As the gates to Elysion creaked open, Xiaoyu led the group inside, her hands slightly trembling from the weight of everything that had happened. The world outside was falling apart, but at least for now, Elysion offered safety. She punched in the security code, and with a heavy hum, the gate parted, revealing the high walls that surrounded the base.
"Here we are," Xiaoyu said, her voice steady despite the overwhelming circumstances. She led her parents, Butler Feng, and the children—Lin Mei's neighbors' siblings—down the paved path toward the quarantine zone.
After they were scanned,they moved on towards the office building were they were IDed and given their point card. The kids were too young to be given point cards,so Lin Mei decided to take them to her place till Qianqian arrived.
Xiaoyu quickly lead her parents and Butler Feng to the mansion and showed them their rooms. Xu Wei was itching to ask questions but knew that it want the right time yet,he was more worried about Jinhai and Qianqian.
"Hey,let's go get them. Why did we leave them,huh?", Xu wei was erratic.
"They'll be fine", Xiaoyu replied internally hoping that all would be well," Qianqian built this place,and it'll keep us safe,stay her with Butler Feng, I'll be back."
She quickly left ignoring her parwho were calling out to her. She quickly went to the control center only to find Lin Mei there already.
They both acknowledged each other in silence and looked straight at the monitors,they took in the chaos and destruction all around them,luckily no monster or zombie were with the vicinity of the base.
The battle raged on like a storm, chaotic and unrelenting. Xu Qianqian gritted her teeth, her fingers aching from the constant recoil of her gun as she fired at the advancing creatures. Beside her, the four brothers—Wei Jian, Long Hao, Rui Feng, and Lei Ming—moved like a well-coordinated unit. He Jun, though shaken by the events of the night, held his ground, using whatever weapons he could find to keep the horde at bay.
Despite their teamwork, the situation was dire. The creatures kept coming, their shrieks mingling with the moans of zombies. Qianqian's ammunition was running dangerously low, each bullet fired with growing reluctance. She glanced at her remaining rounds and felt her stomach twist with worry.
The girls at Elysion aren't prepared for this, she thought, panic gnawing at her resolve. Lin Mei and Lin Na are capable, but they haven't faced anything like this. And the kids... They're completely defenseless.
"Make way for the towering trees!" she yelled, her voice cutting through the chaos as she shot another advancing creature. "There's a base there—safety! If you can hear me, move toward the trees!"
She caught sight of a small family huddled together, their terrified faces illuminated by the glow of a nearby fire. A massive creature loomed over them, its grotesque form blocking their escape.
Without hesitation, Qianqian darted forward, unloading her remaining rounds into the beast's head. It fell with a deafening crash, and she waved the family toward the path she had cleared.
"Go! Run!" she urged, her voice hoarse.
As the family scrambled away, she turned back to her group. The brothers were still fighting fiercely, but even they were beginning to show signs of fatigue.
Long Hao was covered in scratches, his shirt torn, while Wei Jian's face was streaked with dirt and sweat. He Jun was struggling to keep his balance, his weapon trembling in his hands.
"We can't hold them off forever!" Rui Feng shouted, his usually calm demeanor giving way to urgency.
"We're leaving," Qianqian commanded, her voice firm despite the pounding of her heart. "Get to the trucks—now!"
They moved quickly, retreating toward the vehicles. Qianqian continued to fire as they fell back, her movements automatic despite her exhaustion. Once everyone was aboard, they sped away, leaving the chaos and shrieks behind them.
By the time they reached Elysion, dawn was breaking. The horizon glowed faintly, but the light offered little comfort. As Qianqian stepped out of the truck, she surveyed the scene before her.
Survivors were being escorted into the quarantine zone, their faces pale and haunted. Injured men, women, and children leaned against each other for support, their wounds hastily bandaged with whatever scraps of fabric could be found.
Qianqian's heart sank. We have no hospital.
Her system interface appeared before her, glowing faintly as she accessed its construction menu. Without hesitation, she selected a hospital blueprint for 15,000 points, and within moments, a sturdy building began materializing before her eyes. The structure grew rapidly, its sleek walls gleaming under the morning sun.
But as soon as it was complete, another problem arose. She quickly scanned the crowd of rescued survivors, her heart sinking further. Not a single person had the skills of a doctor.
Her stomach churned as she watched the injured struggle. She directed them to the quarantine zone, organizing makeshift beds and administering what little first aid she could manage. Her hands trembled as she wrapped a bandage around a man's arm, her mind racing with fear and frustration.
"Where is Echo?" she muttered under her breath. She had tried calling out to him earlier during the battle, but there had been no response. It was as if he had vanished, leaving her to face this chaos alone.
Qianqian clenched her fists, forcing herself to focus. "Stay calm," she whispered to herself. "We'll manage somehow."
But as the hours passed and no doctor arrived, her anxiety deepened. She glanced at the wounded—men, women, and children who had placed their trust in her, who had followed her here because she had promised safety.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, a silent prayer forming on her lips. Please, Echo... please come back. I can't do this alone.
_______
Far beyond the mortal realm, hidden in the folds of existence where time and space blur together, an ancient council of beings gathered.