Volume One: The Apocalypse Begins Chapter 1: The Strongest in the World? A Sudden Shift in Tone!

On a June morning, though the newly awakened sunlight had yet to reveal its fiery passion, Xiang Chenguang was already drenched in sweat after nearly an hour of jogging. His basketball tank top clung to his body, soaked through, outlining the faint contours of his muscles.

Suddenly, a mechanical voice, indistinguishable as male or female, echoed directly in Xiang Chenguang’s mind: “Ding. Host’s persistent exercise is effective. Please select one reward from the following options.”

A translucent box appeared before his eyes, displaying two choices: A. Increase agility attribute by one point. B. Grow one centimeter taller (to be achieved gradually over the next month).

Xiang Chenguang, accustomed to such prompts, remained expressionless. Slowing his pace from jogging to brisk walking, he strode forward along Riverside Avenue, silently choosing, “Option A.”

“Ding. Host’s agility attribute increased by one. Congratulations, host’s spirit, constitution, and agility attributes have all reached ten points. All physical attributes have reached human limits.”

A warm current seemed to spring from his heart, spreading with his blood throughout his body. His muscles, meridians, and tendons gently stirred under this soothing flow. When it faded, he felt light as air, as if a small leap could defy gravity.

Having experienced many attribute increases before, he knew this was just an illusion caused by the sudden boost; he would adjust with time.

He carefully sensed his body: it was lighter, more flexible, vision sharper, with enhanced dynamic perception. Other than that, no remarkable changes.

Unwilling to accept this, he summoned the system panel for a detailed check. Indeed, only his agility had risen from nine to ten; nothing else had changed.

Anti-Cliché System
Host: Xiang Chenguang (Human Male, 22 years old)
Spirit: 10
Constitution: 10
Agility: 10

Staring at the simple, almost shabby attribute panel—less impressive than a trashy web game—Xiang Chenguang sighed inwardly, “All my physical attributes have hit the human ceiling. So I’m the strongest man alive now? And then?”

Xiang Chenguang had been an ordinary college student: average grades, average looks, average height—so average that even his own mother wouldn’t recognize him in a crowd.

In fact, even outside a crowd, his birth mother probably wouldn’t know him, since he was abandoned at an orphanage as a newborn, with no information left behind.

But he couldn’t be called an orphan either, for he was adopted at age three by his current parents, who treated him lovingly—even after having their biological daughter, they regarded him as their own.

Thus, his background was nothing special.

Yet this ordinary young man suddenly became extraordinary at twenty, when he awakened memories from a previous life and installed a system.

His previous life was far harsher: orphaned young, raised by grandparents who later died during his college years. After struggling alone in society for two years, his memories abruptly ended at age twenty-six—likely due to an untimely death.

Though short and bitter, that life left him a considerable legacy.

Its harsh environment had made him introverted, living mostly in his own world, with only two hobbies to pass time: novels and music.

After piecing together his past memories, Xiang Chenguang planned to spend the remaining two years of university dabbling in plagiarism while studying music.

He realized that although his past and present worlds shared a similar large backdrop, they were not the same—they belonged to parallel universes. So he could freely transplant literary works from his past life and enjoy a happy career as a “literary copycat.”

During university, he would become an online writer, then after graduation, an original singer with a few celebrity girlfriends, embarking on the peak of life—a prospect that thrilled him.

However, just as he was about to start organizing an outline for a popular novel from his past life about spiritual energy revival, the usually inconspicuous system suddenly interrupted: “Ding. This is an Anti-Cliché System. The host’s intended actions are common clichés in online literature and are prohibited.”

His fingers froze over the keyboard, inwardly irritated, “What do you mean? I’m not allowed to be a literary copycat?”

“Yes, host, such actions are fixed clichés in artistic works and are forbidden.”

Xiang Chenguang found it hard to believe. “So my dream of being a star is shattered too?”

“Yes.”

He argued, “System, these clichés exist because the masses love them. Old tropes don’t matter if they work.”

“This system is an Anti-Cliché System,” it replied.

Helpless, Xiang Chenguang slumped into his chair. “Fine, then what do you want me to do?”

“Ding. ‘A Man Should Strengthen Himself’ quest assigned. A passionate youth must sweat under the sun. Host is to complete daily: 100 squats, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and a 3,000-meter jog. After a month of persistence, a reward of physical attribute points or height increase will be granted.”

He touched his thin arm, then considered his height of 174 centimeters. Though daily exercise was a hassle, such rewards within a month seemed manageable.

Besides, this didn’t conflict with being a literary copycat. Everyone knew a sturdy body was crucial in show business—no one wanted to be mocked as a toothpick.

He asked, “What if I insist on being a copycat?”

“The system will fall silent and block access to the host’s past-life memories.”

“Really? I don’t believe it!” he challenged.

Still, his fingers, nimble for games but stiff for typing, began to arrange the outline again.

“Ding. Host behavior violates system rules. System will enter sleep mode and block host’s past-life memories. Countdown: 5… 4…”

Terrified, Xiang Chenguang quickly withdrew his hands from the keyboard, shouting, “Alright! Alright! You win! No need to countdown!”

This system truly refused to play along; its temperament was harsh.

Thus, for the next two years of university, Xiang Chenguang transformed into a sporty young man, strengthening his body under the system’s supervision and rewards.

He held a hope: since he had been reborn and loaded the system, no matter how anti-cliché it was, surely it wouldn’t only make him a physical freak? Perhaps once all physical stats reached human limits, a new breakthrough might appear—maybe even transcendence?

But now—this was it?

Frustrated, he shouted, “System, show yourself! It’s been over two years. Do you know how I’ve spent this time? And what have I gained?”

“Host has gained a body that has reached human limits.”

“Does that mean immortality?”

“No.”

“Can I withstand bullets?”

“No.”

“Then what good are you? Without you, I’d already be a web novel master and original singer.”

Just as his words fell, he suddenly sensed a strange vibration in space, as if something shattered.

Multiple distorted spatial ripples appeared in his vision, through which peculiar scenes and fleeting dark shadows could be glimpsed, unstable and flickering.

At the same time, the same indistinct mechanical voice sounded in his mind: “Ding. Extra-dimensional creatures invading. Apocalypse survival system loaded. First main quest ‘Survive the Apocalypse’ issued. Please check the task panel for details.”