Chapter 1 Rebirth

The sound of screaming filled the air.

The lurker's cold, sharp tentacles pierced through his body, causing William Wright to uncontrollably cry out.

In a daze, he felt warm and smooth in his hands.

William's vision gradually focused, and he saw a familiar, beautiful face.

He thought, ‘She?'

‘Didn't she die a long time ago?’

As if confirming something, William tried to straighten up from this incredibly familiar body, but the woman held him tightly.

William stopped in confusion, only to realize some things as he scanned his surroundings.

A cup with cartoon patterns, a glowing digital alarm clock, plain patterned curtains, and the woman in his arms all brought William back to a scene he had experienced before.

September 10, 2220, in the afternoon.

An hour before the catastrophic event occurred.

Shouldn't he have been on a mission? Later, he was attacked by those damn bugs, barely escaping, only to be ambushed by lurkers. Their tentacles pierced through his body from underground, causing a fatal wound, a grim reminder of his past experiences.

But now, as this deeply buried memory of a passionate day resurfaced, everything seemed to rewind to ten years ago, to that beautiful afternoon before disaster struck.

Years of cultivating calmness enabled William to think quickly. In just ten seconds, he confirmed that this wasn't an illusion, but a journey back to ten years ago!

He glanced at the clock. It was September 10, 2220, 3:35 PM, one hour and five minutes before that unforgettable moment.

At 4:40 PM on September 10, 2220, a terrifying event would unfold, plunging the Earth into a cruel apocalypse.

William was stunned for a moment, thinking, ‘Is this God's mercy or another punishment?’

William slowly raised his hands. The clear lines on his palms and healthy skin were vastly different from his hands ten years later. These were hands for writing and typing, while the hands a decade later were calloused from holding guns for long periods, marked by scars and blood from countless battles.

As he pondered, 'Am I reborn?' William felt numb. Not everyone would deem rebirth as fortunate. For William, who had endured a decade akin to a nightmare, now being forced to relive it, it was difficult to determine if he was indeed lucky.

A cruel, bloody career for another ten years without a hint of warmth or hope? William sighed. He really didn't know if he could endure it all over again, having experienced that life of despair.

As for the woman holding him tightly, William didn't feel the warmth like before. Instead, he felt repulsed because he knew that his girlfriend would break up with him in the next moment.

Heidi Parker, William's girlfriend, frequented his rented cabin the most. They had been together since their sophomore year, almost two years now.

For William, who no longer had parents, he cherished this relationship greatly. Any normal, kind, faithful person would value their first love, especially when the object of affection was a beauty like Heidi.

However, when the relationship couldn't continue, his appreciation would turn into deep sorrow.

In his previous life, William initially resented her, thinking she had betrayed him. But in this life, knowing the truth, he held no grudge. Perhaps her change of heart carried a hint of cruelty, but he knew that just yesterday, Heidi had agreed to be with someone else.

William broke free from her embrace and said, "I'm actually quite grateful for your care over these two years. I'm a careless, often neglecting your feelings. I apologize." William began to think rapidly about something in his mind.

The man who had been affectionate suddenly diappeared. Heidi couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness, intensifying the guilt she already carried. However, when she heard William's words, her charming eyes widened slightly in surprise, a subconscious reaction to her unexpected feelings.

"I'm also grateful for a diligent student like you who skips classes to come back and be with me. However, this farewell feels more like charity. It merely appeases your guilt for leaving, which doesn't affect me in any way."

"William..."

Waving his hand, William interrupted Heidi, went straight to the window, and looked at the school playground bathed in sunlight not far away. A few energetic boys were playing football, while a girl in white sat on the stands, holding a water bottle and tissues, gently watching her lover.

He continued, "You once mentioned that love is an essential part of life but not everything. I agree with that sentiment and sincerely hope you keep it in mind. While things may be fine now, in a world where danger lurks everywhere and human life loses its value, I urge you to be prepared to let go of love. The love you hold onto may not be as beautiful and steadfast as you believe."

