But still, without any hesitation, took bread, filled water for the children inside the bus.
At this time.
They stood by the roadside, gnawing on bread, looking into the distance. Everyone's expression was extremely grave, a kind of unspeakable sorrow, that was a bewildered expression towards the future.
"Ai! Where should we go in the future?"
A survivor sighed with emotion. Although the bread in hand was very fragrant, but thinking of apocalyptic matters, then truly not fragrant at all.
Their shelter in Hecheng city had nearly a hundred people. When they were desperate, met over ten fully armed soldiers who rescued them, took them to a temporarily built shelter. With their efforts developing, the shelter gradually improved. As long as not proactively seeking death, the possibility of being breached by zombies very low.
But who could have thought.
Suddenly.
A fierce zombie tide rushed madly, surrounding their shelter. And among this group of zombies, still many various evolved-form zombies. Not long after, their shelter was breached.
Those fully armed soldiers held back for them, let them quickly transfer, escape Hecheng city. But finally, only twenty-one people ran out. A shelter of nearly a hundred people, breached by zombies, only such a tiny bit left.
The young man who finished moving goods gloomily accepted the remaining cigarette from Ma Duy Vien's hand, took a fierce drag.
"Which road to take? Of course, go as far as we can! Live well! Continuously advance! How long can live, count that long! This apocalypse indeed f***ed up! But f***ed up is f***ed up, still have to live!"
"I think we should head far away. Cities are also not suitable for us. We have a few firearms in hand, can deal with a small number of zombies. Like the situation in the city, afraid can't hold."
"I also think so."
The group, when nothing to do, just discussed with each other. Mainly because there were thirteen children; their combat power basically nil, needed to be well protected. Current apocalypse, just that terrifying. For children, cruel.
And now, living survivors, they were all ordinary common folks in the past. Until now, from beginning to end maintained ordinary common folks' rationality and kindness.
Even if encountering difficulties, still thought of resolving difficulties, and not complaining.
Ma Duy Vien said, "Brothers! Let's go! We continue to set out! First find a gas station, fill up the gas!"
"Work hard! Ai! Again have to be careful! Gas stations most dangerous! Based on movies I watch, these dilapidated places often have zombies appearing!"
The kid smoking a cigarette, very helpless. Long journey ahead. Often, refueling most troublesome. Refueling means having to stop, exposed outside. How can it be like now, clearly seeing whether zombies front or back?
Ma Duy Vien said, "Crow's mouth! Can't you say something pleasant? This mouth of yours, if working as security, must be fired by the boss!" (Crow's mouth = jinx / someone who says unlucky things)
"Bro Ma! I just graduated! Specifically came to fire the boss!" (A pun/joke, implying he's good at his job, not getting fired)
Ma Duy Vien: ...
...
Street.
Lam Pham continuously flashed on tall buildings. Landing on a building, then focused looking into the distance, searching for those two survivor vehicles Han Suong mentioned.
"Where exactly are they?"
He carefully searched. Hoang city buildings extremely concentrated, range very wide. Continued flashing. With his current points, achieving casual leaping very normal situation. When can break through gravity's limit, anyone can, no need for surprise.
If someone saw the current situation.
Absolutely would exclaim in shock.
Wow...
A god!
Continuously traversing building rooftops. Every time landing in a place, would stand on the rooftop edge.
Focused looking at the distant situation, to see where exactly those survivors ran off to.
Immediately after.
He saw something seemed to change in the distance.
Those were two vehicles.
Should be no mistake, just the survivors Han Suong spoke of...
Gas station.
They encountered zombies, didn't open fire, just drove, crushing zombies to death. This was their commonly used method, could ensure sufficient safety.
Gunshot sounds very easily attract zombies, thereby being surrounded.
During the refueling process, very safe.
Didn't encounter any trouble.
But just not long after leaving, a large number of zombies appeared again. This group of zombies wandered on the road. Seeing moving vehicles, as if gone mad, rushed towards the vehicles.
"Damn... Damn!"
