Fang’s voice was low, his face shadowed in the candlelight. His parents divorced and left him with his grandparents. When the apocalypse hit, his grandfather turned, nearly killing him. Just another broken family. Chen Liu thought, his eyes softening with empathy. “I haven’t called my parents since college,” Fang said bitterly.

Chen Liu’s chest tightened. “Tried reaching them lately?” Though he knew that lines wouldn’t hold much longer. Infrastructure—water, power, internet—was crumbling. The real hardship was yet to come.

“Couldn’t get through,” Fang replied, his eyes distant, pain flickering across his face. Chen Liu understood that silence too well. “Sleep,” he said finally. Whether orphan or not, it is a curse to be in this world anyway.

The next morning, Gao Bin’s made a surprising decision. He quit the warriors, choosing rice rations and chores over fighting. He was broken. Even his eyes reflected the weight of his trauma. “You can’t just quit!” Li Dong roared, his face red with fury, kicking Gao Bin down. “Pick up your weapon!”

“I’d rather die,” Gao Bin replied. Li Dong spat, “Coward! Toilet duty for you!” Gao Bin nodded eagerly, as though he had been elected into a King’s court. He’s buried himself, Chen Liu thought, his mouth tightening with disdain. Li Dong turned, glaring. “Anyone else quitting?” Silence answered, faces tense with unease. The evolving zombies forced everyone to fight or die.

After breakfast, Chen Liu and Li Dong led squads to thin the horde and hunt crystals. A week passed, battles relentless. No seven-star zombies appeared, but five- and six-stars multiplied, making each fight gruesome. We’re holding, Chen Liu thought, his face taut with focus. Li Dong and Fang hit a six-star Awakened. His courage was so contagious, it felt like the scaredy-cat had died. Chen observed with pride in his eyes. New weapons—axes, machetes, hammers—boosted their strength, teamwork, and morale. We’ll make this place safe. Chen Liu was hopeful.

Outside, Liao City’s promise faded. Cities swarmed with zombies. Some of them which were now seven-star Awakened were leading small hordes. Cages, not homes. Chen worried. Small groups might slip through, but large ones faced slaughter. Survivors’ hopes of reaching Liao City dimmed. Under such pressure, human nature turned dark—some Esper-led squads abandoned regulars, while others used them as zombie-bait. No one’s obligated to save the weak. Chen Liu understood but his stomach still churned. The military struggled with highways plagued by mutated beasts deadlier than zombies. Liao City felt like a pipe dream.

Yesterday’s news hit harder: Wing was dead. A seven-star zombie, hiding in a horde, speared him mid-air with a steel rod. Chen Liu found it rattling. Wing’s scream, caught on video, shook him to the core. Seven-stars used weapons and tactics—terrifying. No fighting that, he thought.

But a new hero rose: the War God, with a C-class Berserker Form. Muscles bulging, eyes red, his power tripled in a frenzy, though it left him drained. Sounds like my battle instinct, Chen Liu thought, his face thoughtful. The War God’s clash with a seven-star—chopping its head off—was legendary. That’s raw power. Chen Liu eyes glinted with admiration, a spark of envy in his chest.

thINKer: These zombies are getting more inventive. What do we call it? The Zombie Bronze age? 😂