I'm Building a Legion, Starting by Taking Them In

The horizon was turning pale as Lu Chen carried No. 09 on his back and supported Old Zhou with one hand, picking his way deeper into the ruins.

The air reeked of acrid burning, making them nauseous. Shards of glass crunched underfoot now and then, the sound enough to make their scalps tingle.

"Phew... phew... Hey, young man, where are we going?" Old Zhou panted, feeling as though his lungs were about to burst. He couldn't help complaining.

Lu Chen didn't look back. He gazed resolutely into the distance, already having made up his mind. What I want isn't just power... but people who can control their own destiny.

He could feel No. 09's body growing hotter and hotter. He had to find somewhere for her to rest properly, and soon.

Besides, Old Zhou, this "walking encyclopedia," needed a relatively safe environment to be more useful.

After about half an hour of walking, a dilapidated shopping mall appeared before them.

Most of the mall's outer walls had collapsed, exposing dark, gaping windows like the open maws of monsters, ready to devour everything at any moment.

"This is the place," Lu Chen said, quickening his pace toward the mall.

"It's better than sleeping out in the wilderness. At least it'll keep the wind off."

He decided to settle here for the time being and make a proper plan for the future.

After all, if he wanted to survive in this apocalypse, brute courage alone wouldn't cut it. He needed brains too.

"Say... are you really going to take an old man like me along?" Old Zhou looked at the dilapidated mall, his face full of disdain, but he still followed close behind Lu Chen.

The corners of Lu Chen's mouth lifted in a meaningful smile. "Of course, old man. You're worth far more than you imagine."

"Wait, I think I heard something." Lu Chen suddenly stopped. His keen hearing had picked up an unusual sound.

He pricked up his ears and listened carefully. The sound seemed to be coming from inside the mall.

Was there... something inside?

The mall's interior was a mess. Shelves had toppled, merchandise lay scattered across the floor, and the dust was thick enough to bury their ankles.

A rotting stench filled the air, making them want to vomit.

Lu Chen walked carefully in front, No. 09 slumped on his back and moaning in pain. Old Zhou followed close behind, clutching an iron bar he had picked up from who knew where and looking around nervously.

"Hey, young man, are you sure it's safe here? Why does it feel so creepy...?" Old Zhou's voice trembled slightly.

Lu Chen didn't answer. He could sense that there were not only zombies in the mall, but some other "things" as well.

Suddenly, a dark figure sprang out of a corner, lunging straight at Lu Chen's face.

Lu Chen had been prepared. He sidestepped the figure's attack and kicked it in the belly.

"Awoo!"

The dark figure let out a miserable yelp and flew backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

Only then did Lu Chen get a clear look at it. It was a mutant stray dog, its body covered in pustules and its eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

"What the hell is that?" Old Zhou jumped in fright, nearly dropping his iron bar.

Lu Chen ignored Old Zhou. He walked up to the mutant stray dog and crouched down to examine it closely.

"Interesting."

He discovered that a faint energy fluctuation was coming from the mutant stray dog's body.

Copy.

Lu Chen silently gave the command, and SSS-rank [Beast Instinct] instantly took effect.

He felt his five senses sharpen severalfold in an instant, everything around him becoming incomparably clear.

The slightest stir of wind or grass, dust drifting through the air-even the minute movement of molecules in the air couldn't escape his perception.

"This feels amazing!"

Lu Chen couldn't help exclaiming.

With [Beast Instinct], he had a much better grasp of the situation in the mall.

There weren't many zombies, only a dozen or so, but they were all hiding in dark corners, waiting for a chance to strike.

Besides those, there were other mutant creatures, such as mutant rats and mutant cockroaches. They weren't strong, but there were so many of them that they were a considerable nuisance.

It looks like this place isn't safe. We need to find somewhere to settle down quickly.

That was what Lu Chen thought.

He lifted No. 09 onto his back, supported Old Zhou, and continued deeper into the mall.

Before long, they came to a relatively intact office.

The office doors and windows were shut tight, and the interior was fairly clean and tidy, though a faint musty smell hung in the air.

"This will do."

Lu Chen laid No. 09 on a desk, then began checking the room.

Old Zhou put down his iron bar and began helping Lu Chen tidy up the room.

"Young man, there's a desk here. It looks pretty good."

Old Zhou pointed to a desk in the corner.

Lu Chen walked over and found some documents and files on it.

He casually picked up a document and saw the words "Zhao Biotechnology" written on it.

"Zhao Biotechnology?"

