01 Skill
Looking at the Goddess of Light’s suddenly petrified face, the entire online audience was already laughing themselves to death.
They even began imagining what character cards they might draw when they could play ‘Apocalypse Recreated’ themselves—
[My skill might be pooping a lot, and my weakness is eating a lot too]
[Hahahaha then my skill might be that whichever queue I join is always the longest??]
[My skill is making everyone around me stay single!]
…
[I’m really going to die laughing in the comments]
Originally, the industry had been watching from the side-lines. If ‘Apocalypse Recreated’ turned out to have more gimmick than technology, then after the livestream began, it would definitely be mocked viciously. Even with Gu Group’s deep capital, this investment might suffer a huge loss.
But after only half an hour of the broadcast, once the players finished drawing their first round of character cards—
The number of online viewers had already reached one billion!!!
Not just domestically—even overseas gaming enthusiasts had rushed over after hearing the news, all wanting to watch the game created by 01.
Everyone in the industry: That woman made it explode again!
That man invested correctly again!
—What kind of couple is this? They’re too OP!!
Amid the netizens’ enthusiastic discussion, someone shouted—
[Wait, Sister Ning still hasn’t drawn her card!]
[So what skill does Sister Ning have ahhhh!]
Ning Yi had already observed almost all the players’ character cards. Young Master Gu Le’s skill was “max-level thigh-hugging,” and the male and female leads’ respective childhood friends had also joined. Song Qingmei’s skill was photographic freeze-frame, while Ning Zhuo’s skill was persuasion.
Other players had also shown their skills one after another, while some players—already completely immersed in the game experience—chose to hide their character cards, especially their weaknesses.
After all, this was a survival game! Anyone could be an enemy!
After looking around, Ning Yi could basically confirm that the algorithm’s reference to each person’s profile was accurate. That was why the random character cards were so entertaining.
Hehe. Satisfied.
The entire game would also satisfy all the players and viewers.
Beside her, Gu Cheng lowered his head and asked softly, “Draw yours?”
Ning Yi had just opened it. “Right now.”
[Ahhhh Sister Ning, Sister Ning is here]
[Thinking about it carefully, Sister Ning seems to be all skills and no weaknesses!]
[So excited ahhh!]
She didn’t intend to hide hers either. Very quickly, after her fingertip tapped the panel, the glowing card appeared—
[01]
[Skill: Creation.]
Two simple words instantly detonated the audience again.
[Holy crap! Creation!]
[Damn, so cool ahhhhh]
[What does this mean? Very reasonable—Sister! Ning! Is! God!]
[Thinking about it carefully, these skills almost all correspond to each person’s traits. I have to say, the algorithm is really amazing]
Ning Yi raised a brow at her character card. Whoa.
Gu Cheng pinched her cheek, his voice full of laughter. “So impressive.”
Ning Yi secretly told him in her heart, “If I’d had this skill back then, I would’ve created chocolate cake for myself every day.”
Gu Cheng’s eyes were full of amusement as he quietly replied, “This time, I’ll give it to you.”
The viewers were fainting from shipping—but what did “this time” mean? Had there been another time before?
However, before everyone could analyse their sweet moment in detail, 01’s weakness appeared—
[Weakness: Can only create one thing per day. Within one hour after creation, has no defensive ability. Requires long periods of sleep to maintain energy consumption.]
Ning Yi: “?”
Why was her skill only two words, but her weaknesses had three whole lines?!
Angry pufferfish.jpg
At this moment, Ding Ziyue finally recovered from the panic of being extremely attractive to zombies. She hadn’t clearly heard what Ning Yi’s weakness was, only that Ning Yi’s weakness was very long.
Ding Ziyue immediately revived.
Good—then her weakness wasn’t that fatal! Probably!
It had to be that way!
After reading Ning Yi’s character card, Gu Cheng analysed it carefully and looked thoughtful. “The last one does make some sense.”
Ning Yi instinctively reached out to pinch him. “You’re awful!”
[Hahaha husband’s roast is the most lethal]
[Does no one think this is so doting wuwuwu? A man like Young Master Gu just lets his wife pinch and tug him however she wants]
Gu Cheng was extremely indulgent. In the end, he smiled, straightened his messed-up collar, then held Ning Yi’s hand.
