NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 53
Chapter 53: The Calm Before the Storm
“The living dead have an advantage over us,” Dr. Meng Jie’s voice reverberated through the room, each word steeped in the gravity of her research. “In the grand scheme of things, we’re nothing more than prey—fodder for their numbers. My simulations suggest that unless something unexpected happens, humanity has no hope of overcoming the zombies. The situation is bleak.”
A heavy silence descended over the leaders of the Guangping Street Gathering Place. Despair flickered in their eyes as the weight of her statement settled over them. Instinctively, their gaze drifted towards the second-floor window, where the unmistakable silhouette of Lu Ming stood. His figure, quiet and steady, was a beacon of hope in a world teetering on the edge of collapse.
Sensing the shift in their attention, Lu Ming met their collective gaze with calm assurance and offered a simple, yet powerful mantra: “Stay steady and develop.”
Those words—unshaken by fear or doubt—had become their guiding principle, a mantra to carry them through the storm. One by one, the others nodded.
“I agree,” Wang Xiong added, his voice firm. “Our defenses aren’t where they need to be yet. It’s too soon to take any risks by venturing outside.”
Zhang Chengcheng’s voice was filled with an unwavering belief in Lu Ming as she chimed in. “And Brother Lu will only grow stronger. The zombies may be evolving, but time is on our side.”
Zhang Lixin, always the realist, glanced at the gathered leaders before offering his assessment. “We have enough food for now. Once we’ve scavenged the rest of Good Hope Village, we should be set for at least six months—maybe longer.”
Dr. Meng Jie folded her arms thoughtfully. “My research is progressing. If I can find a way to awaken more people, our numbers will grow, and the tide may finally turn in our favor.”
Li Zitong remained silent, feeling like an outsider in this circle of decision-makers.
With the meeting adjourned and a plan in place, the leaders dispersed to their tasks. For Lu Ming, it meant returning to his disciplined routine—exercise, training, and refining his skills. For now, nothing mattered more than growing stronger.
The days passed in a blur of repetition, each one blending into the next, marked only by Lu Ming's steady progress.
Day 33 of the Apocalypse Calendar, Thursday.
Morning workout, crossbow practice in the afternoon. Nothing of note happened.
Current Attributes:
Name: Lu Ming
Age: 25
Strength: 61.4
Physique: 62.1
Agility: 54.8
[Skills]
- Fitness Lv9 (830/900)
- Hand-to-Hand Combat Lv19 (1025/1900)
Day 34, Friday.
An uneventful day. Hand-to-Hand Combat leveled up to Lv20. Frustratingly, I’ve hit a plateau—progress is slow, even with Wang Xiong. He claims he's never seen anyone as gifted in mixed martial arts as me, but that’s small comfort.
Day 35, Saturday.
The gathering place is taking shape—more livable now.
Wang Xiong and his team have built a wall, replacing the old zombie array with a towering watchtower next to my house. It’s over 20 meters tall.
Zhang Lixin says it’ll give us an advantage, allowing me to rain down death from above. I tried it out—it’s functional, but the height feels precarious, and the construction looks flimsy.
I mentioned this to Zhang Lixin. He assured me they’d reinforce it, and reminded me that even if I fell, the height wouldn’t hurt me. Wang Xiong, ever the daredevil, demonstrated by jumping off—he was fine.
I tried it myself. Turns out, he was right. This height is manageable. I suggested we build it even taller—better visibility, longer attack range.
Day 36, Sunday.
Li Zitong advanced to Level 2 Awakened today. His power is Earth Manipulation—controlling sand, stones, and soil. It’s practical for construction and farming, but less useful in combat.
As expected, his advancement triggered a zombie horde. Eight Hunters led the charge, with over 30 giant zombies. The gathering place was tested but held strong. The watchtower proved invaluable. We’ll need to raise it to at least 40 meters.
The days continued to blur together, marked by a rhythm of training, scavenging, and fortifying their defenses. As Lu Ming’s strength grew, so did the challenges they faced.
Day 43 of the Apocalypse Calendar.
My agility has finally broken through 100.
But with greater strength comes greater hunger. My appetite has surged—I’m eating more than the rest of the gathering place combined, and I’m constantly craving protein.
Zhang Chengcheng’s gravity manipulation can no longer keep up with my training needs. She’s considering advancing to Level 3, but we all know that her advancement will draw another zombie horde. It’s a risk, but one I believe we need to take.
Day 44, Monday.
Lu Ming’s stats reflected his tireless efforts:
Name: Lu Ming
Strength: 81.6
Physique: 82.3
Agility: 101.9
[Skills]
- Fitness Lv2 (500/1200)
- Hand-to-Hand Combat Lv20 (259/2000)
- Cold Weapon Combat Lv10 (621/1000)
- Archery Lv15 (788/1500)
Rising from his afternoon nap, Lu Ming marveled at his transformation. His once lean frame had grown into that of a powerhouse—tall and imposing at 1.9 meters, with a weight of 300 catties. His muscles were defined, but not overly bulky, giving him the appearance of a finely tuned weapon.
He flexed his fist, feeling the raw power coursing through him. Just as he was about to indulge in the sensation, the doorbell chimed.
On the electronic display, Zhang Chengcheng stood waiting. “Brother Lu, I’m ready to advance,” she said, her voice steady with resolve.
Lu Ming’s heart quickened. Her gravity manipulation had been crucial to his training. Without it, his current methods would soon become ineffective. But before she could begin, the bell from the watchtower echoed through the air.
Lu Ming darted up the tower, scanning the horizon. In the distance, at the entrance of Good Hope Village, a figure appeared—an imposing middle-aged man wielding a long spear, walking straight toward them.
The zombies parted around him, paying him no mind, as if he were one of their own.
End of Chapter 53