I Want Geniuses

At the end of the forest path, a frail figure was pressed tight against a cold rock, trembling like a frightened rabbit.

The corners of Lu Chen's mouth curved up almost imperceptibly. The little guy was pretty good at hiding.

His SSS-rank [Hawk Eye] had long since given him a clear view of the boy. Fear and unease filled his grimy little face, making him look just like a lamb that had wandered into a pack of wolves.

"Go on, calm that little quail down." Lu Chen gestured with his chin to Xiaobai beside him, a teasing note in his voice.

Xiaobai obediently nodded, trotted over to the rock, and said something in a soft voice.

Before long, the frail figure finally shuffled out.

He was a boy who looked no more than fourteen or fifteen, skinny as a rail and dressed in rags. His face was covered in dirt, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, full of a wariness and stubbornness beyond his years.

"His name is A Jie. His parents died early in the apocalypse, and he's been wandering alone ever since," Xiaobai said softly after returning.

Lu Chen studied the boy before him without betraying any emotion. Yeah, he really was skinny. A gust of wind looked like it could knock him over.

But Lu Chen wasn't some bleeding heart who would take in any stray he came across.

What had truly caught his attention was the faint but unmistakable fluctuation of B-rank [Spatial Perception] coming from A Jie.

System, copy his talent! Lu Chen said silently.

"Ding! Beginning copying... Copying successful! [Spatial Perception] has been upgraded to its peak SSS-rank version!"

In an instant, a brand-new power surged into Lu Chen's mind.

He felt as though he had gained a pair of eyes that could see through everything. The space around him became extraordinarily clear, and even the slightest movement of energy in the air had nowhere to hide.

He could even clearly "see" the layout of a hidden room two meters underground, where several mutant rats had taken up residence and were gnawing on some unknown rotting matter.

Damn, this thing works even better than radar! Lu Chen marveled inwardly. With this SSS-rank [Spatial Perception], would he ever have to worry about failing to find hidden treasures again?

It was practically a map hack!

Just then, Sand Fox, who was bound hand and foot, suddenly let out a cold laugh. "What, you won't even spare a child? What kind of monster are you?"

Lu Chen slowly turned his head, his gaze as cold as a sharp knife. Sand Fox couldn't help shuddering under it.

"Monster?" The corners of his mouth lifted slightly in a wicked smile. "I'm not a monster. I am the rules."

With that, he walked over to A Jie, looked down at him, and held out a hand. "Are you willing to come with me? I can teach you how to survive."

A Jie raised his head and looked at the powerful, mysterious man before him.

He had seen Lu Chen slaughter the Zhao Family's private soldiers with his own eyes on the outskirts of the base. The way Lu Chen had crushed them as easily as chopping vegetables had left an indelible impression on him.

Fear, awe, and a trace of longing intertwined in his heart.

He hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out his dirty little hand and placing it in Lu Chen's.

"Good. Starting today, you're one of my people." Lu Chen nodded in satisfaction and led A Jie toward an abandoned warehouse not far away.

"Boss, where are we going?" Xiaobai asked curiously.

"To find somewhere to rest and regroup, and let this kid put his specialty to use while we're at it," Lu Chen said without looking back.

The abandoned warehouse was a mess, with scattered junk and thick dust everywhere. A musty smell hung in the air.

Lu Chen casually cleared a space and had A Jie sit down and rest. Then he asked, "Kid, try using your ability. See if there's anything useful nearby, like food or water."

A Jie nodded, closed his eyes, and began to concentrate.

Before long, he suddenly opened his eyes and pointed at a pile of rubble in the corner of the warehouse. "There. I think I can sense something there."

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow and walked over to move the rubble aside. Sure enough, he found a well-hidden entrance to a basement.

When he opened the basement door, a strong smell of alcohol hit him. Inside were piles of canned food and compressed biscuits, several cases of bottled water, and even a few unopened cases of hard liquor.

"Not bad, kid. You've got something there." Lu Chen patted A Jie on the shoulder, a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

It seemed the boy's [Spatial Perception] ability was even more useful than he had imagined.

"We'll make do with this stuff for now. Later, I'll make sure you eat and drink like a king," Lu Chen said to A Jie, a hint of promise in his voice.

A Jie nodded vigorously.

Sand Fox had been thrown into a corner. Watching Lu Chen interact with A Jie, she couldn't understand why a man so powerful would still use a child so cruelly.

Night fell, shrouding the abandoned city in darkness. The occasional roar of a zombie came from the distance, making people's skin crawl.

Lu Chen stood alone on the warehouse roof, looking at the fires burning in the distant city, an unfathomable light flickering in his eyes.

"This apocalypse is getting more and more interesting..." he murmured to himself.

Suddenly, he seemed to think of something. A meaningful smile curved his lips as he turned to look inside the warehouse, where vague shapes appeared to be writhing...

Lu Chen gazed at the scarlet sea of flames in the distance. The air was thick with the nauseating stench of burning and blood.

He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within him, and muttered, "Going solo is fun for a while, but keep it up and you'll end up in the crematorium. I'm not Superman. Where would I find the time to save the world? It's time to put together an 'Avengers' team. No, 'Godslaying Legion' has a better ring to it!"

He flipped off the roof and jumped into the warehouse, just in time to see A Jie painstakingly polishing a rusty dagger. The serious look on his little face made him seem just like a child holding a beloved toy for the first time.

"Oh, getting some practice in? This is nothing. Later, I'll have you chopping zombies with an SSS-rank divine artifact until your hand cramps!" Lu Chen walked over to A Jie and plopped down on a battered tire, speaking in a flippant tone.

A Jie jumped in fright, his hand jerking and nearly sending the dagger flying.

He looked up at Lu Chen somewhat awkwardly and said in a small voice, "I... I just want to become useful as soon as possible."

"Useful? Of course you're useful! You're a reserve member of my 'Godslaying Legion,' a future big shot of the spatial type. Your future is limitless!" Lu Chen grinned, showing two rows of white teeth. "Starting today, stick with me and do well. I guarantee you'll eat and drink like a king and reach the pinnacle of life!"

He paused, lowered his voice, and spoke in an enticing tone. "Remember, in this apocalypse, strength is the only thing that matters. For the weak, even breathing is a crime!"

A Jie nodded, only half understanding, a trace of longing and hope flickering in his eyes.

He gripped the dagger tightly, as though he were gripping his own destiny.

Lu Chen watched A Jie with satisfaction, making plans inwardly.

The kid was frail, but he made up for it by being obedient and possessing the rare talent of spatial perception. With proper training, he could definitely become a sharp blade.

"Very good. You're a teachable child." Lu Chen patted A Jie on the shoulder, stood up, and stretched. "It's getting late. Get some rest. Tomorrow, there are even more exciting things waiting for us."

He turned and walked deeper into the warehouse, where a large quantity of supplies and equipment was piled up-the foundation of his future "Godslaying Legion."

Outside the abandoned warehouse, the night wind howled, rattling the battered sheets of metal with a harsh sound.

A Jie had just found a batch of canned food...