Doomsday Reboot: My Superpowers Absorb Everything

By the time Li Hu welded the last steel bar to the fence, his arms were so sore he could barely lift them. The welding torch handed to him by blacksmith Zhang was still hot; molten iron dripping from its muzzle condensed into tiny metal beads on the ground, like scattered stars. He wiped the sweat from his face and looked at the newly renovated fence—the original wooden posts had been replaced with steel pipes as thick as bowls, interspersed with densely packed steel bars, and topped with sharp iron spikes that reflected the cold metallic luster of the sunlight.

"This thing, let alone a zombie wolf, even a mutated rhinoceros couldn't break through it." Li Hu grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, threw the welding torch aside, and sat heavily on the ground.

Lin Ye squatted inside the fence, the dark purple energy at his fingertips spreading along the steel bars, purifying the remaining rust and radiation particles one by one. Zhou Ming stood beside him, his hands gently pressing on the steel pipes, the pale blue water-based energy seeping into the metal gaps, and the originally loose welds slowly solidified, becoming more solid.

"Water-based superpowers can be used like this?" Lin Ye was somewhat surprised. He had always thought that Zhou Ming's abilities were only good at manipulating water and low temperatures.

The old man smiled, his wrinkles etched with rust dust: "I honed my skills repairing pipes at the purification plant. Where water can seep in, my energy can reach too." He pointed to the fine lines on the steel pipes: "These steels have gaps; if they're not repaired, they'll rust from the inside out in no time."

Lin Jianjun walked over carrying a rifle, with strips of cloth wrapped around the barrel—to prevent it from reflecting light and being spotted by the mutants. He walked around the new fence, occasionally punching it twice with his fist, making a dull "thump-thump" sound.

"The watchtower on the east side has been reinforced as well," he told Lin Ye. "Aying and Shitou are keeping watch from up there. The pack of zombie wolves is still lingering on the west side, not daring to get close."

Lin Ye nodded, his gaze sweeping over the fields. After a few days of rest, the corn seedlings damaged by the iron beetles had been replanted. The pumpkin vines, grown by Su Ya using her supernatural abilities, climbed the newly erected steel frame, their leaves unfurling like green palms. Several elderly farmers were squatting in the field, carefully covering the rice seeds with a thin film—plastic sheeting they'd found in a steel mill warehouse—to retain heat and moisture, and improve germination rates.

"Where's Grandpa Zhang?" Lin Ye didn't see the figure leaning on his iron cane.

"He's talking to Zhou Ming in the tent." Li Hu gestured towards the center of the stronghold. "The old folks get together and always like to talk about the old days, like grain coupons and bicycles. Maodou and the others are so excited listening to them."

Lin Ye smiled and got up to walk towards the tent area. He had only taken a few steps when he saw Lin Xi and several children chattering around Zhou Ming's old protective suit. The little girl was holding a piece of chalk and drawing something on the oil-stained vest.

"This is a sunflower!" Lin Xi pointed to the finished drawing, her little face full of pride. "Sister Suya said that when you see a sunflower, you can tell which side the sun is on and you won't get lost."

Zhou Ming stood to the side, letting the children draw on his clothes, a smile in his cloudy eyes. His arm was still wrapped in bandages, from where he had been scratched by the iron bird's feathers. The herbs Su Ya had given him had helped the wound heal quickly, and he could now move freely again.

"Brother!" Lin Xi ran over to Lin Ye, chalk in hand. "Grandpa Zhou said he'd seen glowing fish before, swimming around in the water tanks at the purification station, like little lanterns!"

"They are glowfish," Zhou Ming explained. "They were mutated by radiation and could glow on their own. Unfortunately, the water quality changed later, and I haven't seen them since."

Lin Ye, recalling the radioactive grass in the cracks of the purification station's base, suddenly had an idea: "Grandpa Zhou, could you freeze the water in a fixed place?"

Zhou Ming was taken aback for a moment: "It's possible, but it can't last long; I don't have enough energy."

"It won't take too long, just a few minutes." Lin Ye pulled him toward the field. "Su Ya's plant-type ability can accelerate growth. If you can create small ice crystals in the soil, you might be able to make the seeds germinate earlier."

Su Ya was watering the newly planted seedlings when she heard this and her eyes lit up: "That's right! Low temperatures can break the dormancy period of seeds. If Grandpa Zhou could help, the rice seeds might sprout a week earlier!"

Without further ado, Su Ya selected several plump rice stalks and buried them in a specially made ceramic pot. Zhou Ming stretched out his finger, and pale blue energy seeped into the soil. Soon, a thin layer of white frost condensed on the surface of the ceramic pot, and the thermometer showed that the temperature had dropped to around zero degrees Celsius.

"Hold it for three minutes." Su Ya stared nervously at the ceramic pot, her palms sweating. Her plant-based ability was geared towards stimulating growth, and her control over temperature was far less precise than Zhou Ming's.

