The King Of The Apocalypse

The preparation

Marcus found a quiet place away from Aurora tower and checked his bank account.

The balance was disappointing.

He had barely enough to cover his monthly expenses though his employment at Aurora Tower had provided a modest salary but most of it had gone toward Elena's demands.

Thinking about her made his expression darken. For three years, he worked hard and sacrificed his savings to make a woman happy. He even borrowed money on several occasions just to buy her expensive gifts.

What had he received in return?

Betrayal.

Marcus closed the banking application.

There was no point regretting the past. He had fifteen days to change his future and money was the first obstacle he needed to overcome. His salary wouldn't be enough, neither would his savings. He needed another source of money.

Suddenly, a dangerous idea crossed his mind.

Loan sharks.

They were people he had deliberately avoided in his previous life because their interest rates were unreasonable and their methods of recovering debts were even worse.

But Marcus was no longer thinking about the future the way he used to.

He knew exactly when the apocalypse would begin and once it started and the society collapsed, those debts would become meaningless.

Marcus immediately went to a nearby loan office. Immediately he got there. He explained his proposal. He thought about borrowing the whole $10,000,000 once but that huge money might not be granted in his current state. 

“I want to borrow one million dollars.” Marcus exclaimed, staring at his soundings.

The room was full of tension and several muscular guys were staring at him. Sitting before him was their boss, the lender , and Marcus sat down calmly waiting for his response.

"One million dollars?"

The man sitting behind the desk stared at Marcus as though he had just heard a ridiculous joke.

"Do you even understand how much money you're asking for?"

Marcus remained calm.

"I understand."

The lender leaned back in his chair.

"And what makes you think you can repay it?"

"I'll return everything within fifteen days."

The man burst into laughter.

"Fifteen days? Are you planning to rob a bank?"

Marcus didn't respond.

The lender studied him for a moment before his expression became serious.

"Listen carefully. I don't care what you do with the money, but I want every cent returned on the agreed date. If you try to disappear, we'll find you. Do you understand?"

Marcus nodded.

"I understand."

"Good. Then sign the agreement."

He pushed several documents across the desk and Marcus examined the conditions before signing.

He wasn't particularly interested in the man's threats. He had more important things to worry about.

After leaving, he visited two other private lenders.

The process was similar.

They questioned his ability to repay, laughed at his promises and warned him against defaulting.

Marcus accepted every condition.

By the end of the day, he had managed to secure a total of three million dollars through the loans.

It was a considerable amount of money, but it still wasn't enough.

He sat on a bench outside the financial district and checked his account.

Available Funds: $3,000,000.

Marcus exhaled.

"Still seven million short."

He opened the system interface again.

[Initial Survival Quest Progress]

Required Survival Fund: $10,000,000.

Current Funds: $3,000,000.

Remaining: $7,000,000.

[Quest incomplete.]

Marcus frowned.

Three million dollars was already more money than he had ever possessed in his previous life, yet the system considered it insufficient.

He needed to find another way.

Perhaps he could sell the few valuable possessions he owned, but that wouldn't make much difference.

He also couldn't return to his former job.

Derek had already made it clear that he was no longer welcome at Aurora Tower though he also had no intention of returning to that place.

He opened his contacts and searched for people who might be willing to lend him more money. Unfortunately, most of his acquaintances were ordinary employees who had barely enough to support themselves. Borrowing from them would only create unnecessary problems.

Marcus put his phone away.

He needed a better plan.

The system had given him an opportunity, but it hadn't promised to make everything easy.

He had to earn his survival.

As evening approached, Marcus stood near the roadside, watching vehicles move through the city.

“Fifteen days,” he muttered. “In fifteen days, the streets would become hunting grounds for the dead. Supermarkets would be emptied, hospitals would collapse and people who had spent their entire lives depending on money would discover that wealth alone couldn't protect them.” 

Marcus knew what was coming. He knew that the first days would determine who survived and who became another corpse on the streets.

Soon, his thoughts returned to the quest mission. He had three million, but the remaining seven million seemed impossible to obtain within the available time.

Suddenly, another notification appeared.

[Ding! The system has detected the host's financial difficulties.]

[Reminder: The host may obtain additional funds through strategic activities, valuable discoveries and special quests.]

Marcus's eyes narrowed.

"Special quests?"

[Special quests will be issued when suitable opportunities are detected.]

A faint smile appeared on his face.

At least there was another possibility.

He didn't need to figure everything out immediately.

For now, he had to secure a place where he could store his supplies, acquire essential equipment and prepare for the outbreak.

Most importantly, he needed to become stronger.

Marcus looked toward the distant buildings.

In his previous life, he had spent his final moments begging people to save him but this time, he wouldn't depend on anyone.

He would build his own safe haven and gather everything necessary to survive.

And when the apocalypse arrived, he would make sure nobody could ever treat him as disposable again.

Just then, the system appeared again.

[Ding!]

[A new opportunity has been detected.]

Marcus immediately loo

ked at the screen.

[Special Quest Available.]

[Would the host like to accept?]

His smile widened.

"Accept."

[Special Quest activated.]

[Quest details loading…]