"Spread out, everyone!" With Ominic's command, Kerry and William moved to the sides of the gate, while Joey leaped onto the city gate, scanning the distance.
Emery and I also ran to the elevated part of the gate, gazing into the distance. Bernice and Lindsay stood ahead of everyone, Lindsay with hands on hips and Bernice calmly looking forward. They stood in the wind, their hair flying, like vanguards, exuding extraordinary charm. I was not only excited but also curious about Bernice's abilities; I hadn't seen her in action yet!
Edwina and Shia, still struggling to control her powers, stood inside the gate. Edwina's abilities didn't seem combat-oriented, and I hadn't witnessed her using them.
Finnegan, who claimed to have spotted the Flying Corpse Monsters, said they were still some distance away. Finnegan acted as the eyes for the city; when he detected an emergency, he would promptly inform Noah City's headquarters, Ominic and Celeste, allowing them enough time to prepare.
The entire world became eerily quiet, like the calm before a storm. The air seemed to freeze instantly, oxygen suspended in a momentary stasis, making it difficult to breathe. The chest felt a bit stuffy due to changes in air pressure. A storm was imminent, and the distant golden-red flashes were awe-inspiring.
In such weather, why would the Flying Corpse Monsters come? They usually didn't migrate during thunderstorms.
Could it be that they were after Lindsay?
"Boom, boom, boom." Dull thunder rumbled from the distance, adding tension and anticipation. Thunderstorms brought abundant rainfall, which was crucial for Noah City's water supply.
"Boom, boom, boom." This time, it wasn't thunder but the sound of machinery in motion. The ground beneath my feet trembled slightly. I looked around and faintly saw a massive black plate rising slowly from the northwest, one after another. In the increasingly close red light of the lightning, these enormous plates formed a long "wall." The "wall" started tilting downwards at about sixty degrees, forming a long slope. Simultaneously, it seemed to serve as a mechanism to divert more rainwater.
"Noah City is preparing to store water. When it rains, Noah automatically collects water," Emery explained, probably noticing my surprise.
The heavy atmosphere and distant lightning heralded an impending heavy rain, bringing precious water to Noah City. Having explored the surroundings of Noah City, I hadn't seen any water sources. Therefore, the city's water came from above, and the heavenly elements didn't follow our wishes. Moreover, these rain clouds wouldn't stay above our reservoir, waiting to fill it up before moving on.Having been in Noah City for a while, I hadn't experienced rain. I had initially thought that the small reservoir I saw last time was the only water source. Now, thinking about it, how could that small reservoir be enough for over two hundred people for drinking, cooking, and other needs?
"But this water is not clean, and it will take a while to purify it." Emery pouted in frustration. "We can't even wash our clothes with this water. When your spaceship is okay, we'll go find a clean water source!" His eyes sparkled with hope as he gazed into the distance, despite the thunderstorm brewing there, turning the horizon into a hellish world.
"Ask Finnegan where the Zombie Horde is." Celeste's voice came from below.
Leif placed his right hand to his ear, apparently contacting Finnegan and reported, "Finnegan says he can't see them."
Can't see them? What does that mean? I looked at everyone with confusion while standing on the city gate. The most mysterious person in Noah City was Finnegan, and it felt like he wasn't even in Noah City. Sometimes, I wanted to see the true face of Finnegan, but I had my duties and tasks. I had to attend training and train others.
Moreover, I couldn't act like an obsessed fan, being curious and rushing to observe this legendary Finnegan. That would make me feel silly.
But since Finnegan , and he discovered the Zombie Horde, he couldn't just slack off and lose sight of the Zombie Horde midway. He was Noah's Eye, and I believed he would faithfully fulfill his duties without being unreliable.
So, what did it mean that he couldn't see them? Did the Zombie Horde fly away?
However, after Leif's report, Celeste and Ominic looked even more serious. They exchanged a glance and addressed the others, "Be careful, the Zombie Horde is approaching."
I was momentarily puzzled. Leif clearly said Finnegan couldn't see the Zombie Horde anymore, so why did Celeste and Ominic say the Zombie Horde was approaching?
"It's here!" Emery's deep voice sounded, and his eyes narrowed sharply. His gaze, as sharp as a sword, pierced through the air, pointing straight ahead, towards the north.
Joey also craned his neck nervously, looking towards the north.
Following Emery's gaze, I immediately looked north. Suddenly, I stood frozen on the city gate. In the midst of the red lightning on the horizon, I could clearly see a group of dark clouds rushing towards us rapidly! They seemed to be in a race with the approaching storm, using the horizon as their starting line, and the thunderclaps acted as the referee's starting gun!"Boom!" A thunderous sound echoed, and they burst out of the starting line, rapidly approaching us in the electric glow of the red lightning. Their speed was astonishing, leaving us in awe as they were flying ahead of the terrifying lightning!
"Stay alert, everyone!" Celeste commanded, and everyone immediately formed a tight defensive formation!
Ominic waved his hand, and William and Kerry quickly stood by Lindsay and Bernice's side. Bill, Moxi, and Gabriel formed the second row. Joey, Emery, and I remained on the city gate, while Edwina and Shia stood inside the gate. The tension was palpable, resembling our first encounter with a formidable enemy.
Seeing the familiar Zombie Horde, my confusion about Finnegan's inability to see them grew. Why could we see them with our naked eyes when Finnegan, as the Finnegan Eye, couldn't?
However, this was not the time to ponder that question. The Zombie Horde was already descending upon us!
A vast horde of zombies descended in a disciplined manner. Instead of falling chaotically, they landed in triangular formations, with seven members in each small unit, creating a triangular pattern. As they landed with a series of thuds, the ground trembled slightly. It was as if a well-trained fleet was descending in front of us, and the entire world fell silent in an instant!
"Howl!" The front row of Flying Corpse Monsters stood up simultaneously, howling towards us. They looked different from Second sister; they were bald with longer and sharper ears. Moreover, their physique was larger than Second sister's, nearly reaching three meters in height. As they stood up together, an overwhelming sense of oppression and threat emanated from them, especially under the horrifying sky, making them appear as if demons from hell had descended. Their snowy white eyes turned red in the light of the red lightning!
"Howl!" They roared again, raising their sharp and shiny claws, forcefully stabbing the ground. It seemed like they were demonstrating their strength to us, ready to charge forward and tear us to pieces at a moment's notice!
"Let me go!" Bill stepped forward, and all eyes turned to him. The gaze held more tension than when facing the Flying Corpse Monsters directly. Ominic's expression was the most exaggerated, and only after Celeste shot him a stern look did he somewhat restrain himself.
Suddenly, Bernice extended her arm, blocking Bill in front of her. Bill looked at her, and she simply gave him a glance. It was an exceptionally cool and handsome look, radiating a silent authority.
"You step back!" Lindsay pushed Bill aside. "Do you want us all to puke? If everyone throws up, who's going to fight the Flying Corpse Monsters?!"