Ruby turned her head and shot me a provocative look, her eyes brimming with smug satisfaction.

I stood at the edge of the crowd, a faint, cold smile tugging at my lips.

Just as I thought.

A moment ago, I had cursed her in my mind, calling her an idiot, and she hadn’t reacted at all. However, the second I started thinking through specific skill data, she responded immediately.

So her mind-reading skill wasn’t all-knowing. It seemed she could only pick up on the most focused, technical thoughts in my mind.

"Faith, looks like you’ve got nothing left to say now, huh?" A tall figure pushed through the crowd. It was the captain of the guard, Zachary Bridges, and my current boyfriend. He walked straight to Ruby’s side, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead with clear concern.

Then he turned to glare at me, his voice thick with disappointment and disgust. "While Ruby was guiding just now, I saw you standing there, smirking the whole time.

"What? Seeing her succeed makes you uncomfortable? Are you really that jealous?"

Ruby immediately tugged at his sleeve, looking wronged but still trying to play the bigger person. "Zachary, don’t say that about Faith. She’s still my senior. Maybe she just needs time to accept that I have talent. I don’t blame her."

"You’re too kind!" Zachary snapped back, clearly indignant. "Some people can’t produce results themselves, so they try to suppress newcomers. The truth speaks for itself. Ruby’s Spark of Dominion works better than all your data ever did!"

General Thomas stepped forward as well. While he wasn’t as aggressive as Zachary, the way he looked at me had turned noticeably colder.

"Faith, the facts are right in front of us. Ruby clearly has greater talent. The situation we’re in doesn’t allow for delay. We need the most efficient guidance method available."

He paused briefly, then made his announcement. "From today onward, the skills research lab will be under Ruby Barrett’s full authority.

"Faith, you’ll assist her from now on. Learn from her."

The surrounding researchers quickly chimed in.

"Seriously, we used to think Faith was impressive. Turns out she got outshined by her own assistant."

"Ruby’s the real deal. Morgan was stuck for so long, and she fixed him with one touch."

Faced with accusations from every direction, I didn’t break down as I had in my past life. Instead, I calmly removed the Chief Researcher badge from my chest and set it lightly on the table.

"Sure," I said evenly. "Since you are so capable, I’ll leave all future guidance work to you, Ruby."

Ruby hadn’t expected me to comply so easily. A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes, but was quickly replaced by uncontrollable delight.

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Faith. I’ll do my best! Though for some of the more complex theories… I might still need your help to check things over."

I looked at her and smiled.

"Don’t worry. For the sake of the base and all of humanity, I’ll do everything I can to help you."

For the next half month, I stayed by Ruby’s side, "assisting" her.

No matter how complex the situation was, the moment we encountered a difficult awakening case, I would immediately construct the optimal guidance model in my mind.

A fire-element user going berserk?

I silently ran through it in my head, 'Compress oxygen density…'

Ruby followed instantly. Success.

A water-element user suffering from dehydration?

I analyzed internally, 'Replenish electrolytes…'

Ruby did the same again. Problem solved, flawlessly.

With my cooperation, Ruby’s reputation skyrocketed. She was hailed as the savior of the apocalypse, the Mother of Elements. Some even proposed building a statue in her honor.

As Ruby’s position solidified, another matter that drew the attention of the entire base was pushed onto the agenda: the Genesis Initiative.

In this apocalyptic world, the human population had plummeted. Preserving superior genetics had become the top priority.

The base had set a rule: only men and women certified with top-tier genetic ratings were qualified to pair and produce offspring, and they would receive the highest level of resource allocation.

Zachary and I had both been recognized as top-tier. He was the strongest captain of the guard while I was the chief researcher. Our union had once been seen as the future of the base.

But now, the tide had shifted.

After an exploration team returned with a large haul of supplies, the base held a celebration.

General Thomas, flushed with excitement, raised his glass. "To celebrate Ruby Barrett becoming the Mother of Elements, we have decided to grant this year’s sole reproduction slot to her!

"And the male partner selected for her will naturally be our finest—Captain Zachary Bridges!"

The moment he finished speaking, the entire room erupted in cheers.

Ruby’s face flushed instantly. She lowered her head shyly, her gaze drifting toward Zachary before she glanced at me with feigned hesitation.

"This... this isn’t right, is it? Zachary is Faith’s boyfriend. How could I take someone else’s partner? That would be so wrong..."

The crowd immediately started egging her on.

"Ruby, look at the situation we’re in. Why are you still thinking about love and relationships? You’re too kind!"

