Volume One: The Apocalypse Begins Chapter Three: I Admit My Voice Was Louder Than Intended Earlier

The fragility of the monstrous insect’s body was somewhat unexpected, yet understandable upon reflection. A conservative estimate placed the cement block at nearly forty pounds. Coupled with Xiang Chenguang’s exertion of strength deemed the human limit by the system, any flesh-and-blood being struck by such a blow would be forced to their knees.

The nearest insect was still five to six hundred meters away, showing no sign of interest in the commotion on this side.

Only then did Xiang Chenguang exhale in relief and examine the insect’s corpse. Unlike some novels’ depictions, no equipment or items burst forth from it.

He discarded the cement block from his right hand, pulled out his phone from his arm pouch, and dashed toward home.

Although effective, the cement block was cumbersome and hindered his movement.

What unnerved Xiang Chenguang most was that his phone had absolutely no signal.

His mother, always diligent, would be leaving soon to buy groceries and prepare breakfast for the family—it was nearly seven o’clock.

With monstrous insects suddenly appearing everywhere outside, it would be extremely dangerous for his mother to venture out.

Therefore, disregarding the two students he had just saved shouting for him to guide them, Xiang Chenguang sped past them like a gust of wind, leaving behind only the words: “These monsters have no vision. Stay silent.”

As he ran home, he muttered, “System.”

Instantly, two translucent rectangular interfaces appeared before his eyes, causing him to stumble slightly.

Steadying himself, he took a closer look. On the left was the familiar counter-strategy system, while on the right appeared a newly emerged Apocalypse Survival System.

“So I’m a man with dual systems now?”

The counter-strategy system’s interface remained as simple as ever, though a status bar had appeared beneath the attribute section, reading: Mortal Limit.

Meanwhile, the task list contained an unclaimed reward—an entry for a beginner-level interdimensional creature catalog earned from saving the two students.

This was the first time since acquiring the system that Xiang Chenguang had received a reward beyond physical attributes and height.

However, he set the reward aside, focusing instead on the newly appeared Apocalypse Survival System.

Apocalypse Survival System

Attributes / Tasks

Host: Xiang Chenguang (Human)

Talent: Harmonious Physique. Innate physical attributes develop uniformly and have reached mortal limits.

Effect 1, Harmonious Body: When any two of the attributes—Mentality, Constitution, Agility—break through, the third automatically compensates, maintaining balanced physical development.

Effect 2, Innate Sacred Body: With a powerful and balanced physique, any skill requiring prerequisite physical attributes can be learned without meeting the attribute point requirements.

Character Rank: Zero Rank Level 0 (10/50)

Mentality: 10/10

Constitution: 10/10

Agility: 10/10

Character Contributions: 0/0

Skills: None

The Apocalypse Survival System’s panel was as straightforward as the counter-strategy system’s, only with several new elements—most notably the added talent.

Whether talents appear simply by activating the system or require special conditions to unlock was unclear, and without comparison, the strength of the Harmonious Body effects was uncertain.

Yet clearly, thanks to the counter-strategy system’s encouragement, Xiang Chenguang had built this robust physique over two years—a distinct advantage in the early apocalypse.

If he truly walked the path of a hack writer, those internet novel masters and creative singers would be utterly useless against the interdimensional insects. Surviving the apocalypse’s early days would already be a challenge.

As he lightly stepped close to the edges of buildings on his way home, Xiang Chenguang whispered, “I admit I spoke a little too loudly just now. Look at the trouble it caused. Brother Tongzi, if you had told me earlier about the apocalypse, wouldn’t we have gotten along better?

“Don’t worry. From now on, if you tell me to go east, I won’t go west. If you tell me to chase dogs, I won’t chase chickens.”

Though he had no time to examine the beginner-level interdimensional creature catalog reward, Xiang Chenguang knew invaders came in diverse forms, having already spotted giant flying insects in the sky.

Thus, he stayed close to buildings, avoiding open sightlines and minimizing the chance of being targeted by flying creatures.

What began as mere self-soothing words to ease his nerves unexpectedly triggered a system response:

“Ding. Task activated: I am the Family Protector. In current internet fiction, protagonists are almost universally orphans, spawning the cliché ‘parents sacrificed to heaven, boundless magic.’ Although the host was raised in an orphanage, he has loving foster parents. In the apocalypse, lone wolves do not travel far, and parents make the best teammates. To prevent the host from falling victim to the common betrayal-by-trusted-brother trope, please return home promptly to protect your parents and complete the apocalypse survival task.”

This task was essentially a free reward, since Xiang Chenguang had already intended to protect his parents.

As the system stated, his foster parents cared deeply for him, treating him as their own. Even after unexpectedly having a biological daughter soon after adopting him, their affection remained unchanged. They even showed him extra favoritism to ease his feelings.

The task also revealed more information: the counter-strategy system was aware not only of the Apocalypse Survival System’s existence but even of the tasks it issued.

Yet Xiang Chenguang had no time to ponder the relationship between the two systems, for he was now being stalked by two monstrous insects.

Invasion by interdimensional creatures was increasing.

Earlier, on Riverside Road—a broad expanse—Xiang Chenguang’s extraordinary vision had only revealed five suddenly appearing insects.

Now, mere minutes later, after turning onto Front Mansion Road with buildings limiting his view, he already saw three monsters.

One insect, resembling an enlarged centipede, crawled into a small alley several dozen meters away; another, a giant mite-like creature, lurked outside a shop about forty meters ahead, attempting to pry open the rolling shutter with its two hefty pincers.

It was still before seven in the morning, and in this economically backward small county, few people were outside at this hour except students and vendors selling breakfast or vegetables.

Front Mansion Street had no breakfast shops, so the street was utterly deserted.

As Xiang Chenguang entered this street, he saw a giant mite-like insect lurking less than ten meters ahead in front of a shop.

Having killed such a monster before, he did not flee but quietly approached it.

Near the creature stood a green trash bin about a meter tall, with two small wheels beneath and handles along the rim for pushing.

Xiang Chenguang planned to use the trash bin as a weapon to dispatch the giant mite, while also testing whether it located prey by sound and gauging its alert range.

At about five meters from the mite, it suddenly spun toward him.

At that moment, he was less than two meters from the trash bin, preparing to shove it into the creature’s face.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared on the ground and rapidly approached.

He immediately bent down, rolled, and took cover behind the trash bin.

Looking up, he saw a spider roughly the size of a grinding wheel land not far from where he had just been.

He was now caught in a pincer attack, one of which was an unknown-strength spider monster.