I Became the Apocalypse’s Villain and Plundered the Chosen Ones’ Powers - Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: The Apocalypse Approaches!

“Li Ang, please, don’t break up with me… As long as you stay with me, I’ll do anything you want! Whatever’s wrong, let’s meet and talk it through. Please, give me one more chance, okay?”

In a parallel world, the television played the news in the spacious, brightly lit living room of a luxurious villa in one of the royal capital’s upscale residential districts.

Li Ang lounged against the sofa, holding his phone loosely. As the girl pleaded with him, he took a small sip of red wine and smiled, offering a careless reply, “Su Xue, we’re simply not right for each other. There’s no need to overthink it. Let’s leave it at that.”

He ended the call and tossed his phone aside, dismissing the matter from his mind.

Twenty years had passed since he transmigrated into this world. Unlike other transmigrators, who started with nothing and had to struggle their way up from the bottom, Li Ang had been born at the pinnacle of power.

His family stood among the most privileged of the Federation’s ruling elite.

Forget the campus belle on the phone. Even the entertainment industry’s biggest female stars would kneel before him like puppies at the slightest beckoning, begging for his favor and letting him do as he pleased.

The thought passed through his mind, and he chuckled before rising to stand before a nearby full-length mirror.

The man reflected in it was handsome and tall, with a distinguished bearing. He was practically the embodiment of perfection.

His only regret was that, despite being a transmigrator, he had yet to awaken a system in all twenty years of his life.

Honestly, that made no sense. Wasn’t a system supposed to come standard with transmigration?

Just then, a notification rang out.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! Apocalypse Archvillain System loaded!]

“Apocalypse? Villain?” Li Ang froze for a moment before delight surged through him.

His cheat!

It had finally arrived!

Ten minutes later, Li Ang had gained a general understanding of his system.

According to its explanation, the apocalypse was approaching. The existing social order would be overturned, and Chosen Ones who had once occupied society’s lowest rungs would rise with the changing times. The entire hierarchy of power was about to undergo a massive reshuffling.

Li Ang’s mission was to kill those Chosen Ones, seize their talents, and earn Villain Points, which could be exchanged for all manner of extraordinary rewards.

In other words, even the collapse of the world would have no adverse effect on him.

As the thought faded, the news anchor’s voice reached him from the television.

“According to reports from the field, an unidentified infectious virus has broken out in nations along the western shores of the ocean. The mortality rate is extremely high, and most nations have now closed their borders…”

“A small number of infections have also been detected within the Federation. However, case numbers remain low, and the situation is under control. Citizens are urged to remain calm, take protective measures, and limit unnecessary outings…”

Listening to the report, Li Ang smiled faintly.

It seemed the apocalypse really was coming.

…

Early the next morning, Li Ang had just finished washing up when he received a call from his family.

On the other end was his father, Li Yuan, Deputy Speaker of the Federal Assembly and one of the five most powerful men in the Federal Empire.

Long accustomed to holding high office, Li Yuan spoke with quiet authority, his tone steady. “The situation is much as you described. This virus is highly contagious, and many of the infected have mutated. Unless something changes, regions across the Federation will likely fall soon. The family has already made preparations. Are you at your villa in the royal capital?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Keep yourself safe and come home soon.”

“All right.”

Li Ang ended the call, his expression calm.

Li Yuan had offered few warnings, but that hardly meant he did not care. Throughout the twenty years since his transmigration, Li Ang had enjoyed a close relationship with his father, right from childhood.

He was, however, the heir to one of the Federation’s most powerful families. Finding his way home under slightly more complicated circumstances should be a simple matter.

The Li family had spent years establishing its influence in the royal capital and owned extensive assets there. Yet their brief conversation made it clear that Li Yuan had already decided to abandon the city.

Li Ang would have done the same.

The royal capital was crowded, with too many watchful eyes. Orders could not always be carried out quickly, and reallocating personnel required cumbersome procedures. On top of that, its dense population would allow the virus to spread rapidly. Too much could go wrong.

Some assets simply had to be sacrificed.

Jiangzhou, where the family’s home base was located, would be far safer. Thanks to the Li family’s advance preparations, the military had already stepped in and imposed martial law there.

With those measures in place, the impact of the apocalypse would be minimal.

Meanwhile, the emergence of infected people meant the end was drawing closer.

The Chosen Ones should be appearing soon, too.

[Ding! Chosen One detected!]

[Name: Xu Yan.]

[Identity: Second-year student at Royal Capital University.]

[Destined Cheat: Rebirth.]

[Kill Reward: 50 Villain Points.]

[Seizable S-Rank Talent: Soul Brand.]

[Soul Brand: Allows the user to place a mental brand within another person’s brain, ensuring unwavering loyalty. Once applied, the brand remains effective permanently.]

“Right on cue!” Li Ang narrowed his eyes as he listened to the notifications. “Xu Yan… Rebirth…”

A student at Royal Capital University? Why did that name sound familiar?

And his talent was Soul Brand.

As expected of a Chosen One. That ability was practically tailor-made for gathering followers.

While Li Ang considered his next move, a knock sounded at the door, followed by a woman’s cool voice. “Young Master, your fellow student Su Xue is here…”

“Su Xue?” Li Ang’s brows drew together slightly. He had not expected her to turn up at his home.

He disliked disobedient women, and her decision to come uninvited only deepened his displeasure.

He was about to tell her to get lost when something occurred to him. His expression softened at once, and he smiled. “Bring her in.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

The bedroom door opened gently, and two beautiful women with distinctly different demeanors stepped inside.

Su Xue walked in front, visibly uneasy. Her long white dress complemented her graceful figure, and her skin was fair as snow. Without a trace of makeup, her features were flawless, her delicate appearance stirring an instinctive desire to protect her.

Any man would have considered her a rare beauty. She certainly deserved her reputation as the campus belle of one of the Federation’s finest universities.

Yet the celebrated beauty of Royal Capital University showed none of her usual cool reserve. Instead, her expression was anxious and eager to please, every movement cautious.

Su Xue knew Li Ang would dislike her turning up without permission.

But… she truly had no other choice.

Many people believed she was with him for his money. That was part of it, but far from the whole truth.

More than his wealth, she was captivated by the ease with which he wielded power and influence in high society. Meanwhile, most people her age were still at university, spending their days playing games or poring over textbooks.

They were worlds apart.

Behind Su Xue stood Li Ang’s personal bodyguard, Ling Yan, another striking beauty.

Cool and reserved, she rarely smiled and spoke sparingly, though Li Ang was the exception. She also managed every aspect of his daily life, from his clothing and meals to his accommodations and transportation.

Having escorted Su Xue inside, Ling Yan saw that Li Ang had no further instructions. Without another word, she turned and left, closing the door behind her.

Li Ang studied the campus belle before him, then smiled gently. “If I remember correctly, that ex-boyfriend of yours who never even got to hold your hand… His name is Xu Yan, isn’t it?”

…

At the same time, in a men’s dormitory at Royal Capital University, a young man with short hair jolted upright in bed.

Sweat drenched his forehead. His face was pale, and his breath came in sharp, hurried gasps.

After taking in his surroundings, he pinched his thigh, hardly daring to believe what he was seeing. “I… I’ve actually been reborn!”