"Exactly! For the future of humanity, of course, the strongest should pair with the strongest!"

"Faith’s just an assistant now. How could her genetics possibly compare to your Spark of Dominion?"

"Faith should understand, right? This is for all of humanity!"

Every gaze turned toward me, sharp as blades.

Zachary stood up, his expression filled with righteous resolve. He walked over, took my hand, and spoke with feigned tenderness, "Faith, I know this is unfair to you. I’m in pain too. But as captain of the guard, I have to put the bigger picture first.

"For the continuation of humanity, for a stronger next generation, I’m willing to sacrifice my personal happiness. I believe you’ll understand my position, right?"

Looking at his righteous expression, I almost laughed out loud.

Sacrifice his happiness?

In my past life, when Ruby framed me for conducting human experiments, had my limbs broken, and threw me into the zombie pit, Zachary, who claimed to love me, hadn’t even come to see me once. He didn’t even spare me a glance.

Even after I died, when my soul drifted above the base, I saw it with my own eyes.

He and Ruby were tangled together in my laboratory. They had been involved with each other all along.

I pulled my hand free, a solemn, almost tragic expression settling over my face. "Zachary, you’re right. In the face of humanity’s survival, what does personal love even matter?"

I turned and looked at Ruby Barrett, who stood there with guilt written all over her face. "Ruby, since everyone thinks you two are the better match, then I’ll step aside and make it happen. I hope you’ll give humanity the strongest possible child. Don’t let everyone’s expectations down."

"Faith..." Ruby’s eyes filled with tears, visibly moved. "Thank you! You’re incredible! Zachary and I will never forget your sacrifice!"

Zachary let out a breath of relief. "Don’t worry, Faith. When we have a child, we’ll have them call you their godmother."

The entire room erupted into applause.

I stood in the corner, watching the pair being elevated onto a pedestal, a cold gaze in my eyes.

The party didn’t last long.

Three days later, the most critical day arrived. It was the destined day when the base’s Supreme Leader, Commander Alden Morris, would awaken an elite lightning skill.

Ruby had been thriving these past few days. Every time she saw me scribbling calculations into my notebook, she grew more confident.

As long as I had a plan ready, it meant she did too.

The three days passed in a blink.

At exactly noon, the clouds above Vanguard Base began to churn violently. Dark violet storm clouds swallowed the sky in an instant.

Commander Morris’s awakening had begun.

Outside the isolation chamber, arcs of purple lightning lashed wildly through the air.

"The energy index is spiking. It’s already past the critical threshold!" A monitor operator shouted in panic.

"We have to begin guidance immediately, or there’ll be an energy detonation within three minutes!"

General Thomas was drenched in sweat as he turned to Ruby. "Ruby, the entire base is counting on you. This is elite-level. Are you confident?"

Even in the face of a storm that could tear the world apart, Ruby’s expression remained calm and assured.

These past few days, she had personally watched me work through every calculation without rest. She was convinced that as long as she linked into my mind, she could simply copy everything. She lifted her chin slightly.

"General, don’t worry. Elite or not, with my Spark of Dominion, everyone is the same. For me, guiding Commander Morris’s awakening is as easy as drinking water."

Zachary stood nearby, practically vibrating with excitement. "Ruby, you’re the true Mother of Elements!"

Ruby turned and shot me a condescending glance. "Faith, what are you standing there for? Move.

"I’m confident, but you know that guiding an elite skill drains an immense amount of mental energy. You’ll assist me from the side. Keep your mind sharp. Don’t fall behind my pace and embarrass me."

Through the thick reinforced glass, I looked at Commander Morris inside. His body was wrapped in lightning, his screams filled with agony.

In my past life, I had poured everything into saving him. In the end, Ruby took all the credit and then turned around and destroyed me.

I lowered my head, hiding the fleeting trace of mockery in my eyes, and followed obediently.

The isolation chamber door slid open. Violent lightning elements surged toward us.

Commander Morris stood bare-chested at the center, restrained by chains, his eyes bloodshot. He was already on the verge of losing control.

Ruby stepped forward, striking an elegant, professional pose. Then, her mental tendrils urgently plunged into my mind. That familiar sensation of intrusion washed over me again.

The next second, Ruby’s lips curled upward as she shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Follow me. Left hand, right hand, slow motion… three turns left, three turns right, twist your neck, twist your hips!"

Outside the chamber, everyone waiting anxiously froze, their eyes widening in shock.