Ma Duy Vien cursed angrily, stomped the accelerator, crashing into zombies, clearing a path for the bus behind. Zombies pulled under the chassis, creak creak sounds. Vehicle speed clearly hindered.
"Holy crap! Said before Hoang city zombie numbers not considered large! Didn't expect this mouth of mine is even more of a crow's mouth!"
He was very helpless. But even so, still crazily crushed along, had to open a path.
Khau Bang's expression serious. Crazed zombies buffeted the vehicle. But luckily, vehicle had been modified. Not like wanting to buffet until broken means can break. Only, before a huge number of zombies, vehicle's kinetic energy affected.
The bus following behind knew the situation ahead. Everyone extremely grave. Along this road, they encountered many situations, most all safe and sound. But the current situation before them, for them, was a kind of challenge.
At this time.
Khau Bang, in the driver's seat, saw a colossal zombie within the distant zombie horde, her expression instantly underwent an earth-shattering change.
"Evolved-form zombie appeared! It's that colossal zombie!"
She exclaimed in shock.
Ma Duy Vien, stomping the accelerator, his face changed drastically, "Impossible..."
He, however, knew that kind of zombie's terror. Simply a vehicle-destroying thug! Strength extremely powerful! Simply a bulldozer! Before, when they fled from the shelter, several sedans were fiercely thrown by this type of zombie; fundamentally no way to stop.
Nervous Ma Duy Vien grabbed the walkie-talkie, "Bro... Brothers! Colossal zombie appeared ahead!"
"Impossible!" Survivors in the bus behind, tone horrified, clearly also frightened.
Ma Duy Vien, to the walkie-talkie, continued, "Yes! No mistake! Khau Bang and I will ram! You guys pay attention to the situation! Seize opportunity and quickly escape! We two have already made preparations to sacrifice! No need to rescue us! Otherwise, not a single one can run!"
With the calmest tone, spoke the most terrifying result.
Opposite side quiet, silent. After a moment, a low voice came from the walkie-talkie, "Understood."
Apocalypse developed until now. They, from helpless to self-reliant, from guarded to responsible. This was a kind of mental transformation. Even more so, they understood a kind of spirit they once saw in books, saw on TV, yet found hard to comprehend. That is...
Sacrifice.
Ma Duy Vien hadn't read too many books. Usually just liked reading novels, beauties, TV dramas, especially anti-Japanese war dramas. Seeing those faces, sacrificing themselves for faith, he at most just nodded. Damn! Worthy of respect!
But extremely hard to understand, what is the mood when making a sacrifice? Why have such conviction?
Now he understood. After experiencing the apocalypse's cruelty and despair, he understood what the mood of sacrifice was like. That was yearning and pursuit for future hope. There's a kind of, when things come, needing sacrifice, then naturally acting bravely for a just cause.
"Khau Bang! Get ready! This guy will definitely ram our car's front! Wants to throw our vehicle! Just hit its head!"
Ma Duy Vien reminded.
Not far away, the Strength-type zombie roared, waved its sturdy arms, pushed aside ordinary zombies blocking its path, stomped its heavy footsteps, charged recklessly towards the cargo truck.
Rumble!
Violent collision.
Crashed them until their heads swayed. Although car windows covered with iron mesh, but window glass already cracked like a spiderweb. Fiercely stomped the accelerator. Cargo truck and Strength-type zombie wrestled. Tires and ground produced friction, drifting thick smog.
Khau Bang held a gun, fired at the Strength-type zombie before the car. Rat-tat-tat... Bullets hit the Strength-type zombie, simultaneously aiming for its head. But still ordinary zombies climbed up, wanting to break the iron mesh, pull out the flesh and blood inside.
"Do it!"
Ma Duy Vien stomped the accelerator, held gun spraying. Situation extremely dangerous.
Suddenly.
A panicked voice came from the walkie-talkie.
"F***! A zombie fell onto our car roof!"
At this time.
Bus behind.
A Speed-type zombie climbed onto the bus roof. Its four limbs no longer toe-fingers, but evolved into meat mallets. Seemingly not sharp meat mallets, suddenly pierced into the car roof. Pfft! Car roof pierced open a hole.
