After dinner, Chen Liu and Zhang Chong patrolled the surrounding area, methodically sweeping for threats—zombies, mutated beasts, anything that could disrupt their rest. Sleep was a luxury they couldn’t afford to lose. With their small group, the comfort of tents was a risk they couldn’t take; instead, they settled for sleeping in the vehicles, where steel offered some protection. As night fell, stars glittered across a sky unnervingly silent, broken only by the occasional distant roar of a mutated beast.
Chen Liu, after finishing a visualisation exercise to sharpen his focus, glanced at Yu Na in the Wrangler’s passenger seat. Her face was flushed, her discomfort evident. “What’s wrong?” he asked, noting the rare vulnerability in her expression. Her cheeks reddened further as she mumbled, “I… I need to relieve myself.” Chen Liu nodded, understanding her hesitation. The pitch-black night, alive with howling winds and beastly cries, was no place for anyone to venture alone. “Go on, I’ll stand guard,” he said, grabbing his hand axe and stepping out of the vehicle. She just needs to feel safe, he thought, positioning himself to give her privacy. Yu Na, visibly relieved, hurried to the roadside and squatted close by, unwilling to stray far. Chen Liu turned his head away, respecting her space. Ahhhh—! A scream shattered the silence. Without hesitation, Chen Liu spun and sprinted toward her, only to freeze at the sight of a wild dog, large as a calf, looming behind her. Its green eyes glowed eerily, marking it as a predator—a seven-star mutated beast.
Yu Na stood paralysed, clutching her pants, her face a mix of terror and embarrassment. One wrong move, and she was dead. Chen Liu thought raised his axe in a taunting gesture, drawing the beast’s attention. The dog’s gaze shifted, its instincts recognising him as the greater threat. Good. Focus on me, he thought. Yu Na, seizing the moment, pulled up her pants and darted behind him. She’s no coward, Chen Liu noted with approval as she ran for the vehicle to grab her gear. But the dog lunged, a black blur of fangs and fury. Chen Liu dodged, swinging his axe, but the beast twisted midair with unnatural agility, its tail lashing like an iron whip. The blow struck his right arm, which swelled red instantly. A tail that strong? That’s new, he complained.
The dog blocked Yu Na’s path to the vehicle, forcing Chen Liu to shout, “Stay inside!” She was only a trainee—against a seven-star beast, she’d be torn apart. “Zhang Chong! Zhang Chong!” Yu Na’s voice crackled over the walkie-talkie frantically. Chen Liu had no time to listen; the dog pounced again, and their battle drew them deeper into the night, away from the convoy.
“What happened?” Zhang Chong and Yu Dachao rushed to the Wrangler, where Professor Li, roused from sleep, listened as Yu Na recounted the attack. Zhang Chong nodded, his face set. “Stay in the vehicle. I’ll help the captain.” But as he stepped out, he froze, retreating swiftly. Three more wild dogs—each a six-star beast—emerged from the darkness, their eyes glinting. A feint to split us up, Yu Na thought, her face paling as the truth dawned. This was no lone predator but a coordinated pack, likely tracking them since daylight, waiting for night to strike.
Dogs, known for their pack mentality, become lethal wildland killers in the apocalypse. “Then we fight!” Zhang Chong roared, rallying the group. With no time to retreat to the vehicles, everyone but Professor Li stood ready, weapons in hand. We’re not ready for this, Yu Na thought, gripping her shield. Zhang Chong activated his berserk mode, marking him as the main force. Yu Dachao and Yu Na flanked him, forming a shaky triangle to guard Professor Li. Hold off one dog each until Zhang Chong takes one down. Yu Na’s heart was pounding. It was a near-impossible task. Mutated beasts, unlike zombies, struck with cunning precision, exploiting weaknesses. A single mistake could be fatal, collapsing their formation and dooming them all. Woof—! The dogs attacked without hesitation, launching a brutal night battle under the starlit sky.
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Elsewhere, Chen Liu faced his own dire struggle. As he ventured deeper into the wilderness, three more pairs of green eyes gleamed in the dark—three seven-star beasts and one eight-star, surrounding him. No way out, he thought, his pulse racing. Even one eight-star beast was a challenge in daylight; at night, against four, it was a death sentence. Shhk! Chen Liu struck first, his axe slicing a deep gash across a leaping dog’s neck. No retreat, only forward, he thought, remembering his training in the Axe Manual’s Mountain Splitter technique. It fuelled his aggressive style.
But two more dogs lunged, their fangs tearing into his legs, blood spurting freely. The eight-star beast watched, unmoving, like a general biding its time. That one’s the real threat, Chen Liu thought as fear crept in. The scent of blood drove the dogs into a frenzy and their attacks became relentless. Triggering his battle instinct, Chen Liu ignored his wounds, swinging his axe with lethal intent. Kill or cripple, nothing less, he thought, each strike meant to end a foe. His clothes shredded under the onslaught, and a dog leapt onto his back, tearing savagely. AHHH—! Roaring, Chen Liu flung it off and cleaved its head clean off. But the eight-star beast seized the moment, charging like a boulder and pinning him to the ground. Two others sank their teeth into his shoulders, immobilising him. This is it, he thought, closing his eyes as the eight-star beast bared its fangs, lunging for his throat.
thINKer: It’s too early to say goodbye Chen Liu. Don’t disappoint us.
Yuyu: He doesn't dare.