When the helicopter landed on the black expanse of the sea, Nora Su thought Adrian Fu had lost his mind. That was until she saw the private yacht, massive like a small aircraft carrier—the Nemesis—and realized this man had long been prepared for the apocalypse.
"Welcome to the Ark." Adrian unfastened his seatbelt, his voice devoid of warmth.
Nora followed him silently down the helicopter steps. The sea breeze carried a sharp, salty tang, and she noticed the sky in the east beginning to pale, though the blood moon still hung ominously, watching the world below.
The interior of the yacht was even more astounding than its exterior. Metallic corridors were lined with high-tech devices she couldn't name. Staff in uniforms hurried past, stopping to salute Adrian with respect.
"Chen Mo, take her for decontamination and isolation," Adrian said without turning back. "Seventy-two-hour observation period."
"Wait!" Nora protested. "I haven't been bitten or scratched. I don't need isolation for that long!"
Adrian finally turned to look at her, his gaze sharp as a knife. "On my territory, my rules apply. Accept it—or swim back to shore."
Nora bit her lip. Reason told her he was right, but emotionally, she recoiled at being treated like a criminal. Survival instincts won over pride, and she silently followed Chen Mo deeper into the yacht.
The decontamination chamber resembled a high-end hospital isolation room, only colder. She was forced to remove her clothes, endure a high-pressure spray, and undergo a full-body examination. When a nurse approached with a syringe, she instinctively stepped back.
"What's this?"
"Full blood screening requested by Mr. Fu," the nurse said without expression. "Includes viral antibody tests and gene sequencing."
"Gene sequencing?" Nora frowned. "That—ethically speaking—"
"Nora," Chen Mo reminded her from the doorway. "This isn't a university lab. There's no ethics committee here to hear complaints."
Nora clenched her fists but eventually extended her arm. When the needle pierced her skin, she realized something chilling—Adrian Fu wasn't protecting her; he was studying her.
Three days later, Nora was led to the top-level conference room, where she saw the yacht in its full glory. The Nemesis was heading toward a remote island. Silver-gray buildings rose above ten-meter walls and watchtowers.
"That's…?"
"The Ark base," Adrian said, back to her, standing by the window. "My private island. Now one of humanity's last safe zones."
Nora stepped closer, stunned to see dozens of metallic devices floating around the island, glinting in the sunlight.
"Sonar barriers," Adrian explained as if reading her mind. "They keep infected from approaching the shore. The island has a complete ecosystem and research facilities—enough to sustain 300 people for five years."
"You knew this would happen all along." Nora's words were a statement, not a question.
Adrian finally turned, his suit jacket off, revealing a crisp white shirt and black vest, shoulders broad, waist narrow—a perfect silhouette. He approached the conference table and activated a holographic projection.
"Global infections have surpassed 300 million. All major cities have fallen. Governments have collapsed; armies are overwhelmed," he said calmly, terrifying in its composure. "In seventy-two hours, we'll cut all contact with the outside world."
The projection shifted to a virus structure chart. Nora recognized it immediately—it was the mutated strain she had seen in the hospital lab, now more complete.
"You recognize this?" Adrian's keen eyes caught her reaction.
"I analyzed similar samples in the hospital," Nora said, stepping closer. "But your model is more complete. How long have you been studying this virus?"
Adrian didn't answer. "From today, you join Lin Xiu's research team. Your virology expertise will be useful."
"That's it? No ask if I want to?" she said, sarcastic.
Adrian let out a cold laugh. "Nora, you think this is an academic seminar?" He pressed a button on the table. The wall displayed chaos outside—looters, infected attacking survivors, military opening fire on civilians. "The world has become hell. Here is the only place you can still breathe. Your choice is simple—obey, or die."
Nora's nails dug into her palms. Reason told her he was right, but his authoritarian style ignited her instinctive resistance.
"I have a condition." She met his gaze head-on. "I want full lab access and all virus data. If you truly aim to find a cure, and not just hide here waiting for the world to end."
The air in the room seemed to freeze. Adrian narrowed his eyes and stepped closer, until less than a foot separated them. He towered over her, his breath brushing her forehead.
"Courageous, doctor," he said, voice low and dangerous. "But don't mistake this for cooperation—it's a favor. Know your place."
Suddenly, alarms blared, red warning lights flashing.
"Mr. Fu!" Chen Mo burst in. "Abnormal activity detected on the east coast! A vessel has breached the sonar barrier!"
Adrian's expression turned sharp. "Armed?"
"Unknown! But there's… a living signal onboard!"
He strode to the console and brought up the feed. An old fishing boat zigzagged toward the island, deck figures waving white cloth frantically.
"Sinking it," Adrian commanded coldly.
"What?" Nora couldn't believe her ears. "There are people on it! Survivors!"
Adrian didn't even glance at her. "Infected can disguise themselves. Basic knowledge."
"But they show no symptoms!" Nora grabbed his arm. "At least check first!"
He shrugged her off. "Chen Mo, execute."
"No!" Nora lunged for the console but Adrian pinned her wrists against the wall, his body pressing against hers, eyes burning with icy rage.
