Hua Thanh gripped his baseball bat, delivering a bone-crushing swing that sent a lunging zombie's head spinning. He shot a look of pure disdain toward Tran Pham's group. "Hmph."
At that moment, Thanh Dao, clutching a wooden club, stepped forward with a few friends, intending to help. Tran Pham's brow furrowed as he hissed. "Thanh Dao! Don't go out there... it's not safe!"
Thanh Dao didn't flinch. Her gaze was resolute. "We can't just stand here and watch our allies fight alone. They are protecting us; I will do my part."
Beside her, Ngoc Han—the girl who had been sobbing earlier—clutched her own club. Her voice was trembling but firm. "If you're a coward, then just stay here, Tran Pham!"
Tran Pham's face twisted in anger. "You... Ngoc Han!"
Seeing Thanh Dao stubbornly advance, Tran Pham had no choice but to follow with his group, albeit begrudgingly. They stepped out with weapons in hand, but their eyes betrayed their suffocating fear.
Tragedy struck almost instantly. These students had zero combat experience. When a few zombies lunged, they froze in terror. Within heartbeats, screams of agony erupted as several members were bitten, thrashing desperately before their comrades as blood sprayed the pavement.
"Young Master Tran, save me...!"
The carnage terrified the rest of Tran Pham's followers. Some tried to retreat, but zombies swarmed them. They swung their clubs clumsily, lacking the force to stop the momentum of the undead. In a flash, several more were overwhelmed.
Tran Pham stood paralyzed, his mind racing with calculations. He realized that if he kept letting his group charge like this, he'd lose his entire meat shield. Yet, his petty nature kept him from risking his own skin. He looked at Luu Hao's group ahead and shouted, "Quick! Follow them!"
Meanwhile, after taking down their first zombie, Thanh Dao and Ngoc Han quickly retreated toward Thuong Sinh and Luu Hao. They took a jagged breath, realizing the small clearing Thuong Sinh had carved out was their only chance.
Thuong Sinh remained at the vanguard like a vengeful wraith. Every step was a blur as he neutralized zombies, creating a safe passage for Thanh Dao, Ngoc Han, and Luu Hao's team. He moved so fast their eyes could barely track him, yet every swing and leap was executed with absolute precision.
Thanh Dao panted, turning to Ngoc Han. "Keep up! If we stay close to him, we'll make it out!"
Despite their exhaustion, the group pushed forward, led by the shadow that was Thuong Sinh, moving toward the main campus building where the bus and supplies awaited.
As they cleared the dormitory courtyard, the main classroom block loomed ahead. Broken windows glinted in the dawn light while a horde of zombies trailed behind them like starving beasts.
"Everyone! Into the classroom building!" Luu Hao roared.
They pivoted, charging into a large classroom at the end of the hall. The door was slammed shut and bolted. The sound of the lock clicking merged with the frantic scratching of zombies outside, making everyone's heart tighten.
Thuong Sinh stood at the front, scanning the perimeter. Thanks to him, the group had a momentary sanctuary.
"System."
[ Thuong Sinh ]
[ Cultivation ]: 0/200
[ Realm ]: Body Refinement (Mid-Stage)
[ Combat Skills ]: Blade Wind (Initiate), Phantom Steps (Initiate)
[ Merit Points ]: 24
Thanks to his breakthrough to the Mid-Stage of Body Refinement, he felt a surge of confidence. But the real game-changer was Phantom Steps. It allowed him to move several times faster than a normal human, flickering in and out of sight like a ghost.
Luu Hao exhaled sharply. "Alright, rest here for a bit. Recover your strength. Once everyone is steady, we move for the parking lot."
As the group dispersed to rest, Thuong Sinh stood up. "I'll go scout."
"I'll go with you," Luu Hao said, while Vuong Khai, Ton Lam, and Hua Thanh nodded, following suit.
In the corner, Tran Tuyet approached the injured survivors from Tran Pham's group. She raised her hands, and a faint green luminescence radiated outward, enveloping their gashes and stopping the bleeding. The wounds began to knit together, and the pain receded.
Tran Pham's group watched in stunned silence. "How... how did you do that?" Tran Pham asked, unable to hide his shock.
Tran Tuyet gave a tired smile. "It's a healing ability. It's not much, but it's enough to get you back on your feet."
Chu Minh added solemnly, "That is an Awakened Ability. A special power that only a few possess."
Ngoc Han and Thanh Dao exchanged a look. "So... does Thuong Sinh have an ability too?" Thanh Dao asked.
"He does. He's a Strength-Type Awakened."
Tran Pham approached Tran Tuyet, his eyes a mix of curiosity and jealousy. "How do you awaken an ability?"
"I don't really know," she replied honestly. "When the apocalypse started, I was injured and realized I could heal myself. That's how I discovered it."
Tran Pham's gaze followed Thuong Sinh's retreating back, his heart turning cold with envy. If I had that power, how could they dare look down on me?
Go ahead, enjoy your triumph, he thought bitterly. Wait until you reach the bus and realize that isn't the real key.
The key he had handed over belonged to Trieu Duong—the man who was already dead. The university logo was just a sticker he had peeled off an old parking pass to make it look authentic. A dead man's key in exchange for your lives as my path-clearers.
A faint, wicked smirk flickered across his lips, gone as quickly as it appeared.
In the center of the room, Tran Tuyet continued to pulse with that pale green light—a rhythmic warning that their brief respite was coming to an end. Soon, they would have to face the sea of zombies outside once more.