Apocalypse Escape: Day One of Survival

One by one, she used her ability to pull the Crystal Cores onto the terrace.

Soon, a small pile of Crystal Cores had formed on the terrace floor.

Excellent. It wasn’t a waste of so much Gold Ability energy and effort to hold up that Metal Shield.

Now, the Crystal Cores from all these Second Order flying insects were hers.

The Crystal Cores from these little things were pitifully small, but their sheer quantity was overwhelming. With thousands upon thousands of them, every little bit added up!

Fetching object after object from a distance, Xie Ning could feel her spiritual power growing substantially as her collection speed increased.

Finally, she could touch the Spirit Barrier between the first and Second Order.

Song Kexin, who had her arm wrapped around her waist the whole time, was the most aware of her sister’s condition.

The situation had been so urgent that Xie Ning only had time to give Song Kexin’s hand a tight squeeze before lowering her gaze, her head bowed in silence.

When Xie Ning stirred slightly, Song Kexin immediately tensed, clenching her fists and preparing to defend her.

A brilliant light erupted from Xie Ning’s entire body, instantly bathing her in a white glow.

Song Shijun stared down, his face a mask of utter confusion.

A strange thought flashed through his mind: ’As expected of my sister, leveling up at a moment of life and death!’

”The Golden Shield is shrinking.”

A member of the Wild Wolf Team let out a bloodcurdling scream as his body was struck by a swarm of green lights.

”Why are we stopping here? We need to retreat immediately!”

”He’s insane! Don’t get that gasoline all over us!”

Song Kexin gritted her teeth and made a quick decision. ”Shijun, Shijun, Shijun! Carry her and let’s go.”

’In her current state of advancement, she definitely can’t get down the mountain on her own.’

Fortunately, even while advancing, she was still maintaining the Golden Shield above them.

But as her superpower was consumed, the Golden Shield was bound to get smaller and smaller.

They had to hurry!

Song Shijun immediately crouched down, and Song Kexin and Ji Taixian helped Xie Ning onto his back.

The others formed a protective circle around Song Shijun and Xie Ning, running frantically down the mountain.

Ji Taixian and Wang Zongxuan each held a Metal Knife, periodically sweeping away the green lights that pounced at them.

Thankfully, with the help of Song Shijun’s Wind Vortex, even the few unlucky bugs that flew into their group were blown away.

They were also always in the center of the Golden Shield, with Li Dawei and his group blocking on the periphery. So, despite stumbling their way down, they didn’t get hurt.

Behind them, a massive fire erupted on the mountain path.

The Space Ability User from the Bull Team who had insanely started the fire was swarmed by green lights. He died screaming in the inferno along with the creatures, a truly gruesome end.

”Go, go, go! Keep up, keep up!” Li Dawei yelled, pulling Zhong Yaying along as he hurried to follow Wang Zongxuan.

With superpowers flying everywhere, the group fended off the whipping branches as they practically tumbled and crawled their way down the mountain.

...

”BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!”

”Who is it?!” Song Youzhi slipped on a pair of slippers and hurried to the villa’s iron gate.

”Who’s there?”

”Open up!” several rude, angry shouts came from outside the gate. ”Open up, open up!”

”Who are you? I’m not opening this gate until you identify yourselves.” Hearing several unfamiliar male voices outside, Song Youzhi grew wary.

”We’re from the base’s City Defense Team! Open the gate now!”

The City Defense Team?

’Why do they sound more like bandits?’

Song Youzhi turned and gave a meaningful look to Song You’ai and He Shuping, who were coming out of the house.

He Shuping’s expression was grim. She took the key, stuffed it in her pocket, and shut the door to the house.

Song Youzhi slid the bolt open. The moment he opened the gate, two aggressive men pushed him back, shouting, ”What’s the big idea? How dare you make our Miss Bi Yun wait outside for so long?”

”Don’t you have any manners?”

Song Youzhi stumbled back a couple of steps.

He looked up to see a group from the City Defense Team walking over, clustered around a woman in a flowing white dress with long, loose hair.

Zhang Biyun stood with her arms crossed, her chin held high, a translucent, pale-yellow folder dangling from her fingertips.

”What are you looking at, huh?” Seeing Song Youzhi silently sizing up their Miss Bi Yun, the City Defense Team member stepped forward and shoved him again. ”Had enough of a look?”

”Hey, who do you think you are?” Song You’ai ran forward to pull her younger brother back.

”This is City Defense Team business! Are you deaf?!” several team members roared at the Song siblings, then immediately turned into fawning lapdogs, bowing and scraping as they invited Zhang Biyun inside.

Zhang Biyun stepped into the courtyard, her brow furrowing as she looked at the tightly shut front door. A cold, mocking sneer tugged at the corner of her lips.

’These people really are from some backwater family. They don’t have the first clue about etiquette.’

’To keep the front door shut when a guest arrives... It seems they have no intention of inviting me in for a cup of coffee.’

The team member who had been shouting the loudest waved his baton, feigning a strike. ”What are you doing just standing there? Don’t you know you’re supposed to invite Miss Bi Yun inside to sit down? What kind of people are you?”

”I’m so sorry,” Song You’ai said with a cold laugh, stepping in front of her brother, Song Youzhi. ”Our humble home is too shabby. We couldn’t possibly entertain your noble young lady.”

”Why you—!” The City Defense Team member raised the black baton in his hand.

”You dare touch me,” Song You’ai growled, glaring at the burly young man as she shoved him, sending him stumbling. ”Getting cocky now, are you, you little bastard! Who are you trying to impress with that tough-guy act?”

”When I was kicking ass and taking names, you were still kicking in your mother’s womb! Get the hell out! Go throw your tantrum at your mommy’s house!”

The shove sent the City Defense Team member stumbling, almost making him slam his head into the iron gate. His hat was knocked askew.

”Damn it, you old hag! You dare push me!” The team member righted his hat and turned, shouting belligerently.

Song Youzhi grabbed the guy by the scruff of his neck, lifted him up, and tossed him out of the gate. ”Get the hell out of here, you piece of trash. You useless waste of space with no upbringing. Where the hell do you think you are, shouting at our door?”

”Oof!” The team member landed hard on his butt, his eyes wide as he grimaced in pain.

Zhang Biyun was trembling with rage at the siblings. She uncrossed her arms and pointed with the pale-yellow folder. ”You... you! Hah! Very impressive! Truly worthy of being Xie Ning’s family—so arrogant, so domineering! Hah.”

”I came here today to discuss business!” Zhang Biyun said, holding up the folder. ”Who was it that signed this temporary employment contract for you, Song You’ai? Did it go through our base’s approval process?”

”Hah, a temp worker who barely shows up, and you’re making a salary several times higher than anyone else? Is it because you’re Xie Ning’s mother? Does that give you special privileges?”

”What a joke.” Zhang Biyun threw the pale-yellow folder at Song You’ai. ”I’m here today to inform you: You, Song You’ai, have been dismissed by the base! You can complain to whomever you want, but you don’t have a leg to stand on. A temp worker, acting so arrogant and domineering.”

”And don’t say I didn’t warn you—it’s useless even if you go crying to Dr. Yu about this!”