17 Chapter 17: Obstructed Passage

Dai Zen glimpsed an apocalyptic landscape from the windows of the school bus.

Smashed cars, charred buildings, screams, and explosions traveled like wandering spirits.

He saw hordes of mutants, giant beasts, and zombies infesting the streets. Some seemed to have evolved over the years to survive in a ruined world.

"A-ahhh!"

One of those monsters, eight feet tall, lunged at the vehicle. The armor screeched on impact with it.

"We won't last much longer!" Professor exclaimed hysterically: "The tanks are almost empty, and the wheels are about to burst! What do we do? Miss Wu Xiuying, student Dai?!"

In the last quarter of an hour, they had suffered repeated attacks. The bus was so mangled that it looked like it was about to collapse.

Some students were staring straight ahead with wild eyes. Others were laughing hysterically or whispering sobs of terror. Panic enveloped them like a shroud as they made their way through the shadowy streets.

"We stop at the next gas station to refuel." Dai Zen said calmly, though his heart was beating faster than usual.

Wu Xiuying was sitting beside him. Her cheeks were still pale, and the breathing labored, evidence of her delicate condition—a strong ally out of combat in a critical situation.

"Hua Mei, how long does it take you to recover?" Dai Zen asked.

"U-um, about 10 minutes. I should have enough Mana to use my Healing Magic." She replied.

Usually, a human wakes up with 10 Mana Points after the Apocalypse. Hua Mei had 35, so she could be considered a magic genius.

After allocating all her Stats Points to Mana, she had over 60. However, her <Minor Healing> skill consumed 30 points each time, so she could employ it twice before running out.

Since she used it to heal Fang Mo and Lian in their last fight, she needed to recharge at least 30 to use it again.

"Better rest." Dai Zen said.

Although Hua Mei had much more Mana than average, the novice healer had to manage it to help them survive.

Dai Zen averted his gaze to the fairy on his shoulder. She stared at Wu Xiuying, almost discovering her secrets.

"What's wrong? Is something seriously wrong with her?"

The fairy snorted, shaking her tiny body against the wind of his breath: "She possesses a power that few, if any, in the universe have. She is weak, but if you care for her, she can be a powerful ally."

"Why do you say so? Weren't you who told me to use them as cannon fodder if necessary?"

He whispered so as not to attract the attention of the survivors. Since the fairy was invisible to everyone but him, he feared they would label him as crazy when they saw him talking to the air. However, it seemed that he hadn't noticed the curious look Cai Ning was giving him from the side.

"Her soul is damaged, and her body weakened after using such a powerful Skill to defeat her enemy. I fear it will take a few hours or even days for her to recover. However, winning her affection will grant you a powerful ally."

Dai Zen gazed at Wu Xiuying with a critical eye. She was quite pretty, with pale skin and golden eyes that seemed to conceal mysteries. Still, he hesitated to conquer her icy heart.

She is powerful.

Such an ally would be useful in fighting her way through zombies, mutants, and more significant threats. Especially now that Dai Zen longed to fly to Beijing University in search of Xue'er.

'For now, I guess I should get along with her.' He thought: 'But if she doesn't want to accompany me to Beijing, I'll have to be on my way.'

He looked at the fairy, proud before him: "What did she do to recharge Mana and multiply her power in seconds?"

"It is a forbidden skill of her trait. You will not learn it." Said the fairy before disappearing into his pendant.

'Wow, tricks up her sleeve that even she doesn't know about. Or she won't reveal any more information.' Dai Zen thought.

The fairy said Wu Xiuying possessed a power that few others attained, even in the universe. Dai Zen feared that they would one day invade Earth.

'I had better increase my strength fast. Though I doubt defeating enemies who evolved for centuries, being a novice.'

"Student Dai, Miss Wu Xiuying, we are near the gas station, but..." Hesitated the teacher: "There is a group with weapons protecting it."

Dai Zen and Wu Xiuying exchanged glances, nodding. Dai Zen stepped forward and saw several guys armed with rifles, ordering others to aim.

His countenance darkened. Even as evolved, a bullet to the head would be enough for him.

"So what do we do now?" Wu Xiuying asked.

Dai Zen narrowed his eyes, wondering how they had ended up like this: "Two choices: approach slowly with our hands visible... or turn around and look for another gas station. Which do you prefer?"

"The latter is more dangerous." Cai Ning said: "If they see us turn around, they may shoot."

Gasoline was crucial to continue to Beijing, but live first. Wu Xiuying concurred: "Let's get closer. They don't look hostile... yet."

Dai Zen nodded. She was right; it was the only sensible option.

Then a loud voice said over the loudspeakers: "Stop immediately, or we will fire!"

Dai Zen cursed inwardly. They really couldn't go on without trouble.

"Stop the bus!"

The wheels screeched, throwing the passengers against their seats.

Silence blanketed the interior as they processed what was happening. Time seemed to stand still.

"... They'll be from the army?"

"They sure are! We can call them for help!"

When the students' hopeful voices broke the awkward silence, Hua Mei, Fang Mo, Kong Lei, and Lian stepped forward.

Dai Zen stared down the road, watching the armed group approach, guns ready to fire.

His heart pounded as he scrutinized them. No matter how skilled he was, if they fired, he would die like any human. And he couldn't risk losing everything so soon.

'Xue'er...'