Chapter 1 Rebirth After the Apocalypse

Pain, unbearable pain, engulfed Kenneth's entire body. This was no illusion as it was a brutal reality he was enduring. Right now, Kenneth was being mercilessly torn apart by the very friends and neighbors he had once trusted and supported. In this resource-starved apocalypse, they disregarded all past kindness and raised their weapons against him. In his fading moments, he vaguely saw Grace Marie, the woman he once adored, standing at the back of the crowd. She wore a delicate and pitiful expression as she shouted, "I’m the one who got him to open the door. Save me a rib for soup!" This woman had deceived Kenneth into opening his door, ultimately leading to his death. Kenneth stared at her, his eyes brimming with hatred and regret. How could I have been so foolish, so naive? My kindness made me a victim in this apocalypse. If only he could turn back time. He vowed that if given another chance, he would never show mercy again. He would live for himself alone. Kenneth’s vision faded to black, and he slipped into unconsciousness. The next thing he knew, his eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright from the couch. The harrowing nightmare he had just experienced remained vivid in his mind. Kenneth gasped for air, his body drenched in sweat. "What's going on? Didn't those sc*mbags kill me?" Regaining his composure, Kenneth surveyed his surroundings. He immediately recognized his apartment, but the warm indoor temperature felt almost alien to him. Back in December 2050, Earth had suffered a catastrophic Cambrian storm triggered by a supernova explosion fifty thousand light-years away. Global temperatures plunged. In Valkyrean, daily temperatures ranged between -76°F and -94°F, and relentless blizzards buried the city under snow. In Sinovia’s northern regions, temperatures dropped to a staggering -148°F, leaving the land entirely buried under ice. Countless species went extinct, and humanity suffered a devastating 95% mortality rate. Kenneth retrieved a bottle of water from the fridge and drank deeply, finishing most of it. Although chilled, it tasted so good to him. During the apocalypse, obtaining water meant braving the extreme cold, digging through snow, and melting it. The risk of freezing to death during such tasks was immense. After finishing the water, Kenneth checked his phone. The date displayed was November 12, exactly one month before the apocalypse. "It seems I’ve been reborn," Kenneth murmured, piecing together his situation. What he had endured couldn’t have been a dream. The pain of being torn apart was far too vivid. Relief flooded Kenneth’s heart as he realized he had a second chance. But soon, his eyes gleamed with a cold, determined light. He remembered every betrayal in excruciating detail. This time, he would ensure his survival and show no mercy to those who had wronged him. Kenneth quickly began strategizing his preparations for the apocalypse. Orphaned early, he had inherited a 1,292-square-foot apartment in Valkyrean. His savings of over two hundred eighty thousand dollars seemed sufficient in ordinary times, but they were inadequate for the coming scarcity. Survival required massive amounts of resources. Kenneth didn’t just want to live, he wanted to maintain a decent quality of life. Food, entertainment, and comfort were all essential to avoid mental collapse in the long run. Suddenly, a streak of white light appeared before Kenneth's eyes. Assuming it was a trick of his vision, he rubbed his eyes. Yet, an odd thought surfaced in his mind. It felt as though the light was connected to him, and he instinctively understood its nature. Kenneth focused his thoughts and found his consciousness transported into the light. What he discovered was a boundless, white void. It stretched endlessly, devoid of anything but space. "Is this a storage dimension? It seems my rebirth came with a unique ability," Kenneth thought, excitement surging through him. Exposure to gamma rays appeared to have granted him extraordinary powers. With this vast space, storing supplies for the apocalypse would become significantly easier. Kenneth immediately tested its capabilities, wondering about its storage limits and restrictions. Returning to his apartment, he began experimenting by placing household items into the space. He started with small objects like cups and basins, which disappeared into the void with ease. Encouraged, he moved on to larger appliances, such as his television, refrigerator, washing machine, computer, air conditioner, and vacuum cleaner. The space accepted everything without hesitation. To his delight, Kenneth discovered he could retrieve items with a simple thought. Overjoyed, Kenneth exclaimed, "This enormous space will let me stockpile endless resources!" Kenneth licked his lips as a daring idea began to take shape in his mind. As a supervisor at the Walmart warehouse in Aeloria, Kenneth had access to one of the largest inventories imaginable. Walmart, being the world’s biggest retail chain, stocked everything one could possibly need. In Sinovia, Walmart operated three colossal warehouses in Middleshire, Aeloria, and Borealis. Each of these facilities held enough provisions to sustain entire cities with millions of residents for an entire week. This meant that if Kenneth managed to transfer the contents of just one of these warehouses into his dimensional space, he would have enough supplies to last him not just for his entire life but for multiple lifetimes. What made this even better was the fact that Walmart’s inventory wasn’t cheap or low-grade. Everything, from food to household goods and even luxury items, was high-quality and reliable. If Kenneth successfully emptied one of these warehouses, he could enjoy a life of unparalleled luxury even in the midst of an apocalypse. As the warehouse supervisor, Kenneth had an intimate knowledge of every rack, surveillance system, and employee shift schedule. For him, clearing out the warehouse would be far from impossible. With this plan firmly in place, Kenneth felt a wave of relief wash over him. Gurgle. Just then, his stomach growled loudly in protest. Kenneth touched his stomach and then glanced at the takeout food sitting on the table. Without a second thought, he grabbed it and tossed it into the trash. "With the apocalypse coming in a month, I need to enjoy all the gourmet food I can while I still have the chance. Later, there won’t even be an opportunity." Money would be useless after the world ended. Hoarding it now was pointless. Spending it all now was the only way to avoid waste. With a relaxed stride, Kenneth turned and headed out, determined to enjoy a lavish meal at a Michelin three-star restaurant.