Bai Wen understood clearly that in this apocalyptic world, no one was innocent, and no one was born a killer. Everyone was driven mad by this cruel reality.
Compared to Bai Wen, Ji Zhen's suffering was a living nightmare—far more horrifying than the current apocalypse. Because she had always been trapped in that terrifying hell.
Ji Zhen had been beautiful since childhood. By the time she started middle school, she was already voted the school belle and was a renowned top student—the epitome of the "perfect child" in everyone's eyes, destined for a bright future.
But the good times didn't last. Her father, who had once run a small business, became addicted to gambling and lost everything overnight. Her mother, for reasons unknown, also fell into drug addiction and took out massive high-interest loans.
To repay their debts, they personally delivered their beautiful thirteen-year-old daughter into the hands of demons.
That very night, Ji Zhen was defiled by a fifty-year-old obese man, marking the beginning of her hellish existence.
Every day, she was forced to "entertain" over a dozen men, rewarded only with three meals and a windowless room.
As she grew older, she began to understand things she hadn't before. She learned to comply—so she wouldn't be beaten, so she wouldn't be covered in bruises. She learned how to please men, how to use her body to secure greater benefits for herself.
Thanks to her stunning looks, she gradually climbed the social ladder, refining herself into a more fashionable and alluring woman. She mastered the art of manipulating men, making them willingly stuff money into her pockets.
She repaid the debts, regained her freedom, and even bought an apartment with her earnings. Outside of "work," she finally had a life of her own.
She began reclaiming everything she had lost—enrolling in night school, graduating with a diploma, and even landing a job at a foreign company after acing the interview. She became a high-ranking white-collar professional!
Just as life seemed to be improving, her hope for the future was rekindled. When a company executive confessed his feelings, she started dating him, and they were soon to be married.
Just as she joyfully believed she had finally returned to the life she was meant to have, a thunderbolt from the blue shattered her completely.
While happily trying on her wedding dress, she overheard her fiancé's phone call—a conversation about her.
And then, she finally understood everything.
Back when she was in middle school, she had once accompanied a friend to a nightclub. There, a crime boss had taken a liking to her and sent his men with money, demanding she spend the night with him. She had refused outright, even humiliating the boss in the process.
She had long forgotten the incident, but it marked the beginning of all her suffering.
Later, her father's gambling addiction, her mother's drug abuse, and her own forced prostitution to repay debts—all of it had been orchestrated by that very boss. All because he wanted to watch her helpless, to see her fall into depravity.
Even her fiancé had been bought off by the boss with a hefty sum. On their wedding day, he was supposed to expose her past as a prostitute, ruining her reputation and leaving her in utter despair.
And that crime boss... was none other than the infamous Eagle Lord of the maximum-security prison!!
Just as she was in agony, wanting to jump off a building to end this dreadful life, the Zombie Virus outbreak occurred. Unexpectedly, she awakened an ability, reigniting hope within her!
Hope for revenge!
She knew Eagle Lord was serving his sentence in a suburban prison. So when she coincidentally encountered Diao Da, who was out searching for food, she resolutely joined their group!
But Eagle Lord, that vile man, had also awakened a powerful ability. With no hope for revenge, she could only bide her time, sowing discord among them.
For revenge, she didn't hesitate to seduce Eagle Lord with her body, while also getting close to Diao Da. Secretly, she nurtured her own strength—everything she did was to kill Eagle Lord and exact vengeance!
"Alright! That's quite a long story!" Bai Wen scratched his head hesitantly. "But how will you explain things once you go back?"
Ji Zhen replied, "No need to worry about that. I'll tell Diao Da that you also let me go, so I can assist him. And I'll tell Eagle Lord that Diao Da tried to kill me while I was severely injured, but I managed to survive!"
"But if I let you go back, this collar has to come off, right?" Bai Wen asked.
"Of course, or else everything would be exposed!" Ji Zhen said.
"What if you betray me? What if you made all this up just to get me to release you?"
"You don't have to believe me. But even with the collar, I must go back!" Ji Zhen said firmly.
Bai Wen hesitated. It wasn't that he feared betrayal—it just didn't seem necessary.
SCV suddenly interjected, "Commander, she isn't lying?!"
"You… how do you know?"
"I just analyzed her heartbeat and subtle expressions. Everything was completely natural—impossible to fake. You can trust her. Let her go back, and we'll have an insider."
Bai Wen nodded. "Fine, I believe you."
With that, he removed her collar.
Ji Zhen exhaled in relief and slowly stood up. Solemnly, she said, "If I succeed in my revenge, as long as I live, my life will be yours. I'll willingly do anything for you."
Bai Wen nodded. "Alright, go. If I need anything from you, I'll send someone to contact you."
"Understood." Ji Zhen responded before limping away.
Watching her leave, Bai Wen crossed his arms and mused, "The real show is just beginning. Hope you can all handle it~"
Back in the base's control room, Bai Wen sat in the command chair, his eyes fixed on the screen displaying the Tech Lab's research on the DNA of several Ability Users. Progress was slow, and there was no guarantee of results, but he remained hopeful. What if they developed a powerful weapon? For instance, if Marine Corpsmen could be equipped with Psi-blades like Zealots, their close-combat capabilities would leap to new heights.
The Terran arsenal was formidable in firepower, but their melee prowess paled in comparison to the Protoss.
What he lacked now were strong melee units. Today's battle had been a resounding victory, but upon reflection, it had also been perilous. If they hadn't stopped Ji Zhen in time—if she had breached the gates with her Light sword—those Marine Corpsmen would've stood no chance against her laser blade.
With Diao Da's psychokinesis, it would be easy to immobilize them, making the outcome unpredictable. Although the Marine Corpsmen have formidable firepower and strong protection from their armor and riot shields, they are less agile in close combat.
The most pressing issue now is the melee units. For now, we can only pin our hopes on technological experiments. If we can successfully develop the Protoss' psi-blades, all problems will be solved!