Chapter 281: Illusion

【System detects safe zone perimeter defense is damaged, mutants have invaded the hospital area】

When the cold mechanical voice sounded in Lin Hao's mind, he was leaning on the hospital bed,

his gaze falling on the gun and the half-bag of bread on the bedside cabinet. Chaotic footsteps came from the corridor, along with the shouts of team members,

and the low growls of mutants. Those sounds were getting closer and closer, clearer and clearer, as if they were exploding right by his ear.

Lin Hao slowly pushed himself up, the strength in his arms a bit more than before. He walked to the door and looked out through the gap in the iron door.

The lights in the corridor were flickering, and several hunched mutants were walking toward the infirmary,

their nails long and sharp, reflecting cold light under the lights, saliva dripping from their mouths, emitting hair-raising low growls.

【System prompt, number of mutants is five, all are low-tier, suggests host temporarily avoid the sharp edge】

Lin Hao ignored the system's prompt. He turned and walked to the bedside cabinet, picked up the gun, and checked the cylinder; all six bullets were there.

He gripped the gun handle tightly, leaned against the door panel, and listened to the movement outside. The sound of the mutants' footsteps got closer and closer, finally stopping at the door of the infirmary, followed by a burst of violent crashing sounds.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The iron door was struck until it clattered, dust falling down,

and the screws on the door panel began to loosen, making a harsh sound. Lin Hao's heartbeat grew faster and faster. He gripped the gun tightly, his finger hooked on the trigger,

his eyes without fear, only calmness. He knew he couldn't escape, and didn't want to escape.

【System detects fluctuations in host's vital signs, heart rate accelerating, blood pressure rising】

The crashing sounds grew more violent, the gap in the iron door grew larger,

the mutants' growls were close at hand, their claws reaching in,

leaving deep scratches on the door panel. Lin Hao took a deep breath, just about to pull the trigger, when a faint golden light suddenly welled up in his chest.

That golden light was very faint, yet very warm, like a ray of sunshine,

spreading from his chest, flowing through his blood throughout his entire body. The wounds that had still been aching faintly instantly became warm, the pain dissipating bit by bit, the strength in his arms growing, and even the dizziness brought on by hunger before disappeared without a trace.

【System detects unknown energy fluctuation, attribute is healing, source matches A-Nian's residual energy】

Lin Hao was stunned. He looked down at the golden light on his chest; that golden light seemed to have a life of its own, swimming under his skin, warm enough to make one want to shed tears.

He thought of A-Nian, that little girl who was always jumping about, that little girl who always called him uncle while holding a strawberry,

that little girl who, at the last moment, used her own life to dispel the pollen.

So, when A-Nian dissipated, she had left behind such healing remnants, crossing time and space, coming to his side when he needed it most.

The golden light grew brighter, enveloping his entire body, and the crashing and growling sounds in the corridor seemed to become distant. Lin Hao's vision gradually blurred, and then, scenes unfolded slowly before his eyes.

It was a sea of golden sunflowers, the wind blowing, the flower sea surging,

like golden waves. Sister Chu Yao Yao stood in the center of the flower sea, wearing a plain dress,

smiling right at him, her eyes curving into crescent moons, her smile as gentle as the wind.

Not far away, Lu Ran was holding A-Nian's hand, waving at him.

A-Nian was holding two red strawberries, jumping about, shouting something. Although he couldn't hear the sound, he could see the brilliant smile on her face.

Lu Ran's face no longer had the exhaustion and pain of the past, only relaxation and tenderness. He was waving his hand, as if calling him over.

【System detects host's consciousness has entered an illusion state, synchronized with parallel universe images】

Lin Hao looked at the scene before him, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile unconsciously. He reached out his hand, wanting to touch Sister Chu Yao Yao's smiling face, wanting to respond to Lu Ran's waving,

wanting to take the strawberries in A-Nian's hand. The golden light wrapped around him, warm as a mother's embrace. He felt his body becoming lighter and lighter, more and more floating.

The crashing sounds in the corridor continued, the shaking of the iron door grew more violent,

the mutants' growls grew closer. But Lin Hao could no longer hear them,

his eyes only held that sea of golden flowers, only Sister Chu Yao Yao's gentle smile, only Lu Ran and A-Nian's waving arms.

He took a step forward, as if wanting to walk into that flower sea, walk into a world without zombies, without war, without parting. The golden light grew brighter, enveloping his entire body, and also enveloping that precarious iron door.

Sister Chu Yao Yao's smile grew clearer, Lu Ran's waving grew more forceful, and A-Nian's voice seemed to ring right by his ear. With a smile hanging on his lips, Lin Hao walked step by step toward the depths of the scene. ===== CHAPTER 282 =====