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墨書 Inktalez
Perhaps the most painful thing in life is knowing too much and understanding too deeply. Sometimes, being ignorant and viewing the world simply can be a source of happiness. Life is not a soap opera where everything ends in a happy reunion. When old friends meet after many years, it may not always be a moment of toasting and celebration; it could also lead to drawing swords against each other. At such times, one often faces two completely different choices. Left or right, not everyone can choose the right direction.
Lin Yi did not know how to face these harsh realities. He felt a belief in his mind collapsing. The "person" before him, more accurately described as a Zombie, was actually his longtime friend. The friend he had long thought dead was now standing before him in a foreign land, under an eerie atmosphere. Lin Yi looked at the face that seemed as dry as straw, and some scenes from his memories began to overlap slowly. Yet he was unwilling to recall them; his heart told him that his friend had already died.
Li Qiweng tugged at the dazed Lin Yi, understanding the turmoil within him. She had seen this Zombie countless times before it was alive. Due to her profession, she had firmly memorized various appearances of this person. When she first saw it, she only felt a sense of familiarity. But soon she realized that its form resembled someone from her memories.
"Zhao Pei, I know you can understand me. I just want to say that in everyone's eyes, you have been dead for a long time. As an old friend, I do not wish to see this, but I still advise you not to come out and harm others," Lin Yi said, staring at the Zombie before him as if trying to find traces of the past in its features. However, that parched face showed no expression, only lips moving slightly.
"Captain, it doesn’t know who Zhao Pei is, but hopes we won't be enemies; it has no intention of provoking us," Jerry quickly conveyed the information he had gathered to Lin Yi.
Lin Yi's gaze shifted constantly, seemingly pondering something.
The others were shocked when Lin Yi called out the name, but seeing his unchanging demeanor eased their worries somewhat. However, all the Zombies were staring at them simultaneously, which was undeniably unsettling.
"Ask it what it wants," Lin Yi did not question Li Qiweng about whether she was sure it was Zhao Pei; the most pressing issue now was how to deal with this group of Zombies.
"It wants to enter the city," Jerry replied simply, but the implications were broad.
Lin Yi understood that entering the city meant everyone would turn into Bloodthirsty Zombies; this was a disaster. He did not want this calamity to unfold right before his eyes.
"Lin Yi, I've sensed some psychological fluctuations from that guy; it seems to retain some human characteristics," Wu Hao had somehow made his way to Lin Yi's side.
"What do you mean by that?" Lin Yi thought perhaps these already Corpseified individuals could revert back to being human.
"It feels like it has its own thoughts, but its actions seem controlled by something else; its consciousness and behavior are separate. Unlike other Zombies that only eat people, this one can think but is still driven by its hunger," Wu Hao struggled to articulate his thoughts since he had never encountered such a situation before.
Zombies that fight purely by instinct are not the most terrifying; what is truly frightening are those that can think. They could organize other Zombies and pose an even greater threat to humanity. Lin Yi did not know if this thinking Zombie was merely an exception, but he knew that this Zombie must die again.
Remembering the people who had long suffered from the plague of Zombies, Lin Yi raised his gun and aimed it at his "friend" Zhao Pei.
“Bang!” Without hesitation, he fired a shot, though it missed.
However, after days of training, Lin Yi had learned to maintain a calm demeanor. He looked at Zhao Pei, seemingly hoping to see something on its lifeless face, but ultimately found nothing.
Zhao Pei continued to move its lips, while Jerry desperately tried to communicate with Lin Yi.
This time, if Lin Yi killed Zhao Pei, the Zombies would instantly lose control, leading to a situation where both sides would suffer. Zhao Pei did not want to be an enemy; as long as Lin Yi left, it would let bygones be bygones.
Deep down, Lin Yi was still unaccustomed to being at odds with Zhao Pei. The outcome of such a conflict would either mean being devoured by the Zombies or having to sever the head of his longtime friend, leaving it to die in a foreign land. Lin Yi was not a particularly kind person, but he was certainly not evil either. If he had to evaluate himself, he could only be considered a benevolent person. He did not wish for these dead beings to continue causing harm, yet he also did not want to bring about the death of those on his side.
The intense emotional turmoil led Wu Hao to understand Lin Yi's thoughts without him saying a word. He looked at Lin Yi and whispered, “They will definitely be a threat if they stay, but we can't eliminate them without suffering losses ourselves. Why not just leave?”
