Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Why Aren’t the Zombies Attacking You?
They were already very experienced in fighting zombies, and the five of them had developed a solid teamwork dynamic.
But as the battle wore on, they all noticed that the zombies seemed to be actively avoiding Faye Yardley, refusing to attack her first.
If she initiated the attack, however, the zombies would fight back.
Even zombies with superpowers prioritized attacking the other four, never directing their abilities at Faye Yardley.
The other four were completely bewildered. ’Seriously, why is this happening?’
’Have the zombies learned to be gentlemen and give special treatment to women?’
This world was getting more and more bizarre, finally becoming something they couldn’t comprehend at all.
But Faye Yardley wasn’t about to spare the zombies just because they weren’t attacking her first.
’Please. These zombies are walking bags of points.’
Sure, escorting Yvonne Lynch out of the Dungeon would net her 1.5 million points, but could one ever have too many?
Points were a consumable resource, after all. It would be incredibly awkward to find something she desperately wanted, only to come up short.
The fact that they didn’t attack her first just made it easier for her to pick them off with her Arm Crossbow.
She was practically a stationary turret, mowing down zombies, while the others weren’t so lucky.
As a result, Faye Yardley ended up being the one providing support.
The increasing number of zombies with superpowers made the overall fight much more difficult.
By the time they cleared out the wave, the other four had all sustained minor injuries.
Faye Yardley suggested, "Let’s find a place to rest for a bit, then head in the direction the zombies came from and see what’s there. How far are we from University City?"
Zachary Pierce climbed onto the roof of a car to look into the distance, then pulled a map from his backpack to check their position. He hopped down and said, "That way is toward the city museum."
"Then that’s where we’re going."
No one disagreed with Faye Yardley’s decision.
After a quick patch-up of their wounds, they set off at a jog in that direction.
They occasionally ran into a few stray zombies, but they were all picked off from a distance before they could even get close.
Faye Yardley and the others made sure to retrieve their Crossbow Arrows as they went.
Fighting their way forward, they finally neared the city museum after more than two hours.
Faye Yardley trusted her instincts and found a corner store to use as a temporary base.
She found a dusty chair, gave it a couple of quick pats, and sat down.
Taking out a bottle of water to rinse her hands, Faye Yardley said, "Let’s eat something here and recharge our energy."
Caleb Colby watched her. "Isn’t that a bit of a waste?"
"I brought it myself."
The unspoken message was clear: ’It’s my water, I’ll use it how I please.’
Caleb Colby lightly slapped his own mouth. "Yardley, my apologies. I shouldn’t have said anything."
Faye Yardley shook her head and tossed a rice ball to each of them before taking one for herself and eating in silence.
After the meal, she even gave everyone a strawberry.
Finn Ford gave Faye Yardley a thumbs-up. "We’re really living the good life with you, Yardley."
Zachary Pierce leaned against the storefront, gazing toward the city museum. ’Why is it so quiet over there?’
’We ran into zombies on the way here, so why isn’t there a single one in sight now?’
He turned back to Faye Yardley and asked, "Yardley, are you sensing anything unusual?"
"No." Faye Yardley answered, then glanced down at her right hand and gave a little sigh. "Ah, but my senses might not be as reliable anymore. The zombies’ animosity toward me seems to have temporarily vanished. As long as I don’t attack them first, they won’t be hostile."
The expressions of the other four changed drastically. If Faye Yardley’s senses were no longer reliable, they would have to completely change their strategy for this Dungeon.
Zachary Pierce asked bluntly, "Why did that happen?"
Faye Yardley rolled up her sleeve, revealing a vine-like pattern on her right arm. "I received a blessing from a Zombie Clansman back in Port Serenia."
She wasn’t lying, but she wasn’t telling the whole truth, either.
Gavin Donovan hopped over to get a closer look, his voice full of envy. "That’s so cool. I want one."
"That’s not something I can give you," Faye Yardley replied earnestly. "But if you run into a High Level zombie and they’re willing, maybe you could get one too."
Finn Ford gave another thumbs-up. "You’re just built different, Yardley."
"Haha, you’re too kind. It just means that from now on, you all might need to spend more time making your own assessments."
Zachary Pierce nodded. "Well, it’s not all bad. At least when a fight breaks out, we won’t have to worry about protecting you as much."
Faye Yardley: ...
’Did he really have to say that out loud?’
"What’s it like outside now?"
"Quiet. Too quiet."
Suddenly, Faye Yardley had a bold idea. "Why don’t I go up ahead and scout around?"
"No. It’s too dangerous," Zachary Pierce rejected the idea immediately.
Even though she had the mark that kept zombies from attacking her on sight, it wasn’t a hundred-percent guarantee.
If she got trapped in a horde, there was no way to ensure every single zombie would hold back.
"Oh, well, how about this: I’ll take point. If I see anything, I’ll give you a signal, and you guys charge in!"
The other four thought about it. That didn’t sound like a bad idea.
Gavin Donovan was even more direct. "Boss, if things go south, fall back behind us fast. Don’t get too far ahead. Stay within my spear’s reach."
Faye Yardley smiled and nodded. "Let’s just recover our strength for a bit, then we’ll head out."
The city museum’s main building was completely intact. The plaza in front was also unchanged, aside from a few snapped trees.
The entire structure rose in tiers, like a gradual staircase, but the effect was subtle because each level was so wide.
To Faye Yardley, the intricately shaped flowerbeds and stone sculptures now seemed eerie. They were meant to be symbols of beauty, but stripped of the life from their flowers and plants, they only looked desolate and terrifying.
There were no bodies here—neither human nor zombie—only the dark, blackish-red stains of old blood.
The five of them advanced toward the museum entrance in a wedge formation.
Faye Yardley came to a halt about two meters from the main entrance.
Who could have guessed that just inside the museum doors was a dense, innumerable horde of zombies?
But for some reason, they were all crammed inside, not a single one attempting to break through the doors.
Being stared at in unison by so many zombies through the tinted, floor-to-ceiling glass sent a chill down all five of their spines.
Faye Yardley couldn’t help but take a deep breath, her feet already instinctively backing away.
The others retreated with her.
"Turn around and run!"
The words had barely left Faye Yardley’s lips before she spun around and dashed past Zachary Pierce and Gavin Donovan.
Only after she had passed them did Gavin Donovan and Zachary Pierce turn to follow, picking up their pace.
Soon, the SHATTERING of glass echoed from behind them, followed by the gurgling roars of zombies and the chaotic thud of countless footsteps giving chase.
As Faye Yardley sprinted, she didn’t just run in a straight line; she took random turns whenever she saw an open path. Even as she ran, she didn’t forget to shout, "If we get separated, find a place to hide! Survive for three days, and we’ll figure out the rest then!"
