The Number 1 passage was the only way to get from the entrance of Dead City No. 7 to the city's center. It was a crucial route, wide enough to accommodate about eight vehicles traveling side by side. On either side of the road were buildings that resembled fortresses, their designs clearly intended for defense. Even on some of the rooftops, remnants of automated defense weapons could be seen—rusted barrels that, after years of exposure to the elements, now glinted with a dull yellowish shine under the sunlight.
It was evident that this settlement had once been built with the blood, sweat, and tears of many. Unfortunately, all of that effort had been destroyed by infighting, and the city had become a ghost town.
Now, the streets weren't filled with pedestrians but with zombies—hundreds of them, crawling and shuffling in a dense mass, resembling a sea of black. Everywhere, there were decaying bodies and vacant expressions. The air was thick with the overwhelming stench of rot, making it almost unbearable to breathe.
"Damn, this smells awful!" Vincent cursed under his breath, unable to contain his disgust. He gritted his teeth and pulled out four bottles of black liquid. "Pour this over yourselves and be cautious. This should help you blend in with these mindless creatures."
"Got it!" Chu Xun and the others nodded and carefully poured the thick, dark liquid over their bodies. Immediately, they began to emit a rotten smell identical to that of the zombies around them, masking their human scent.
"Alright, now for those two Lickers!" After applying the odor-neutralizer, Yang Ling adjusted his glasses and pointed to a dome-shaped building that looked like a fortress. "Those two Lickers are resting on top of that building. Chu Xun, Chu Hang, you two handle it!"
"No problem!" Chu Hang nodded, glancing at Chu Xun. "Ready to go?"
"Hey, I'm not great at stealthy kills. Let my little pet tag along to help," Chu Xun grinned, flicking his fingers. A card shot into the air.
Whoosh!
The card emitted a faint hum and, in a flash, burst with dark purple light. Moments later, an alien creature with a sleek, smooth, and black body appeared before them.
"You're a dual-element Esper?" Vincent and Yang Ling were taken aback when they saw Chu Xun summon such an unusual pet. Only Chu Hang looked unsurprised, as he had already guessed the connection between Chu Xun and the creature after seeing their previous battle at Satellite Town No. 4.
"Yep, I'm a dual-element Esper—Strength and Summoning." Chu Xun nodded. After the fight at Satellite Town No. 4, he realized that the existence of his alien pet could no longer be hidden, so it was better to be upfront about it to avoid misunderstandings.
"Strength and Summoning... that's quite a combination," Vincent and Yang Ling both expressed admiration.
Having multiple abilities wasn't rare—many people were born with dual or even triple abilities. However, having more powers didn't always mean they were better. With more abilities came more requirements for crystals for advancement. A dual-element Esper needed at least five times more crystal cores than a single-element Esper, and a triple-element Esper needed even more. For civilians, this was a huge burden, making it difficult for them to progress without significant resources.
However, the combination of Strength and Summoning was considered an ideal match. The main weakness of Summoners was their lack of combat strength, which made them vulnerable to be killed quickly in battles. But with Strength powers, the Summoner could become much stronger, allowing them to better protect themselves and enhance the effectiveness of their summoned creatures.
"Alright, time's tight. Let's move out!" Chu Xun smiled and turned to the alien. "Follow them and silently take out the other Licker!"
"Ssss!" The alien understood the task immediately and, without further instruction, followed Chu Hang, its movements silent like a predator hunting in the dark.
"Such a smart summoned creature!" Chu Hang and the others marveled at the creature's intelligence. Most summoned creatures were powerful but unintelligent, so they were surprised by the alien's behavior.
"Let's go!" Chu Hang nodded and shot forward like a shadow, heading toward the building where the Lickers were located. The alien followed closely behind.
It didn't take long. Within a few blinks of an eye, the alien had scaled the building and, together with Chu Hang, reached the rooftop. The group held their breath, waiting in tense silence.
After what felt like an eternity, Yang Ling suddenly let out a low cheer, his eyes sparkling with triumph. "Nice, we did it!"
"Success?" Chu Xun and Vincent both relaxed, relieved. Meanwhile, Vincent's gaze toward Chu Xun shifted slightly—no longer just an ordinary team member, Chu Xun had now proven himself as a capable and powerful ally.
"Let's move on. Chu Hang and your pet have already cleared the way. We need to pick up the pace!" Yang Ling urged, now more respectful of Chu Xun's abilities. "Our next stop is the central control base of the Dead City. If we can secure it, I can unlock the supply depot and take everything inside."
"Got it. Let's go!" Chu Xun nodded, exchanging a brief glance with Vincent. The two flanked Yang Ling and moved forward, staying alert as they navigated the streets filled with the undead.
The odor-neutralizer worked wonders, allowing them to move past zombies without drawing any attention. Even when they brushed past the corpses, the zombies ignored them completely. They moved quickly through the streets, heading for the central control base, located along the main road.
Despite the effectiveness of the odor-neutralizer, the tension was palpable. As they moved deeper into the mass of zombies, Chu Xun couldn't help but feel a slight chill run down his spine. The sea of decaying bodies, the horrific stench, and the endless waves of the undead—he swallowed hard, trying to calm his nerves.
"Ah, damn it... this is intense," he muttered under his breath.
The zombies around them were mostly from the disaster that struck the city years ago, their bodies long since decayed, leaving behind only the grotesque shells of once-human forms. The gruesome sight, combined with the overpowering smell of rot and death, was enough to make anyone's stomach turn.
"You're seeing it for the first time, huh?" Vincent chuckled, noticing the look on Chu Xun's face. "It gets easier. Just follow me, I'll clear the way!"
With that, Vincent began pushing through the zombies, shoving them aside without hesitation, his hands sliding over the blood and pus covering their bodies.
Chu Xun gritted his teeth and followed. The sight of Vincent charging through the sea of corpses was certainly unsettling, but they had little choice now. They had to keep moving.
The group continued forward, gradually approaching the central control base, where the real task awaited them.
But just as they neared the base, an unexpected turn of events occurred...