Kael's gone? Everywhere we check, not a single trace? What the hell happened to him?
Reno drove Elara back to the warehouse in the northern part of the city.
The warehouse door was locked tight—proof Kael wasn't there either.
Reno thought for a moment, then stepped on the gas, heading for a vehicle modification factory.
The boss told them: Kael had picked up the modified off-road and military truck at noon the previous day.
Reno glanced at Elara, her face as pale as paper.
He shifted uncomfortably, speaking tentatively.
"These are all the places I know, Miss Voss. What if… you go home and check?"
"Maybe Mr. Voss's phone died, and he's already back home by now?"
Elara opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Her throat felt tight, as if clamped by an invisible hand.
Reno saw how terrible she looked.
He panicked—if something happened to Elara, Kael would skin him alive.
Without hesitation, he steered the car straight for the Voss residence.
A severe traffic accident blocked the intersection ahead.
Reno didn't dare delay. He swerved onto the outer ring road, planning to take a detour.
Elara stared down at her pale palms.
Since her rebirth, she'd been calm, collected—unshakable.
Even when she awakened her Superpower, excitement had only flickered for a moment.
Even when she awakened her Superpower, she'd only been excited for a moment.
Because she knew: even if she were still ordinary this time, Kael would protect her with his life.
Just like he did in her past life.
With Kael by her side, she had nothing to fear, nothing to worry about.
Her plan was simple.
With her apocalypse experience and Kael's strength, she was certain their family of four would survive.
Supplies? The least of her worries.
Supplies were the least of her concerns.
She'd planned for everyone, everything.
Add her own Superpower to the mix, and confidence had never wavered.
She'd thought of everything.
She'd thought of everything.
Everything except Kael being absent when the apocalypse came.
In her past life, after Kael died, she'd endured countless sufferings.
Countless inhumane tortures.
But back then, she hadn't felt much hatred.
On the contrary, the ugliness of those people had made her see clearly—how damn good Kael had been to her.
After every torture, she'd missed him a little more.
By the time she died, her heart held nothing but guilt toward Kael.
And regret.
Nothing else mattered.
Nothing else mattered.
After being reborn, she'd thought about revenge.
But that was trivial.
Without Kael, nothing mattered.
Even if she could use her Superpower and experience to shield her parents through the apocalypse…
Her heart would still be dead.
Only then did she realize: the entire purpose of her rebirth was Kael.
Without him, living was meaningless—no hope, no joy.
Elara was trapped in her grief, unable to break free.
Reno was equally anxious.
Fearing for Elara's safety, he slammed his foot on the gas.
Honked the horn nonstop.
Rules be damned—he had to get her home safe.
But the more urgent you are, the more trouble finds you.
Not far ahead, several policemen surrounded a modified military truck, talking in low voices.
Reno glanced at the truck.
His eyes widened, and he slammed on the brakes.
The harsh screech of tires and powerful inertia sent Elara lurching forward.
If she hadn't been in the habit of wearing her seatbelt, she would've crashed straight through the windshield.
Elara frowned, cold irritation flaring—she was about to snap at him.
Then she heard Reno pointing at the truck outside the window, his voice trembling with shock.
"Miss Voss! That's Mr. Voss's truck!"
Elara whipped her head around.
There it was—the military truck modified exactly to her specifications.
She threw open the car door and sprinted toward the policemen.
Ignoring their surprised stares, she grabbed the truck's door handle and pulled.
The door didn't budge—it was locked.
Elara banged on the door frantically, her cold facade cracking for the first time.
"Kael! Kael, are you in there?"
"Who are you?"
One of the leading policemen frowned, his expression stern as he stepped forward.
"Officer, this is our Mr. Voss's truck," Reno hurried over, forcing a polite smile.
"We haven't been able to reach Mr. Voss since yesterday. This is his sister—we're terrified something's happened."
"We haven't been able to reach Mr. Voss since yesterday. This is his sister—we're terrified something's happened."