"What do you mean?" Heidi suddenly couldn't understand this man she had been with for two years. She thought, ‘Are his words hinting at something?’

"If the current situation persists, I won't deny that Xavier Murphy is remarkable. He may excel as a lover and husband, but..." William hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. He pondered, 'Should I directly inform Heidi that Xavier, the man she has fallen for, would abandon her in times of crisis, using her as bait to save himself during alien attacks? The events I witnessed six months after the disaster have not yet occurred, so bringing it up now might lead her to dismiss it with laughter.'

While William pondered, Heidi was completely taken aback. She knew that William would eventually find out about her relationship with Xavier, but she never expected him to seemingly know everything in just one night. She thought, 'I have been incredibly discreet so far, but has he already caught on?'

Contemplating this, Heidi's complexion turned somewhat pale, as if she had been caught in the act of wrongdoing.

In reality, she had indeed erred.

"Do you know him?"

William nodded. "Every night, 99 roses left anonymously in your dormitory lobby, a heart made of a thousand candles on your birthday in the square, thoughtful daily text messages, concert tickets, horticultural club passes, coffee shop membership cards, and lectures from Oxford University professors. Even as a man, I must admit that Xavier is not only handsome and from a good family, but also incredibly attentive. He understands your preferences so well. It's no wonder you were touched. Compared to him, I truly don't understand women."

There was a commotion outside on the campus. It should be break time. He turned back to see Heidi, who looked surprised, even a bit fearful.

"Lastly, no matter what you think, I want to tell you to be cautious with Xavier. He's someone who can share joy but not suffering. When it comes to matters concerning his own interests, he can abandon everything, including love, including you."

"Is there still a chance for us?" However, how could a relationship of several years be easily severed? William hesitated for a moment but ultimately wanted to keep her, only to find her on the bed looking away.

He understood.

What needed to be let go had to be let go. Heidi had made her choice, and he wouldn't try to change it just because of his rebirth. William didn't even know how long he himself would live, let alone have the right to meddle in others' lives. Moreover, besides the cold character he had developed over the ten years of the apocalypse, there was also the possibility of a butterfly effect from his rebirth, changing everything to the point where Xavier might take care of Heidi well.

Quickly dressing up, William had accepted many things during his brief conversation with Heidi. The years on the brink of live and death had made him stable emotionally. Accepting the miraculous event of rebirth, William quickly made a choice between suicide to escape the impending doomsday and living diligently. The former was swiftly ruled out.

Since he was reborn, he decided to live diligently.

Opening a drawer, he found his bank card, containing the compensation from his parents' death in a car accident, which was the legacy they left him. For so many years, William hadn't used any of that money, always insisting on earning his own living. This money was more of a memorial. But now it was different. He knew his parents would agree to turn this money into capital for his survival if they were still alive.

"What are you doing?"

Heidi looked at William, who seemed about to leave, with a hint of fear in her eyes.

She loved this man, but with graduation approaching, a man without anything couldn't offer her a bright future. This was also why she chose to leave. However, when this departure suddenly seemed out of her control, she couldn't help but feel a sense of regret. Perhaps in Heidi's eyes, even if they broke up, this man should still belong to her, at least for the time being.

William, now neatly dressed, checked the time again. It was 3:50 PM, fifty minutes before the disaster struck. Considering what he needed to do, time was clearly running out. After a brief moment of contemplation, William made the most important decision for himself. Faced with Heidi's inquiry, he couldn't help but feel annoyed.

"I need to go out for something. Before I return, you should leave quickly and find Xavier. Since you've made your choice, be resolute like before." William furrowed his brow as he walked out, reminding the woman he had been in a relationship with for two years, "You better hurry. Staying with Xavier should be temporarily safer. Once something happens, that's where the government will consider rescue first. Maybe there, you can live better."

With that, William put on his shoes and swiftly left, leaving Heidi still lost in thought on the bed.

William now had two urgent tasks, which were buying necessary medications and acquiring combat tools.