102 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

Chapter 102 - Banxia Novel "This won't work. If we keep going like this, we'll run out of ammunition before reaching the sixth floor. I'll use my ability to have zombies clear the path to the third floor," Chen Wan shouted, swinging her machete to take down two more advancing zombies. "Are you sure your body can handle it? You only just recovered," Qin Ke responded while firing her gun. "Don't worry, Yi Yi mentioned that every time my mental strength threshold expands, I can control the zombies longer. It'll work," Chen Wan assured, her last sentence practically a shout. They were so tightly surrounded by zombie corpses and the living undead that if they didn't use abilities, they'd be squashed into mincemeat even if they weren't bitten. Once more, Chen Wan activated her mental powers, controlling a group of fifty zombies to ward off the ones assaulting them from all directions. This time, Yi Yi was at the front, breaking through with the horde, while Qin Ke provided cover fire from the rear. Chen Wan noticed that using her mental powers this time, the first few seconds were smoother than previous attempts. She could also manage to strike down a few zombies with the machete as they moved forward. However, within half a minute, sweat began to form on her brow, but she managed to hang on. Her face still looked okay when they reached the large open area on the second floor, right at the entrance to the stairway. Unfortunately, the zombies adjusted their strategy, with those at the back climbing onto the shoulders of those in front, lunging towards them from all sides. The zombies under Chen Wan's control were struggling to break through, much less help with the ones leaping down on them. Chen Wan gritted her teeth through the headache and pulled out her handgun, shooting the pouncing zombies, as she could no longer wield the machete effectively. Fortunately, Jiang Yan Xin and Qin Ke noticed Chen Wan's faltering state. "Yi Yi, come back and help," Jiang Yan Xin called out urgently. Yi Yi, already drenched in the zombies' foul blood, having carved out a bloody path forward, heard the call and quickly turned back, hacking at the swarming zombies with great force. Her show of power had immediate effect; none of the zombies caught by her machete had their heads remain attached, though the scene was gruesome, with repulsive blood splattering everyone. With the immediate threat neutralized, the group finally managed to scramble up the stairs towards the third floor. Chen Wan's body was dripping with cold sweat within two minutes, her face pale. Jiang Yan Xin supported her forward. Chen Wan felt her consciousness slipping, only remaining awake by sheer willpower. Jiang Yan Xin, holding Chen Wan up with one hand while firing with the other, struggled to keep her focus. Sensing Chen Wan deteriorating, she shouted over the chaos, "Hang on a bit more! We're almost on the third floor, Chen Wan. You can't pass out; Yang Yang is waiting for us to get back." Given the dire situation with zombie roars all around, their voices were inaudible unless shouted. Chen Wan, fighting through the pain, made it to the third floor's corridor, still walking with Jiang Yan Xin's support. It was thanks to the fifty zombies she'd controlled helping them that they reached this point. Otherwise, there'd have been no way for the four of them to ascend. Just as Chen Wan stepped onto the third floor, her legs nearly gave way completely. It had been three minutes since she started using her ability. Jiang Yan Xin, seeing Chen Wan about to collapse, held her up, focusing intensely on shooting. She forced herself to calm. In this adrenaline-charged state, her mind became incredibly clear. Her gaze fell on a painting of the Greek gods hanging on the third-floor hall wall, capturing her attention. Jiang Yan Xin had an epiphany. She mentally issued a command, and an astonishing scene unfolded. The man from the painting appeared, mere steps away from her. This impressive man, wearing plumed armor and leather sleeves, wielded a menacing bronze spear, flanked by a vulture and a large black hound—Ares, the war god of Greek mythology. Jiang Yan Xin wasted no time instructing Ares. The next moment, he charged into the zombie hoard like a grim reaper, clearing a path with his spear. His vulture pecked at approaching zombies, while the hound savaged them one by one. Overwhelmed, Chen Wan slumped into Jiang Yan Xin's arms, unconscious. Seeing Chen Wan collapsed and knowing the path was cleared, Yi Yi quickly shouldered Chen Wan, following Ares, as she knew Jiang Yan Xin's mental