The Fiercest in the Apocalypse
Chapter 39: Mysterious Operation

Chapter 039 Mysterious Operation

"Oh, so this is what the rooftop looks like. This is actually my first time up here."

Zheng Xinyu curiously looked around. The warm sun hung high in the sky, the wind was cool, the clouds were sparse, and the distant mountains were visible. Everything seemed so peaceful. If it weren’t for the thick plumes of smoke rising in the distance, she might have thought the disaster had never happened.

"Su-ge, there's someone over there!"

Zhong Xiaoshan tugged nervously at Zhang Su’s arm and pointed toward Building 4.

Zhang Su and Zheng Xinyu looked over and, sure enough, a man and a woman were watching them.

The woman was wearing a short wool coat, while the man had on a sports pullover. They both looked young, no older than twenty-five.

Judging from their outfits, it was clear they hadn’t been on the rooftop since the outbreak started—at least, the woman hadn’t. Back then, it hadn’t been cold enough to need a wool coat.

As if to show friendliness, the man in the sports pullover vigorously waved at them, his whole body swaying with the motion.

Unfortunately, with over thirty meters between the two buildings and the wind blowing, the only way to communicate was by shouting. But both sides knew that making noise would attract zombies, so they didn’t dare speak.

"They must have been hiding up there for days."

Zheng Xinyu noticed the dirt-streaked coats and unkempt hair on the two people and made an observation.

"They don’t look too good… They need to find a way down soon. If they stay up there much longer, the cold will start affecting their bodies, making it even more dangerous!"

Zhong Xiaoshan sighed with concern.

Zhang Su glanced at the two women in surprise. That was exactly what he had been about to say, but they beat him to it. It seemed like they were finally starting to catch on to the situation.

"Let's focus on our own tasks and not waste time. Zhong Xiaoshan, stay here and keep watch. If you hear anything below, let us know! Xinyu, come with me."

As he gave his instructions, Zhang Su waved at the people on the other rooftop, bringing their brief encounter to an end.

"What do you think they’re doing up there?"

On the rooftop of Building 4, the man lowered his arm, a contemplative expression appearing on his dust-covered face.

At just over twenty years old, he should have been full of youthful energy. But right now, his eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness.

"Tian Fan, they… they don’t look panicked at all. They must be able to move freely in and out of their building. That means the danger in Building 3, Unit 1, has been dealt with! We can ask them for help!"

The woman on Building 4’s rooftop tugged excitedly at Tian Fan’s sleeve.

Her face was smudged with dirt and appeared quite ordinary. But upon closer inspection, her skin was well-maintained—clearly someone who had taken good care of herself before the disaster. The thick wool coat she wore concealed her figure, making it impossible to tell her build, but she didn’t seem overweight.

She was six or seven years older than Tian Fan. Before all of this, they hadn’t even known each other. The apocalypse had brought them together on this rooftop.

Tian Fan turned his head and gave a bitter smile. "Yu-jie, even if we manage to get a message to them, how are they supposed to save us? There are a ton of zombies inside our building!"

Yu Nuo's expression darkened at his words. She thought back to two days ago, when they had barely escaped to the rooftop. The horrifying memories were still vivid—those reeking mouths, those blood-red eyes, those jagged teeth still clinging to torn flesh. Every time she recalled it, she broke out in a cold sweat. She still had nightmares about it.

"But we can’t just stay up here forever. We’re running out of food and water. And… the nights are freezing, Tian Fan. We can’t stay here—we have to find a way out."

Her voice was filled with a desperate will to survive. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, her eyes reddened. Just as she was about to crouch down to conserve her strength, she abruptly turned toward the other rooftop and muttered, "They look like they’re up to something!"

Tian Fan followed her gaze, and what he saw stunned him.

The man on the other rooftop picked up a palm-sized chunk of concrete and hurled it into the distance.

"...Are they… throwing rocks at zombies?"

Tian Fan’s face darkened instantly. At first, he had thought the three of them looked quite strong, especially with the weapons they carried. But now, watching them chucking stones, he couldn’t help but find it ridiculous.

There had to be at least a hundred zombies down there. Even if they tore the whole building apart and threw every single brick at them, it wouldn’t be enough to kill them all.

But just as he was about to dismiss their efforts, something strange happened.

The man on the other rooftop pulled out a peculiar yellow ball.

And then—

A loud, rustic tune suddenly blasted from the rooftop speakers:

"No matter how I try, I just can’t leave this dazzling world behind..."

Before Tian Fan could even process what was happening, he saw the man hurl the yellow ball high into the air, sending it flying toward the space between Buildings 7 and 8.

"Sh*t… They’re luring the zombies away from between Buildings 3 and 4!"

Tian Fan’s eyes widened in shock. He rushed to the edge of the rooftop, watching the yellow ball arc beautifully through the air. That guy had some serious arm strength!

"Old Liu… looks like I won’t be able to keep my promise to you after all…"

At the base of Building 4, a man lay hidden in a narrow space, licking his dry, cracked lips. His body was pressed uncomfortably against the ground. Beside him rested a standard-issue assault rifle, with a handgun tucked at his waist.

Even so, he had no intention of rushing out.

It wasn’t a matter of courage. He was carrying out his old friend’s dying wish—he couldn’t afford to throw his life away.

"Xiao Qin… I… I won’t make it. Your sister-in-law… she’s gone. But Xiao Yu is still alive. He hasn’t been infected. Promise me… live on and find him. Don’t die here with us—it’s meaningless!"

The image of Captain Liu’s final moments replayed over and over in his mind.

If it weren’t for that promise, he would have died that night.

He tried to shift his position, but the space was too cramped. The most he could do was tilt slightly to the side—lying on his back was impossible.

Reaching for his canteen, he tilted it back, trying to squeeze out a few precious drops.

The discomfort of his position, the gnawing hunger, the parched throat, and the ever-present danger were eroding his will to survive. Every minute felt like a year.

To pass the time, he counted the zombies' feet. But the shrubs blocked some of his view, so he could only make out parts of them. By estimating from different shoe types, he counted at least fifty zombies. There were definitely more he couldn’t see. Just this number alone was already a nightmare.

"Tonight… No matter what, I have to make a move tonight. Even if I die, I—"

Thud!

A sudden sound interrupted his thoughts—something landing on the grass in the distance.

He painstakingly turned his body to look, but his limited field of vision showed nothing.

"Who the f*** is messing with the zombies? Do they really think they can kill them one by one with bricks?"

And then—

"Turns out… I’m just a drunken butterfly…"

A loud, blaring song pierced the eerie silence.

In this dead, quiet world, where zombie footsteps and distant wails were the only background noise, the sudden burst of music hit him like a bolt of lightning.

Moments later, he watched in disbelief as every zombie in his line of sight turned and sprinted toward the sound.

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