Volume One: First Steps in the City Chapter Sixty-Six: Awakening from the Dream

“What are they doing?” Jia Jun, noticing the prolonged silence outside, poked his head out for a look. “It seems they’re locked in a standoff with the zombie.”

“What?” Upon hearing Jia Jun’s words, Lu Ningyu also poked her head out. “What’s that Li Xinran is carrying? The zombie looks like it wants to attack, but seems unwilling to get close.”

“Do you think we’d be safe if we got that statue?” The last girl suddenly suggested.

“From what we’ve seen, that does seem to be the case. But I think we’d be better off sneaking away while we still can. You’ve all seen it—these zombies only get stronger the more we fight them. At this rate, I bet this one will soon adapt to the light.” Jia Jun had little hope left for Lu Yi and the others.

Almost as if to prove Jia Jun’s point, the zombie began to change. Now, it was able to edge closer to Lu Yi and his group, undeterred by the glow.

“Time’s almost up,” Li Xinran warned Lu Yi.

“I know. You step back,” Lu Yi replied, then turned to Xu Anxuan. “I’ll try to mark the zombie’s neck. Once that’s done, let’s focus all our attacks there.”

“Alright,” Xu Anxuan nodded. “Li Xinran, fall back now. When we attack, we might not be able to cover you.”

Lu Yi put away his gun. Suddenly, a blue light flickered at his chest, and a pendant floated within the glow.

Locking his gaze on the zombie, Lu Yi sprang forward, swift as an arrow released from a bow. The zombie, feeling provoked, snatched up a stone and hurled it directly in Lu Yi’s path.

But Lu Yi’s speed only increased. He faced the attack head-on, dashing out of its trajectory just before it struck him.

At the same time, Xu Anxuan charged in, drawing part of the zombie’s attention. Seizing the opportunity, Lu Yi leaped up and smashed his fist down onto the zombie’s neck.

The zombie let out a furious roar. It swung its arm, but Lu Yi dodged nimbly. After several failed attempts, the zombie finally retreated, clutching its neck.

But Lu Yi and Xu Anxuan were determined to finish it off. There was no way they would let it escape. They split to attack each of its knees, unleashing a barrage of assaults.

The zombie roared in rage, but with one hand holding its neck, it could barely threaten Lu Yi and Xu Anxuan with just one arm and its legs.

As if replaying an earlier scene, but now with a new intent, Lu Yi and Xu Anxuan exchanged a glance. Channeling their energy, they struck simultaneously at the same joint.

The zombie howled in agony and collapsed to one knee. Lu Yi stepped onto its back, bounding up to its head. He pressed his ring against the zombie’s skull, eliciting an even more wretched scream.

No longer able to guard its neck, the zombie flailed, trying to grab Lu Yi with both hands. But the pendant’s wind-blessed power made Lu Yi even faster, impossible to catch.

With its hands occupied, the zombie’s neck was left exposed, revealing a mark branded by Lu Yi’s ring. Xu Anxuan instantly realized this was the signal he’d mentioned.

She gathered all her energy. After several quick bounces around the zombie, her speed surged, and the blade of light in her hand grew brighter.

Sensing mortal danger, the zombie swung its arms to block Xu Anxuan.

Lu Yi’s eyes flashed. The moment had come. He raised his hand, the one wearing the Lion’s Sanctuary Ring. The phantom of a majestic lion appeared, rearing back with a thunderous roar as golden ripples radiated outward.

The golden waves crashed against the zombie, forcing another anguished cry and sending wisps of black smoke billowing from its body. With each pulse, the zombie trembled violently.

Xu Anxuan’s eyes gleamed. She leapt up, her blade of light slashing across the zombie’s neck, leaving a deep gash.

Now truly aware of the lethal threat, the zombie could no longer worry about Lu Yi. If Xu Anxuan made another strike, it would be finished. It turned and lunged at her.

But Xu Anxuan, well adapted to the dream world, maneuvered skillfully, evading its attacks with ease.

The zombie lunged and missed, exposing its back.

Lu Yi gripped his machete and sprang up. A layer of dark energy flowed along the blade. He struck, cleaving down along Xu Anxuan’s previous wound, severing the zombie’s massive head from its body.

But the force of the blow was so great that Lu Yi couldn’t withdraw in time. Relying on instinct, the zombie managed to land one final heavy blow to Lu Yi’s chest, sending him flying.

Lu Yi lay on the ground for a moment before slowly getting up. By then, Xu Anxuan had finished off the zombie for good.

“Lu Yi, are you alright?” Xu Anxuan and Li Xinran asked with concern.

“I’m fine,” Lu Yi waved them off, then looked at Lu Ningyu and the others huddled nearby. “We’ve dealt with your biggest problem. From here on, you’ll have to handle the trouble yourselves. I’ll step in only if it’s absolutely necessary.”

Although they were amazed by what Lu Yi and Xu Anxuan had accomplished, the group wilted again at the prospect of having to fight zombies themselves.

Seeing this, Lu Yi frowned. With what he and Xu Anxuan had demonstrated, they should have been inspired—eager, even.

“Don’t mind them. I’ve been in this dream for days now, and no matter what they’ve seen me do, their mindset hasn’t changed,” Xu Anxuan whispered to Lu Yi.

Lu Yi frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Hesitation only brings harm. Since the three of us are strong enough, let’s head for our destination. Maybe if we break the dream, they’ll be released as well,” Xu Anxuan replied. Lu Yi nodded and finally looked at Li Xinran.

Li Xinran understood. He glanced at his friends. “Let’s go. If we keep letting them hold us back, things will only get worse.”

With their minds made up, the three set out again. This time, Lu Yi and Xu Anxuan resolved to use lethal force. Any mutated zombie that blocked their way was dispatched instantly. In fact, with this approach, the mutated zombies no longer seemed quite so formidable.

But for Lu Ningyu and the others, the experience was entirely different. Each time a mutated zombie appeared, they’d find a place to hide—only for Lu Yi or Xu Anxuan to swiftly dispatch it moments later.

The leading trio barely paused on their journey. Eventually, Lu Ningyu and the others found themselves left far behind.

The three soon arrived at the city’s eastern train station. Finding a vehicle, they drove straight through a thinner cluster of zombies.

When they finally saw the soldiers standing guard there, a wave of unreality swept over them. And then, the dream shattered.