The Haunting Memories

There she was.

Alex's mind instantly flashed back to her information. He wouldn't forget this woman even if she turned to dust.

She was Emma, his high school classmate.

In his past life, Alex had pursued Emma for three years, being incredibly humble the entire time.

He would rather go hungry himself than skip buying her breakfast. He even did her homework and chatted with her late into the night whenever she was in a bad mood.

For Emma, Alex granted every request, giving all he could as an orphan.

He hoped to be with Emma.

Yet, Emma never accepted his confessions, always saying she was too young, couldn't afford to distract from her studies, and couldn't disappoint her parents' expectations.

However, whenever Alex wanted to give up his pursuit, Emma would find him, encouraging him and saying it was just a test, hoping he would persist.

So, Alex firmly believed that Emma would start dating him after high school.

Unfortunately, after graduation, he found out that Emma had been with Director Zhou from the neighboring class all along. Zhou's family background was decent, and being with him allowed Emma to ascend socially by half a class.

He still remembered the sight of Emma holding hands with Director Zhou and her sarcastic remark directed at him:

"Such a fool. You deserve to be an orphan!"

In this new life, even though the world had undergone drastic changes, most of his former classmates remained unchanged.

Alex didn't know if this was God giving him a chance to redeem himself, but he was deeply grateful to have the opportunity to see Emma again.

To finally bid farewell to his past self, the puppy-like Alex.

He remembered Emma in high school, always sweet and charming, with dimples that made Alex's heart skip a beat whenever she smiled.

But now, looking at her, Alex felt only disgust, no longer experiencing any fluttering in his heart, and even a hint of nausea.

His gaze at Emma was bland and indifferent.

Emma didn't notice the change in Alex and instead said in a cutesy voice, "Alex, you haven't brought me breakfast for three days."

"Oh, I ate it myself," Alex replied calmly, not showing any emotional fluctuation to her near-coquettish words.

Emma was taken aback, seemingly not expecting such a response, and asked in surprise, "What about my breakfast?"

"Didn't you tell me you had breakfast at home, so there was no need for me to bring you any?"

Alex only found out later that Emma gave the breakfast he bought her to Director Zhou, trying to win his favor.

In a word, Emma worked hard to be with Director Zhou.

Her efforts were just built upon Alex's foolish dedication.

Emma put her hands on her hips and said, "I was testing you! If you give up so easily, how can I trust you in the future?"

Looking at Emma's mix of anger and coquetry, Alex chuckled. "If you're not confident, we might as well not be together. Besides, we're not dating now, anyway."

Emma's heart sank upon hearing Alex's response. She wondered why Alex, who had always catered to her every whim, had changed so much in recent days!

But she was also in a fit of rage and had lost patience to give Alex a good face. She was only eager to retrieve the homework that Alex had helped her with before and go find Director Zhou to compare answers.

"Then give me my homework," she demanded.

Alex opened his backpack and handed over three homework notebooks to Emma.

Emma grabbed the notebooks, flipped through a couple of pages, and her eyes widened in shock. "Alex! Why is the homework blank?!"

"Funny. Homework doesn't write itself. If no one writes it, it stays blank, of course," Alex replied.

"But... But you used to help me with it!"

Alex pulled out three more notebooks, showing Emma the blank pages. "I haven't even written mine. Why should I help you?"

"You! You'll get me scolded by the teacher like this!"

"Oh."

"Don't you care if I get scolded by the teacher?"

Alex burst into laughter, giving Emma a sardonic look, and shrugged. "You never cared when I got scolded by the teacher."

Emma immediately feigned tears, pouting her lips and her eyes brimming with tears. "Alex, I think you don't like me anymore."

Alex ignored her acting and gave her a thumbs-up. "Emma, that's the only human thing you've said this morning. If you have nothing else, stop disturbing my daydreaming."

With that, Alex leaned against the window, continuing to gaze at the bizarre deities floating in the sky. He wondered if eating them wouldn't give him diarrhea.

At this point, Emma was completely stunned.

She had planned to meet Director Zhou later to compare answers and intended to give the breakfast that Alex bought her to him as a gesture of goodwill.

Now that Alex had washed his hands of her problems, how could she face Director Zhou?!

Faced with Alex's ignorance, she fumed, "Alex, if you keep this up, we'll never have a chance!"

Alex snorted, turned around, and spat a thick glob of phlegm at her feet.

Then he turn around and leave.

...

On the outskirts of the Safe Zone lies a territory marked by backwardness, a laggard in every conceivable aspect, from its dusty streets to its dispirited denizens.

Education, the cornerstone prioritized by the United Government, has not been spared this neglect. At Haven Academy, the curriculum for the third-year seniors consists of tedious lectures on the ancient glories of humanity and outdated scientific theories.

In an era dominated by the Gods, classrooms here still drone on about "separation of powers," "social revolutions," and other quaint notions that hold no relevance today.

Even the mathematics of functions and geometry, the physics of force fields, and the chemistry of molecular structures seem impotent and irrelevant.

