Time felt both long and short.
He couldnât recall how long had passed, only that everything had changed.
There used to be beauty, tranquility, and expectation, and the world still had outlined colors.
"A Tao, we will definitely survive. There is no reason for humans to be defeated, and death is not possible. Whatâs terrifying is leaving things undone, dying without meaning."
Tao Yi leaned against the hospital rooftop railing, speaking to himself, with a warm smile on his face.
He was once a man of despair, with a despairing life, living in a boring world, doing the same thing every day.
This world seemed vast, but it did not belong to him.
The word "death" would flash in his mind occasionally; he hadnât died simply because he thought the world after death might also be boring.
Perhaps even more boring...
Scalding liquid traced the corner of the man in redâs eyes, proving his remaining humanity.
His voice was low and slow: "You pulled me into the light only to fall into darkness yourself, this isnât right."
Tao Yi then closed his eyes, silent, quietly standing in place.
The man in red looked again at Su Changxing, needing only a promise, though it might not be guaranteed.
Su Changxing inspected this "item," a being both human and mysterious, and chuckled:
"Does it have any meaning? Hmm, I promise you, Iâll try to let her âliveâ."
The man in redâs body gradually dissipated, the surrounding space returned to normal, the light no longer distorted, leaving a heap of ash-like material on the ground.
[Embers: The remains after a mysterious item burns, might have some use, but not much]
[Fallen Evil Undead gains a sealed ability, triggered by the fallen evil body]
[Flash Spirit (Sealed): A gift, allowing the Fallen Evil Undead to move quickly over short distances while in undead state, by distorting space.]
"These feelings..."
Su Changxing couldnât evaluate anything, nor could he determine if these feelings were twisted, but it didnât matter; what mattered was that they should be able to leave here safely.
He had Zhu Wenwu gather the embers from the ground, then observed the card in his hand, which bore the image of the man in red.
Indeed, at the last moment, he had stolen the man in redâs ability, temporarily, forming a card that could use the otherâs ability once within a certain timeframe.
His ability has the highest success rate when used on a person or item for the first time; the more times used, the lower the success rate.
[Stolen Space Distortion: Can warp the surrounding space, altering physical laws to a certain extent. Note: This alteration is elastic.]
"Brothers, are you down there now?"
As the space distortion just disappeared, Huang Biaoâs rough voice came from outside.
"Yes."
Su Changxing couldnât help but smile as he went up and saw Huang Biao and others waiting above.
Their losses werenât small; a few were injured, three were dead, and two Hunter corpses lay on the ground.
Outside, it was orange, dim, the sunset halfway over, the sky seemed sprinkled with some fluffy feathers, scattered about.
Huang Biao breathed a sigh of relief, saying: "That was too dangerous; I thought we were finished this time, haha."
Su Changxing lifted his eyelids, saying: "Did you previously think our chances of success werenât high?"
Huang Biao grinned: "Sort of, but I still believe in you."
A bit contradictory.
Su Changxing understood his meaning, this was a conflict between rationality and emotion.
Su Changxing glanced at the people following behind, continuing: "What about the base over there, shouldnât be a big problem, right?"
Huang Biao hesitated a bit before saying:
"A few people did die, but itâs mostly under control, though there are other issues."
"Other issues?"
Su Changxing pondered:
"Whatâs wrong? Is there a riot?"
Huang Biao shook his head, with a heavy expression: "None of that, someone on the forum is already showing symptoms of transformation, and this personâs traits are very similar to these zombies, yet their spirit is great, they donât even need sleep."
Su Changxingâs pupils slightly enlarged, exhaling, he said: "Just as predicted, it still came. Do we have cases of transformation in our base?"
Huang Biao also seemed under pressure, gravely saying:
"Not yet, but indeed some peopleâs spirits are great, staying up all night without sleeping, while people like you who sleep a long time are the minority, everyoneâs sleep time seems to be decreasing."
Su Changxing reflected on this, realizing it might be true; during the Blood Moonâs resistance against the Undead Tide, many showed beyond usual endurance.
This might not be a particular ability, but a sign of transformation.
Su Changxing observed Huang Biao, finding him closer to becoming an Extraordinary but still lacking, saying:
"Itâs a pity you werenât there during the last ceremony, otherwise you might be an Extraordinary now."
Huang Biao wasnât bothered, saying: "Those who can live will always live, those who canât will die for various reasons, itâs not important."
Whether he truly didnât care or faked it was unknown, but Su Changxing cared, not wanting Huang Biao to die due to transformation.
That would be unworthy and comical.
Su Changxing thought and said: "If even you die, I suppose not many will survive."
Huang Biao didnât respond, shifting the topic: "How many of us survived this time?"
Su Changxing paused and said: "More than half, still quite a few, but our goal was achieved."
"Found a way to prevent transformation?"
Huang Biao tentatively asked.
"No."
Su Changxing recalled and said: "Not exactly, but thereâs a clue. These Hunters hunt us to extend their own lives, and this plan was devised by Shield Company."
Huang Biao showed a stunned expression, saying: "The company that caused the apocalypse, theyâre not destroyed in the apocalypse?"
Su Changxing smiled meaningfully: "Of course not, some survived and became leaders of the remaining people, which is quite ironic."
"I suspect, Shield Company made a deal with the Doomsday Game, our arrival is part of this transaction."
Their voices were low, unheard by others, but anyone hearing such news would struggle to remain calm.
Huang Biao frowned in apparent skepticism: "Are you sure?"
Su Changxing smiled slightly: "You know, itâs just a reasonable guess, and my guesses are usually accurate."