Lin Yi first nodded in agreement but then quickly shook his head and said, “If we leave now, this city might soon become a ghost town.”
Just as Lin Yi hesitated, Zhao Pei suddenly retreated back into the Horde. When Lin Yi came back to his senses, he saw Zhao Pei raising its wrist to its lips as if speaking. Upon noticing Lin Yi staring at it, it even smiled friendly at him.
Lin Yi couldn't bring himself to smile back because he recognized Zhao Pei's gesture all too well; it was clearly using a communicator. What could it possibly want with a communicator? Was it calling for more companions?
Before Lin Yi could pursue the truth of the matter, the truth revealed itself. The iron gate that had been sealed in Dander City suddenly swung open, and several Giant Zombies emerged from within. It turned out that Zhao Pei had been stalling for time all along; its true intention was to breach the city!
No one paid attention to the stunned Lin Yi and the others; those Zombies began to charge forward the moment the gate opened. The Giant Zombies somehow evaded everyone's notice, and all Lin Yi could see from afar were numerous severed limbs scattered on the ground—likely the work of those Zombies.
Lin Yi had no idea what was happening inside the city, but he knew it must be chaotic. As a border city that had enjoyed peace for so long, Dander's Armed Forces were not particularly strong. Therefore, when they discovered the Zombie invasion, their resistance seemed far too weak. Although grenades occasionally exploded in defense, facing an unending wave of Zombie attacks left their ammunition situation dire. Moreover, with Giant Zombies rampaging like armored vehicles, nearly all resistance forces crumbled under pressure.
Watching as the Zombies breached the city walls completely, Lin Yi felt a mix of emotions. With just his group of people, even if they managed to rescue a few individuals inside, they would suffer heavy losses themselves. However, things were not as dire as he had imagined; when faced with life-and-death situations, humans often exhibited unimaginable fighting power.
As the regular army in the city was nearly slaughtered by the Giant Zombies, a large crowd of civilians appeared on the streets. Some wielded shotguns, while others carried old-fashioned rifles, collectively opening fire on the Giant Zombies clearing a path ahead. Those without firearms rushed to the front lines, brandishing knives of various lengths, trying to kill the Zombies before them.
The Zombie Sea seemed endless, but when the enemy had already pushed into their territory, even the kindest souls would muster their greatest courage.
Kill! Kill! Kill!
This was the singular thought in every civilian's mind. Even Wu Hao and Jerry, who were outside the city and possessed extraordinary mental strength, felt the overwhelming intent to kill.
All the men of Dander City had come out to fight. Without weapons, they would bite and claw at these wretched monsters with their teeth. Soon, women joined the fray as well; there were too many Zombies. Their overwhelming presence in the city was suffocating. All exits were blocked by Zombies, and there was no way out for anyone. Or perhaps they did not want to retreat; this was their home, and it was the monsters that should leave.
The men's fighting was bloody and violent. They grabbed anything they could find as weapons and struck fiercely at every Zombie within reach. The women shouted curses before swinging their kitchen knives at the snarling creatures. But it was not enough; it felt as if more Zombies kept appearing.
At that moment, a woman cried out in despair before her husband, who had been bitten by a Zombie and lay dead, suddenly rose again and bit off half her face. Despite her fear and pain from losing half her face, she could not express her emotions. Soon after, more Zombies pounced on her, devouring her completely. They seemed to have been starving for too long.
People were horrified to see their former neighbors, dear friends, lovers, or parents—those who had already fallen—now rising again. However, those who once stood united now fought each other like enemies. Those who could not bring themselves to harm their transformed loved ones ultimately ended up being reduced to mere bones by the Zombies.
Panic spread throughout the city; what was most terrifying was not how difficult things had become but how utterly hopeless they felt. Men began to weep as they mourned so many lost lives while facing an even stronger enemy. Wise elders held their grandchildren close, preparing to retreat; they understood that sometimes one must bow down. I will return to slay these monsters; even if I die, my grandson will continue fighting.
As one person prepared to retreat, another followed suit. Soon all surviving citizens scrambled to find vehicles to escape the city. However, only a few managed to get out; most remained engulfed in the endless Zombie Sea. Some desperate individuals even jumped from the high city walls in search of spiritual and physical release.
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