An Apocalypse, Yet Still Grinding MMORPGs?

"Good Samaritan?"

Chen Dafeng burst into laughter, his voice echoing with unrestrained amusement. "Young man, step forward!"

He pointed at the blind man, who was cautiously guided by nearby warriors to Chen Dafeng's side after a reminder.

"Tell us," Chen Dafeng commanded, his voice laced with authority. "What wicked deeds have these people done?"

The young man, though blind, trembled with emotion. Even in darkness, he could feel the sheer terror radiating from the caravan leader standing near Chen Dafeng. The man's legs seemed rooted to the ground, heavy like lead, despite his desperate urge to flee.

"They gouged out my eyes! And they killed seven others!" the young man rasped, his voice hoarse but brimming with unrelenting hatred. "Captain Chen! They're murderers! They cannot be spared!"

"Murderers, huh?" Chen Dafeng muttered, his gaze landing on the caravan leader. A bead of sweat slid down the leader's temple as he frantically began to plead.

"Brother Feng! Listen to me!" the leader stammered. "I… I was just following orders from above. I had no choice! If I didn't do as told, I'd face punishment too. Besides…" He hesitated, voice faltering under Chen Dafeng's steely gaze. "It's the apocalypse now! Killing a few people—it's… it's normal, right? There's no law anymore! And… those people resisted too much. Normally, I'm much gentler—"

His sycophantic smile was cut short as he saw the cold amusement in Chen Dafeng's eyes. The unspoken implication lingered between them: If killing makes me a monster, what does that make you, Chen Dafeng? You've killed more than anyone in the city.

But Chen Dafeng remained unfazed. He didn't care for the insinuation. To him, there was a simple truth: When I kill, it's justified. When you kill, it's a crime.

"Who says there's no law in the apocalypse?" Chen Dafeng sneered. His sharp gaze swept over the leader as he turned to his adjutant. "What does our settlement's law say about murder?"

The adjutant straightened and replied, "According to the third provisional legal amendment, revised by Jiang Xiaoci and signed by our commander: malicious murderers outside the settlement may be restrained or suppressed to protect civilian safety. Without detailed legal precedents, we follow a basic principle: an eye for an eye, a life for a life."

Chen Dafeng nodded approvingly. His gaze shifted to the rest of the caravan. "And what about accomplices?"

The adjutant's voice remained steady. "Miss Jiang's directive is clear: accomplices are treated with equal severity."

Before the words fully settled, Chen Dafeng vanished.

A series of wet, explosive sounds followed in quick succession—bang, bang, bang! Heads burst like overripe melons, spraying blood and brain matter onto the ground.

Screams erupted. A woman shrieked; an elderly man shielded a child's eyes. The crowd recoiled, not in terror, but in shock at the brutal efficiency. When their gaze returned to Chen Dafeng, he stood amidst a sea of headless corpses, boots drenched in sticky crimson, unfazed.

"Did everyone see that?" Chen Dafeng asked the crowd, his voice calm yet carrying an edge of finality. "There's law in our settlement. Break the rules, and you pay the price."

He scanned the onlookers. Though many looked tense, their eyes held no fear—only awe and reverence. Some even gazed at him with admiration. In their minds, Chen Dafeng's ruthless strength meant security.

The stronger he is, the safer we are.

Their silent approval brought a smirk to Chen Dafeng's lips. Fear is one thing, but admiration? Now that's true power.

Turning to the blind young man, Chen Dafeng patted his shoulder. "They're dead now, but I can't fix your eyes."

The young man shook his head, trembling with gratitude. "It's okay, Captain Chen. You're incredible! I… I want to be like you! I want to join the command squad and fight for our people!"

Chen Dafeng raised a brow, skeptical. "You're blind. How are you going to enlist?"

"My blindness won't last," the young man exclaimed, his voice filled with conviction. "I have a healing ability! My eyes will grow back soon!"

Chen Dafeng blinked in surprise, glancing down at the lifeless bodies strewn across the ground. "What a bunch of sorry fools," he muttered. "You lost your lives, and this kid's eyes will grow back anyway."

Shaking his head, Chen Dafeng handed over the cleanup to his subordinates and moved on. There were more caravans to deal with, more orders to enforce. His mission tonight was clear: ensure no one returned to the city center.

As the night deepened, he executed his grim duty with precision, dispatching half the city-center teams before dawn. Each confrontation ended the same—with blood and crushed skulls.

Watching from afar, Mike, the settlement's overseer, sighed. "This guy… he's got a real knack for turning heads into pulp."

Despite the gruesome methods, Mike couldn't complain. Chen Dafeng was effective, if nothing else. Disconnecting from the surveillance feed, Mike's attention shifted back to the settlement's lively plaza.

Evening in the settlement meant a brief respite from the harshness of the apocalypse. Survivors returned from their tasks to enjoy communal activities—swimming, games at the cyber café, or joining free tournaments organized by the community.

For those who preferred to keep working, there were plenty of tasks: sorting supplies, cleaning, or even contributing to the growing textile workshop. Jiang Xiaoci's meticulous system ensured every survivor had opportunities to earn points, fostering a sense of purpose and camaraderie.

Amidst the buzz, Mike settled in front of his computer, a rare grin breaking his otherwise stoic demeanor. Tonight was special—the release of the settlement's first multiplayer network game.

"Time to see what they've cooked up," he muttered, booting up his system.

But just as the game loaded, a burst of chatter from the plaza caught his attention. Survivors were crowding around, excitedly discussing something from the city's chat channel.

Curious, Mike pulled up the channel feed, scanning the latest messages.

His brows furrowed, then lifted in amusement. "Well, now… this just got interesting."