[Ahhh the game is officially starting!]
All one hundred players had finished drawing their character cards.
A cold electronic voice rang in everyone’s ears:
—“All player data has been recorded.”
—“Please make good use of your skills and avoid your weaknesses. Prepare for this survival trial.”
“.”
All players flashed into different corners of the city.
The apocalypse had arrived.
…
At the beginning of the world’s collapse, everything seemed ordinary.
The whole city was full of traffic and lights. Office workers and students squeezed onto public transport together.
But for some unknown reason, and from some unknown starting point—
everything suddenly became strange.
Ning Yi looked around, and her heart stirred slightly.
Indeed, it was like “recreated.”
This was how the apocalypse had begun: descending suddenly at an ordinary moment when no one had realised anything.
Ning Yi had later thought about it many times. If she had been given another chance, she would definitely have made as many preparations as possible within those crucial hours after the apocalypse began. That way, perhaps the suffering she went through later would have been less.
But—
This time, “repeating the past” was different.
Gu Cheng was already running toward her from the end of the road.
After players entered the map, they actually weren’t placed very far apart. Gu Cheng found her quickly. When he reached Ning Yi, he took her hand.
“Scared?” Gu Cheng squeezed her palm.
Ning Yi smiled until her eyes curved. “Of course not.”
Gu Cheng sensed her emotions. They were indeed calm and positive. At that moment, he suddenly felt that this game was truly meaningful.
In the most extreme exchange, he had once experienced the apocalypse from Ning Yi’s perspective, but back then, he and she had perceived it from two different worlds.
This time, they could stand side by side.
Ning Yi smiled and looked around.
She didn’t know whether Brother Wan would join them, or whether he would use his strongest leadership ability to build a new team. Jiang Linyi and Ding Ziyue were somewhere unknown, but those two were definitely together. And the holy-light healing goddess would probably be fought over by other players.
Although this apocalyptic survival game was an individual battle, the game didn’t prevent players from forming teams and alliances.
And the changes had already begun.
First, the entire scene trembled slightly—
Netizens watched nervously and closely:
[Lag?]
[No, look carefully!]
—There had just been an earthquake.
Because the tremor wasn’t strong, many players didn’t even notice.
But viewers with a god’s-eye perspective could see that among the bustling city crowd, some people were beginning to mutate.
The apocalypse began at a very ordinary moment.
That day, the city experienced a mild, seemingly insignificant tremor, releasing the evil virus buried deep underground.
[Holy crap, the immersion is so strong, I’m already scared]
[Ahhh when are the zombies appearing? I really need a “high-energy warning ahead” alert]
And the first one to give the warning was—
“Ahhhh~ help me!~”
A beautiful, tragic cry.
Princess Ding Ding, carrying holy light, was the first to be targeted by a mutated zombie!
Ding Ziyue had originally been carefully choosing her guardian knights in her heart, but before she could react, a hideous, rotting face with eyeballs almost bursting out suddenly appeared right in front of her.
A “what the hell” almost slipped from Ding Ziyue’s mouth, but she forced it back! No—she was a delicate little princess!
—But no one told her the zombies in this game would be this realistic! Damn it!
[Holy crap! I got scared too!]
[Holy crap holy crap, I’m excited now, this visual effect is shocking!]
[Hahahaha I was originally scared, but watching the Goddess of Light nearly break down is so funny]
Ding Ziyue shouted weakly, “Linyi gege, save me!”
At this moment, Jiang Linyi looked at the rotting, twitching zombie and felt his heart pounding wildly too—he felt that he wasn’t being cowardly, because surely all the male players present would react the same way!
After all, no one had truly seen zombies before!
Of course, they didn’t know that these “zombies” had been personally designed by three retired apocalypse survivors, fully restored in exact proportion. Naturally, the visual impact was terrifying.
“Yueyue, I’m coming!” He steeled himself and rushed over.
But after only two steps, two more mutated zombies appeared around Ding Ziyue. Jiang Linyi’s footsteps abruptly stopped.
—There was no helping it. As “the person most attractive to zombies in the world,” Ding Ziyue was glowing in their eyes!
