LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 2: Rewind to Survival
On an apocalyptic morning, sunlight filtered through the ruined skyscrapers, casting light on the abandoned street below. The weather was eerily clear, yet the air was thick with the stench of smoke and decay. Buildings on either side of the road lay in ruin, windows shattered, walls covered in dust and graffiti, and torn rags and litter scattered around, amplifying the sense of chaos and neglect.
On the ground lay the charred remains of seven zombies, sprawled out in distorted positions, their twisted limbs frozen in their final, desperate struggles. Their flesh had been burned to a crisp, leaving only patches of exposed bone, while wisps of smoke continued to rise, adding to the sinister sight.
This place, once a bustling street, now held only silence and the smell of death. The only sounds were those of the wind, rattling loose metal sheets and shattered glass. The harsh sunlight intensified the stillness, as if this lifeless scene was all that remained of the world, filled with burnt corpses and endless ruins.
After killing the seven zombies, Sandra's powers had finally leveled up to Tier 3.
"Finally! I can leave this damned wasteland!" she laughed aloud, activating her superpower. Raising her hands to the sky, she shouted, "Time Reversal!"
"Sandra!"
Within the twisted dimensions of time, Sandra faintly heard someone calling her name, and felt a touch. Yet, it didn't matter anymore, for in the next instant, she was back—three months before the outbreak, in a world untouched by zombies.
Meanwhile, Alexa, Celine, and Anllela, still holding each other's hands, also experienced the same rebirth, finding themselves three months before doomsday.
"This…this is…"
The sudden change in scenery left the three disoriented. After a while, they slowly moved to the window, looking down at the bustling streets and the people walking leisurely. It dawned on them: they had indeed returned to a time before the apocalypse.
Alexa turned and looked at the computer on the desk. Quickly, she rushed over to check it.
"April 1st, 2025!"
"Come see this!" she called out to Celine and Anllela, shouting excitedly, "It's April 1st, 2025! We're back before the apocalypse!" Tears began to stream down Alexa's face as she spoke.
Celine and Anllela stared in disbelief, their mouths slightly open, before they walked over to the computer.
"No zombies…"
"Or mutant beasts, or plants... Are we dreaming?" Anllela murmured, dazed. Then, she turned to Alexa. "Alexa, make sure... Are we really not dreaming?"
Alexa shook her head, crying as she said, "No, we're really back."
The three laughed in disbelief for a while, then finally confronted the harsh reality: in three months, the apocalypse would still arrive. However, they had returned early; they now had time to gather supplies, so the dollars they held would not just become worthless paper.
"That day, we discovered Sandra, who had already left with her parents. It seemed that Sandra had also acquired superpowers and could reverse time. When I met her, time was just being reversed, and then the three of us had our souls returned to two months ago." Alexa continued, "After we got back, we confirmed through phone calls that it was Sandra who activated her superpower to bring everyone back. After some discussion, we decided to take out all our US dollars to buy supplies."
"Sandra used to often say, 'My ten billion dollars have turned to waste paper. If I had known the apocalypse was coming, I should have spent all my money on food.' Hehe, this time she can finally fulfill her wish," Celine said with a smile.
"You said Sandra's parents were still alive after the apocalypse. Where did she get so much wealth?" Ander asked.
Celine rolled her eyes and replied, "She just had good luck and married a good husband."
Alexa shot her a glance and said, "What do you mean she had good luck? Her husband is dead." Then she turned to Ander and added, "Sandra's ten billion fortune is the inheritance left to her by her late husband."
Sandra was originally a kept mistress. She married the old man who had been supporting her only after his wife died. To avoid losing her position, she put a lot of effort into her appearance, which is why she looked like a woman in her thirties.
Celine casually said, "Hurry up and create a space zone for us. We need to get back quickly; there's a ton of stuff that needs sorting."
After Ander created the space zone for them, they were ready to leave. Before stepping out, Celine asked, "What about your car?"
Ander replied, "It's been sent for modifications. I was planning to take the bus to pick it up."
"Sandra was busy shopping, and Celine and I were looking for you. I left everything at my company to Anlella, so they didn't come today. Next time you run into those two, you need to help them create a space zone too."
Alexa founded a company called "Red Fox MV" which signed many young and beautiful girls, providing them with training in posture and dance before letting them shoot music videos for various entertainment companies. In addition, these artists also created videos for YouTube and TikTok to earn advertising revenue. They would also post photos on Instagram and Facebook, as well as in some non-pornographic electronic magazines, to generate traffic. With the traffic, Red Fox MV could take on print advertisements, generating profits for the company.
Currently, artists under Red Fox MV, such as Hara Saori, Zhou Carol, Kaede Karen, and Michelle, have annual salaries exceeding one million dollars. These four have already gained considerable fame, so Red Fox MV has also secured some advertisements and endorsements for them.
In recent years, Red Fox MV has started signing talented and somewhat famous singers or actors, using various resources to promote them. Celine Farach is a successful example of this.
"No problem."
