Chapter 23: Heroic Sacrifice

เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 มี.ค. 2569 14:57

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Heroic Sacrifice Half an hour later, Zhang Su asked Zheng Xinyu to stop and rest while he continued. It wasn’t that he was pitying her or that he was harsh on himself and easy on others, but because in situations where accidents could happen at any time, one must not train too exhaustively to ensure a reserve of energy for resistance. "How do you feel?" After training, Zhang Su wiped clean with a wet cloth while asking Zheng Xinyu how she felt post-training. Zheng Xinyu had packed up, changed into clean pajamas, and sitting beside him, holding an energy drink, shrugged, "I feel we can increase the intensity a bit, I’m not too tired." She wasn’t not tired; she felt Zhang Su’s effort and a strange tension inside. Zheng Xinyu was a streamer who played PUBG often in four-man squads; she knew well that helpless feeling when teammates couldn’t be carried—often it wasn’t unwillingness to save, but simply no way... She didn’t want to become the one crawling in the grass to survive. "Alright, increase the training intensity gradually, otherwise it’s easy to get injured." Saying this, Zhang Su walked to the window to observe the situation outside, unable to help but feeling, "It’s getting quieter outside. Oh right, Xinyu, today while killing zombies I thought of something..." The two discussed many zombie-related issues, summarized today’s experiences in dealing with zombies, and then each returned to their rooms to rest. Past ten at night, Zhang Su lay on his bed, eyes open, unable to sleep; not long ago, Zheng Xinyu had awakened him from dreams, leading to a day that could only be described as crazy, and this madness would continue, with no end in sight. "Luezi, Xiaoxue... I wonder how those two are doing." Zhang Su did not worry about many people, but his two employees certainly ranked first; they were among the few in this world whom he was relatively familiar with, and who knew him well. Occasionally, he’d remember a certain ex-girlfriend... Turning over, Zhang Su suddenly felt his hairs stand on end; he sat up abruptly, annoyed, facing the direction of the door, "Are you a ghost? You walk without sound!" A silhouette stood at the door in the dark; it was Zheng Xinyu holding a quilt. Out of a particular idea, Zhang Su hadn’t closed the door tonight, as if anticipating Zheng Xinyu would come over. "There were sounds, I’m scared..." Zheng Xinyu said in a low voice. Her bedroom was at the far end of the building, open and quiet at night, letting her hear many sounds she’d rather not hear: heart-wrenching cries, hoarse calls for help, pained groans, and zombies roaring like beasts. Trying to wear headphones to quiet the world only made her more scared in the dark without hearing. Zhang Su moved aside, patting the bed, "Come on, I specialize in taking in homeless girls, but I’ll warn you, I might get handsy!" Without a moment’s hesitation, Zheng Xinyu quickly jumped onto Zhang Su’s bed, feeling immediately relieved, then laughing, "As if I wouldn’t get handsy myself, hey!" "You’re bold!" Zhang Su raised his hand intending to smack Zheng Xinyu’s backside, but this time he didn’t succeed. Zheng Xinyu anticipated his move, blocking his wicked hand with a box. Touching the plastic film on the box, Zhang Su knew what it was; with the mood right and the night quiet, it was indeed the perfect time for a cigarette. He took the box, pulled out a cigarette; dry wood and fiery flame sparked it alight, easing the tension in-between inhales and exhales; nerves finally had time to relax. The first night of the zombie outbreak should have been the hardest to fall asleep; after the cigarette’s release, the two fell into deep slumber, waking again to a pitch-black night. Tap-tap-tap, tat-tat-tat-tat... boom... A series of gunshots shattered the tranquility; a terrifying explosion sound shattered the skies, red light cast upon the curtains. Zhang Su and Zheng Xinyu opened their eyes almost simultaneously. "What’s that sound?" Zheng Xinyu asked fearfully. The Celestial Dynasty People didn’t have high sensitivity to gunfire sounds. "Gunfire, maybe shells? Go check quickly..." Zhang Su was not unfamiliar; he heard them every day in games, but Zheng Xinyu was different, focusing more on atmosphere and show effects, rarely paying attention to game sounds in PUBG... Without bothering to dress, Zhang Su sprinted to the window, found the west side of the complex ablaze at a distance, smoke rising without visible explosions on the street. Under fire and light, many people could be seen moving while shooting; the firelight intertwined at night forming a halo, attempting to block wicked encroachment! Occasional explosion sounds seemingly grenades, akin to a battlefield, quite shocking. "Over there, must be the army with a lot of heavy weapons clearing zombies, haha, we’re safe now!" Zhang Su exclaimed excitedly. Facing the terrible circumstances, he remained optimistic, unwilling to bow, but hoped for a swift return to order, as his previous life was quite good. "Really? Oh my, did I just see a tank? Was that a tank?" Zheng Xinyu clutched Zhang Su’s arm, eyes wet with emotion. "That was an armored vehicle; seems it wasn’t the army, but special police armored vehicles, probably those people from the helicopter yesterday; anyway, we’re saved!" Zhang Su revealed a slight smile, thinking that facing powerful weaponry, zombies had only the fate of being wiped out. However, his smile soon froze on his face; the muzzle flames gradually masked by buildings, revealing a black mass filling the street... "Those... are zombie hordes!" Due to distance and lighting, Zhang Su couldn’t see clearly, but he was certain it was all terrifying zombies! Hair stood on end, drawing cold air, scalp tingling! Though separated by two or three hundred meters, the overwhelming oppressive feeling still caused deep fear within. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢 Facing enemies, negotiation was possible, but facing all-engulfing zombies... Those bloodthirsty creatures born for feeding wouldn’t spare a single breath for the living. "Damn it, so many of them, this... isn’t good!" Zhang Su and Zheng Xinyu yearned to see the end of the dark mass, but alas, before the horde’s end, gunfire was already dwindling. One could imagine the immense firepower required ample ammunition for support; when ammo ran out, firearms lost function... Boom! With a burning flame rising skyward, the window slightly trembled, and after the explosion, all gunfire fell silent; aside from raging flames, it was as if nothing had happened. Thud. In disbelief, Zhang Su sat on the ground, unmindful of its chill. "Zhang Su, those special police..." Zheng Xinyu asked, stunned. "They sacrificed themselves." A heavy answer. Those warriors transformed life into radiant light, striving to banish wicked filth!

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