Pain.An unbearable, soul-ripping pain engulfed Ethan Cross's entire body.
It wasn't just a feeling—it was happening.Right here. Right now.
He was being carved up alive by the very people he had once trusted.Neighbors. Friends.People he'd helped survive in the starving chaos of the post-apocalyptic world.
Now, they were slicing him apart without hesitation.
Through the blinding pain, Ethan caught a glimpse of her—his long-time crush—standing behind the crowd, looking innocent and pitiful as she shouted:
"He opened the door for me! Make sure I get a rib for my soup!"
That one sentence shattered him.
She was the one who'd convinced him to open the door.She was the one who got him killed.
Ethan glared at her, eyes filled with hate and regret.
He blamed no one but himself—for being too stupid, too kind.In the end, he became someone else's meal.
How he wished...He could do it all over again.Next time, he wouldn't be merciful.He'd live only for himself.
Then, everything went black.
Ethan's eyes flew open.
He sat up from the couch, panting heavily, sweat soaking his clothes.The nightmare—the pain—still felt so real.
"What... what the hell? Weren't those bastards killing me?"
Looking around, he saw something familiar.
This was his apartment.The air was warm. Too warm.
He was supposed to be dead.
Then he saw the date on the wall calendar.December 2050.
His pupils contracted.
That year, Earth had been struck by fallout from a supernova explosion 500,000 light-years away.It triggered the Cambrian Storm.Temperatures plummeted.A new ice age descended.
In just one month, 95% of humanity would perish.Everything—buried in ice.
And Ethan remembered it all.
His death.His helplessness.His betrayal.
"So… I've come back?"
He rushed to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of cold water, and chugged half of it.Even chilled water tasted like nectar to him.
In the apocalypse, water was gathered by digging snow and melting it in subzero temperatures—Most people froze to death just trying.
He checked his phone.November 12th.
"Exactly one month left… until the end."
A strange white light suddenly appeared before his eyes.
At first, he thought his vision was playing tricks on him.But then a peculiar sensation filled his mind—Like the light was part of him.
In the next second, Ethan's consciousness dove into the light.
What he saw stunned him.
A vast, endless white space.Nothing but blank whiteness.
"This… is a different dimension?"
He felt a rush of joy.
Apparently, his rebirth had brought a special ability.Perhaps the gamma radiation had triggered something in him.
This space was perfect for storing supplies.But how much could it hold?Were there limits?
Ethan's mind returned to the room.
He began testing what he could store.First, small items like teacups and washbasins—no problem.
Then he tried large appliances.
TV. Fridge. Washing machine.Computer. Air conditioner. Vacuum cleaner.
All of them vanished smoothly into the space.
Even better—he could retrieve them with just a thought.
"This is insane," Ethan whispered, thrilled."I can store endless resources now!"
He licked his lips, a bold idea forming.
Before the end, Ethan worked as a warehouse supervisor for Wal-Mart's South China division.
Wal-Mart—the world's largest retailer—owned giant distribution centers stocked with everything imaginable.
Food. Tools. Electronics. Luxury goods.
Each warehouse could support millions for an entire week.
If he emptied one and stored it all in his space, he wouldn't need to worry about survival.
He could live like a king—even in the apocalypse.
And since he was familiar with every rack, every shift schedule, every camera blind spot…
"This is doable," he muttered.
His stomach growled.He glanced at the cold takeout on the table.
No need to hold back anymore.
He was back.
And this time, he'd make damn sure the world never chewed him up again