Dark Apocalypse

Episode 25

Whether to save or not



When envisioning the potential challenges of navigating a road obstructed by a traffic accident during this apocalyptic crisis, one must consider the chaotic nature of such a scenario. After all, with the onset of the apocalypse, many people are preoccupied with fleeing, disregarding any adherence to traffic regulations; collisions are inevitable.

Take a look at the urban roads—over seventy percent of them are blocked by vehicles involved in accidents. The same issue undoubtedly plagues the small town as well.

Thus, prior to their departure, three alternate routes were meticulously planned, allowing for a swift change of course should one prove impassable.

However, perhaps due to distraction from conversation and the fact that they approached a blind corner at a ninety-degree angle, they failed to notice that several trucks had completely blocked the road ahead. If not for Adam's urgent warning, they might have crashed headlong into the obstruction. Even with the protection of airbags, the outcome was too grim to contemplate.

Despite the timely warning, the alert came too late. Though Ling Ao slammed the brakes and swerved the wheel, the collision was unavoidable, compounded by the slippery road surface, resulting in a loud crash.

"Are you all right? Is anyone injured?"

Fortunately, the impact was not severe; the occupants remained conscious, though the sudden force left them all feeling dizzy. With the airbags deployed, they found themselves momentarily trapped inside the vehicle.

Among them, Adam fared the best. Just before the impending collision, he instinctively assumed a defensive position, curling up and protecting his head, which left him in relatively good condition.

He was the first to puncture the airbag with the steel rod he had prepared, forcefully kicking open the slightly deformed door beside him. Luckily, his door faced the open space, unlike Ling Ao's, which had collided with a truck.

"This is dire..." More than dire; it was utterly catastrophic!

Upon exiting the vehicle, Adam quickly assessed the surrounding situation and realized the peril they faced. The arrival of their vehicle had already attracted numerous zombies, and several hundred more lurked nearby, drawn in by the noise.

"Hey! Is anyone alive? Get out of the car! If you want to survive, hurry!" Adam banged on the car door, urging the mother-daughter pair and Ling Ao to exit.

Meanwhile, the zombies were closing in rapidly! At their current speed, they had no more than five minutes before the group would be completely overwhelmed!

Even with five minutes to spare, that was Adam's rough estimate; the time would only decrease!

"Mom! Mom! My foot is stuck! Mom!" A cry from inside the car made Adam's brow furrow with concern.

"Ling Ao! Adam! Xiao Ya is trapped! You need to help her!" Miao Yun Yao's voice, now tinged with urgency, revealed a side of her rarely seen; the fierce love of a mother was unmistakable.

Help? What a foolish notion! Adam glanced at the advancing zombies before assessing the situation inside the vehicle.

Despite the collision, the rear seat had not sustained significant damage, yet the obstinate Xiao Ya had her foot wedged beneath the front seat. It appeared that during the crash, the seat had pressed down on her foot.

Her mother was desperately trying to pull her free, while Ling Ao also attempted to assist. But if they continued this way, by the time they managed to extract her, they would surely be completely overwhelmed by the horde!

Should he abandon them and flee alone? Or should he risk everything to help that stubborn girl, Xiao Ya?

A torturous dilemma lay before Adam—escape alone. Though he was unfamiliar with this small town, he was confident he had a ninety percent chance of survival. He could later find tools and make his way to the university.

Staying behind to assist Xiao Ya, however, would significantly lower his chances of survival—perhaps below thirty percent, if not less!

"Three minutes! I'll give you three minutes!" Adam clenched his teeth, grasping two steel rods, and charged forward.

With the rear blocked by trucks, he had no choice but to face the approaching zombies ahead.

"Are you out of your mind? In a situation like this, the best strategy is to save yourself!" Xu Cai's voice suddenly interjected, strongly opposing Adam's reckless decision.

"I know, but I have a plan; I still have some time. Once three minutes pass, if they're not out, I will leave without hesitation!"

Adam swung the steel rods, shattering the skull of one zombie before swiftly turning to kick another aside, narrowly evading an attack from yet another zombie that lunged at him from the side.

For the moment, the number of zombies encroaching was manageable, allowing him room to maneuver and fight. But if all the distant zombies surrounded him, even with a four-hundred percent boost, it would be futile.

"There's no chance of another four-hundred percent!" Xu Cai warned.

"I know!" Adam slammed another zombie's head with one of the rods, but another zombie, lurking behind, suddenly lunged at him.

Caught off guard, he had no time to react; he could only release his weapon to avoid injury, leaving him with just one steel rod, and almost a minute had already elapsed!

As the number of zombies continued to swell, a fierce struggle ensued inside the vehicle.

Ling Ao was the first to crawl out, urging Miao Yun Yao to follow him, recognizing that she was no help from within. He grabbed a wrench, hoping to dislodge the seat and pull Xiao Ya free.

Unfortunately, after a lengthy effort, sweat pouring down his brow, he was left empty-handed. Meanwhile, Xiao Ya had fallen silent. It was not that she was no longer afraid; rather, she was rendered mute by terror as she gazed at the encroaching zombies, her face pale with fear.

"I don't want to die... I don't want to die here..." Xiao Ya was nearing her breaking point, completely frozen with fright.

"Ma'am..." Ling Ao looked at Miao Yun Yao, a look of distress on his face.

Miao Yun Yao glanced at the ever-closer zombies and then at her daughter, who appeared utterly terrified. Trembling and pale, she wore an expression of deep conflict. The psychological strain she was under was palpable.

"Ling Ao! Use your knife to sever her leg!" Adam felt an overwhelming weight of pressure; at this rate, they wouldn't last even three minutes—two minutes would be their limit. Fatigue was setting in from blocking the onslaught of zombies!

"Don't! No! Brother Ling Ao! Don't cut my leg!" Xiao Ya's eyes brimmed with an indescribable sense of despair as she looked at Ling Ao and her mother.