Chapter 18

Time is the most powerful weapon. It can destroy anything without a sound, even the whole world.

The largest influenza pandemic had ended in three days, but the confusion and chaos caused by the pandemic only subsided after a month had passed. Just when people thought that things had passed and life was beginning to stabilize, a global catastrophe approached quietly.

On July 4th, 2013, the weather was humid and hot. It was no different from previous summers. But it was on this day that a new era, called the "Century of Death" 500 years later, began. Humans would enter a period of hardship and darkness they had never seen before.

Due to the advent of the apocalypse, the year 2013 was called the "First Year of the New World" and July 4th was recorded in the annals of history as the first day of the New World.

As the only person who had experienced the apocalypse and was born again, Gong Xiangyi had this day deeply entrenched in her memory. As soon as she gave them her warning, Gong father, Old Lin, Song Haoran and Lin Wenbo went to the army to prepare one week in advance. Gong father and Old Lin were responsible for cleaning up the zombies in the provincial garrison. Song Haoran and Lin Wenbo were responsible for cleaning up the zombies in the suburban training camp. The four people did not dare to slack off as they were determined to minimize the army's casualties.

Among the people who had the flu, there would be zombies and there would be ability users. The zombies would be destroyed whilst the abilities of the ability users would be strictly managed to protect them from zombies. It would be a great loss for not only the army, but the entirety of mankind if ability users were to die to zombies before their abilities had developed. It was even more crucial to protect the ability users because Gong Xiangyi had predicted that a powerful ability user would be able to easily deal with thousands of people from the army. Their combat effectiveness would be extremely strong.

Therefore, in order to not accidentally hurt these talents, Gong father and Song Haoran had to resort to extraordinary means. Because there were too many soldiers who had the flu, there was not enough space to separate them one by one. Gong father and Song Haoran had called them out for an emergency situation half an hour before the eclipse occurred, telling them that the apocalypse was coming and allowed them to fully arm themselves. Each person was armed with a military dagger which they held in their hand. Gong father constantly repeated, "If the person beside you attacks you without any reason at the end of the eclipse, stab that person in between the eyebrows. It is necessary to hit the brain."

The entire army was in an uproar once Gong father's speech was finished due to the ruthless instructions Gong father had given to them. But it was the duty of soldiers to obey orders, so after a short period of hesitation, these well-trained soldiers armed themselves and held the daggers solemnly.

They thought it was just a drill, and that the so-called apocalypse was nothing but nonsense. They thought that the weapons in their hands were too dull and would not hurt people. They thought that their fellow soldiers would not attack for no reason after the end of the solar eclipse. But no matter what their current thoughts were, the tragedy that would occur after the eclipse would completely change their minds.

Whilst this was all happening, ordinary soldiers who had never been infected with the virus were positioned in buildings around the training grounds. Each person held a sniper rifle which was aimed at the training grounds. Their muzzles were aimed at their fellow soldiers in the training grounds. They also got the same order; after the eclipse ended, the soldiers that attacked others without any cause were to be killed on the spot.

The orders had been conveyed to various companies and regiments. The army under Gong father and Song Haoran's direct jurisdiction had been given a mountain of orders. However, in some remote military areas, they weren't certain whether the officers who were in charge of those bases would carry out those orders since it was beyond their control. They had already done their best.

As early as a week ago, when Gong father was in a hurry to leave the house, he urged Gong Xiangyi to find an opportunity to tell Gong Lixin about the apocalypse and to protect Gong Lixin. He told her, "Don't let him go to school, don't let him go out of the house." When the zombies in the army were cleaned up and they were fully equipped, he would send people to bring the siblings out of the city.

He did think about having Gong Lixin and Gong Xiangyi in the military base as everything happened but after thinking about it carefully, Gong father immediately dismissed the idea. The less people there were, the safer they would be.

The family members of those in the military were far from the suburbs. The area was sparsely populated. When they went to work, the areas would be mostly empty. There were few people who went in or out, especially since security was strict. As long as the doors and windows were locked, they would face no danger. In contrast, the military force, with hundred of thousands of people gathered together, was a much more dangerous place. Because there were too many people who had been affected by the influenza outbreak. Gong father wasn't 100% confident that he would be able to completely eliminate the zombies. If the situation was out of control, at least his pair of children would be safe. His daughter had her spatial ability so she would be able to live well with Gong Lixin. [1]

Before Song Haoran left, he repeatedly told Gong Xiangyi to take care of Gong Lixin. Gong Xiangyi could not be completely trusted so he had intended to personally talk to the child but he was unexpectedly called to the army by an emergency call. He was unable to see the boy's face before he left.

Old Lin and Lin Wenbo took charge of the military logistics, and naturally they had to follow the troops. When the four men left, Gong Xiangyi immediately dismissed all of the Gong Family servants.

Most of the servants became zombies. The few that survived died as they were escaping with the Gong family. There were no ability users among them. After two lifetimes, Gong Xiangyi had long been used to life and death. Not only her blood but her bone marrow was cold. If the servants had stayed with them, they would either be a threat or a burden. She naturally wouldn't do such a foolish thing.

Only those who were strong and useful would be worthy of her attention.

Gong Xiangyi settled down and waited for the apocalypse to come. She didn't tell Gong Lixin about the apocalypse as Gong father and Song Haoran had instructed her. She did not care where Gong Lixin went. She had long decided that she would let her younger brother die.

Gong Lixin got a call from his teacher and he hurriedly called a taxi to get to school. Gong Xiangyi opened the curtains and watched the car disappear with a cold smile.

