Chapter 6: Starting anew

Chapter 6: Starting anew

Thud!

"Luke, I really can't run anymore." Ben, who was being supported by professor Nina, collapsed on his knees. His clothes were drenched with sweat, his face was bright red and he was furiously gasping for breath.

Professor Nina was also panting. However, it was mainly because she had to pull Ben along for over 5 minutes. Alice was fine, but you could see a few droplets of sweat on her forehead.

As for Luke, even though he wasn't obese like Ben; he never did any physical training before and spent most of his time on either studying or playing games.

So, now when he had to run for 'so long' with no breaks, he got too tired. His breathing was forced and his face full of sweat.

'I should've heeded professor Nina's advice when she told me to exercise regularly.' He thought.

When he heard Ben's cry, he stopped running and turned around.

After taking a few deep breaths, he glanced around. Although this area didn't have many houses, there were still a few people walking around, going about their business.

He then pointed at the general store. "That store should be safe. Since this area isn't too populated and people don't usually buy anything at this late in the morning, only the store owner should be there right now"

Luke had come here to buy some grocery and stuff a few times in the past because the store usually sold their product at discounted price due to the lack of customers. So, he knew the store didn't have any staff and the store owner herself managed everything.

"Come on. It's just 100 meters more. You can rest there. Let's go." Luke said as he helped him stand.

"Huff... Let's go, damn it. I won't be moving from there, no matter what happens after." Ben shouted and started limping toward the store with Luke and professor Nina supporting him on both sides.

Alice wanted to help the professor support Ben, but seeing Luke had come before her, she snorted softly. She still hadn't forgotten the earlier humiliation and was still very angry at him.

One minute later, they reached the store.

"Good morning, dear customers." A lady, who looked to be around 35 old, stood behind the counter wearing store's uniform. When she noticed Luke and others enter, she immediately put on a smile and welcomed them.

"Hello boss. Do you mind if we rest here for a while?" Luke asked with a smile.

The lady boss' smile dimmed slightly when she heard they weren't there to buy anything. However, noticing it was Luke, her regular customer, who had asked, she nodded, "Of course you can."

"Thanks." Luke thanked her and walked behind the wooden racks where the store owner couldn't see them.

He then said, "Alice, professor, you two go find something to hide behind. Remember not to stay too close so you can react in time if the other one turns into a zombie."

Although he knew none of them would turn, he wanted to pretend he didn't know to avoid their questions later.

He then turned to Ben and said, "You sit here and don't make any noise in case the store owner turns and comes to eat you."

Saying this, he went to another area from where he could see the store owner. He wanted to take care of her in case she turned."

Glancing at the time, he noticed only 30 seconds were left now.

Phew!

He took a deep breath and prepared himself.

Soon, 30 seconds passed and just like it had happened in his last life, suddenly a wooden club appeared in front of him and a voice rang in his mind.

[Planet Earth's evolution will start in 3... 2... 1... Good luck!] n).O./v.-e.-L.-B-)I--n

Shing~ Shing~~ Shing~~~

As soon as the voice disappeared, the earth trembled and a strange undetectable energy burst out and started merging with Luke's body and mind.

Professor Nina, Ben and Alice were stunned when they suddenly heard the voice. For a moment, they thought they were hallucinating.

...

Everything turned chaotic as soon as the voice disappeared.

People who sitting started asking the people by their side if they too heard the strange voice.

Many people who were driving crashed their vehicles because of the distraction caused by the sudden announcement in their heads.

Planes currently flying suddenly lost all communication while some crash landed.

[Central continent]

In a remote city on the central continent, a teenager looking at the wooden club in his hand murmured, "Evolution? This means big brother was telling the truth?"

In the headquarters of Rulers', many people raised their head and smiled, "It's finally here."

...

One minute after the announcement, the strange energy, otherwise called mana, finished integrating with him. Luke picked up the wooden bat, 'It's time to start anew.'

He then walked toward the store owner, careful not to make any sound.

After he came in her ten meters range, he raised the bat, ready to strike because he knew the zombies could sense people within this range and would immediately jump them.

However, even after he was only two meters away from her, she didn't attack him. This means she was still a human.

Phew!

He exhaled audibly, attracting her attention.

"Oh? Did you find what you want to buy?" She asked, smiling.

"No." Luke forced a smile. She was still concerned about that. It seems she treated the announcement as her hallucination.

So, he asked her, "Did you hear the strange voice just now?"

"What? You also heard it?" She asked in astonishment. Then her gaze landed on the club in his hand. Glancing at her club on the counter, she murmured, "You also got one. This means I wasn't hallucinating."

"Yeah. You weren't. It was real. Try not to make any noise for a while or trouble might come knocking." Luke said and walked where Ben was.

Ben was just waiting for him. As soon as he saw him, he asked probingly, "Did you hear some voice a while ago?"

"Yeah. I know you did too. Every person on the planet did." Luke replied.

"It means all that you said is going to h-happen now?" Ben asked, his expression turning sombre.

"Of course." Luke chuckled. "If you still don't believe me, go out and you'll know."

"How can you joke even now? Aren't you afraid you'll die sooner rather than later since it's all true?"

Alice came walking toward them with professor Nina. Her expression was stone cold while professor Nina wore a heavy expression.

"No." Luke shrugged nonchalantly and then said in a cold and resolute voice, "Because I'll kill everyone and anyone who threatens my life."