Chapter 1

As the only Purifier left in this post-apocalyptic wasteland, I had a unique gift.

I could strip the infection from any victim within twelve hours of their bite, restoring them to perfect health.

In my past life, the Sanctuary Leader promised to build me a world-class lab if I saved Shane Sterling.

Shane was an S-rank powerhouse on the brink of turning into a monster.

After he woke up, he made a grand show of his devotion and married me in front of everyone.

With my powers backing him, Shane eventually rose to rule the entire wasteland.

But on the day I went into labor, he strapped a bomb to our newborn and used the baby as bait for a horde.

I screamed, begging to know why, only for him to hand me over to a group of deviants.

They spent thirty days breaking me in ways I can't describe.

Finally, he dragged my broken, shattered self to the edge of a zombie swarm.

As their teeth tore into my skin, he roared at me with a face full of hatred.

"You and your useless Purifier status! Susannah's healing gift could have saved me just as well!"

"If it wasn't for you, Susannah wouldn't have tried to prove herself and died out there! This is all your fault!"

"You think you're so special because you can clean the virus? Then crawl your way out of this one!"

I died in agony as the monsters feasted on my heart.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in that room, surrounded by people begging for my help.

I simply shook my head.

"I'm not as capable as you think. It was probably just the antidote that did all the work before."

1

The moment the words left my mouth, the Sanctuary Leader wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

He signaled his men to bring in several crates of premium supplies as an offering.

"You're joking, Seraphina. If the antidotes worked, this nightmare would have ended years ago!"

"Everyone knows the Purifier is our last hope. You're practically our Savior!"

"Please, you have to save our boss! The monthly horde is coming, and without him, the Sanctuary won't stand a chance!"

The elite squad members chimed in, some even dropping to their knees to beg.

In my past life, I exhausted myself to save Shane's life, only to be rewarded with a brutal death.

I had saved these very men countless times, yet not one of them lifted a finger when Shane threw me to the wolves.

Hatred flickered in my chest, and I let a small smile touch my lips.

I wouldn't even save a stray dog in this room, let alone any of them.

The dizziness of rebirth was still swirling in my mind, and I didn't feel like playing along.

I walked to the door and opened it with cold indifference.

"You've got the wrong person. Please leave."

Suddenly, Shane burst into the room ahead of schedule.

His face was pale from the infection, but it couldn't hide his burning rage.

"I'd rather turn into a monster than let a fraud like her touch me!"

Levin-blue electricity crackled around his body as he glared at me with pure loathing.

With a flick of his wrist, a bolt of lightning shattered my door into splinters.

"Wreck the place!"

A mob of his followers stormed in, smashing my medicine vials and research equipment to pieces.

I was shoved to the ground and kicked several times by the very people I used to protect.

I watched them with cold eyes, realizing that Shane had likely been reborn too.

That was the only reason he would rush here to stop the treatment.

He grabbed Susannah Evans and pulled her in front of the crowd, his voice shaking with excitement.

"Susannah has awakened a healing gift! She can save me! We don't need this liar!"

The crowd erupted into whispers, their eyes filling with a new kind of hope.

Only the Sanctuary Leader looked concerned.

"This isn't a game, Shane. The Purifier is the safer bet."

Shane's expression darkened, and he let out a mocking sneer.

"Uncle, has she brainwashed you?"

"She's just a lucky thief using stolen antidotes to play hero. You actually think she's a savior?"

Susannah raised her voice, dripping with disdain.

"Some people just love taking credit while contributing nothing to the Sanctuary."

"It's honestly pathetic!"

"Saving lives is my calling. I don't need to be begged to do my job, and I certainly don't hide behind excuses!"

She shot me a provocative look.

The two of them performing together like this was starting to give me a headache.

"Fine. You've said your piece, now get out," I said, standing up.

"If you waste any more time, you'll be sobbing in the arms of your zombie brothers soon enough."

A flash of electricity hissed through the air, and a small explosion scorched the skin on my shoulder.

Shane stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face.

"Seraphina Marlowe, how dare you curse me!"

"A piece of trash like you isn't fit to breathe the same air as Susannah. If it wasn't for the pressure from the elders, I never would have looked at you!"

I gripped my wounded shoulder, remembering how he used to blast any zombie that got too close to me.

"In this life, you're going to watch me and Susannah live happily ever after!"

Because he had used his powers twice, the gray haze of the infection was already thickening around his skin.

I didn't bother to warn him.

"Is that so? Then congratulations to you both."