Apocalypse: I Raised the Ultimate Antagonist from Scratch

Moving an entire depot population, tons of salvaged rations, and heavy hardware across the treacherous mountain pass was never going to be a swift operation.

It took a full, grueling twenty-four hours of non-stop logistics, mechanical maintenance, and defensive maneuvers to complete the transport from the secondary depot to the research center.

Across three distinct transport waves, the armored convoy worked like a relentless iron clockwork. While Wave Two and Wave Three encountered scattered roaming threats along the lower ridge, Han Zheng’s tight command and ruthless efficiency kept the perimeter clear. By the time the final transport pulled through the blast gates, not a single civilian or guard had sustained serious injury.

The primary loading bay of the research center hummed with the deep, mechanical vibrations of cooling engines and heavy pneumatic lifts.

Exhausted soldiers killed their ignitions, and offloaded civilians stretched their cramped limbs under the bright halogen overheads.

Standing near the central staging platform, Han Zheng stripped off his heavy gloves, his tall frame radiating a quiet, unyielding authority despite the full day of continuous operation. Beside him stood Lu Feng, holding an updated digital manifest of the incoming supplies and personnel.

”Lu Feng,” Han Zheng called out, his deep voice easily cutting through the ambient noise of the unloading bay. He gestured toward the two men stepping down from the lead armored truck.

”Come over here. I want to formally introduce you to the leaders from the depot.”

Lu Feng stepped forward immediately, coming to a crisp, attentive stance as Song Yan and Guo Jiong approached.

”This is Captain Lu Feng, head of perimeter security and internal base discipline,” Han Zheng introduced smoothly. Looking back at Lu Feng, he continued, ”This is Song Yan, leader of the secondary depot, and Guo Jiong, who managed the civilian security detail.”

Lu Feng extended a firm hand, offering both men a respectful nod. ”Welcome to our base. We’ve cleared out logistics space to ensure your integration is as smooth as possible.”

”We appreciate it, Captain,” Song Yan replied, shaking Lu Feng’s hand with a strong, grounded grip. ”We know taking in an entire depot group on short notice is a heavy strain on your base’s resources. We aren’t here to make trouble.”

Guo Jiong nodded in agreement, holding his young daughter close against his side. ”Commander Han’s generosity saved our people. Whatever rules or security boundaries you have in place, my crew will follow them to the letter.”

Standing near the back of the unloading line, leaned heavily against a steel support pillar, was Yang Jun.

He was practically dead on his feet. His clothes were covered in grease and dust, his arms throbbed with deep muscular fatigue, and his eyes were bloodshot from sheer exhaustion.

For twenty-four straight hours, Han Zheng had run him completely ragged. The moment Wave Two had departed, Han Zheng had placed Yang Jun under his direct, relentless supervision—assigning him one backbreaking, tedious task after another.

Yang Jun had been ordered to haul heavy ammunition crates, conduct non-stop physical perimeter sweeps on foot, inspect tire treads in sub-zero drafts, and unload heavy iron beams without a single minute of rest.

Han Zheng had deliberately kept him so physically drained and constantly monitored that Yang Jun hadn’t even had three free seconds to think, let alone scheme or make contact with anyone inside the base.

As Yang Jun stood there wiping sweat off his brow with a trembling hand, his ears caught the casual conversation happening between the commanders near the platform.

”...If it hadn’t been for you saving Lin Qing near the lower ridge after her fall,” Lu Feng was saying with genuine gratitude, ”we might have lost her entirely. We all owe you a massive debt.”

Hearing those words, an ugly, poisonous rage flared deep within Yang Jun’s chest.

’They saved her?’ Yang Jun thought bitterly, his jaw clenching so hard his teeth groaned. ’Those dirty depot scavengers were the ones who ruined my plan?!’

His blood boiled with intense, silent fury. He had staged that cliff ”accident” so carefully, taking an immense personal risk to finally rid himself of Lin Qing and settle his old grudge.

He had believed she was dead and gone. Yet not only had she survived, but these random, useless depot survivors had dragged her back into the light—and now Han Zheng had brought them right into the heart the research center as honored guests!

Yang Jun’s chest heaved with suppressed anger, his nails digging sharp crescents into his palms. He wanted to scream, to lash out, to curse every single one of them. But the very second his dark gaze flicked toward Han Zheng, he caught the commander’s cold, razor-sharp eyes scanning the crowd.

Instantly, a wave of icy dread washed over Yang Jun. He forced his facial muscles to relax, swallowing his venom, and quickly plastered a tired, compliant smile onto his pale face. He lowered his head, pretending to inspect his boots, hiding the burning hatred in his eyes.

