"Refuse."
What a joke. Tier-2 Nightmare Crystals were the core material for crafting Tier-2 Gene Enhancement Serums. If he gathered enough of them, he could even synthesize a Tier-2 Gene Unlock Serum. In the early days of the apocalypse, these things were priceless strategic resources—how could he possibly waste them on ammunition?
Even if Tier-2 Nightmare Ammunition was powerful enough to make Huan Tian drool.
"What else can this thing be used for besides ammo?"
[Once the weapon synthesis and upgrade functions are unlocked in the system, Nightmare Crystals can be used to enhance weapons. Once the item synthesis function is unlocked, they can be bound as core materials to create serums or other combat support items.]
"Too bad… none of those functions are unlocked yet."
Huan Tian licked his cracked lips, unable to suppress the excitement in his chest. The future potential of the system was becoming more and more thrilling.
But just then, a wave of searing pain surged through his entire body. The flush of excitement drained instantly from his face, replaced by a deathly pallor. Clutching his chest, he collapsed to the ground, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth.
Clang—
Lin Qingqing, who had been packing supplies, rushed over at the noise and caught him just in time.
"Huan Tian! Are you okay?!"
He shook his head slowly, saying nothing.
The secret of his Demon Hunting state—he wasn't ready to tell Lin Qingqing about it.
He sat up with effort. Even breathing sent stabbing pain through his chest. As he carefully examined his injuries, his expression darkened.
The rib fracture had initially been manageable, clean, with no displacement. But after relentless combat, the damage had worsened.
Now, he had completely lost the ability to fight.
Thankfully, there were no more threats in the warehouse.
"Cough, cough… We'll have to rest here," Huan Tian said, forcing a bitter smile toward Lin Qingqing. "For now, there's no way we're leaving this place."
"Lie down first. There's a medicine cabinet over there—I'll find you some painkillers. Just don't move, okay?"
Lin Qingqing hurried toward the corner of the warehouse and started rummaging frantically through a cabinet marked with a red cross.
The brutal fight earlier had already drawn a swarm of zombies outside, but the fallen metal racks, knocked over by the Bone-Spike Zombie, were now tightly blocking the entrance. And the warehouse door itself was a heavy-duty security model. To ordinary Tier-1 zombies, it was like scratching an itch on steel—completely useless.
"I found it! Painkillers!"
Her delighted shout echoed through the warehouse as she rushed back to Huan Tian, cradling the small bottle in both hands like it was a rare treasure.
She opened her palms to reveal a matte plastic bottle.
"Ibuprofen? Now that's the good stuff."
Huan Tian poured four tablets into his hand and swallowed them with a gulp of water. The medicine kicked in slowly, but already, the searing pain in his chest was beginning to ease.
"Whew…" He exhaled deeply and lowered his voice. "Keep it down. Find our backpacks. We need food."
"Got it. I'll go—just don't move."
"I'm fine. While the painkillers are still working, I need to get everything done."
He shook his head and tried to get up, the movement tugging at his injured ribs. His expression twisted in pain, and Lin Qingqing rushed forward to steady him.
They split up. Lin Qingqing went to find food, while Huan Tian began searching for anything that could be turned into weapons or armor.
The warehouse sank into silence, save for the furious roars of the undead outside. But as long as they stayed quiet, the zombies would begin to disperse after about thirty minutes.
Lin Qingqing worked quickly, clearing away the collapsed shelves and gathering all usable supplies into an open area at the center of the warehouse.
Fifteen crates of bottled water—more than enough for the two of them to drink freely.
Instant noodles, biscuits, all kinds of vacuum-sealed snacks—like a miniature supermarket. She even found two backpacks, along with a mountain of canned goods, chocolate bars, and energy bars. In times like these, such things were no longer just food—they were strategic assets.
They also found medicine, some cold pills, and antibiotics. In the apocalypse, these were hard currency, plain and simple.
A rare sense of relief spread across their faces. The two finally let themselves enjoy a proper meal, devouring whatever they could get their hands on. But Lin Qingqing still remembered Huan Tian's warning—not to make any noise. That meant crunchy snacks like chips had to wait until the zombies outside gave up and left.
"This is so good… I was dying from cravings just now."
