NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 59
CHAPTER 59: Collapse and Resurgence
The destructive power of the zombie horde was nothing short of cataclysmic. Their sheer numbers, coupled with the grotesque strength and deadly variety of the undead, made them a force of nature capable of leveling anything in their path. The Guangping Street gathering place, though fortified, was no exception.
Its defenses—reinforced walls, repurposed homes, and hastily crafted traps—stood as the last line between the living and the endless dead. Yet, against the relentless press of thousands of zombies, even the most carefully constructed barriers wavered. Lu Ming, despite his incredible abilities, was still just one man. One man who could not stop an avalanche with his bare hands.
From his vantage point atop the watchtower, Lu Ming hurled iron discus after iron discus with deadly precision, each one cleaving through the ranks of the undead like a scythe. His slingshot picked off the agile hunters, their swift movements halted by the lethal accuracy of his shots. But for every zombie that fell, another three surged forward, and the horde only seemed to grow more frenzied.
Within moments, the first wave reached the base of the wall. The ten-meter-high barrier that had been their first and most formidable defense now looked pitiful under the weight of the onslaught. Hunters vaulted over it effortlessly, their sinewy limbs carrying them high into the air. Giant zombies, lumbering and brutish, crushed their smaller brethren beneath their feet as they clambered atop them, using the weaker zombies as stepping stones to scale the wall. Ordinary zombies, mindless in their determination, formed grotesque human ladders, piling on top of one another, clawing their way upward with animalistic fury.
It was only a matter of time before the wall gave way.
The defenders on the ground fought with everything they had—arrows flew, bolts rained down, and slingshot pellets tore through the horde like a deadly hailstorm. For a moment, it seemed they could hold. But the wall groaned under the strain, the gate buckling as giant zombies pounded against it with unholy strength. With a final, shuddering crack, the barrier crumbled, and the undead poured in.
Chaos erupted inside the gathering place. Zombies rampaged through the once peaceful streets, trampling gardens, smashing through homes, and turning the tranquil settlement into a nightmarish wasteland. Lu Ming, his face grim with determination, increased the intensity of his attacks, raining death upon the invaders from his perch above.
Zhang Lixin and Li Zitong stood frozen, watching in helpless disbelief as the fruits of their labor—the homes they had rebuilt, the lives they had saved—were reduced to rubble in mere moments. "All our efforts," Zhang Lixin whispered, his voice thick with sorrow. Li Zitong’s hands trembled, his gaze locked on the destruction below, the tears in his eyes reflecting the flames that now danced across the village.
“My home is in trouble…” Lu Ming muttered, his jaw clenched as he doubled his efforts. The projectiles flew faster, deadlier, but even he knew it wasn’t enough.
Wave after wave of zombies stormed forward, seemingly endless. The defenders were brave, their resolve unshaken as they battled with everything they had. But bravery could only carry them so far. The undead were an overwhelming tide, a force of nature that seemed impossible to stem.
Then, amidst the chaos, Zhang Chengcheng stepped forward.
Her face was set in concentration, her body radiating newfound power. She had leveled up recently, and her gravitational abilities strengthened to a point far beyond what she had ever imagined. As the zombies pressed closer, she raised a hand, her fingers flexing as if grasping an unseen force.
"Gravity, fivefold!" she commanded.
The effect was instantaneous—and devastating.
The advancing horde faltered. For the ordinary zombies, the sudden increase in gravitational force was unbearable. They collapsed where they stood, their brittle bones shattering under the pressure. Even the larger zombies, though more resilient, were noticeably slowed, their movements sluggish and labored as they struggled to advance under the crushing weight.
Lu Ming didn’t hesitate. Seizing the opportunity, he picked off the now-vulnerable giant zombies with precision shots from his crossbow, the bolts finding their marks with deadly accuracy.
The scene was almost absurd—these once-terrifying creatures were reduced to helpless, crawling figures within the field of Zhang Chengcheng’s gravity manipulation. Their terrifying momentum was brought to a standstill.
"Chengcheng, that’s incredible!" Lu Ming called out, his voice carrying a rare note of admiration. Her control over gravity wasn’t just powerful—it was decisive. In this battle, it was the difference between survival and annihilation.
Zhao Honglei, standing at a distance, stared at the spectacle before him with wide-eyed disbelief. The scale of power being unleashed was beyond anything he had imagined. What he had thought was the inevitable fall of Guangping Street had become a masterclass in defensive strategy and teamwork. The watchtower, reinforced by Li Zitong’s earth manipulation, now stood as a bulwark. Lu Ming’s ruthless efficiency picked off the high-level threats, while Zhang Chengcheng’s gravity field neutralized the masses of lower-level zombies. It was like watching the cogs of a well-oiled machine turn flawlessly.
“How did they do this?” Zhao Honglei whispered, feeling both awe and frustration. His own efforts seemed paltry in comparison.
Around him, the other Awakened muttered in agreement, equally stunned by the flawless defense. "Remarkable… absolutely remarkable..." one of them said, the sentiment echoing across the platform. The initial wave of admiration was soon replaced by an awkward realization that they had no part to play in this perfectly executed plan. For Zhao Honglei, this moment of helplessness was bitter.
High above the battlefield, Bai Tianyu observed it all with a sense of pride and relief. He had promised Professor Huo to protect the Awakened, and it was clear that his mission was on its way to success. But there was another feeling that nagged at him—a sense of inadequacy. Watching Lu Ming, who had fought so relentlessly, and Zhang Chengcheng, who had mastered her gravity abilities, made Bai Tianyu question his own contributions. He had been a warrior his entire life, yet here he was, sidelined, a mere spectator in this war.
As if sensing his thoughts, Lu Ming glanced up from the tower, offering Bai Tianyu a brief smile and a nod. A silent acknowledgment, a gesture of camaraderie. Bai Tianyu returned it with a faint smile, the humility of the moment settling over him.
“There’s always someone stronger,” Bai Tianyu mused, pulling out a signal flare from his pocket. With a swift motion, he launched it into the sky. It was a call for military support—reinforcements to clean up the remnants of the horde.
Within minutes, the distant rumble of military vehicles echoed across the battlefield. Eight armored trucks rolled into view, encircling the now-weakened horde. Soldiers disembarked, armed with heavy artillery, mowing down the remaining zombies with cold precision. With the Tyrant gone, the horde was disorganized, and their threat significantly diminished. Now, it was just a matter of time.
As the sun set and the moon began its ascent, the defenders of Guangping Street fought on. Exhausted but determined, they pushed back the zombies, step by step. The battle that had raged from afternoon till nightfall was drawing to a close, the tide finally turning in their favor.
End of Chapter 59