The big hall was their new command center now. It was filled with a low buzz of voices, and the late afternoon sun slanted through the windows, making long shadows on the wooden floor. Han Zhe, Jiang Lie, and Jing Yu were gathered around a worn table, their faces lit by a single lamp.
Han Zhe leaned forward, his big hands on the table. "We can't put off training them forever," he said, his voice a low rumble. He looked at Jiang Lie. "But with the sun going down, it would be crazy to go out. The dark turns the streets into a death trap."
Jiang Lie nodded, tapping a finger on the lamp base. "Tomorrow morning, then. Let them rest, let the idea sink in. We have enough people to start small groups. We'll teach them how to get away first, to build their confidence without scaring them too much."
She thought about the survivors. They were barely holding it together; one bad move, and their last bit of hope could be gone.
Jing Yu, leaning on the table with his axe nearby, rubbed his chin. "I agree. I've tried to get people excited before, but it never lasts. Morning light will help—fewer shadows to hide their fears."
He glanced at the survivors in the main part of the hall, who were scattered in small groups. Some drank water, others just stared at the ceiling. They were so fragile, Jing Yu thought, and a sudden fear could shatter them.
The talk moved to what they needed next. Han Zhe's voice got lower. "Food and clothes are next. They can't wear rags forever. A mall is a few blocks west, maybe the looters missed it."
Jiang Lie's eyes narrowed. She was thinking of the risks: tight spaces, places to get ambushed, too many unknowns. "It's necessary," she said. "But not all of us. We should split up to cover more ground."
Jing Yu stood straight, his hand on his axe. "I'll lead a team there. We need fresh clothes, something strong for patrols."
The three of them exchanged quick nods, a quiet agreement passing between them. The weight of leadership was on all of them now.
Lin Kai, who had been watching from a shadowy corner, stepped out. The old, rusty high school sign outside had caught his eye earlier— "Yunnan Provincial High"—a sad reminder of the past. "What's the plan?" he asked, his voice calm, his violet eyes looking at them.
Han Zhe explained everything. "Clothes, supplies—it's all important for the long journey ahead. But it's risky."
Lin Kai took in the details, his mind already mapping out routes. The small jade pendant from the old woman in his pocket felt warm against his chest.
"Yes, we should go. It's important. But Han Zhe, Jiang Lie—you two stay here. Jing Yu, you'll come with me and a team."
He picked three people from his group: a fast-moving scout, a good shot with a pistol, and a strong young man with a pipe.
He had been watching them for a while, and he trusted their resolve. Jing Yu added three of his own, including Lian Hua, the girl with the steady hand and sharp knife. The team was a good mix of people.
Xiao Rong took the lead as the scout, her sharp eyes scanning the rooftops and alleys as the light faded. Jing Yu walked next to Lin Kai, their steps matching.
Lin Kai held his blades and Jing Yu gripped his axe, ready for anything. The group moved in a loose line.
The streets were full of broken things—overturned food carts, rotting fruit in the gutter, a child's toy truck on its side. In the distance, they saw a few corrupted shambling around. Lin Kai and Jing Yu let the new Zero Order members take the lead.
A young man with a pipe struck first, his weapon hitting a corrupted's head with a loud crack. The monster dissolved into dust. Others followed, a boy with a pistol firing with a shaky hand but a brave heart.
One of the survivors froze as a corrupted rushed forward, but Lian Hua was quick, her knife plunging in for a perfect kill.
They're learning, Lin Kai thought, a quiet sense of satisfaction growing inside him. Each kill makes them stronger. Jing Yu nodded beside him, murmuring, "They need this. Experience is better than just talk."
Lin Kai replied softly, "I agree. But we have to watch their backs. Fear can blind them."
The mall appeared ahead, its glass front a shattered mess. The group slipped inside. The air was stale, and the interior was a dark maze of broken shelves and scattered mannequins.
They moved carefully, filling bags with canned soups, fresh socks, and hand sanitizer. Lin Kai insisted on the sanitizer. "Cleanliness is the first defense," he thought, remembering his sister Lin Mei's health talks from when they were kids.
