I STACK ATTRIBUTES IN THE APOCALYPSE -MyOwnEdit-

Chapter 55: Strength in Numbers

"Actually," Zhao Honglei began, his voice tinged with regret, "what Hong'er told you wasn’t entirely wrong. In the first ten days of the apocalypse, the Red Thunder Martial Arts School was relatively safe."

His tone was heavy with the weight of what followed. In those early days, the school had been a bastion of hope. With Zhao Honglei and his eldest son, Zhao Yongchun, both Awakened, and their cadre of skilled martial artists, they had initially thrived in the chaos. Their discipline and training held back the tide of the undead, if only for a while.

But then, things changed.

Ten days in, the apocalypse shifted. Giant zombies began to appear, their hulking forms stronger and more resilient than anything the survivors had faced before. A single giant, leading a horde of ravenous undead, could overwhelm even a Level 1 Awakened with ease. Zhao Honglei and his son had tried—together, they had fought with all their might—but it hadn’t been enough.

"The emergence of those giants... it marked the beginning of the end for us," Zhao Honglei continued, bitterness creeping into his voice. "A Level 2 zombie is beyond the capabilities of a Level 1 Awakened. Even with my martial arts training, I couldn’t defeat them."

It was during this dark time that Zhao Xiaohong and Zhao Shanshan had been abducted by Cheng Shen. The loss had nearly broken him, but Zhao Honglei had clung to a desperate hope. He discovered the power of corpse crystals, a secret that could change the balance of power. With nothing left to lose, he took a risk.

He consumed the crystals.

The gamble paid off. Zhao Honglei advanced to Level 2, and his newfound power granted him a fleeting sense of security. His superpower, "Stealth," shielded him from the gaze of zombies, allowing him to move undetected, even during his advancement—a rare stroke of luck in a world where attracting a horde was usually inevitable.

But Stealth, powerful as it was, could not protect those left behind. The rest of the school, those without Awakened abilities, continued to fall victim to the relentless waves of undead. Slowly, inevitably, they were picked off, one by one.

"Three days ago," Zhao Honglei continued, his voice low, "I started venturing out, searching not just for my daughter and niece, but for a way to save all of us at the Red Thunder Martial Arts School."

He had found nothing but despair. The survivors he encountered were barely clinging to life, hiding in the ruins of their homes, hoarding meager supplies. The ruins of overrun gathering places were all that remained of once-thriving communities. And beyond that, in the vast expanse of Nanxiang City, the number of zombies was staggering—millions, perhaps tens of millions. A nightmare given form.

"And the zombies..." Zhao Honglei’s voice trembled slightly. "They’re evolving faster than we ever anticipated. I haven’t encountered a Level 3 Awakened yet, but I did see a tier 3 zombie."

Lu Ming’s eyes narrowed as Zhao Honglei’s words sank in.

"They’re calling it the Tyrant," Zhao Honglei added, shuddering at the memory of the monstrous creature he had seen from afar. "It’s... it’s not something we can fight. Not yet."

Li Zitong quietly relayed Zhao Honglei’s grim tale to Lu Ming, whose calm expression betrayed little. He exchanged a glance with Zhang Chengcheng, the two of them communicating silently as they often did. Whatever fear Zhao Honglei’s words inspired, it didn’t touch Lu Ming’s resolve.

"Let’s focus on your advancement first," Lu Ming said, his tone steady. His eyes gleamed with anticipation. "We’ll deal with the zombie tide today, and tomorrow we can push your Gravity Manipulation to its limits."

The prospect of enhanced training under Zhang Chengcheng’s gravity powers excited Lu Ming more than the looming danger. While others might fear the horde, Lu Ming saw only opportunity—a chance to grow stronger.

Zhang Chengcheng, ever loyal, didn’t hesitate. With a calm confidence that mirrored Lu Ming’s, she stepped forward, prepared to advance. She met Lu Ming’s gaze briefly—his silent encouragement was all the motivation she needed.

Under Dr. Meng Jie’s watchful eye, Zhang Chengcheng consumed the Level 2 Corpse Crystals, one after another. The room seemed to darken as her power surged, her body temperature rising, the air growing thick and heavy with energy. Even without activating her superpower, Lu Ming could feel the change—an invisible pressure building, like gravity itself, was responding to her.

