Chapter 0020: Past Emperor! Doomsday Rules!

D-aet City.

A figure with disheveled hair stood by the shore, drenched as if he'd just climbed out of the sea like a water spirit. Yet, the wetness didn't bother him. His eyes were fixated on the phone in his hand, oddly untouched by the water.

On the screen, the browser's search history revealed a chaotic list of terms:

- 'Special abilities'

- 'Paranoia'

- 'Blue Star Proving Ground'

- 'Cosmic Will Evolver'

These searches reflected everything the young man had experienced recently. Only Vince knew the full extent of what he had been through.

He cast a glance at the ocean behind him.

This was no ordinary seaside tourist spot. Here, on this stretch of D-aet City's coast, apart from the distant fishing boats returning to port, only a few children were combing the beach for shells and crabs.

Under normal circumstances, Vince should've been dead a day ago. The storm had been fierce, and their fishing boat capsized. Of the dozen or so people on board, none survived—except him.

Vince gazed at the distant sea, confusion swirling in his mind. The ocean, which brought both life and wealth, was like the indifferent hand of fate—blessing some, destroying others without a second thought.

But now, he felt something profoundly strange.

He raised his hand slowly.

Nearby, droplets of seawater began to move toward him, gathering into a floating sphere in his palm. The miraculous sight drew the attention of nearby children, who stared in awe.

And then, something even stranger appeared before Vince's eyes, like a status bar in a video game.

He didn't know why he was spared when the sea claimed the others. But everything he was experiencing now felt so real.

In a frantic effort to understand, Vince searched through his phone. After entering countless keywords, he stumbled upon a peculiar website:

'Cosmic Will Evolution Forerunner Post!'

The page greeted him with a cryptic message:

"Congratulations to those who have found this post and can comprehend its meaning!"

"You are ahead of the rest!"

"In the future, those who appear here will shine brightly!"

"I bless you and look forward to meeting you one day!"

- White Emperor

"White Emperor?" Vince murmured, his lips trembling. The water sphere in his palm and his improbable survival still left him in a daze. But now, he had no time to dwell on it. 

Forerunner. Cosmic Will.

These words flashed before him like riddles.

Whoever this White Emperor was, they knew something about what was happening.

Vince typed a nervous message about his situation and sent it. To his surprise, he received a reply within twenty minutes. Clutching his phone like a lifeline, Vince read the simple response:

[White Emperor: Search for chat group No. 001 in the Cosmic Will and apply to join.]

A chat group?

Vince had noticed this feature earlier but hadn't explored it. He quickly followed the instructions, and his request was accepted immediately.

[You have joined chat group No. 001. You may modify your nickname in the group.]

Finally, Vince had found others like him—people who might help him understand what was going on.

His excitement was palpable, but what he didn't expect was that the group had only three members, including himself.

Holding back from speaking right away, Vince carefully read through the group rules:

"This chat is a communication platform for gifted evolvers. 

Members may not insult one another (disputes can be resolved in person). 

Members may not ask for personal details. 

To become true evolvers on the Kepler Proving Ground and protect both yourself and those you care about in the coming apocalypse, strive to grow stronger and survive."

The message was clear. What Vince had experienced wasn't a hallucination. His newfound ability to control seawater was real.

Suddenly, a message popped up in the chat:

[Your King—Ian Bart: Haha, finally, a newcomer!] 

[Your King—Ian Bart: Check the group rules and Doomsday Rules, rookie!]

Doomsday Rules?

Curious, Vince clicked on the group's files and found a document titled Doomsday Rules. He opened it:

The apocalypse will officially begin at midnight on June 15. If you feel safe, you can sleep through the night—just don't be surprised if zombies chew through your skull by morning. The zombie virus doesn't mutate evolvers' genes. As long as you're not injured by zombies, you won't become one. Zombies are far more dangerous than the ones in TV shows, movies, or books. The apocalypse's threats extend beyond zombies. Resources aren't as important as you think. Talent is the core of an evolver's power, but courage, resolve, and caution are your greatest tools for survival in the trials ahead. The human heart can be scarier than any monster. In the early stages, Agility and Constitution are key to surviving.

Vince read each point carefully, his heart racing. These weren't just warnings; they were survival guidelines, like navigating a storm on the open sea where every misstep could cost him his life!

The group's other member, Ian, was already cracking jokes. But Vince could sense the weight of what was coming, and the gravity of the White Emperor's words.

Ian's carefree attitude contrasted sharply with Vince's growing sense of dread. 

Novak on the other hand was surprise when he saw the newcomer info and name. He hadn't anticipated encountering such a powerful emperor from his past life so soon.

The legendary 'Water Warden' Vince Jepo-y!

With just one hand, Water Warden could transform an entire city into a force as powerful as a nation!

Still, Novak remained silent.

Given his age and personality, Ian is considered a master at setting the tone and energizing the atmosphere in the group.

Meanwhile, Novak has shared various survival strategies and precautions for a potential doomsday scenario within the group.

As the White Emperor, he needs to stay calm and distant. Otherwise, it's unclear if he can keep these troublemaker under control during an apocalypse.

After seeing the famous Water Warden chat casually for a long time with the easygoing Ian…

No new members applied to join the group for the next half day.

Then, Novak received another message on his phone. It was from Daphne.

"Had she recovered already?"