Ye Chen moved in a flash, closing the distance to the mutated ant. The fire axe in his hand swung in an awkward arc, aimed at the few remaining claws of the monstrous insect.

"Clang!" Under the tremendous force Ye Chen wielded, the sharp axe struck the slender black claws, yet it sounded as if it had met steel rebar, sending a shower of sparks flying. This single blow failed to sever the ant's appendage, managing only to carve a shallow gash.

Ye Chen marveled internally; as expected of a super-powered monster in the late apocalypse, its defense was formidable! Ye Chen did not pause, raining down a flurry of axe chops.

Once the dark outer carapace was shattered, the tender, pale flesh beneath would offer no resistance and could be cut through easily. Having been subjected to the explosion of the gas canister at close range, the mutated ant was already riddled with wounds from flying shrapnel, and its mind was in a state of dizzy confusion, only capable of struggling instinctively on the ground.

Ye Chen struck over a dozen times until the axe handle, unable to withstand the strain, snapped. He then resorted to smashing with the axe head itself.

After about a minute, he had managed to hack off several of the ant’s legs. Next, Ye Chen pinned the creature's head to the floor, spending several minutes smashing apart the massive pincers around its mouth before finally feeling secure.

He hefted the disabled insect and turned to exit the room. Back outside, Ye Chen dragged the ant into his room and dropped it onto the floor.

He then located an empty gas canister, emptied all the gas into an unoccupied room, and finally disassembled the nozzle before stuffing the struggling mutated ant inside. A common wooden crate would be shredded with a simple struggle; wood was as fragile as tissue paper before it...

"This mutated ant cannot be killed, or the genetic material inside will solidify, making extraction impossible," Ye Chen mused, his mind focused. "The only thing to do now is find a research institute, use their equipment to extract the ant's genes, and then inject them into my own body!" Ye Chen moved to the room and powered up the hotel's built-in computer, checking the network connectivity—it was dead.

Since the apocalypse began, global communications had collapsed; not only was the internet down, but phones were useless too. However, Ye Chen had anticipated this.

At the very beginning of the world's collapse, he had foreseen this very situation, so he had purchased a detailed map of China, complete with regional breakdowns. A cheap map costing only a few Yuan proved to be as invaluable in the apocalypse as a powerful firearm like a handgun!

Ye Chen unfolded the map of their current city, studying it for a moment. Finally, he located the marker for a research institute about seven kilometers away.

Ye Chen frowned slightly. Seven kilometers...

Not short, not long. In the past, a public bus could cover that distance easily.

But now, the outside world swarmed with monsters and countless zombies. The seven kilometers might hold untold dangers.

Even traveling alone, he wouldn't give himself better than a thirty-percent chance of reaching the institute safely. Should he go...

For a moment, hesitation flickered in Ye Chen's heart. If he were on his own, he would undoubtedly venture out regardless of the risk.

This was because monsters and zombies were currently at their weakest. In the second or third month to follow, they would only grow stronger...

If he didn't go to the institute now, the opportunity would vanish later. But now, his sister, Ye Zhu, was by his side.

If he were to perish, his sister would be left utterly alone... Ye Chen had already experienced the misery of being utterly alone, and he absolutely would not allow Ye Zhu to endure the same fate.

As he pondered, just before noon, the room door opened. Ye Zhu and Bailong walked in.

They spotted Ye Chen sitting safely on the living room sofa. Seeing him unharmed, a glimmer of relief shone in Ye Zhu's eyes, and she hurried over, laughing cheerily, "What are you thinking about?" Ye Chen looked up.

The familiar face bloomed before him... Smiling so playfully...

A wave of intense tenderness surged from the depths of Ye Chen's heart. He shifted over, making space for her to sit.

After a moment of silence, he looked at her and slowly said, "I need to go somewhere very dangerous next!" Ye Zhu startled instantly, the smile fading from her face. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed; she understood that if something made the usually calm Ye Chen speak with such gravity, the place must be truly perilous!

She paused silently before quietly asking, "Where?" Ye Chen gazed into her expression, then slowly replied, "We are leaving the hotel to head toward a research institute. It's about seven kilometers from here." Ye Zhu bit her lower lip lightly, pausing for a long time before asking hoarsely, "Can't we not go?" Ye Chen slowly shook his head, the simple action weighted with gravity.