Children's screams.
"Get down! Get down..." Little Luu, who could only smoke cigarettes, roared, telling children to get down. Then raised submachine gun, towards car roof just a burst of crazy strafing. While strafing, cursed angrily, "Your mother! Your mother! Fight Lao Tzu! Lao Tzu plays games, even dares to die from landmine explosion himself! Still can be scared of this toy of yours?! F***..." (Tiểu Lưu -> Little Luu)
When enveloped by nervous, panicked, uneasy mood, angry cursing can shout out the terror, thereby becoming brave, becoming strong.
Pfft!
Instantly.
Meat mallet pierced through car roof, appeared before him. Merely a fist's distance. If just now slightly closer, that meat mallet could have pierced his head.
He stared wide-eyed, somewhat scared thinking back.
At the same time, he saw sticky blood from the car roof hole, slowly dripping down. He knew the zombie was injured. But didn't explode its head; effect on zombie almost nil.
Meat mallet that pierced in, scraped along car roof, wanting to tear it open.
"F***! Can Lao Tzu tolerate you doing this?"
Little Luu, face flushed red, roared angrily.
Thought of the situation just now.
Little Luu, without hesitation, directly kneeled on one knee, gun muzzle aimed at car roof, continued strafing. Just worried that meat mallet would descend again. If not paying attention, really could pierce his head.
Young people specialized in playing games, brains truly flexible. Even if real world encounters danger, also can first think of good ways to deal. Knowing opponent's meat mallet can pierce head, still stupidly offer it to them?
Surrounding zombies more and more numerous.
Gunshot sounds spread, attracting even more zombies.
Inside the cargo truck.
"Gone! Completely gone! Our apocalyptic path to survival ends here!" Ma Duy Vien despaired, squeezed trigger, already no bullets.
Khau Bang similarly no bullets. And zombies before them always so numerous.
Strength-type zombie swept dead by them, Strength-type zombie's head exploded. But that tall body, blocked before car, couldn't even move.
They shook their heads.
Being able to reach here, already their greatest effort. Thought of continuously striving to survive. But zombies in apocalypse truly terrifying, terrifying to a degree they found hard to imagine.
Ma Duy Vien, looking at the continuously buffeting zombies, touched his pocket, wanted to find a cigarette to smoke. Searched for half a day, didn't find. Remembered last one already smoked.
"You have cigarettes?"
"I don't smoke."
Ma Duy Vien grabbed the walkie-talkie, "Little Luu! Little Luu! You guys over there have smoke?"
After a moment.
Voice came from walkie-talkie over there.
"Rat-tat-tat... Damn! Bullets! Any more bullets?! Holy crap! I've been sweeping until now, not a single bullet hit its head! Your mother ah..."
"Bro Ma! What did you say?! No smoke?! I feel we're about to be done for! Damn! This group of hateful zombies!"
Hearing the voice opposite.
Ma Duy Vien sighed, looked towards the zombie tide ahead.
More and more numerous.
Already blocked the way forward.
Sure enough! Firing guns in the city is an extremely foolish behavior! Zombies like mad dogs, smelling poop and rushing over! Don't even think if so few humans are enough for a bite!
Despair enveloped. For survivors, now their dead end. When witnessing despair envelop, that kind of feeling truly hard to put into words.
Ma Duy Vien thought, how about kill myself? Also better than being bitten and torn by zombies, turning into that disgusting zombie.
But just then.
A voice exploded.
"Everyone quiet down for me!"
This voice actually enveloped the zombie roars.
Roaring zombies heard the sound, clearly somewhat surprised, as if stunned by this voice.
"What's the situation?"
Ma Duy Vien and Khau Bang looked at each other, looked forward, searching for that sound's source.
"Look at that building upstairs!"
Khau Bang's mouth opened wide, shocked, pointed to that tall building in the distance.
Ma Duy Vien looked in that direction. Top of that building, seemed to have a figure standing. That figure, couldn't see clearly who. But immediately after, he was shocked to find that figure actually leaped down from the tall building! No... That seemed like diving down!
