STARBREAKER
The story is set half a year after a global catastrophe that plunged Earth into a desolate, post-apocalyptic state. The land is scarred with fissures, and a perpetual black haze covers the sky. Humanity struggles to survive, moving in large, desperate convoys.
Amidst this chaos, mutated creatures have emerged, alongside two new types of humans: Zombies, mindless beings that devour anything living, and Evolved Humans, who have gained enhanced physical abilities and can grow stronger by consuming crystals found in mutated creatures. Lu Yin is one such Evolved Human, designated as "one-zero-three."
The first chapter introduces Lu Yin as he guards a convoy of survivors. He's skilled and ruthless, dispatching a mutated dog with ease but noting the wear on his makeshift weapon. The survivors rely on fire to keep mutated beasts at bay during the night, as travel in the dark is deadly.
Lu Yin, despite his strength, carries a deep personal burden. He recalls a traumatic event where half his body was burned during a city's destruction, witnessing the "condescending eyes and dazzling golden light" of a powerful figure named Liu Shaoge, also known as the Light Saint, one of the "Seven Saints" – the most powerful Sky-level Evolved Humans. Lu Yin harbors a strong desire for revenge against him.
The chapter also highlights the moral decay in the new world. Lu Yin observes sexual assault occurring within the convoy, initially choosing to ignore it as a "normal" consequence of the apocalypse. However, he intervenes when a specific group of evolved humans crosses his line, forcefully warning them off and asserting his dominance. He later receives a cryptic warning about a plot against him from another evolved human.
The journey to Jinling, a large survivor base ruled by the Figure Saint Zhou Shan, is fraught with danger. The convoy faces a terrifying Earth-level mutated vine that massacres many, forcing the entire group to flee. Relief comes only with news that a Saint, Zhou Shan, will personally come to their aid, signaling the immense reverence and hope placed in these top-tier powerhouses by the survivors.
The chapter sets up a bleak world where survival is a daily struggle, humanity's darkness is laid bare, and powerful individuals, both heroic and villainous, shape the new order. Lu Yin stands out as a formidable, yet deeply scarred, individual with a clear personal vendetta.
