Chapter One: The End Times

Year 2069 of the Ancient Nation. The world faces an apocalyptic crisis.

Coastal countries and cities are instantly obliterated and submerged by waves towering dozens of meters high. The tsunami strikes too swiftly for any government to respond with rescue measures. Next comes violent tremors across the continental plates: mountains split, plains collapse. Many inland nations and cities are reduced to hellish scenes in the blink of an eye—deep chasms, dozens of meters deep, mercilessly swallow entire skyscrapers. Tens of thousands of lives vanish in an instant. Once-thriving cities are left unrecognizable, shattered by calamity.

Global panic descends as the world plunges into chaos.

Wang Keyue's family survives one disaster after another, clinging to stubborn resolve and just a touch of luck. After a year of hardship, they finally reach Rongshan Safety Base, the nearest refuge to the ancient capital. In this world where people prey on one another, the Wangs carve out a temporary haven.

Yet, this is only the beginning of the apocalypse. Everything in the world slowly begins to mutate…

Two years later, Earth's environment continues to deteriorate. The human population plummets. What is most despairing is that all animals and plants begin to mutate. Animals grow toward sizes reminiscent of the age of dinosaurs, while plants either wither or become dangerously poisonous.

After high-level discussions among global leaders, the world's top technologies are consolidated. Space immigration is placed on the agenda.

In fact, years earlier, humanity had already established a survival base on the moon called the Human Survivors Base, abbreviated as HS Base.

Now, the HS Base finally comes into play. Nations begin sending high-tech personnel and senior officials to live on the moon.

The Ancient Nation, once a giant of population and territory, with vast resources, suffers the most devastating losses in this catastrophe. Over a hundred million lives are lost. Its most advanced cities are wiped out, and its economy and technology are pushed back decades. Even its military power suffers greatly.

Within the preserved fleet, the Ancient Nation's space vessel, the Rising Sun, remains the most intact.

Previously, the Rising Sun had transported groups of advance soldiers, scientists, and senior officials to the lunar alliance base for initial construction.

This time, its mission is to carry selected youths aged fifteen to eighteen from Rongshan Base. These teenagers have been rigorously screened; in strength, character, and temperament, they are the best—considered the most promising new force in the entire nation.

The Wang family consists of three branches, but only a few survive. The eldest uncle’s family is reduced to his wife and second son; the uncle himself perished during their escape, crushed by debris. The third uncle’s family survives as a couple; their youngest died of illness during the flight. Wang Keyue’s family is comparatively fortunate—all four remain: father, mother, younger sister, and Wang Keyue herself—a rarity in the apocalypse.

Remarkably, both the second son and the younger sister are selected in this youth recruitment. Of the more than ten thousand eligible youths at Rongshan Base, only a thousand are chosen. This speaks to the excellence of Wang Zhengdong, the eldest uncle’s son, and Wang Kexing, their own youngest daughter.

Wang Zhengdong is seventeen, Wang Kexing is fifteen—their ages fall perfectly within the criteria, and both pass the selection with ease.

The Wang family stands at a distance from the massive space vessel, watching as the Rising Sun ignites and lifts off. Inside, not only two thousand talented youths, but the very hope of the Ancient Nation, ascend to the sky.

Around Wang Keyue, the crowd is dense with citizens, many of whom are relatives of these departing children. Worry and longing fill every heart.

As the Rising Sun rises with a thunderous roar, Wang Keyue is suddenly gripped by a paralyzing sense of dread—a giant hand seems to squeeze her heart, sending searing pain through her chest, her vision darkening. She nearly collapses.

Despite the pain tightening her chest, Wang Keyue’s gaze remains fixed on the vessel receding into the sky.

Before she can recover from the agony, a flash of white light splits the sky. Then, a deafening explosion shakes the air.

A wave of heat rushes forward, knocking everyone to the ground.

When Wang Keyue opens her eyes again, the colossal vessel is engulfed in flames, explosions echoing unceasingly.

The ship, filled with hope, plummets toward an unknown distance, and chaos erupts.

Second brother, little sister…

The elderly aunt collapses in terror. Wang Keyue’s head throbs painfully, her mind a blank void, yet her feet move of their own accord toward the direction where the vessel has fallen.

The crowd is thrown into turmoil. Her father and third uncle quickly follow behind her.

The three rush forward, faces pale and grim, silent as they chase after the ship that has already crashed.

The vessel lies in a canyon, flames soaring skyward.

By the time Wang Keyue and her family arrive, the site is already cordoned off.