Chapter 28: Charging Into the Wildlife Park

"Bang!"

In the midst of the apocalypse, within the desolate expanse of the Magic City Wild Animal Park, a sudden, thunderous crash shattered the deathly silence.

Like a wild horse breaking free from its reins, a bus smashed through the perimeter wall, surging with unstoppable momentum into what was once a playground for animals. The sound of metal colliding with brick and mortar echoed through the vacant park. The impact left the front of the bus severely mangled, glass shards scattered everywhere, and the air heavy with the stench of burning fuel and scorched rubber. After a violent shudder, the engine let out one final, guttural roar—a dying beast making its last stand—before it ceased to turn.

"Xiao Ying, hurry! The vehicle won't start!"

Qin Zhong’s voice pierced the silence. He leaped from the driver's cabin, his movements swift and decisive, his face etched with tension, his clothes stained with blood. Following his shout, a slight, slender figure nimbly squeezed through the shattered window. It was Xiao Yingyong, the young girl Qin Zhong had rescued from the shopping mall.

As soon as Xiao Yingyong jumped from the bus and looked out through the breach in the wall, she saw a dense, endless swarm of zombies not far away, surging forward like a tidal wave. Their hollow eyes betrayed a desperate hunger for fresh flesh, their rotting fingers clawing aimlessly at the air, accompanied by spine-chilling, low growls.

"Move! The zombies are coming!"

Seeing Xiao Yingyong standing there, stunned and staring, Qin Zhong sprinted over, grabbed her, and pulled her toward the depths of the wild animal park. Before long, the swarm of zombies flooded through the breach, surrounding the bus completely. However, having lost sight of Qin and the girl, the zombies began to disperse after a dozen minutes or so.

"Brother Qin, I... I can't go on, let’s rest!"

Xiao Yingyong pressed her hands against her knees, large beads of sweat dripping from her forehead and neck. After all, she was still young, and the intense exertion had left her physically spent, bringing on waves of dizziness.

"Drink some Red Bull, replenish your energy!"

Though Qin Zhong was also gasping for air, he was holding up much better. He took two cans of Red Bull from his backpack, handed one to Xiao Yingyong, and cracked his own open, gulping it down.

After two days of clearing out the shopping mall, Xiao Yingyong had been clamoring to go to the Henglong Building. Qin Zhong knew she wanted to find her mother, and after much deliberation, he had decided to take the risk. After all, he still remembered the pentagram mentioned by the woman on the platform at the Henglong Building. It had been several days, and he couldn't be sure if it was still there.

Furthermore, based on his calculations, Sun Xiaoyan in reality should have already visited the Magic City Wild Animal Park. He wanted to see if he could find any items left behind by her ten years ago in this post-apocalyptic park. If he could find such an item, it would prove that Sun Xiaoyan’s hypothesis was correct, and that realization could change everything.

After preparing, the two had packed essential supplies, hid the rest, and quietly slipped out of the mall.

After leaving the mall, they had headed toward the wild animal park along the roads. Although there were many zombies on the main thoroughfares, they were lethargic during the day; as long as they didn't make too much noise, the zombies wouldn't detect them.

A straight drive from the mall to the park would have taken only fifteen minutes, but because of the blocked roads, they had to take constant detours to avoid drawing attention. It had taken them the better part of a day of winding through the city to finally reach the outskirts of the park.

Upon arrival, they faced a thorny problem: about two kilometers from the park, they encountered a massive zombie horde. By visual estimation, there were at least several hundred of them. A direct charge was impossible, and they couldn't detour as they had before. They were stuck in a dilemma.

With zombies ahead and behind, Xiao Yingyong panicked. If Qin Zhong hadn't pulled her into hiding, she would have been discovered. After observing for a while, Qin Zhong spotted a bus with its doors open—likely abandoned by a driver who had fled in a panic when the catastrophe struck.

The only question was whether the keys were still in the ignition. If not, it would all be in vain, but Qin Zhong speculated that because the disaster had happened so suddenly, there was a high probability the keys remained in the bus.

Watching the vehicle, Qin Zhong narrowed his eyes, a plan forming in his mind. He whispered his thoughts into Xiao Yingyong's ear. She understood immediately, nodded, and walked away into the distance with her backpack.

Not long after, she returned. Her backpack was now flattened, and she held a remote control for a drone in her hand. It turned out that the supplies Sun Xiaoyan had provided included much more than food: high-lumen flashlights, portable alcohol stoves, headlamps, first-aid kits, solar-powered lamps, remote-controlled drones, and various protective gear.

The gear was vast and varied. For instance, the tactical cut-resistant gloves, elbow pads, knee pads, and stab-proof vests they were wearing provided excellent protection. The stab-proof vests, custom-made by Sun Xiaoyan, were crafted from high-strength polyester fiber, capable of resisting sharp stabs and slashes. Even a zombie's sharp teeth couldn't pierce them. Although the smallest vest was still a bit loose on Xiao Yingyong, tightening the belt meant it didn't hinder her movement. In the apocalypse, survival was the priority; aesthetics were secondary.

Earlier, Qin Zhong had instructed Xiao Yingyong to set up the drone nearby. Following her controls, the drone rose into the sky, emitting a loud buzzing sound that attracted a large portion of the horde. As the drone flew further away, most of the zombies followed, leaving only a few behind.

Seizing the opportunity, Qin and Xiao Yingyong rushed to the bus. As Qin had anticipated, the driver hadn't bothered to remove the keys in his haste. Qin Zhong locked the bus doors, started the engine, and roared down the road, smashing through countless zombies and vehicles blocking their path. He then drove the bus straight through the wall of the wild animal park, leading to the scene that had just occurred.