"Winnie Morgan's ability is water manipulation—she can condense pure water out of thin air. Thanks to this ability, she's been leading a group of survivors and living quite comfortably. Even Delwen Dowlin doesn't dare to cross her. After all, Delwen Dowlin also needs the water Winnie Morgan provides."

"As for whether there are other ability users, I'm not sure. I rarely go outside, so I've only heard about these things from others."

Water manipulation? James Lone was very intrigued by this ability and asked, "Is Winnie Morgan beautiful?"

Even an ability as seemingly simple as Will Link, after being upgraded to nine stars, had become overwhelmingly powerful.

Water manipulation likely wasn't a weak ability either.

Moreover, water manipulation probably wasn't a physique-based ability, meaning it would be easier for James to upgrade it to higher star levels.

If Winnie Morgan passed the system's evaluation, he'd gain another ability!

The more abilities, the better, he thought.

As for the woman herself? That was just an added bonus.

Lulia Smith felt speechless.

You're not even trying to hide your thoughts, are you?

If this were the peaceful world before the apocalypse, Lulia Smith would have slapped any man who talked so enthusiastically about another woman in front of her.

But now...

If she left James Lone, she wasn't even sure she'd survive a single day.

Feeling aggrieved, Lulia replied reluctantly, "...Yes, she's very beautiful. Winnie Morgan was the most famous campus beauty at the New York Film Academy. Her family has a long tradition in music—her father is a renowned pianist, and her mother is the lead vocalist of the National Song and Dance Troupe. Winnie herself is an excellent pianist."

"Perfect!" James Lone's eyes lit up with a smile.

Initially, he had no plans to return to the New York Film Academy. After all, traces of aquatic creatures had been spotted there, making it a risky location.

But now, he felt that at the very least, he had to bring Winnie Morgan back.

As for the other survivors? If they died without her water ability, that was none of his concern.

James had also noticed something: as time passed, the number of beautiful women who managed to survive was dwindling.

Even in a place like the New York Film Academy, which should have been full of beautiful women, only Lulia Smith and Winnie Morgan remained as the truly stunning ones.

Both of them had survived only because of their abilities.

James concluded:

The few beautiful women who managed to survive in this harsh world either had abilities or were outrageously lucky.

Without abilities, most beautiful women had likely perished already.

In this brutal world, weakness and beauty made the most tempting prey.

New York Film Academy

Top floor of the library.

A group of over a dozen muscular male students huddled around, tearing up books to burn for warmth as they ate instant noodles.

In the corner, three bloodied, lifeless female corpses were discarded like trash.

At the center of the group sat a pale-faced young man with sharp, sinister eyes. He had an earring in one ear and wore a dirty, tattered designer suit.

This was Delwen Dowlin.

Rolling up his sleeves, Delwen took a swig of liquor and said with delight, "So Doris García is really dead?"

A dark-skinned student nodded confidently. "She's dead! I happened to see her and Fjall García's bodies—they were dumped at the base of Building 16! Doris García's neck was broken!"

"Excellent!" Delwen Dowlin slammed the table in excitement.

Bang!

"Those stupid school leaders and teachers who were hoarding all the supplies—they're mine now! I've been dying to sample those female teachers... especially Professor Lulia Smith. I've wanted her for so long!"

The other students roared with excitement, their eyes gleaming red: "Hahaha!" "Let's do it now!" "Yeah, kill all those idiot teachers and stop them from wasting food!"

This group of men, having followed Delwen Dowlin in a spree of killing, were no longer the students they used to be.

"Professor Smith looked amazing teaching her dance classes!" "As amazing as Winnie Morgan?" "Hey, Delwen, let's take Winnie Morgan too!"

Hearing Winnie Morgan's name, Delwen recalled her stunning face and felt a surge of desire.

But he still had some rationality left. His face darkened as he said, "Winnie Morgan is off-limits for now. If she dies, who will make water for us?"

A boy named Reed protested, "Delwen, just capture Winnie Morgan! She wouldn't dare stop making water for us once we have her!"

Slap!

Delwen backhanded Reed, sending him stumbling, and cursed, "Idiot! What if she kills herself? If she dies, how will you make water for me, you fool?"

Reed's cheek burned red from the slap, and he didn't dare speak further.

The others laughed at Reed's expense, their faces full of mockery.

Reed lowered his gaze, his fists clenched tightly as he suppressed his anger.

Before the apocalypse, Reed and Delwen had both been rich kids who got along fairly well.

In truth, Reed had always looked down on Delwen.

Reed's father was one of the top ten business tycoons in New York City. Compared to him, Delwen's father was nothing.

But after the purple mist descended, everything changed.

Delwen had awakened a powerful ability and risen above Reed, who now had no choice but to swallow his pride and follow him.

Without Delwen Dowlin, Reed would've died eight times over by now.

Delwen, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying his newfound dominance.

He knew Reed resented him but deliberately kept him alive.

Before the apocalypse, Reed had often looked down on him both openly and subtly. At the time, Delwen could do nothing about it.

Now, Delwen relished watching Reed grovel and act like his dog. The satisfaction of humiliating Reed was far better than killing him.

Another student spoke up: "But Delwen, that woman Winnie Morgan always acts high and mighty in front of us. Shouldn't we teach her a lesson?"

Delwen, who also had plans for Winnie Morgan, sneered and said, "Of course she needs to be dealt with! I don't even need to capture her to have her under my control."

The others were intrigued. "Oh? What's your plan, Delwen?"

Delwen smirked and explained, "Simple. Winnie Morgan and her group never dare to leave their place to gather supplies—they rely on trading with others. If we kill all the other survivors, she'll have no choice but to trade with me. Then I can set any price I want, and she'll have to agree! At that point, she'll be completely at my mercy."

He continued, "If we kill off all the other survivors, the water we take will last us at least a week. Winnie Morgan's food, on the other hand, will run out in three days at most. After three days, she'll come crawling to me on her knees! Hahaha!"

The group cheered: "Delwen, you're a genius!" "Haha, Winnie Morgan always acts so smug. Let's see her stripped of all that pride!" "Boss, you get the first taste. Can we have some leftovers too?" "Hahaha, don't worry! Delwen's always been generous with us!" "Let's do it now!" "Yes! Let's get started already—I can't wait!"

Delwen's eyes gleamed with malice as he declared, "Alright! Let's eat first, then today we'll take Professor Lulia Smith for some fun. Tomorrow, we'll kill off all the other survivors!"

Food was becoming scarcer and harder to find.

Why take the risk of scavenging outside when robbing other survivors was so much easier?

After all, the fewer survivors there were, the more food there'd be to go around.