"We don't understand how the truck ended up here."
His tone was respectful, easy to listen to.
The policeman's expression softened slightly.
"We received a report about an illegally modified military truck parked here, so we came to investigate."
He turned his gaze to Elara—anxious, pale, desperate.
"So this truck belongs to her brother?"
The truck was eerily quiet.
The windows were tinted, making it impossible to see inside.
But it was clear—no one was there.
Elara's mind went blank.
Why would Kael park the truck here and disappear?
Looking at the surrounding area and the truck's condition, there were no signs of violence.
So where the hell was he? Panic gnawed at her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm—she had to find him.
Reno's expression stiffened.
He quickly pulled the leading policeman aside, his eyes darting around.
"Officer, my boss was planning to sell this truck," he whispered.
"But it went missing yesterday, and we can't find him. Miss Voss and I were on our way home to check."
"If we still couldn't find him, we were going to report it."
"But it went missing yesterday, and we can't find him. Miss Voss and I were on our way home to check—if we still couldn't find him, we were going to report it."
As he spoke, Reno slipped a thick stack of banknotes into the policeman's pocket.
"We'd really appreciate your help, officer. Could you use this truck to track down Mr. Voss?"
The policeman's face lit up instantly.
"Of course! Finding the owner is our top priority right now!"
"Thank you, officer. We really appreciate your understanding," Reno smiled, nodding repeatedly.
The policeman waved a hand dismissively.
"Go on, then. Tell your boss to drive this truck to the station in person once he's found!"
"Don't worry! Mr. Voss is a law-abiding citizen," Reno assured him.
"He only got this truck as payment for a debt—he'd never get involved in anything illegal!"
The leading policeman nodded in satisfaction, climbed into his squad car, and drove off.
Reno hurried back to the truck, tugging at the door handle.
He turned to Elara, looking embarrassed.
"Miss Voss, maybe we should find a tow truck and take this to a repair shop to unlock it?"
Elara stared at the truck's window, then shook her head, closing her eyes.
Tiny air bubbles—no bigger than grains of rice—drifted from her fingertips.
They squeezed slowly through the narrow gap in the window.
A few seconds later, Reno heard a soft "click."
Elara opened her eyes, reached out, and pushed the door open effortlessly.
Elara leaned inside, her heart racing with a flicker of hope.
Then her face crumpled in bitter disappointment—hope shattered.
The cab was spacious—four seats in the back, two in the front.
It was empty, plain as day.
Kael wasn't there.
Elara refused to give up. She climbed into the truck to search further.
The cargo area was surrounded by steel bars—even the ceiling.
The outside was covered with military canvas.
The rear entrance was a tempered steel door, secured with a fist-sized lock.
Reno's eyes widened again as he watched Elara fiddle with the lock.
With another soft "click," the locked door swung open.
Elara stepped inside.
The cargo area was packed—exactly as she'd requested.
Double iron beds were bolted to the floor. Two large barrels of gasoline sat against the wall.
Crates of instant noodles, biscuits, mineral water, ham, and canned meat stacked high.
A large first-aid kit, several quilts, and clothes were piled in the corner.
Even pots and pans—all prepared for the end.
There were even pots and pans.
Only a narrow aisle was left clear.
Under the beds, she found several long knives and steel rods.
But no guns.
Elara frowned.
After days of preparation, she didn't believe this was all Kael had gathered.
Had he stored the rest in the warehouse?
"Weird… where's the modified off-road?" Reno muttered, scratching his head.
He was stunned by the truck's contents—but he knew better than to ask.
Elara's chaotic thoughts suddenly froze.
Right. The modification shop boss had clearly said Kael picked up both the off-road and the military truck.
Only the truck was here.
The off-road was gone.
Only the truck was here. The off-road was gone.
Had Kael driven the off-road somewhere?
"Miss Voss… should we head back first?" Reno asked cautiously.