Only by becoming a gene warrior could one truly possess the ability to protect oneself in the apocalypse; otherwise, annihilation loomed at any moment. Ye Zhu clenched her fists, suddenly looking up to meet his gaze directly.

"I'm coming with you!" "No!" Ye Chen refused abruptly. Ye Zhu met his eyes steadily.

"If your life is in danger, I will never live on alone either. Even if you leave me behind at the hotel, I will sneak after you." Ye Chen let out a wry smile; this outcome was almost exactly what he had foreseen.

Only two paths lay before him. Option one: Do not go to the institute!

Option two: Take his sister Ye Zhu with him! Ye Chen knew that with Ye Zhu's stubborn temperament, once she made a decision, it was nearly impossible to change.

Furthermore, Ye Chen was acutely aware that if he died, given the development of the apocalypse ahead—never mind the Volcanic Age, even the Ice Age—his sister would struggle immensely to survive without his guidance. "Fine!" After a long pause, Ye Chen let out a breath.

"Then we'll go together." Ye Zhu studied him for a moment, and seeing he wasn't just trying to placate her, she broke into a bright smile. "That's right.

From now on, wherever you go, you can't leave me behind. We live together, and we die together!" Ye Chen affectionately stroked her small head.

"Are you two leaving?" Bailong interjected, seizing the opportunity to ask. Ye Chen turned to look at him and nodded slightly.

"You don't have to come. With your current strength, you can live quite well here.

If you get the chance, when you run into the army, you can leave with them." Bailong frowned. "Where are you going?" Ye Chen replied calmly, "To a very dangerous place.

With my current strength, I only have a thirty percent chance of survival!" Bailong fell silent. Thirty percent chance.

That probability was desperately low—essentially a suicide mission. ...

At dinner, everyone was lost in their own thoughts; the night passed without incident. The next day.

In the early morning, the curtains were drawn back, and sunlight streamed into the room. Ye Chen packed the essential items.

His primary weapon was the fire axe. He also broke the watermelon knife in half to use as a dagger, tucking it into the side of his camouflage trousers, and loaded a small bag of hard candies into his backpack.

He decided against bringing Molotov cocktails. Although a small gas canister the size of a water bottle could kill a zombie, it would have little effect against a monster possessing the strength of thirty men.

Worse, the explosion would certainly alert nearby creatures, drawing unwanted trouble. With everything prepared, his sister Ye Zhu cooked a lavish breakfast.

Once they left the hotel, food this fresh and delicious would be a distant memory. The two devoured the meal with zeal.

"Where's Bailong?" Ye Zhu glanced around, noting his absence. Ye Chen stated flatly, "Probably still sleeping.

Get ready, we need to depart." Ye Zhu looked toward Bailong's former bedroom, a hint of disappointment in her eyes, before turning to pack her own things. It had to be said, women differed greatly from men; Ye Zhu's backpack was mostly filled with spare clothes...

Ye Chen found this somewhat exasperating, so he helped her reduce the bulk, stuffing a few extra candies in—a single piece of candy offered the caloric energy of nearly a bowl of rice. "Let's go!" Ye Chen opened the door.

He glanced back at the room, suddenly feeling a strange chill in the emptiness. As the two were about to step out, Bailong's bedroom door swung open.

Bailong emerged in full camouflage gear, two watermelon knives in his hands, and a dark bundle slung over his back. He grinned, "Let's move!" Ye Zhu was taken aback.

"What are you—?" Bailong glanced at her playfully. "How can a righteous person like myself allow a delicate young woman like you to follow a cold-blooded, ruthless, level-three freak?

Naturally, I must follow along to protect you!" "What a pathetic excuse!" Ye Zhu thought this internally but couldn't help a small laugh. Ye Chen said coldly, "What did you say?" "I forgot already.

What did you say?" "There will be many monsters on the road. Don't blame me if you die." "Relax.

A capable youth like myself, so generous, selfless, and caring, wouldn't possibly blame you." "Very good. From now on, the heavy lifting of tanking monsters falls to you." "Heck!

You're trying to scare me!" "Take it or leave it. Then don't come." "Ye Zhu, did you hear that?

This cold-blooded freak is so heartless!" "You should be grateful. He just doesn't want you going off to die pointlessly." "Does he have that kind of good intention?" ...

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