Lu Chen frowned, remembering what Tang Xue had said before she left.

"Professor Zhao won't let you get away with this."

Could Zhao Biotechnology be Professor Zhao's company?

Lu Chen continued leafing through the documents on the desk and found that they all concerned biological research. The title of one document caught his attention.

"Research report on Talent Fusion Technology."

Lu Chen hurriedly opened the document and began reading it carefully.

The document gave a detailed account of the principles and experimental procedures behind Talent Fusion Technology, along with experimental data and conclusions.

"Talent fusion... it really can be done!"

The more Lu Chen read, the more astonished he became. He hadn't expected anyone in this world to have actually developed such a crazy technology.

He handed the document to Old Zhou. "Old man, take a look at this."

Old Zhou took the document, put on his reading glasses, and began reading carefully.

"This... this is simply unbelievable!"

The more Old Zhou read, the more excited he became. His hands even began to tremble.

"If this research report is real, then humanity's future will undergo earthshaking changes!"

Lu Chen nodded. "I think so too."

"Wait, there's an experimental record here too."

Old Zhou suddenly pointed to a line of small print at the end of the document.

Lu Chen leaned over and saw that it read: "Test subject No. 09, talent fusion success rate: 99%."

"No. 09!"

Lu Chen's expression changed. He hurried over to No. 09 and carefully examined her body.

"She actually has two different talents in her body!"

Lu Chen was shocked to discover that, besides No. 09's original Frost Manipulation talent, she also had a Flame Manipulation talent.

Could she be Professor Zhao's talent fusion test subject?

Lu Chen wondered to himself.

"That's terrifying. This Professor Zhao is a madman!"

Old Zhou exclaimed.

"But... in theory, if two talents can be fused, couldn't even more talents be fused as well?"

Old Zhou suddenly proposed a bold idea.

Lu Chen's eyes lit up. "That's right!" he said excitedly. "In theory, as long as there are enough talents, they can be fused endlessly, until the result is an omnipotent being!"

"A hundred thousand SSS-rank talents stacked together... sss!"

Old Zhou sucked in a sharp breath, feeling as though his head was about to explode.

"Young man, if you can really do that, you'll become the most powerful being in this world!"

Old Zhou said excitedly.

The corners of Lu Chen's mouth rose in a confident smile. "Of course. My goal isn't just to become the most powerful being, but to become... a god above gods!"

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the mall.

"Someone's coming!"

Lu Chen's expression changed. He hurried to the window and looked outside.

A group of people was heading toward the mall, carrying all kinds of weapons and looking vicious.

"They're from the Black Wolf Gang!"

Lu Chen recognized them at a glance.

The Black Wolf Gang was a small local gang that made its living through robbery and looting and committed every kind of evil.

While Lu Chen was on the run, he had clashed with them before and killed quite a few of their men.

He hadn't expected them to have followed him here.

"Looks like they're here for revenge."

"Young man, what do we do?" Old Zhou asked, a little nervous.

Lu Chen sneered. "What's there to be afraid of? They're just a few lackeys. I'll kill however many come!"

He turned to Old Zhou. "Old man, stay here and take good care of No. 09. I'll go deal with them."

With that, Lu Chen picked up a steel pipe and strode out of the mall.

At the entrance, the Black Wolf Gang had already surrounded the place.

"Lu Chen, get the hell out here!"

A tall, burly man stood in the middle of the crowd and shouted into the mall.

He was Li Gou'er, the leader of the Black Wolf Gang.

"Well, well, if it isn't Boss Li. Didn't I beat you enough last time? You still dare come looking for trouble?"

Lu Chen walked slowly out of the mall with a mocking smile on his face.

"Lu Chen, don't get cocky! Today's the day you die!"

Li Gou'er roared and charged at Lu Chen, brandishing the machete in his hand.

"Brothers, get him! Hack him to death!"

At Li Gou'er's command, the Black Wolf Gang members raised their weapons and charged at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen sneered and dodged Li Gou'er's attack in a flash, then kicked him in the belly.

Li Gou'er screamed and flew backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

Lu Chen gave him no chance to catch his breath. He rushed forward, raised the steel pipe in his hand, and smashed it viciously down at Li Gou'er's head.

"Bang!"

A muffled impact rang out. Li Gou'er's head burst open, spraying blood everywhere.

"Pathetic."

Lu Chen spoke coldly.

The Black Wolf Gang members were stunned with fright when they saw Lu Chen kill Li Gou'er in a single blow.

