It bared its steel-like great claw and swiped down at the group. If the strike landed, most of them would be crippled, if not dead.
Just as they were filled with terror, something blocked the descent of its claw. Zhou Chuan and Zhu Yu Jue, who had arrived a moment later, also looked over.
Zhu Yi floated in mid-air, one hand meeting the giant claw. With a seemingly effortless motion, she easily lifted the hard claw. Then, she spun in the air, taking the entire body of the massive zombie with her into the sky. She slammed it back down heavily, creating several craters in the concrete ground. Debris flew out, accidentally injuring several onlookers.
The zombie’s tough, armor-like skin was broken in several places, and black liquid oozed from the wounds. A stench of rotten flesh instantly permeated the air, making people feel nauseous.
Chong Yan watched in a daze. Zhu Yi extended her hand, and with a flash of light from her sword, it returned to her grip. She landed, and as she thrust her sword towards the large zombie, it instantly grew several times its size. With one strike, she pierced its massive head. It struggled in place, its remaining claw scraping frantically at the ground. The concrete was ripped up piece by piece, scattered by its thrashing.
It raised its claw in a death throe, trying to grab Zhu Yi before it. Zhu Yi gathered her spiritual energy, and a gust of wind flashed. Its claw was uncontrollably driven through its own head from the side. The speed was so great that no one had time to see how it killed itself.
This time, it only twitched a couple of times before falling completely still.
The smaller zombies were also mostly annihilated in the fight against the soldiers and ability users. The remaining ones were no match, and some directly took up cleavers to hack at them. With their combined efforts, all the zombies were soon cleared.
Chong Yan plopped down beside Zhu Yi and, like a boneless creature, burrowed into her embrace, clinging to her waist.
"What's wrong?"
"Tired," he said, tilting his head up, his voice laced with a playful whine. "You're so powerful, why did you make me go?"
"I wanted to feel what it's like to be protected by you. Are you unhappy?"
Chong Yan pursed his lips, lacking confidence. "I, um, I'll protect you too."
"Thank you, A Yan."
The surrounding people were speechless at their ostentatious display.
When others spoke of protecting someone, they risked their lives in battle. These two, however, were engaged in a flirtatious exchange.
"Reform ranks, check for damage."
"Yes!"
The subordinates began checking the injured in their respective teams. Thanks to the protection of Chong Yan and Zhu Yi, miraculously, no one had died. Some had been scratched by zombies, and others had been accidentally injured by flying debris.
Even if ability users were scratched, they didn't easily turn into zombies. Before this, the researchers in the team had already developed an antiviral serum against the zombie virus. While its effect wasn't one hundred percent, it could keep most people lucid.
They quickly identified the injured, numbering over twenty. Sixteen had been scratched by zombies and were promptly injected with the serum, then temporarily quarantined.
Jiang Xiao Shu cautiously approached them, hesitating to speak.
"Is something wrong?"
"Um, the sword, can I borrow it? I need to dig out crystal cores."
Zhu Yi had complex feelings about this pseudo-female lead. From the original plot, this person couldn't be considered good, and was someone she was supposed to take revenge on. However, she generally disliked being overly ruthless. As long as the other party didn't court disaster, she wouldn't intentionally target them.
She glanced at the sword beside her. "You can use it."
Jiang Xiao Shu thanked her and tentatively picked up the sword. She had expected a sword capable of cutting zombies and watermelons to be incredibly heavy. To her surprise, the sword felt as light as a plastic toy.
With some trepidation, she walked over to the large zombie with the sword. She plunged it into its head, and with almost no resistance, it went in. Wiggling it a few times, the zombie's head instantly split into several pieces. A irregularly shaped round object rolled out from within, tumbling across the ground.
She picked it up with great delight and asked a water ability user to wash it clean. The red crystal pulsed brightly in her hand.
Ordinary zombies also had crystal cores, but their energy was very weak and difficult to find, almost negligible. This crystal core was two-thirds larger than the last one, and its cool touch made her cherish it.
However, she knew that she couldn't keep it for herself.
She voluntarily walked up to Zhou Chuan with the crystal core and solemnly handed it to him.
Zhou Chuan took it and carefully put it away. "You've worked hard."
She smiled, feeling a sense of relief.
They barricaded the main entrance with fences and piled the zombies together, assigning guards. The others then proceeded to the most concentrated area of dormitory buildings, selecting one to clear.
This clearing operation was much easier, as most of the zombies roaming outside had been killed earlier. The remaining ones were trapped inside the dormitories. They hadn't eaten since the apocalypse, surviving solely on the zombie virus, making them relatively weak. They split into groups, with dozens of people checking one floor at a time, moving quickly. They soon cleared out the zombies in one building.
The participants in the clearing were mainly ordinary soldiers and ability users with a good amount of energy remaining. Zhou Chuan and Zhu Yu Jue were nearly exhausted, and Lu Hua Qing was injured, needing support to walk.
They rested in the building.
Sitting on the ground, Zhou Chuan looked at the person opposite him. "Mr. Lu, I've asked them to prepare a clean room for you. Please go and rest. The main forces have more effective medicine, and you'll receive it when they arrive."
Lu Hua Qing, his face pale, thanked him with a faint smile but made no move to leave.
Zhou Chuan couldn't be bothered and turned to Zhu Yu Jue. "Mr. Zhu, how are you feeling?"
Zhu Yu Jue looked at the two affectionately entwined individuals and said, "Miss Zhao's timely intervention saved me. I'm fine."
This remark seemed to remind everyone of something, and all eyes turned to the couple.
Bai Pei Jin said with some displeasure, "Miss Zhao is so capable, why didn't she act sooner? She caused our leader to get injured."
Chong Yan immediately retorted, "You're so good at talking, why didn't you go yourself?"
Bai Pei Jin was momentarily speechless.
Lu Hua Qing said, "Xiao Bai, you must not be rude to Miss Zhao."
Despite his pale complexion, he maintained his dignified demeanor, smiling gently. "However, I am also curious. What are Miss Zhao's limits? You dealt with that monster so easily."