1. Squad

The setting sun shone like blood, drenching the ruins in a startling ochre-red. On the once bustling commercial street, crooked billboards creaked in the wind, and broken glass scattered like diamonds on the cracked asphalt. Rusted, abandoned vehicles blocked the streets, their windows caked with dark brown stains, as if telling of the horror of the impending apocalypse.

The air was filled with the mingled smell of decay and rust, the unchanging background sound of the apocalypse. Occasionally, a breeze would stir up dust from the ground, forming small vortices in the air, carrying a torn piece of newspaper into the air. On it, vague words like "State of Emergency" and "Evacuate" were faintly visible.

In the dead silence, a slight sound of metal friction came from above.

Atop the wreckage of an overturned bus, a towering figure crouched like a statue. Lei Qing wore dark gray combat fatigues, scuffed yet immaculately maintained. He was a burly figure, broad-shouldered and broad-backed, his muscular form honed by years of training beneath the garb. His bronzed skin was weathered, his angular features stained with a few blemishes. His high nose and tightly pursed lips defined a resolute expression, yet nonetheless held his eagle-like gaze in the least. Through the high-powered scope of a modified sniper rifle, his deep brown eyes calmly scanned the street below.

"At three o'clock, seven of them are on the loose, and the threat level is low." His voice came through the encrypted headset, deep and penetrating, stabilizing people's hearts like a rock.

At the corner of the street below, a red-haired young man twitched his fingers impatiently. Ah Yan wore an open black leather jacket, revealing a tight black vest beneath, which outlined his muscular body. His short, fiery red hair blazed like a flame, with a few strands cascading across his forehead, accentuating the rebelliousness between his features. Beneath his thick, sword-like brows, a pair of golden-brown eyes always gleamed with eagerness. A few light freckles dotted his high nose, adding a touch of wild youthfulness to his appearance. He was licking his chapped lips, his knuckles crackling as a cluster of orange-red flames danced nimbly at his fingertips.

"Got it. A Yan, clear the left wing. Mu Lin, block the right wing to prevent them from dispersing. Su Lin, stay in the center and provide support at any time." Lei Qing's instructions were concise and clear, and there was no room for doubt.

"I understand! I can't wait!" A Yan's voice was filled with excitement that was almost bursting out.

Behind a broken wall not far away, a gentle young man nodded slightly. Mu Lin wore a light blue combat uniform, his collar buttoned neatly to the top. His short, light blue hair was meticulously combed, its strands gleaming like pearls in the sunset. He had a delicate face and skin so pale it was almost transparent. Beneath his pale blue eyebrows, his pair of glassy blue eyes were always calm, as if they could encompass all the chaos in the world. Beneath his straight nose, his thin, pale pink lips always wore a gentle, almost imperceptible smile. The air around him rippled almost imperceptibly, and a light mist gathered quietly around him. When he moved, his footsteps were so light that they stepped on the broken glass and rubble without making a sound.

Su Lin, shielded by his three teammates, gripped his dagger tightly and took a deep breath. Clad in a pristine white combat uniform, he stood out against the dark grey ruins, like the last ray of pure light in a tainted world. His soft black hair, like a raven's feather, lightly covered his forehead, its tips ruffling gently in the breeze. His fair skin shone with a soft, warm jade-like luster in the setting sun. His straight, graceful nose, beneath which rose-like lips, now slightly pursed, betrayed a hint of nervousness. Most captivating were his clear amber eyes, framed by long, thick lashes, like molten honey, shimmering with tiny glimmers. At that moment, they shone with nervousness, but more so with a determined, focused gaze. He knew that in this battle, his primary priority wasn't direct engagement.

The battle broke out in an instant.

"BOOM!" Like a long-suppressed volcano, Ah Yan burst forth from behind the broken wall. He thrust out both fists, and raging flames roared like two angry dragons, sweeping towards the three zombies on the left wing. The scorching heat distorted the air, and the zombies instantly ignited, letting out shrill howls. A pungent, burning stench quickly filled the air, blending with the already rotting stench of the ruins to create a nauseating odor.

"You bastards! Turn to ashes!" Ah Yan roared, his attack surging. Wherever the flames passed, even the ruins seemed to melt again. The concrete walls crackled and burned, revealing the steel bars within.

Almost simultaneously, Mu Lin, on the right wing, gracefully raised his finger. Several crystal-clear ice cones instantly condensed in the air, their sharp edges reflecting the blood-red glow of the setting sun. With a shrieking sound that ripped through the air, they unerringly struck the vital points of the other two zombies—their eye sockets and brows—killing them instantly. His attack was impeccable, calm and efficient, like a precisely calculated machine.

However, the ruins of the battlefield were changing rapidly. A small, skinny zombie, huddled in a shadowy corner, suddenly took advantage of a gap in A Yan's attack and pounced out of his blind spot. The zombie's nails were long, black, and stained with filth, and they struck A Yan's ribs with a fishy gust of air!

"Ayan! Be careful behind you!" Su Lin exclaimed, his amber eyes slightly widened due to nervousness, and a trace of worry flashed across his fair face.

Ah Yan's combat instincts were incredibly strong, and he instantly dodged the attack, but he was a moment too late. With a "swish," his combat uniform on his left arm ripped, leaving a deep, bone-deep wound. Blood immediately gushed out. He groaned in pain, but then he was enraged and furious: "You're looking for death!"

