Share

Chapter 4

Author: Reminiscence
"[Choices] that reward vehicles are rare. At least twenty people must take part in this one. Anyone who wants to volunteer, step forward.

"If fewer than twenty volunteer, I'll choose the rest."

Shane's voice was warm and pleasant, but his calm command left no room for refusal.

Many survivors' faces fell. They had avoided taking part in a [Choice] for a long time.

This time, Shane clearly intended to make them participate.

They joined the survival team for the protection of its Beyonders.

How could they expect to give nothing in return?

That was the main reason Shane formed a survival team and brought ordinary people along.

In this new age, people were the most valuable resource!

After all, only humans could take part in [Choices].

The larger the team, the more likely it was to encounter a [Choice].

A lone survivor might spend three to five months in the wilderness without encountering a single [Choice].

That was why lone survivors had become almost unheard of.

Even the most solitary person would find a team to join.

"Also, anyone who takes part in this [Choice] will receive one unit of food."

Shane's words made the hungry survivors' eyes light up.

Some stared at him with desperate intensity.

One unit of food was roughly a piece of bread, a dinner roll, or a packet of crackers.

Many of them were close to starving!

If they could get one unit of food, they would survive for a little while longer!

It was almost like earning two rewards from a single [Choice]!

A vehicle and food!

It would also reset their record of avoiding [Choices], so they could escape being forced into one the next time.

This was a sure win!

Shane was such a saint!

Almost at once, someone stepped forward excitedly.

"I'll do it!"

"Count me in!"

"To hell with it! It's only one hand. I can live without it!"

"Damn right! I can survive with one hand!"

Before long, more than a dozen people stepped forward.

Some even looked at Shane with gratitude.

Leroy watched them and gave a slight nod, amusement in his eyes.

He had to admit that Shane knew how to handle people.

First came the stick, then the carrot.

That was enough to make these survivors grateful to him.

The food he offered even came from supplies that other survivors handed over after completing [Choices].

Yet no one saw anything wrong with it.

They thanked Shane instead.

Then again, they never had much of a choice.

Leroy looked at the glowing screen with interest.

A vehicle would double his odds of survival! No, that was too modest. It could multiply them several times over!

He certainly would not choose option A and lose a hand.

As for option B…

The Demon Spirit Rabbit...

Leroy did not hesitate.

He spent another analysis use on option B!

He received three more analysis uses every midnight.

A vehicle was worth spending one on!

[Analyzing Demon Spirit Rabbit...]

[Analysis complete.]

[The Demon Spirit Rabbit is a common creature on the continent of Velenoris. It reproduces rapidly and has delicious meat. Its population once caused a Demon Spirit Rabbit crisis, though individual rabbits are not strong fighters.]

[Demon Spirit Rabbits are extremely fast and can reach speeds of 62 miles per hour. In your current condition, your chance of winning a race against one is zero.]

[Analyzing further...]

[Before the race begins, the rules prevent the Demon Spirit Rabbit from moving. If you catch it then, it will be helpless in your hands. This is your only chance of winning.]

[Warning: Do not kill the Demon Spirit Rabbit. Killing a contestant in this [Choice] is punishable by death.]

[Failing to win is also punishable by death.]

Leroy finished reading the information before him.

Leroy froze.

A question mark seemed to pop up over his head.

Huh?

That worked?

He could catch the Demon Spirit Rabbit before the race even began?

That deeper analysis really was incredible.

The way to win was a little underhanded, even shameless, but that didn't matter!

Winning was what mattered!

Leroy stepped forward without another thought and said he wanted to take part.

Shane recognized him and let his gaze linger on Leroy for a second.

Then he turned back to the crowd.

Blondie frowned and called out to him, "Hey! You showed me respect, so I'll give you some advice. Don't do anything stupid. A hand is worth more than a vehicle. You're not like these people. You still have a choice!"

Leroy glanced at Blondie and shook his head.

"No. I choose B."

As soon as he spoke, Leroy's name appeared beside option B on the glowing screen.

At that moment, everyone turned to stare at him in shock!

