[Infinite Ring]

• Contains an entire world within—limitless space that can even hold living beings.

[Universal Plunder]

• Universal Plunder: forcibly steal any creature’s innate talent.

[Tome of the Eye of Truth]

• Grants the skill “Eye of Truth,” allowing you to scan every life-form’s rank and abilities—nothing can hide from your sight.

[Infinite Food Editor]

• Make a wish, and endless food—and mercy—shall be yours!

With these four items and skills, Su Bai was virtually guaranteed to stand undefeated in the coming apocalypse.

“Universal Plunder—HAHAHAHA!”

An innate talent is a creature’s unique ability. This tome could rip those talents away and add every power in existence to his own!

Su Bai remembered an Eighth-Order powerhouse from his past life whose talent was “Copy.” He could duplicate three other talents—at reduced effectiveness—and still dominate the Eighth Order. Had the man not died from arrogance, he would have been the strongest candidate for humanity’s Fourth Pillar.

Now Su Bai possessed a skill even stronger than “Copy.” Who in the apocalypse could stop him? Who would dare?

The Infinite Ring was equally absurd. The largest spatial ring Su Bai had ever heard of held only the volume of a small house; this one contained an entire world—and living things! It was a pocket refuge.

Food was the single most vital resource in any post-apocalyptic shelter. With the Infinite Food Editor, Su Bai alone could feed the entire planet.

He pinched his own cheeks to keep the grin from splitting his face.

“Hah… HAHAHA!!”

He packed everything into the Infinite Ring, vaulted out of the pit, and kicked the plank away.

[100× Critical-Strike Card: 00:32 remaining]

Thirty-two seconds—waste nothing.

He burst from the warehouse like a starving wolf.

00:27

Rip—rip—

His eyes locked onto a creature tearing at a corpse nearby: a short, black-furred monster with an eerily human face—an early-stage Black-Fur Ape-Ghost.

At the start of the apocalypse most monsters were weak; three or four determined adults could survive together. Within days, however, the Crimson Sun would seed stronger horrors and mutate the old ones.

“That one’s mine!”

Su Bai’s enhanced body moved like a world-class athlete. The chef’s knife flashed; the monster’s head flew before it could roar.

He sidestepped the blood spray. “So weak. How was I ever scared enough to hide indoors?”

No other monsters in sight—only human corpses. Soon these bodies would rise as ghouls, but Su Bai wasn’t interested.

[100× Critical-Strike triggered!]

A green chest materialized above the corpse, spinning. He scooped it up, opened it—

[100× Critical-Strike triggered!]

—then dumped the loot into the Infinite Ring without checking and sprinted away.

Monsters have keen noses for blood; killing one could bring the whole pack. Early-stage hunting was inefficient anyway. After midnight, once his talent awakened, every kill would yield maximum returns.

Eyes cold, Su Bai dredged up memories: which university Ao Weiwei had attended—Wang Zibo’s school. When the apocalypse hit, Wang would still be on campus waiting for her.

Population-dense areas received stronger monster drops. Wang was definitely trapped there.

Su Bai found a car: windows shattered, driver headless, keys still in the ignition. He tossed the corpse out, stamped the accelerator, tires screeched, and the car shot forward like an arrow.

…

“Brother Wang, what are those things outside? Is it the end of the world?”

Hou Yuanli crouched at the dorm window, face pale as he watched black-furred monsters devour flesh.

Wang Zibo’s expression was grim. Not only had that woman stood him up, but now he was trapped in school with man-eating horrors everywhere.

“That red sun in the sky? Gotta be aliens invading—Earth is finished.”

Four people occupied the dorm: three guys and one girl. The girl had been invited—by Ao Weiwei—to “relieve” the boys, but monsters had crashed the party.

As heir to a conglomerate, Wang Zibo adapted quickly. “First things first—anybody got food?”

The two guys and the trembling girl all shook their heads. They’d come to play; no one had brought snacks, and the room had no stockpile.

Their bodies, freshly drained, were already running on empty. Without food, they’d starve within days.

“Monkey, you kept some toys, right? Bring them.”

“Toys…? Oh—yeah, hold on.”

Hou Yuanli dug under his bed and produced two sharpened daggers. Dorm rooms always had “toys.”

Wang Zibo took one, eyes hard. “Let’s hit the next room—see if they’ve got chips or bread.”

“Uh… that seems wrong—they’re classmates…” The third guy’s voice shrank under their stares.

“Wrong? It’s the apocalypse. Anyone who finds food later, don’t feed this coward.”

“I—I’ll go, I’ll go.” The kid realized his place; pushback might earn a knife in the gut.

“Room 105. That guy runs a mini-mart out of his dorm.”

“Move.”

They left the girl shivering under a blanket.

At 105 they pressed against the door and heard faint chatter inside. Wang signaled silence: “We ask first. If they refuse—cut throats, fast. Can’t let them scream. If the world resets, I’ll cover for us.”

“Got it,” Hou mouthed.

The third guy clutched a wooden bat, eyes wide with horror. College students—how had he missed how crazy these two were?

But hunger gnawed; he knew in days they’d be carving the girl for meat if nothing else.

Wang plastered on a friendly smile, hid the knives, and pushed the door.

“Hey, guys! How’s it going?”

Two guys inside froze; one held half a loaf.

“We’re starving—got any food?” Hou asked. “We’ll pay.”

“We do… but supplies are tight…”

“Ten times the price. Deal?”

The guy laughed bitterly. “Hou-shao, with monsters outside, money’s useless.”

Eyes met; silent nods.

“No worries—have a smoke.” Wang produced a box of Huazi cigarettes and walked over.

“Thanks, but I don’t smoke.”

“First time for everything.”

Hou sidled up to the one eating bread, grinning. “Tastes good, huh?”

SHHK—SHHK!

Two blades ripped flesh. Blood sprayed; neither victim managed a scream before collapsing.

Thuds.

“Grab everything—go!” Wang hissed, adrenaline high.

The third guy swallowed bile and began stuffing supplies.

Bread, spicy sticks, self-heating hotpot, peanuts, edamame… “Hey, even a bottle of erguotou!”

Three boxes of food. Before leaving, Wang handed the kid a knife and pointed at a corpse. “Stab the neck.”

Trembling, the boy obeyed, eyes shut; the blade slid into an eye socket. Cold blood dotted his face.

“Good. Let’s move.”

They hurried back. The girl in the corner saw the blood on their clothes and shook harder.

“Stop shaking. You’re still useful—relax.” Wang shrugged, unconcerned.

They filled cups from the bathroom tap and started a hotpot.

“Wonder how long the water’ll last,” Hou muttered, blood-stained shirt steaming in the steam.

“We’ll eat, then hit the cafeteria. Cold storage, big water tanks,” Wang planned.

They ate, oblivious to the danger already racing toward them.