James Lone phased through the wall to the top floor, intending to open a portal back home. But before he could, he noticed a group of young men and women walking toward him.

They froze in shock when they saw him. Wasn't this the ability user who appeared by walking through walls earlier?!

The leader of the group, a young man named Madison Donald, immediately perked up when he recognized James Lone.

Earlier, when Teresa Taylor went to James Lone to ask for medicine, Madison had struck up a conversation with the survivors from Building B. Through them, he learned that James Lone had a massive hoard of food, and even managed to see photos in the group chat on his phone.

Among the photos, Madison Donald spotted a familiar face: Lily Green, a famous beauty from his film school.

Lily Green had been a popular internet influencer known for her beauty and charisma, famous throughout the New York Film Academy.

Although Madison had no personal connection with her, their names were somewhat similar, so he had remembered her since his first day on campus.

However, as an aspiring actor, Madison Donald looked down on her. Self-degrading! Streaming for petty cash? Stars make far more money than that!

James Lone glanced over the group.

The men were handsome, and the women were beautiful—good enough to turn heads on the street. But James, being surrounded by far more stunning women, wasn't particularly impressed.

Casually, his gaze swept across the two women, and the system provided an evaluation:

[Perla]

Age: 19Quality: 7 (Refined and elegant)Virtue: 6 (One boyfriend per semester)Overall Score: 6[Ding! Does not meet the system's minimum standards.]

[Jess]

Age: 19Quality: 8 (Sweet and cute)Virtue: 3 (Promiscuous, a "public toy")Overall Score: 3[Ding! Does not meet the system's minimum standards.]

James felt a wave of disdain.

The two girls, noticing James's attention, felt both flattered and frightened.

They had just witnessed him killing people with brutal efficiency. Clearly, he was a powerful ability user.

The girls weren't foolish—they knew that in this new world, ability users were like kings. If they could cling to someone like James Lone, their survival chances would skyrocket.

They instinctively began to flaunt themselves.

Jess pushed out her chest, her most "proud" feature.

Perla turned slightly, showing her 45-degree angle and giving him a sweet smile.

James frowned slightly.

Madison Donald stepped forward, smiling ingratiatingly. "Mr. James Lone, hello! I'm Madison Donald, a freshman at the New York Film Academy."

James glanced at him dismissively. "I don't know you."

However, Madison's words sparked an idea in James's mind.

Madison's mention of the New York Film Academy reminded him that there weren't any more women in Sunny Garden Tower who met the system's standards.

But the film academy? It was bound to have plenty!

If he wanted to increase his return rate, it might be worth checking out.

Madison gritted his teeth and blurted out, "I'm Lily Green's... cousin!"

He wasn't actually related to Lily, but he had interacted with her a few times. She struck him as soft-spoken and timid—someone who wouldn't expose his lie if he pleaded with her later.

Madison also had no confidence in Teresa Taylor.

That woman might be strong, but she was an idiot. She was bound to get them all killed with her rigid principles.

But James Lone? That was different.

If he could leverage this "relationship" with Lily Green, he could position himself as James's pseudo-brother-in-law. The thought filled Madison with anticipation for the future.

James looked at him, his tone calm but sharp. "Oh? And how do you know Lily Green is with me?"

Madison, startled by James's piercing gaze, stammered, "Uh, uh, someone told me earlier."

James ignored him, instead using his perception to locate Lily Green and activating a Will Link.

"Lily Green."

Lily Green, who had been sitting on her bed trying on clothes, froze at the sudden sound of James's voice in her head. Realizing it was his ability, she quickly sat up straight. "Yes, Master."

"There's a guy here claiming to be your cousin—Madison Donald. Do you know him?"

"I don't have any cousins," she replied immediately. After thinking for a moment, she added, "Oh, I remember him now. He's a freshman at my school. We're just casual acquaintances."

"Got it," James said, cutting the link.

Without hesitation, he grabbed Madison Donald by the collar.

Madison panicked, struggling in James's grasp. "Mr. Lone, what... what are you doing?!"

James patted Madison's cheek lightly, smiling. "Be a good kid in your next life. Don't lie again."

With that, he flung Madison off the rooftop.

Madison's terrified screams echoed as he plummeted. "AAAAHHHHHHHH!"

A dull thud sounded seconds later as his body hit the ground.

The remaining six students stood frozen in shock, their minds blank.

Madison Donald was... dead? Just like that?

James turned toward them, still smiling.

The six students screamed in terror.

"Don't kill me! Please don't kill me!"

"I had nothing to do with Madison!"

They scrambled back toward the stairwell, tripping over themselves in their haste to flee. None dared look back.

James chuckled coldly before opening a shimmering blue portal and stepping through.

Back home, the women quickly surrounded him, their voices sweet and concerned.

Lily Green was the first to speak, her voice trembling slightly. "Master, did you see Madison Donald? I swear, I don't know him well."

She was terrified that James might suspect her of being involved with Madison. That could spell disaster for her.

James smiled faintly. "He lied to me, so he's dead."

Dead? Lily Green shivered, falling silent.

James's decisiveness and ruthlessness made all the women around him both fearful and awed.

They silently reminded themselves to never lie to him.

At the same time, they felt a strong sense of security.

Without a man like James, how could they possibly survive the apocalypse as well as they were now?

If it weren't for him, they would have likely been captured by other men and used as playthings in cages.

James sat down, pulled out a bottle of iced Coke, and took a sip. Casually, he asked, "Lily Green, since you're a student at the New York Film Academy, do you know where most of the survivors from your school were hiding when the internet went down?"

Lily thought carefully. "Most of the students were staying in the dorms. Some were in the main cafeteria, and the rest were in the residential area for faculty and staff. Before communications were cut, I heard the school administrators were working with the faculty to ration food and help students. I don't know what's happened since."

James pondered.

The dorms likely wouldn't last long. Crowded spaces and limited food would have forced the students to venture out, leading to groups scattering—just like Madison Donald's group.

The residential area was a different story. It likely had a situation similar to Sunny Garden Tower.

With the administrators' efforts, a large number of survivors were likely still there.

But they were undoubtedly struggling, or else Madison's group wouldn't have fled.

No matter how hard the school leaders tried, food shortages were inevitable. Hunger would eventually undermine any semblance of order.

"Tomorrow, I'll check out the New York Film Academy," James decided.

Late at night, when all the women had fallen asleep, James got out of bed and moved to the window. Sitting cross-legged, he began practicing the breathing technique Teresa had taught him.

In his Perception view, James could clearly see tiny, invisible particles of energy materializing in the air as he breathed. These particles flowed into the "ginger" in his body.

Along the way, his cells greedily absorbed the particles, pulsing rhythmically with his breathing.

This was how James had learned the technique so quickly—unlike Teresa, he could see the "qi" that she couldn't.

The rest was simple.

By deliberately drawing in the particles, he quickly absorbed a substantial amount of qi.

In just thirty minutes, his "ginger" was full to the point of bursting. Reluctantly, James stopped his practice.