CHAPTER 256: 9.2 THE MAD PROFESSOR OF THE APOCALYPSE X ZOMBIE KING

The original story is quite old-fashioned.

The protagonist, Chen Ran, is reborn. In his previous life, he experienced the beginning of the apocalypse. Because he didn’t awaken any superpowers, he was looked down on and excluded in a world where only the strong could survive.

Even though he endured three years of hardship, he eventually died in an accident during a zombie attack at the start of year four.

But just as he was dying, the crescent-shaped jade pendant hanging around his neck, an heirloom, suddenly lit up with a dazzling white light as it absorbed his blood.

When he woke up again, Chen Ran was shocked to find that not only was he not dead, he had actually returned to a full month before the apocalypse began.

His first thought was that everything had been a dream. But soon he realized the jade pendant around his neck had disappeared, and in its place, he now had a strange space in his sea of consciousness.

More importantly, the vivid pain and trauma from his death, being torn apart, told him that it definitely wasn’t just a dream.

But now, he was back.

The end of the world hadn’t started yet. There was still time.

And this time, he had something amazing: a mystical space, far larger than the spatial powers awakened by ability users in his previous life. Even better, there was a spiritual spring inside it.

As long as he kept drinking that water, he’d get stronger and stronger. Even without an ability, he’d have enough power to protect himself once the apocalypse came.

He would no longer be looked down on, no longer abandoned by his fellow survivors as a weak burden. This time, he would become a strong man admired by others, someone with high status and access to abundant survival resources, just like the top elites from his previous life.

The reborn Chen Ran, like most protagonists of apocalypse rebirth stories, immediately began frantically hoarding supplies and silently preparing for what was to come.

He decided to lie and say he had awakened a space-type ability, and never reveal the pendant’s secret.

When the apocalypse did arrive, his preparations paid off. Compared to the panic and chaos everywhere, Chen Ran appeared calm and in control.

Naturally, such composure attracted attention, especially from the protagonist gong.

Thanks to his memories from the past, Chen Ran recognized this person right away, a powerful ability user from the A City base in his previous life. He immediately decided to befriend him.

One side had goodwill, the other wanted to get closer and soon, the atmosphere between them turned ambiguous.

Later, during a trip to A City, not only the protagonist gong but also several other future elites found themselves more or less drawn to Chen Ran. His subtle kindness and foresight left an impression on them all.

Chen Ran became a kind of group favorite.

Once the group settled in A City, they awakened high-level powers, moved into the best residential area, and formed the Gale Squad.

It was then that Chen Ran felt the time was right to bring up a crucial detail from his past life, Dr. Ling, a scientist rumored to be close to developing a zombie vaccine.

Back then, Chen Ran had hoped he could hold on for another six months and see salvation. But he died waiting.

It was said that Dr. Ling had already created a rough prototype and was working on improvements. Half a year more, and humanity might have had hope.

But that hope never came.

Now reborn, Chen Ran wondered, if he brought this up to the base leader earlier, could the vaccine be developed sooner? Could this apocalypse end more smoothly?

"That pervert Ling Zhuang should be on his way to the A City base under escort right about now."

Jiang Jiamian’s dark red eyes narrowed. Could the apocalypse really end sooner?

In the previous life, Chen Ran died believing Dr. Ling was the last hope of mankind.

What a joke.

That man had never been normal, let alone kind.

After Chen Ran was reborn and suggested picking him up earlier, Ling Zhuang, being extremely perceptive, grew suspicious of him instead.

He even became the first person to discover Chen Ran’s secret, that he had been reborn.

Because Ling Zhuang knew the truth about this apocalypse far better than anyone else.

And now someone suddenly claimed he’d be the savior?

It wasn’t until the second half of the story that the protagonists discovered the truth. Ling Zhuang wasn’t humanity’s hope, he was the true mastermind.

Not only did they regret ever picking him up, but it also cost the team dearly to finally bring him down.

Jiang Jiamian stepped onto the bloody ground, heading toward a distant direction. "Tsk. There’s no way a twisted freak like that is simple. Let’s go, I’m going to meet him myself."

