What does a son get for questioning his mother's death? A slap from his own father, and an order to apologize to the woman who might have killed her.
This was the first time Milo Voss had lost his temper in front of his father and that woman.
He'd demanded answers about his mother's death, only to be met with cruelty.
That woman was a master of acting.
She'd sobbed, claiming his mother had died of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage.
But Milo knew—things could never be that simple.
He was aware his mother had been in poor health over the years.
But she'd never had any cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases.
Milo understood his mother well—unlike other legal wives, she'd never been angry or heartbroken about his father having another woman and an illegitimate child.
His mother had never loved his father.
So she could never have been overcome with grief to the point of illness.
That "sudden cerebral hemorrhage" lie? Total bullshit.
Milo suspected the mistress had plotted against his mother.
But alas, he'd never been his father's favorite, and he was outnumbered.
Virtually everyone in and out of the family had been bribed by that woman!
Enraged, he'd tried to attack the woman—only to be severely beaten by his father, falling into a coma for two days.
When he woke up, he found himself driven out of the Bai family.
Only his few trusted bodyguards, raised with him since childhood, had followed.
Most of them had no family ties to hold them back.
To make matters worse, the Bai family hadn't even given him a single grain of rice.
Milo knew—he'd been completely abandoned by the Bai family!
Honestly, he'd never cared much for his title.
What truly broke his heart was the stark difference in his father's attitude toward him and his half-brother.
After waking up, he'd noticed his strength had grown exponentially—several times what it used to be.
Then he'd seen the Mutated Beasts everywhere, and it hit him belatedly: he'd seemingly awakened some kind of Superpower.
He'd led his men in bloody battles against Mutated Beasts every day, scavenging for food, clothes, cars, and weapons.
Despite his great strength, he'd never received formal combat training—his fighting skills were mediocre at best.
Now that he thought about it, as the crown prince of the city's Underground, he'd been far too naive.
Back then, he'd never questioned why the family hadn't arranged for him to learn martial arts.
He'd never been interested in it anyway.
But now he realized—they'd probably had ulterior motives.
The more incompetent he was, the smoother his brother's path to power would be.
These days struggling to survive in the Apocalypse, he'd seen countless horrific scenes.
His men had fallen one by one.
Milo couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of relief—at least his beloved mother was dead, spared from this cruel world.
At least he had no more ties, free to come and go without worries.
But these men who followed him—they'd shared a lifelong bond.
No matter how clear-headed he was, he couldn't bear to see them die for him in vain.
They deserved better lives.
He glanced sideways at the remaining nine men beside him.
Closest to him was Bai Shi, his personal guard captain.
To his left was Bai Ke, the vice-captain.
Among all his personal guards, only these two bore the Bai surname.
They were older, the most skilled in combat, and the most experienced.
Milo had always regarded them as his own brothers.
At this moment, the two stood guard around Milo, their faces ashen and bloodless.
Their arms and legs were covered in blood, their clothes soaked through.
Milo dodged the claws of a pouncing Mutated cat, swinging his knife at a Mutated dog biting at his calf.
A quick glance around sent his heart sinking.
There were at least five Mutated cats and three Mutated dogs—numerically matched to his group.
But he knew—today, they would most likely die here.
They hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day.
He was faring somewhat better; his awakened Superpower slowed his stamina depletion.
But his men were only holding on by sheer willpower—they would have collapsed long ago otherwise.
A sharp pain twisted in Milo's chest.
He thought of the Bai family, safe and sound behind the Safe Zone's high walls, and their indifference toward him.
A fierce hatred surged in his heart!
Everything there should have been his!
He hacked fiercely at a Mutated dog's neck.
With a shrill whimper, scalding blood sprayed all over him!
His face was still that of an innocent boy.
But covered in blood, his eyes filled with rising resentment, he looked like a fiend emerging from hell!
"Young Master, leave now! We'll hold these beasts off!" Bai Shi gasped, keeping a tight guard around him.
Milo pressed his lips together, staring silently at the endless wave of Mutated Beasts pouncing at them.
He knew—if he left, he might survive.
But if he left, Bai Shi, Bai Ke, and the others would all die!
Ever since they'd started following him, these men had never lived a good life.
"Young Master, as long as you're alive, there's hope for revenge!" Bai Ke urged anxiously, his voice loud.
"Just remember to avenge us brothers later!"
Milo glanced at the two men beside him.
Their wounds were countless, the deepest ones exposing the white bones beneath torn flesh!
Their clothes were soaked through, blood dripping onto the ground!
"No...!" Milo gritted his teeth.
"If we die, we die together! I've been weak for twenty years—now, I have nothing left to lose!"
His hatred for the Bai family doubled, boiling in his chest!
If only he could start over!
He'd never let himself be passive again!
He'd never cherished that so-called blood ties with a father who never saw him as a son!
He'd never let his power and status be taken away by others!
If only he had another chance!
He'd do everything to consolidate his power, kill that mistress who'd stolen his place and tormented his mother all her life, and her bastard son!
If he could be reborn, he'd study martial arts diligently, treat his brothers well, and let them taste the sweetness of a good life!
"Young Master!" Bai Shi tried to persuade him again.
