Lu Sheng closed the door behind him and let out a small sigh of relief.
Only in this small room—his own private space—could he finally relax a little.
The room wasn't large. A single bed and a desk were placed in the corner.
In the center lay a black yoga mat, about two meters by one and a half. Around it were dumbbells, a grip trainer, a punching bag, and other exercise equipment.
This was both Lu Sheng's training room and his bedroom.
He set his backpack aside, took off his outer clothes, and sat down on the mat.
The real reason he had rushed home after school was to train more—to recover the vitality he had lost over the past two days because of those nightmares.
At his age, his body should be developing rapidly. This was supposed to be the period when vitality surged the fastest.
Unless someone was injured or seriously ill, it was almost impossible for vitality to decrease.
Which made what was happening to him especially serious. It had to be corrected as soon as possible.
After calming himself, Lu Sheng took a deep breath and silently said in his mind,
"Thirteenth Set of Broadcast Body Conditioning Exercises—start."
His body began to move through a series of postures.
They resembled yoga in some ways, yet were distinctly different. Calling them calisthenics was perhaps more accurate.
"…The twenty-four foundational body refinement movements promoted by the World Martial Arts Alliance were created by masters drawing from ancient yoga, martial arts, and grappling techniques. They're designed specifically for beginners…"
"The version I'm practicing now is already the thirteenth revision. Its effectiveness is several times greater than the original…"
More than three hundred years ago, the world had changed completely.
Cracks appeared across the sky and the earth, and terrifying monsters poured out.
When most modern weapons proved ineffective against them, humanity was forced to search for new ways to survive.
Perhaps because of the pressure of extinction, some kind of genetic limit within humans was broken.
Individual strength could now reach heights once thought impossible.
And so, martial arts rose to prominence.
It advanced rapidly, evolving with each passing day.
Now, practicing martial arts had become a global trend.
But even so, in the battle for survival, humanity remained at a severe disadvantage. Cities fell almost every day, and the population continued to decline.
This was something their homeroom teacher often reminded them.
"You were born into a turbulent era. You must take on the responsibility of this age.
You train not just for yourselves, but for the rise of humanity. Each of you is a spark of hope…"
…
"Haa…"
Lu Sheng stopped and sat down on the mat, adjusting his breathing.
He had completed all twenty-four movements three times in one go. A thin layer of sweat covered his body, and some color had returned to his pale face.
"If the nightmares stop… I should be able to recover my vitality within a week…"
He thought quietly.
So far, he still hadn't figured out what was causing the nightmares.
He had looked it up online—common causes were posture, diet, illness, or psychological stress.
The first three could be ruled out.
Could it be stress from the upcoming exams?
He wasn't sure.
After all, having experienced exams in two different lives, his mental resilience should be stronger than most.
It didn't make sense.
As he rested, his thoughts drifted.
Before he knew it, drowsiness crept over him like a tide.
He yawned, his eyelids growing heavy, and slowly lay down…
Falling into sleep once again.
…
A lead-gray sky.
A pitch-black earth.
Thin strands of gray mist drifting everywhere.
Oppressive. Desolate. Hopeless.
The moment Lu Sheng opened his eyes, this was what he saw.
"The same nightmare again…"
He was completely helpless.
"Wake up… wake up…"
He pinched his arm and face hard, trying to force himself awake, but it was useless.
Unless a certain moment arrived, he would remain trapped in this nightmare.
"Grrr—"
A strange sound echoed nearby, like someone choking, accompanied by a dragging noise across the ground.
"It's coming…"
Lu Sheng groaned inwardly.
Soon, the gray mist not far to his left parted.
A tall, stiff humanoid figure emerged.
Its skin was gray and lifeless. Its eye sockets were hollow—no eyes, just empty darkness.
A long gash split across its face, exposing pale bone and dark flesh beneath.
Its body moved stiffly and slowly. It wore a filthy one-piece uniform, similar to a Victory Team suit, now covered in dirt.
It looked almost exactly like the zombies Lu Sheng had seen in movies in his previous life.
…