Illusion! Absolutely illusion!
How can someone jump down from such a high place and still live?
At this time.
Lam Pham, descending, his two feet firmly stepped onto the ground. Hand slowly reached behind his back, as if wanting to transform with sword light. As Lam Pham made a sword-drawing posture, in an instant, a strong wind enveloped upwards, vanishing on the spot.
He now wanted to use the fastest speed to resolve the zombies.
He saw that vehicle about to be breached by zombies.
Cleaning bit by bit was just delaying time.
Ma Duy Vien and Khau Bang's mouths opened wide, staring blankly. In their field of vision, far away, as if some terrifying monster appeared.
They saw numerous zombie corpses fly into the sky, also thick, sticky blood splattering in the sky.
Closer and closer, gradually approaching before them.
They saw flashing silver light like a large net, enveloping all zombies. As the silvery-white light flashed, those terrifying zombies in their eyes were instantly torn apart.
They couldn't see who it was, couldn't see what exactly the situation was.
As if something suddenly disappeared before their eyes.
Rubbed eyes.
The moment they opened their eyes, they sucked in a cold breath, pupils nearly exploding. The road before them like a human purgatory, zombie severed limbs everywhere, sticky organs and blood everywhere. Not a single living zombie left.
Immediately after.
They heard movement behind them.
As if shocked, not knowing if outside was dangerous or not, hurriedly got out of the car. Saw that evolved-form zombie clinging to the bus. Originally thought of swinging its meat mallet, suddenly, its head severed by some force. That force like a gust of wind.
"This... What is this?"
Ma Duy Vien stammered out. The situation before him already surpassed his perception. Even if superman, at least could see a figure, right? But now, they fundamentally couldn't see a figure, only could see those roaring zombies, continuously being cut apart, falling to the ground in rows.
Khau Bang swallowed hard, "Are we dreaming?"
"Slap me once."
Khau Bang, without hesitation, fiercely slapped Ma Duy Vien. The slapping sound crisp. Made him know this absolutely wasn't a dream.
Soon.
Zombies that scared them, truly none left. All zombies fell to the ground, not a single living one.
And they finally saw who it was.
That figure, as if appearing out of thin air, back towards them, appeared at the far end.
Opponent held a red sword in hand, looked somewhat familiar. As opponent gently shook, red color dissipated, replaced by silvery-white light flashing in their eyes.
Survivors from the bus got out. Seeing the situation before them, they, like Ma Duy Vien, expressions blank, horrified, disbelieving, as if trapped in a dream.
In their line of sight.
That figure turned around, slowly slung that sword onto his back, then stepped on zombie corpses, slowly walked towards them.
Every step the opponent took, caused a kind of shock to their hearts.
Hope in despair, suddenly erupted, giving them a feeling hard to react to.
Soon.
Lam Pham walked before them, looked at these lucky survivors' faces, eyes. Both sides silent, both speechless.
Until Lam Pham proactively spoke, then broke the silence.
"Hello."
Gentle inquiry.
Still quiet, still no one spoke.
This group of survivors all looked at him. Children in the bus, dug at the windows, similarly quietly watched.
Lam Pham knew their encounter, understood their mood. So many zombies, already could make anyone despair. And their resistance, just a kind of pursuit of hope, yet a display without any effect whatsoever.
But living hope truly arrived.
This moment, for their hearts, was a very heavy impact.
Ma Duy Vien walked over, looked towards Lam Pham, opened his mouth several times, then closed it, finally mustered a breath, "Excuse me, are you a god?"
As he spoke these words.
Everyone simultaneously looked at Lam Pham.
As if all awaiting such a result.
Lam Pham smiled; that was a friendly smile towards survivors, even more so a kind of welcome towards survivors he approved of.
"No. I am not a god. I am, like you, an ordinary citizen seeking hope in the apocalypse."
Instantly.
Scene quiet.
Even Ma Duy Vien, who spoke, stared blankly at Lam Pham.
Echoed in his mind.
Seeking hope, ordinary citizen?
Is this real?