Thrive in Catastrophe

“It’s spiral missile…… This situation can only be caused by that,” Xiao Yan stated solemnly.

Lily was terror-stricken.

A spiral missile does not go off when it hits its target, instead, it will drill for about 10 meters in before exploding with a formidable force.

Understanding the threat this could bring to the people living in underground city, the researchers had came up with a uniquely strengthen alloy that are used to build, not only Charles in whole, but also amongst all research bases above the ground, to prevent the destruction that could be made by the spiral missile. Nevertheless, the damage it does to the upperground levels are still devastating.

Xiao Yan had already realised the hazardous situation they are in and alerted Lily that they should leave for the evacuation pa.s.sageway as soon as possible.

Lily had fell into panic.

“This is the enemy’s plan. All evacuation tunnels are designated with two hatches. The first hatch is controllable by us, but the second hatch is controlled from the other side. If the enemy managed to trail behind us when we entered the first hatch, the person from the other side would never unlock the hatch for us, in order to stop the enemies from entering the underground base. And when that happens, death is our only end.”

“T-This can’t be…… Is it the Tides?”

“There’s high possibility that the walls outside this door have been burst apart. If so, we have lost the barrier that shields us from the outside world. Who do you think our primary foe would be?”

Lily stumbled a few steps back from the door and flopped onto the floor, devastated, “It’s…zombies.”

“Do we have terminal here?” Xiao Yan attempted to get off the bed but plopped down from imbalance.

“Even if there is…… it’s probably disconnected……” Lily held down her growing fear and helped Xiao Yan off the ground.

“I can get into the system as long as we found the correct wireless signal. We have to find out what’s the situation out there… our room is still intact, I believe we’re not located at the central of destruction.”

Once they found the terminal, Xiao Yan equipped the device without second thought.

After surfing through thousands of data in search for a compatible frequency, Xiao Yan finally got into the system.

“The surveillance camera at the pa.s.sageway’s still operating.”

With that said, the situation at the other side of the door was portrayed on the wall.

Lily gasped at the scene.

The pa.s.sage was flooded with zombies, crawling on floor and trudging on fallen walls. Those who did not make it to the evacuation tunnel had fallen to their prey. They struggled in terror but to no avail. Blood splattered accompanied by a blood-curdling shriek.

The sight was menacing and revolting.

Lily covered her mouth, tears in her eyes. If Xiao Yan hadn’t stopped her, she would have ended up like those people.

Not knowing what to do, she call on Xiao Yan for help in desperation.

“We release a SOS signal. If we’re lucky…… perhaps someone will be here to save us.”

“Which means… if we’re out of luck… we are going to die here?”

Xiao Yan gave her a wryly smile.

“Lily, I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“You’re the s.e.xiest woman I’ve ever seen.”

Xiao Yan said in awful earnesty, as though those are his last words.

“That’s the best compliment I’ve heard in the worst timing,” Lily replied with a wryly laugh.

“I’ve sent out the SOS signal, all we can do now, is pray.”

“Who else could save us at this point……”

Eyes closed, Xiao Yan sighed, “Perhaps… only one person could save us now.”

Meanwhile, all members within the control centre had evacuated to the lower grounds immediately after the explode.

Heine and his unit escourted Shen Bing and his men all the way to the evacuation tunnel. The moment Shen Bing entered the safe zone, Heine stopped in his tracks.

“Heine! Get in here, quickly!” Shen Bing stared at him in perplexity.

“I’ve got something to do.”

“What is it?” Reeve and Mark were about to rush back out but Heine held them off, placing a leg on Mark’s chest. His intention was clear and stern.

“We forgot about the dumb rookie.” Heine raised his arm, a SOS message from Xiao Yan was shown on his communication device.

“Wait! Colonel!.”

Before Mark could move forward, Heine kicked him back in, and those who stood behind Mark stumbled to the ground like dominoes. The tunnel door slid close.

“d.a.m.n it, Heine! Get back here!” Shen Bing tried to open the door but it was locked tight. The secretarial officer and liaison officer held him back from behind.

“Colonel! You’re our commander! You mustn’t go out there!”

Mark and Reeve was banging at the door but it won’t even budge.

“d.a.m.n it! Open the door!”

Heine turned around and faced the approaching zombies coldly. He raised his blade, and split the world into half.

Every pa.s.sing minute is tormenting to Xiao Yan and Lily.

Lily paced around the room restlessly. She was worried that even if there really is someone that came to their rescue, the continuing increasing zombies remains a problem for them to break their way to the evacuation pa.s.sageway.

“We have to close off all unneeded pa.s.sage, and sealed off the path that we will be pa.s.sing through.”

“Is that possible……”

“I’ll give it a try… though I’m afraid some pa.s.sages can no longer be close off.”

Another hour pa.s.sed, yet them remained trapped.

Lily was starting to get anxious as Xiao Yan continued swapping through the surveillance screens of the pa.s.sageways.

Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure appeared in one of the screen, his blade slashing among the walking dead remorselessly.

His blade moving swiftly, slicing several in one swing, yet the zombies were swarming in endlessly.

