Chapter 0001: The Coming of the Apocalypse
At this moment, the lake seemed to awaken from a dream, prompting a hurried rise as Zhou Yulong, who was muttering to himself, began to run down the mountain.
The boy known as Dragon Brother smiled and said, "You little brat don't know anything. Today is the date of the apocalypse predicted by the Mayans. Have you forgotten that Hollywood blockbuster from four years ago? They were talking about a flood. We should find a higher place to be safe..."
Zhou Yulong suddenly exclaimed: "Damn, this isn't right! Why is this meteor getting lower and lower..."
This tall boy is named Zhou Yulong, a local from Changsha. He has firmly believed since childhood that he possesses the ability to see spirits, claiming to have encountered countless ghosts in his youth. Having graduated over two years ago, he has taken on a few sporadic jobs, but they have all been inconsistent. Now, he has resigned and is staying at home, spending his days watching various supernatural horror films, making him a typical homebody. If it weren't for his firm belief in the 2012 apocalypse legend, he wouldn't have dragged his close friend to hike early in the morning.
"Hoo! I finally made it to the top!" A slightly chubby tall boy stood at the summit of Yuelu Mountain, panting as he took a deep breath.
However, it was unclear how much time had passed, when suddenly a scream echoed from the movie, presumably from an unknown extra who had been bitten. In a fit of anger, he cursed, "Damn movie!" Then, feeling too lazy to get up and turn off the film, he covered his head with the blanket. The surroundings fell silent once more. He was simply too tired today. Before long, a faint snoring could be heard from beneath the blanket.
Looking at his dazed friend beside him, Zhou Yulong quickly pulled him and said: "Stop daydreaming, hurry down the mountain. We need to ride back and see how things are at home. The phone lines are down, it's driving me crazy. Damn it, movies are really unreliable. They said there would be a flood, but instead, we got a meteorite. It's too far off..."
December 21, 2012, Changsha City
After a while, the two of them arrived breathless at the foot of the mountain. Without having time to rest, they hurriedly mounted their electric scooters and began their journey home.
Bored, Zhou Yulong opened the horror movie "Zombieland" that he had previously downloaded on his computer, eating tasteless instant noodles while watching the same scenes he had seen N times before. After finishing the noodles, Zhou Yulong lay on his bed, easing the fatigue from the next day's mountain climbing and running around, and began to ponder all the events of the day. He tried to make a phone call again, only to find it still could not be connected. He muttered to himself, "Fortunately, it was just a meteorite falling. I wonder how many people died?" After finishing the instant noodles, Zhou Yulong lay on his bed, easing the fatigue from the next day's mountain climbing and running around, and began to ponder all the events of the day. He tried to make a phone call again, only to find it still could not be connected. He muttered to himself, "Fortunately, it was just a meteorite falling. I wonder how many people died?" Sigh, one cannot blame society for this, Amitabha, let us pray for them. Now that things outside have stabilized, it is estimated that I can go online tomorrow, and then I will know what exactly happened..." He then turned over, and amidst the terrifying screams from the movie, he fell into a deep sleep... Sigh, one cannot blame society for this, Amitabha, let us pray for them. Now that things outside have stabilized, it is estimated that I can go online tomorrow, and then I will know what exactly happened..." He then turned over, and amidst the terrifying screams from the movie, he fell into a deep sleep...
The two brothers stood on the mountaintop, horrified as they watched the Star City engulfed in flames. After a long while, they finally regained their senses. Although Zhou Yulong had claimed to believe in the apocalypse, it was merely hearsay; witnessing it firsthand left his mind as blank as a lake. After some time, he snapped back to reality and hurriedly picked up his phone to call his uncle in the city, only to find, just like in all horror movies, that the phone had no signal at all
Zhou Yulong's family lives next to the Martyrs' Park in Hunan. Originally, they had a two-story private house. After his parents made some money from a small business, they demolished the original two-story house and rebuilt it into a five-story building with a rooftop. They live on the fifth floor and rent out the first to fourth floors. However, the house is currently being renovated, so now only his family occupies the upper floors. Recently, his parents won a travel flash sale over the phone and happily went to Bali for a romantic getaway, leaving him at home to take care of the house and the books. Usually, when he wakes up, he either makes some instant noodles or orders takeout. When he feels bored, he watches horror movies or plays horror games, and he enjoys the leisure. After returning home, he locked the main door downstairs, went back to his room, made a bowl of noodles, and took a shower. When he opened his computer, he found that the broadband was not connecting, probably damaged by a meteorite. Listening to the noisy sounds outside, he impatiently closed the window. ... The world became quiet ...
