[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete":3,"chapter-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-16":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting from the Apocalypse, I Alone Severed Eternity",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2312398,4518,"Chapter 16","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-16",16,"\u003Cp>In a room, eight men and three women stood or sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They occasionally checked their phones, which looked like scrap metal, their expressions filled with exhaustion and unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One man had his right arm wrapped tightly in bandages made from pillowcases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandages were garishly colored and messy, yet even so, an indescribable stench seeped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one around him was willing to get close to the injured man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The injured man, knowing his place, huddled alone in the corner, holding his right arm with his left hand, his face etched with pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Click!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room’s door opened, and a short, stocky man entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One man in a gray shirt immediately stepped forward: “Biao Ge, how’s it outside? Any official rescue?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biao Ge sighed: “What rescue? Outside is as quiet as a ghost city. I barely made it a few steps from the door before I spotted a corpse—scared me right back inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, everyone sighed heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had all come here from all corners of the country to make money, never expecting the end of the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now communications were cut off; everyone worried about their loved ones far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who had any heart left for earning money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, with phones dead, how could they possibly earn anything?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their despair, Biao Ge encouraged them: “Everyone here who made it to this place is family. If we help each other, we’ll get through this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man with glasses chimed in: “Rather than wait here to die, let’s go out and hunt corpses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each kill gives ten experience points. Kill a hundred, and we level up twice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Later we can reach level three, four, even twenty. Then we’ll rule this world—anything we want will be ours. Money will just be numbers to us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence. Heavy, unbroken silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others stared at the glasses-wearing youth, utterly speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone muttered under their breath: “Hunt corpses? More like getting hunted. Have you forgotten what happened to Xiao Wang and the others?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glasses-wearing youth, Luo Gu, heard this and turned red with rage: “Kong Junxiong, you coward! Big and strong, yet you tremble like a rat at the sight of corpses!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The towering Kong Junxiong sneered: “Luo Gu, you like playing hero? Too many novels, too little sense. Look at Xiao Li’s arm—still not sure if he’ll keep it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Gu’s eyes blazed with fury. He rolled up his sleeves and began muttering incantations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the collapse, he might have feared the towering Kong Junxiong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, nearly all survivors had unlocked their attribute panels, their stats fully restored—his slight frame now carried powerful strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Luo Gu had become a noble Mage. Why should he fear Kong Junxiong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Still trying to scare us with your little flame? How in the world did you even qualify as a Mage with that brain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Junxiong wasn’t intimidated. As a Warrior with 16 HP, he knew Luo Gu’s tiny flame would barely chip off one or two points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One charge, and he’d knock Luo Gu flat on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two were about to clash, Biao Ge stepped between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, enough. We’re all family. Don’t ruin our bond over this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luo’s right—we can’t stay here forever. We must save ourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Junxiong’s right too—corpses are deadly. We lost too many early on, like Xiao Wang and the others. Xiao Li’s badly hurt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So we need to prepare thoroughly. Set traps. Lure corpses in. Level up fast while keeping ourselves safe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone nodded in agreement. Luo Gu and Kong Junxiong both backed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren’t fools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew this couldn’t go on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were still ordinary people, they might never have mustered such initiative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the appearance of attribute panels, the restoration of stats, and some even gaining combat vocations—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of it gave them a sliver of hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene wasn’t unique here—it played out across the globe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Survivors began taking initiative, fighting for their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crash!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi struck another corpse again, sending it flying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he wielded a steel rod in both hands, swinging it so fast the air couldn’t slip through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corpses shuffled forward with rotting limbs, claws outstretched, charging at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every one that neared was crushed—bones broken, tendons torn, spines bent, skulls skewed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet not a single one retreated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As undead, they felt no fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, they loathed the scent of the living, craved their flesh, yearning to devour them whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed, more corpses from afar were drawn by the noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, they formed a dense, surrounding circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This commotion woke the survivors hiding in their homes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They cautiously peeked out, peering through their windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, they thought so many corpses gathering meant rescue teams had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then they realized—it was one man, fighting through the horde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah. What an idiot. Another lunatic,” sneered a disheveled young woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She despised fools like this—they disturbed her rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if the corpses swarmed downstairs? How would her boyfriend scavenge then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Xi, don’t say that. The man below isn’t crazy. Look at how he swings—he flings every corpse away. What strength!