Rebirth of the Last Days: Double Pets

The second person to join up was Hu Haotian, the temporary leader chosen for this convoy.

Before the apocalypse, he was a well-known young entrepreneur in H City, with businesses spanning car dealerships, real estate, and more. The former mayor of H City was also his father.

After the apocalypse, Hu Haotian, a prominent businessman, awakened an earth-based ability.

“Which direction, and how many zombies?” he asked Bai Qi. Although he hadn’t seen anything yet, the seriousness in his expression showed he didn’t think Bai Qi was joking.

Bai Qi turned, looking at the road ahead that led to City A. “They’re coming from the front. I’m not sure exactly how many, but it’s probably another convoy that tried heading to City A recently.”

Hu Haotian made a quick decision, immediately sending a speed-type ability user from the convoy to scout ahead.

The convoy had been put together to ensure everyone’s safety, and Hu Haotian had been indispensable in keeping it together. The speed-type ability user didn’t show any reluctance, nodding in agreement and setting off to scout.

“Just 300 kilometers left to City A, and there’s always something…”

“A City has a dense population; there’ll probably be a lot…”

“So what do we do once we get to City A? Did we travel all this way just to meet our end?”

Everyone was still a bit uneasy from the zombie attack a few nights ago, gathering in small groups to discuss quietly.

After a couple of minutes, the speed-type ability user returned.

He had left full of energy, but came back sweating and pale. “Around 200 meters ahead—so many zombies, packed close together, it nearly made my legs give out. I almost couldn’t make it back…”

A heavy silence settled over the group as everyone turned their gaze toward Hu Haotian.

Hu Haotian asked, “Did you see any in other directions, or are they only coming from the direction of City A?”

The speed-type user nodded. “All coming from the highway, likely from a convoy that couldn’t make it through and got infected.”

The group fell silent again until a woman suddenly shouted, “If we can’t beat them, let’s turn back now! We could head to L City instead—don’t they have a base there? Let’s go to L City’s base.”

Hu Haotian gave her a sharp look, signaling her to keep quiet.

But the woman didn’t stop, clinging to the arm of the man beside her. “An Ning, let’s go to L City. Why do we have to go to City A for that woman? L City is safer, they have a base, a military presence…”

The man, An Ning, growled, “Shut up. That ‘woman’ you’re talking about is my lawful wife.”

The woman, her voice breaking, pleaded, “But you’ve seen how many people have turned into zombies. Maybe she was infected too… maybe she’s already dead. I’ve followed you loyally—doesn’t that mean more to you than a dead person?”

An Ning brushed off the crying woman and took a few steps away from her.

Hu Haotian wasn’t in the mood for gossip; the real concern now was how to handle the imminent threat from so many zombies.

“There are a lot of us in this convoy,” he said, raising his voice. “You’ve got thirty seconds to make a decision—are we turning back, or are we standing to fight? But understand this: if we turn back now, we may become paralyzed with fear whenever we face trouble again. Running won’t be an option forever. Zombies will soon be everywhere in this world…”

He continued, “Consider this: this chaotic new world is both a danger and an opportunity—a fresh start for all of us. Believe that the world won’t stay dark forever; dawn will come eventually. But until then, we need to do everything we can to stay alive…”

“If anyone wants to leave now, I won’t stop you. But remember that if you choose to live like ants from here on, don’t blame fate for not giving you a chance.”

“So, make your choice now: will you live boldly, or survive like ants, looked down upon by others?”

As a seasoned businessman, Hu Haotian’s words—spoken plainly but with weight—stirred many in the group. They understood that running away wouldn’t solve anything. They couldn’t depend on the military; they’d have to rely on themselves. After all, if the military could help, they wouldn’t have been left to venture to City A on their own. They thought of others still trapped at home, starving or turning into zombies, and felt a renewed determination.

After awakening their powers, many of the ability users were full of ambition and resolve, far from the type to back down. So nearly all the ability users decided to stay and fight the zombies.

With the ability users staying, it was unlikely that ordinary people would take the risk of fleeing on their own, driving off without protection. When the numbers were tallied, every person in the convoy had decided to stay and fight.

There was no time to lose. Now that they’d all committed, it was time to organize and delegate tasks.

“We’ll split into groups: one for ability users, and one for non-ability users. Among the non-ability users, those who can wield weapons against zombies will form a separate group…”

“Earth-ability users, move forward 50 meters and erect a wall…”

“Offensive ability users, stand five meters behind the wall and prepare…”

“Non-ability users, get the flashlights from your vehicles and point them toward the incoming zombies. When they get close enough, aim at their heads.”

Everyone quickly moved into action.

Tang Ruo followed Bai Qi to join the offensive ability user group.

Bai Qi glanced at her, then reached out and held her hand.

Seeing Tang Ruo there, Tian Hai looked worried and said, “Sis, you should stay in the back. Otherwise, we’ll all be too concerned about you to focus.”

Tang Ruo shook her head.

She had mental powers, and by standing up front, she could use them to hold off the zombies if the earth wall couldn’t hold.

Bai Qi said, “Don’t worry; it’s no big deal. Worst-case scenario, we die together. If I go, she’s not sticking around alone, either.”

Tian Hai: “…”

Tang Ruo: “…”

Everyone: “…”

Right before fighting zombies, they still had to feed everyone a dose of PDA—was this really the time?

With the speed-user reporting the numbers, it was clear the horde of zombies was getting closer.

Everyone stood tensely behind the earth wall, ready for battle. The whole convoy was silent, not a sound from anyone. Only the heavy, rhythmic footfalls and excited snarling from the zombies in the distance filled the air.

“They’re here…”

Someone called out, and up ahead, they could see a mass of dark shadows moving closer.

“All flashlights, aim forward. Turn them on.”

As the front lit up all at once, a variety of abilities sprang into action, painting the air with vibrant colors.

Bai Qi and Tian Hai unleashed their full power—a blast of ice and a surge of lightning—hurling them forward at full speed.

Tang Ruo was also among those holding a flashlight. If any zombies slipped past the abilities users and tried to climb over the wall, she would disorient them, causing them to lose their sense of direction.

Time ticked by, second by second.

In the endless darkness, on the vast highway, the hundreds and thousands of zombies showed no signs of thinning out…