Lucas returned from the space with a thought, silk sheets and golden sunlight replacing open fields in an instant.
He moved straight to the desk.
Planning was survival.
And this time, survival meant preparing not just for chaos—but for two months of absolute human vulnerability.
He pulled up the date again.
June 22, 2221.
The apocalypse would begin on February 22, 2222.
And one crucial detail from Rise of Sorrow tightened his chest—
Humans would not awaken their superpowers immediately.
Abilities didn't manifest until two months after the apocalypse began.
For sixty days, humanity would be defenseless.
Mutated animals would rampage.
Plants would turn carnivorous.
Infected humans would spread the zombie virus like wildfire.
But ordinary people?
They would still be ordinary.
Including Kayden.
Including the children.
Those first two months were the bloodiest in the novel.
Which meant conventional preparation wasn't optional.
It was everything.
**********
1. Food & Water
Even with the farmland inside his dimension, early-stage chaos would make outside gathering impossible.
He began listing:
- Freeze-dried meals
- Military-grade MREs
- Rice, flour, pasta, beans
- Canned meats, vegetables, fruit
- Salt, sugar, spices, oil
- Infant formula
- High-calorie nutrition bars
- Vacuum-sealed seeds
- Livestock breeding pairs
Water systems:
- Industrial filtration units
- Reverse osmosis systems
- Portable purification tablets
- Massive storage tanks
- Collapsible containers
The spiritual lake could sustain them long-term—but he couldn't rely solely on it, especially not before securing Kayden's trust.
Redundancy meant survival.
***********
2. Medicine & Protection
The spiritual water was powerful.
It could:
Accelerate wound healing
Help cure/prevent common illnesses
Detox harmful substances
Strengthen the body over time
But it could not cure the zombie virus.
A bite or deep scratch from an infected mutant still meant inevitable transformation.
So prevention would be non-negotiable.
Medical supplies:
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics
- Antivirals
- Pain management medication
- Surgical kits
- Blood clotting agents
- IV fluids
- Sterile bandages
- Medical reference manuals
- Portable diagnostic equipment
Protective gear:
- Bite-resistant sleeves and jackets
- Reinforced gloves
- Neck guards
- Respirators
- Full-face shields
***********
3. Weapons & Defense
Because for the first two months—
There would be no fire powers.
No telekinesis.
No enhanced regeneration.
Only bullets and blades.
He listed:
- Handguns
- Assault rifles
- Shotguns
- Ammunition in bulk
- Combat knives
- Machetes
- Tactical crossbows
- Reinforced batons
- Body armor
Surveillance and security:
- Motion sensors
- Thermal cameras
- Steel barricades
- Reinforced doors
- Early-warning alarm systems
Kayden would eventually become one of the strongest superhumans alive.
But in those first sixty days—
He would bleed like anyone else.
**********
4. Infrastructure & Power
Electric grids would fail within days.
Cities would collapse into darkness.
They needed full independence.
Industrial generators
Solar panels
Wind turbines
Stabilized fuel reserves
Battery banks
Satellite communication
HAM radios
Heavy-duty vehicles
Spare parts
Construction equipment
Air and water systems:
Advanced HEPA filtration
Carbon filtration layers
Positive-pressure ventilation
Internal water recycling
Sealed airlocks
In the novel, airborne spores appeared in certain regions.
Toxic rainfall followed atmospheric instability.
Breathing outside wouldn't always be safe.
**********
5. Climate Survival & Essentials
The post-apocalyptic climate would be violently unstable.
Mornings could reach 80°C, heat waves intense enough to melt infrastructure.
By night, temperatures could drop into sudden snowstorms.
Downpours without warning.
Acidic rain in some regions.
Earthquakes increasing in frequency.
Tornadoes forming unpredictably.
Tectonic shifts reshaping landscapes.
So clothing and shelter had to withstand extremes:
- Heat-resistant suits
- Thermal winter gear
- Waterproof layers
- Insulated boots
- Cooling vests
- Emergency blankets
Hygiene supplies:
- Toiletries in bulk
- Disinfectants
- Feminine hygiene products
- Diapers
- Portable sanitation systems
Civilization might fall.
Bacteria would not.
Lucas leaned back slowly.
Supplies were manageable.
The true challenge was structural survival.
The manor would not withstand what was coming.
They needed something engineered beyond modern luxury.
The safe house must be:
- Underground
- Earthquake-resistant
- Tornado-resistant
- Insulated against 80°C heat and sub-zero cold
- Radiation-shielded
- Capable of withstanding an atomic-level blast
- Reinforced concrete layered with steel plating.
- Shock absorption foundations.
- Deep subterranean living quarters.
Independent oxygen supply.
Independent water source.
Independent power grid.
Self-sustaining.
For at least two years.
Lucas stared at the peaceful gardens beyond the window.
Eight months until collapse.
Two months of total human weakness after that.
If he failed—
Kayden would lose his children.
And grief would forge the merciless tyrant the novel had once glorified.
Lucas closed the planning document and stood.
He didn't just need supplies.
He needed Kayden Black to believe him.
Because preparing for the end of the world required more than resources.
It required power.
And for sixty days—
Until humanity awakened—
Power would mean survival.