They hadn't expected Lu Chen to be so formidable that even their boss was no match for him.

"Don't be scared! Let's attack together! He's alone, so there's no way he can beat us!"

One of the bolder men shouted.

With him leading the way, the Black Wolf Gang members charged at Lu Chen again.

Lu Chen sneered and darted through the crowd like lightning, swinging his steel pipe again and again. Every swing claimed a life.

Screams and wails rang out without end.

In just a few minutes, all the Black Wolf Gang members lay on the ground, some dead and some wounded. Not one was able to stand.

"A bunch of trash."

Lu Chen spoke disdainfully.

He walked over to Li Gou'er's corpse, crouched down, and began searching him.

Soon, he found a wallet.

Opening it, Lu Chen found some money and a photograph inside.

In the photograph, Li Gou'er had his arm around a young, beautiful woman and was smiling happily.

"So this guy had a family too."

He put the photograph back in the wallet, then stood up and headed toward the mall.

Just then, a dark figure suddenly sprang out from the side and lunged at Lu Chen.

Only then did Lu Chen see clearly that it was Li Gou'er.

"You... you're not dead!"

Lu Chen spoke in surprise.

"Cough, cough... Lu Chen, don't... don't get cocky. I... I won't let you get away with this!"

Li Gou'er struggled up from the ground and spoke viciously.

"Oh? Is that so? Then get up and hit me."

Lu Chen spoke mockingly.

Li Gou'er gritted his teeth and tried to stand, but his body trembled uncontrollably, and he couldn't get to his feet.

"Hmph, at least you know your place."

Lu Chen sneered, turned, and started to leave.

Just then, Li Gou'er suddenly picked up a dagger from the ground and stabbed at Lu Chen's back.

"Watch out!"

Old Zhou's voice came from inside the mall.

Lu Chen was startled by Old Zhou's shout and hurriedly turned to dodge.

But Li Gou'er's dagger still struck him in the shoulder.

"Argh!"

Lu Chen sucked in a sharp breath. Clutching his shoulder, he glared at Li Gou'er.

"How dare you ambush me!"

Lu Chen roared.

"Heh heh... All's fair in war, Lu Chen. Even if I die today, I'll take you down with me!"

Li Gou'er laughed wildly.

"You're asking for death!"

Furious, Lu Chen lunged toward Li Gou'er and sent him flying with a kick.

Li Gou'er slammed into the ground, blood pouring from his mouth. He clearly wasn't going to survive.

"Lu Chen, I'll... I'll be waiting for you down below..."

With those words, Li Gou'er breathed his last.

Lu Chen walked over to Li Gou'er's corpse and searched him, finding a key.

"What's this?"

Lu Chen looked at the key in his hand, puzzled.

He weighed the key in his hand, then headed for the shopping mall.

Back at the mall, Lu Chen handed the key to Old Zhou. "Old man, take a look. What kind of key is this?"

Old Zhou took the key and examined it closely.

"This looks like... a safe key."

Old Zhou spoke.

"A safe?"

Lu Chen frowned, recalling a document he had seen among Zhao Biotechnology's files.

The document said that Zhao Biotechnology had a secret laboratory in the mall, where it kept important experimental data and documents.

"Could this be the key to the laboratory's safe?"

He hurried deeper into the mall and began searching everywhere.

Before long, he found a safe in a hidden room.

Lu Chen inserted the key into the lock and gave it a gentle turn.

The safe unlocked with a click.

Lu Chen opened the safe and found some documents and a metal case inside.

He picked up one of the documents and saw the words "Talent Compatibility System Research Report" written on it.

"The Talent Compatibility System?"

Lu Chen looked at the document in his hand, puzzled.

He opened the document and read it carefully.

"The Talent Compatibility System can detect whether the human body contains the potential for a particular talent. By analyzing a person's genes, it can accurately determine whether that person has the potential to awaken a particular talent."

The more Lu Chen read, the more astonished he became. He hadn't expected such a miraculous system to exist in this world.

With this system, he could easily find people with talent potential and train them into powerful awakened ones.

"With this system, my Godslaying Legion will become even stronger!"

Lu Chen said excitedly.

He put the document away and opened the metal case.

Inside were some reagents and instruments that looked highly sophisticated.

"These must be the equipment needed for the Talent Compatibility System."

He put the case away and left the room.

"Young man, did you find anything good?"

Old Zhou asked curiously.

Lu Chen smiled. "I found some good things. With these, our plan can finally begin."

"What plan?"

Old Zhou asked, puzzled.

