The sky was gloomy, as if shrouded by a layer of gray cloth, with a storm brewing.
The streets were in ruins, buildings lay in shambles, corpses lay in grotesque forms, and the air was thick with the pungent smell of blood.
The surroundings were eerily silent, occasionally punctuated by faint “heh heh” sounds that sent shivers down one’s spine.
“There’s a supermarket ahead. It should have supplies. Let’s go check it out,” a voice deliberately lowered yet clearly audible to everyone.
Behind a crumbling wall, a group of people huddled together, discussing how to obtain supplies without losing too many lives.
“How about we lure the zombies out of the supermarket and take the opportunity to grab the supplies?”
As soon as this idea was proposed, it gained the support of most.
As for fighting the zombies head-on…
Impossible!
They had no idea how many zombies were inside the supermarket. It was possible they’d be wiped out in a direct confrontation.
They still had that much self-awareness.
“Then who will lure the zombies away?”
With that question, silence fell.
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
Yes, who would lure the zombies away?
Although this was the method with the fewest casualties, who didn’t want to live? Who would willingly go to their death?
Perhaps too engrossed in their thoughts, no one noticed a figure that had suddenly appeared at the back of the group.
Shen Suian glanced around, then looked at the group of disheveled people before her. After a moment of silence, she asked in her mind: Tuanzi, what time is it now?
Due to limited conditions, it has been three and a half years since you last appeared in this world.
In other words, it was now the third year of the Apocalypse.
Also, let me emphasize, I’m not called Tuanzi. I’m Tuntun.
Ignoring Tuntun’s emphasis, Shen Suian prepared to leave.
Compared to being with a group, she still preferred to act alone.
But—
“Hey, you there, why are you leaving? Do you plan to act alone?”
That one sentence drew everyone’s attention.
Shen Suian couldn’t help but facepalm.
Just then, Tuntun chimed in excitedly: How about it? How about it? How do you like this classic trope of the protagonist getting special attention?
“…”
Her voice seemed to squeeze through gritted teeth: Ve-ry good!
Good to the extreme.
In her mind, the praised Tuntun bounced twice, then placed its hands on its hips, tilting its head high with a proud expression.
“…”
Fortunately, Tuntun wasn’t by her side at the moment, or Shen Suian would have “kindly patted” its head.
If Tuntun knew what Shen Suian was thinking, it would never have dared to utter those words, even if beaten to death.
“You?” The team leader eyed her suspiciously. “Are you part of our team? I don’t remember seeing you before.”
Compared to their disheveled state, Shen Suian looked like a princess who had escaped from a castle, completely out of place in her surroundings.
Her chestnut-brown hair cascaded down her back. She wore a beige high-neck sweater paired with blue flared pants, and her white sneakers were spotless.
Her dewy almond-shaped eyes sparkled with starlight, clear and beautiful, like dazzling stars. Her facial features were smooth and defined, her skin fair, and her crimson lips slightly pursed.
Amidst the surrounding decay, she seemed like the only light in this desolate land.
A look of awe flashed in everyone’s eyes.
Since the Apocalypse began, the human living environment has become extremely harsh, with water shortages and the constant threat of zombies. Survival itself is a challenge, let alone worrying about clothing and appearance.
Someone in the team snapped back to reality, frowning tightly, their eyes filled with a mix of emotions—wariness, hostility, jealousy, or greed.
Seeing this, the team leader cleared his throat and took a step forward. “Miss, how did you end up here?”
Before the mission, he had taken a headcount and hadn’t seen this girl who looked as beautiful as a princess.
Shen Suian lifted the corner of her eye slightly, a lazy, indifferent smile curling at her lips as she tilted her head. “Just passing by.”
Passing by?
Everyone exchanged glances, clearly unconvinced by this explanation.
“Passing by? Who do you think you’re fooling?” A woman dressed relatively cleanly scoffed, crossing her arms. “Do you think we’re—”
“Are you alone?” the team leader interrupted her, suggesting, “Would you like to join us? There’s strength in numbers.”
Before Shen Suian could refuse, several team members voiced their objections.
“Leader, our supplies are running low. Adding another person might—”
“Yeah, Leader, even though you’re an ability user in our team, if we encounter zombies, bringing along a delicate princess would probably just hold everyone back.”
Their tone was dripping with sarcasm.
The woman glanced sideways at Shen Suian, a smug smile plastered on her face.
Shen Suian fell silent.
[Did I offend her?]
Tuntun: [Probably… not.]
The team leader didn’t rush to speak, weighing his options.
“Wait a minute!” Shen Suian raised a hand to stop them as they were about to say more. “Don’t speak yet. Let me say something first.”
“I don’t recall ever saying I wanted to join you. Don’t flatter yourselves, acting as if I couldn’t survive without you.”
She hadn’t even started complaining about how weak they were.
The woman flushed with anger and turned to the team leader to complain. “Leader, look at her! You kindly invited her, and she doesn’t even take it seriously?”
Shen Suian rolled her eyes with utmost elegance, leisurely brushed off nonexistent dust from her shoulder, and decided it wasn’t worth wasting any more words. She turned and walked away.
Rather than wasting time arguing with these people, she’d be better off figuring out her current situation and her undeveloped Superpowers.
According to what that person had just said, ability users seemed to be quite rare at the moment.
The woman’s eyes widened, completely taken aback by Shen Suian’s resolute departure.
Seeing this, the other team members fell silent.
Everyone looks out for themselves, especially in the Apocalypse. For them, survival matters more than kindness or conscience.
The team leader watched the girl’s slender retreating figure with interest, stroking his chin as a meaningful smile spread across his face.
He had become the team leader not just because he was an ability user but also because of his own capabilities.
He had a feeling—that girl was anything but ordinary.