The dormitory was eerily quiet, with only the occasional low growl in the distance reminding Jiang Ye and Wang Han that they were not alone. This silence did not bring comfort; instead, it felt like an invisible hand was tightening around their throats, making each step heavier.

The two cautiously stepped out of their dorm room, ensuring the door was securely locked behind them. Wang Han was panting, his nerves stretched to the breaking point. His sweaty hands gripped the fire axe tightly, making the handle slippery. Even though they had rested in the room for a while, his body remained as tense as a drawn bowstring, unable to relax.

“Bro, do we really have to go downstairs?” Wang Han whispered nervously, his eyes flickering with unease. His voice cut through the silence like a knife, drawing a sharp glance from Jiang Ye.

“Stop talking and move!” Jiang Ye’s voice was cold and firm, brooking no argument.

As they slowly approached the third floor, a nauseating stench of rot and blood filled the air. Wang Han hesitated, his face turning ashen. He wanted to retreat, but Jiang Ye pressed forward without hesitation.

When they reached the stairwell landing, the scene before them nearly made Wang Han vomit.

Three zombies were crouched in the middle of the hallway, voraciously tearing into the remains of a male student. The boy’s school uniform was shredded into blood-soaked scraps, his intestines spilling grotesquely onto the floor. Blood spattered the walls and pooled on the ground. Pieces of flesh were scattered everywhere, and his stark white bones were exposed to the air. His face was utterly unrecognizable, reduced to a mass of mangled flesh and exposed skull.

“This is… this is horrifying…” Wang Han muttered, covering his mouth as his voice quivered.

“Stay quiet,” Jiang Ye ordered sharply, his piercing gaze sweeping the surroundings. His body leaned forward slightly as he slowly unsheathed the Lingfeng Sword, its blade gleaming coldly in the dim light.

The three zombies were still engrossed in their “feast,” oblivious to the two intruders. Their movements were rough and mechanical, each tear and bite accompanied by stomach-turning chewing sounds.

“Step back and keep an eye on the surroundings,” Jiang Ye whispered before advancing step by step toward the creatures.

As Jiang Ye drew within five meters, the nearest zombie seemed to sense something. It slowly lifted its head, its empty, blood-red eyes locking onto Jiang Ye. A low growl escaped its throat as it staggered to its feet.

Jiang Ye shifted his stance, lowering his body slightly. The Lingfeng Sword gleamed in his hand as a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

“Hiss!”

The zombie lunged at Jiang Ye, its rotten claws slicing through the air, aiming for his face. Jiang Ye sidestepped smoothly and swung his sword in a clean arc, slicing precisely through the creature’s neck.

Crack!

The sound of snapping bones was chilling. Blood gushed from the severed neck, spraying across the floor. The zombie’s head rolled onto the ground, and its body wobbled for a moment before collapsing with a heavy thud.

“One down,” Jiang Ye muttered under his breath, wiping the blood off his blade onto the zombie’s tattered clothing. His sharp gaze shifted to the next target.

The second zombie was alerted by the noise. It turned its head toward Jiang Ye, letting out a sharp screech before charging at him. Although it moved faster than the first, its motions were still jerky and stiff.

Jiang Ye remained calm. With a slight shift of his feet, he dodged the zombie’s attack. The Lingfeng Sword gleamed once more as it pierced upward, stabbing cleanly through the creature’s chin.

The blade drove through its skull, the sharp tip emerging from the top of its head. The zombie froze mid-motion before collapsing into the growing pool of blood.

“Still ordinary,” Jiang Ye noted softly.

Only one remained.

The third zombie finally abandoned its “meal,” standing up with a chilling screech. Compared to the first two, its movements were slightly quicker, though still far from threatening.

Instead of rushing directly, it swayed from side to side as it approached Jiang Ye, as if searching for an opening. Its speed was slightly faster than that of a human, but it lacked the agility to pose a significant danger.

Jiang Ye lowered his body, gripping the Lingfeng Sword tightly. His posture was taut like a drawn bow, ready to unleash a fatal strike.

“Hiss!”

The zombie suddenly lunged forward, its speed catching Wang Han by surprise. However, Jiang Ye had anticipated its move. He stepped back swiftly, avoiding its clawed attack, and swung his sword in a decisive arc, cleaving through the zombie’s head.