With Han Zheng watching his every single breath, he knew that a single slip-up would end with a bullet through his skull.

Han Zheng’s eyes lingered on Yang Jun for a fraction of a second, noting the soldier’s complete physical depletion, before turning his attention back to the housing logistics.

”Lu Feng,” Han Zheng directed, his voice crisp and clear. ”The general civilian population from the depot will be housed in the upper-floor canteen block. It’s fully functional, spacious, warm, and easily monitored. They will have access to clean water and cooking facilities, but their keycards will strictly restrict them from entering the research sectors, armories, or administrative decks or any forbidden areas.”

”Understood, Commander,” Lu Feng noted, logging the security parameters directly into his tablet. ”I’ll station twenty-four-hour rotational sentries at the canteen access points.”

”As for Song Yan, Guo Jiong, and their primary squad leads,” Han Zheng continued, ”assign them to the primary residential suite wing. They will be housed in the same sector as Dr. Zhou’s quarters.”

Song Yan stepped forward, nodding firmly. ”That works for us. I’ve already spoken to my trusted squad leaders. Once we get everyone moved up to the canteen, I’m personally instituting strict shifts for our own people. Nobody steps out of line, nobody wanders into restricted corridors, and quiet hours will be enforced. You’re giving us a roof over our heads, Commander; we won’t let anyone ruin it.”

”Good,” Han Zheng replied smoothly. ”Thankfully, your crew has proven disciplined so far.”

”Hey! Brother!”

A sharp, complaining voice interrupted the professional exchange. Lu Ning came marching out from the side corridor, a clipboard clutched tightly against her chest. Her face was flushed with annoyance as she looked over the crowd of weary civilians and mud-splattered guards being led toward the lift hubs.

She stopped right beside Lu Feng, shooting a disdainful, condescending glance at Song Yan and Guo Jiong.

”Brother, are you seriously letting all these refugees into the primary residential suite wing?” Lu Ning whined loudly, her tone dripping with unhidden privilege and arrogance. ”The upper wings are meant for core base personnel! Why should these outsiders get comfortable suite access? It’s completely unfair!”

Guo Jiong’s expression tightened slightly, and Song Yan’s eyes narrowed at the girl’s blatant disrespect.

Before either of the depot leaders could even respond, Lu Feng turned on his heel. His face hardened into a mask of pure, frigid authority as he glared down at his younger sister.

”Lu Ning! Shut your mouth!” Lu Feng barked, his voice ringing out loud and sharp across the transit bay, instantly silencing her.

Lu Ning flinched, stepping back in shock as her brother’s cold eyes locked onto hers.

”You forget your place,” Lu Feng reprimanded her sternly, his tone laced with absolute disappointment. ”You are currently under active disciplinary restriction for your past misconduct. You hold zero authority in this base, and you certainly do not speak for this base’s leadership. Commander Han has made a strategic and moral decision to house our allies properly. If I hear another disrespectful word come out of your mouth toward our guests, I will personally strip your remaining privileges and reassign you to lower sanitation duty for a month. Do you understand me?”

Lu Ning’s face turned bright red with intense embarrassment. She looked around, realizing that several guards and civilians were watching her get torn down. She bit her lip so hard it nearly bled, her eyes brimming with humiliated tears.

”I... I understand,” Lu Ning muttered through gritted teeth, stomping her foot before turning sharply and running back down the hallway.

Lu Feng let out a heavy sigh, turning back to Song Yan and Guo Jiong with an apologetic expression. ”I apologize for my sister’s behavior. She has been spoiled and lacks proper discipline.”

”No harm done, Captain,” Song Yan replied calmly, his respect for Lu Feng rising slightly seeing how cleanly the captain handled internal discipline. ”We know how to ignore petty noise.”

Han Zheng watched the scene play out without a word, his expression unreadable. He turned toward the central lift, keying in his personal command code. ”Lu Feng, oversee the final transfer of the canteen supplies and set up the perimeter sentries. I’m heading up to the command wing to review the long-range sensor reports.”

”Yes, Commander!” Lu Feng saluted.

As Han Zheng stepped into the lift, he cast one final, cold glance back toward the loading bay. Yang Jun was currently being marched off by Xiao Li to haul the remaining fuel canisters into the lower storage vaults, his body practically slumping from sheer exhaustion.

Satisfied that every threat was contained and every boundary clearly set, Han Zheng allowed the heavy elevator doors to slide shut, riding the lift upward toward the quiet, secure residential suite.