Apocalypse Regression: Possess Myself from the Start

"The male lead of this novel is an archvillain: ruthless, decisive, cold-blooded, and devoid of humanity. No female lead, no stockpiling, a battle of wits plus brutal combat, slow burn. He'll stop at nothing to achieve his goals. The protagonist is not a space-type superpower holdout."

Unknown superpowers emerge. Over a long period of time, human civilization gradually mutates, and superpowered individuals appear one after another. When an individual's abilities can surpass the collective, a new path for civilization's development opens up. Even though awakening a superpower comes at a tremendous cost and means facing death nine times out of ten, people still flock to it, using their abilities to climb to the top. How enviable! Even zombies gradually develop intelligence and yearn to become kings and gods. This is desire, a desire that expands without limit in the apocalypse!

However, there is a group of people who yearn for freedom more than strength, status, power, wealth, or beauty, whether before the apocalypse or after. Shen Xu is one of them. The oppression he suffered from a young age made him long for freedom. Remarkably, his pure heart never wavered. Unfortunately, when the apocalypse came, it brought with it too much malice. After years of torment, the boy had long since become someone else. The so-called freedom belongs only to the strong. Realizing this, Shen Xu thinks constantly about becoming stronger, all for the sake of that freedom. It's too late to wake up? Then he'll start over!

"Shen Xu, what are you doing? You're supposed to be fighting the Zombie King! How dare you rebel!?"

Shen Xu can't help but sneer. He spreads one hand, and, with his body turned to metal, chops off the doctor's head in an instant. Then he strides into the deep-blue tunnel…