Chapter 1: Reborn in the Apocalypse, System Binding
**Donghai, Tianfu Hospital**
It was one o'clock in the morning. A beautiful woman in a white coat stared blankly into space, while a cold and monotonous mechanical voice played in her head.
"Because humans wantonly destroy nature, the Earth is launching a human cleanup plan. The apocalypse is approaching, and the countdown has officially begun."
"1 hour 59 minutes 59 seconds, 1 hour 59 minutes 58 seconds, 1 hour 59 minutes 57 seconds..."
"Is the host willing to bind to the reinforcement system?"
The mechanized voice persisted in Su Ling's ears. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and replied without hesitation, "Bind."
She had no doubts about the system's authenticity, having already experienced the apocalypse once before. At that time, she had thought it was someone's alarm and hadn't taken it seriously. However, an hour later, the apocalypse truly arrived.
Earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions—all forms of natural and man-made disasters struck simultaneously. To make matters worse, countless people were infected by ancient bacteria floating in the air. Mutations began, with people turning on each other like rabid beasts, creating a gruesome spectacle.
Donghai, where Su Ling was situated, was ground zero for the viral outbreak. Initially, she could have driven away from there, but she chose to return home to save her father and stepmother's family.
As soon as she entered, she stumbled upon her stepsister Su Rou and her fiancé Wei Zixuan engaged in intimate activities on the bed. In the face of disaster, Su Ling suppressed her anger and led them to a refuge in Lizhou. However, they encountered a horde of zombies on the way, and to divert their attention, Su's father heartlessly agreed to push her off the car.
Su Ling nearly became a victim of the zombies, but a man dressed in a black suit saved her. Just as she was about to undergo zombification, her only thought was that if she could have another chance at life, she would definitely bind to a system and live well.
Unexpectedly, the heavens gave her the opportunity to start anew. This time, she was determined to seize it.
At this moment, the system's voice came again.
"Please complete one reinforcement within five minutes, or it will be considered as giving up."
Su Ling immediately took off her white coat, grabbed a set of surgical equipment, and went downstairs.
"Reinforce the vehicle," she said.
This was her plan from the beginning. After all, she couldn't leave without a car.
With a crisp sound, the voice resounded again.
"Reinforcement successful."
"Armor increased by twenty percent, speed increased by twenty percent, endurance increased by twenty percent."
Su Ling got out of the car and indeed noticed some changes. Not only did the width of the vehicle increase, but the glass also seemed thicker, and even the tires appeared to be thicker.
Meanwhile, the system's countdown continued.
"1 hour 52.35 minutes, 1 hour 52.34 minutes, 1 hour 52.33 minutes..."
Su Ling immediately went to the nearest supermarket and loaded a whole cart with bread, bottled water, and various canned goods. Then she went to the nearby pharmacy to buy some emergency medicine. With only one hour and ten minutes left, she managed to complete everything.
Checking her watch, Su Ling felt she still had time to go home.
Having been given a second chance at life, she couldn't just let the scum couple get away with it. Otherwise, it would be a waste of this opportunity.
Ten minutes later, Su Ling returned home.
Arriving on the second floor, she immediately heard Su Rou's moaning.
"Zixuan, you're amazing!"
"Zixuan, you're incredible."
Without any hesitation, Su Ling kicked the door open.
This was her room, and she knew the arrangement inside very well.
She grabbed the floor lamp by the door and smashed it down onto the two people.
Su Rou screamed as she crawled up and turned on the bedside lamp.
Wei Zixuan looked panicked as he pulled the bed sheet to cover himself.
"Su Ling, this is a misunderstanding, please let me explain."
Su Ling curled her lips and sneered.
Even though they were caught red-handed, he had the audacity to mention "explanation."
Recalling the scene in her previous life when Wei Zixuan pushed her out of the car, Su Ling's eyes turned cold, and she grabbed the lamp again, viciously smashing it down.
"Su Ling, you've gone mad! Dad, Mom, help!"
Su Rou was terrified.
The previous Su Ling had a gentle temperament and would have let things slide even if she was bullied. But the current Su Ling appeared like a lunatic, with murderous intent in her eyes.
After two lamps were smashed, Su Rou's head was bleeding profusely. Wei Zixuan's arm was also bleeding from a wound caused by the lamp's impact. Seeing the miserable state of the two, Su Ling felt a sense of satisfaction.
At this moment, footsteps sounded from outside the door.
"Su Ling, why are you back?"
Su's father's voice came from outside.
Su Ling turned her head, her gaze icy and dark.
After her mother's death, she had felt sorry for her father living alone and supported his remarriage. She didn't expect that after getting married, her father completely changed.
He cared for his stepdaughter and his new wife meticulously, while his own daughter was ignored.
If he hadn't been willing to use her as bait to attract zombies, Wei Zixuan wouldn't have dared to push her out of the car.
Thinking of the past, Su Ling pushed him away and said coldly, "This is my home, can't I come back?"
Su's father was taken aback. "Su Ling, why are you talking like this?"
Su Rou's mother, dressed in her nightgown, also rushed out and immediately put on a fake smile upon seeing Su Ling.
"Aren't you on the night shift today? Why did you come back so early?"
Su Ling didn't mince her words and slapped her across the face. "Quit pretending. Despicable people can never produce anything good."
Su Rou's mother was dumbfounded and took a while to react. She cried and rushed into Su's father's arms. "Zhenzhong, are you just going to watch Su Ling hit me?"
Su Ling had already gone downstairs, and the countdown still had fifteen minutes remaining. She looked back upstairs with a sinister smile.
"Keep acting. I hope you are dedicated enough to keep acting until you die."
After saying that, Su Ling left without turning back. Having vented her anger, she didn't have time to waste any longer.
Seven minutes later, Su Ling arrived at the city exit, and her next destination was Lizhou.
She hoped to find the man who had saved her in her previous life and thank him in person.
She remembered he had a tattoo-like dragon pattern on his wrist, so if things hadn't changed too much, she should be able to find him.
At this moment, there were only three minutes left until the Earth's cleanup started. Unfortunately, a couple up ahead was arguing at the toll booth, causing a traffic jam with many vehicles honking behind them. Su Ling's palms were sweaty with nervousness.
The blinking countdown was like a ticking time bomb, continuously burning away her life.
Although she had bound to the system and reinforced her car, Su Ling's heart was still pounding uncontrollably.
A piercing beep sounded, and the countdown in her mind started counting down.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one..."
As the countdown reached "one," a loud roar erupted, and Su Ling watched as the toll booth and the arguing couple on the ground were swept away by a powerful shockwave, soaring into the sky...
(Brought to you by Fairly Sleepy Dud with the help of the amazing machine!)