C2 The Stench of Acid

While dispatching the ninth zombie, Chen Cheng's watermelon knife finally gave out and snapped.

He massaged his aching muscles before cautiously proceeding forward.

The relentless battles had sapped Chen Cheng's strength.

"If only I'd had a proper dinner," he lamented, sweat drenching his forehead as hunger blazed in his eyes.

A chilling breeze wafted up from the basement, carrying with it the pungent odors of decay and a faint sourness.

Even behind his mask, Chen Cheng found the stench of death unbearable.

"This reek of decay is overwhelming!" he thought, his senses on high alert.

The more intense the smell, the more zombies there were likely to be.

The stairway to the basement was a chaotic jumble, with bones strewn about, some still bearing teeth marks.

Chen Cheng's blood raced through his veins, his body heating up as every cell prepared for peak performance.

Clutching an iron rod he'd found in a room, he had long since discarded the broken knife.

He made his way into the basement.

The door was ajar, revealing a floor stained with dark, reddish-black blood.

As he stepped in, he noticed a massive zombie standing motionless, its back to him.

"Perfect opportunity!"

Chen Cheng charged, iron rod raised high, aiming for the creature's head.

Unexpectedly, the zombie whirled around, and the rod meant for its head struck its shoulder instead.

With a roar, the zombie lunged at Chen Cheng, who didn't back down but leapt forward, delivering a fierce kick to its decaying face. The zombie staggered backward and collapsed—Chen Cheng's strength was now many times what it once was.

With a resounding crash, he brought the rod down hard, splattering brain matter all over himself.

From the other rooms, the roars of more zombies echoed, and several had already cut off his retreat.

"Damn, I've stumbled into their lair!"

Without hesitation, Chen Cheng dashed into the nearest room and slammed the door shut, locking it behind him.

He had glanced inside earlier—there were no zombies there.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The relentless pounding of zombies against the door echoed from outside, desperate to break through.

"We're trapped! They've got us cornered!"

Chen Cheng braced himself against the door, feeling each jarring thud.

"The mission's complete, so why no system alert? Oh, the crystal nucleus..."

Muttering to himself, Chen Cheng began to tinker with the crystal nucleus nestled within the zombie's brain.

"Di... Mission accomplished. Spatial shuttle capability activated. Lottery function now available."

A robotic voice resonated in his mind.

Chen Cheng then found himself in the system space.

"Where's the lottery function?"

A projection beamed from the robot's eyes, asking, "Initiate lottery?"

Surveying the area, he saw the roulette options: AK rifle, nutrient supply, Type 92 pistol, napkins, machete, anti-inflammatory drugs, basic combat skills, condoms, basic firearms training, flashlight, infection prevention vaccine, lighter, laser rifle, sanitary pads, and a 1,000-gram gold bar.

Chen Cheng couldn't help but be dumbfounded. What a bizarre assortment! And if he drew condoms, did that mean there were girls around here for him? He noticed a "1" in the top right corner—probably his one shot at the draw.

"Here goes nothing! Please, anything but napkins. Even a gold bar would be a win."

With a hopeful heart, Chen Cheng watched the roulette spin into a blur.

"Di, you have been awarded basic combat skills. Commencing knowledge infusion."

As the electronic voice announced his prize, Chen Cheng felt a faint current zip through his brain, and suddenly, he was imbued with new knowledge.

Basic combat skills, a repertoire of moves for fighting enemies, including mutated creatures... With a clap of his hands, Chen Cheng was itching for a fight, eager to test out his newly acquired skills that felt as natural as if he were born with them.

"The system's products never disappoint—so convenient. I thought I'd have to train, but it looks like I can skip the workout."

The roulette vanished as the reward was dispensed.

Gurgle! His stomach growled loudly.

As he checked his bracelet, it shimmered with changing colors.

"After all this time without a drop to drink, it's time to head back."

Chen Cheng tapped the bracelet, triggering the color shift.

Whoosh! A slight warmth enveloped his body, and suddenly, the surroundings were unmistakably familiar.

He was indeed back home. Without hesitation, Chen Cheng beelined for the fridge and indulged in a frenzied feast.

Burp! "That hits the spot!"

Contentedly sitting on the floor, he patted his distended belly, feeling utterly satisfied.

Surveying the litter of food wrappers scattered around, Chen Cheng mused, "I've polished off all the food at home. I don't usually eat this much! Could it be that my body's gotten stronger?"

With that thought, he retrieved the resistance bands he normally used for exercise from his room. Typically, he could only stretch the springs so far.

To test his newfound strength, he attached all six springs together.

Creak! He stretched them with ease! Each spring was 15 kilograms, meaning he could now effortlessly pull 90 kilograms.

Overwhelmed by his abrupt surge in power and struggling to control it, Chen Cheng resolved to hit the gym to adapt.

