Uchiha Renzo smiled and nodded. "That's right! Your guess is correct. We are all alternate versions of the same original person, split across different worlds! Explaining everything would take too long—just put your hand in, and you'll understand!"
"Seeing how you reacted just now, I suddenly find myself interested in you, even if you're a weak newbie."
"Maybe you're a genius scientist or something."
To be honest, whether he was interested or not, they were going to fuse with the newcomer eventually. At the very least, they'd gain a base-level boost in spiritual power and physique.
This wasn't just an ordinary enhancement—it was an innate upgrade. A direct boost to their talent and potential.
Without further explanation, Uchiha Renzo extended his hand toward Eevee Renzo, then motioned with his eyes for the newcomer and others to join in.
"True!" Swordsman Renzo nodded in agreement, placing his hand on Uchiha Renzo's.
"If this guy really is a genius in science and technology," he mused, "then physical and spiritual strength might not be as crucial."
For someone of such high intellect, a lack of strength was never a concern—it would at least raise the collective IQ of the Renzo group. After all, technological advancement offered a powerful and limitless path.
Honestly, Swordsman Renzo's ancient world was a harsh place in many ways, especially when it came to basic living conditions.
Over the past twenty years, he had tried his best to use his intellect to introduce modern inventions and elevate his world's standard of living.
The others also joined in, stacking their hands together.
Then they all turned to look at the newbie.
The pressure was immense.
Despite some hesitation, the New Renzo took a deep breath and placed his hand on top.
In an instant, his mind was flooded with countless memories, knowledge, and abilities. His spiritual power surged, allowing him to quickly process the overwhelming influx of information.
After a while, he finally opened his eyes and exhaled deeply. "So that's how it is? The multiverse is truly full of wonders!"
"I guess you all know where I come from now. Man, you guys arrived just in time! Otherwise, I really wouldn't have known what to do next."
He sighed in relief, clearly indicating that his current situation wasn't great.
Meanwhile, the others had also finished absorbing his memories and abilities, and they exchanged glances.
"So it's that kind of world?"
"A post-apocalyptic world? Damn..."
"No, more like a zombie apocalypse."
"Either way, looks like our new guy is in trouble."
"Trouble? What are you talking about? This guy is literally the protagonist template—both parents dead, left with a huge inheritance, and he's a certified genius. Doesn't that sound familiar?"
"What's the use of money in the apocalypse? It'll just become worthless paper."
That's right—the new Renzo came from a world on the brink of a zombie outbreak.
They recognized several familiar names from his memories: Umbrella Corporation, Wesker, Busujima Saeko, Marikawa Shizuka, Takagi Saya…
Resident Evil + Highschool of the Dead?
Uchiha Renzo looked at him with sympathy. "Damn, dude, you really got the short end of the stick. But I gotta admit, you've prepared well and worked hard!"
"Agreed!" Eevee Renzo nodded. "To survive, you actually started studying biology and genetics right after arriving in your world, turning yourself into a double major scientist? I salute you! You're officially the ultimate nerd!"
His dedication and survival instincts were truly impressive.
Eevee, on the other hand, had no interest in doing something like that.
Why would he, when he could just chill every day?
Especially when he had a personal attendant like Cynthia, who even hugged him to sleep every night.
Life was absolutely perfect. 😊
The only downside was that he still couldn't take human form.
Uchiha Renzo smirked. "Wait a sec, was our past self when we were one, really this hardworking and smart?"
"Hell no!" Eevee Renzo spread his paws in exasperation. "He was just a struggling, no-name web novel writer. What does that have to do with being hardworking or a genius?"
"Cough, cough! Fair point."
Everyone suddenly looked a little embarrassed.
Their original self really let them down.
(Renzo's original self: ???)
Demon Slayer Renzo suddenly slammed his hand on the table, looking serious. "Are we really talking about this right now? Who cares about the original? Who cares if the new guy is a nerd or not? You're all missing the most important detail here!"
Everyone turned to him. "???"
"GIRLFRIENDS! HE HAS GIRLFRIENDS!"
Demon Slayer Renzo was practically fuming. "Did none of you notice? This guy has both Saeko AND Shizuka as his girlfriends!"
"And the worst part? They both know about each other! He's literally dating two girls at the same time! And Saeko was the one who encouraged it!"
"HOW? This bastard is a damn normie!"
He was beyond jealous.
How did this guy get so lucky?
Saeko thought she was too flawed to be a proper girlfriend and initially only wanted to be a lover, but the New Renzo, Apocalypse Renzo convinced her otherwise.
After that, she not only accepted being in a relationship but also encouraged him to find more girlfriends. She even promised to help him if needed…
What kind of twisted mindset was that?!
Demon Slayer Renzo was losing his mind with envy.
Pirate Renzo was the first to react. He jumped up from his seat and pointed at the newbie. "You absolute bastard! I don't even have a single girlfriend! I've never even held a girl's hand! And you're out here with two?!"
"Huh?" Eevee Renzo tilted his head and looked at Pirate Renzo. "Don't you have Kuina? Don't tell me… After all this time, you still haven't even held her hand? Kuina's really cute, you know."
Eevee Renzo gave him a disdainful look.
This guy always bragged about how handsome he was, but in reality, he was completely useless. 😒
The others also stared at Pirate Renzo in disbelief.
Now that they thought about it, they checked his memories… and yeah, it was true.
Pirate Renzo turned red. "I—it's not like that! Kuina is still young! And I'm young too! Making a move now would be… wrong!"
"Yeah, I'm just a gentleman! A proper man of honor! Hmph! I don't need to rush!"
"And besides, I can tell Kuina is totally into me! She's mine sooner or later!"
"Boooooo!" (Eevee Renzo)
"Tsk!" (Swordsman Renzo)
"Get out of here!" (Uchiha Renzo)
"Embarrassing! Just leave the group already!" (Demon Slayer Renzo)
They all rolled their eyes at him.
With how things were going, he'd be stuck in the friend zone forever.