Chapter 30 Ashore

Chapter 30: Ashore

His brain hadn't yet issued any commands…

The helicopter, like an out-of-control steel beast, roared as it plunged straight into the sea. However, due to its excessive weight, the moment it touched the water, it seemed to be hit with a slow-motion effect, instantly losing speed. Now, it could only sink sluggishly, like a tiny insect trapped in a spider’s web, its bulky frame oddly giving off a sense of bizarrely endearing charm.

Although the helicopter’s descent was now slow, the initial impact had still left everyone inside dizzy and disoriented, their insides feeling as though they had been violently rearranged.

The moment they hit the water, the world seemed to be muted for the teenagers. All the noise and chaos were cut off by the vast blue sea, leaving only a dull yet oppressive noise—a low-frequency tremor from the deep ocean. It resembled the rumble of a train passing through a tunnel, or the sound of one’s own heartbeat growing clearer when muffled under a blanket while sleeping.

Instinctively, everyone curled up into a fetal position, protecting their vital areas. They were like helpless newborns returning to the womb, confronting an utterly savage catastrophe with nothing but their bare hands.

Seawater poured into the helicopter through the open cabin door, engulfing them completely. Even though they had mentally prepared themselves, they were still startled. Then, the already fragile cabin windows were further assaulted. The eager seawater compounded the damage caused by the birds, causing the chaotic cracks to widen, tracing out a grim future.

Bai Suizhi was the first to react. He gestured to the others, signaling them to exit first. The others, snapping out of their daze, quickly began to move.

Without any prior discussion, everyone exited in order of their proximity to the door. Those closer moved swiftly and efficiently, while those further back showed no impatient shoving or urging.

When only Bai Suizhi and Kahn remained, the cabin window finally gave way under the immense pressure, shattering with a loud crash. Bai Suizhi immediately leaned forward, securing Kahn by the nape and waist, pulling him into a protective embrace.

It was an almost instinctive reaction, one that required no thought. It happened so quickly that no one, not even Bai Suizhi himself, had time to react—his body had moved before his brain could issue any command.

Flying shards struck Bai Suizhi’s back, causing a streak of blood to spill from the corner of his mouth. The blood, blocked by his oxygen mask, flowed back into his mouth, filling it with a metallic taste as a dull ache spread through his body.

Kahn’s pupils trembled violently. In the pitch-black darkness, his vision filled with fine, snowflake-like blank spots. Though he could see and hear nothing, Kahn could distinctly sense Bai Suizhi’s blood trickling down, dripping onto him. The warm liquid felt like ice-soaked silk, clinging to his skin with a searing coldness.

The only sound left in his ears was Bai Suizhi’s pained muffled groan, sharper than the roar of the helicopter’s rotor blades tearing through the air. It felt like countless steel needles driving directly into Kahn’s temples, making his cochlea reverberate.

Those outside the cabin couldn’t see what was happening inside, but they witnessed the shattering of the window. Their hearts clenched with the vibrations caused by the fragments. Gu Ze had already started swimming toward the cabin door, with Oliver and Chen Yi close behind.

Inside the cabin, Kahn wriggled out of Bai Suizhi’s hold. After the initial impact, the fragments now drifted harmlessly in the water. As long as they avoided them, there would be no serious harm, so Bai Suizhi let go of Kahn.

Kahn finally got a clear look at Bai Suizhi’s face. His expression was as calm and composed as ever, but his once-clean face was now marked with several injuries. Even through the mask, they looked terrifying.

The wound Bai Suizhi had sustained earlier in the helicopter had turned pale and swollen from being soaked. A few lively crimson threads, like nimble red lines, seeped through the mask’s gaps, floating and dancing in the seawater before gradually fading into a faint pink, eventually disappearing completely without a trace into the vast, boundless ocean.

The blood that had seeped from the corner of his mouth was swallowed back, only to be regurgitated again. The stark red blurred the lower half of Bai Suizhi’s face, leaving him looking disheveled and in bad shape.

Kahn thought Bai Suizhi looked pitiful and fragile. He wanted to hug him, but he didn’t know how—any contact seemed likely to inflict further pain.

The water pressure pressed against Bai Suizhi’s organs and eardrums, making his body ache as if it were being processed through a meat grinder. His consciousness began to fade, and the flowing seawater distorted into a giant blue bagel (doughnut) in his vision.

But suddenly, within the blue bagel, he caught sight of Kahn—a Kahn who looked utterly heartbroken. Without thinking, Bai Suizhi instinctively spread his arms and wrapped them around the diminutive form in the center of the bagel. The sudden embrace interrupted Kahn’s thoughts, and a stronger, more complex emotion overwhelmed him, as if trying to drown him in that hug.

