Li Xuan raised his head. The first kill had triggered a massive adrenaline surge, leaving him in an excited state. His gaze turned sharp and filled with aggression.

Hiss~

A zombie attracted by the heavy scent of blood staggered and lunged toward Li Xuan.

This was an extremely obese zombie with a round, bulging belly and a face full of fleshy folds. After turning into a zombie, it appeared even more ferocious.

Li Xuan quickly retreated, dodging the obese zombie's lunge. He raised the fire axe high and brought it down heavily, striking the zombie's occiput. Flesh and blood splattered as the axe lodged in the skull. He decisively abandoned the fire axe in his hand, picked up another one, and turned to run.

This place was too chaotic and dangerous. People were fleeing randomly while zombies feasted heartily. With too many unknown risks, he needed to find a relatively safe place first and wait for the situation to stabilize before returning home.

Several people nearby saw Li Xuan running away and excitedly rushed forward to grab the fire axe. Three people fought over ownership of the fire axe, attracting zombies. Two were pounced on and died tragically on the spot, while one was bitten by a zombie and ran away in terror still clutching the fire axe.

Another person tried to pull out the fire axe stuck in the zombie's skull but overestimated his own strength and neglected his surroundings. He was surrounded by several zombies and died amid miserable wails.

The museum was chaotic, but outside was even worse. No one knew where zombies might appear or if the people around them would suddenly turn into zombies. Fear became the dominant theme as pressure, tension, and despair eroded people's spirits.

As Li Xuan rushed toward the museum's back door, he saw that the people fleeing ahead were his former colleagues. Their target was the same as Li Xuan's—the back door—clearly someone had deduced that exiting through the main entrance would be more dangerous.

Ying Cui was breathing heavily, struggling to keep up with her colleagues. She was too overweight and usually didn't exercise much. After running at full strength for dozens of steps, she was almost at her limit. She had long passed her normal endurance threshold, sustained only by the fear of death that kept her moving. She didn't dare stop, her lungs burning with pain. Each heavy breath was torture.

Ying Cui's pupils trembled as she gasped for air, using all her strength to shout: "Don't abandon me! Pull me along! Please, pull me along!"

The other colleagues kept their heads down and ran, pretending not to hear.

Ying Cui felt despair in her heart, inwardly cursing her colleagues as ungrateful wolves. She had helped them in the company, yet now no one was willing to help her!

Suddenly, Ying Cui saw a figure turning back. When she recognized who it was, her eyes widened in shock.

It was actually Zhang Rui!

The company newcomer who liked Bai Lengning, whose hobbies were reading novels and watching movies. He often complained to her about how protagonists in movies were all saints, taking risks for others—utter idiots.

Zhang Rui reached out and grabbed Ying Cui's hand. "Sister Cui, hold on tight."

Ying Cui tightly gripped Zhang Rui's hand as she ran behind him.

As the saying goes, the first burst of energy wanes after the second and exhausts after the third. Once people relax after reaching their limits, most of their strength disappears. Ying Cui stumbled, her heavy weight causing Zhang Rui to lean backward and nearly fall.

Ying Cui was breathing heavily, struggling to keep up with her colleagues. She was too overweight and usually didn't exercise much. After running at full speed for dozens of steps, she was almost at her limit. She had long passed her normal endurance threshold, sustained only by the fear of death that kept her moving. She didn't dare stop, her lungs burning with pain. Each heavy breath was torture.

Thump~

Both were knocked down. The zombie opened its bloody maw and bit down hard on Zhang Rui's neck. Zhang Rui let out a horrific scream, pushed the zombie away with force, then panickedly touched his neck. Looking down, he saw his hand covered in blood.

He had been bitten!

Having watched many zombie movies, he knew full well the consequences of being bitten by a zombie.

"Ying Cui! You're looking for death!"

By now, Ying Cui had already scrambled away, her face showing guilt as she muttered apologies. She just wanted to survive.

Ying Cui ran a few steps, feeling like her legs were filled with lead. Each step became increasingly difficult.

Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure.

Was that Li Xuan? He actually had a fire axe!

Ying Cui's face lit up with pleasant surprise. "Li Xuan! Save me!"

While fleeing, Li Xuan had witnessed Ying Cui and Zhang Rui's choices. Kind people in ordinary times revealed their viciousness in the apocalypse, while the boy who claimed to hate saints chose to help others in a crisis.

The apocalypse truly tested human nature.

During safe times, everyone wore masks, making it difficult to see their true hearts. Only when facing death could one truly see a person's character.

"Idiots." Li Xuan spat out two words.

"Li Xuan! Have you forgotten? I helped you several times! Every time the supervisor reprimanded you, I comforted you! I was the one who spoke up for you!" Resentment grew in Ying Cui's heart.

She had helped Li Xuan in the company, so why wouldn't Li Xuan help her now?

Ungrateful wolf! Worse than a newcomer!

Filled with indignation, Ying Cui ran diagonally forward. If Li Xuan wouldn't come to her, she would run behind Li Xuan and force him to cut a path to survival for her.

"Li Xuan, for the sake of all the years we've known each other, help me! Pull me along! I really can't run anymore!"

As soon as Ying Cui approached, before Li Xuan could speak, she reached out her arm, wanting to grab Li Xuan. She was too tired, her strength almost completely depleted, sustained only by the will to survive that kept her from lying down to rest.

Crack!

The axe whistled through the air.

The fire axe chopped down hard on Ying Cui's arm.

Ah!

Ying Cui opened her mouth wide, emitting a horrific scream. Pain twisted her face, making her already unattractive features appear even more sinister. "I..."

Before the curse word could leave her mouth, Li Xuan turned and delivered a flying kick to Ying Cui's chest.

Ying Cui stumbled and fell, the words she wanted to say stifled. She glared at Li Xuan with venomous eyes, but before she could get up, two zombies swarmed over her, pouncing on Ying Cui's body and tearing at her with large bites, their mouths dripping with grease.

Having watched many zombie movies, he knew well the consequences of being bitten by a zombie.

Currently, the second door was closed.

The first door was like those heavy steel staircase gates found in shopping mall underground parking lots—extremely heavy and requiring great effort to close. Supervisor Liu struggled to push the door. "Come help! If we don't close this door and the zombies inside get out, we'll all die!"

"But there are still people behind us. Ying Cui and the CEO haven't come in yet," Bai Lengning said.

Supervisor Liu shouted loudly, "What time is it for that! Do you want to live or not! Besides, Ying Cui is already dead! Li Xuan killed her!"

Bai Lengning calmed down slightly and looked up, just in time to see Ying Cui's head facing her direction, expressionless, her body completely motionless.

Dead. Ying Cui was dead too.

Bai Lengning paused for a moment and didn't speak further.

As the door was halfway closed, Supervisor Liu saw Li Xuan approaching and pushed even harder. He had witnessed with his own eyes Li Xuan killing Ying Cui. With the other's ruthlessness, if he got inside, Supervisor Liu would be in grave danger.

When Li Xuan reached the back door, it was already two-thirds closed. Supervisor Liu inside showed no intention of stopping. "I told you, why are you forcing me to do this."

Li Xuan gripped the fire axe with both hands and violently chopped toward Supervisor Liu's hands.

Supervisor Liu was greatly alarmed and hurriedly let go.

Ying Cui's face lit up with surprise. "Li Xuan! Save me!"

The fire axe struck the door with a violent sound. Li Xuan seized the opportunity to enter through the back door.