She whispered the words between bites, savoring every mouthful.
After all the battles and training, Lin Qingqing had begun to adapt. Sitting beside a pile of bloody, rotting zombie corpses, she could now eat without even flinching.
Meanwhile, Huan Tian had already finished eating and was fully focused on survival planning. Designs for weapons and armor rapidly took shape in his mind as he pulled over the materials they had just scavenged.
First on the list: a forearm guard.
With his injuries still limiting his movement, Huan Tian could only sit and direct while Lin Qingqing did the hands-on work. Together, they dragged over a damaged car tire—one that had been pierced by the Bone-Spike Zombie's attack. Using a box cutter, they sliced it into strips about 10 to 20 centimeters long.
He instructed her to punch holes into the rubber and thread them with sturdy cord, shaping them to match the curve and length of a forearm. The inside was padded with sponge and folded cloth for cushioning.
Next, they found sheets of metal and used a rebar cutter to snip them into appropriate sizes. With a handheld torque-controlled drill, they carefully screwed the metal plates into place on the outer surface of the rubber.
Once the exterior was secured, Huan Tian added a metal pipe down the length of the guard as a central support beam. He even designed a clasping mechanism to make it easy to put on and take off.
Once completed, the forearm guard was sturdy enough that even a Tier-1 zombie wouldn't be able to bite through it, no matter how many teeth they broke trying.
With the leftover tire rubber, Huan Tian also crafted leg guards for himself.
Though Lin Qingqing had never done any manual labor like this before, she said nothing the entire time. She was drenched in sweat, her white blouse soaked and clinging to her skin, her hair damp and sticking to her neck. Her breathing had grown ragged, but not once did she complain.
Huan Tian glanced at her, a flicker of genuine appreciation flashing through his eyes.
"System," he murmured, "Lin Qingqing is part of my team now. Can I view her physical stats?"
[Please wait—— ]
Name: Lin Qingqing
Role: Registered Member of the Demon Hunter Squad
Strength: 4
Agility: 5
Constitution: 9
Spirit: 15
The other stats were within the normal range, but that Spirit stat of 15 made even Huan Tian take a second look.
In a world where most ordinary humans had all four attributes below 10, Lin Qingqing's Spirit had reached an astonishing 15. There was only one explanation for that—her brain's potential had developed far beyond the norm.
A flicker of excitement surged in Huan Tian's heart.
He knew exactly what that meant.
The Gene Enhancement Serum was designed to enhance the human body, strengthening the core attributes based on one's unique physiology. But what truly pushed humans beyond their natural limits was the Gene Unlock Serum.
It unlocked the genetic restraints within the body, allowing people to gain abilities that defied all known logic—powers that science could no longer explain.
According to research from Huan Tian's previous life, the type of ability one awakened was closely tied to their four base attributes:
Those with high Strength typically awakened brute-force powers, becoming close-combat powerhouses or human battering rams.
Those with dominant Agility tended to develop enhanced perception, reflexes, and movement—ideal for snipers, scouts, or assassins.
Those with an extraordinary Constitution gained unmatched resilience and regeneration, becoming the immovable tanks on the frontlines.
But the rarest, and by far the most valuable, were those with high Spirit.
Because Spirit-based abilities broke every rule of human understanding, they weren't just powerful, they were almost mystical.
People called them magic, and they weren't far off.
High-tier Spirit evolvers could unleash large-scale mental attacks, control minds, distort reality, or induce mass hallucinations—devastating capabilities that could turn the tide of war.
What made Spirit's abilities even more terrifying was this:
They had no fixed form.
Unlike other evolvers, Spirit-types couldn't be easily categorized. Their powers were often unpredictable, unorthodox, and deeply personal. That's why Spirit was considered the wild card stat—and possibly the strongest.
In Huan Tian's past life, most people prioritized other attributes in their early evolution. Only after progressing into higher tiers would they occasionally trigger a Spirit-type ability through a Gene Unlock Serum.
Even these half-baked Spirit users were fiercely fought over by the major factions.
And Lin Qingqing…
She was born with a Spirit stat of 15.
That kind of potential couldn't be ignored by anyone.
With base attributes like hers, Lin Qingqing was nothing short of an uncut gem, brimming with limitless potential.
