Storage space

Liam froze for a moment before letting out a low gasp.

“Sp… space! The rings have storage space!”

This was huge!

They might not be magical wheels of fire that could carry him through the sky, but to Liam, this mutation was even more exciting than flying.

Who wouldn't be thrilled to have an invisible, portable storage space during the apocalypse?

And the best part was that the apocalypse hadn't arrived yet. They could still stockpile more supplies, from food and clothing to household necessities and even vehicles. Everything they managed to collect could be carried with them!

Jack nodded with a smile.

“Exactly. I suspect the rings changed because I was wearing them when my powers awakened. They must have been affected by the energy from my lightning and fire abilities. That’s why I asked you about objects changing earlier.”

When Jack had first discovered what the rings could do, he had been so excited that his entire body trembled. He had nearly lost control of his powers again.

“This…”

Liam was too overwhelmed to speak.

What kind of ridiculous luck was this?

Perhaps the universe was finally making up for how miserable his previous life had been!

He immediately grabbed something nearby and tested the rings himself. Just like Jack had demonstrated, he could store and retrieve objects whenever he wanted.

After experimenting for a while, they discovered that each ring could hold a little over two thousand square feet of space, slightly larger than a three bedroom apartment. Together, they offered a considerable amount of storage.

Since the spaces had been created when ordinary objects mutated under the influence of a superpowered individual, their capacity was limited. They couldn't compare with the natural spatial abilities some people might awaken, and they couldn't store living creatures.

However, anything placed inside remained preserved for an incredibly long time.

In other words, the passage of time inside the rings seemed to slow almost to a standstill.

Even perishable goods such as fresh meat, vegetables, and fruit would remain fresh.

That was more than enough for them!

The supplies in their safe house were intended for everyday consumption while they waited for rescue. The supplies stored in the rings, on the other hand, could travel with them and sustain them long after they left.

Jack had clearly considered this possibility too. They didn't need to discuss it for long before reaching an agreement.

This time, they wouldn't bother buying things little by little.

Instead, they would wait until after the toxic rain had fallen but before the zombies appeared. The evening of August 31 would be their best opportunity, just before the apocalypse officially began.

They would secretly raid supply locations, and Jack had already worked out what they needed and where to find it.

“Ah! I'm going to die from happiness!”

Liam hugged a pillow and rolled around on the bed, kissing the rings repeatedly. He couldn't even find the words to describe how he felt. He was so happy he thought he might actually lose his mind.

Then, carried away by his excitement, he suddenly pounced on Jack.

“Jack, let's go!”

“Hm?”

Jack froze for a moment. When he realised what Liam meant, he cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Don't start fooling around in the middle of the day…”

Liam ignored his protest and shamelessly began running his hands over him.

“Who cares? The world's about to end anyway!”

Clothes seemed to act as a restraint, keeping Jack reserved and composed at all times. But once that restraint was gone, it was as if he became an entirely different person.

And Liam absolutely loved that side of him.

“You little lunatic…”

Jack's voice was filled with both exasperation and affection.

“Mhm! Your little lunatic!”

Their lips met in a deep, hungry kiss. Their affection became something tangible as they drew closer, their bodies and hearts entwined.

By the time they had finally worn themselves out and fallen asleep, half the day had already passed.

…

At two in the afternoon, Jack and Liam separated to complete their final preparations for the apocalypse.

Jack took his Hummer, while Hannah drove another SUV. Together, they set about preparing their vehicles for the coming disaster, stocking up on petrol, diesel, and other essentials along the way.

Thanks to their connections, the process went surprisingly smoothly. What might have taken other people several days was completed in just an hour or two.

After parting ways with Hannah, Jack drove alone to the company's supply warehouse. He stored the fuel and vehicle repair tools he had collected inside his ring.

He also cleared out the company infirmary, taking useful medical supplies and equipment that were better than what most ordinary clinics could offer.

Meanwhile, Liam rented a small truck and headed to an appliance store, where he purchased four commercial freezers.

He drove to a quiet spot away from prying eyes and transferred all four into his storage ring.

Next, he visited the farmers' market and wholesale district. He stocked up on fresh meat, vegetables, fruit, rice, flour, packaged food, seeds, and all kinds of everyday necessities.

He even bought two electric scooters and the high quality batteries he had always hesitated to purchase before.

In his previous life, electric scooters had been as valuable as gold at the survival bases, and their prices had been outrageously high.

With Jack's lightning ability, electricity shortages would no longer be such a problem. As long as they had enough equipment to store or convert the power, they could use it to run various appliances.

At the bases, water and electricity were strictly rationed. People who possessed abilities that could generate or control these resources were highly sought after.

Liam had also made good use of the four freezers.

He filled two with fresh and frozen meat, while the other two were packed with ice cream, frozen snacks, and partially prepared meals.

Once everything was loaded, he put the freezers inside the ring. Their contents would remain frozen even without being plugged in.

There was no reason to suffer unnecessarily when they had the means to live comfortably.

Now that Jack was fully convinced the apocalypse was coming, he spared no effort in their preparations.

Liam couldn't help thinking that perhaps they really were made for each other.

Shortly after six in the evening, they returned to the safe house.

Not long after, thick clouds swallowed the sky. Strong winds swept through the area, sending dust swirling everywhere. The air felt dry and heavy, as though the world itself were holding its breath before something terrible happened.

They locked all the doors and windows.

In the kitchen, Liam hummed as he heated up the takeaway food they had bought from the hotel. They had purchased enough to last several meals and made room in the freezer for the extra food.

Meanwhile, Jack leaned against a bare wall and called Hannah and the other members of his team.

After confirming that everyone had gathered their supplies and returned safely, he gave them a firm order.

“From now on, nobody leaves their safe house until I say otherwise. That includes when it rains. After such a long drought, nobody should be trusting the rainwater without thinking. Keep your heads on straight and stay alert.”

Since they worked in security, they were naturally more cautious than most people. With the weather already behaving strangely, being suspicious of the rain was perfectly reasonable.

Hannah responded first, followed by the others.

“Copy that!”

“Understood!”

“Got it, boss!”

Jack made sure everyone understood the instructions. Those who needed further reminders received them. Anyone who refused to listen would simply have to face the consequences of their own decisions.

Once the meeting ended, Jack called his family and warned them against going out unnecessarily.

He also sent his parents a photo of himself with Liam so they wouldn't be shocked when the family eventually reunited.

His family had known about his relationship with Liam from the beginning. Now that the two of them were back together, there was no reason to keep them in the dark.

Not long afterward, Hannah video called Liam.

“Liam, can I come over for dinner?”

Liam was just about to agree when Jack, who had finished his own phone call, interrupted him.

“From now on, everyone looks after themselves. Don't come bothering us.”

Everyone already had their own supplies. Why was Hannah still trying to take advantage of them and intrude on their private time?

Absolutely not!

“Jack! You're so heartless!”

Hannah complained dramatically.

Jack remained completely expressionless.

“That's why I'm the boss. No mercy, no authority. Isn't that what you always say?”

With that, he ended the call and went to prepare dinner.

Standing beside him, Liam couldn't help laughing.

Whenever Jack took charge, Liam rarely argued or tried to challenge him. He knew when it was better to go along with things.