Once humans fully mutated into zombies, all their cells were reorganised by the virus. Their sensory systems changed drastically, making them only sensitive to the flesh and blood of normal humans.
However, while other players were merely flesh, blood, and scent, Ding Ziyue appeared to zombies as a piece of meat that was enlarged! Bolded! And glowing!
“Don’t come over here!!!”
While dodging zombies, Ding Ziyue accidentally bumped into something, and a cut appeared on the back of her hand. The game’s simulated physical sensation was extremely realistic, and she immediately felt as if the back of her hand really hurt.
Remembering that her skill was Holy Light Healing, Ding Ziyue hurriedly activated it—then Princess Ding became furious.
“Why can’t Holy Light Healing heal myself?!”
Jiang Linyi finally gathered his courage. “Yueyue! I’m coming!”
Ding Ziyue couldn’t help breaking down. “Aren’t you defence max?! What are you afraid of?!”
[Hahahaha I love watching Princess Ding break down]
[I admit I’m a wicked entertainment-seeker hahahaha]
[So Princess Ding’s skill is healing, and Movie Emperor Jiang’s skill is strongest defence hahaha. These two have 0% compatibility]
Princess Ding was carrying most of the game’s comedy effect on her side, but the whole game was still terrifying.
After zombies began appearing, the entire city fell into chaos.
People on the streets began screaming and rioting.
Most players were also stunned at first, pushed and shoved by the crowd, not knowing what to do.
Among the crowd, one figure quickly rushed into a large supermarket carrying something.
—“Captain Wan!”
Ning Yi accurately caught sight of him.
—Ridiculous. Wander’s weakness was that he consumed food, so the moment the apocalypse began, he was the first to charge in and seize supplies.
Wander spared a glance at Ning Yi and Gu Cheng, his voice smiling. “Hurry up!”
[I don’t know why, but Sister Ning calling him Captain Wan sounds so natural! Somehow I’m shipping it hehe]
[Have you forgotten? Brother Wan has always had amazing chemistry with Sister Ning!]
[I’ve caught the remaining Wan Shi Ru Yi shippers on the internet!]
[Young Master Gu: heh]
Ning Yi and Gu Cheng also ran into the supermarket.
—Within the first few hours after the apocalypse descended, everything was actually crucial.
Confirm your shelter. It could be your own home.
Gather as many supplies as possible and move them back to your shelter.
Build strong defences.
Because many people, in the beginning chaos, would flee their city in panic—just like Ning Yi had back then, swept away by the terrified crowd and leaving behind the familiar place where she lived.
However, once the apocalypse descended and the virus had already spread, every place would fall one after another. So the safest fortress was actually the home you were familiar with.
Therefore, before everyone else could react, the most important thing was to quickly establish your own supply reserves and defensive system—and then hide.
Of course, because this was a game, the flow of time was different from the real world. Stockpiling supplies at the beginning didn’t mean you could hide all the way to the end. Their game would also set up all kinds of dangers and conflicts to give players a full experience.
But still, they were better off grabbing supplies than the comedians outside—
“Are you alright, Yueyue!”
“Wuwuwu, I’m really so scared!” Ding Ziyue looked tearful yet firm and beautiful. “But I will be strong. Let my light shine upon you all!”
“Yueyue, you truly are a kind princess!”
Aside from Jiang Linyi, there were many other players coveting her Holy Light Healing ability, and they had also come to help rescue and comfort the princess.
For a moment, even in the apocalypse, there was affection and love. The atmosphere became harmonious. Ding Ziyue escaped danger, and the pride in her heart finally overwhelmed her fear.
Good! This was the treatment she deserved! Ning Yi better watch properly!
“Is anyone hurt? Let me heal you—”
Ding Ziyue knew this was when the online viewer count was at its highest, so she couldn’t wait to show the entire internet her importance—
[That line sounds like “let me Dominate you!” Does anyone get it?]
[Hahahaha damn, don’t make me laugh]
And once the holy light passed over them, it actually healed them! The small bumps and cuts on the players nearby disappeared!
The players: “Yueyue, you really are our treasure!”
Ding Ziyue looked shy on the outside, but was laughing wildly inside: Ahahahaha!
Admire me! Fight over me!
Let me become the noblest princess of the apocalypse!—
…
And so.