Thud!

The sword split the zombie’s skull, sending blood and brain matter splattering. The creature’s body staggered forward before crashing heavily to the floor, lifeless.

Jiang Ye exhaled slowly, scanning the hallway to ensure there were no other threats. Satisfied, he turned to Wang Han.

“It’s done.”

“Bro, you’re amazing!” Wang Han said, exhaling in relief. But before his words fully left his mouth, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway’s far end.

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The two looked up to see another zombie appear from the shadows. This one was thinner than the others and moved with comparable speed, but its eyes burned with an unsettling madness. It let out a guttural growl before charging toward them.

“This one’s yours,” Jiang Ye said coldly, glancing at Wang Han.

“Me?!” Wang Han froze, gripping the fire axe as his hands trembled uncontrollably. “Bro, I can’t… it’s a zombie!”

“Learn to fight, or you won’t survive,” Jiang Ye replied, his tone calm yet commanding. “I’m right here. You’ll be fine.”

Although the zombie wasn’t particularly fast, its erratic movements unnerved Wang Han. As it lunged at him, he panicked and swung his fire axe wildly, striking the zombie’s shoulder. The force staggered it but didn’t deal a fatal blow.

“Aim for the head! Stay steady!” Jiang Ye called out.

Taking a deep breath, Wang Han forced himself to focus. He locked onto the zombie’s head, waiting for its next lunge. When it came, he roared and swung the axe with all his strength.

Crunch!

The blade embedded itself deeply into the zombie’s skull. Blood spurted as the creature twitched violently before collapsing to the floor, lifeless.

“I… I did it?” Wang Han gasped, his chest heaving as he stared at the unmoving body. His hands were still trembling, but a glimmer of pride and disbelief lit up his eyes.

“Not bad for your first time,” Jiang Ye said with a nod. “You’ll get used to it.”

The hallway was littered with corpses, the stench of blood and decay heavy in the air. Wang Han slumped against the wall, panting heavily.

“Bro, this was just the third floor. I’m already spent. Who knows how many more of these things are waiting below…”

“Don’t overthink it. Take it one step at a time,” Jiang Ye replied calmly.

“Let’s hope we don’t run into more of those crazed ones…” Wang Han muttered. But his grip on the fire axe was firmer now, and his hands trembled less.

Without responding, Jiang Ye adjusted his backpack and raised the Lingfeng Sword once more. His cold, determined gaze was fixed ahead. The road before them was fraught with unknown dangers.

The air grew thicker with the stench of blood as the group made their way down the dimly lit stairwell, which felt like a descent into the abyss.

“Was this building always this dark?” Wang Han whispered nervously, tightening his grip on the fire axe.

“Stop overthinking and stay focused,” Jiang Ye replied quietly, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings.

As the three neared the landing on the second floor, a dragging noise reached their ears. Jiang Ye raised his hand, signaling them to stop.

“Shh—something’s there,” Jiang Ye whispered, moving cautiously toward the edge of the platform and peeking into the corridor.

A lone zombie, dragging a mangled leg, was slowly making its way forward. Though its movements were sluggish, it was heading directly toward the stairwell.

“Just one. I’ll handle it,” Jiang Ye whispered. Gripping the Lingfeng Sword tightly, he moved swiftly and silently.

The blade flashed, and before the zombie could react, Jiang Ye’s sword had pierced its skull cleanly. He withdrew the blade as the creature collapsed to the ground.

As the three prepared to move on, faint knocking sounds echoed from deeper in the corridor. They sounded like someone frantically banging on a surface. Alongside the knocks came the guttural growls of zombies.

“Bro, I think someone’s calling for help!” Wang Han whispered urgently, pointing toward the sound.

Jiang Ye frowned, gesturing for the others to follow. They moved toward the noise and discovered a room at the end of the hallway. The door was shut, but outside, two zombies were furiously clawing at it. Deep gouges marked the wooden surface, which looked ready to splinter.

“There’s someone in there!” Jiang Ye said softly. He gestured to Wang Han to stay alert before stepping forward, gripping his sword.

