Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1: Rebirth After the Apocalypse
"Agony, such unbearable agony!"
Zhang Yi's whole frame was consumed by unbearable torment.
This went beyond mere feeling; it was a brutal truth unfolding upon him.
Right now, former trusted allies and neighbors he had aided were savagely assaulting him. Fists, boots, and wooden clubs hammered down relentlessly.
Within this barren, end-times realm short on essentials, they disregarded Zhang Yi's past favors and struck at him fiercely.
While collapsing in his final moments, he dimly spotted his ideal partner, Fang Yuqing, lingering behind the group. With a desperate cry, she called out, "I got him to unlock the entrance. Hand over an additional portion of the goods to me!"
This very lady had deceived Zhang Yi into unbolting the door, resulting in his demise.
Zhang Yi gazed upon her, his stare brimming with resentment and remorse.
He had no one to fault but his own naive and benevolent nature, turning into a mere pawn for survivors in this doomsday era.
He longed for a redo of everything.
If given that opportunity, he would spare no compassion to anyone and exist solely for his own sake!
In an instant, darkness overtook Zhang Yi's sight, and he slipped into oblivion.
Yet immediately after, his eyes snapped wide, and he bolted upright on the sofa.
The nightmarish ordeal and the savage suffering lingered sharply in his thoughts.
Zhang Yi panted heavily, his form soon drenched in perspiration.
"What's happening? Didn't those savage locals finish me off?"
Regaining composure, Zhang Yi scanned the area around him.
The setting felt intimately known; it was his personal residence.
The cozy warmth hanging in the atmosphere struck him as strangely comforting.
Back in December 2050, a worldwide Cambrian tempest, triggered by a supernova burst 500,000 light-years distant, struck Earth.
Temperatures worldwide nosedived. Tianhai City, home to Zhang Yi, saw daily chills of minus sixty to seventy degrees Celsius, with snowstorms persisting for weeks that entombed the metropolis.
Rumors held that up north in China, the cold hit a horrifying minus one hundred degrees, blanketing the region in frost and drifts.
Countless creatures vanished en masse, and humanity suffered over ninety-five percent fatalities amid the catastrophe.
Zhang Yi rose and fetched a bottle from the refrigerator, gulping down over half its contents.
Though the cool liquid chilled his throat, to him in that instant, it tasted divine.
During the end times, securing water meant braving the deadly frost of minus sixty to seventy degrees to scoop and thaw snow.
Such efforts often led to instant freezing fatalities.
Upon finishing the drink, Zhang Yi checked his mobile device.
The screen indicated "November 12."
A full month remained before the catastrophe unfolded.
"It appears I've returned to life."
Zhang Yi inhaled deeply, soon grasping the situation.
The ordeals of that month were no illusion, particularly the torment of being torn apart—it felt utterly authentic.
Zhang Yi lifted his gaze, overwhelmed with thankfulness for this renewed opportunity.
Concurrently, a sharp, vengeful spark ignited in his eyes.
He recalled precisely those responsible for his end.
This time around, he vowed to thrive and withhold pity from those monsters.
Furthermore, he aimed to exact retribution on those brutes while safeguarding himself.
Nevertheless, Zhang Yi's immediate concern was plotting survival for the impending doom in a month's time.
Zhang Yi enjoyed decent living circumstances.
His folks had passed young, leaving him a 120-square-meter dwelling in Tianhai City.
He possessed more than 2 million in bank funds, ample for regular days.
Yet with the end times approaching, resources would dwindle critically.
His cash reserves wouldn't endure.
For endurance, amassing vast stockpiles became essential.
Leveraging this forewarning, Zhang Yi sought not just bare survival but a decent standard of living ahead.
Provisions, amusements—every necessity required addressing, lest prolonged isolation shatter his sanity.
Besides, armaments and gear proved vital for protection and fulfilling vengeance against the locals.
At that precise juncture, a ray of pale glow materialized in front of Zhang Yi.
He suspected his right vision played tricks and wiped at it.
Abruptly, an odd notion surfaced within his thoughts.
It felt as if this glow belonged to him intrinsically, with details flooding his mind.
With mental focus, Zhang Yi's awareness delved into the glow.
Within lay an immense pale void.
Its scale eluded measurement; pure blankness stretched endlessly.
"Could this be... an alternate dimension?"
"It seems rebirth granted me unique capabilities."
Zhang Yi's spirit surged with delight.
Evidently, cosmic radiation had altered his physique, bestowing exceptional gifts.
Possessing this colossal void simplified stockpiling for the end times.
Still, Zhang Yi yearned to gauge its capacity and uncover any constraints.
His awareness snapped back to the chamber, prompting tests of inserting items into the void.
He commenced with mugs and bowls, which vanished inside effortlessly.
Next came bulkier gadgets.
TV set, refrigerator, laundry unit, desktop, cooling system, dust extractor.
The pale void swallowed them all.
Moreover, Zhang Yi could summon objects back merely by willing it.
Yet items under heavy outer pressure or not standalone refused entry, such as attempting to yank an embedded floor tile—it remained inert.
"The alternate dimension holds numerous principles I must investigate."
"Even so, this vast repository for goods empowers me to gather enormous reserves!"
He moistened his lips, envisioning an audacious scheme.
Zhang Yi served as overseer of the South China depot for Walmart.
As the planet's premier retail giant, Walmart stocked an array of imaginable wares.
In China stood three colossal depots: Central, South, and North.
These facilities loomed enormously, particularly the South China one.
Erected in 2040, it spanned 1500 meters in length, 720 in width, encompassing over a million square meters—the globe's supreme storage site!
Walmart's top executive for Greater China dubbed it the world's eighth marvel!
Admittedly, official counts acknowledge just seven, while countless 'eighths' arise from boasts.
Regardless, the South China depot's dimensions and holding power led worldwide logistics.
Its standard inventory could feed millions across cities for a week.
Thus, should Zhang Yi drain one such depot into his void, supplies would suffice for multiple existences!
The key lay in Walmart's rigorous standards.
No inferior or faulty products filled the stores.
Edibles, daily needs, opulent wares—all bore trusted labels.
Should Zhang Yi clear a Walmart depot, apocalyptic shortages would cease to haunt him; luxury awaited.
As depot chief, Zhang Yi knew intimately each rack, monitoring setup, and personnel timings.
Clearing the site posed no great hurdle for him.
Decision solidified, Zhang Yi eased considerably.
"Grumble~"
Suddenly, his gut rumbled insistently.
He patted his abdomen and eyed the golden-braised poultry dish on the surface.
After a pause, he grinned and dismissed the notion of touching the delivery fare.
"A single month separates us from the end times. I ought to savor premium cuisine now; such treats vanish post-catastrophe. No need to skimp on myself."
Having braved frost and famine for weeks, Zhang Yi craved warmth and flavor.
Why hoard funds at this stage?
Post-apocalypse, currency devolves to useless scraps. Better to exhaust it presently than let it rot.
Zhang Yi pivoted with glee, resolving to indulge in an upscale feast at an elite eatery once beyond his budget.