“The moment the RK virus appeared, it rapidly spread worldwide, infecting every living creature...whether human, bird, or beast, as long as they needed to breathe.”

“When humanity discovered the RK virus, it was already too late.”

“Once infected, the virus had an extremely high mortality rate, reaching nearly 30%. Within just three months, as later statistics showed, about two billion people died globally, aside from the vast numbers of animal casualties. Those three months were like a nightmare. Scientists around the world were helpless in the face of this virus.”

“Of the nearly five billion survivors, every single one of them developed antibodies naturally.”

“After those nightmare months, the whole world was plunged into endless sorrow.”

Luo Feng spoke slowly, “During this time, the survivors discovered that their bodies had improved significantly. Almost everyone’s strength, speed, cellular activity, and skin resilience had doubled! Even an ordinary person could easily break past records in weightlifting or the 100-meter dash.”

“But...the true disaster was only beginning.”

“The humans who had lived comfortably until then experienced such a drastic increase in physical abilities. The birds and beasts that survived the RR virus, having already been honed by nature's survival of the fittest, saw even greater enhancements. Some of the more terrifying creatures even developed intelligence!”

“In September of 2015, starting with an attack from the endless creatures of the oceans, countless birds and beasts that had transformed into ‘monsters’ began assaulting human settlements!”

“It was bloody, and it was madness!”

“In the ensuing war between humans and monsters, humanity was shocked to discover that our once-proud advanced weaponry was only effective against lesser monsters. The truly formidable birds and beasts were impervious to bullets and bombs. Even bullets couldn’t penetrate their scales, and missiles were evaded with their lightning-fast reflexes.”

“Even when nuclear weapons were used, we were shocked to find...”

“The monsters’ defenses were so strong that only those within the nuclear blast’s core area perished en masse, while others in the outer areas survived. The power of nuclear weapons was not as decisive as humanity had imagined. Although a batch of monsters died, the radiation gave birth to even more terrifying creatures, the most famous being the dreadful ‘Blood Demon Sky Wolf.’ This creature had the power of flight and slaughtered more than a million humans. Humanity finally realized...that nuclear radiation could induce further mutations in certain monsters, creating incredibly fearsome entities.”

“While there were terrifying creatures among the monsters, powerful humans also emerged! The Blood Demon Sky Wolf was finally injured and driven off by a flying human super-warrior, known today as the second-ranked ‘Thunder God.’”

“These powerful individuals saved countless civilians at critical moments, assisting the military in resisting the monster hordes. Many touching stories of courage emerged during this time.”

“Scientists, led by Claude Sena, invented an alloy tougher than diamond—Claude Alloy—using materials from monster corpses and the ‘Blue Gold’ metal found on the moon. This allowed human warriors to wield weapons that could slice through the monsters’ hides and scales.”

The history Luo Feng read was vivid in his mind.

“Throughout the war, many cities were destroyed.”

“In the heart of the Chinese mainland, six major bases were quickly constructed, and large populations migrated there. As for human super-warriors, China and India, with their traditions in martial arts and yoga, had the largest numbers. The U.S., the EU, and Russia led in technological advancements.”

“Due to the countless monsters in the oceans, almost every island nation perished!”

“Even now, the oceans remain the monsters’ territory.”

“By the end of the war, only five nations—China, India, the U.S., the EU, and Russia—remained intact. Other countries had fractured. At this crucial moment, these five superpowers formed the Earth Alliance, creating a joint army to support humanity’s numerous bases worldwide.”

“The war began in September 2015, and with the successful development of the ultra-high-frequency laser cannon in March 2021, capable of killing several S-class and two SS-class monsters, the large-scale conflict between monsters and humans finally came to an end.”

Luo Feng sighed.

It had been a terrifying five-and-a-half-year war, the most brutal in history! Nearly a billion humans had died. Only the five superpowers maintained national institutions, while survivors from all other countries merged into various human bases.

Today—

Humanity held the advantage on land. But in the oceans, the monsters still ruled!

“From 2013 to 2021, those eight years marked humanity’s great period of Nirvana!” Luo Feng murmured as he sat on the couch.

Ding—ding—ding—ding—ding—

The sound of the clock echoed in the room.

The wall clock had struck five; it was already five in the evening.

“The Great Nirvana.” Luo Hua, his younger brother, sighed, “Brother, to be honest, I can hardly imagine that before the Nirvana period, there were over two hundred countries in the world. And the global population? Only about seven billion. Some small countries were so tiny that one powerful monster could’ve wiped them out.”

Luo Feng nodded. “That’s why, today, the world has five major countries and twenty-three city-states.”

The Earth now had five superpowers—China, India, the U.S., the EU, and Russia—and twenty-three city-states spread across regions like South America and Africa!

China had six major bases, now called city-states!

Luo Feng’s home was in Yi’an District of Yangzhou City, one of Jiangnan City’s eight satellite cities.

Jiangnan City had a population of nearly two hundred million, and the population of Yangzhou City alone exceeded ten million. The base had primarily formed from people migrating from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, with some from Anhui.

