A Slacker's Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse

The apocalypse arrived, and zombies slaughtered the city.

I was the first to awaken a top-tier ability, directly wiping out half a street of zombies.

I led a group of people to fight our way out and took over an abandoned military factory in the east district to build a safe base.

I became the feared devil king in the area.

The official base tried to recruit me three times, and I threw their people and vehicles straight out of the base.

The lab wanted to cooperate with me, but I burned down their sampling truck.

I made the rules at the base - anyone who disagreed got thrown outside the walls to feed the zombies.

The food, medicine, and safety at the base were all earned by my people and me, risking our lives fighting through hordes of zombies.

Everyone respected and feared me, except I kept one soft spot - for my girlfriend, Celeste Phillips, who crawled out of the pile of corpses with me.

The lab released shocking news: awakened ones had a one-in-ten-thousand chance of evolving into an Ability King, and a bright red line on the inner forearm was the mark of the savior.

Everyone instantly gave up - stopped guarding the walls, stopped searching for supplies, and spent every day kneeling and waiting for the Ability King to arrive.

Until Celeste brought back a delicate-looking guy with a red line on his forearm, and the whole base worshipped him like a god.

After fighting to protect the base for three years, I was pushed out the gate by everyone else to feed the zombies.

A million zombies surrounded the city, and the Ability King they worshipped collapsed on the ground, crying helplessly.

As everyone waited to die in despair, I looked down at the red line on my forearm and smiled.

This time, it was my turn to step up.

1

When news from the lab reached the east district, everyone got restless.

People who used to take shifts guarding the walls, searching for supplies, and farming to stockpile food all gave up.

Gerald Rivera immediately dropped the heavy shovel in his hands, found an empty spot to sit down, and said,

"Great, after three years of being exploited by him, we'll have good days once the Ability King arrives."

As he spoke, Gerald carefully glanced at me.

Some people even started looting the base's limited supplies, and order was on the verge of collapse.

I clenched my fists and rushed into the base's broadcast room.

"What Ability King! I've been killing zombies for three years, and I've never seen anyone survive just because of a red line on their arm! Those who want to live, pick up your weapons and guard the walls, search for supplies. Those who want to die, go lie down in the corner and don't get in the way of people doing real work!"

I stood on the tower watching. Some people listened to me and reluctantly picked up their weapons to return to their posts.

Then there were people like Gerald who muttered, "He's just jealous of the future Ability King, afraid someone will take his position as base leader."

As more and more people started picking up weapons, Gerald reached out to stop someone.

"The Ability King is coming; we don't need to work this hard."

The person waved him off: "We'll see when he arrives. The base leader is doing this for our own good."

The broadcast room door opened, and Celeste brought a team to ask for my permission:

"We want to go to the city center and talk to the lab in detail. We need to know more specific characteristics of the Ability King."

I rushed over: "There are no good people at the city center lab. Have you forgotten? Three years ago, when I dug you out of the pile of corpses, a lab worker was standing behind us, watching like a predator."

Celeste shrugged, looking impatient:

"Alexander Garcia, just because you're so exceptional and they wanted to study you, so what? You're just too selfish and can't stand us having a way out! It's been three years - you can't judge all lab workers the same way!"

I stared at her like she was a stranger.

Seeing me loosen my clenched fists, she immediately came closer and pleaded softly:

"Alexander, just think of it as going out to search for supplies. If there's no news, they'll give up soon."

Brian Scott immediately stepped forward behind me: "Sir, you can't let them go! Those lunatics at the lab aren't even human!"

But the people behind Celeste were already eager to move, their eyes full of longing for the "Ability King."

I could block their bodies, but not their rotten hearts.

I laughed coldly and stepped aside: "If you die out there, don't expect me to collect your bodies."

Over the next few days, I continued leading people on night watch, fighting, farming, and stockpiling supplies as usual.

Most people returned to their previous routines, except Gerald and a few others who squatted at the base entrance every day waiting for the savior to arrive.

I didn't care.

Everything remained calm until Celeste brought back a delicate-looking guy.

The guy was slender, with a clean face, looking fragile - nothing like someone who could survive in the apocalypse.

The team member beside me looked delighted, and Gerald, who had been squatting at the entrance, stared and stood up.

Gerald immediately spotted the faint red line on the guy's arm.

"It's Ability King!" Gerald excitedly rushed toward the guy.

Celeste quickly raised her hand to block him and brought the guy to me:

"I listened to you and didn't go near the lab, but I saw Daniel being bullied near the lab. People in the city center are snobbish, and he has no parents there, so I brought him back. You don't mind, do you?"