"Listen, doctor," he said deliberately. "There are 286 lives on this island, including 35 children. I will not risk them for strangers. Interfere again, and I will throw you into the sea for the fish. Understand?"
Nora trembled—not from fear, but from anger. She lifted her head, almost hitting his jaw. "This is how you treat life? Like garbage? No wonder my father said—"
Adrian's eyes turned cold. "He said what?"
Realizing her slip, Nora bit her lip and fell silent.
The alarm intensified. The fishing boat was within a kilometer. Adrian released her, turning to the console. "Activate the defense system."
"Wait!" Nora saw a woman holding a baby on the deck. "For God's sake, that's a baby!"
Adrian's finger hovered over the red button, hesitating briefly. Then someone on the boat convulsed, rose at an unnatural angle, and lunged at a companion.
"See?" Adrian's voice carried cruel satisfaction. "This is the cost of mercy."
He pressed the button. White beams shot into the water, the fishing boat exploded into fire. The shockwave shook the Nemesis slightly.
Nora sank into her chair, nauseated—not by the infected, but by Adrian's cold decisiveness. Terrifyingly, she knew he was right.
"Take her to the lab," Adrian said to Chen Mo, then looked at Nora. "Remember today, doctor. In this new world, hesitation equals death."
In the island lab, Nora momentarily forgot her conflict with Adrian. The facility was a virologist's paradise—cutting-edge microscopes, gene sequencers, bio-safety cabinets, even a quantum biocomputer she had only read about in papers.
"Dr. Su?" A tall, thin man with glasses approached. "I'm Lin Xiu, head of the research team. Mr. Fu said you'd join us."
Nora nodded, forcing focus. "How much do you know about the virus?"
Lin Xiu brought her to the main screen. "We call it the 'Blood Moon Virus,' as it appeared alongside the abnormal celestial phenomenon. It bypasses the human immune system, attacks the central nervous system, and recombines DNA chains."
Nora studied the data, frowning. "These mutation patterns… they aren't natural."
Lin adjusted his glasses without replying. Nora continued, "And you've clearly been preparing. This experimental data must have taken at least six months to collect."
"Mr. Fu is… far-sighted," Lin said cautiously. "Now, if you don't mind, we need your help analyzing the latest infected cerebrospinal fluid samples."
Noticing Lin's avoidance, Nora chose not to press it. She took the tablet and began studying the abnormal patterns. Her professional instincts took over, and she lost track of time.
The lab door opened again. Adrian entered, now in a black turtleneck and matching pants, his figure long and commanding. Even in the apocalypse, he maintained an infuriating elegance.
"Progress?" he asked, eyes scanning the screens.
Lin reported technical details quickly. Adrian nodded. "Accelerate vaccine development. Focus on prevention, not treatment."
"Wait," Nora interjected. "Based on this, the virus uses gene recombination. If we find a reverse transcriptase inhibitor—"
"Waste of time," Adrian cut her off. "We need a definitive solution, not palliative care that prolongs suffering."
"Palliative care?" Nora snapped. "That's science! Step-by-step elimination to find the optimal solution!"
Adrian's gaze chilled her. "The world is falling at a rate of a hundred thousand per hour, doctor. There's no time for your academic games."
"This isn't a game!" Nora slammed the tablet down. "Every life is worth saving, not chess pieces to be sacrificed at will!"
The lab fell into a terrifying silence. All researchers bowed their heads, pretending not to hear. Adrian's expression was dark enough to drip water. He walked toward her, each step pressing on her nerves.
"Follow me." Three words, final. He turned and left.
Hesitant, Nora followed. Adrian led her through corridors to a windowless control room filled with monitors displaying the island and surrounding waters.
"Look closely." Adrian brought up data. "Global infection rate rose 17% in the past 24 hours. At this rate, no safe zone will exist in two weeks."
Nora stared at the numbers, chest tight.
"Now this," he switched to another set. "Our vaccine prototype efficacy—0.3%, almost negligible. According to your plan, the first-phase trial would take at least three months."
"So what?" she asked stubbornly. "Abandon it?"
Adrian leaned close, hands on the desk, trapping her between him and the table. His subtle scent mixed with icy authority surrounded her.
"I never give up, doctor," he said, low and dangerous. "I just choose the most effective path. You—keep pace or shut up forever."
Nora met his gaze, noticing the rare deep-blue in his pupils under dim light, calm like midnight seas but hiding whirlpools beneath. A strange current seemed to pass between them, quickening her heartbeat—anger or something else.
"I'll prove you wrong," she said finally, softer than she expected.
A faint curve touched Adrian's lips. "I look forward to it, doctor."
He straightened to speak, but alarms blared again. A mechanical female voice echoed: "Warning! Unauthorized access detected! Security protocol activated!"
Adrian's expression hardened. A red dot flashed on the screen—an underground lab on the west side.
"Intruder in the restricted area," he said into the communicator. "Chen Mo, take a team to B7. Capture them alive."
Nora, shocked: "Isn't the island safe?"
Adrian's eyes flickered with a nuance she couldn't read. "Seems hell is closer than we imagined."