Next DayJune 15, 3090, Divine Phoenix Calendar, 9:45 a.m.
A soft tug pulled Chen Yi from his sleep. He pushed away the delicate body draped over him, only for Sister Miao to roll over and press her tiny hand against his face, nearly suffocating him.
"Sleepy…" she murmured, snuggling back into his lap and clutching his thighs tightly as she dozed.
Chen Yi rubbed his dazed eyes. The morning sun had already begun streaming through the sky-blue curtains.
"Meow, wake up. Let's go see what's happening outside after breakfast," he said, gently breaking her hold. He smiled softly as he opened the curtains.
"Brother… let me sleep a little longer… just a little," Li Miao'er whispered, her voice cooing like a kitten.
"Alright, sleep a bit more. Brother will come call you after making breakfast." Chen Yi fondled her soft, round face. In his memory, she wasn't one to sleep in—probably because she had stayed up too late last night.
He carefully carried her delicate body to the center of the bed, tugged down the little vest that had rolled up to her chest, and covered her with a thin quilt.
I didn't expect the power to go out overnight… but at least the power bank, phone, and notebook are fully charged.
Chen Yi set his fully charged phone to power-saving mode and slipped it into his pocket. He shut the laptop and packed its charger back into the computer bag.
"Brother, I want ice cream and fruit salad," Li Miao'er said coquettishly, hugging a pillow as she lay on the bed.
"There was a blackout last night. If there's still ice in the fridge, I'll make it for you," Chen Yi said with a smile, heading toward the living room.
As he opened the window, a piercing scream split the morning air.
"Ah…!"
Chen Yi froze. Leaning over the balcony railing, he peered through the crack in the anti-theft window. Below, a dozen blood-stained zombies were devouring a female corpse, while dozens more staggered aimlessly down the streets. The breeze carried the sharp, coppery stench of blood. A nearby residential building belched thick black smoke into the sky. The city was a nightmare brought to life.
Chen Yi vomited violently, pressing himself against the wall. He'd conducted countless biological experiments before, but this brutal scene assaulted his senses in a way no lab could simulate. After a few minutes, he wiped his mouth and stood, deciding to skip breakfast.
These zombies were nothing like the ones in movies. Their eyes were blood-red, their bodies hadn't decayed, and their limbs were lean yet deadly strong. Even their walking speed surpassed that of normal humans.
Chen Yi crouched in front of the window, analyzing. The combat potential of these creatures was significant—he needed a surefire way to eliminate them.
Hope, what are the basic attributes of these zombies? he asked in his heart.
They are low-level "God and Spirit" zombies. By our classification, only Level 0. Constitution roughly thirty, no innate skills, but slightly enhanced strength and durability.
"Level 0?" Chen Yi frowned. Even the lowest-level zombies were formidable.
Shensha-type zombies have nine main levels, each divided into five sub-levels: low, medium, high, earth, and sky. On a low-level planet like this, zombies evolving to Level Seven would be incredibly dangerous.
"I understand, Hope. Thank you." Chen Yi closed the window and cleaned the vomit, skipping breakfast entirely. Instead, he planned to bring Sister Meow up so she could witness the harsh reality of these last days firsthand.
"Meow! Don't sleep—brother's taking you to the rooftop to pick cucumbers and tomatoes." A smirk tugged at Chen Yi's pale face. He wanted his sister to grow up quickly.
"No! I don't like tomatoes!" Li Miao'er squeaked, shrinking beneath the blanket, leaving only her two crystal-clear feet exposed. Her tiny toes curled in protest.
Chen Yi chuckled and pressed her calf gently, stretching out his fingers to tickle her sole.
"Hahaha! Don't! Stop tickling me—I can't sleep!" she cried, wriggling upright, eyes half-lidded and terrified of being tickled.
"Meow, get up quickly. We need to see what's happening outside," Chen Yi urged, handing her a long-sleeved sports top—light, comfortable, and offering some protection. He dressed himself, laced his shoes, and equipped the weapons.
He handed Sister Meow the machete and dagger. "If you run into a zombie, don't fight close-up. Just run. Got it?"
"Oh!" she said, stuffing the dagger into her pocket and patting her chest. "Brother, I can protect you. No matter how many zombies there are, you don't need to be afraid."
She imagined zombies like the slow, clumsy ones in video games, unaware how horrifying reality truly was.
"Okay, brother believes in you," Chen Yi said, pinching her ruddy cheek. He held the 30+ centimeter machete in one hand and took her small hand with the other as they headed for the door.
He didn't want close-quarters combat—but staying at home and waiting for rescue was tantamount to waiting for death. Going out was the only option.
"There's no one outside, Miao'er. Walk softly, don't make any noise," he whispered, peering cautiously through his cat's-eye vision. After checking that no zombies were in the corridor, he unlocked the safety lock and slowly opened the door. Silence.
"Brother… no zombies," Li Miao'er whispered, leaning forward.
Chen Yi inhaled deeply and stepped out, taking her quietly to the front stairs. The rooftop door was unlocked. He handed her the scimitar and gently pushed the doorknob to avoid noise.
Smoothly opening the wooden door, he led Sister Meow to the rooftop.
The sun had shifted from a warm golden hue to a bright, blood-red glow. Its rays still warmed their skin, but the once-bustling city below was now a graveyard of silence, interrupted only by occasional screams and howls.
"Brother… is this really the end of the world?" Li Miao'er asked, pointing at the city, her delicate body trembling. "Is all this… real?"
"Yes, Meow. It's all real. We have to find a way to survive." Chen Yi held her hand and guided her to the railing. Facing the truth now would prepare her for the future—ignoring it would only make things worse.
Looking down at zombies tearing flesh apart, Li Miao'er squatted, retching. The rosy color drained from her face in an instant.
Chen Yi patted her gently on the back. Better she gets used to this now. Dead people don't suffer—there's no reason to be afraid of vomiting.
"Bro… I'm so scared," she whispered, throwing herself into his embrace. Her petite, lovely body trembled, whether from fear, disgust, or both.