The short boy chuckled foolishly at this remark and muttered, "While others are flooded all the way to Tibet, what good does it do for you to climb Yuelu Mountain..." However, based on years of experience with this close friend, he would never dare to say such a thing in front of him. This friend had demonstrated through his actions what it means that those who wield pens cannot compete with those who wield guns. Although violence cannot teach the truth, it can certainly teach the carrier of that truth. He would never dare to say this in front of him, as this friend had shown him through his actions what it means that those who wield pens cannot compete with those who wield guns. Although violence cannot teach the truth, it can certainly teach the carrier of that truth.
However, what he does not know is that the end of the world has only just begun
In his sleep, Zhou Yulong faintly heard the screams from the movie, experiencing a multitude of bizarre dreams. At one moment, he dreamed of becoming Superman, at another, he was being chased by a horde of zombies from the film, and then he found himself wielding a heavy machine gun with infinite bullets from the Resident Evil game, sweeping through the zombies. In short, the myriad of strange and fantastical dreams left him restless until, presumably when the movie ended and the surroundings fell silent, he finally sank into a deep sleep.
"Brother Long, how could you think of climbing a mountain at this time? Isn't that just overindulging? And you want to drag me along too, I have nothing but disdain for you..." A short boy emerged from the bushes behind the tall boy, also panting. At that moment, he was sitting on a stone bench by the roadside, playing on his phone while complaining with disdain.
Zhou Yulong and Hubo parted ways after entering the city. Hubo returned to his home, while Zhou Yulong initially intended to visit his uncle's house. However, traffic control had already been implemented on the road, so he could only helplessly avoid the riot police and ride his bike home.
The urban area is even more chaotic than what was seen upon returning, with police forces and local military units deployed. The darker side of human nature appears even more malevolent as the apocalypse approaches, with looting, brawls, and violent incidents occurring everywhere. However, they have forgotten that the great people's army is still present. The police stations and local garrisons that have not been struck by meteorites quickly dispatched riot control teams, beginning to clear and suppress the chaos with high-pressure water cannons, and the noisy, tumultuous streets gradually began to calm down. However, they have forgotten that the great people's army is still present. The police stations and local garrisons that have not been struck by meteorites quickly dispatched riot control teams, beginning to clear and suppress the chaos with high-pressure water cannons, and the noisy, tumultuous streets gradually began to calm down.
The road back to the city has become exceptionally chaotic, and at this moment, there is no traffic control in place. Vehicles colliding, traffic jams, arguments, and fights are emerging one after another, resembling a ukiyo-e painting that highlights the chaotic side of human nature. Fortunately, both individuals are riding electric bikes, allowing them to weave through the narrow gaps in the traffic. After approximately thirty minutes, they safely arrived in the city.
While these two were resting, a few twinkling stars suddenly floated across the sky. The sharp-eyed Zhou Yulong quickly pulled his close friend and exclaimed, "Look at the lake, quickly! It's a meteor shower. So many meteors!"
At that moment, the meteor shower fell lower and lower in the astonished gazes of the two, heading towards the urban area... After a while, a series of loud explosions erupted, filling the entire Star City with smoke and flames. Even on Yuelu Mountain, one could hear the continuous sounds of explosions and the blaring of car horns and alarms.
Zhou Yulong and Hupo were so frightened that they fell to the ground, and for a moment, the two did not know what to say. They could only stare blankly at the flames and smoke that had turned the sky red, remaining silent.
At this moment, the lake also put down its phone, raised its head, and gazed at the countless shooting stars streaking across the sky, exclaiming: "Indeed, this is my first time witnessing a meteor shower, it's so beautiful. But why is there a meteor shower so early in the morning? The weather forecast didn't mention it. Moreover, how can it be so clearly visible during the day..."
On December 21, 2012, at 8:25 AM, the end of the world arrived