The sound of shattering glass echoed through the underground laboratory.
Crack...
Crack...
Crack...
Scientists in white coats froze in horror as a spiderweb of cracks spread across the reinforced containment chamber.
Warning alarms blared.
"Containment breach detected."
"Containment breach detected."
A middle-aged scientist took a step back, his face pale.
"No... It's evolving much faster than our calculations predicted."
Inside the chamber, a humanoid creature slowly lifted its head.
Its skin was ashen gray, its veins black as ink, and its glowing crimson eyes stared directly at the frightened researchers.
Then...
It smiled.
Not like a mindless monster.
Like a predator that understood exactly what stood before it.
One of the younger scientists whispered in terror,
"It... smiled..."
The room fell deathly silent.
The creature raised a clawed hand.
Boom!
The reinforced glass exploded outward.
The last thing the scientists heard was screaming.
Meanwhile...
Hundreds of kilometers away...
Julian was reviewing another list of purchases.
The apocalypse was now fifty-eight days away.
His preparations had only just begun.
Alfred entered the study carrying a tablet.
"Young Master."
Julian looked up.
"What is it?"
"The chairman of Blackstone Security wishes to meet you. He says your request was... unusual."
Julian took the tablet and glanced at the information.
Blackstone Security was one of the world's best private military companies.
In his previous life, many of their soldiers had survived the early apocalypse because of their training.
Unfortunately, most had eventually died protecting corrupt politicians and wealthy clients.
This time...
Julian intended to recruit the best before anyone else could.
"Arrange the meeting."
"Yes, Young Master."
An hour later...
Julian arrived at Blackstone Security's headquarters.
The training grounds echoed with the sounds of punches, gunfire, and shouted commands.
Dozens of elite soldiers sparred under the blazing sun.
Julian ignored them.
His gaze swept across the field.
Then...
He saw him.
A tall man stood alone near the shooting range.
He wore a simple black T-shirt that clung to a lean, muscular frame.
His dark hair was slightly messy.
His expression was calm, almost indifferent.
He fired a pistol.
Bang.
Bullseye.
Another shot.
Bang.
Bullseye.
Every bullet struck the exact center of the target.
Julian's eyes narrowed.
Adrian Vale.
In his previous life...
He had been known as the Blazing General.
One of humanity's strongest survivors.
By the fifth year of the apocalypse, Adrian had reached SSS Rank and was feared by both zombies and humans alike.
He had led thousands of survivors.
Yet...
He died protecting a refugee base from a Zombie King.
Julian had only met him once.
From a distance.
Now...
He was standing less than twenty meters away.
Alive.
Healthy.
Completely unaware of the future waiting for him.
"Mr. Ashford?"
A voice interrupted Julian's thoughts.
The company's chairman approached with a smile.
"It's an honor to meet you."
Julian nodded politely.
"I'd like to hire someone."
"Of course."
The chairman smiled wider.
"We have many excellent bodyguards."
Julian pointed toward Adrian.
"I want him."
The chairman blinked.
"Captain Adrian?"
Julian nodded.
"How much?"
The chairman looked embarrassed.
"I'm afraid that's impossible."
"He refuses private protection jobs."
Julian wasn't surprised.
Adrian had always hated being treated like someone's servant.
"I'd like to speak with him."
A few minutes later...
Adrian walked over.
His sharp gray eyes met Julian's.
"You wanted to see me?"
His voice was deep and calm.
Julian studied him carefully.
There was no arrogance.
No greed.
Only quiet confidence.
Exactly as he remembered.
"I have a job for you."
"I'm not interested."
The rejection came instantly.
Julian smiled faintly.
"What if I offered ten million dollars a year?"
Adrian didn't even blink.
"No."
"Twenty million."
"No."
"Fifty million."
Several nearby soldiers nearly dropped their equipment.
Fifty million?
For one bodyguard?
Adrian remained expressionless.
"I said no."
Julian's smile widened.
Interesting.
Money truly couldn't move him.
Just like before.
"I don't need a bodyguard."
Adrian frowned.
"Then what do you need?"
"I need a partner."
The answer caught Adrian slightly off guard.
Julian continued.
"Someone who can help me build something."
"What exactly?"
Julian looked directly into his eyes.
"A place where people can survive what's coming."
Adrian's expression turned strange.
"...What's coming?"
Julian didn't answer.
Instead, he took out a business card.
"If you ever feel like the world is changing..."
"Call me."
Adrian accepted the card out of curiosity.
"I doubt I'll need it."
Julian slipped his hands into his pockets.
"You will."
Then he turned and walked away.
Leaving Adrian staring thoughtfully at the card.
For the first time in years...
Someone had looked at him as though they already knew him.
It was... unsettling.
That evening...
Back at the Ashford Mansion...
Julian stood inside Genesis.
Endless rows of supplies stretched farther than the eye could see.
Millions of kilograms of food.
Medicine.
Fuel.
Tools.
Seeds.
Everything was perfectly organized.
Orion appeared beside him.
"You've begun gathering resources."
Julian nodded.
"It's still not enough."
"For a single person?"
"No."
Julian's eyes became cold.
"I'm preparing for possibilities."
He didn't intend to save the world.
But he also knew that the future was unpredictable.
If he encountered people who genuinely proved their loyalty—not with words, but with actions—he wanted the ability to protect them.
For now, though, Genesis remained his secret.
A secret no one would ever take from him.
He gazed toward the distant palace at the heart of his world.
Somewhere within its sealed halls, he felt that even greater mysteries were waiting.
And outside Genesis...
The countdown to the apocalypse continued.
Fifty-eight days remained.
To be continued