In the pre-apocalyptic world, mastery of these subjects was the key to academic and professional success. But in the wake of the Gods' descent, they have lost all meaning.

There is but one path to redemption: awakening a Sequence Ability.

Only by possessing a Sequence Ability can one hope to change their fate. Yet, courses pertinent to Sequence Ability are conspicuously absent from the curriculum of this backwards institution at the fringes of the Safe Zone.

The impoverished region rarely sees the presence of Sequence Ability Holders, and the teachers, ordinary folk themselves, lack the education and exposure to impart such knowledge.

Although uninformed, Alex presumed that with the Safe Zone established for a decade and Sequence Ability awakenings recorded for five years, the United Government must have incorporated related courses in its educational system. They just hadn't permeate Haven Academy yet.

The current lack of relevant knowledge has left Alex here no light in the future.

Courses on Sequence Ability Holders aren't solely for those who awaken abilities; they can also cater to ordinary individuals. The advent of Sequence Ability Holders spawns numerous industries and creates a plethora of job opportunities.

With such education, ordinary graduates can pursue a wider array of careers.

Haven Academy sits at the bottom rung of the educational ladder within the Safe Zone, offering its students a narrow path to tread.

Their only hope lies in excelling in the college entrance exams to gain admission into universities specifically for ordinary folks established by the United Government, or a miraculous awakening of a Sequence Ability, transforming them into Sequence Ability Holders.

However, in the past five years, no miracle has graced the students of Haven Academy.

The sole beacon of hope for the students seated in the classroom is to secure a coveted spot through stellar exam performance at the college entrance exams. Even the top ten students face an uphill battle; for Alex, hovering around the hundredth rank, the odds seem insurmountable.

The lessons learned from his previous life as a working stiff have taught Alex one thing: avoid futile endeavors; rest when you must; do not be too hard on yourself.

Skipping his assignments entirely, Alex braces for the inevitable scolding from his teachers.

He's not alone; Emma and her clique of girlfriends also face reprimands. Emma's friends always relied on her for their homework, and she, in turn, depended on Alex. With Alex halting his subservient duties, an entire homework supply chain has collapsed.

Throughout the day, Emma casts occasional mournful glances at Alex, who ignores her plight with stoic indifference.

Emma's friends, who benefited from her alliance with Alex, offer various suggestions on how to reignite his servitude.

Being Emma's simpering sycophant had its perks for Alex; he was often tasked with running errands, buying snacks, and even fetching meals.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the Safe Zone's fringes, Alex prepared to leave Haven Academy. He stuffed his backpack with extra portions of food from the canteen, much to Auntie Mary's amusement and indulgence.

With his pack bursting at the seams with provisions, Alex planned not just for the next day's meals but for a week's sustenance. His mind was set; he'd spend the nights near the Safe Zone's exit, ready to intercept any Gods-Eater returning from their perilous hunts.

One lucky encounter could alter his destiny, grant him strength, and pave the way for his escape from this forlorn periphery.

Just as Alex set off, brimming with anticipation, Emma intercepted him, her expression a mix of hope and hesitation.

"Alex, I've been thinking about things, really reflecting on my feelings. There's something inside me... I do care about you, but we're both so young..."

"Get lost," Alex cut her off coldly, bypassing her as if she were an unpleasant obstacle.

Emma stood there, stunned and rejected, her words dying in the breeze. She'd hoped her concession might sway Alex, but his transformation was unyielding.

Alex returned home, his spirits unfazed by Emma's attempt. He took a refreshing cold shower and retreated to bed, fatigue pulling at his eyelids. He had initially planned to stake out the Safe Zone's exit tonight, but exhaustion got the better of him.

Tomorrow, refreshed and revitalized, he'd venture out again.

As he drifted into slumber, Alex glanced at the thick, fortified glass window, where a massive, black insect crawled. He pulled the curtains without a flicker of emotion; it was just another day in this dystopian world.

Meanwhile, Emma and her friends huddled together, hashing out strategies. They too saw potential in her alliance with Director Zhou, whose uncle had recently awakened as a Sequence Ability Holder and held influence within the United Government's educational sector.

"Emma, tomorrow, when school lets out, confront him again. Be more persuasive, tell him..."

But Alex's resolve was unshakable. The next day, as he left Haven Academy, his mind was focused solely on his goal. Emma's subsequent attempts to reconcile only earned her more disdainful rejection.

Undeterred by Alex's indifference, Emma pondered her next move. She realized that her dependency on Alex for homework and favors had crumbled, leaving her vulnerable in her pursuit of Director Zhou.

Alex, on the other hand, felt liberated. With each step towards the Safe Zone's exit, he felt lighter, as if shedding layers of baggage from his past subservience.

As night fell again, Alex found his spot near the exit, ready to seize his destiny. The world outside was harsh and unpredictable, but so was life within the Safe Zone's confines. He'd face it head-on, armed with hope and determination.