Ruyi sped along the highway, but her progress was abruptly halted at the toll gate. In the wake of the viral outbreak, panicked crowds had fled the city en masse, clogging the roads with their cars and belongings. The scene ahead was pure chaos—abandoned vehicles jammed together in a haphazard tangle, splattered with vivid blood and shattered bones. Around the wreckage, dozens of zombies roamed aimlessly, their vacant, milky eyes scanning the scene.
Seeing the impassable road, Ruyi brought her car to a screeching halt. Grabbing the machete from the passenger seat, she stepped out, her movements immediately catching the attention of the nearby zombies. Their stiff necks jerked unnaturally as they turned toward her, their decayed faces twisted into grotesque approximations of hunger.
After storing the car in her space, Ruyi tightened her grip on the machete and strode toward the approaching horde.
The air filled with the sickening stench of rotting flesh and the metallic tang of spilled blood as Ruyi hacked her way through. Despite her agility and careful movements, the sheer number of zombies overwhelmed her. Exhausted, drenched in blood, and with her clothes in tatters, she had no choice but to retreat into her space.
Disgusted by the sticky, foul-smelling fabric clinging to her, she stripped off her jacket and hesitated before unbuttoning her pants. She suddenly paused and asked with a stern tone, "Seriously, are you male or female? You've seen how dangerous it is outside. I'm going to need to change here sometimes. I'm a girl, you know—it's embarrassing!"
Her voice echoed in the empty space, but the mysterious entity she called the Sovereign didn't reply. The suffocating filth on her body, however, was unbearable. With a resolute sigh, she removed her pants and tank top, leaving herself in a forest-green bra and matching underwear.
It's just like wearing a bikini at the beach, she reassured herself, though the thought didn't stop her from shivering at the sudden chill that swept through the space.
But before she could relax, the world around her shifted abruptly.
A swarm of zombies appeared from nowhere, lunging toward her with guttural roars. Though spring was nearing its end, the night air carried a biting chill, raising goosebumps on her bare skin. Ruyi shivered and instinctively tried to re-enter the space, only to find that the Sovereign had locked her out.
Half-naked and defenseless, Ruyi scrambled to avoid the relentless assault, her pale limbs darting like lightning as she cursed the Sovereign under her breath. With no protection from the zombies' claws and teeth, even a single scratch could spell her doom.
She leaped from one car roof to another, barely staying ahead of the horde. But fatigue set in, her steps faltering as she found herself cornered. Just as despair began to creep in, a convoy of vehicles approached the toll gate.
High Rui, the leader of the group, was the first to notice her. His enhanced vision, a gift of his awakened mental abilities, allowed him to see clearly even in the dark.
What he saw left him stunned.
In the moonlight, a slender woman clad only in underwear darted through a sea of zombies. Her fair skin glowed like porcelain, and the green fabric of her bra framed her ample chest, which bounced with each desperate movement.
"Well, this is… something," he muttered, rubbing his eyes as if to confirm the surreal sight. His gaze lingered on her long, graceful legs, pale and flawless, as she dashed between cars.
High Rui let out a low whistle, his lips curving into a mischievous smirk. "What a wild night," he said, slamming on the brakes as he approached the congested toll gate. The screech of his tires was followed by the halting of four more vehicles behind him.
The noise drew the attention of the zombies—and Ruyi.
"Great," she muttered under her breath, glancing at the newcomers with growing frustration. Just when I thought I could handle this mess…
A blinding beam of light suddenly hit her face, forcing her to raise an arm to shield her eyes.
"Wow, what a view!" someone in the convoy called out, followed by a series of playful whistles.
Ruyi gritted her teeth, too exhausted to respond. While the newcomers distracted most of the zombies, a persistent few continued to pursue her. With no other choice, she kept jumping between cars, her scantily clad figure illuminated by the headlights.
"Turn off the damn lights, you idiots!" she snapped, mortified by her exposure. Her curses, however, were drowned out by the hum of engines and the sound of weapons firing.
The convoy's fighters leaped into action, unleashing bullets, fireballs, and lightning strikes that tore through the horde. Within minutes, the dozens of zombies that had chased her lay in pieces.
Momentarily distracted by the spectacle, Ruyi misstepped and slipped off a car roof. She screamed as she tumbled backward, certain that she was about to become a zombie's next meal.
Instead, she found herself enveloped in a warm, firm embrace. The faint scent of tobacco and cologne wafted around her, mingling with the steady rhythm of someone's breath against her neck.
She turned her head and locked eyes with her rescuer—a handsome man with long lashes and a roguish grin.
Her gaze darted downward, immediately noticing the hand resting on her stomach—and another firmly planted on her chest.
"Pervert!" she shouted, jabbing her elbow into his ribs while stomping on his foot. Though quick and forceful, her attacks missed as the man deftly sidestepped. Before releasing her, however, he gave her chest one final squeeze, his grin widening at her fury.
"You—" she sputtered, glaring daggers at him.
The man, unfazed, removed his jacket and handed it to her with a teasing smile. "Here, put this on, beautiful. Can't have you catching cold."
Flustered, Ruyi snatched the jacket and slipped it on, grateful for the coverage. The oversized garment reached just below her hips, concealing most of her exposed skin.
"Why are you out here alone?" he asked.
Ignoring his question, Ruyi shifted her focus to the rest of the convoy. Sixteen men, most clad in authentic military camouflage, were clearing the toll gate with impressive efficiency. Their disciplined movements and formidable abilities suggested they were more than just ordinary survivors.
At least they seem reliable, Ruyi thought, though she remained cautious.
When she learned they were also heading to Yun'an Base, Ruyi seized the opportunity to join them. High Rui, ever the opportunist, eagerly opened the passenger door of his car for her.
Rolling her eyes, Ruyi tugged the jacket tighter around herself and climbed in, deciding that enduring his presence was a small price to pay for safety.