Chapter 85: A Night’s Respite Amidst Shadow Zombies

Following the unexpected encounter with Wang Lili, I swiftly drove towards the botanical garden. Thanks to my awakened ability, which had significantly boosted my physical stamina, I drove for over ten hours without succumbing to any weariness.

However, though I could have continued, the other occupants of the car were reaching their limit for prolonged confinement. As dusk settled, driving through the night would expose us to the treacherous ambushes of [Shadow Zombies].

It seemed far more prudent to find a place to rest for the evening and resume our journey at dawn.

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In the desolate landscape of the apocalypse, specialized zombie types were disturbingly abundant. Among these, the truly formidable variants were beyond counting.

Take, for instance, the [Intelligent Zombie] I had encountered previously. While their physical prowess was unremarkable, their intellect and strategic command capabilities were exceptionally potent.

Equipped with innate leadership enhancements, their ability to direct powerful zombies in a siege was nothing short of a force multiplier. If five or more Level 6 [Intelligent Zombies] appeared during a siege, then, apart from major strongholds, any smaller or medium-sized bases were absolutely doomed.

The [Shadow Zombie] I just mentioned, on the other hand, was a unique type that exclusively emerged under the cloak of night. Possessing the ability to merge with darkness, they excelled at lurking in shadowy corners, awaiting the perfect moment to ambush.

Should humans venture out after dark, they could easily be bitten and killed by a [Shadow Zombie] without ever sensing its presence. This wasn’t even the most terrifying aspect; [Shadow Zombies] invariably operated in packs.

Encountering just one [Shadow Zombie] at night meant certain peril—a large horde was undoubtedly waiting nearby. Driving in the darkness, a confrontation with a large group of [Shadow Zombies] would prove immensely troublesome.

Therefore, seeking a place to stay for the night and continuing our drive during the day was the most sensible course of action.

“Brother, there’s a supermarket over there. Could we perhaps sleep there for the night?”

“Let’s go take a look.”

As I drove, searching for a suitable place to stop, my sister suddenly spoke, pointing to a spot outside the car window. My gaze followed her finger to a moderately sized supermarket.

Situated adjacent to the road, it was clearly built to serve travelers needing to resupply food and water during long journeys. I scanned the surroundings, noting the sparse population and vast open spaces; even if there were zombies, they wouldn’t be numerous.

This meant stopping here for the night posed no significant danger. With this thought, I nodded at my sister, signaling my agreement to stay there for the evening.

“Yay! I can finally stretch my legs again!”

“You truly are a wild child. The rest of you can also get out. We’ll be staying at the supermarket ahead tonight and continue driving tomorrow.”

Upon seeing my nod, my sister cheered, unbuckled her seatbelt, and quickly darted out of the car, sprinting towards the supermarket. Watching her carefree back, I shook my head with a helpless smile.

Then, I turned to Wang Ming and the others, who sat upright in the back seat, and gently gestured for them to alight and rest. When Wang Ming and the others heard my words, the tension on their faces visibly eased.

Observing their anxious expressions, I realized that my decision to leave Wang Lili behind had instilled a sense of crisis in them, leading to their current cautious demeanor. They feared I might abandon them midway.

There was no need for such worry. While I wasn’t a paragon of virtue, I was not one to break my word. I had promised to take them to the botanical garden, and I would see that promise through.

Once Wang Ming’s mother was safe, I intended to sever all contact with these women. Therefore, I had no intention of offering any explanations now; allowing them to harbor this misunderstanding actually afforded me considerable convenience.

In my eyes, only family and true friends held paramount importance.

By the time I had parked the car and walked towards the supermarket with Wang Ming and the other women, my sister had already cleared out all the zombies inside, effortlessly tossing them out the door, one in each hand.

Watching her casually throw the zombies to the ground, then slice their heads in half with a swing of her blade, using the tip to sift through their brains for crystal cores, I felt a sudden urge to laugh.

Just days ago, my sister was a timid girl who would shriek in terror at the sight of a zombie. Yet, in merely a week, she was now calmly slaughtering zombies and searching for crystal cores without a change in expression.

While her actions of splitting open zombie heads and searching for cores made me chuckle, in the eyes of Wang Ming and the others, it was an act of barbaric desecration. They were likely wondering how such a pretty and docile-looking girl could now be so brutal and terrifying.

“My sister has already cleared out the zombies from the supermarket. You can go in and rest first. We’ll join you in a bit.”

After speaking to Wang Ming and the others, I drew the long blade from my waist and quickly moved to my sister’s side, helping her cleave open zombie heads to search for crystal cores.

“Little Ming, why are you standing there dumbfounded? Come in quickly!”

“Oh, I’m coming.”

As Wang Ming watched me walk towards my sister, a hint of grievance flickered across her face. Then, at the urging of the other women, she merely clenched her fists slightly before entering the supermarket.