The anxious companions, rushing over, saw the two locked in a deep embrace. They naturally sensed the deep affection in the hug, but under the circumstances, they misread the situation and swam even more urgently toward them.

With the cabin window shattered, the helicopter was now an exposed skeleton. The three carefully avoided the fragments and quickly reached the pair, checking on them with concern. Fortunately, the situation wasn’t as bad as they had feared—both were still able to move on their own.

Kahn half-carried the injured Bai Suizhi as they swam upward, with the other three guarding them and occasionally lending a hand to the connected duo. Bai Suizhi had mostly recovered by now, looking both exasperated and warmed as he watched his friends encircling him, warmth flooding his heart.

The teenagers were all tall and slender, their movements graceful as they swam. They cleverly parted the waves ahead, their legs kicking in sync to propel themselves steadily and swiftly toward the light above.

Finally, five heads broke the surface of the water. Removing their loose-fitting masks, they breathed a collective sigh of relief. The sky was blue, the sea was calm, and they were still alive.

To their great luck, they were only about ten meters away from the shore. Summoning their last reserves of energy, they continued swimming forward—though some, like Oliver, opted to coast along. Oliver lay flat on the water, limbs outstretched, letting the current carry him wherever it pleased.

Noticing his lagging companion, Chen Yi stopped and called out, "Hey, what are you doing?"

Oliver replied weakly, "You guys go ahead. I’m out of energy. I’ll rest here for a bit."

The others stopped as well. Gu Ze, frowning at the wounds on Bai Suizhi’s face, impatiently urged Oliver, "Hurry up and get to shore. It’s too risky to stay here."

Oliver, surprised, said, "Since when do you care about me?"

Before Gu Ze could roll his eyes, Chen Yi interjected, "Don’t flatter yourself. He’s worried about Bai Ge’s injuries."

Startled, Oliver—who had only caught a distant glimpse of Bai Suizhi through the mask and the crowd—had assumed he was fine since Bai Suizhi seemed to be moving normally. Frantically flipping over to check, Oliver choked on a mouthful of water in his haste.

Bai Suizhi chuckled wryly, "Don’t worry, I’m fine."

Kahn disagreed, "No, you’re not."

Gu Ze added, "Stop pretending."

Chen Yi said, "Let’s get to shore and find a place to treat your injuries."

Oliver sputtered, "Gurgle, gurgle…" (coughing)

Finally righting himself, Oliver gasped, "Oh my God!"

Bai Suizhi joked, "Is it that scary?"

Oliver played along, "You look like a horror movie slasher."

Gu Ze cut in, "Enough joking. Let’s go."

Suddenly energized, Oliver kicked his legs like he was powered by a new motor, quickly catching up with the group. The brief distraction had regained the others some energy, and they continued toward the shore.

Once ashore, they realized they had landed near a resort. Several well-appointed seaside structures stood before them. The group stared with wide-eyed excitement, like ravenous dogs spotting a juicy bone.

Oliver’s voice trembled, "Wow, I’ve never even unlocked such a good map in games."

Chen Yi was equally thrilled, "There must be lots of food inside, clean clothes, and…"

Gu Ze interjected calmly, "And zombies."

Chen Yi leapt a foot in the air, "Where? Where?"

Oliver was also startled, "Where? I don’t see anything."

Gu Ze replied, "Do you need eyes? It’s obvious—a resort this big must have zombies."

Bai Suizhi added gravely, "Gu Ze’s right. We can’t let our guard down."

Oliver and Chen Yi sobered up, naturally turning to Bai Suizhi for instructions.

Bai Suizhi took on the role of leader, quickly devising a simple yet effective and succinct plan.

After listening, the group formed a cautious defensive circle and advanced slowly. Their target was the nearest building. Regardless of whether the resort had zombies or how many, their priority was to find cover. Otherwise, if attacked, their only option would be to jump back into the sea.

As they drew closer, they got a better sense of the resort. It was clearly high-end, with villas instead of apartments, prioritizing luxury over affordability.

The villas were two-story designs, with full-length panoramic windows on the second floor facing the sea—perfect for guests who wanted ocean views without leaving their rooms. This also made it easy for the group to see inside from outside.

Since the curtains on the second floor were open, a quick glance confirmed that it was empty—devoid of both people and zombies.

After verifying the second floor’s safety, the group maintained their circular formation as they slowly moved to the main entrance. Thanks to their average height of 180 cm, they easily scanned over the low wall into the courtyard. Finding nothing amiss, they made a beeline for the ground floor.