The people taking part in the [Choice], the survivors in the crowd, Blondie, Shane, and the other Beyonders watching nearby—none of them expected Leroy to be so bold!

He chose B!

He was going to race a rabbit!

Was he trying to get himself killed?

Blondie looked up at the screen.

His mouth fell open, and his cheek twitched.

Then he gave Leroy a thumbs-up.

"Damn... You've got guts. Racing a rabbit? You really are tired of living!"

Shane gave Leroy a long look before saying, "Eat your bread before you go. Better to leave on a full stomach."

Leroy smiled slightly.

"I'm already here, so I might as well take a chance. What if I lose... and don't get killed?

"And what if I win?"

Blondie swore.

"Shit, you're a gambler too!"

The other survivors looked at Leroy as if he were an idiot.

What if?

Even a one-in-ten-thousand chance was still a chance. Leroy’s odds were zero.

If Leroy had gone a long time without taking part in a [Choice] and was about to be forced into one, they could have understood.

Losing a hand was brutal, so he might as well take a gamble.

However, Leroy had just completed a [Choice]. He was nowhere near desperate.

Yet he insisted on risking his life now.

He had to be out of his mind!

Zoe hid in the crowd and glared at Leroy with resentment. She scoffed under her breath.

"So, he's an idiot. No wonder he didn't want me. I hope he dies in there!"

That thought made Zoe feel much better.

It wasn't that she lacked charm.

Leroy just wasn't a normal man!

The others stared at Leroy with surprise, mockery, and even a little pity.

He paid them no attention.

Shane glanced up at the glowing screen and said, "We have seventeen people. We need three more."

The crowd stirred.

At last, three people who had avoided [Choices] for a long time gritted their teeth and volunteered. They knew this was their best chance to take part willingly!

They only had to lose a hand to get a vehicle and food!

If they refused, they would remain at the bottom of the participation list. The next time they were forced into a [Choice], they might not be so lucky.

Once all twenty people gathered, Shane said evenly, "Make your choices."

They nodded and called out their answers to the glowing screen.

"I choose A."

"I choose A too."

"A."

"Same here!"

All nineteen of them, without exception, chose A.

They were ready to trade a hand for a vehicle.

Leroy alone stood off to one side.

He was the only person who chose B.

At that moment, he looked even more pitiful, as though the others had shut him out.

They all regarded him with sympathy. Some were certain he was already dead!

Only Leroy knew that he was the sole winner!

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App

Latest chapter

  • My Rise During Apocalypse Begins with 100 Million Cockroaches   Chapter 30

    The sky began to brighten through the morning mist.Shane woke early and stood in the clearing, breathing in the fresh air. He ordered the team to leave in half an hour.The team had no Beyonder skilled at scouting.So, Shane followed one rule.They moved every six hours.That gave supernatural horrors less time to find them.So far, it worked. Shane’s team was still together six months after the apocalypse began. Some fell behind and died, but that was unavoidable in this world.Twenty-one members of the team died yesterday.Shane considered that a good result.A supernatural horror chased them, and only twenty-one died.Many of those deaths happened inside [Choices] too.They owed much of their survival to the vehicle [Choice]. It gave them twenty more vehicles and allowed more survivors to escape.Without those vehicles, twice as many people might have died yesterday.The team might even have lost half its members!Shane had seen losses like that countless times.Survivors died,

  • My Rise During Apocalypse Begins with 100 Million Cockroaches   Chapter 29

    Shane felt no guilt about revealing Zachary’s abilities. He answered at once.“Zachary follows the Path of Flesh. He’s a Sequence 9 Flesh Apprentice, which lets him heal wounds rapidly. Blood, flesh, and killing make him stronger. The longer he fights, the more dangerous he becomes."And another thing…"Most Beyonders are affected by their paths. If they stop resisting those urges and embrace them, they can grow stronger and advance through the Sequences. The Path of Flesh drives its followers toward bloodlust, madness, and brutality."Everything clicked into place for Leroy!No wonder!Zachary always acted like a madman. Whenever he fought, he threw himself into battle without caring what happened to his body. Blood and flesh flew everywhere, and sometimes even his arms and legs!He fought until he was barely alive.He was excited when the [Choice] offered a vehicle in exchange for a hand too.So, the Path of Flesh caused his behavior, and indulging it helped him grow stronger!Shane