After the first 24 hours of the apocalypse—
Ding Ziyue had gained a group of followers. Holding her head high, she thought: so what if she attracted zombies? With so many guardian knights, she would definitely be safe! She thought this while nibbling bread.
Ning Yi and Gu Cheng had a whole room full of food. Sister Ning then brought Young Master Gu along and gave hundreds of millions of viewers a holographic mukbang, eating deluxe tonkotsu ramen with two eggs.
Wander also had plenty of supplies, but there was unexpectedly someone beside him. With his leadership ability, he quickly organised a team of players. There was no emotion involved, only division of labour, and the frail Song Qingmei stood out among them.
Song Qingmei lowered her head, embarrassed. She hadn’t contributed much, but had used some of his supplies.
Wander told her not to mind. After all, her photography freeze-frame technique was quite useful against zombies.
Besides, taking care of little sisters in the apocalypse—
He was used to it.
After the first day passed, a player had already been bitten by a zombie. Soon, the elimination list was publicly displayed across the internet—
[Gu Le, eliminated]
Gu Cheng: “…”
Embarrassing.
Back when Young Master Gu Le had followed Ning Yi to play the offline apocalypse survival event, he had also been the first one out.
Years had passed, but his charm remained unchanged.
Gu Le: QAQ
Damn it, my skill is max-level thigh-hugging, but the thighs never appeared!
My real brother and Brother Wan! Both ran faster than the other!
I’m suffering so much!
[Young Master Gu Le: Abandoned by my brother for sister-in-law. There is a fire in my heart]
[Hahahahaha I’m dying]
However, the flow of time in the game world was accelerated.
And the supplies players had stockpiled would also decrease according to the normal daily consumption of an adult.
So very soon, 01 and 888’s mukbang could no longer continue.
They also had to leave their love nest to fight zombies and gather supplies.
The difference was that this time, Gu Cheng carried a bow on his back, with only one arrow in the quiver.
—It was something Ning Yi had created with her [Creation] skill on the first day and gifted to him. The quiver could draw out unlimited arrows, and the attack power was also strong, greatly improving their combat ability.
[Ahhh a gift from his wife!]
[Invincible! Invincible!]
[I really want to see Young Master Gu riding and shooting ahhhh he must be ridiculously handsome]
[Why do I suddenly feel so safe?]
Ning Yi looked at Gu Cheng carrying the bow and couldn’t help clapping.
So handsome!
Gu Cheng smiled. “Thank you, wife.”
Ning Yi: “Just grab more food for your wife later. Wuwu, I want little cakes.”
Gu Cheng: “No problem.”
After they came out, they realised that most of the world had already become desolate.
The supermarkets had been looted clean by all the players and NPCs. They could only break into empty houses one by one to search for supplies, but that greatly increased the risk of running into zombies.
Because after time had passed, the number of zombies had multiplied countless times compared to 24 hours ago.
Fortunately, they soon ran into Wander and his team.
When Wander met the two of them, he couldn’t help saying sourly, “Are you two here to survive or to date?”
Gu Cheng said leisurely, “Heh.”
Ning Yi smiled and pointed behind him. “Look at yourself.”
Song Qingmei stood behind Wander and lowered her head shyly. After breaking free from the original plot’s influence, she had become much more cheerful over the years, but still couldn’t be as mentally strong as Ding Ziyue.
For example, Princess Ding was very at ease enjoying the supplies gifted by her guardians of light.
Meanwhile, Song Qingmei was working very hard to increase her own value in exchange for supplies.
01 quietly told her, “It’s okay, it’s okay. Just follow Captain Wan. He’s reliable.”
Song Qingmei carefully nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
The two sides stood on the roof of a temporarily safe bungalow and discussed it. Gu Cheng wanted their manpower, while Captain Wan wanted his combat strength, so the strong joined forces.
[This wave—Gu de Mo Ning and Wan Shi Ru Yi have reconciled!]
[Ahahaha so good, all my favourites are together!!]
[World-famous painting: The Absence of Light]
Their goal was to loot the first floor of a shopping mall. If anything happened, they would retreat immediately.
Wander quickly set out a plan, issued the arrangements, and waited for the right moment to charge.