“So distant,” said his brother Luo Hua, looking at the clock on the wall. “It’s already 2056. The Nirvana period ended over thirty years ago. Society has become much stronger, with almost everyone training at martial arts halls. Human society has progressed considerably in these thirty years.”

Luo Feng nodded.

In those thirty years, the number of strong warriors had increased, and technology had advanced. Yet, the monsters also continued to evolve, with many new threats emerging.

※※※※※※

The door clicked open, and a middle-aged couple stepped inside. The man’s clothes were soaked in sweat, with stains of paint and other substances, and he looked exhausted. The woman, short in height, carried a basket of groceries with vegetables and meat.

“Dad, Mom.” Luo Feng stood up. This was his father and mother.

His father, Luo Hongguo, and his mother, Gong Xinlan.

“Don’t mind us, Xiao Feng. You keep studying.” Luo Hongguo chuckled, well aware of the importance of his son’s studies with the college entrance exams approaching.

Seeing the large plastic cup of cool water on the table, Luo Hongguo felt warmth in his heart. Every time he came home, there was water ready for him. He took the cup and downed it in one gulp, sighing in satisfaction.

“Go take a shower; look at all that sweat,” his mother, Gong Xinlan, teased him with a smile.

“Haha!” Luo Hongguo laughed and grabbed his change of clothes, heading toward their small but cherished bathroom.

Gong Xinlan looked at her two sons with a smile. “Xiao Feng, Xiao Hua, I’m making braised pork for dinner!”

“My favorite!” Luo Hua cheered.

Luo Feng couldn’t help but smile, watching his mother tying on her apron as she began cooking. He knew she always bought ingredients in the late afternoon when prices were cheaper, even if the produce wasn’t as fresh. Glancing at the bathroom, Luo Feng thought, “I’ll work hard to earn the ‘Warrior’ title soon, so Mom doesn’t have to buy discounted vegetables every evening, and Dad won’t have to keep doing tough, tiring jobs.”

Deep in his heart—

Luo Feng longed to let his parents rest and enjoy life.

“Xiao Feng.” Luo Hongguo, freshly showered, walked over. “I wanted to discuss something with you.”

“What is it?” Luo Feng looked at his father.

Luo Hongguo smiled gently, “Xiao Feng, I’ve never asked you before, but have you thought about what you’ll do after high school? Could you share your plans with me?” He rarely discussed such things with his son, not wanting to burden him with additional pressure. He knew how hard Luo Feng worked and how well he did in everything he undertook.

When Luo Hongguo asked this, his wife, Gong Xinlan, slowed her movements in the kitchen, both parents deeply concerned about their son’s future.

“Dad, this is what I’ve been thinking,” Luo Feng began, “With my grades, I should have no trouble getting into Jiangnan’s First Military Academy. I’ve already achieved the rank of ‘Senior Student’ at the martial arts hall, so if I get into the academy, I’ll be trained as an officer. You and Mom could live in the military family quarters.”

Enlisting came with various ranks and benefits.

Joining the army has different levels.

The country is indeed recruiting soldiers, but regular soldiers don’t receive major benefits. However, someone as young as Luo Feng, who’s already a “senior martial arts academy student” and aiming for “Jiangnan’s top military academy,” is essentially excelling both academically and physically. The country is bound to prioritize his development and would even allocate a home directly in the military district’s residential quarters for officer families.

The homes for officers’ families are easily ten or even a hundred times better than these rental apartments.

“What if you don’t get into Jiangnan’s top military academy?” Luo Hongguo asked. “Feng, don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

“There are two key military academies in Jiangnan. Even if I perform poorly on the entrance exams and miss the first academy, getting into the second is definitely no problem.” Luo Feng was confident in his scores; he consistently scored about 50 points above the university cut-off line, and the second military academy only required meeting that line.

Now, entrance exams only have two levels, undergraduate and vocational, with a single threshold score. Scoring above the threshold meant going to university; below it meant vocational school.

“And at the second academy, with the senior martial arts academy student status alone, I’d still be groomed as an officer. The benefits aren’t much different.” Luo Feng grinned.

Getting into university is something only two out of ten can achieve. But, among high school students, earning the title of “senior martial arts academy student” is something only one in a thousand can accomplish.

“As long as you’re confident,” Luo Hongguo nodded. “Just remember, Feng, don’t push yourself too hard. Your mother and I only want a stable life.”

“No worries,” Luo Feng chuckled. “I’m not under any pressure. Young people should be ambitious.”

Though he said that, Luo Feng thought to himself, *Dad, Mom, little brother—once I finish the entrance exams, you’ll all soon live a much better life. Once I gain the title of ‘Warrior,’ you won’t need to do exhausting work anymore.*

“Hurry and get the plates; dinner’s ready!” Gong Xinlan called with a smile.

“Got it!” Father Luo Hongguo smiled, standing up to get the plates.

“These veggies smell great.” Luo Feng leaned over to the soup pot to take a whiff and helped set the table.

“I smell braised pork—wow!” Little brother Luo Hua cheered, wheeling his chair closer to the table.

The family of four, sharing a joyful meal together.