A Gathering of Geniuses

"Very good." Lu Chen's voice echoed across the square like the whisper of the Grim Reaper. "Since you've chosen to submit, show me your value..."

He looked meaningfully into the distance, toward the deeper reaches of the city ruins, where countless mutated creatures and powerful survivor factions held sway.

"...Take me to see the 'treasury' the Thunder Group has built up over the years."

The air seemed to freeze, and everyone sensed the chill in Lu Chen's words.

What bloodshed awaited them next?

No one knew, but everyone understood that the rules of the apocalypse were about to be completely rewritten.

"Let's go," Lu Chen said calmly. He turned and led the way deeper into the Thunder Group's camp.

His shadow stretched long in the setting sun, like an unsheathed sword with its edge on full display.

"Yes!" everyone answered in unison, following close behind like believers following a god.

Lu Chen walked at the head of the group, but his mind was on something else. He had a vague feeling that the Thunder Group's downfall was only the beginning, and that a larger conspiracy was waiting for him to uncover.

At that thought, he stopped and looked back at Linda. "Linda..." he said meaningfully.

Linda understood at once. She hurried over and lowered her voice. "Boss, what do you need?"

A meaningful smile curved Lu Chen's lips. "Have someone keep watch. I keep feeling there's a bigger fish behind the Thunder Group."

Linda nodded. "Understood. I'll assign some people to dig up everything on these guys!"

The group marched toward the Thunder Group's "treasury" in a great procession. Destroyed buildings and bodies strewn in every direction lined the way, and the air reeked of blood and decay, strong enough to make anyone sick.

Lu Chen, however, walked calmly at the front as though nothing were wrong, as if such sights had long since become commonplace to him.

After crossing several streets, they arrived in front of a huge warehouse. Its doors were tightly shut, and it was heavily guarded. Clearly, this was where the Thunder Group's "treasury" was located.

"Boss, this is the place," Linda said, pointing at the warehouse. "This is an important Thunder Group stronghold. I hear there are plenty of good things hidden inside."

Lu Chen nodded, walked up to the warehouse doors, and kicked them hard.

Boom!

With a tremendous crash, the warehouse doors fell, revealing mountains of supplies inside.

Food, weapons, medicine... all kinds of supplies filled the warehouse, giving off an enticing glow.

At the sight of them, the awakened ones who had followed Lu Chen stared wide-eyed, eager to rush in and snatch everything away at once.

"Behave yourselves!" Linda shouted. "Nobody touches anything without the boss's orders!"

Only after Linda's reprimand did the awakened ones calm down. They all turned to Lu Chen, awaiting his instructions.

Lu Chen looked around, a satisfied smile curving his lips. "Not bad. Looks like the Thunder Group really did squeeze a fortune out of the people."

"Move all of this back!" Lu Chen commanded, sweeping his hand through the air. "Starting today, these things belong to our Godslaying Legion!"

"Yes!" the awakened ones answered in unison. They immediately set to work moving the supplies out of the warehouse.

Under Linda's direction, the entire process went smoothly, without any disorder.

Lu Chen watched it all, his heart full of accomplishment.

"Boss, what should we do next?" Linda walked over to Lu Chen and asked softly.

Lu Chen smiled faintly and looked into the distance. "Next, it's time we paid those 'old friends' a visit."

Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed.

News of the Thunder Group's downfall spread through the city like the wind, causing a huge sensation.

The other survivor factions began asking about the Godslaying Legion, eager to learn just what this newly risen force was.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen was hard at work building up the Godslaying Legion.

He began recruiting more awakened ones to expand the legion's strength, while actively searching for various resources to improve its combat power.

To manage the legion more effectively, Lu Chen decided to establish a core team to handle its daily affairs.

After a selection process, Lu Chen ultimately chose three people as the first core members.

Those three were Bing Ling, Artisan Zero, and a young man with a fire-type ability.

Bing Ling was a B-rank Extreme Cold Control awakened one. Cold and aloof, she was powerful and a rare talent.

Artisan Zero was an A-rank Mechanical Fusion awakened one. He specialized in combining technology and talents and could make all kinds of powerful weapons and equipment for the legion.

The flame youth was a C-rank Frost Manipulation awakened one. Though not as strong as Bing Ling or Artisan Zero, he had enormous potential and a promising future.

One day, Lu Chen summoned the three to the base's command hall.

In the spacious, brightly lit hall, Lu Chen sat upright in the main seat, with Linda and A Kai stationed on either side.

Bing Ling, Artisan Zero, and the flame youth stood side by side in the center of the hall, waiting for Lu Chen's instructions.

"You three are the first core members I personally selected," Lu Chen said. His tone was calm, but carried an unquestionable authority.

"Joining the Godslaying Legion isn't about obeying someone. It's about becoming stronger."

Bing Ling snorted, standing with her arms crossed and cold air swirling around her. Clearly, she did not trust Lu Chen. "Why should we believe you can make us stronger?"

Instead of arguing, Lu Chen casually waved his hand and shared the SSS-rank Extreme Cold Condensation he had just copied with Bing Ling.

A ray of ice-blue light instantly entered Bing Ling's body.

"Try it," Lu Chen said calmly.

Bing Ling hesitated for a moment, then tried to draw on the power within her.

At once, she felt an unprecedented surge of cold energy flowing through her body.