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Said a square-faced man, his face stern yet gentle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young woman scoffed: “I’m not stupid. I see that. But you also see—every time he flings one, the ones behind block it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soon, he’ll be surrounded. He won’t have the strength to swing again. He’ll die, just like all the others I’ve seen these past two days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The square-faced man wanted to say more—that the man below had not just strength, but skill, perfect positioning, and experience—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing her cold expression, he said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He changed the subject: “Xiao Xi, you haven’t unlocked your attribute panel yet. Next time we go out, stay behind me—I’ll hold one corpse for you to kill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Xi clung to his arm, pouting: “Zhai Yan, I don’t want to. Just seeing a corpse’s face makes me sick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The stench makes me nauseous too. Besides, I’ve got you—that’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhai Yan felt the softness against his arm, his heart stirring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the collapse, this goddess had treated him coldly. Now, in just two days, she was this close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe tonight, they could share a bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought dulled his urge to persuade her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if she gained strength and no longer needed him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The collapse was good for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi, seeing the growing horde, frowned heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This situation wasn’t his doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He always moved carefully—even when hunting corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d lure them one by one, never group them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with his strength, he’d never do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, it’s efficient—but once surrounded, the danger skyrockets, and efficiency plummets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like now—corpses everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi had almost no chance to land a killing blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blunt Attack activated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Successful hit. You dealt 7.5 damage to target [((Strength 15 - 10)\u002F2) + Club 6 (1d8) - Natural Armor 1].”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpse before him had a sunken chest—he only needed two or three more strikes to kill it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fang Shi had no such opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time he tried to finish one, others attacked—claws swiped from all sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to retract his strike and defend himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours of fighting, heavy exhaustion, little progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the trap of group combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all that stupid woman’s fault!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, Fang Shi had been hunting corpses when survivors spotted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One female survivor, for reasons unknown, ran outside—and brought a whole horde with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi could guess her intent—she saw his strength, was being chased, and came running for help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi could easily guess the visitor’s thoughts—simply because he saw how strong Fang Shi was, and being hunted himself, had come to beg for help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this behavior is undoubtedly foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gathering of countless zombies instantly swallowed the female survivor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She died in a series of piercing screams, writhing in unbearable agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Fang Shi, too, became surrounded due to this foolish act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trickle of sweat slid down his forehead, his arm tingling with mild soreness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi realized it was time to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, he had persisted mainly for the experience points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leveling up to level 2, the experience required for the next level rose to 3000.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the experience gained from each zombie dropped to 5 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant Fang Shi needed to kill 600 zombies to reach level 3.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does that mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took Fang Shi a full day to kill about seventy zombies just to reach level 2.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six hundred zombies—even with slight improvements in his strength—would take at least four or five days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of that time was spent searching, luring, and resting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The residential compound where Fang Shi lived had a permanent population of around ten thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the streets, a thousand at most would be out—most people stayed indoors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the efficiency of breaking locks and doors, Fang Shi preferred clearing zombies on the streets first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, he was still far from satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This efficiency was far too low to handle the crisis in three days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In three days, the otherworldly beings would descend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surviving humans would be slaughtered again, with barely one in a hundred left alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who survived, frankly, did so purely by luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Fang Shi, with his rebirth, had no guarantee he could survive it entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only solution was to level up quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stronger his power, the safer he would be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without the survivor luring the zombies, Fang Shi would have acted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference would be that he would use a safer method, avoiding such desperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, that’s how it will be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi cast one final glance at the rotting faces of the zombies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every muscle in his body swelled as he unleashed his full strength; the steel rod swept in a circle, pushing back the surrounding zombies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned and scrambled up the wall of the shop.\u003C\u002Fp>",1647,"2026-06-20T12:43:33.559Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e4d7110d23f2694b62a85d4025224f3d2bd6be798062363a38163f7ec789784e","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-17","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-15",109,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-cover.jpg"]