The fragile calm of the early morning shattered without warning as hurried voices spread across the convoy, pulling everyone out of their brief rest. Engines roared to life one after another, footsteps echoed across the broken road, and within moments, the quiet roadside turned into controlled chaos. No one questioned the sudden order, and no one dared to delay. In this world, movement at dawn only meant one thing—danger was approaching. At the center of the convoy stood a heavily modified off-road vehicle, and on top of it, the convoy leader scanned the distant horizon with a tense expression. He was a Sequence Awakener, and more importantly, a rare sensory-type Sequencer capable of detecting danger from far beyond normal perception. It was because of him that this convoy of survivors had managed to last this long, escaping threats before they even arrived. His voice didn't need to be loud; his presence alone was enough. People trusted him, not out of loyalty, but out of necessity. Survival depended on him.
Li Xuan woke up the moment the noise reached his ears. His body reacted before his mind fully caught up, a habit formed after twenty days of constant danger. Without panic, he began packing his belongings inside the tent with practiced efficiency, folding what little he had and securing his supplies tightly. Every movement was quick and precise, wasting no time on unnecessary actions. Within a minute, he stepped outside, his gaze sweeping across the convoy as people rushed to dismantle tents, load vehicles, and gather children and supplies. Some stumbled in their haste, others shouted instructions, but no one stayed still. The air was filled with urgency, yet beneath it was a quiet fear—an unspoken understanding that falling behind meant death. Li Xuan walked straight toward his electric bicycle, quickly checking its condition before mounting it. He didn't hesitate. As the convoy began to move, he followed along without a word.
The speed of the convoy remained slow, roughly fifteen kilometers per hour, not because they lacked better vehicles, but because they couldn't afford to leave people behind. Not everyone had a car or even a bicycle. Many moved on foot, struggling to keep up, while others clung to trucks or shared space on overloaded vehicles. Some were too weak to move on their own and relied entirely on others to survive. The convoy was not just a group—it was a fragile system of survival where everyone depended on one another, yet no one fully trusted anyone else. Li Xuan rode silently among them, his expression calm but his mind sharp. Over the past twenty days, he had witnessed how quickly the world had changed. Money had lost all meaning. Trade had become simple barter—food exchanged for supplies, labor for protection, and sometimes something even more desperate. He had seen women selling themselves just to survive, not out of coercion, but because they had no other option. He had also seen men doing the same, offering themselves to women in exchange for safety or food. Just a few days ago, he had witnessed a group of men trying to present themselves as valuable, believing their appearance alone could secure their survival. In the old world, such scenes would have been unimaginable. Now, they were simply part of reality. Survival no longer had rules, and morality had become a luxury no one could afford.
The convoy continued moving, sometimes in a straight path, sometimes taking sudden turns, and occasionally even retreating to change direction entirely. Every decision came from the leader, and no one questioned it. They had long accepted that their survival depended entirely on his ability. Doubt was a weakness that this world punished without mercy. After nearly two hours of constant movement, the convoy gradually slowed down before coming to a complete stop near an open area surrounded by broken roads and scattered buildings. People didn't ask why. They didn't need to. They simply followed, trusting that stopping here meant temporary safety. As people began settling down again, a young man climbed onto the leader's vehicle. His name was Ye Fan, the captain's assistant, and his voice carried clearly across the crowd. He announced that the convoy would rest for three hours before moving toward the next town, which was located fifteen kilometers ahead. That town would be their next supply point. The announcement brought a subtle wave of relief among the survivors. Three hours of rest was more than they usually received.
Li Xuan quickly found a spot and began setting up his tent, using the same one he had acquired from a previous supply run in an abandoned mall. As he worked, he felt it—a gaze. No, multiple gazes. His movements slowed slightly as his senses sharpened. Without making it obvious, he glanced to the side and spotted three burly men standing together, their eyes fixed on him. More specifically, on his belongings. His electric bicycle. Li Xuan immediately understood their intentions. This kind of situation was common. Theft and robbery had become part of daily life, and as long as it didn't escalate into large-scale conflict, Sequence users rarely interfered. Strength ruled everything, and the weak had no protection. The three men didn't act immediately, likely because they noticed the knife at his side. A simple pig-slaughtering knife, but in this world, even such a weapon was enough to deter reckless actions. Li Xuan showed no reaction and continued his work as if unaware, but inside, he had already made a decision. They would wait for the right moment, most likely during the next supply run when chaos would provide the perfect cover. A faint coldness appeared in his eyes. If they wanted to make a move, then he would deal with them there.
After finishing his setup, Li Xuan entered his tent and placed his bag down, his thoughts returning to his Sequence ability. Chaos Plunder. It was a powerful ability, but also a dangerous one. It allowed him to steal abilities from the dead, but with strict conditions and limitations. At his current level, he could only hold five abilities, and he had no way of knowing if they could be replaced once chosen. This meant every decision had to be made carefully. At the moment, he had no abilities stored. No offensive skills. No defensive techniques. Nothing except his slightly enhanced physical strength, which was already several times greater than that of an ordinary human. It wasn't enough. Not in this world. He needed something more—an ability that could give him an edge, something that could either help him kill or escape. Without it, his chances of survival would remain uncertain. However, opportunities were rare. Killing a Sequence user was not easy, and finding a suitable target within the twenty-hour limit made it even more difficult. Still, he remained patient. He had always understood one thing clearly—this was not a story where reckless actions would lead to miraculous survival. This was reality. There was no plot armor, no second chances. Being cautious and staying low-key was the only way to grow. He had read enough novels in the past to understand how arrogance led to downfall. Those protagonists survived because of the author. But here, there was no author. Only death.
Three hours passed quickly, and the convoy once again began to move. Li Xuan followed along, his expression unchanged. After another two hours, the outline of a small town appeared ahead. Broken buildings stood silently, streets empty and lifeless. The atmosphere was unsettling, filled with an unnatural stillness that made it clear this place was far from safe. The convoy stopped just outside the town, and Ye Fan once again climbed onto the vehicle to address everyone. He announced that they had one hour to gather supplies and return. After one hour, the convoy would leave, regardless of who made it back. His voice grew colder as he added that there were at least three anomalies present within the town, warning everyone not to go too deep inside. The word "anomalies" alone was enough to send unease through the crowd. No one needed further explanation. They all understood what it meant—unknown dangers, unpredictable and deadly. Yet, no one backed out. They couldn't afford to. Without supplies, survival was impossible.
Soon, groups began forming, people gathering together for safety as they prepared to enter the town. Around a hundred individuals stepped forward, ready to risk their lives for food, water, and anything useful. Li Xuan was among them. He adjusted his grip on the knife at his side, his eyes scanning the streets ahead with quiet focus. Behind him, he could feel it again—the presence of the three men following him. This time, he didn't hide his awareness. Instead, a faint, almost unnoticeable smile appeared on his face. Today wasn't just about gathering supplies. It was an opportunity. In this dangerous world, opportunities often came disguised as threats. And this time, he intended to take full advantage of it.