  • My Rise During Apocalypse Begins with 100 Million Cockroaches   Chapter 28

    Leroy nodded. He had plenty of questions.Now that he had a chance to ask, he intended to use it.He thought for a moment, then asked his first question."We know of three ways to become a Beyonder. Is there a fourth?"Shane was not surprised.He could see Leroy’s ambition.Leroy would never be content to remain an ordinary man forever.Shane’s gaze stayed calm behind his glasses. He answered at once."Yes, there are special Awakening Potions. Taking one gives you a chance to become a Beyonder, but it locks you into the potion’s path. For example..."I’ve heard of a potion called Light of the Night. It can awaken someone as a Beyonder on the Path of Night."Leroy’s interest stirred.An Awakening Potion... Light of the Night...He had never heard of that route before.Good.That gave him another way to become a Beyonder. The fixed path hardly mattered if it worked.Shane continued."There’s another way. If you draw the attention of a god, you might awaken. But as far as I know... ben

  • My Rise During Apocalypse Begins with 100 Million Cockroaches   Chapter 27

    Blondie glanced at Zachary in the distance. His meaning was clear.Calvin shook his head helplessly and said no more.Leroy wore a faint smile. He had kept a low profile, but he always watched the others on the team, especially the Beyonders.Calvin usually ate with Shane.Shane also treated him with great respect.They clearly were more than just master and servant.So, treating Calvin well was another way to win Shane over.After what happened, Shane looked at Leroy more warmly.Shane understood what Leroy was doing.However, a good man judged others by their actions. If he judged their every thought, no one would measure up.Leroy picked up his fork, took a piece of rabbit that was crisp on the outside and tender within, and put it in his mouth.Rich flavor filled his mouth at once!The rabbit’s fat melted on his tongue!He could hardly describe how good it tasted!It was the best meat Leroy had ever eaten!As he ate, he felt a faint current of spiritual energy move through his b

  • My Rise During Apocalypse Begins with 100 Million Cockroaches   Chapter 26

    "Coming!"Calvin answered. He soon returned with an apron on and a full set of cooking equipment.He brought a stewpot, a grill, a cutting board, and an assortment of knives.He had everything he might need!Leroy stared.Wow...Calvin really knew what he was doing!They were only cooking a rabbit. Did they need all this equipment?Calvin noticed Leroy’s surprise and explained with a smile."I’m a certified chef. Shane’s particular about his food, so I kept my equipment ready. Since the apocalypse began, I’ve barely used it."Leroy gave him a thumbs-up.Impressive!Blondie swallowed."We’re in for a treat! What are we waiting for? Get cooking, Calvin! I’m starving!"Calvin took the Demon Spirit Rabbit from Leroy and examined it with an appreciative look. "You can tell it’s a mystical creature. This fat rabbit must weigh at least fourteen pounds. It would be a shame to roast the whole thing."I suggest we roast the meaty parts and make soup with the bones. We could add some potatoes t

  • My Rise During Apocalypse Begins with 100 Million Cockroaches   Chapter 25

    Leroy looked toward the darkness again."And Cheryl."He was calling to the team’s last Beyonder, Cheryl Nolan.Energy stirred in the darkness. She seemed to be deciding whether to join them.Three full seconds passed.Then Cheryl silently stepped out.She did not like drawing attention to herself or joining gatherings like this.However, the rabbit was too tempting!The apocalypse began six months ago!None of them had eaten a proper meal in half a year!When the apocalypse struck, a strange power spoiled all the food in their world. Even canned goods with long shelf lives turned rotten and filled with deadly toxins.A single bite could kill, and the food tasted vile!It forced people to enter [Choices] to get something to eat.They could refuse, of course. Then they would starve.So even the Beyonders went hungry most days.Bread was a luxury. Meat was almost beyond imagining!In this world, a steady supply of eggs and toast could buy an army of loyal fighters.Now four of the team

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status