Reborn with a Space: Hoarding Food and Raising My Kid

Zane Locke’s face was a mask of indifference, but his heart had sunk. This was the second time they’d been stonewalled in the mere half-hour since arriving at the safe base.

His team, including himself, had only three Middle Level superpower users. In their earlier confrontation with that woman, they had instantly lost a Middle Level plant-type user and a Second Level Fire Ability User.

’This time, I’m getting my revenge no matter what!’

"Morgan Sterling is dead? When?" Suppressing his rage, he glared at Ethan Monroe, trying to intimidate the large, heavyset man with his sheer presence.

"Yesterday. Now, move it, move it. I have to see my boss!" Ethan Monroe was about to lead Mark Sterling, Fa Keyou, and Shelly away when he noticed the group still blocking the doorway. "Hey! Didn’t you hear me? This is private property. Get lost!"

Just as Zane Locke frowned and opened his mouth to speak, the Spiritual Ability User on his team suddenly cut in.

"Shelly? You’re Shelly, right? Do you remember me? It’s me, Chester Bell! You saved my life, remember?"

Shelly stared blankly at the man who had grabbed her, his face alight with excitement. Her eyes were glazed with confusion. "You are...? Do I know you?"

Chester Bell’s expression froze. "You... you don’t recognize me? Three months ago, at the intersection on Grand Locust Road, I was unconscious. You gave me CPR. You saved me."

Every day of the past month in this apocalypse had felt like an eternity to Shelly. It seemed everyone was forgetting the time before it all began.

Shelly thought for a long moment before a flicker of recognition crossed her face. Her gaze immediately became evasive, and she ducked behind Mark Sterling. "Oh, it’s you. Uh, I told you back then, it was Dr. Preston who saved your life, not me. I’m just a nurse. For emergency procedures, we only provide assistance." Shelly explained, waving her hands dismissively. When she saw Chester Bell try to move closer, she shrank further behind Mark Sterling.

"I know it was you and Dr. Preston, but there’s nothing wrong with me thanking you, is there? Shelly, I’m so happy to see you here!" Zane Locke noted Chester Bell’s excited expression.

"Oh? You’re a nurse?" Zane Locke looked at the petite woman with bright, yet furtive, eyes. "Interested in joining my team?"

His subordinates weren’t just the superpower users he had with him; most were ordinary people. Medical personnel were in short supply in the apocalypse, so having a nurse on the team would be a huge asset.

Before Shelly could answer, Ethan Monroe stepped back in front of her, blocking Zane Locke’s view.

"Buddy, trying to poach my people right in front of me? That’s not cool."

Chester Bell snorted. "What? You think you can stop us? Let me tell you, my boss is a Middle Level Wind Ability User. All of you combined wouldn’t even be a warm-up for him."

Zane Locke clapped Chester Bell on the shoulder. "Why are you wasting your breath on them?" He turned his gaze to Shelly. "Miss Nurse, if you join our team, I guarantee you three square meals a day and all the water you need. You’ll never go hungry."

Shelly turned her head away and scoffed, "Do I look like I’m starving? And you, Chester Bell, I don’t like you. Can you just stop pestering me?!"

Mark Sterling and the others exchanged glances. ’So this guy had a crush on Shelly before the apocalypse. No wonder he’s being so clingy now that he’s run into her.’

"Shelly, don’t lie to me! Look how thin you are! You must not be eating well in the apocalypse. You’ve lost so much weight I almost didn’t recognize you. Just come with me, and I promise I’ll take good care of you. Join us!"

Ethan Monroe frowned and shoved the advancing Chester Bell. "Hey, buddy, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. She’s clearly not interested in you!"

"What did you say? Say that again!" Chester Bell glared at Ethan Monroe, a flash of yellow light flaring in his eyes.

Ethan Monroe froze, a sudden, stabbing pain lancing through his head as if he were being pierced by needles. His tall, sturdy frame buckled, and he squatted down, clutching his head in agony.

"Hmph! You had to do it the hard way. Who the hell do you think you are? You think I need your permission to take a woman?"