Lu Chen didn't answer. He smiled mysteriously and said, "Wait until tonight, and you'll find out."

Time flew, and night fell in the blink of an eye.

Lu Chen stood on the mall's top floor, looking down at the ruins below.

"Starting today, I'm going to build a legion of my own, a legion that can slay gods!"

Lu Chen's voice echoed through the night sky.

He turned to look at Li Gou'er and Old Zhou behind him. "I want you to help me find people with talent potential and bring them here. I'll give them power and make them my warriors!"

"The Godslaying Legion... Sounds good." Li Gou'er grinned, showing a row of pearly white teeth.

"Will this plan... work?" Old Zhou asked worriedly.

"There's no question of whether it'll work. As long as we have enough power, we can do anything!"

Lu Chen declared domineeringly.

He walked over to Old Zhou and patted his shoulder. "I believe in you, old man. You can definitely help me carry out this plan."

Old Zhou took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll do my best."

Lu Chen smiled in satisfaction, then turned to Li Gou'er. "Li Gou'er, you're in charge of recruiting people. Find those with talent potential as quickly as you can. The more, the better!"

"No problem! Leave it to me!" Li Gou'er said, thumping his chest.

Lu Chen nodded, then pulled a key from his pocket and handed it to Li Gou'er. "This is the key to the laboratory. Take it. From now on, that place is your territory."

Li Gou'er took the key, excitement spreading across his face. "Thank you, boss!"

"All right, get to work. Remember, we don't have much time. We have to carry out this plan as soon as possible!"

Lu Chen said.

Li Gou'er and Old Zhou nodded, then turned and left.

Lu Chen stood on the mall's top floor, gazing at the night sky in the distance, his heart full of anticipation.

He believed that as long as he had enough power, he could change the fate of this world.

"Godslaying Legion... here I come!"

Lu Chen said quietly.

He came down from the mall's top floor and found Old Zhou.

Old Zhou was busy working on a machine.

"Young man, this Talent Compatibility System is even more sophisticated than I imagined. I need some time to study it."

Lu Chen nodded in understanding.

"By the way, young man, I used the database you provided to devise a simple testing method. It's not as precise as the system, but it should be fairly accurate."

As he spoke, Old Zhou pointed at a homeless man in the corner. "How about we try it out on him first?"

Lu Chen looked where Old Zhou was pointing and saw a ragged homeless man curled up in the corner, trembling.

"He'll do."

Lu Chen walked over to the homeless man and crouched down. "Hey, what's your name?"

The homeless man raised his head and looked at Lu Chen in terror. "I... my name is... A... A Gui," he stammered.

"A Gui? Heh, nice name."

Lu Chen smiled, then pulled a dagger from his pocket and handed it to A Gui. "A Gui, do me a favor. If you stab me with this dagger, I'll give you a million. What do you say?"

A Gui froze at Lu Chen's words.

He looked at Lu Chen in disbelief. "D-do you mean it?"

Lu Chen nodded. "Of course I do. If you dare to stab me, the million is yours."

A Gui swallowed, looking hesitantly at the dagger in his hand.

A million was an astronomical sum to him.

With that million, he could leave his life on the streets behind and live happily.

But he still couldn't quite bring himself to stab someone with a dagger.

Seeing A Gui's hesitation, Lu Chen sneered inwardly.

He wasn't just testing whether A Gui had talent potential; he was also testing his character.

"What, you don't dare? Looks like you're nothing special after all."

A Gui's expression changed at Lu Chen's words. He gritted his teeth and said, "Who says I don't dare? I'll do it!"

With that, A Gui suddenly raised the dagger and stabbed at Lu Chen's chest.

Just as the dagger was about to strike, Lu Chen suddenly reached out and grabbed A Gui's wrist.

"Heh, just as I expected. You're still too kind. You're not suited to me."

Lu Chen sneered.

A Gui's expression changed. He hurriedly fell to his knees and kowtowed to Lu Chen. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was wrong. I shouldn't have stabbed you. Please let me go."

Lu Chen ignored A Gui's pleas. He pulled A Gui to his feet and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Lu Chen spoke silently in his mind.

[Copy successful. Obtained E-rank talent: Wind Element Affinity.]

[Talent automatically upgraded to SSS-rank Wind Element Control.]

Lu Chen felt a powerful force suddenly appear inside his body.

He closed his eyes and sensed the power, feeling as though he could control everything about the wind.

"It really works!"

