The wail of the air-raid alarm shattered the quiet of the night, jarring many people from their sleep.
But some, lost in deep slumber, remained blissfully unaware.
Take Ni Shuang, for example. She was wearing headphones, lost in a dream so sweet that not even the blaring sirens could stir her. In her dream, Yuto Saito was doting on her, caring for her in every possible way, treating her like a beloved princess.
Room 202, the female dormitory.
Ruoruo shot up from her bed, startled by the loud noise. "What's that sound?" she asked, her heart racing.
Nazi, who hadn't yet fallen asleep, replied calmly, "It's the air-raid alarm. I just got word—citizens are being told to stay indoors. It's dangerous out there."
"Danger?" Ruoruo frowned. "Didn't we deal with the zombie outbreak? What's going on now? Is there another village outbreak?"
"It's not necessarily zombies," Nazi explained, her voice measured. "Earlier, the ground was shaking. Something must have come up from underground."
Ruoruo blinked, confused. "Really? I didn't feel anything. I must've been too exhausted today. I slept like a rock. But why are you still awake, Nanako?"
"I'm used to staying up late," Nazi said, her tone casual. "I always fall asleep later."
Ruoruo glanced around the room. "Mina and Xiaojuzi are still fast asleep. They didn't even notice."
Nazi smiled softly. "Go back to sleep. We've got to meet up with Yuto Saito tomorrow."
"Yeah," Ruoruo mumbled, already feeling drowsy again. "I always feel safer with him and Auntie around."
Nazi nodded. "Me too. Good night, Ruoruo."
"Good night," Ruoruo replied, her voice fading as she quickly drifted back into sleep.
Nazi lay back, her thoughts lingering on Yuto Saito. There was something about being around him that made her feel secure, like nothing bad could touch them. If they'd been with anyone else—like Xian and his group—they'd be fighting for their lives against monsters day in and day out.
She knew the truth. Only the strong could protect those they cared about. And with that thought, she finally found her answer.
In Sichuan Province, at a school called Pan Po Men, chaos was unfolding.
Jing Tian, the eldest disciple, and his junior brother, Zhang Kun, were running for their lives, pursued by a ferocious salamander-like creature.
"Senior brother! What is that thing?" Zhang Kun shouted between breaths, glancing nervously over his shoulder.
"I have no idea!" Jing Tian yelled back, dodging through the trees. "But it definitely came up from underground! After that earthquake, this monster just appeared!"
Zhang Kun's eyes widened as he risked another glance behind them. "It's not chasing anymore! Does it like water or something?"
Jing Tian stopped for a moment, panting. "Looks like it. As long as it stays there, we're safe for now."
Zhang Kun exhaled in relief. "Thank God. That thing's bite would've killed us for sure."
The two brothers had trained in martial arts their entire lives, their physical endurance far superior to that of ordinary people. But even so, they knew they were no match for a creature like this.
Meanwhile, on the floating island, Natto awoke with a start at the sound of the alarms.
"What's happening?!" he groaned, rubbing his eyes groggily. But then he remembered where he was—on the floating island, a place of absolute safety.
Natto chuckled to himself. "Nothing to worry about here. This place is as safe as it gets."
With a contented smile, he pulled the covers up, nestling back into his bed. "Life on this floating island is the best. I can sleep peacefully no matter what's going on down below."
He drifted back into sleep, a smile still lingering on his face.
Many cities had failed to send out any alerts. They simply weren't aware of the monsters yet.
X City, however, had reacted quickly. The authorities were already on high alert, though most people hadn't noticed the warnings as they slept through the night.
It wasn't until other cities began facing their own monster attacks that they understood the gravity of the situation. One by one, they followed X City's lead. Even in the early hours of the morning, at 3 AM, alarms blared through the streets. The message was clear: everyone should stay indoors. It was the only way to save lives.
Back on the floating island, Yuto Saito lay peacefully in bed, holding Yun Yun close. The alarms didn't disturb him, nor did the threat of monsters or zombies. For now, all that mattered was the warmth of Yun Yun in his arms.
Whatever was coming—whether it was zombies or monsters—they would deal with it tomorrow.
For now, they slept soundly, embracing the calm before the storm.