But Bai Ke suddenly shouted in alarm: "Young Master, watch out!"
While Milo was distracted, a Mutated cat pounced at him, opening its mouth to reveal sharp, white fangs, aiming for his neck!
At the same time, two Mutated dogs lunged—one at his knife-wielding hand, the other at his right leg!
Just then, two more Mutated cats jumped high, targeting Bai Ke and Bai Shi respectively!
The others had been scattered in the earlier melee.
Except for Bai Ke and Bai Shi, everyone else was struggling to fend off the Mutated Beasts.
And Milo's situation was extremely perilous!
Dodging the cat meant he couldn't avoid the two dogs!
Once a Mutated Beast bit him, he'd be seriously injured or disabled!
If his right hand was hurt, his combat effectiveness would plummet!
Milo twisted his body to avoid the cat's fatal attack, slashing horizontally with his right hand to narrowly dodge the Mutated dog.
At that moment, ignoring the Mutated cat attacking him, Bai Shi hacked at the Mutated dog going for Milo's right leg!
Then, suddenly—something unexpected happened!
The Mutated cat that had been tangling with Bai Ke suddenly changed direction.
It pounced straight at Milo's shoulder!
A cold wind blew.
Milo hacked away the attacking Mutated dog, a chill suddenly sweeping over him!
He glanced sideways—the cat's blood-red eyes and gray-black claws were already inches away!
Milo smiled bitterly.
So this was the end.
If only he could live...
Humans always realized how much they cherished life when it was about to end.
"Young Master! Watch out!"
Panic flashed across Bai Ke's resolute face.
Too late to swing his knife, he launched himself at the cat like a cannonball!
"Awoo~"
Bai Ke had been very close to Milo.
But he'd never expected the Mutated cat attacking him to be a feint!
Such intelligent creatures, combined with their great strength—did humans even stand a chance of survival?
"Ah!"
"Bai Ke!"
"Bai Ke!"
Bai Shi and Milo shouted at the same time.
As the cat was knocked flying, it lashed out with its claws, slashing fiercely at Bai Ke's face!
Bai Ke's face and neck were torn to shreds, blood gushing out.
His body froze for two seconds, his gaze fixed on Milo's direction—as if trying to say something, or confirm Milo's safety—before finally collapsing to the ground!
"No~! Bai Ke!! Bai Ke!"
Milo tried to rush over.
But the Mutated Beasts, as if enraged, pounced one after another.
He watched helplessly as Bai Ke lay on the ground, blood flowing freely, his one remaining eye still staring at him.
For the first time, Milo felt a pain so intense it felt like his heart was bleeding!
Bai Ke had always cared for him, more than his own father ever had!
Now, watching him die for his sake, and being powerless to do anything—Milo felt an unquenchable rage burning in his chest!
Bai Ke was dead, but the Bai family was still alive!
They'd stolen everything from him, and they were living comfortably!
Suddenly, all sounds around Milo faded away.
When he heard something again, it was Bai Shi's heart-wrenching scream!
"Young Master~! Watch out!!"
Bai Shi watched in horror as a Mutated cat's claws reached for Milo's temple.
But Milo, seemingly unaware, stared blankly ahead, swinging his knife mechanically at the Mutated dog in front of him!
Bai Shi's shout jolted Milo awake.
But the cold wind from the cat's claws was already brushing his eyes and cheeks.
It was over...
Milo closed his eyes, hatred and unwillingness surging within him like a tidal wave!
If someone saved him now... if he could survive today...
He'd make the Bai family suffer the same pain he was going through!
The expected pain never came.
A shrill howl from the Mutated cat echoed behind him, almost deafening.
Milo opened his eyes instinctively, turning around.
He saw a whip glowing with faint purple light coiling around the Mutated cat, slamming it hard against the stone slabs at the edge of the road!
Following the beautiful purple whip, a girl wearing a golden mask leaped through the air.
She held a glittering golden sword in her right hand, the purple whip in her left winding like a spirit snake.
A purple leather armor clung to her slender figure.
It made her skin look as white as jade.
The dark golden mask covered just her eyes.
Beneath it, her smooth, full forehead, small straight nose, and petal-like lips were exposed.
Her long black hair danced in the wind, spreading out behind her like a beautiful butterfly unfolding its magnificent wings.
With a flick of the purple whip, leaving a wispy afterglow in the air, the girl retracted it.
She waved her right hand casually.
A pouncing Mutated dog was sliced in half at the waist, clean and neat.
Next Chapter Highlight:
The masked Elara's golden sword and purple whip combo clears the Mutated Beasts in seconds! Milo, stunned by her power, kneels to swear allegiance—but Elara's cold refusal sparks tension. Just as they're about to leave, Kael arrives, his fire Superpower flaring with jealousy when he sees Elara with the bloodied Milo. He roars, "Stay away from her!" and attacks Milo without warning. Meanwhile, Bai family's men track down Milo, aiming to silence him permanently. Trapped between Kael's rage and the Bai family's ambush, Elara has to choose: protect the sworn Milo or calm the paranoid Kael? And the mysterious mask can't hide Elara's identity forever—when Milo recognizes her, what shocking deal will he propose to take revenge on the Bai family?