ability, like Chen Wan's, wouldn't last long. The more floors they could ascend now, the better. Jiang Yan Xin and Qin Ke hurried after them, with Ares leaving the black hound behind to protect Jiang Yan Xin and cover their rear. Qin Ke, slightly bewildered, kept firing at zombies while following the foreign-looking man up to the fourth floor. Jiang Yan Xin's forehead, now beaded with sweat, signaled the passing of thirty seconds since she summoned Ares. Ares, spear in hand, relentlessly mowed through zombies, painting the once pristine stairwell walls with thick layers of zombie blood. Each sweep of his spear sent zombie heads tumbling. The level-two zombies, having gained some intelligence, sensed fear seeing Ares' ferocious killing spree, inexplicably clearing the path for Ares and Jiang Yan Xin's group to reach the fourth floor. Yet, Jiang Yan Xin felt no better than Chen Wan did; her pale face mirrored the stricken condition. Qin Ke quickly stabilized Jiang Yan Xin, "How are you holding up?" Jiang Yan Xin trembled continuously, but shook her head firmly, unable to let Ares lead them further upstairs. Seizing the moment of clarity before losing consciousness, Jiang Yan Xin commanded Ares to escort them to the nearest room by the stairwell. Ares swiftly paved the way to a room on the left of the fourth-floor stairwell, kicking the door in, while Jiang Yan Xin's awareness faded. Only Qin Ke's support stopped her from collapsing. With Jiang Yan Xin's fainting, the tall figure at the door vanished. Qin Ke and Yi Yi swiftly pulled the two unconscious into the room. Yi Yi barricaded the door, while Qin Ke moved a desk to reinforce it, ensuring it was secured tight. Yi Yi remained unfazed, unlike the exhausted Qin Ke. Although empowered, humans still had limits, and she needed to rest, sitting down to catch her breath. Chen Wan and Jiang Yan Xin lay unconscious on the floor, with the office furniture used to block the door, leaving no place for comfort. After a brief recovery, insert bullets, Qin Ke, puzzled, asked, "Who was that ancient foreigner? Quite formidable." Sitting atop the barricading desk, Yi Yi explained with a smile, "That was Ares, the Greek god of war. Perhaps you didn't notice the frames on the third-floor walls, all ancient Greek mythology portraits, likely used for decoration. Ares was manifested by Yan Xin." "So she can summon these ancient deities?" Even Qin Ke, typically composed, was intrigued by the impressive ability. "Specifically, she can materialize individuals from books, cards, or images, and objects without life. These manifestations obey her commands, but the process drains significant mental energy. Once exhausted, these manifestations disappear," Yi Yi elaborated, still smiling. She was amazed to discover Jiang Yan Xin’s ability was also psychic, typically the rarest and most valued among powers. Surprisingly, two members of their group possessed such abilities, and Jiang Yan Xin's seemed stronger. Yi Yi calculated that Jiang Yan Xin maintained her power for a whole minute and twenty seconds on her first attempt, an extraordinary feat compared to Chen Wan's initial mere seconds. "What about a living person? Could Yan Xin manifest you?" Qin Ke probed curiously. Yi Yi shook her head, "No, she can't manifest living people or zombies. The people she can materialize must be from images or books, devoid of life." "That's still incredibly impressive. We should keep an eye out for books with images for Yan Xin whenever we go scavenging; they might come in handy," Qin Ke suggested, realizing how pivotal Jiang Yan Xin's summoning had been. Without her conjuring that figure, they might still be stuck on the third floor. As Qin Ke and Yi Yi chatted idly, Jiang Yan Xin and Chen Wan remained unconscious on the floor. The two friends knew the pair would be fine after resting for a bit, so they spoke lightheartedly. To Yi Yi's surprise, Jiang Yan Xin, who fainted later, was the first to wake up. She propped herself up slightly, glancing towards the still-unconscious Chen Wan, and asked curiously, "Chen Wan hasn't woken up yet?" Yi Yi smiled as she approached Jiang Yan Xin. "No, not yet. I didn't expect you to wake up first. How are you feeling?" "Much better; I'm alright now," Jiang Yan Xin replied, feeling her strength returning and her head clearing. "Your ability is materialization, and I'm sure you understand more about it now. It seems in terms of mental strength, you're stronger than Chen Wan," Yi Yi remarked with a cryptic smile. Jiang Yan Xin and Qin Ke were puzzled by Yi Yi's smile, but she didn't elaborate further, knowing Jiang Yan Xin would understand eventually.