Without hesitance, Xiao Yan a.n.a.lysed the base ground level blueprint, hacked into the hatch system and closed off all possible hatches aside from the ones that lead to their room.

Eventually, the zombies decreased and Heine shifted his gaze to the surveillance camera.

“Lily, get ready, he’s here.”

“Who’s here?”

Without a word, Xiao Yan came to the door and pressed open.

“Xiao Yan!” Lily shrieked in bewilderment.

A zombie squeezed its head through the opening, its mouth wide opened, but in the next second, its head fell off its neck and onto the ground.

The sight before Xiao Yan was then replaced with a pair of icy blue eyes, cold yet beautiful.

“Let’s go, dumb rookie,” his voice was cool and soothing.

The man before him is as elegant as always. His golden strands curved around his profile perfectly, his lips pressed into a thin line.

Without warning, he pulled pulled Xiao Yan into his arms and kicked off an approaching zombie. The embrace was momentary, yet Xiao Yan finds it strangely nostalgic.

Heine’s hand slipped from the back of Xiao Yan’s head to his wrist, Xiao Yan felt a sense of secure under the man’s calm gaze, “Hurry up!”

Xiao Yan turned back and held on to Lily’s wrist, “She has to come with us!” he stated solemnly.

Lily could hardly stand on her feet as she stare at the nearing zombies.

Heine cold gaze laid on Lily, “You have to learn to let go.”

“Colonel, would you let go off your comrade?”

There was no more time to lose as more zombies were closing in to them. Heine turned around briskly and said: “Do whatever I tell you to. I’ll kill whoever that drags me down myself.”

A command that is as expected from Heine Burton, but Xiao Yan is truly grateful for it.

As another swarm of zombies neared them, Lily backed off in fear. Nevertheless, Xiao Yan forced her to choose between in wait for death or run for her life.

Meanwhile, Heine unsheathed his blade, “Run——”

Xiao Yan pulled Lily with him and ran, following close behind Heine.

Blood splattered and heads rolled across their feet as they continue to dart forward.

When they neared a 90 degree turning point, Heine stopped abruptly and pressed Xiao Yan onto the wall, as Lily stumbled onto the ground. Heine dragged her up and quieted her with a sharp gaze while they laid flat against the wall.

Heine shielded Xiao Yan with one arm, with his side profile only an inch away from Xiao Yan’s. Xiao Yan’s heart was pounding. He has a strong urge to shift closer but did not dare to.

Something was approaching from the other corner, in split seconds, Heine unsheathed his blade and then a flash, four zombies plopped to the ground, lifeless.

“Run,” Heine ordered and Xiao Yan dragged Lily up and darted off, tailed by another swarm of zombies.

Fatigue started to kick in on Xiao Yan and Lily from the ceaseless running. Lily was at her limits and so was Xiao Yan. His heart was pounding so hard, his breath begins to stifle, but he continued to push his limits, for fear he would drag Heine down. He knows this man would never slow down his pace for them.

And as they reach another turning point, Heine turn back suddenly and lifted Xiao Yan onto his shoulder.

“Heine!”

“I can’t take both of you at the same time.”

The man’s voice was cold and ruthless, and Xiao Yan could see the pleading gaze from Lily.

“Don’t leave me behind—— Please don’t——”

Heine continued breaking through their path swiftly despite being single-handed.

“Heine! Put me down!”

Heine remained unfazed.

“I said put me down! I’ll stay with Lily and you can still make it to the evacuation tunnel!”

Abruptly, Xiao Yan was thrown to the ground and nearly had a concussion as his head hit the ground. He could sense the blaring anger emitting from Heine.

The man looked down at him in contempt, “Are you sure you want to stay?”

Xiao Yan gulped, heart racing, it seems as though his whole life was condensed into the choice at this moment, his voice was surprisingly clear, “I’m sure, in fact, you’ve wanted to kill me ever since that incident…haven’t you?”

“I can take you with me.”

His answer was totally out of Xiao Yan’s prediction. He saw a hint of anguish in Heine’s gaze. This man is hurt.

“I know, but I’m just a B ranked cadet. I understand that my value is not worthy of having you endangering your life. Besides, I’m a man, a man can die of fear but never of guilt.

Xiao Yan stood up and Heine clutch his wrist.

“You can’t save everyone, and there’s no need to sacrifice yourself for someone unimportant.”

Xiao Yan could feel his touch so clearly, his fingers pressing on his pulse. At the moment, he finally realised how much he cherish every single touch from Heine Burton. Perhaps it’s his admiration for him, or it’s something more, but these no longer matters.

It’s impossible for Heine to save both of them at the same time, and he would not drag him down.

“Colonel, you’re the one who told me….. You’ve got to learn to let go.”

Xiao Yan gave Heine a half-smile, and he could see something building up in the man’s eyes.

There was a momentary distrait, and Xiao Yan freed himself from Heine’s grip. The latter stood still, his hand remained out-reached.

He knows, deep within his heart, that the actual reason for himself to stay is because he does not wish to have his own weakness to hold this powerful man, Heine Burton, back.