He glanced down at his ragged clothes and winced. "Ugh, I look worse than a beggar. But hey, at least this stunning face isn’t ruined."

System: "..."

Help! Why does the host’s aesthetic sense always run in such weird directions!? And why is he so narcissistic!?

Jiang Jiamian strolled confidently past the bowing zombies outside the abandoned factory. His figure quickly vanished into the ruins.

He arrived at a silent street. The air reeked of decay. No one in sight, not even a blade of grass, remained.

Even the trees had turned black, their rotting branches dripping foul, thick sludge onto the cars below.

Covering his nose, Jiang Jiamian walked over to an SUV.

He figured this must be W City, the place where the apocalypse first broke out, and the largest zombie hub in the plot. As the Zombie King, of course he ended up here.

"System, pull up the map."

He gripped the car door. It was locked, of course, but his soul, refined through two lives, was now powerful. With a soft surge of soul force, he snapped the door open.

"On it, host!"

The system didn’t dare delay. A second later, the map appeared in Jiang Jiamian’s mind.

"Yep. W City, future lair of the Zombie King."

Too bad he wouldn’t be staying here to build his zombie empire.

Jiang Jiamian hotwired the car with a piece of wire, but he didn’t drive off right away.

Instead, he headed to the trunk and rummaged around for a while before pulling out a dagger and a small bucket. Calmly, he walked over to a few nearby cars and punctured their fuel tanks one by one, siphoning the fuel into his own vehicle.

Turning the dagger in his hand, he glanced again at the Jeep’s logo and muttered, "Hmm... not bad. This knife looks like military-grade."

Whoever owned this must’ve run into trouble.

Honestly, the whole city had probably already fallen.

A nearby zombie let out a guttural roar. In moments, others began to gather, drawn by his aura as the Zombie King.

"Stay where you are."

Seated behind the wheel, Jiang Jiamian gave off a subtle breath encoded with zombie command.

Sure enough, the approaching zombies froze and slowly backed off.

He hit the gas, heading straight for K City.

If his calculations were right, Ling Zhuang and the Gale Squad that had picked him up would be nearby.

Their goal: A City.

K City was also a major turning point in the plot, this was where the group first encountered an advanced zombie.

At this stage, none of them expected zombies to evolve. They were nearly caught off guard, until Chen Ran warned them.

Thanks to his past-life knowledge, he knew that zombies had crystal cores inside their heads. Consuming them could boost power levels.

Back then, this had been common knowledge. But now? No one else had discovered it yet.

Chen Ran had already begun collecting cores, but he couldn’t share the info too early. He had to wait for the right moment to ’accidentally’ reveal it.

So when the team faced danger in K City, Chen Ran took his chance. Under his guidance, the male lead absorbed a core and broke through, becoming the first ability user to level up.

Naturally, the crisis that had kept the group on edge all night was resolved thanks to his breakthrough.

As for the bond between the two protagonists, it deepened once more. Though neither had confessed their feelings outright, the air between them had grown undeniably more charged with ambiguity and unspoken emotion.

"I don’t dislike this protagonist, Chen Ran." Jiang Jiamian said suddenly as he drove, "If it were me, I’d probably make similar choices."

He wasn’t hurting anyone. He was simply using foreknowledge to survive and gather allies. Totally rational.

As for being popular, he didn’t seduce anyone, it was just plot momentum that made others like him.

People might ask: why didn’t he warn the world earlier?

But who would’ve believed him?

Even if they did, when the apocalypse really came, would they thank him?

No.

They would ask how he knew.

Why only he knew.

That was a dangerous question. One best left unanswered.

Compared to Tang Tang, who had also been reborn but wasted it on chasing someone else’s fiance, Chen Ran was far more admirable.

Tang Tang never realized that he had been in the wrong from the start.

The system agreed with him. "Indeed. I also think it’s normal for the protagonist not to tell anyone."

Jiang Jiamian raised an eyebrow, "I just hope he stays that way."

The system paused, "What does the host mean by that?"

Jiang Jiamian shook his head lightly. "Nothing. Just a hope, that’s all."

Because in the end, the apocalypse reveals people’s hearts.

And no one, no matter how noble, can guarantee they’ll stay the same.