The process was intense but quick. When it was over, Zhang Chengcheng opened her eyes, a new determination burning in them. "My strength has doubled," she announced.

Lu Ming nodded, impressed but unsurprised. A Level 3 Awakened meant her attributes had surged to new heights—forty points each, a considerable leap from her previous level. But what mattered most to him was what this meant for her Gravity Manipulation.

As if reading his thoughts, Zhang Chengcheng extended her hand toward him. From her palm, waves of distorted energy rippled outward, engulfing Lu Ming in their grasp. Instantly, his body felt the weight—twenty times gravity, thirty, fifty. The force continued to increase, bearing down on him until it reached a staggering seventy times the normal pull of Earth.

Lu Ming tested his movements under the crushing weight, his muscles straining but responding to the challenge. His cells seemed to sing with energy, each fiber of his body working harder, growing stronger. He nodded in approval. "This level is perfect."

Zhang Chengcheng maintained the seventy-fold gravity with relative ease, her control vastly improved from before. Though she still required Corpse Crystals to sustain such power, the improvement was undeniable.

"Let’s rest for now," Lu Ming advised. "We’ll need our strength for the horde."

Zhang Chengcheng withdrew her power, the oppressive weight lifting from Lu Ming’s body. The battle hadn’t yet begun, but they were ready for it.

As Lu Ming climbed the watchtower, he glanced down at Zhang Chengcheng, offering her a rare smile of approval. "Very good," he said simply. His words were enough. Zhang Chengcheng beamed, her heart swelling with pride.

Yet, even with this newfound strength, Zhao Honglei’s earlier words lingered in the back of their minds. The Tyrant—a creature that defied understanding. Zhao Honglei, hardened by his experiences, looked grim. "It’s not something to trifle with," he repeated, his voice steady but shadowed by the memory of what he had seen. "I caught a glimpse and retreated immediately."

Lu Ming nodded. For now, the Tyrant was a distant threat, but its existence could not be ignored. They would deal with it when the time came.

"In short," Zhao Honglei said, his voice low, "the situation outside is getting worse by the day. The zombies are evolving faster than we are. I never wanted to abandon the Red Thunder Martial Arts School, but for the sake of my people, I have no choice. We need numbers. We need strength."

Guangping Street, with its growing population of Awakened, seemed like the only hope. If Zhao Honglei and his people could be accepted, it would be a blessing. If not, the alternatives were bleak.

He looked to Wang Xiong, hope in his eyes, but before any response could come, the sharp clang of the alarm bell cut through the air.

"The zombies are here," Wang Xiong announced, his expression hardening. He offered Zhao Honglei a tight smile. "One of our own is advancing today, which means a horde is coming. Don’t worry, Master Zhao, Brother Lixin will keep you company. I’ll be back soon."

Zhao Honglei nodded, understanding the urgency. There was no time to waste. As Wang Xiong departed, he turned to Zhang Lixin. "If you need me, I’m ready. I still have some fight left."

Zhang Lixin hesitated only briefly before nodding. "Thank you, Master Zhao."

Within moments, the streets outside the gathering place were teeming with zombies. From the height of the watchtower, Lu Ming and Wang Xiong surveyed the approaching horde.

"How many?" Wang Xiong asked, arriving slightly out of breath.

"Not as many as last time," Lu Ming replied, his eyes narrowing. "But something’s different."

Wang Xiong peered over the mass of undead, confusion flickering in his gaze. At first, it seemed like a typical horde—clumsy, disorganized. But then he saw it: small groups of zombies moving with disturbing coordination, weaving through the crowd with unnatural precision.

"Are those… hunters?" Wang Xiong asked, unease creeping into his voice.

Lu Ming’s response was grim. "Yes. And they’re smarter this time. They’re working together."

Wang Xiong’s stomach tightened. This was what Zhao Honglei had warned them about. The zombies weren’t just evolving physically—they were learning. The thought chilled him to the core.

"Ready?" Lu Ming’s voice was calm and steady.

Wang Xiong nodded, forcing down his fear. "Ready."

The first wave of zombies reached the perimeter, and the battle for Guangping Street began.

End of Chapter 55