Chapter 420: Underground
The sudden and strange events had everyone on edge.
Though they were unafraid of human factions, the unknown commanded a natural sense of caution and reverence.
Since the apocalypse began, the world had become increasingly incomprehensible. Zhang Yi couldn’t help but recall an old saying in history books:
"In times of catastrophe, demons and monsters emerge."
The group moved cautiously, following the dense trail of footprints through the snow. They avoided using vehicles at first, wary of making themselves too conspicuous in case they stumbled upon something unexpected.
The howling wind only added to their unease. Each step forward came with the silent worry that they might encounter the missing corpses walking upright in the distance.
Despite their trepidation, the footprints continued steadily, with no sign of stopping or veering off. It only reinforced the horrifying idea that the bodies had risen and walked away on their own.
Zhang Yi finally broke the tense silence. “Let’s take the car from here. Looks like they’ve covered a lot of ground overnight.”
What lay before them was a large, dark, gaping hole in the snow.
It was a massive pit, black and seemingly bottomless, exuding a menacing air that made the group hesitate to approach.
“Where... where does it lead?” Fatty Xu muttered nervously.
Zhang Yi stepped cautiously toward the edge, his rifle at the ready. Peering into the darkness, he felt a primal fear creeping up his spine.
“What is this place? And why would the bodies all come here?” he murmured. “Could there be a Superhuman capable of controlling corpses?”
“That would be terrifying,” Liang Yue said, her expression grim. “Controlling over a thousand bodies over such a long distance... the power required would be unimaginable.”
The group fell into a heavy silence.
After the apocalyptic freeze, Tianhai City had lost over ten million lives. If someone could manipulate even a fraction of that number, they could easily annihilate any faction.
Fatty Xu’s voice trembled. “Could... could this be the start of a zombie outbreak?”
Zhang Yi shook his head with a dry chuckle. “I almost wish it were something that simple.”
“Zombies, really? You think a slow, brainless mob would pose any threat to us?”
Fatty Xu nodded, trying to comfort himself with the logic. “Yeah, I guess... if there’s a group of hopping zombies in this weather, it’d be more hilarious than scary!”
As they stood debating, Uncle You’s gaze drifted to the surroundings. Suddenly, his expression shifted.
“This area feels familiar,” he said. “I think... this is near a station.”
“A station?” everyone asked, turning to him.
Uncle You scanned the nearby structures, sparse as they were, and pointed to some faint markers in the distance. “I’m sure of it. This is the Ciqu Residential Area, and the pit aligns with the Ciqu Metro Station.”
Realization dawned on Zhang Yi.
“So, the bodies... entered the metro tunnels,” he said.
The subway, buried deep underground and now blanketed in snow, gave the appearance of a natural cavern.
“That means something—or someone—in the metro system is controlling them,” Liang Yue added, her brows furrowed.
Zhang Yi rubbed his chin in thought. After the apocalypse, survival had driven people to desperate measures. The metro system, a vast network stretching beneath Tianhai City, could very well house survivors—or something far worse.
“It’s possible,” Zhang Yi said. “Plenty of people could’ve taken shelter in the tunnels during the initial snowfall and never made it out. If anyone is still alive down there, they could’ve found a way to survive... and thrive.”
The others exchanged uneasy looks.
Fatty Xu asked, “So, what do we do? If someone can control all those bodies, they’d be a nightmare to deal with.”
“Do we destroy the entrance? Keep them from getting out?”
Uncle You scoffed. “You think blowing up one tunnel will stop them? The metro system covers the entire city. There are dozens of exits nearby. You’d be chasing shadows.”
Fatty Xu fidgeted nervously. “Still, just knowing there’s something like that down there... it’s enough to make my skin crawl.”
Zhang Yi raised a hand to silence the group. “We’re not going to do anything rash. For now, there’s been no conflict. Let’s keep it that way.”
“We stay away from this place. Nobody comes near it.”
Backing away from the pit, Zhang Yi motioned for the group to retreat.
The metro’s depths likely hid immense danger, but without a clear threat, there was no need to provoke it.
“What if it becomes a problem later?” Liang Yue asked.
Zhang Yi smirked, his expression carrying a hint of mischief.
“Then let it simmer. If something goes wrong, it’ll be someone else’s headache before it’s ours.”
Cloud Manor, being on the city’s outskirts, was only lightly connected to the metro network. If trouble arose, Zhang Yi could deal with it locally. But for factions located deeper within the city, with a denser metro network beneath their feet, the fallout would hit them first.
“Let’s head back,” Zhang Yi said, leading the group to their vehicles.
Back at the Shelter, Zhang Yi gathered everyone and explained what they’d discovered. Though the news unnerved them, he reassured them with calm confidence.
“There’s no need to worry. We’re staying in the Shelter, well-defended and safe. Even if zombies or whatever else comes out, we’ll handle it with ease. We’ve faced far worse.”
With the team’s incredible firepower and Superhuman abilities, even a zombie apocalypse wouldn’t be much of a threat.
Still, Zhang Yi took precautions.
The team began rebuilding the perimeter defenses, using what remained of their weaponry from the last battle. Though the Shelter was safe for now, having a buffer zone in case of future conflicts was a necessary step.