Dark Apocalypse

Episode 41

Foolish woman!



In an apocalyptic world, what can be relied upon? Oneself.

Yes, oneself—in this zombie-ridden world, no one is trustworthy, no one dependable. Survival depends solely on one's own strength.

This is the belief guiding Adam. He holds no illusions that help will arrive from the government, the military, or anyone else. He relies only on himself for survival.

He cares not how others think, but he will never depend on anyone else. Nor does he feel any obligation to assist others; everything is for his own survival.

And so he handed the baseball bat to Miao Yunyao. If this woman wanted to survive, she needed to learn self-defense. Still, Adam wasn't entirely heartless—at least he gave her a weapon rather than leaving her to fend for herself, unarmed.

As for ripping her skirt, that was simply his practical way of wiping the blood and gore off the bat. After all, this weapon had dealt with countless zombies on their way out of the supermarket.

Adam's smug expression seemed to say, "Be grateful, I'm taking good care of you," which did little to please Miao Yunyao; on the contrary, it left her fuming, barely restraining herself from kicking him.

"You!" She could hardly contain her rage when Adam casually called her "auntie."

It was true she wasn't young—her daughter was about Adam's age, after all. Yet thanks to her wealth and careful upkeep, not to mention other unknown factors, she still appeared a graceful beauty in her late twenties—hardly an "auntie."

Women are sensitive about age, and Adam had stepped right onto a landmine...

"Listen, I'm no one to you, so don't expect me to guarantee your safety. You're on your own from here. If danger comes, be prepared to defend yourself. Even a woman should be able to handle the weapon in her hands, right? If not, well... it'll be you, not me, who pays the price..."

He had said more than enough. Truthfully, he could have just turned and walked away. In showing any concern for Miao Yunyao, he had already gone above and beyond.

Confronted with such coldness, Miao Yunyao was left speechless. Glancing down at her torn skirt, she bit her lip and, under Adam's astonished gaze, grabbed the fabric and ripped the skirt herself.

"Don't underestimate me!" Her skirt now a miniskirt, she stood revealing her shapely, fair-skinned thighs—a testament to her bewitching allure and flawless upkeep.

Returning through the streets proved far more treacherous than their earlier journey. Zombies had multiplied along the way, and trying to sneak through without being noticed seemed impossible.

There was one other option—running through with speed. Adam was confident he could sprint past with minimal risk, though with the current circumstances...

"Ugh..." Suddenly, Adam's face paled, and he clasped a hand over his mouth, retching.

At that moment, he and Miao Yunyao were hiding behind a van, the street ahead teeming with zombies. The narrow alleyway offered little freedom to move.

Peeking through the shattered glass of nearby shops, he saw what used to be a fashion district. The once-pristine clothes were now blood-stained, shops reduced to ruins.

"You..." Seeing Adam spit blood, Miao Yunyao took a few steps back, suspicion dawning in her eyes.

"What? Afraid I'm infected?" Despite his nausea, Adam noticed her reaction and looked at her with a mocking grin.

"Did you... get bitten?" Miao Yunyao didn't deny it; Adam's behavior was strange, and her fear was natural.

"And if I did?" Adam's blood-stained lips curled as he looked back at her, waiting for her response.

She retreated another few steps, raising the bat he'd given her, a conflict brewing in her gaze.

Adam observed her hesitation, curious as to what she would do. Judging by her reaction, he assumed she intended to attack him.

Was he angry? Hardly. If the roles were reversed, he would do the same. In a world like this, mercy could be fatal. He had long accepted that sentimentality was a luxury that could only lead to death.

He would not blame Miao Yunyao. But perhaps, for some inexplicable reason, he was curious to see her choice.

"Planning to go for it?" He pointed to his head. "Remember, you'll need to crush here for it to work."

To his surprise, Miao Yunyao lowered the bat and released the tension in her posture. She approached him, seemingly intent on helping him to his feet.

"You i***t," Adam muttered as she did so, his mind unable to fathom her intentions. She knew he might be infected, yet instead of fleeing or attacking, she came to support him. Did she not grasp the risks?

"I won't leave you, not until you turn," she replied, her words sincere.

He couldn't understand her logic. It was undoubtedly foolish, and yet... why did it feel strangely moving?

No! He shook off the fleeting sentiment, wiping away the blood from his mouth. He fixed her with a steely gaze that wiped the smile from her face.

"Foolish woman! Your compassion will be the death of you! I misjudged you—I thought you were above such childish naivety, but I see now you're just like every other woman—foolish!"

Was he infected? Of course not!

The bout of nausea was merely a side effect of ingesting a dose of primary virus serum, which, as before, he had ultimately expelled. His abilities were now fully restored. After a quick check, he noted that his physical strength had not increased as it had the first time, suggesting that subsequent doses no longer enhanced him.

"Foolish? At least it's better than being cold-blooded!" Miao Yunyao didn't grow angry; rather, she laughed, her eyes softened with a newfound perspective.

"Hmph!" Adam didn't respond, peering down the street at the zombies.

Little had changed since he last checked; there were at least a hundred zombies visible, not to mention those hiding in nearby buildings or lurking in unseen corners. Charging through was still highly risky.

"Here." Miao Yunyao offered him the bat, smiling at his puzzled expression. "What, did you plan on fighting barehanded?"