Three minutes later, Zhou Ming withdrew his energy, and the white frost gradually melted. Su Ya immediately injected green energy into the soil, and the soil in the ceramic pot began to swell slightly. Soon, a tender green sprout broke through the soil and timidly emerged.

"It's done!" the children cheered, clapping around the clay pot.

Looking at the tender sprout, less than half a centimeter long, Lin Ye felt a surge of warmth in his heart. The iron wall built of reinforced concrete could withstand the impact of the mutants, but this fragile green sprout could stop the spread of despair.

That afternoon, Old Zhang convened a meeting with everyone in the open space at the center of the stronghold. By the campfire, Zhou Ming was pushed to the front. The old man seemed a little uneasy, clutching his old gas mask tightly in his hand.

"Brother Zhou used to be the shift leader at the purification station, guarding this pool of water for five years." Old Zhang tapped the ground with his iron cane, his voice booming. "If it weren't for him, we'd still be stuck fighting the zombie wolves! From now on, he's one of our men at the base, in charge of everything related to water!"

Thunderous applause erupted, and several children draped sunflower-patterned protective suits over Zhou Ming's shoulders. The old man's eyes reddened, and turbid tears slid down his wrinkles.

"There's one more thing," Old Zhang turned to Lin Ye. "Although the pack of corpse wolves in the west hasn't attacked again, the wolf king has been lingering nearby, which is a potential threat. I've discussed it with Old Lin, and we plan to take the initiative and lure them to the steel mill. The factory buildings there are sturdy and suitable for setting traps."

Lin Ye nodded: "Li Hu and I went to scout it out. There's a large furnace in Workshop No. 3 of the steel plant. If we can lure the Wolf King inside, close the door, and use welding flux..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ah Ying's voice suddenly rang out from the watchtower to the east, filled with panic: "The pack of corpse wolves! They're charging!"

Everyone fell silent instantly, instinctively gripping their weapons. Lin Ye quickly climbed the nearest haystack and looked westward—he saw a dark, swarming pack of corpse wolves charging towards the stronghold, with the silver-white wolf king at the head, its dark green eyes gleaming fiercely in the sunlight.

Strangely, from behind the pack of corpse wolves, one could vaguely hear firelight and explosions, mixed with human screams.

"It's the Black Wind Stronghold!" Lin Jianjun exclaimed, his face grave as he held up his binoculars. "They're being chased by a pack of corpse wolves and are trying to lure them here!"

Lin Ye's heart sank. Through his senses, he could see the remaining members of Black Wind Stronghold running frantically towards their stronghold, waving burning torches, clearly trying to lure the pack of corpse wolves. Although One-Eyed Dragon was dead, these people hadn't given up on their revenge.

"Close the gate!" Old Zhang's voice was decisive. "Li Hu, take one team to guard the front! Lin Jianjun, take the second team to reinforce the back gate! Su Ya, use vines to secure the fence!"

In the chaos, Zhou Ming suddenly shouted, "Wait! The furnace! Lead them to the steel mill's furnace!"

Lin Ye's eyes lit up: "That's it! Let's open the gate a crack and lure them towards the steel mill!"

"It's too dangerous!" Lin Xi grabbed his arm, her face pale with fright.

"Trust me, brother." Lin Ye ruffled her hair, then turned to Li Hu and said, "Take a few men and scatter the blood of mutated hyenas on the way to the steel mill. Corpse wolves are most sensitive to the smell of their own kind's blood."

Li Hu nodded emphatically, grabbed an oil can beside him, and ran. Lin Jianjun had already led his men over the fence, the safety catches on their rifles pulled back, aiming at the approaching pack of zombie wolves.

Zhou Ming walked to Lin Ye's side, holding the old kerosene lamp in his hand: "I'll go with you to lure the wolves. My water-based abilities can create ice walls, which can help you block them."

"You're getting old..."

"I've guarded the water for five years, it's time for me to guard the people." Zhou Ming interrupted him, lit the kerosene lamp, and the flickering flame reflected in his cloudy eyes. "Besides, I know the way better than you do."

Lin Ye didn't hesitate any longer and patted him on the shoulder. Before the pack of corpse wolves got too close, the two of them quietly slipped out through the hidden door and ran towards the steel factory, following the trail of blood that Li Hu had left behind.

Behind him came the howl of the zombie wolves and the sound of gunfire. Lin Ye turned around and glanced back. The iron walls of the stronghold gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and the new shoots in the fields swayed slightly in the wind.

He gripped the military dagger in his hand and quickened his pace.

For that iron wall that can withstand the wind and rain, for those new shoots striving to grow in the soil, this time, they must win.

In the direction of the steel plant, the furnace chimneys cast long shadows in the setting sun, like a sharp sword waiting to be drawn.