Jing Yu paused at a jewelry counter and pocketed a strong chain. Xiao Rong went to the upper level. "It's clear!" she called down.
The team worked together, the clink of cans and the rustle of fabric a calming sound. Lin Kai found a small first-aid kit, a perfect find for their journey.
As the sun began to set, they headed back to the school. Their bags were heavy, but they felt a little more hopeful. The way back was through narrow alleys.
A small noise—a loose brick falling from a roof—made them all freeze. Xiao Rong scanned the rooftops. "Nothing," she whispered, but the group stayed on alert.
Then, they heard voices—muffled cries from a group of broken houses. The team stopped, confused. Lin Kai listened closer. The cries were sharp and full of human pain.
People are still alive out there? he thought, a cold feeling gripping his heart. He nodded to Jing Yu. They both knew what they had to do. The group ran faster, with Lin Kai and Jing Yu in the lead, their weapons ready.
The cries led them to a house with a shattered front. A powerful Zero Order (Peak) corrupted was there, its terrible energy suffocating them. It was moving toward three people: a girl no older than ten, a boy holding her hand, and a man protecting them both.
The man's face was pale with fear. Behind the monster, a woman's body lay torn apart, an arm half-eaten in the corrupted's mouth.
Some of the group gagged, and others froze, their fear making them unable to move. I can't let them die, Lin Kai thought, a wave of pure rage hitting him.
He was about to charge when a shadow flew past him—Jing Yu. With a loud roar, he brought his axe down. The blade of axe cut through the corrupted's neck in one explosive strike.
The head fell, and the body crumpled with a wet thud. Lin Kai was shocked. A perfect kill. He's a Zero Order (High)? We con save much more people if he use his true power in the future. Jing Yu landed lightly, his chest heaving, but his eyes were full of a quiet victory.
The group rushed to the family, offering a hand. The man, his face gray, fell to his knees. "She... she tried to hold it off," he choked, tears streaming down his face.
They helped him bury the woman in a shallow grave and marked it with a broken fence post. Lin Kai knelt by the little girl and gently wiped her face with a clean cloth from his bag. "You're safe now," he said, his voice a soft anchor in the storm.
The man introduced himself as Lao Wei, his son as Tao, and his daughter as Mei. "She went for food," Lao Wei said, a fierce promise in his eyes. "I'll get strong—for them. I'll protect what's left."
When they reached the school, the family's eyes went wide at the sight of all the people. Han Zhe and Jiang Lie met them at the door, their faces surprised at first, but then welcoming.
"Three more?" Han Zhe said, clapping Lao Wei on the shoulder. "Come in. Let's get you settled." Jiang Lie led the kids to a corner with food and clean water.
She spoke to them gently, like a mother would. Everyone was sad about their loss, and the shared grief brought the groups closer together.
People praised Jing Yu for his kill. "You moved like lightning!" one said, but he just waved it off. "It was a team effort. Lin Kai was the one who spotted them."
Lin Kai pulled Jing Yu aside, his voice low with respect. "That was a perfect kill. A Zero Order (High) with that speed? We could have had fewer problems if you'd been with us before."
Jing Yu smiled, a modest grin on his face. "Just instinct. You would have done the same." They talked about strategy for a while—patrols, scouting, and more.
Jing Yu suggested using rooftops, and Lin Kai suggested they use fireworks as signals. "We can work together," Lin Kai said. "Your eyes, my blades—we can cover more ground that way."
Han Zhe called out, "Dinner's ready! Let's eat while we can." The hall filled with the sounds of plates and the smell of canned stew. Some of the survivors changed into the new clothes from the mall, and it felt like a small step back toward a normal life.
Lin Kai, with a fork in his hand, checked his mind's interface before he went to sleep.
Vitality: 650/700
Aether: 380/400
Order: Zero Order (Peak)
Rune: Locked
The numbers steadied him, a quiet assurance amid the uncertainty. One day closer, he thought, drifting off as the hall quieted, the hum from the walls a lullaby of unresolved mysteries.
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Author's Note:
Haah, readers I know it's really late for dealing this chapter. Hope u can understand and in next chapters there will be actions and fights which will thrill ur mind. Stay tuned and follow it.