Floating Island
Ni Shuang descended the stairs, her voice sweet as she hummed a tune: "I want to be a blue stone, staring at the sky... your name engraved on my heart..."
Before the Doomsday began, Ni Shuang had been a singer, always passionate about music. Yuto Saito, watching her approach, smiled.
"Xiao Shuang, you're off-key," he teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Ni Shuang playfully narrowed her eyes. "Where did I go off-key?"
Yuto grinned. "Straight into my heart."
A delicate blush crept across Ni Shuang's face, her smile softening.
"Greasy!" she feigned disgust, but the laughter in her voice was unmistakable.
Yuto chuckled, leaning closer. "Greasy or not, I'm still your husband."
Ni Shuang lifted her chin in mock arrogance. "Don't get too confident! I'll make you pay next time."
"Funny," Yuto said, his smirk widening. "You said the same thing last night."
Ni Shuang's cheeks deepened in color as the memory of the previous night flashed in her mind. Flustered, she rushed into the kitchen, avoiding Yuto's gaze, who continued to watch her with a satisfied smile.
In the kitchen, Ni Shuang joined Yun Yun. "Sister, let me help."
Yun Yun smiled knowingly. "How was last night?"
Ni Shuang blushed, her smile betraying her delight. "It was… nice."
Yun Yun chuckled softly. "You've finally caught on, haven't you?"
Ni Shuang laughed, grateful. "Thank you, sister."
Yun Yun's eyes softened as she ruffled Ni Shuang's hair affectionately. "Silly girl, as long as you're happy, I'm happy."
The two sisters worked side by side, their laughter filling the kitchen, while outside, Mina, Yuqi, Ruoruo, Hu Tuan'er, Rice Noodles, and Natto came downstairs one by one, greeting Yuto, Yun Yun, and Ni Shuang cheerfully.
"Did everyone sleep well?" Yuto asked.
Hu Tuan'er stretched, her voice content. "The floating island feels so safe. I slept like a baby."
Rice Noodles nodded. "The first few days, I was worried something would burst through the dormitory. But last night, I slept peacefully."
Yun Yun peeked out of the kitchen. "Could someone help set the table?"
Ruoruo and the others sprang into action, bringing the dishes to the dining area. They gathered around the table for breakfast when Mina noticed something.
"Where are Orange and Nako? Are they still sleeping?"
Yun Yun answered, "Nako went out to fight monsters. Orange is probably still in bed."
"Wow, Nako is really dedicated," Ruoruo said, impressed.
Hu Tuan'er chimed in, "She's racking up experience fast. I've already gained 1,200 points."
Yuto grinned. "Nako just took down nine first-order snakes this morning."
"She's amazing," Ruoruo said, her eyes wide.
Just then, Nako returned, smiling. "Captain, I'm back. One red spar, three white ones."
Yuto accepted the spoils with a nod. "Great work. Sit and eat with us."
Nako joined the table, Ruoruo giving her a thumbs-up. "You're unstoppable, Nako! Out there hunting monsters before breakfast."
Nako smiled. "I just want Hu Tuan'er to upgrade the teleportation. That way, we can all get out faster if we need to."
Ni Shuang added, "You're always thinking ahead."
As they finished breakfast, Orange finally made her way downstairs, rubbing her eyes.
Ruoruo teased, "What kept you up so late last night? Were you up to something naughty?"
Orange, flustered, quickly lied, "I was watching a series… didn't sleep until two."
Ruoruo laughed. "You really know how to enjoy yourself."
After the meal, the group moved to the living room, lounging on the sofa. Natto was scrolling through her phone when her expression changed.
"Oh my god," she gasped.
Ni Shuang looked over. "What is it?"
"The northeast was attacked by a massive horde of zombies last night. They're moving fast and approaching the capital. The Northern Military Region sent 100,000 troops to hold them off."
"The capital is too important to lose," Ni Shuang said thoughtfully. "It makes sense they'd send so many troops."
Natto continued reading. "It's not just the northeast. In Xiangxi, two sixth-order centipedes were spotted, a male and a female. Locals are reporting that smaller centipedes are pouring from the cliffs and attacking nearby villages."
"Sixth-order centipedes?" Yun Yun's interest was piqued. "Those would be tough, but we could handle them."
Natto nodded. "There's more. In the southern region, Hailan Island is under siege by zombies. Three cities have already fallen."
Rice Noodles frowned. "We should prioritize helping the south."
Natto explained, "Police Officer Song Yi has already led 30,000 troops to Hailan, but it's unclear if they can contain the threat. Among the zombies are jumpers—fast and deadly."
Hu Tuan'er sighed. "If they can't contain it, Hailan Province might fall."
Yun Yun looked to Yuto, her voice steady but concerned. "Where do we go, captain? The northeast, Xiangxi, or the south?"