Chapter 12: The Beginning of the Apocalypse Has Arrived
...The beginning of the end...
The ashen sky still loomed over the earth. Though the meteor rain had passed for a week now, the damage it left behind was still painfully visible.
Homes lay in ruin, reduced to charred remnants. Roads were torn apart by craters and explosions. The scent of smoke and something... unnatural... hung heavy in the air.
Xiao Mei slung a backpack over her shoulder, filled with supplies and essentials. Pao Pei walked beside her, his round, clear eyes scanning the surroundings with alert vigilance.
Though they had been shielded by Pao Pei's energy barrier during the night of catastrophe, the devastation beyond that barrier was far worse than Xiao Mei had expected.
Granny Li Zhu hadn't wanted them to leave, but Xiao Mei insisted. They had to see what had happened to the city. More importantly, she needed to know if there were any survivors.
The internet was down. She couldn't contact Uncle Ma or Auntie Zhen. She had no way of knowing whether they had followed her instructions or not.
"What do you think, Pao Pei? Should we check around the farm first?"
Xiao Mei didn't even know where to begin. Driving into the city would take over an hour. For now, it made more sense to scout the surrounding area.
"Pao Pei's already surveyed the area. Within a five-kilometer radius, there are ten survivors. They're currently hiding in their own homes. Food's running low—they're almost out."
"This area's sparsely populated. Most homes have over ten rai of land each."
Xiao Mei wasn't surprised that Pao Pei had found only ten people alive. It was farmland out here. There weren't many residents to begin with.
"Master... let's go collect crystals. Pao Pei's already scouted it out. The zombies here are scattered. There aren't many, but it should be enough for you to train."
Xiao Mei fell silent.
Crystals were energy cores found in zombies' brains. Pao Pei had explained that absorbing these crystals could enhance the strength of living beings. Both Xiao Mei and Pao Pei needed them to grow stronger.
Not only that, but the crystals were valuable—Pao Pei could trade them with other guardians.
"Alright. But we'll have to be extremely careful," Xiao Mei decided.
The two set off toward the area Pao Pei had mentioned.
After walking nearly three kilometers beyond the farm, Xiao Mei heard soft footsteps—something brushing against the wind.
They both froze.
Pao Pei lifted his gaze to hers. Slowly, they crept forward with caution.
And then Xiao Mei saw them...
Two humanoid figures, but something was wrong. Their skin was decaying, their eyes cloudy and lifeless. They staggered across the road, emitting low, guttural moans.
Xiao Mei's eyes widened. Her heart thudded violently.
"Zombies..." she whispered, voice trembling.
Pao Pei hissed, his body beginning to glow with a faint blue light as he prepared for battle. Xiao Mei gently touched his shoulder, signaling him to wait.
"Try handling them yourself, Master. Don't be afraid... I'll step in if there's danger."
Xiao Mei pulled out the knife Auntie Zhen had made for her. She gripped it tightly. Her heart pounded. She had never killed anything before.
But when she saw the glowing crystal embedded in the zombie's forehead... she knew there was no other choice.
She swallowed hard and stepped forward cautiously. With a swing of her knife, she slashed at the zombie's head.
It shrieked and stumbled, but didn't fall.
Then it lunged.
Pao Pei, already prepared, leapt forward and slashed its torso with an energy claw. The creature collapsed.
He turned to Xiao Mei, who stood pale and shaking.
"Good job, Master! Aim for the head. If you pierce the brain, they die instantly," Pao Pei instructed.
Xiao Mei steadied her breathing as the second zombie lunged toward her.
She focused—and slashed with all her strength.
This time, the blade embedded directly into its skull. The creature spasmed a few times before dropping to the ground.
She panted heavily, staring at the lifeless corpse. From now on... she had to get used to this.
She looked down at the two fallen zombies. Their once-cloudy eyes were now truly lifeless. Their decaying bodies bore the marks of her strikes. The blade in her hand was stained with thick, brown blood. Her palm burned with warmth from holding it so tightly.
Pao Pei stood beside her, watching the corpses she had slain.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Master, crack open their skulls. There should be crystals inside."
Xiao Mei stopped breathing for a moment. Then, she nodded and stepped toward the bodies.
She stabbed one zombie's forehead, then used a rock to hammer the hilt until the blade pierced deep enough to reveal the glowing red crystal.
It took all her strength. Human skulls were tough, and she didn't have surgical tools. Just a knife and raw determination.
It took time, effort, and trembling hands... but in the end, she managed to retrieve two red crystals, each the size of a red bean.
"Pao Pei... I did it."
Xiao Mei held the crystals out to him. Her hand shook slightly. Her eyes welled with tears—not just from fear, but from the weight of what she had just done.
Pao Pei stepped beside her and paused. Then he rubbed his head gently against her leg, his large round eyes glowing like orbs of light.
He nuzzled her softly, gently—his way of showing affection and comfort. His breathing was quiet and steady.
Xiao Mei smiled and pulled him into a hug.
Even in a world full of danger and confusion... at least she still had Pao Pei.
"You did great, Master. You don't have to do it again. I'll handle it next time."
He had let her do it this once... to teach her. This world had changed. Only the strong could survive now.
Xiao Mei stored the crystals in her dimension space and pulled out a bottle of water to wash her hands. She cleaned the blood from Pao Pei's fur until he was spotless again.
Pao Pei seemed to enjoy the attention. He stood still and let her clean him, his body relaxing under her care.
She picked him up, her hands still damp, and gently patted his head.
"I'm fine. I have to be. Don't worry about me."
Her voice softened—as if she were reassuring herself more than him.
But her resolve remained firm.
Pao Pei looked up into her eyes and nodded solemnly.
"Master... let's call it a day. Let's go home. Granny must be worried by now."
His voice was gentle. His round eyes glistened with concern.
Xiao Mei smiled at him and nodded.
"Alright... let's go home."
And so, the two of them walked on through the eerie silence. Only the sound of the wind accompanied their footsteps.
Pao Pei led Xiao Mei along a back path toward the farm.
On the way, they took down over ten zombies and managed to gather six crystals.
It was then Xiao Mei realized...
Not every zombie had a crystal inside.