Then it struck him—it was late, and the gym would be closed. Glancing at his grimy attire and smelling the stench, he opted for a thorough wash first.

The bathwater turned black, reeking like a foul sewer, and it took three washes before Chen Cheng felt truly clean. He also gave his armor and helmet a good scrub.

Back in his room, he inspected his gear.

The armor bore numerous scratches, and some damaged areas were patched with a rubber that seemed to be deteriorating.

Tapping on the shell, it emitted a distinct metallic clang, though the material seemed to be a hybrid of metal and fiber.

To put the armor's durability to the test, Chen Cheng fetched another watermelon knife from the kitchen and swung it down with force.

Ding! The knife split in two, yet the armor remained unscathed.

Considering his strength had multiplied manyfold, he thought, "The stuff of the future really is formidable."

Carefully storing his prized possessions in the system space, Chen Cheng lay on his bed, pondering and planning for what lay ahead.

In the modern world, time moves differently than in the apocalypse—24 times slower, to be exact. Spending just over three days in the apocalyptic realm translates to a mere three hours back home. This time disparity gives me ample opportunity to get things done.

The apocalypse is bound to be rife with valuable items and advanced technology. If I can just bring something intact back with me, I'll be set for life. It's not out of the question for me to become one of those tycoons you read about in novels..."

Lost in his daydreams, Chen Cheng let his imagination run wild.

Waking up early in the morning, he was still adjusting to his newfound strength, which had already caused a fair bit of unintentional destruction around the house. He'd crushed his toothbrush in his grip, extruded a giant ribbon of toothpaste, and even torn his clothes by accident.

"Damn! How can I live like this?"

He stared at his ruined suit, for which he had scrimped and saved for work.

"Ah, well, it doesn't matter. I'm not planning on keeping that job anyway. With access to the system space and the apocalypse, there's no point in working a regular job. Especially now that I'm practically a superhero."

After a brief workout to get a better handle on his strength, Chen Cheng left his house.

The security guard at the entrance was as insolent as ever, completely dismissive of the residents, acting as if they all owed him something.

Chen Cheng's irritation flared as he remembered his home's water and electricity were still shut off.

"I'll take care of my business first, then I'll come back to deal with you lot."

Hong Jia Foreign Trade Company was his destination—an e-commerce firm specializing in international trade. The young boss, Sun Jiao, had recently graduated from college. The company was modest in size, with a registered capital of 30 million.

Moreover, she was the eldest daughter of the Sun family, a prominent household in Larnwick.

"What? You're resigning?"

Sun Jiao's beautiful eyes fixed on Chen Cheng, clearly taken aback.

She had always thought highly of Chen Cheng, who was not only an old employee but had also been with her since the startup phase. She had even been considering promoting him to sales department manager soon.

Chen Cheng, I've been keeping a close eye on your work at the company these past years. Your significant contributions have played a crucial role in our rapid growth and stability. I'm planning to promote you to Sales Department Manager, with a monthly salary of eight thousand yuan, plus a five percent commission on your department's performance.

What do you say? Will you stay and not leave?" Sun Jiao asked once more.

In the past, Chen Cheng would have accepted the offer without a second thought. But now, things were different. With the assistance of the system and the enigmatic future world of the apocalypse, his destiny had been irrevocably altered.

Chen Cheng gazed at Sun Jiao, swallowing hard. Today, she was clad in a form-fitting sports outfit, her chest a prominent 36D swaying before him. Her piercing phoenix eyes sat beneath arched brows, a high nose, and cherry lips complementing her figure, all accentuated by a black professional suit that hugged her enticing thighs and hips. She was more striking than any celebrity on screen.

"Sorry, boss. Due to personal reasons, I can no longer continue working for you," Chen Cheng said with resolve. He had a genuine fondness for Sun Jiao, initially drawn to her connections and potential, which had driven him to work diligently on her behalf.

"Alright! I won't pry into your personal reasons. Let's leave it at this: should you wish to return in the future, my door is always open to you," Sun Jiao responded, not one to dawdle. She swiftly signed her name on the resignation letter and handed it to Chen Cheng.

"Let's base Chen Cheng's salary and commission for this month on last month's performance," Sun Jiao instructed the finance department.

Though it was only the 18th and nearly half the month remained, Chen Cheng didn't voice any objections to Sun Jiao's generous gesture. Money was tight, and some things were better left unspoken, kept close to the heart.

After collecting his pay and completing the handover of his duties, Chen Cheng checked his phone and frowned at the 3.8 thousand yuan balance – his entire net worth. As he walked, he pondered what to purchase.

Suddenly, a group of people in pursuit of a middle-aged man caught his attention. The man, clutching a package tightly, stumbled and fell right beside Chen Cheng.