Nako stood on the rooftop of the girls' dormitory, watching the floating island slowly ascend into the sky, a whirlwind of emotions coursing through her. If only she had known sooner that joining Yuto Saito's team would give her so much power, she wouldn't have hesitated for a second.
Her mind flashed back to that moment in the villa on the second floor, where she had been lying on the floor, stretching like a cat. Her cheeks flushed red just thinking about it. That pose had been so embarrassing—but since it was only Yuto Saito there with her, she didn't mind as much. He was handsome, powerful, and the exact type of man Nako admired.
As the floating island gradually disappeared into the clouds, Nako whispered, "Safe travels... I'll be waiting for you all to return."
Meanwhile, 6,000 meters up, Yuto Saito and his companions stood on the lush grass of the floating island, admiring the breathtaking sea of clouds around them.
"Wow, this is incredible! We're so high up!" Ruoruo exclaimed, her wide eyes reflecting the fluffy clouds.
Orange smiled, "It's like being on an airplane."
Mina ran her hand along the protective barrier surrounding the island. "This shield is fascinating... It's like bulletproof glass but much stronger."
Yun Yun gazed at the endless expanse of white clouds with wonder. "I've never seen the floating island soar this high before," she mused, her voice soft with awe.
Ni Shuang turned to Yuto Saito with an excited gleam in her eyes. "Xiaotu, how high can the island go?"
Yuto chuckled. "It can rise indefinitely. As long as the Tree of Life keeps producing oxygen and the shield holds, we're good."
Natto's eyes lit up. "Does that mean we could even reach outer space?"
Yuto laughed. "Technically, yes. But why bother with space when we have a floating island? There's no planet out there safer or more comfortable than this."
Natto sighed with contentment. "You're right. I'd never leave. This is where I'll stay, forever."
Ni Shuang shot her a teasing glance. "Natto, how many kids are you planning to have with Xiaotu if you're staying forever?"
Natto blushed bright red. "Xiao Shuang! Don't say that!"
Yuto turned his attention to Ni Shuang and grinned. "What about you, Xiao Shuang? How many kids are you planning to have with me?"
She playfully smacked his arm, her face flushing. "None! I'm staying single and carefree for as long as I can."
Natto giggled, "Look at her face! She's redder than a Fuji apple!"
Ni Shuang, too embarrassed to continue the conversation, quickly fled back inside the villa.
Yun Yun, still admiring the clouds, commented, "I didn't expect the floating island to move this fast."
Yuto nodded. "It's adjustable. Normally, it takes two hours by plane to get from X City to the capital, but with the floating island, it's only 40 minutes."
"Three times the speed?" Yun Yun asked, impressed.
Yuto grinned. "Yep, and that's just at normal speed."
"That's amazing," Yun Yun marveled.
Yuto turned to Orange. "Have you contacted your parents yet?"
Orange nodded. "Yeah, they don't want me to go back. They said it's too dangerous and that the military's already picked them up."
Mina, ever the cautious one, asked, "What if they're already with the military by the time we arrive?"
"As long as I know they're safe, I'm fine. But I worry they're lying to keep me from going back to the capital." Orange's voice wavered with concern.
Mina suggested, "Why don't you video call them when we're closer to the city? That way, you can confirm everything."
Orange nodded in agreement. "I'll do that once we're over the capital."
Yuto, sensing the tension, clapped his hands. "Alright, let's all rest up. Once we get to the capital, we've got zombies to deal with."
Everyone agreed. Mina, in particular, was eager to gather more spar to power the floating island.
Yuto gently took Yun Yun's hand and led her back inside to the sofa. "I hope we can gather as much spar as possible this time. We need all we can get," he said.
Yun Yun smiled warmly at him. "With all the zombies in the capital, I'm sure we'll come back with plenty."
Yuto looked at her lovingly. "Are you tired, Xiaoyun? Do you want to rest?"
She gazed into his eyes, her smile deepening. "Not at all. I slept wonderfully last night."
Her words brought a blush to Yuto's cheeks as he recalled the intimacy they had shared the night before. He pulled her into a gentle embrace.
Meanwhile, back in the capital, chaos reigned. The city had fallen, overrun with zombies that now roamed the streets, their eerie growls echoing off the tall buildings.
On the 25th floor of a high-rise, Yuqi, a famous actress with striking beauty and undeniable talent, stood by the window of Tangtang Studio, staring down at the desolate streets below.
Not long ago, her future had seemed so bright. She had earned enough to ensure her family lived in comfort, and her career was taking off. But then the apocalypse came, shattering everything.
As she watched the undead shuffle through the streets, a deep frown creased her forehead. The studio's food supplies were running out, and if the military didn't arrive soon to evacuate them... she didn't want to think about it.
The capital was vast, and the military's rescue efforts were slow, searching one block at a time. By the time they reached her, who knew how much time would have passed?
Yuqi clenched her fists in frustration. She wasn't ready to die—not like this. She still had so much to live for, so much to experience.
One thing was certain: she wasn't going to give up without a fight.