Apocalyptic Villain: Female Leads, Don't Even Think About Running

Just as Ye Zian entered the training room, a stern and unquestionable voice reached his ears.

"Each of you, complete 50 sets of push-ups, then move to the training pods for one-on-one simulation battles. Those who fail will have to do an additional 50 sets of sit-ups."

An Ziyu, much like the capable instructor described in novels, had awakened the ability [Guardian Warrior], boasting high strength and endurance, with skills that enhance her defense. She was a durable defender-type ability user.

An Ziyu's serious gaze swept over the nearly 80 new recruits. Despite the expanded area of the training room due to the three-story tower, it still couldn't hold all 400 trainees, necessitating group-based training.

However, new recruits in other training rooms were also following the training regimen set by An Ziyu.

First, there was physical training followed by simulated battles against zombies in training pods to overcome personal fears. Next, they engaged in mock battles among team members, and finally, an assessment on how to react to situations similar to the variants Ye Zian had faced. Only after passing these four stages were they allowed to go outside the stronghold for real battles.

This training protocol was designed not only to improve their physical fitness and responsiveness but also to help them conquer their fear of zombies, engage in combat with peers, and handle situations involving mutant zombies, including self-defense and team support.

"Greetings, Lord City Master."

Upon noticing Ye Zian entering from the doorway, all the team members first glanced at An Ziyu. Seeing her nodding slowly, they all stood up to greet Ye Zian, a testament to An Ziyu's strict governance.

"No need, carry on with your training. I'm just here to check the progress."

Ye Zian observed the young women. Their youthful faces had a healthy flush, indicating their recovery was quite effective, looking much more robust than yesterday. Their sweat glistened on partially transparent clothes, revealing curves that went unnoticed as they listened intently like studious pupils to An Ziyu's instructions.

Since they didn't mind, Ye Zian saw no issue in observing impartially. Sitting casually on a bench, he watched their sparring matches, occasionally offering practical advice.

Under An Ziyu's training protocol, 1,500 competent warriors would be ready for field missions within a week, with the remaining 500 sufficiently capable of self-defense and stronghold protection.

Recognizing that instant transformation was unrealistic, Ye Zian didn't naïvely expect everyone to turn into iron-blooded warriors in days. Division of labor—combat units and logistics—was essential, but newcomers needed to adopt a serious attitude. Any slacking or leniency during training would not be tolerated by Ye Zian or An Ziyu.

Without disrupting An Ziyu's regiment, Ye Zian gauged the training of the new recruits and soon exited the tower's gym. Peering at Ye Zian's retreating figure, memories of past events at the tower softened An Ziyu's stern façade, briefly smiling before resuming her disciplined demeanor.

Once outside, Ye Zian pondered over whom he should engrave his ability onto. Seeing An Ziyu, it appeared the novel's heroines retained their abilities as documented.

Chen Ruoxue had [Ice Swordsman], capable of ice-enhanced attacks and mastery over ice skills.

Lin Qianqian wielded [Swift Swordmaster], excelling in speed and summoning clones in advanced stages.

Liu Qinghuan was gifted with [Elemental Magician]—a rare dual-attribute mage wielding both ice and fire.

Though these talents were exceptional and top-tier, they weren't what Ye Zian sought. After much thought, he decided to focus on characters not featured in the original narrative if necessary, considering Zhao Wanrong's mental control might suffice to activate his ability.

Pondering this, a hearty voice in the distance grabbed Ye Zian's attention.

"Boss!"

Anna waved from afar, with the petite Huizi following, her cheeks slightly flushed and deep in thought.

"Boss, how about a match?"

Suddenly, Ye Zian found himself in an unfamiliar space resembling an ancient Roman coliseum—a simulation of the arena, yet distinctly different from the training rooms.

If not for knowing he wasn't within the tower, Ye Zian would have thought it a simulated battle with Anna.

Eyeing Anna across the arena, Ye Zian used his Insight skill on her.

**Anna Marshall**, a first-tier ability user with [Gladiator]: Draws both parties into an illusionary Roman coliseum, enhancing her all attributes by 10% and decreasing enemies' attributes by 10% until either side falls or the initiator nullifies it. Active duration: 30 minutes.

Seeing Anna's ability, Ye Zian's eyes gleamed—it was the retention skill he coveted. Enhancing allies and weakening foes within a coliseum setting made it an unrivaled dueling technique.

Armed with his Soul Blade and Tang Dao, Ye Zian squared off against Anna's dual hammers.

Becoming an ability user had bolstered Anna significantly, adding 100 points to her strength and 40 to other stats, equaling Ye Zian's current strength.

Of course, these stats would shift once Ye Zian inscribed an ability, boosting all his attributes by 60 and widening the gap once more.

The clash of weaponry ended in a draw, leaving Anna astounded at holding her ground against the city master.

With an appreciative glance, she teased, "Boss, if you lose, I'll really have you pinned down."

Raising an eyebrow, Ye Zian felt that either winning or losing could be enticing, though he had no intention to lose.

Anna swung her Earthquake Hammer, executing her skillfully aimed attack.

Dodging swiftly, Ye Zian maneuvered behind Anna, her momentum still carrying her forward due to her skill's rigidity. With his sword poised on her neck, he stated firmly:

"I lost; it seems my dream is shattered."

Anna yielded to Ye Zian's superior agility, acknowledging that even second-tier speed ability users might struggle to match his current dexterity.

Although disappointed, Anna prepared to deactivate her Arena skill, conceding she'd met her match.

---

𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼:

• 𝘽𝙤𝙜𝙙𝙖𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙪

• 𝙅𝙘𝟭𝟮𝟬𝟮

• 𝘼𝙝𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙟𝙖𝙝

𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸:

• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟯𝟱+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.

• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁-𝗢𝘂𝘁: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩!

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀!

👉 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬: 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