Meanwhile, Joel Bloom was out training with Five and Nolan Jennings. Ever since Flora Bloom had told him he could awaken a superpower, he had resolved to follow her advice and asked Lex Cross and the others to create a training plan for him.

Lex Cross had assigned Five and Nolan Jennings to be Joel Bloom’s trainers. For a young man with a slight build, weighted runs were the first step.

But after training for most of the day, just as they were about to head back to the villa area behind the isolation gate for a break, they saw Ethan Monroe and his group surrounded by about twenty men.

Ethan Monroe was already on the ground, clutching his head and writhing in what looked like extreme pain.

"Old Monroe!"

"Old Monroe!"

The three of them rushed over. Joel Bloom and Five helped Ethan Monroe up, only to find him drenched in a cold sweat that soaked his clothes. His face was turning a purplish-blue, and the whites of his eyes were showing.

As soon as Five and Nolan Jennings arrived, they sensed the fluctuation of a Spiritual Ability. Looking at Ethan Monroe’s condition, it was clear he’d been attacked by a Spiritual Ability User.

Nolan Jennings scanned the twenty-odd men surrounding them, his gaze finally resting on one of the younger ones.

"Friend, I don’t know how Old Monroe might have offended you, but why are you attacking him with your Spiritual Ability?"

Chester Bell just snorted. Instead of stopping, he intensified the output of his spiritual power.

Ethan Monroe’s body immediately went into convulsions, and he began to foam at the mouth.

"Attacking someone so viciously on a first meeting? Looks like we can forget about being civil with you!" Five’s eyes narrowed, and Wind Blades shot from all directions toward the man using the Spiritual Ability.

"So vicious at such a young age. Let your big brother Five teach you some manners!"

When Five’s Wind Blades reached the air around Chester Bell, they seemed to freeze in place.

Zane Locke let out a soft chuckle and looked at Five. "So, a Level 3 Wind Ability User. No wonder you’re so arrogant. But before you hurt my subordinate, shouldn’t you ask for my opinion as his boss?"

Five’s brow furrowed. His Wind Ability had clearly been intercepted by someone of the same element. To block another’s superpower, you not only had to be of the same element, but your Superpower Level also had to be higher than the caster’s.

’A Middle Level Wind Ability User. No wonder he’s so cocky.’

They watched as Ethan Monroe’s face turned nearly black and blue. If the spiritual power attack continued, even if he survived, there was no guarantee his spiritual source wouldn’t be shattered. That would not only cause him to lose his superpower but could also turn him into an imbecile.

"Friend, let’s talk this out. Whatever the problem is, we can discuss it. Why be so ruthless?" Nolan Jennings said, trying to stall for time. With his hands behind his back, he signaled for Joel Bloom to slip away and get reinforcements.

It didn’t matter if he went to find Flora Bloom or their own boss. As long as one of them showed up, this situation would be easily resolved.

Joel Bloom got the signal and was about to back away slowly, but a red vine shot up from the ground and wrapped tightly around him.

"Who’s there? Let me go!" He struggled for a moment but found that with every movement, the barbs on the red vine dug into his skin, making it both painful and itchy. After just a few seconds, Joel Bloom felt his limbs grow weak and numb.

"The vine is poisonous!"

"Joel!" Shelly cried out, looking at Joel Bloom. She rushed over to check on him but was yanked back by Chester Bell, who grabbed her wrist.

"Shelly, I really, really like you! Please, don’t keep avoiding me like you used to, okay? I’m powerful now. I’ll treat you well!"

Shelly tried to pull free but found she couldn’t break Chester Bell’s grip. Mark Sterling and Fa Keyou moved to help but were suddenly bound tightly by more red vines, unable to move. Within seconds, they too felt their limbs go numb and weak.

Five’s face darkened as he looked at the twenty-plus men. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Zane Locke burst out laughing. "We’ve already started. What are you going to do about it?" He glanced at the unconscious Ethan Monroe on the ground, stepped over his body, and stood before the main entrance of Morgan Sterling’s villa.

"This villa was the home of the base’s former leader, after all. Since the former leader is dead, it’s only natural that I, the new leader, should move in. I assume no one has any objections, right?"