Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Future Protector Squad_1

Wen Yu quietly observed the odd trio before him: a man around twenty-five years old, about the same age as himself, holding an F-Class steel saber obtained from the system.

However, the man’s bulging muscles clearly indicated that he and Wen Yu, a weakling from the peaceful era, were fighters of two different calibers.

Behind the man was a woman around twenty-two or twenty-three years old, with a tall and lithe figure. Her form-fitting jeans perfectly outlined her stunning curves. However, the blood-stained kitchen knife in her hand declared that this beauty was more than just for show.

At their rear stood a shivering young girl. She had a few bloodstains on her clothes, and her reddened eyes clearly indicated her exposure to the bloodshed of the apocalypse.

”Um, we didn’t know there was someone upstairs. If possible, could you allow us to gather some food here and rest for the night?” Duan Wenfeng asked quietly, having confirmed the person before him was a living human.

Looking at the hopeful expressions of the three-person squad, Wen Yu silently nodded.

”You’re welcome to take any food from downstairs. Then, you can head upstairs to rest; it isn’t safe down here.”

Wen Yu didn’t mind showing some kindness, especially with a woman and child in the group.

It was only the first day of the apocalypse, and humanity’s morality had not yet completely crumbled. Moreover, the fact that these people managed to protect a burden amidst this chaotic environment showed that the two professionists were unlikely to be unscrupulous veterans of the apocalypse.

”Thank you, thank you,” the beauty in the group said joyfully to Wen Yu, expressing her gratitude.

Wen Yu simply smiled in return, wondering if they could even see his expression in the dark staircase, before turning and heading back to the second floor.

Soon, sounds of rummaging came from downstairs. Not long after, the three-person squad came upstairs, their arms loaded with biscuits, drinking water, and other supplies.

”Thank you. My name is Duan Wenxue. This is my brother, Duan Wenfeng, and this is Li Di, a survivor we met outside. We really appreciate you allowing us to rest here.”

Duan Wenxue carefully scrutinized the man before her. He was a little over 1.8 meters tall with a lean build. His disheveled clothes suggested he had been through gruesome fights. What made Duan Wenxue particularly wary was the mysterious orb on the man’s shoulder.

Knowing about professionists, Duan Wenxue didn’t show excessive curiosity.

Could he be a Mage? she thought. I’m an Archer, and my brother is a warrior. That mysterious little orb is probably the mark of a Mage. Duan Wenxue could only conclude this.

”Well, no need for thanks. Strictly speaking, I just arrived a little earlier than you. I’ve already dealt with the owner of this supermarket.”

Wen Yu looked at the woman before him. She was indeed a beauty, with a tall figure and delicate features. Although her clothes were stained with blood and her face was dirty from combat, her exquisite figure couldn’t help but stir a flicker of desire in Wen Yu, though he quickly suppressed it.

What surprised Wen Yu more was that he had heard their names in his previous life. They were the famous Protector squad.

The ones who left the deepest impression weren’t the Duan siblings before him, but rather the timid little girl, Li Di.

The squad had risen to prominence during the overwhelming demonic tide in the sixth month of the apocalypse: Shield Warrior Duan Wenfeng, Bombarding Archer Duan Wenxue, and the most powerful of them all—Light Protector Li Di.

Among them, the little girl Li Di, who demonstrated the terrifying aspect of the Light Protector, was the most memorable.

A massive Energy Shield had enveloped the entire First Gathering Place of Mudanjiang City, holding out for a full half-day against the horrifying demonic tide and saving nearly all the survivors in Mudanjiang City.

This indirectly saved Wen Yu’s life, as he was also in the First Gathering Place at that time.

It was only when the army of mutant creatures and the Devil Army began fighting each other that the humans in Mudanjiang City were able to survive.

”Still, thank you,” Duan Wenxue said, unaware of what the man before her had just been thinking, and thanked him once more.

”I’m Wen Yu. Although we’re all survivors, I still need to say a few things.”

Wen Yu briefly introduced himself and then began to state his rules. This was despite knowing that the Protector squad had an excellent reputation in his previous life.

”We don’t know each other, so to avoid misunderstandings, I hope you won’t come within five meters of me when we rest tonight. I’ll be setting up some little things around me, and I hope you understand the principle of needing to be wary of strangers.”

Although Wen Yu was fairly certain they weren’t bad people, human beings are inherently unpredictable; an extra layer of precaution is always good.

”Alright, we understand.”

Duan Wenxue nodded. The big man, Duan Wenfeng, also nodded in understanding. Only the little girl, Li Di, seemed solely curious about the Soul Beast on Wen Yu’s shoulder, her eyes constantly following its movements.

Wen Yu quickly set up a defensive perimeter around himself and retreated to a corner, where he began to quietly wipe his weapons.

This was a habit he had developed in his previous life. Wiping his weapons helped him feel more attuned to them. Although he might not use weapons much in this life, this small habit wasn’t one that could be easily changed.

「...」

”Big brother, thank you. My sister asked me to bring this for you.”

A short while later, the little girl named Li Di stood outside his defensive perimeter, offering Wen Yu a bottle of purified water.

Wen Yu hesitated for a moment, then rose and accepted their kind gesture.

Indeed, a child’s goodwill is an excellent way to build a bridge of communication between strangers. Wen Yu clearly felt the tense atmosphere between them ease.

”Brother, did you fight your way here too?” the big man, Duan Wenfeng, was the first to start a conversation.

”Yes.”

”Brother, you’re really something. Judging by the bloodstains on you, you must have taken down quite a few zombies.”

”You two are not bad yourselves. I take it you and your sister are both professionists?”

”Haha, I’m a warrior, and my sister is an Archer,” Duan Wenfeng declared, truly straightforward, blurting out their details just like that.

Duan Wenxue fiercely pinched Duan Wenfeng from the side. Duan Wenfeng also realized his slip of the tongue and gave his sister an apologetic smile.

”Big brother, are you a Mage?” Li Di was clearly very curious about the Soul Beast on Wen Yu’s shoulder and was still constantly staring at it, her eyes following its movements.

Wen Yu glanced at the little thing on his shoulder. The Soul Beast was also curious about other humans, carefully observing the three people opposite them from Wen Yu’s shoulder, even though it didn’t possess organs like eyes.

He gently flicked the Soul Beast on his shoulder. The Soul Beast trembled twice and then lightly rubbed against Wen Yu’s cheek.

”Something like that, I suppose,” Wen Yu answered ambiguously, as he himself disdained lying.

Duan Wenxue’s spirits suddenly lifted. ”Could it be... there are hidden professions?”

One had to admit, this woman was very sharp.

Wen Yu gave Duan Wenxue a deep look. ”Yes, mine is a hidden profession.”

The other party didn’t continue to ask what Wen Yu’s hidden profession was. After all, topics concerning personal strength were definitely taboo among strangers.