Chapter 2: This World is Becoming More Fantastical
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
After locking his door, Lin Ze followed Guo Da toward the end of the hallway.
The elevator had long ceased operation, leaving the two no choice but to take the fire escape stairs.
As they descended, Guo Da stole several glances at Lin Ze, his thoughts churning with doubt. He had seen Lin Ze a few times before and remembered him as a decently good-looking neighbor, but now? The man seemed almost unnaturally handsome, as if he had stepped right out of a celebrity photoshoot.
At first glance, Guo Da had even mistaken him for an idol.
But he quickly shook his head, dismissing the notion. [What does it matter how good-looking someone is during the apocalypse? Looks don’t fill an empty stomach.]
Soon, the two descended another level, arriving at the fifth-floor hallway. The corridor, though not particularly spacious, was already crowded with over twenty people, ranging from the elderly to young children.
Every face bore the unmistakable marks of exhaustion, their expressions a blend of confusion and fear.
As Lin Ze entered, several women’s eyes lit up at the sight of him.
“Alright, everyone on this floor who’s still alive is gathered here now,” Guo Da clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “Let’s share what we know—where we can still find food, where monstrous beasts have been spotted. That way, we can avoid unnecessary risks and work more efficiently when scavenging outside.”
Guo Da took the lead, starting the conversation. “For instance, about 1,300 to 1,400 meters from the community, on Yuquan Street, there are several supermarkets with plenty of supplies left. But be warned—there’s a pack of over ten Blood-Eyed Wolves roaming that street. Transporting food while avoiding them is extremely dangerous.”
Following his words, the group quickly erupted in a cacophony of overlapping voices.
“There’s a crocodile in the artificial lake behind the community! I saw it drag someone underwater just as they passed by. That thing’s at least thirty meters long!”
“Over at Jinxing Square, I saw a horde of red ants chasing a boar that must’ve been four or five meters tall. There were so many ants it was terrifying—they devoured the boar down to its bones in minutes. I’m never going back there.”
“I came across survivors near the Manlan Hotel a few days ago,” said a buzz-cut young man with tanned skin and a sturdy build. “We exchanged some information.”
Lin Ze recognized him—Zhuang Rui, a university student majoring in physical education.
Hearing this, Guo Da perked up and quickly asked, “Did you learn anything valuable?”
“There was something,” Zhuang Rui hesitated for a moment before continuing. “The group there was well-trained, and they managed to take down two Blood-Eyed Wolves together. I got curious and asked how. Turns out, they’ve been practicing a Martial Arts Technique that enhances their physical abilities!”
Martial Arts Technique?
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
Even Lin Ze was taken aback. [First the apocalypse, then vampires, and now martial arts techniques? This world really is turning fantastical.]
Zhuang Rui elaborated further. “They said they found an ancient stone stele in a meteorite crater, inscribed with the technique. By following it, they could strengthen their bodies.”
“A meteorite crater? You mean the ones caused by those falling stars?”
“Most likely… If we could learn that technique, wouldn’t it make gathering food and dealing with monstrous beasts much safer?”
“Zhuang Rui, did you ask them to teach it to you?”
“I did,” Zhuang Rui replied with a wry smile. “But they said they’d only teach me if I traded food for it.”
“Food? That’s not a problem!” declared a burly man, Zhang Zhen. “Once we have that technique, dealing with beasts will be a breeze. We’ll find more food easily after that.”
“That’s right!” chimed in a wiry man who seemed eager to please Zhang Zhen. “With Zhang Zhen’s background as a Sanda coach, once he learns the technique, not even monstrous beasts will be a match for him. With him protecting the community, we’d all be safer.”
Zhang Zhen, puffed up by the praise, thumped his chest confidently. “It’s only right for us to help each other out.”
“Yes, we’ll count on you!” said a woman, her eyes filled with admiration, further inflating Zhang Zhen’s ego.
The group’s mood visibly lifted. After all, their biggest fear was the monstrous beasts that plagued them. If they could gain a way to fight back, their harsh reality would undoubtedly improve.
Guo Da decided quickly. “Alright, let’s gather the food we have and head to the Manlan Hotel—”
Before he could finish, a low growl echoed, cutting him off mid-sentence.
“Awooo!”
The sound was all too familiar to the survivors—it was the howl of a Blood-Eyed Wolf.
Instantly, everyone’s faces turned pale.
“It’s coming from downstairs!” someone exclaimed.
“How is that possible?”
Those closest to the fire escape instinctively started running upstairs. But just as they reached the stairwell door, a massive shadow burst through.
The man at the front had no chance to react and was knocked to the ground, his throat viciously torn apart in an instant.
Shrrrk!
Blood sprayed everywhere. The man’s eyes widened in shock as his body convulsed briefly before going still.
“Ahhh!”
Piercing screams filled the corridor as the crowd panicked and fled in terror.
Standing before them was a black wolf the size of a calf, its eyes glowing a menacing blood-red. Its jaws, filled with razor-sharp teeth, dripped with blood, and its entire body exuded a primal and savage aura.
It was a Blood-Eyed Wolf, the most common yet fearsome type of monstrous beast in Weifeng City.
Though considered low-ranking among monstrous beasts, a single Blood-Eyed Wolf was still more than a match for ordinary humans. Its sharp claws, incredible speed, and deadly hunting instincts made it a predator capable of tearing through five or six grown men with ease.
Hearing Zhuang Rui earlier mention survivors who had slain two of these creatures had astonished everyone, sparking hope in the martial arts technique.
“How did it get in?” Guo Da’s voice trembled with fear. “The first-floor door was locked!”
Worse yet, no one in the group had brought weapons. They now faced the deadly creature barehanded.
“Awooo!”
The wolf’s bloodlust surged after its first kill. Its glowing red eyes burned with ferocity as it leaped toward the fleeing crowd.
Panic overtook everyone. Even Zhang Zhen, who had earlier proclaimed the importance of mutual aid, was the first to dart into a nearby room and slam the door shut behind him.
A young woman following closely behind him slammed into the door, falling to the ground. Before she could get up, the Blood-Eyed Wolf lunged toward her, its rancid breath inches from her face.
“Ah!” she screamed, her expression frozen in despair as the wolf’s cold, merciless eyes locked onto her.
Just then, a heavy potted plant came hurtling through the air, smashing into the wolf’s head with a resounding crack.
Thud!
The force shattered the pot, and the wolf let out a pained yelp, stumbling back a few steps.
Its blood-red gaze turned furiously toward its attacker.
Lin Ze brushed the dirt off his hands, his expression unreadable.