Chapter 89: Awaiting Rescue in the Underground Shelter

“Dozhi, what do you think a small starship looks like?” After their break, everyone resumed hunting zombies, now with an added task of searching for shelter. With the number of zombies diminished, Du Yun could afford to chat with Dozhi as she searched.

“The Haimer, a small starship? Let me check the records.” Dozhi fell silent for a moment, then spoke again, “The Haimer, Series 010 small starship, disappeared near the Bluewater Star System in Interstellar Year 4050.”

“Is the Haimer mentioned in these records the same as the one we’re talking about? When exactly was Interstellar Year 4050?” Du Yun hesitated, sensing something wasn’t right, though she couldn’t pinpoint what.

“Judging by the progress of zombification, Interstellar Year 4050 should be this year.”

“This year the Haimer disappeared?” The timelines in Du Yun’s mind tangled into confusion. She had once lived in Interstellar Year 3016; her home on Greenwild Star was in Interstellar Year 4045; and now there was this 4050. What was going on?

“Ah!” As her thoughts spun, something suddenly tripped Du Yun’s foot. She stumbled forward, barely regaining her balance. When she turned to look, she saw a cord loop protruding from the otherwise flat ground, with a tile corner slightly lifted.

“What’s this?” Her startled cry drew the others over. They watched as Du Yun bent to examine the loop, unsure what she was up to.

“Underground shelter!” Dozhi shouted in Du Yun’s mind, and a translucent schematic appeared before her eyes. “There’s an underground shelter here. The port district was built well—there’s even a shelter!”

“What? An underground shelter?” Du Yun felt as if she’d won the lottery. With everyone anxious to find shelter, she’d stumbled into one by accident—a heroine’s stroke of luck, wasn’t it?

“Underground shelter?” The others heard her and gathered around, gazing curiously at the loop.

“It really is!” The leader crouched down first, tugged at the cord, and as it came free, a black opening about a meter wide appeared on the ground, with stairs descending into darkness. He spoke, somewhat astonished.

“Let’s go in and take a look.” Sometimes, fortune smiles when least expected. The shelter was right here in the port district, close to the starship docking platform, with no buildings or zombies nearby—perfectly convenient. If the shelter was large enough, it would be an ideal hiding spot when the Haimer arrived.

The leader took the first step down. Perhaps the shelter had automatic lighting, for as soon as he stepped in, the previously pitch-black entrance glowed with a faint white light, lifting everyone’s spirits.

The temperature below ground was much cooler. After being baked in the sun for days, stepping inside felt refreshingly pleasant.

“Ha, I wonder how many zombies are down here!” Just as everyone relaxed and smiled, descending the steps, Du Yun spoke up. Her voice was soft, and in the cool, empty air, it carried a hollow resonance that sent chills down their spines.

Indeed, in a world crawling with zombies, who could guarantee the shelter was empty? Everyone tensed, and sure enough, at a nondescript corner they encountered a dozen zombies.

Thanks to their constant vigilance and battle experience, they dispatched the zombies with little trouble and no casualties.

Following the long corridor to the bottom of the shelter, Du Yun and the others discovered an enormous underground chamber. The hall was surrounded by corridors, dark as yawning maws of countless beasts awaiting their prey. What lay within was anyone’s guess.

“Clear the area!” The leader surveyed the surroundings. With safety uncertain, clearing the shelter was the best option.

Everyone split into three teams, each searching a direction. Two hours later, they reconvened in the hall, having evidently purged the shelter of threats.

“There are still over ten hours left. Rest.” Seeing exhaustion on everyone’s faces, the leader spoke.

The port district’s zombies had been nearly cleared out, posing no threat. Besides, when the Haimer landed, any remaining zombies would be blown away or crushed—no need to waste ammunition.

“Wonderful!” Everyone cheered. Salvation was at hand—they’d soon leave this terrifying zombie-infested world. Joy filled their hearts.

After days of grueling travel and intense combat, their stamina was spent. Now, with ten hours of rest ahead, it was a blessing.

Each found a room to rest in, Du Yun included. She picked a small room connected to the hall and settled inside. Though there was no bed, the storage compartment held quilts and mats—enough for a comfortable sleep.

Tomorrow they would leave this zombie world. The future was uncertain, but for Du Yun, who had weathered transmigration and apocalypse overnight, another journey to a higher planet was hardly daunting.

After making her bed and crawling under the covers, half asleep, Du Yun counted her gains. While clearing zombies, she’d collected energy crystals from their bodies—why waste the opportunity?

By now, her storage compartment overflowed with shards of energy crystals, and she had fifty or sixty second-tier crystals, glowing like rubies. The sight would make her smile even in dreams.

If only she had a third-tier crystal! Unfortunately, whether the port lacked third-tier zombies or those zombies had retained enough intelligence to avoid their well-armed group, Du Yun hadn’t encountered any others of that rank.

Tomorrow they would leave—how wonderful! As Du Yun drifted into sleep, her heart brimmed with joy and hope.