That cold energy was countless times stronger than the power she had possessed before!

Bing Ling's expression changed slightly.

She could clearly feel that her talent had improved enormously!

Artisan Zero, meanwhile, observed Lu Chen's weapon system with great interest. He walked up to Lu Chen and carefully examined the Boundary-Breaking Blade in his hand.

"How did you materialize a talent?" Artisan Zero asked curiously. He took out a miniature scanner and began analyzing the Boundary-Breaking Blade's energy structure.

Lu Chen smiled faintly. "It's no secret. As long as you're willing to join, I'll teach you."

With that, Lu Chen brought up the Talent Furnace's data model for Artisan Zero to study.

Artisan Zero's eyes lit up at once. As if he had discovered a whole new world, he eagerly began studying it.

The flame youth finally couldn't hold back. "What if I want to learn too?"

Lu Chen looked at him, an amused smile playing on his lips. "Of course you can. But first, you have to prove you're worth it."

He waved a hand and opened the training ground. "Go have a fight. Let me see your limits."

The flame youth nodded, said nothing more, and walked straight into the training ground.

Inside, countless simulated enemies swarmed in from every direction and launched a fierce attack on the flame youth.

The flame youth took a deep breath, his entire body bursting into flames, and began fighting fiercely against the simulated enemies.

Lu Chen watched the flame youth's performance from beginning to end and ultimately gave him his approval. "Not bad. You can stay."

Lu Chen walked up to the flame youth, patted him on the shoulder, and smiled. "Keep working hard."

The flame youth nodded excitedly.

"Now, then..." Lu Chen looked around at the three and spoke slowly. "Tell me your choices."

Lu Chen's gaze was deep, as though he could see into their hearts.

His tone was calm, but carried an immense pressure.

"Will you submit, or will you leave?"

The air seemed to freeze. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the three to answer.

Bing Ling, Artisan Zero, and the flame youth all looked hesitant.

They were weighing the pros and cons of joining the Godslaying Legion.

Just then, Artisan Zero suddenly raised his head and looked at Lu Chen.

"I'll join!" he said excitedly. "I'm willing to join the Godslaying Legion and serve you, boss!"

Lu Chen nodded in satisfaction and looked at Bing Ling and the flame youth. "What about you two?"

Bing Ling was silent for a moment before finally nodding. "I'll join too."

The flame youth spoke without the slightest hesitation. "Boss, I'm willing to join the Godslaying Legion too!"

Seeing that all three had chosen to join, Lu Chen smiled in satisfaction.

"Very good." Lu Chen nodded and said slowly, "Starting today, you are core members of the Godslaying Legion."

Lu Chen paused, his gaze sharpening.

"But I have to warn you..."

"The Godslaying Legion has no need for useless people!"

"If you want to survive here, you must keep getting stronger!"

"Otherwise..."

"All that awaits you is death!"

Lu Chen's voice was as cold and merciless as frost in the depths of winter.

His gaze swept over everyone before suddenly stopping in one direction, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"All right, that's all for today's meeting..."

"Meeting dismissed!" Lu Chen grinned, revealing a slightly wicked smile. "Good, that's the spirit!" He cleared his throat. "Now that we're all on the same side, I'll get straight to the point.

"Our Godslaying Legion doesn't bother with empty nonsense. Brotherhood, sharing hardships, all that stuff is for fooling children."

He paused and swept his gaze over everyone. "Remember, here, strength is everything!

"Without strength, you can only be cannon fodder. Understand?" Bing Ling remained expressionless, but there was a clear hint of gravity in her eyes.

Artisan Zero rubbed his hands excitedly, as if he could already see countless advanced weapons being created by his own hands.

As for the flame youth, he was trembling with excitement, eager to rush out and slaughter enemies in every direction.

Lu Chen nodded in satisfaction. "Of course, brute force alone isn't enough.

"We also need brains. We need to understand strategy and learn to cooperate.

"After all, a single strand can't make a thread, and a lone tree can't make a forest!" He laughed. "From now on, we're the apocalypse's version of the Avengers, and we have only one goal: beat down everyone who refuses to submit!"

He suddenly waved his hand and pointed into the distance. "Don't forget, out in the world, countless zombies and mutated creatures are waiting for us.

"If you want to survive and get stronger, show me what you can do!" In the square, everyone's enthusiasm was thoroughly ignited. They rubbed their hands, eager to get started.

Lu Chen looked at the energetic young people before him, his heart swelling with ambition.

He knew that his era was about to arrive!

"A Kai, make sure everyone hears the spirit of today's meeting. And make sure to emphasize that their wages and benefits must be delivered in full! If anyone dares skim off our brothers' hard-earned money, I'll be the first to make them pay!" With that, Lu Chen turned and walked deeper into the base, leaving behind a mysterious figure.

Suddenly, he stopped and said without looking back, "Linda, remember to prepare an extra-large nutritious meal for me tonight. I've been burning through a lot of energy lately..."

Linda smiled seductively and winked at Lu Chen's retreating figure. "Don't worry, boss. I'll make sure you're nice and full, so you'll have the strength to work tonight~" Watching Lu Chen disappear around the corner, Linda turned to everyone and winked. "All right, everyone, next, let's create a legend of our very own together!" With that, she stuck out her tongue, turned, and left.

Night fell. The base's underground command center was brightly lit, and the atmosphere was especially tense...