Three hours ago, she had been the youngest associate professor of virology at S City Medical University, analyzing a set of abnormal blood samples in the lab. Now, she was curled up like a frightened rabbit in a storage locker in the hospital basement, with colleagues and patients outside already transformed into monsters.
"The blood sample analysis shows an unknown pathogen… rapid mutation… attacking the central nervous system…" Nora Su replayed the final data from the lab computer in her mind. At the time, she had assumed it was some new type of rabies virus—until she saw with her own eyes a bitten nurse turn into a bloodthirsty creature within ten minutes.
A loud crash sounded as the neighboring locker door was violently torn open. Nora's heart nearly stopped, and cold sweat soaked her white coat. Trembling, she fumbled for her phone—and was stunned to see there was still a signal. In despair, she dialed a number she had never called before.
"Hello?" A cold, stern male voice came through the line.
"Is… is this Mr. Adrian Fu?" Nora whispered, almost breathless. "I'm Nora Su, Su Mingyuan's daughter. My father… on his deathbed, he said… if I ever face an unsolvable crisis, I should contact you."
There was silence on the other end for two seconds. "Location."
"Central Hospital, basement level two, Pathology Department," she said, hearing the footsteps outside grow closer. "I'm trapped… outside… it's all… them."
"Twenty minutes," Adrian Fu said tersely before hanging up.
Nora had no idea why the ruler of a business empire would agree to help a stranger—but she had no choice. Her father's last words echoed in her mind: Adrian Fu owes me a life. If you ever have nowhere to turn, find him.
Outside the locker came tearing and banging sounds. Nora gritted her teeth and gripped the surgical knife in her hand. Suddenly, the entire basement plunged into darkness—the power was out.
In absolute darkness, her hearing sharpened. She heard metal twisting, followed by the dull thud of something heavy hitting the floor. A beam of light cut through the shadows, landing on her hiding spot.
"Nora?" a stranger's voice asked.
Cautiously, she pushed the locker door open. The flashlight's glare made her squint. In the halo of light, she saw a tall figure in black tactical gear, holding an unusually designed pistol.
"I'm Chen Mo, Adrian Fu's head of security," the man said, quickly scanning the area. "Follow me. No noise. Don't fall behind."
Nora stumbled after him, weaving through corridors stained with blood and strewn with mangled limbs. Chen Mo moved efficiently, checking each corner before they passed. They reached an emergency exit. Chen tapped his earpiece. "Target located. Preparing for extraction."
When the safety door opened, Nora gasped. The hospital lobby had become a scene from hell—blood everywhere, broken bodies scattered, a dozen "infected" wandering. Chen gestured for silence, motioning her to stay close to the wall.
Just as they were about to reach the side exit, a child's cry pierced the chaos. Nora instinctively turned and saw a little girl, about five or six, standing in the middle of the corridor. Three infected were immediately drawn to her cries and lunged forward.
"No!" Nora broke free from Chen's grasp and sprinted toward the child. She scooped her up and turned to run, only to crash into a bloodied body—a doctor who had succumbed to the infection blocked their path.
A gunshot rang out. The doctor's head erupted in a splatter of blood. Chen grabbed Nora's arm. "Run! Now!"
The three of them burst out the side door, where a black armored vehicle was waiting. The doors slammed shut, just as dozens of infected slammed against the car, the impact sounding like hail. The vehicle roared forward, leaving the horrors behind.
Holding the sobbing girl tightly, Nora finally took in the interior. Besides the driver and Chen, one other person sat in the back—the presence of the man was impossible to ignore, even in the dim vehicle light.
"Mr. Fu?" she asked tentatively.
The man slowly turned his head. His sharp gaze landed on her like steel. A face carved from memory: sculpted features, deep eyes beneath prominent brows, thin lips pressed into a straight line. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, contrasting sharply with the tactical gear around him—an emperor misplaced in a battlefield.
"Your father didn't tell you… this promise can only be used once," Adrian Fu said, his voice low and icy.
Nora swallowed hard. "I… I don't know who else to turn to."
His gaze shifted to the girl in her arms. "Foolish compassion. At times like this, extra sympathy only gets you killed."
"She's just a child!" Nora shot back.
Adrian smirked coldly, saying nothing further. The armored car tore through the chaos, occasionally knocking back infected with brutal force. Through the bulletproof glass, Nora saw the city had descended into madness—fires blazing, sirens screaming, people screaming and fleeing.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"A safe place," Chen replied briefly.
Half an hour later, the vehicle arrived at a private airport. On the runway sat a jet-black helicopter, its rotors already spinning. Adrian Fu stepped out first, striding toward the helicopter. Nora followed with the girl in her arms.
Just as they were about to board, the little girl began coughing violently, her face turning pale. Nora pressed her hand to the child's forehead—it burned.
"She has a fever!" Nora exclaimed.
Adrian spun around, eyes sharp as knives. "Was she bitten?"
"No! I checked—no wounds!" Nora insisted, though doubt crept in.
Adrian strode forward and yanked the girl's collar down. Beneath her collarbone was a small, darkened bite mark.
"No…" Nora shook her head in disbelief. "It's impossible…"
Without hesitation, Adrian raised his gun to the girl's forehead. Nora threw herself in front of the child. "What are you doing?!"
"Move," Adrian's voice was colder than ice. "She's already mutating."
"She's just feverish! It could be shock!" Nora held the girl tightly. "You can't just kill her!"
Adrian's gaze turned dangerous. "Last warning. Move."
"Not unless you kill me first!" Nora's defiance met his.
Time seemed to freeze. Suddenly, the girl let out an unhuman shriek and lunged at Adrian. A gunshot rang out. The girl collapsed, motionless.
Nora slumped to the ground, tears blurring her vision. Adrian holstered his weapon and said coldly, "Do you understand now? This is not a game. Not a movie. Adapt—or die."
He turned and walked toward the helicopter, leaving Nora kneeling on the tarmac, finally realizing—the world had changed, and survival would now be dictated by men like Adrian Fu