He opened his eyes and looked at A Gui. "A Gui, thank you. You've done me a great favor. In return, I'll give you a chance, a chance to change your fate."

A Gui looked at Lu Chen in confusion.

"From today onward, you belong to me. I'll give you power and make you a powerful awakened one. Are you willing?"

Lu Chen asked.

A Gui grew excited at Lu Chen's words. He hurriedly knelt and kowtowed to him. "I'm willing! I'm willing! Thank you, boss! Thank you, boss!"

Lu Chen nodded, then turned to Old Zhou. "Old man, come over here and test A Gui's talent compatibility. See what kind of talent suits him."

Old Zhou nodded, then walked over to A Gui and began testing him.

Before long, the results were ready.

"Young man, A Gui actually has the SSS-rank Wind Element Control talent. It's incredible!"

Old Zhou said in shock.

A satisfied smile appeared on Lu Chen's face when he heard Old Zhou.

"Looks like my luck is pretty good. I picked someone at random and found an awakened one with an SSS-rank talent."

He walked over to A Gui and patted his shoulder. "A Gui, from today on, you're my first subordinate. Work hard, and I won't treat you poorly in the future."

A Gui said excitedly, "Don't worry, boss. I'll work hard and never let you down!"

Lu Chen nodded, then turned to Old Zhou. "Old man, what should we do next?"

Old Zhou pondered for a moment. "Young man, I think we should leave here as soon as possible. Professor Zhao won't let this go. He has something even more terrifying at his disposal..."

"Apocalypse: SSSSSS-rank copying, plundering a god-tier talent at the start"

Chapter 16: I'm building a legion, starting with recruitment

"You bastard, lift your head!"

Lu Chen planted a foot on Li Gou'er's face. His D-rank Hardened Skin was as fragile as paper before Lu Chen's body, which was comparable to a divine artifact.

Tears and snot streamed down Li Gou'er's face. His nose was probably broken. With a mournful expression and a quaver in his voice, he said, "Master Chen, I really didn't know that woman was yours... Even if you gave me ten times the guts, I wouldn't dare touch her!"

"Hmph. It had better be true."

Lu Chen lifted his foot, silently activating his Absolute Control talent.

A small fry like Li Gou'er couldn't even tell he was already under Mind Control. He thought Lu Chen had shown him great mercy and spared his life.

"From today on, you're part of my Godslaying Legion," Lu Chen said flatly.

Li Gou'er froze, then was overjoyed. "The Godslaying Legion? Master Chen, you're building a legion? I, Li Gou'er, don't have many skills, but I'm a professional when it comes to fighting and killing! From now on, I'm your dog. Point me anywhere and I'll attack!"

Lu Chen nodded in satisfaction. What he intended to build was no ordinary survivor organization.

"The legion has no use for trash." Lu Chen glanced at him. "Bring me everyone you know who's capable. Within three days, I want to see a team that can handle a tough fight."

"No problem! I'll get it done!" Li Gou'er scrambled away to gather his old followers.

Having dealt with Li Gou'er, Lu Chen turned his gaze to Old Zhou, who was trembling in the corner.

The former base's chief scientist now looked even more down-and-out than an ordinary old man.

"Dr. Zhou, come here." Lu Chen's voice held a hint of authority.

Old Zhou approached shakily, his eyes full of fear behind his lenses. "Mr. Lu... what can I do for you?"

"I wouldn't call it that. This is just cooperation." Lu Chen smiled. "I think you know your own value very well."

Of course Old Zhou knew. In the apocalypse, scientists were even rarer than people with SSS-rank talents!

"I... I know some of the base's secrets, and I have some unfinished research..." Old Zhou said cautiously.

Lu Chen waved a hand. "I'm not interested in those. I only want to know what you can do for my Godslaying Legion."

Old Zhou's

Lu Chen didn't rush him, waiting quietly.

A moment later, Old Zhou seemed to make up his mind. He raised his head, a hint of madness in his eyes. "I can research zombies! I can make more powerful weapons! I can... I can transform humans into more perfect creatures!"

Lu Chen smiled. This was exactly the kind of mad scientist he wanted.

"Very good." Lu Chen nodded in satisfaction. "From today on, you're the Godslaying Legion's chief scientist. I'll cover all your research funding. But remember, I have no use for failures."

"Absolutely not! I promise!" Old Zhou trembled all over with excitement.

With Li Gou'er and Old Zhou recruited, Lu Chen's Godslaying Legion had finally begun to take shape.

One was in charge of combat, the other scientific research. Next, he needed more talented people...