In her last life, Gong Lixin, who had wanted to skip class, also received a call from the teacher, asking him to attend the final exam held in school.

At that time, she didn't know the apocalypse was close at hand and she scolded Gong Lixin and forced him to go to school to complete his exam. When the apocalypse started, many people became zombies, that was when she realized that it was her decision that pushed her brother into danger.

She did not look for the army under her father's and Haoran's control and neither did she join the Lin family. Instead of seeking refuge, she went to Gong Lixin's school to find her brother. She experienced many hardships to find her brother. When she had found her brother, they had hid underneath a bus for thirteen days. In those thirteen days, she had rushed out several times to find food before they were finally rescued.

Fortunately, the senses of the primary zombies weren't very sensitive, they also moved very slowly and stiffly. They couldn't run, bend, squat or climb. They survived thanks to the terrain. Otherwise if the primary zombies had evolved into first-class zombies, they would've died without any chance of a burial.

But how did her brother repay her kindness? Gong Xiangyi closed her eyes, hiding the intense hatred in her dark pupils. She was reluctant to recall the terrible past.

She shifted the curtains so they covered the windows and then slowly patrolled around the house. She placed everything that could be used into her space, locked the doors and windows. She took out a few guns and then sat in the living room watching TV with a calm expression, as if she hadn't just seen her younger brother run out to die.

"Gong Lixin's departure was destined. It had nothing to do with me!" She told herself this.

In the taxi, Gong Lixin rushed to school empty handed. Although he overheard the conversations between the adults and learned about the apocalypse, he did not eavesdrop on other conversations after that. Because of this he did not know that Gong Xiangyi had predicted the exact date and time the apocalypse would begin.

With Gong father and the others being busy recently and Gong Xaingyi's growing nervousness, he guessed that the apocalypse was in these coming days. He didn't want to go out but the headmaster had personally called him and asked him to return the key for the school's senior laboratory. He said that a group of doctoral students need to conduct important research and the other key was lost by the doctor, because of this, he needed to return the key.

The principal's tone was sincere and fearful, Gong lixin could also hear the anxiety in the man's tone as he pleaded for the key. For those who had been enthusiastic about helping him, Gong Lixin, who had a innocent, honest and loyal mind, would not refuse. Moreover, A School was in the suburbs. From Gong household to the school, the back and forth trip would take an hour at most. He told himself that it wouldn't take very long, but unfortunately for him, that hour would mark the beginning of the apocalypse.

If you really were unlucky enough to be outside when the apocalypse started, what could you do? Gong Lixin wasn't concerned at all. If the apocalypse really did begin now, then with his current skill, those zombies couldn't harm him. He would just make his way home so that his father wouldn't be worried.

Half an hour later, the taxi arrived at A school. Gong Lixin returned the key to the principal. He wanted to take a taxi back but he got caught by his class teacher. Today was the final exam and the strict class teacher didn't allow anyone to be absent.

The young man sitting in front of Gong Lixin's desk whispered. "The boss sure is the boss. You have time to go and talk to the principal but you don't have time to come to the final exam."

Gong Lixin glanced at him but didn't speak. He had seen many of these types, those who knew how to flatter others. He didn't like paying these people any attention.

"Could you lend me a pen?" The papers were placed on the desks. Gong Lixin asked the closest classmate on his right side.

He had been caught by the teacher and he could not do such a rude thing as ignore the teacher and leave. So, he decided to sit down and answer his paper. But he had hurriedly left the house, so he didn't take anything with him thus he couldn't answer the questions.

The person next to Gong Lixin's desk was a scholarship sports student. His skin was dark and he looked very kind. Because his family was poor, he had to rely on sports to receive a scholarship to pay his tuition fees. He never talked with Gong Lixin before and frowned when he saw how Gong Lixin didn't even bother bringing a pen even when he had come to the exam late. Hatred flashed in the boy's eyes for a split second.

"Take it, you don't have to give it back." The boy's heart was very kind. Even if he didn't like Gong Lixin, he still handed him a ballpoint pen.

"Thank you." Gong Lixin whispered with a smile. The boy stopped looking at him and concentrated on his paper.

The only sound coming out of the classroom was the rustling sound made by the papers, making this summer morning particularly peaceful. Gong Lixin examined his chemistry test papers in his hand with a dazed look. His white teeth bit into his lower lips and his face was filled with distress.

The blank spaces on the paper stared at him as the sky outside the window grew darker, the bright red sun seemed like it was being swallowed by an unknown monster, showing a gap. The gap grew bigger and bigger. Darkness gradually covered the entire city as the solar eclipse began.

Someone in the classroom was scared and screamed. Some excitedly whistled. The teacher sternly yelled. Chaos ensued in the exam hall.

As this was happening, the military of A province took control of the media, the radio and the internet began to announce the news of the apocalypse to the citizens of the province. Citizens were warned to be wary of people suddenly becoming violent, and to make sure they did not get injured. They were warned to hurry up and find a safe place to hide and wait for the military to rescue them.

Gong Lixin, who was worried about his chemistry test paper, heard the broadcast that was being repeated in the classroom. His face scrunched up into a frown. When he went out, the apocalypse began. Was that normal? Or was he just unlucky? He licked his lips and looked outside of the window

[1] CrazedCookies: No! Don’t do this Papa Gong!

AutumnBreeze: Why the fuck is everyone looking at a solar eclipse? Are they not afraid of their eyes being damaged?