Jiang Ye moved silently, taking advantage of the zombies’ distraction. With a swift strike, he decapitated one zombie. The other turned, letting out a snarl, and lunged at him.

“Grrr!”

Jiang Ye sidestepped the attack and plunged his sword into the zombie’s skull. The creature’s body twitched before falling to the ground.

“It’s safe now,” Jiang Ye said, knocking lightly on the door. “We’re not zombies. Are you okay in there?”

A panicked voice responded from inside. “Please… please help me! I… I can’t hold out much longer!”

“Open the door. Quickly!” Jiang Ye said, signaling Wang Han to keep watch.

The door opened cautiously, revealing a pale young man with wide, terrified eyes. After confirming Jiang Ye and Wang Han weren’t zombies, he hurriedly opened the door wider.

“Get in, quickly!” Jiang Ye ordered. The group entered, and the door was locked behind them.

The room was dimly lit and cramped, littered with empty bottles and other debris. The young man collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath.

“Thank you… thank you so much! I… I thought I was dead…” he said, his voice trembling and tears brimming in his eyes.

“Take it easy. Tell us your name and what happened,” Jiang Ye said calmly.

“I’m Ethan Parker, a student living in this dorm…” His voice faltered, his fear evident. Ethan clutched the bottle of water Wang Han handed him, fumbling as he unscrewed the cap. He took a few gulps, his expression softening slightly, though his terror lingered.

“We’re trying to get out of this building,” Jiang Ye explained. “If you want to come with us, you’ll have to follow our instructions. Got it?”

Ethan nodded quickly, a flicker of hope lighting his eyes.

As the group reached the first-floor lobby, a grotesque scene unfolded before them. Five zombies roamed the area. One of them was hunched over a student’s body, savagely tearing at their flesh. The student, still alive, whimpered weakly, their cries for help barely audible.

“Help… me…” the student groaned, their voice faint and filled with despair.

Ethan’s breathing grew erratic. This was the most horrifying scene he had ever witnessed. A regular college student, he had never faced true danger before. Now, surrounded by blood and death, his entire body trembled. He clutched a small knife in his hand, its handle slick with sweat, his legs barely able to hold him up.

“Is this real? Or a nightmare?” he asked himself over and over. He wanted to run, but images of his family and friends flashed through his mind. Those memories gave him the strength to stand firm.

“I can’t die. I can’t be a burden,” he thought, his inner turmoil a painful mix of fear and survival instinct.

“I’ll handle the others. Wang Han, take care of that one,” Jiang Ye ordered, nodding toward the zombie feasting on the student.

Wang Han tightened his grip on the fire axe and charged. The zombie noticed the movement, raised its bloodied face, and snarled, leaping toward him. Wang Han screamed, swinging the axe down with all his strength. The blade sank into the zombie’s skull, and it collapsed.

Meanwhile, the other four zombies were drawn toward Jiang Ye.

Ethan stepped back, the knife shaking in his hand. He wanted to help but found his body frozen. Watching Jiang Ye fend off the four zombies with precision and calmness, Ethan felt a pang of shame mixed with admiration.

“How can they stay so calm while I just stand here, useless?” Ethan bit his lip, forcing himself to steady his nerves.

“Nice job, Wang Han! Leave the rest to me!” Jiang Ye shouted, positioning himself to confront the remaining zombies. His Lingfeng Sword gleamed coldly as he moved with deadly precision.

The student on the ground whispered their final words. “Thank… you…” Their body went limp, lifeless.

Jiang Ye sighed softly, glancing at Wang Han. “Come on, let’s finish this.”

Wang Han, still trembling, swung his axe at the nearest zombie, striking its head cleanly. Jiang Ye moved fluidly among the others, dispatching two more with swift strikes of his sword.

The final zombie fell to the combined efforts of the two, leaving the lobby eerily silent.

The three stood amidst the carnage, breathing heavily. Wang Han’s voice wavered. “Bro, there’s going to be more of them, isn’t there?”

Ethan stared at the corpses, silently vowing, “Next time, I won’t just stand by. I have to do my part.”

“There will be more,” Jiang Ye said grimly. “Let’s move. Don’t waste time.”

The group quickly left the lobby, their faces set with determination.