Apocalypse: Transmigrated with an Overlord System
Chapter 86: Waking Up with Searing Pain

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Waking Up with Searing Pain

After what felt like an eternity, Liora groaned softly as she stirred awake. Her head throbbed so badly that she could barely open her eyes. A low moan escaped her lips, her face contorted in pain. Instead of fading, the ache only worsened, spreading through her skull like fire.

What had happened to her? Why did her forehead hurt so badly?

Had she transmigrated into another world again?

"Fuck," Liora muttered under her breath. If that was really the case, she didn’t even know what she’d do. Her anger bubbled, but it felt useless—because as her vision adjusted, she realized she was still in the same place she had fallen asleep in last night. The same cracked ceiling stared back at her. Dust coated the beams, but it was familiar.

She slowly blinked, the harsh light making her squint as her mind grew clearer. Then she remembered the system notifications—the new inner talent she had gained. She had tried it out, hadn’t she?

A small smile tugged at her lips. It hadn’t been a dream. She really had awakened something new. But did not knew, what exactly was this talent capable of?

Her smile faltered as the next memory hit her.

She had tried to extend her ability beyond the villa’s walls, and the moment she did, a searing pain ripped through her skull. The headache was unbearable, and she blacked out on the spot. The system’s panicked voice echoed in her mind like a blaring siren before everything went dark.

So she was only waking up now?

Why hadn’t anyone tried to wake her up? And the rain—had it stopped?

Liora quickly sat up on the couch, groaning at the soreness in her body. She turned to the window. Outside, the sky was clear. No clouds. No rain. It seemed the storm had passed during the night.

That was a relief, at least. Nothing major seemed to have happened.

But when she glanced around, she noticed that everyone else was still sleeping soundly. Their breathing was soft and calm, and no one showed signs of discomfort.

She hurried over to check on Zhou Yinuo and Liang Zihan. She crouched down beside them, her brows furrowed with worry. She still remembered their conversation—how both of them were at risk. As normal humans, they were either going to awaken new powers or... turn into zombies.

But as she checked them closely, her frown slowly eased. They were both fine. No signs of fever. No abnormal breathing. And they hadn’t turned either.

That was strange. Hadn’t the system said people who awakened abilities usually suffered excruciating pain and developed high fevers?

Why were they so peaceful?

A wave of helplessness rose in Liora’s chest. She sighed softly. It would have been best if they could awaken powers. In this world, surviving without one was almost impossible. They couldn’t always rely on others for protection.

Just as she was mumbling to herself, she heard a low groan from behind. She turned quickly and saw Zhao Ren stirring.

Liora rushed over and leaned down beside him. His body shifted slightly, his face contorted in pain.

Was he going through the same thing she had? The same pounding headache?

She squinted at him, curious. If her assumption was right, then the pain she had felt earlier wasn’t because of her overusing her ability—it might be something else entirely.

She sat beside him, staring intently as he slowly came to. Her eyes didn’t leave him, wanting to see his reaction the moment he woke up.

Zhao Ren groaned again, as if he had been crushed by something massive. His whole body hurt. But that didn’t make sense. Nothing had happened last night, so why did it feel like a truck ran him over?

"What the hell..." he suddenly shouted as his eyes snapped open.

The sound startled everyone else. People began to stir and shift from their resting spots.

Liora scowled and backed off a few steps. "Why are you screaming like a slaughtered pig?" she huffed, pouting a little.

Zhao Ren blinked, his face still filled with shock. He looked at Liora as if she had a few screws loose. Who the hell stares at sleeping people like that?

For a second, when he opened his eyes and saw her staring so intensely—her red hair falling messily around her face, shadows making her expression even darker—he’d genuinely thought a brainless zombie was looming over him. He had almost punched her out of reflex.

Thankfully, she stepped away just in time, and he realized she was the girl from the younger team.

"What were you staring at me for?" Zhao Ren grumbled, trying to hide how shaken he was. It definitely wasn’t the kind of stare someone gave you because they liked you. Hers looked more like she was ready to choke the truth out of him if he didn’t talk.

"Did your head hurt?" Liora asked sharply. "Like splitting pain, and a loud siren echoing in your mind?"

Zhao Ren’s expression shifted. He blinked slowly, then nodded. "Yeah... it felt like that..."

"I felt it too," another voice spoke up behind Liora.

It was Ji Ming, now awake and pushing himself up with a groan.

"I felt like that too," another voice chimed behind Liora. It was Ji Ming.

Liora turned sharply, surprised to see him already awake. His face was pale, a fine layer of sweat clinging to his forehead, but his eyes were open and clear.

He was holding his head like it would split in half, and his breathing was still uneven. "It felt like my skull was being cracked open... what the hell happened to us?"

Zhao Ren grunted as he sat up, leaning his back against the wall. "You’re asking me? I thought I got poisoned or something. My whole body felt like it was being hammered... I thought I was dying."

"...Wait," Ji Ming spoke first, more to himself. "That wave. Right before I blacked out, I felt something weird... like a force brushing past me. I couldn’t see anything, but it was cold, like it cut straight through my chest."