Hiding behind the fire tank, Ye Haiming's face turned deathly pale. He didn't know if Kai had truly sensed him—or was just bluffing.
He hesitated and didn't reveal himself right away.
Until a cold wire wrapped around his neck.
Terrified, Ye Haiming cried out, "Wait! I mean no harm!"
Of course Kai knew. This guy hadn't just hidden there after the massacre—he'd been behind the tank since the beginning.
Even Gao Qi and his crew hadn't noticed him.
In general, talents had clear tiers and suppressive relationships.
Like earlier—Lei Ming's Electric Net, an A+ talent, easily shattered Wan Gang's Diamond Shield, which was only B-grade.
Kai's B-grade Invisibility was usually only effective against those with talents below A-grade.
Those with A-grade talents could sense his presence if they focused.
S-grade talent holders? They didn't even have to try—they'd see through his invisibility instantly.
The fact that Ye Haiming remained hidden even from Gao Qi and company… meant his stealth talent was at least B-grade.
Kai didn't kill him.
He retracted the wire and said flatly, "Come out."
Ye Haiming didn't dare delay. He raised his hands and walked out from behind the tank, explaining loudly as he approached:
"Boss, I wasn't with Gao Qi's crew! Not at all!"
Kai said calmly, "Then tell me—why were you hiding back there?"
Ye Haiming's face twisted with anger as he explained:
"I was a student in South Dorm 4. When the apocalypse started, I was in my dorm."
"Because it's right beneath the dimensional rift, bugs swarmed our building."
"Later, Gao Qi brought a team and started killing monsters. At first, he acted like a savior. We were all grateful."
"But there were too many monsters on the rooftop, even for Gao Qi's team."
"So he made us—those he 'rescued'—go lure the bugs for him!"
"Some fast ones survived. Others were torn apart."
"I used my talent to hide behind the water tank and got lucky."
"When they took over the rooftop, I was scared of being found, so I never moved."
"Gao Qi and his lot weren't heroes—they were scum. Two talented players who paid to enter this rooftop… were later killed by them!"
"Their bodies were mixed in with those bug corpses you just burned."
Ye Haiming's tone was filled with genuine rage—he didn't seem to be lying.
And Kai knew: it was true.
Among the bug corpses he just incinerated, 17 were human bodies.
This wasn't unusual.
This rain, which temporarily enhanced people's attributes, also triggered something deeper: ambition.
On Day One of the apocalypse, anyone who wanted to become a tyrant had already begun moving.
Kai stayed casual. He nodded slightly and said lazily, "Alright. You can go."
But Ye Haiming didn't leave.
He hesitated, then finally spoke: "You said earlier… the rain has a side effect. That Gao Qi and the others wouldn't live to see tomorrow?"
Kai raised a brow. "What are you trying to say?"
"I want to live," Ye Haiming said firmly. Then with a thud, he dropped to his knees. "Please, Boss! Save me! I'll serve you like a dog if I must!"
Liu Bohao, lacking Ye Haiming's charisma, copied him anyway and knelt down too, begging:
"I'll do it too! I'll be your dog—just save—"
Shlick.
A cold wire suddenly wrapped around his neck mid-sentence.
Liu Bohao trembled violently and fell silent.
Regret surged in his chest.
He could've left. Why didn't he just leave?! Why did he have to dance on the edge of death again?
Terrified, he stammered out, "S-Sorry! I-I'm not worthy of serving you! I'll go! I'll get out—please let me go!"
"Go," Kai said.
As the wire vanished from his neck, Liu Bohao scrambled off the rooftop, literally crawling.
As for Ye Haiming?
There was a wire on his neck too.
But unlike Liu, Ye remained still.
He was scared—his legs were shaking—but he gritted his teeth and said each word clearly:
"I'm not worthy either. Just… please show me a path to survive. If I live—I'll owe you my life."
Kai was a little intrigued.
In this apocalypse, could gratitude and loyalty truly still exist?
He had seen it too many times in his past life—save someone one moment, get stabbed in the back the next.
But a tip cost nothing.
So he said plainly, "If you can't reach Level 3 today, find a well-defended place and hide before midnight. Maybe… you'll survive."
Ye Haiming didn't push his luck.
He knocked his head on the ground three times and swore, "If I survive—my life is yours, Boss."
Kai said nothing.
But once Ye left, Aiya suddenly asked:
"You said you can negate the rain's side effects by reaching Level 3… You really have a way to do that?"
Kai didn't answer.
He casually killed another dimensional bug near the rift, burned its body, and moved on.
Then, he pulled out seven bottles of blood bug parasites—and tossed them into the dimensional rift.
The rift looked like a red, swirling void—unlike a black hole, it had a deep crimson hue, and no one could tell what lay beyond.
As the bottles disappeared into that crimson abyss, the bugs inside remained alive.
It was like they'd passed into another world.
Aiya stared, dumbfounded.
When she finally snapped out of it, she saw Kai standing in front of her.
He extended his hand and said, "Give me your hand."
"Huh?" she blinked, confused, but instinctively placed her delicate hand into his.
And then, her soft, cool fingers were wrapped in his palm.
A blush bloomed on her cheeks.
But before she could get angry or flustered—
Kai said calmly, "Add me as a friend."
Ding!
[System Notification: Player 'Kai' has sent a friend request. Accept? Yes / No]
Without hesitation, Aiya pressed Yes.
Suddenly, alongside her chat interface, a Friend List appeared.
Kai didn't explain further.
"I'm heading out. Stay here. If anything happens, message me through private chat."
"Ah? Oh… okay."
Before she could react further—Kai was already gone.
Only her hand remained—
Still warm from his touch, heart fluttering uncontrollably...