But the moment came, and just as he was about to raise his hand—
Wander, a 186 cm muscular man, suddenly collapsed weakly.
He was hungry.
Wander: ? Damn, am I a pig?
He had deliberately eaten a few bites before leaving.
Song Qingmei immediately felt guilty. “Is it because I used up too much of your supplies…”
[No, Qingmei! It’s because of his weakness!]
[Damn hahaha, this character card system really has something]
Wander’s character weakness was that he needed a lot of food to maintain energy consumption, otherwise he would easily lose mobility. But he hadn’t expected to lose it this quickly!
Ning Yi mocked him. “Haha, bro, your combat power is worse than mine now!”
Wander gritted his teeth. “You little thing.”
Ning Yi clapped her hands, preparing to use her second day’s [Creation] skill at the right moment to increase their combat power.
But just as she was about to activate it, she collapsed too.
Gu Cheng instantly caught her. “What’s wrong?”
Ning Yi: …
Ning Yi: Sleepy.
Her character weakness: she needed long periods of sleep to maintain energy consumption, otherwise she would also lose mobility!
Wander: “.”
01: “.”
—Damn it!
Was this what apocalypse survivors were supposed to look like?!
Embarrassing!
The viewers:
[Hahahahaha Brother Wan and Sister Ning also have this day]
[I suddenly don’t feel nervous anymore hahaha]
Gu Cheng wanted to laugh, but held it in. He carried Ning Yi to the side and sat down, adjusting her position so she could sleep more comfortably in his arms, his movements careful and familiar.
Wander silently looked at him for a while, then asked, “Got food?”
Gu Cheng: “.”
Wander: “For the smooth progress of the operation.”
The scene was silent for a few seconds.
In the end, Gu Cheng rather unwillingly reached into the bag behind him and took out a piece of chocolate cake.
It had originally been secretly saved for Ning Yi.
[Ah! Sister Ning said earlier she wanted cake! Young Master Gu secretly prepared it!]
[Ahhh suddenly hit by sweetness!]
[They’re an old married couple, why are they still this sweet wuwuwu]
Gu Cheng held Ning Yi with one hand and tossed the chocolate cake into Wander’s arms with the other.
Wander looked down. “Thanks.”
Everyone relaxed slightly. At least if Captain Wan could recover his combat strength, they would feel more secure.
However, just as Wander tore open the packaging, the hissing and rasping sounds of zombies came from not far away.
From far to near.
Growing heavier and heavier.
From the sound, there were more than one or two zombies coming.
Although it couldn’t compare to the zombie tide Gu Cheng had experienced, it was enough to intimidate these people who had never truly gone through an apocalypse—and the nervous viewers in front of their screens.
Everyone immediately gripped the defensive weapons they had just looted.
The dragging footsteps of the zombies and the strange sounds in their throats came closer and closer.
The viewers finally stopped shipping and laughing, and began to be pulled into the tense atmosphere:
[Ahhh they’re coming!]
[What do we do, what do we do! Captain Wan hasn’t recovered yet. Can Young Master Gu handle it alone?]
Amid the crisis, Gu Cheng slowly stood up.
Behind his broad shoulders, the arrowhead flashed with the cold gleam of metal.
The man stood tall and straight, glanced into the distance, and said lightly, “What’s there to fear?”
The entire comment section instantly flooded:
[This man is showing off again ahhhh so handsome!]
[Damn! Is this the pride of the strongest combat force?!]
[Ahhhhh!]
Then he sat back down, readjusting Ning Yi’s position in his arms.
[?]
[???]
[Isn’t this the moment to slaughter everything and protect your wife and teammates?]
The next second—
A blur suddenly rushed past in total collapse.
Behind her, more than a dozen zombies hissed and rasped as they chased her.
Ding Ziyue truly broke down. “Why! Why are they only chasing me!”
“There are so many people over there, can’t you see them?!”
Gu Cheng: “Heh.”
[Hahahahaha damn]
[So when Young Master Gu said not to fear, it was because he saw the Goddess of Light running over, right?]
[Hahahahaha Young Master Gu, you’re so mean!]
Ding Ziyue: If fish cry, the water knows. If I cry, who knows?
She hated this world so much…!
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