Chapter 663: Fengming Road

Linjiang City area, No. 97 Fengming Road.

Six men in bloated orange‑red firefighter uniforms huddled with their heads down under the bar counter, trembling.

"Is... is it over...?"

His teeth chattered.

The little brother gripping a fire axe stammered his question to his boss.

The transparent breathing mask was filled with white mist of water vapor.

One minute ago, the world seemed to have fallen into endless darkness.

Those cries drilling out of their hearts scared them badly.

The Awakened One called Boss wore a ridiculous steel helmet on his head, though its quality made it look like a piece of equipment.

He glared at the little brother, then nervously poked his head out.

On the bar counter reeking of rotting wood lay a zombie with its skull smashed.

Carefully.

The wails and mocking noises stopped.

Half a head protruded from the bar, its eyes looking toward the broken‑open door.

Through the door crack.

Sunlight poured in, as if the darkness just moments ago had been an illusion.

In the streaming sunlight, fine dust drifted slowly.

Faintly, a swaying black shape could be seen—probably a wandering zombie.

He swallowed dryly.

Usually swaggering and fearless of heaven and earth, he now cowered like a mouse in a hole.

Damn it, anyone rummaging for supplies would jump at the sudden sound just heard.

"Probably, it's over?"

He pulled his head back, the Awakened One called Boss exhaled deeply and patted his chest, still shaken.

Recalling the scene just now, a wave of lingering fear surged in his heart.

What on earth has happened to this world?

Has the catastrophe officially begun? What the hell is that?

Full of doubts.

Especially after hearing the system's meaning, this change was again caused by that Lin An.

Damn! Why is every announcement Lin An?!

Is this guy the system's beloved son? Chanting his name three times a day?

As a survivor of the Linjiang War Zone, he's heard that name so often his ears are practically calloused.

Leaning under the bar, each with their own thoughts, they planned to wait a moment before acting.

They were originally a survivor squad hiding in Linjiang City's urban area, and after the apocalypse they managed to pull together a team using their Awakened abilities.

Their luck wasn't bad; after hiding near the suburbs for a while, life was tolerable.

They lived well, could still flirt with casual encounters on ordinary days, and had subordinates who called them Boss.

For someone who was just a petty thug before the apocalypse, life afterward turned out surprisingly comfortable.

His former company boss, who once looked down on him, now has him fetching the toilet every day.

Racking his few brain cells, the man called Boss pondered for a long time but came up with nothing.

Maybe?

Will things never be as good again?

But what the hell does it matter to him?

After silently cursing Lin An in his heart, he glanced enviously at the notification that read 【Third Rank Promotion Activated】.

Damn it.

Does this mean that brat Lin An is about to reach third rank?

Looking at his own miserable first‑rank status, he felt utterly displeased.

For some reason, he always felt that Lin An had snatched something away from him.

"Boss... should we join Long An...?"

"Staying in the city all the time, I'm getting sick of it..."

The little brother beside him, seeing nothing happening, couldn't resist urging his boss.

Since Long An announced it was accepting survivors, all who could from the surrounding three provinces have gone there.

After all, that place is very safe.

Rumor has it the number of Awakened Ones is even more terrifyingly large.

The helmet‑wearing Boss straightened his helmet and glared fiercely at the little brother who had made the suggestion:

"Damn you, you don't want to follow me anymore, do you?"

"What are you scared of, a dick?"

"If you go to Long An, do you think you'll still have this good life?"

"Damn it, haven't you heard? Over there you have to shit in designated spots—it's stricter than prison!"

Having had smooth sailing and barely encountering danger, the Boss couldn't help but let out a cold chuckle.

Yes, Long An is safe.

But its harsh military rule is something he can't tolerate.

Forming his own crew to hang out in the city, smashing a supermarket when bored, grabbing a girl—what a carefree life!

My luck is this good.

Why insist on getting into Faction: Long An?

Upon realizing some of his subordinates had been frightened by the recent incident, he sprang to his feet with a scoff:

"Alright, it's just a disaster, what the hell to fear?"

"Come on, let's quickly search this place."

"I used to watch the scene at the teahouse nearby."

"I heard that Lin An is also from Linjiang; maybe we can find some treasures!"

"That guy is so awesome, maybe he made his fortune here."

Revisiting the old grounds.

While speaking, he tiptoed to the back door, peeked out, and snagged a bottle of foreign liquor from the bar.

The lackeys behind him exchanged glances; having no opinions of their own, they dared not contradict their boss.

Just hearing the boss say they could find treasures, several of them looked resigned.

Phoenix Cry Road, a street of bars.

Besides alcohol, there's nothing.

It's just that the boss inexplicably wanted to come take a look; otherwise they wouldn't bother coming.

Hope to find equipment and props?

Maybe the city centre still has some chance.

Just that.

By sheer accident.

Several people were completely unaware, but one thing the boss said actually turned out true.

A silent spinning drill protruded from his hand; the man called the boss sprang up and directly drilled through a legless zombie from behind.

Looking at the zombie's neck tattoo, he subconsciously looked up.

Huh?

This zombie's tattoo—how is it so like that of the tough guy who used to come play cards?

Knowing the ins and outs of the teahouses that could operate in bars, the man's mind stirred.

In the teahouse, there was a Black Star pistol brought in by the big boss.

Before the Apocalypse, he was really eyeing it.

Although it wasn't much use, inexplicably he still wanted to get it.

Just like after getting rich, he wanted to get his hands on all the things he used to crave.

Moreover, he always felt the window was dark, as if there were fluctuations of psychic energy?

Could there be equipment?

His heart jumped.

He quickly waved his hand, signaling his lackeys to follow him.

Climbing up the hanging rope, the man suddenly felt a chill.

If he hadn't sensed no monsters inside, he would have run already.

Sneaking in through the broken window, he cautiously observed his surroundings.

A door violently forced open lay on the ground, with a fire axe.

A room resembling an office, the temperature was low.

Using the Awakened Ones' perception, he slowly began exploring the room.

That gun, I remember it was hidden under the floor.

"Boss... it's so dark in here..."

"What smell... I'm about to vomit..."

The lackey with enhanced sense of smell covered his nose in disgust.

He didn't smell the zombie's odor, but the room had a strange rotten stench.

As several people were feeling their way forward, a lackey in the corner suddenly had his pupils constrict.

In the gloom, he actually felt an extreme chill.

On what seemed an empty patch of ground, upon closer look, it was constantly writhing.

No time to shout a warning, a strong suction suddenly erupted.

"Ah!!!"

In an instant, he was seen being sucked into a vortex-like spatial channel, his painful scream twisted into a braid.

The sudden change frightened everyone; the leader, the boss, sensing danger, instinctively prepared to flee.

The next second.

That black patch quickly expanded, in the blink of an eye sucking all of them in.

"Huh--huh"

Heavy, like a dying gasp, the breathing sound came from the black hole.

Spreading, expanding.

In the darkness, a pair of long, pallid hands repeatedly pried open the black hole.

It was fast, drilling out.