He stared at Elara's unreadable expression, a chill creeping up his spine.
Elara nodded silently, climbing out of the truck.
Reno quickly relocked it.
"You drive the military truck. I'll take your car," Elara said, her voice cold and decisive—no room for argument.
She glanced up at the sky—clear, but with faint red-rimmed clouds.
The bad premonition that had plagued her since yesterday afternoon was growing stronger by the minute.
Reno nodded.
Just as he was about to get in the truck, Elara spoke again.
"How long would it take you to drive to City X?"
Reno froze, thinking for a moment.
"About twenty hours, I'd estimate."
"And the military truck?" Elara pressed, her gaze fixed on the vehicle.
Reno froze again, frowning.
"It's illegally modified. Can't take the main roads."
"If we take detours… it'll take a full day and night."
Elara closed her eyes.
A full day and night. It was 11 AM on the 12th now.
If he left now, he wouldn't reach City X until 11 AM on the 13th.
If they left now, Reno wouldn't arrive in City X until 11 AM on the 13th.
"Drive this military truck to City X. Go to the Champs-Élysées Hotel and find my parents," she said, opening her eyes.
She pulled out her hotel room card and handed it to him.
"Park the truck in a safe, hidden spot near the hotel. Then stay with my parents—until either Kael or I come for you."
"Don't go out. Under any circumstances."
"And don't trust anyone. Not a soul."
Elara pulled out a bank card and handed it to him as well.
"There's money here. If you have time in City X, buy more easy-to-store food and water."
"Stock up the hotel room—fill every corner if you can."
Reno took the room card and bank card, dumbfounded.
He had no idea what Elara was talking about.
"I know you're loyal to Kael. And he values you deeply," Elara said, her voice serious and steady—no trace of the earlier panic.
"I won't lie to you. A catastrophic disaster is coming."
"Soon. Too soon."
She looked at him meaningfully.
"When it hits, those with supplies hold the power."
"And those with power… survive."
Reno was still confused.
"But if I leave… what about the company?"
"Call and make a quick arrangement. Don't waste a second on the road."
"The sooner you get to City X, the better."
Elara's tone was firm, her eyes sharp with urgency.
"If communication's still working when you arrive, call me. If my parents ask…"
She paused, her voice softening for a split second.
"Tell them there's a problem with Kael's company. Say we'll join them in a few days."
Elara stared at the blue sky, her voice distant.
"Go. Before it's too late." Her voice held a quiet desperation, but her posture remained straight—resolute, unyielding.
Next Chapter Highlight:
Bubble Superpower vs. Early Mutated Beasts! Elara's desperate hunt for Kael leads her to a derelict industrial zone, where her first real battle with Mutated Spiders unfolds—her bubble ability not only unlocks doors, but can shatter Beast Cores! Just as she claims her first Beast Core, a bloodcurdling roar echoes: Kael's off-road is found, crashed into a wall, its windows splattered with dark blood. Is it Kael's? Before she can investigate, Reno's frantic call cuts through: "Miss Voss! The hotel's overrun! Mutated Dogs are tearing people apart—your parents are trapped on the 10th floor!" Torn between the man she's reborn to save and the family she must protect, Elara makes a brutal choice: "Hold on. I'm coming." But the road to City X is a living hell—cars pile up like toys, people mutate into ravenous monsters, and a Level 3 Mutated Boar blocks her path, its tusks dripping with flesh. Worse, Kael's voice suddenly crackles over a walkie-talkie she finds in the off-road: "Elara… run. Don't come for me." Is Kael alive? And when Elara finally reaches the hotel, she finds a nightmare—her parents' room is empty, only a bloodstained room card and a half-eaten Beast Core left behind. Did her parents fall to the monsters? Or were they taken? Plus, Reno's loyalty is put to the ultimate test when he's forced to choose between saving himself and protecting Elara's parents. The apocalypse has officially begun—no more preparation, no more time. Survive… or die.