"Starting level one, four-star trial," the familiar cold, unyielding voice echoed around her. "Levels one through three focused on agility and reflexes. From level four onward, strength and physical endurance will be tested. Prepare to begin."
As the words faded, Ruyi noticed a massive stone slab descending from the blood-red sky. It surrounded her in a square formation, closing in rapidly and pressing tighter with each second.
A wave of suffocating pain swallowed her senses. Instinctively, she pushed with all her might, managing to create a small gap to breathe. But the moment her strength flagged, the stone would relentlessly close in, leaving her gasping and fighting for space.
She had no idea how long she endured this torment. When she finally regained awareness, she was back in her crimson sanctuary, exhausted but grateful. The dense red mist swirled around her, rejuvenating her body. She had come to understand that this mist acted much like the concept of "internal energy" from martial arts, working to enhance her from the inside out. And each grueling trial? An external test, fortifying her body's resilience.
This harmonious interplay between internal and external strength made her take each trial with a seriousness she wouldn't have thought herself capable of. Regardless of the mysterious entity's motives, she realized these exercises made her stronger, so she threw herself into the training willingly.
When Ruyi exited the space, she returned to find Wen Xinyu and the others preparing to leave. Their plans involved a comprehensive search for resources, with a caravan of sturdy vehicles lined up, ready to face whatever awaited them outside.
They had experienced more than enough to respect the resilience of the zombies they had encountered thus far. Gathering durable vehicles in a wealthy neighborhood like theirs was relatively easy; the real challenge would be collecting enough food.
Within the group of sixteen, not everyone could or would help with the search. Hui Xin, Lian's mother, an elderly Mr. Chen, his young grandson, and a few other non-combatants would stay behind. Only a few had the capability to assist in fighting zombies and scavenging for supplies: Wen Xinyu, Anyang, Lian Zichen, Shiliu, and three others.
Initially, Wen Xinyu had suggested that Ruyi stay behind, a gesture of "considerate protection" that Ruyi flatly rejected. In the original story, the protagonist's "good intentions" had led to Ruyi becoming dependent and unable to keep up. This time, Ruyi knew she had to overcome her fears and adapt to this harsh new world. She couldn't afford to fall behind.
Shiliu, of course, made her opinion clear, ridiculing Ruyi and refusing to be grouped with her. "No way am I dragging around dead weight!" she had scoffed.
Ruyi brushed off the sneers. "Why waste energy being angry at a character in a book?" she reminded herself. She soon found herself teamed up with three of the boys, while Wen Xinyu, Anyang, Lian Zichen, and Shiliu formed the second group. This arrangement was exactly what she had wanted—it would allow her the freedom to "collect" items without prying eyes.
Everyone was dressed in sturdy, flexible clothing, equipped with makeshift weapons like steel pipes, kitchen cleavers, and firefighter axes. Ruyi chose two watermelon knives from her hidden inventory, though she had far better weapons stashed in her space for later use.
The sky was bright, the morning deceptively tranquil. Were it not for the faint stench of decay in the air, one could almost pretend it was just another day.
As they reached their target, the general manager's house for a nearby corporation, the three boys seemed uneasy. They had hoped to be with Wen Xinyu and her powers, or even with Shiliu. To be assigned with Ruyi felt like being left out in the cold.
Ruyi ignored their sullen looks. As they approached the house, she suggested, "Let's split up. Fifty meters ahead, there's a villa owned by someone who's rarely home. I'll check it out."
"What? That's too risky!" scoffed one of the boys, his face marred by a fierce scowl. "If something happens to you, who's going to be responsible? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out there?"
Ruyi just smiled coldly. "Don't worry. Wen Xinyu knows my personality well enough. If anything happens, you won't be blamed." And without waiting for their response, she sprinted toward the villa.
Once out of sight, she switched her watermelon knives for the weapon gifted by the entity in the space—a massive, ancient-looking blade. Despite her lack of knowledge about weaponry, Ruyi could tell it was crafted from something extraordinary. It was heavy, but thankfully, her recent training had increased her strength. The old Ruyi would have had no hope of wielding it.
Scaling the villa's tall wall with ease, she felt a thrill at her newfound agility. The once-abandoned villa was exactly as she had read in the book: a secret hideout for a weapons smuggler who used it to store arms. The timing couldn't be better; the last shipment hadn't yet been moved, all conveniently left for Wen Xinyu in the original plot.
But now, it was hers to claim. With a grin, she descended into the basement, where rows of crates stood neatly stacked, brimming with supplies. She eagerly transported each crate into her personal space.
The jackpot was hers. And, as she wandered through the villa, she found yet another surprise hidden in its depths.