Chapter 32: Alliance (Part 1)

Chapter 32: Alliance (Part 1)

"Xiao Yi is also going to awaken his powers?!" When Xiao Zui learned that another teammate was about to awaken, his eyes lit up excitedly as he turned to Su Mo for confirmation.

Feeling self-conscious under his gaze, Su Mo smiled shyly and nodded. "Yes."

Xiao Zui expressed his gratitude solemnly, trying to suppress his excitement. Then he frowned and asked, "Old Bai, you said you encountered enhanced zombies?"

"Yes," Bai Mu reiterated Xiao Hua's earlier statement. "There are only two of us in the team who have offensive powers—you and Xiao Hua. Together, you two stand a better chance of taking them down."

Xiao Hua nodded silently. Although she still didn't want much to do with her so-called brother, she needed her teammates to kill more zombies.

She also had her eye on a Level 2 crystal nucleus.

Xiao Zui agreed with Bai Mu and, looking at the fiery red nucleus in Bai Mu's hand, asked, "Professor Wu has been researching crystal nuclei. Should we give this one back to him?"

Bai Mu didn't answer Xiao Zui directly but instead asked Xiao Hua, "Xiao Hua, you're about to level up too. Do you need this nucleus?"

Xiao Hua shook her head decisively. "No need. My powers are ice and water-based. I don't know if they would conflict with fire-based ones. You can use this for research. I'll ask for one next time when it's more suitable."

Water and fire don't mix; the fire-based nucleus was of no use to her.

If it were an ice or water-based nucleus, she wouldn’t have passed on it so easily.

Bai Mu nodded in understanding and tossed the nucleus to Xiao Zui. "Then let's give it to Professor Wu for his research—it can be a parting gift."

"Alright."

After further discussion, it was decided that Xiao Yi would rest for the next three days while Han Xiu Jie and Zhao Ye would take turns caring for him and training. Xiao Hua and the others would head to places with high human traffic, such as hospitals.

Incidentally, Bai Mu brought up Xiao Hua's precautionary measure, which was unanimously approved.

Then Bai Mu squeezed Xiao Hua dry by having her use her powers to fill basins and buckets with ice, which were then stored in a space to preserve food.

Just after 8 o'clock, Xiao Hua led Su Mo back to the neighboring office, where they quickly washed up by candlelight and lay down on the floor mats, trying to fall asleep.

In this post-apocalyptic world, it got dark by 5 p.m. Now, outside was pitch black, with the howls of zombies echoing endlessly. The entire City C had also experienced a water and power outage, so an early rest was the only option.

Just as Xiao Hua was about to fall asleep, Su Mo's voice intermittently reached her ears. "Xiao Hua, are you asleep?"

Xiao Hua: "..."

Xiao Hua: "No."

If you hadn't spoken, I would have been asleep by now.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Hua could feel Su Mo lightly tossing and turning, but since she hadn't made a sound, Xiao Hua pretended not to notice. Now she couldn't avoid it anymore.

Nighttime always brings out the emotions in people. Su Mo's voice was filled with confusion and loss:

"Xiao Hua, am I very weak? My powers can only heal others, and not very effectively at that. Today at the clinic, if I had offensive powers, or even strong healing abilities, Xiao Yi wouldn't have been so severely injured."

She didn't have powers like Xiao Hua's, nor the combat skills of Xiao Zui and the others. She had always been dead weight.

Su Mo even felt that if she weren't part of the team, it wouldn't affect the others at all. In fact, they might even be able to act more freely.

She was really useless.

Xiao Hua sighed in resignation. After all, Su Mo was the first person she had met since crossing into this world. She was practically a friend, and Xiao Hua felt she should offer some comfort.

Xiao Hua tried to think of something reassuring. "The apocalypse has destroyed human civilization, destroyed human healthcare. Healing powers are the new world's doctors, saving people from dire situations. The early struggles are just the calm before the storm."

This was true. Healing powers would indeed gain the ability to cure the zombie virus after reaching the third level, outshining all other abilities. But in the beginning, they’re so weak and unremarkable that they seem almost useless.

Su Mo looked doubtful, "Is that so?"

"Of course. Aren’t doctors supposed to study countless books before they can treat patients? Healing powers need to absorb a lot of crystal cores to become strong, the same principle."

Xiao Hua’s tone was casual, but it somehow had a calming effect on Su Mo. She finally calmed down and her spirits lifted. "Thanks, Xiao Hua."

Xiao Hua yawned, "It's nothing, go to sleep."

The next morning, Su Mo was indeed back to her strong self, even taking the time to absorb another crystal core, working hard to boost her strength. Xiao Hua relaxed, no longer concerned.

As per the plan from the day before, Tang Yi and Han Xiu Jie stayed behind, while the remaining five headed to the hospital.