the same way," Liam remarked, slinging an arm around Lucas's shoulder in a teasing tone.

The curiosity in his voice was evident, but Emily simply shook her head. The wind was growing colder, and the sky was steadily darkening.

"No, thanks. We're not headed in the same direction. Maybe we'll meet again sometime," she responded crisply.

Just as she was about to say goodbye, Jacob suddenly spoke up, "Remember, whatever you do, don't let those things scratch you. If you need help, go to Z City's base and find Henry Moore. Tell him you're my friend, and he'll assist you."

Jacob's words took everyone by surprise. Liam quietly nudged Lucas and whispered, "What's going on? Jacob's being unusually friendly."

Even Jacob seemed to realize he was acting out of character. He frowned slightly, a trace of confusion in his eyes. He couldn't quite explain why, but something about this girl felt oddly familiar, as if he had met her many times before. The words had slipped out before he even realized it.

Emily clenched her fists and gave a small nod. "Thanks, but I have to go."

Not giving Liam a chance to speak again, she quickly walked toward her SUV. Liam watched her hurried departure, frowning in confusion.

"What's the deal? Is she avoiding us? Or is this the first time I've ever seen Jacob—"

"Let's go. It's getting late," Jacob interrupted coldly, turning to walk away.

Liam shrugged, still puzzled, and muttered under his breath, "Not even a little courtesy."