NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43 - Mental Power
Tian Hai walked in the lead, with Bai Qi holding Tang Ruo’s hand as they followed behind.
The roads in the villa area were peaceful, lined with old trees. Their thick branches cast shadows under the sunlight, covering nearly two-thirds of the road. Benches for resting were placed every few meters under the trees. If not for the current state of society, this natural setting would have been the perfect place for a romantic walk.
The three of them walked toward the high-rise district.
The two neighborhoods were close enough that driving wasn’t necessary; walking didn’t take long, and along the way, they encountered zombies wandering around. Driving would have likely caused them to overlook these zombies. Since they planned to stay here long-term, it felt safer to thoroughly clear the area inside and out.
It had been a month since the apocalypse began, and most zombies now had crystal nuclei forming in their brains. As they walked, they fought and collected crystals. Bai Qi had already leveled up to Tier 2, but most zombies were still Tier 1, making it easy for the three of them as they advanced.
Once they reached the high-rise district, the number of zombies noticeably increased. The zombies wandering near the buildings caught the scent of “fresh meat” and began to converge on the three.
The layout of the high-rise district was quite organized. The entrance opened onto a wide, garden-like area.
Seeing the number of zombies, Bai Qi said, “We need to find a defensible spot.”
Luckily, the high-rise area and the villa area were separated by a large iron fence, with plenty of flower beds on the other side. So the three of them crouched behind the flower beds, readying their powers against the oncoming zombies.
Tian Hai’s lightning abilities had grown significantly over the past few days, and when he closed his eyes, he could feel his abilities improving considerably.
Bai Qi didn’t specialize in lightning powers, but he had three years of experience in the post-apocalyptic world. Even if he hadn’t mastered it himself, he’d seen it enough to offer some guidance from time to time.
The number of zombies kept increasing until they were crowding up against the fence, reaching through the gaps with rotting hands, almost pressing their heads through in desperation.
Seeing the growing horde, Bai Qi suggested, “Channel your lightning power and throw it onto the fence.”
Tian Hai nodded and launched a large lightning orb at the iron fence. Though iron is a conductor, a single lightning orb didn’t do much initially.
Bai Qi added, “Keep going. Try to use up all your power at once if you can.”
Tian Hai followed his instructions and soon noticed his lightning orb transforming into a blue lightning rod. The bright blue electricity burst out across the fence, scattering with a deafening sound!
Electricity crackled and surged, and the blue glow was visible even in daylight. The lightning rod whirled with currents of electricity moving faster and faster, and in that moment, every zombie near the fence was electrocuted, collapsing to the ground.
As the zombies continued their low growls, the lightning rod gradually dissipated from Tian Hai’s hands.
Exhausted, Tian Hai collapsed onto the ground, drenched in sweat as if he’d been pulled from water, his back and hair completely soaked. “I’m out of energy.”
“Ah Hai, that move you did just now was so cool!” Tang Ruo quickly handed him a bottle of water from her bag. She’d gotten into the habit of keeping water handy whenever they were out.
“Yeah, even I thought it looked amazing. Too bad it didn’t kill them,” Tian Hai replied, taking a sip of water to regain some strength.
The zombies in that area weren’t dead; they were sprawled on the ground, attempting to get back up in strange, contorted positions.
“Once you level up, it might be enough,” Bai Qi said as he casually shot a few more zombies. Then he turned to Tang Ruo and suggested, “Try using your interference ability.”
Tang Ruo, already eager, nodded quickly and extended her mental energy toward the crowd of zombies.
The zombies outside the iron fence were still clustered together. After Tian Hai’s lightning attack, they had become more subdued, moving toward them with unnaturally slow movements.
Her mental energy stretched out like a fine web, enveloping the zombies and exerting an invisible force that redirected their movements.
These zombies, weakened from the lightning attack, were now vulnerable enough for her to control a larger number; while she could normally interfere with only three or four, now she was able to influence over a dozen at once.
A dozen or so zombies staggered to their feet and began moving in the opposite direction. With the open courtyard, this strange sight was immediately noticeable.
Bai Qi observed and instructed, “Use up all of your energy too—let’s see what happens.”
Tang Ruo didn’t hold back and released all her mental energy onto the zombies.
The invisible net around them tightened, pulling the zombies in closer and closer until they could barely stand upright…
The zombies behind the iron fence let out pained growls, some swaying unsteadily, others slamming forcefully into the fence, as if some unseen force was compressing and restraining them.
Tang Ruo focused intensely, while Bai Qi remained silent, understanding that controlling mental energy required absolute concentration.
Although Tian Hai wasn’t sure what kind of power Tang Ruo possessed, he noticed the two were completely focused and stood by quietly, watching the events unfold.
However, her mental interference didn’t last long before Tang Ruo clutched her head and crouched down, quickly taking out a bottle of water.
The sudden headache was a clear sign that her energy was fully depleted.
The sensation of running out of mental energy was unbearable—a crushing pressure that attacked her nerves, causing severe dizziness.
The three of them headed out, with two of them having depleted their powers. The zombies that Tang Ruo had previously interfered with were still alive; once her mental net was lifted, the zombies broke free from its restraints and began wandering back toward them.
The initial plan was simply to practice using their abilities, so with their energy drained, there was no reason to stay. Bai Qi quickly dispatched the remaining zombies with five ice blades, and after helping Tang Ruo up, he said, “Let’s head back and rest for a bit.”
On the way back, Tian Hai finally voiced his curiosity, “Sis, can you… control the air?”
Tang Ruo, no longer hiding things from Tian Hai, replied, “No, it’s a type of mental power.”
Tian Hai hadn’t heard of this type of ability, so Tang Ruo simply repeated what Bai Qi had explained to her before.
Back at their place, they ate and took baths. The stream water from the space could enhance their abilities but only if their powers had been significantly depleted first.
So, from now on, the three of them planned to take baths twice a day.
This meant Tang Ruo was busy heating water in the space every evening.
After lunch and absorbing the crystal nuclei, the three returned to the high-rise area to continue their morning practice of fighting zombies.
The afternoon’s session went much more smoothly than in the morning. Familiar with the layout of the two neighborhoods and having improved their skills, they anticipated that they could continue like this every day, barring any surprises.