Alexa nodded, then naturally wrapped her arms around Ander's neck and gave him a kiss, which surprised him and made his eyes widen.
Alexa playfully touched Ander's lower body and said with a smile, "I'll give you more when there are more people around; the two of us can't handle you."
"My turn," Celine also gave him a kiss, "Remember to think of me, or else..." She waved her little fist.
"You need to pick up your car, right? I'll take you there." Alexa said.
After Ander picked up the car, Alexa and Celine left their phone numbers for him, and the three of them finally parted ways.
After getting home, Ander thought for a long time and ultimately decided to divide all his money equally among the five girls. As for supplies, he had already purchased billions worth over the years, so he really didn't lack anything.
It must be mentioned that after Ander was knocked out by electricity at the age of five, he woke up to find that he could not only see things but could also duplicate non-living objects simply by looking at them, storing a copy in his storage space. However, the duplicated items could not be duplicated again, so to keep duplicating, Ander needed at least one original item.
The "Children's Placement Institution" where Ander lived as a child was not well-funded, so they sometimes faced hunger. After gaining his superpower, he often provided food to his close friends, which included Marina Laswick, Hatala Wilson, Blaire Ivory, Lily Maymac, and Chen Xuanmei.
After leaving the "Children's Placement Institution" at 19, he began selling some of the gold bars he had duplicated to gradually improve his living standards. Eventually, he brought Marina Laswick and others who had left the institution to live with him.
During puberty, everyone has some curiosity about sex, and Ander and his friends were no exception. They first tasted the forbidden fruit at around 15 or 16, and the relationships between the six of them have continued to this day.
Since they had endured hardships together from a young age, no one thought it was unfair for anyone involved. They also tacitly agreed not to mention marriage because it would be unfair to the others if one person married Ander. As for leaving Ander, Marina and the others never considered it because, from childhood, Ander had always been their hero.
The "Children's Placement Institution" had its dark side; older boys and girls often bullied or even raped those younger than them, threatening them not to tell anyone afterward. Marina and her friends had encountered such crises before, but Ander, who was tall and strong even as a child, would always come to their rescue at critical moments, beating their attackers black and blue. Thus, from a young age, Ander had been their protector.
While living in the "Children's Placement Institution," Ander often secretly gave food to Marina and the others. After growing up and selling gold, he would also give them pocket money. Now they each receive $3,000 a month, allowing the girls to happily shop. In addition to giving them pocket money, he also bought them cars and expensive designer clothes, shoes, bags, perfumes, and cosmetics.
Ander is 6 feet 3 inches tall and bears a striking resemblance to a young Tom Cruise. What girl wouldn't like such a tall, handsome, strong, and wealthy man? So, whether out of gratitude or vanity, they rationally refused to leave Ander.
On a quiet evening, the sun gradually sets in the west, casting a warm orange glow over this upscale residential community. The environment here is elegant and lush, with trees gently swaying in the breeze, their shadows stretching slowly with the angle of the sunset. The lawns are neatly trimmed, and the landscaping is exquisite, revealing a sense of sophistication and order in every corner. Winding paths weave through the flowerbeds, with stone benches and sculptures placed along the way, all embodying the splendor and tranquility of this place.
A few modern high-rises are scattered throughout the community, their exteriors shimmering with a golden light reflected from the evening glow. The glass windows catch the sunset, tinting the entire sky with warm hues. On the balconies of the buildings, some residents are enjoying this moment of peace, either watching the sunset or taking a stroll in the garden with their families.
Nearby, a small pond sparkles with reflections of light, and a few water birds glide leisurely across the surface. Occasionally, a fish jumps out of the water, creating a small splash. The surrounding streetlights have yet to turn on, and as the light gradually fades, the entire community is enveloped in a soft glow, imparting a sense of serenity.
Marina and the others have gradually finished work and gone home. Although Ander gives them pocket money every month, they have cultivated a habit of independence since childhood, so after graduating from college, each of them found a job.
Marina Laswick is 25 years old, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a bra size of F. She has a quiet and steady personality and is currently a police officer.
Hatala Wilson is also 25 years old, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a bra size of H. She is of mixed Indonesian Chinese and Black descent. Hatala is a beautiful and elegant Black novelist, with a slender waist and ample bosom. Her face features resemble those of an East Asian person but with dark skin.
Blaire Ivory is 24 years old, standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a bra size of G. She works at a dessert shop and is also quite skilled in cooking, now she is the head chef of the family.
Lily Maymac is 24 years old, standing 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a bra size of F. She is of mixed Australian and Filipino descent and works as a nurse at a hospital.
Chen Xuanmei is 24 years old, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a bra size of F. Everyone calls her "Mei." She was born in Vietnam, but her family had already become U.S. citizens before the incident. Mei's parents died in a car accident when she was six, so she was sent to a "children's shelter" by social workers. Although Mei has a timid personality, she is a language genius, fluent in 12 languages, including English, American, Russian, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Latin, and Arabic. She currently works as a receptionist and phone operator at the company where Ander is employed.