Li Xuan stepped out early in the morning, his expression calm but his thoughts sharp and restless. The situation with the black snake had already pushed everything toward an uncertain edge, and he knew very clearly that survival would not depend on numbers alone. What he needed were abilities—useful ones, rare ones, abilities that could increase the chances of escape.
He walked through the village slowly, his gaze scanning people one by one, carefully observing those who had not yet awakened. In his mind, these people were opportunities. If pushed into the right conditions, some of them might awaken sequences, and among them, there might be something valuable.
"I don't need many… just one or two useful abilities is enough," he muttered softly.
However, reality was not as ideal as he imagined.
Most people had already chosen groups or were hiding, unwilling to move around in such a tense situation. By the time the morning passed halfway, Li Xuan had only managed to approach three people.
The first was a man in his thirties, sturdy build, cautious eyes. Li Xuan spoke directly, "Join my team. I can provide food and protection."
The man didn't even hesitate. He shook his head and replied, "I already follow a sequencer. He's someone I trust. I won't leave."
Li Xuan stared at him for a moment, then simply nodded and walked away. No persuasion, no wasted effort.
The second man was younger, but far more skeptical. He listened quietly as Li Xuan explained, but his eyes were filled with doubt.
"Why should I trust you?" the man asked.
"You don't have to," Li Xuan replied calmly.
That answer only made the man frown. "Then I won't join."
Li Xuan didn't insist. "Suit yourself."
The third person was a woman.
She looked ordinary—plain clothes, average face—but her eyes were steady, not panicked like the others. When Li Xuan approached and explained his offer, she didn't answer immediately.
"What do you want in return?" she asked.
"Obedience," Li Xuan said without hesitation.
She remained silent for a few seconds before speaking again. "I don't care about anything else. As long as there's food, I'll join. But I won't be used as cannon fodder."
Li Xuan looked at her for a moment, measuring her words.
"…Agreed."
"My name is Lin Qian," she said.
"Follow me."
By the time they returned to the camp, the sun had already risen higher, casting a dull light over the village. But what caught Li Xuan's attention immediately was not the surroundings—it was the two figures standing near his tent.
A woman and a little girl.
Both looked tense, their bodies stiff, their eyes filled with caution.
Li Xuan walked toward them without slowing down. "You came."
The woman nodded slightly, her grip tightening around the child's hand. "We heard about the snake."
"I assume you understand the situation then," Li Xuan replied.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "My name is Yuan Yao. I'm a nurse… thirty-two years old."
She gently pushed the little girl forward. "This is my daughter, Zi Yue. She's seven."
The little girl peeked at Li Xuan, her eyes filled with both fear and curiosity, but she didn't speak.
Yuan Yao took a deep breath, her voice lowering. "I don't ask for much. Just… protect her. If you can do that, I'm willing to do anything."
Li Xuan's gaze shifted briefly to the child, then back to the woman.
"As long as you follow orders, I'll make sure you survive."
His tone was flat, almost cold, but Yuan Yao didn't hesitate.
"…That's enough."
With introductions done, Li Xuan didn't waste time.
"Everyone, start moving. Jog around the area."
They all froze for a moment.
"Jog?" Lin Qian asked, confused.
"Yes. Now."
"But why?" Yuan Yao couldn't help but ask.
Li Xuan looked at them calmly. "If your body is weak, you die first. And people tend to awaken abilities under extreme physical stress or life-and-death situations. If you want to survive, push your limits."
That explanation silenced them.
Even if they were doubtful, the logic made sense.
Soon, they began running.
At first, it was awkward. Their pace was uneven, their breathing unstable. Zi Yue struggled the most, her small legs barely keeping up, but she didn't complain. She simply kept moving, step by step, her face flushed with effort.
Li Xuan ran with them, observing everything quietly.
"They need discipline first," he thought.
While his small team trained, the atmosphere in the village grew more unstable.
People had already begun forming smaller groups. Some left their original convoys, seeking better protection or opportunities. The Peace Convoy alone had more than thirty people leave within a short time.
Arguments broke out.
"You're leaving now?"
"Why should I stay? There's no guarantee here!"
Small fights started appearing more frequently, tension spreading like an infection.
And in the shadows, darker intentions began to surface.
Near Li Xuan's building, a group of nine people—six men and three women—gathered quietly.
"That SUV… it's fully intact."
"And he's the only man in his group."
"Easy target."
Inside another building nearby, two men whispered.
"We wait until night."
"Take the car, supplies… everything."
But Li Xuan already knew.
Using his spatial perception, he had observed every movement, every whisper, every hidden intention. He didn't react, didn't confront them.
Instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"…Good."
He had been thinking about how to reveal his abilities without drawing unnecessary suspicion.
Now, these people had given him the perfect stage.
After more than half an hour of running and basic drills, Li Xuan raised his hand.
"Stop."
Everyone slowed down, breathing heavily.
"Prepare for food."
Relief appeared on their faces.
Li Xuan entered his tent alone. With a flick of his mind, empty bags appeared before him, and in the next moment, they were filled—instant meals, chocolates, bottled water, all neatly packed.
When he stepped out and handed the bags to Sang Zhi, her eyes widened slightly.
"So much food…?"
"Cook properly," Li Xuan said. "There's more where that came from."
The others couldn't hide their surprise.
They had been rationing every bite, unsure how long their supplies would last. Seeing this amount of food changed their perception immediately.
Inside, the girls gathered together and began preparing lunch, their mood noticeably lighter.
Li Xuan stood nearby, his mind still working.
"What should I reveal…"
If he showed his space ability, people would value him—but also become cautious.
If he showed his Sage ability, it might not attract enough attention… or worse, make him seem weak.
After thinking for a while, he exhaled slowly.
"…Space ability."
"It's better to be useful than mysterious."
While he was thinking—
Something small hovered silently behind him.
A tiny figure, no taller than twenty centimeters, floated in the air, watching him with curiosity. For the past few days, she had been hiding inside his travel bag, moving around the village using a strange jumping ability.
She had stolen food, explored freely, and made his bag her home.
Now, seeing him use his space ability, her curiosity deepened.
Inside the tent, Li Xuan paced back and forth, unaware.
"I need strength… fast," he muttered.
Frustration crept into his voice.
"Others get systems, artifacts, luck…"
He clenched his fist.
"What do I have?"
His thoughts darkened.
"A plunder ability… like some villain."
He let out a bitter laugh. "Damn it… I just need something to protect myself."
In terms of combat, he knew his weakness clearly.
Against support-type sequencers, he had the advantage.
But against combat types?
"They'll react faster… kill faster."
He looked down at his hands.
"Space ability… it's not enough."
He had been training constantly—physically and mentally—but progress was slow.
Too slow.
"Thirty-two percent…" he muttered. "At this rate, I'll die before I even reach level two."
He fell silent.
Then suddenly—
Something landed lightly on his head.
His entire body froze.
Every instinct screamed danger, but he didn't move.
Instead, he activated his spatial perception.
And saw it.
A tiny figure.
Curled up.
Sleeping.
On his head.
His pupils shrank.
"…What is this?"
Shock surged through him, but he forced himself to stay calm.
"How did it get here…? When?"
His thoughts raced rapidly.
"Did it follow me? Why?"
He slowly lowered himself into a sitting position, careful not to disturb it.
"If it wanted to attack… I'd already be dead."
He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm down.
Then his gaze sharpened slightly.
"…So why are you here?"
The tiny figure remained asleep, completely unaware of his thoughts.