"Huan Tian… why are you looking at me like that…"
Her voice pulled Huan Tian back to reality.
Her delicate face was flushed like she'd just had a drink, and she gripped the hem of her shirt tightly, clearly flustered and unsure what to do with herself.
Immediately, Huan Tian recalled the intimate moment they'd shared earlier in the ventilation shaft.
"I… I'm not ready yet…"
Her shy and slightly fearful expression amused him more than it should have. He couldn't help but chuckle and flick her forehead lightly.
"What are you thinking? I'm still injured. Even if you were ready, I wouldn't be."
Huan Tian's teasing grin quickly defused Lin Qingqing's embarrassment. She pouted slightly and muttered under her breath, "Who said I was ready anyway…"
The two resumed their work on crafting equipment.
"This is… for me?!"
When she saw the arm guards and wrist braces Huan Tian handed her, Lin Qingqing was overjoyed.
She quickly strapped them on, thrilled to find that they fit perfectly, tailored just for her. Her arms and legs were well-protected, with barely any gaps. It was both practical and thoughtful.
"You put a lot of care into this," she said softly.
Next came the weapons.
Much to her surprise, Huan Tian bypassed the powerful fire axe and chainsaw and instead scoured the battlefield. When he returned, his arms were full of bone-white objects still streaked with blood.
Lin Qingqing instantly felt a chill crawl up her spine.
Those were rib bones—the ones fired by the spiked zombie!
"W-Why are you bringing those back…" she asked, voice trembling.
"To make weapons," Huan Tian replied calmly. The reinforced bones of evolved zombies are rare materials. Especially with high-tier mutants, their bones are incredibly durable, resistant to acid, abrasion, and even corrosion. In the apocalypse, they're more reliable than any industrial metal."
He spoke like a craftsman proud of his raw materials.
Lin Qingqing, on the other hand, was imagining herself someday wielding a sword forged from a zombie's rib—and shivered at the thought.
But as she crouched for a closer look, she had to admit—
These reinforced bone spikes were nearly a meter long. One end was smooth, where it had connected to the spine, while the other had evolved into a sharp, blade-like edge. The whole bone curved slightly like a saber, and with some honing, it could easily become a deadly weapon.
She swallowed nervously.
It was insane.
And yet, this kind of insanity was exactly what would keep them alive in this world.
Huan Tian carefully selected four bone spikes of moderate length, binding the vertebral connection ends tightly with strips of cloth. Then he picked one of the discarded ribs to use as a whetstone, painstakingly grinding the curved edge of each spike to create a blade.
It took him a full two hours to finish just one weapon. By the time he was done, sweat drenched his entire body. Meanwhile, the painkillers were wearing off, and the increasing pain forced him to stop and rest.
Lin Qingqing, utterly exhausted, had already collapsed nearby. Watching Huan Tian tirelessly craft weapons and armor for both of them, a complex mix of emotions stirred within her. She stared blankly at this man, memories of their encounters flashing through her mind.
She remembered how he had forced her to strip, made her watch helplessly as the construction worker died before her eyes, and even compelled her to eat crackers while confronting the zombie feeding scene...
Back then, everything had seemed so terrifying and unbearable. But looking back now, she realized that it was because of those harsh lessons that she had survived.
From the very beginning of the apocalypse, Huan Tian had been a true survivor—and he had been teaching her how to become one too. Meeting him was undoubtedly the luckiest thing that had ever happened to her.
"What kind of person are you?" Lin Qingqing whispered to herself.
Suddenly, a sharp, familiar chime rang in her ear.
"Ding! You have new messages."
A rapid stream of notifications flooded her screen, so frequent that Lin Qingqing was momentarily stunned.
Only then did she remember her phone had been in her pocket all along—but after the apocalypse, all the signal towers had gone offline, leaving no reception.
Could it be that the outside world was finally under control, and the towers had been repaired?
Excited beyond words, Lin Qingqing eagerly unlocked her phone. Dozens of unread messages glowed red on the screen. But the moment she began reading, the flush on her face drained away, replaced by a pale, indescribable shock.
"This is the National Security Agency. We have an urgent announcement to broadcast nationwide..."