His right fist erupted with even more intense flames, and with a backhand punch, he smashed the zombie's head into pieces. Brain matter and black blood splattered everywhere, some even splashing onto A Yan's face, but he didn't care, simply wiping his face casually, leaving a few bloody marks.

Almost the next second after A Yan was injured and bleeding, Su Lin rushed to his side like a gust of wind. "Don't move!" Su Lin's voice was filled with undeniable concern. He crouched down, his thick eyelashes drooping, casting a faint shadow on his cheek. A warm, soft white light emanated from his palm, a light so pure that it seemed incompatible with this filthy world. It illuminated his focused profile, as if adorning him with a holy aura.

As the white light covered the wound, the twitching flesh grew and healed at a visible rate. Yan could clearly feel the tingling sensation at the wound, a sign of rapid cell regeneration. Within a few breaths, the wound had vanished, leaving only new pink skin and the still-dry blood surrounding it.

"Hey! Thanks, Su Lin!" A Yan swung his intact arm and grinned broadly. His teeth were very white, standing out against his stained face. His fiery golden-brown eyes gleamed at Su Lin, filled with undisguised dependence and gratitude.

"With you here, I dare to fight them to the death! Your hands are really amazing!"

"Focus on the battle and reduce unnecessary risks." Lei Qing's steady voice echoed from above. Though there wasn't much emotion, those familiar with him could detect a subtle hint of concern. He pulled the trigger. With a barely audible "whoosh," a specially crafted bullet streaked across the sunset, accurately piercing the head of the last zombie that had attempted to approach from a distance.

The battle was completely over, and all that remained at the scene was the crackling sound of burning and the gradually dissipating smell of burning.

Mu Lin walked silently to Su Lin's side. He first looked him over carefully with a gentle gaze, confirming that not even the corners of his clothes were dirty and that his soft black hair was still fresh. Then he spoke softly, "Are you okay, Su Lin?" His voice was like a spring flowing over gravel, clear and gentle. He greeted Su Lin first, then looked at A Yan's healed arm. "Thank goodness you're here. You always save the day."

Su Lin shook his head lightly, letting out a sigh of relief. A few strands of his black hair swayed gently with his movements. Turning to Ah Yan, he spoke with a hint of helpless reproach: "I'm fine. But you, don't be so impulsive next time. It hurts so much to get hurt." His slightly furrowed brows made him look even more endearing.

A Yan chuckled nonchalantly and put his newly healed arm around Su Lin's shoulder in a friendly manner: "I know, I know, my dear healer! You are here with me, I can't help but want to test my limits!" He moved closer with a smile and could almost count Su Lin's long and curly eyelashes.

The sun sank further, the crimson of the skyline gradually eroded by the inky blue, and the temperature began to drop noticeably. A cold wind blew, picking up the ashes on the ground and swirling them in the air.

Looking at his teammates' faces, stained with blood, sweat, and ash, Su Lin's mind shifted. He extended his hand, and the air above his palm subtly twisted. Then, as if by magic, several clean, white towels, even with a faint scent of soap, and four bottles of ice-cold mineral water, their labels intact, appeared out of thin air. His slender, white fingers contrasted beautifully with the white towels.

"Here, everyone has worked hard. Wipe your face and drink some water." He handed over the supplies one by one with natural and smooth movements.

Ah Yan's eyes lit up instantly. Like a dog seeing a new toy, he took it without hesitation and gulped down half the bottle. The cool liquid made him sigh with relief, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. He sloppily wiped his face and neck with the towel, but it only spread the black ash further, leaving several comical marks on his face.

"Tsk tsk, Su Lin, your spatial ability is amazing!" A Yan wiped his neck and teased with a smile, "It's a must-have for home travel, murder and arson! It's like Doraemon's four-dimensional pocket." He moved closer and lowered his voice, "Tell me the truth, what good things are hidden in there that you haven't taken out to reward us?" His burning gaze fell directly on Su Lin's overly beautiful face.

Su Lin rolled his eyes at him unhappily. In the afterglow of the setting sun, that look carried a touch of terrifying coquettishness. A hint of feigned anger appeared on his handsome face. "Food, drink, and daily necessities, what's missing from you? What else do you want?"

"For example..." Ah Yan smirked, lowering his voice even more, "I saw the box of chocolates you hid last time."

"Alright, we can't stay here any longer." Lei Qing leaped lightly from the roof, landing almost silently, interrupting A Yan's banter. He accepted the water and towel from Su Lin, muttered a low "thank you," and began meticulously wiping the nonexistent dust from his beloved sniper rifle. His movements were focused and steady, as if he were handling a precious work of art.

However, if one looked closely, one would find that his all-seeing eyes, with the corner of his eye always vaguely following Su Lin's figure. Deep in his gaze, there was an imperceptible protection and concentration, like a beast guarding a treasure.

Mu Lin accepted the water and politely thanked him, "Thank you." He sipped gracefully, his slender fingers gripping the bottle as if he weren't holding precious apocalyptic drinking water but a wine glass from a high-end restaurant. His gentle gaze fell on Su Lin's face, who was being pestered by A Yan about the whereabouts of the chocolate and looked a bit amused. He watched as the sunset gilded Su Lin's perfect profile, and a faint but genuine smile curved his lips.

The setting sun stretched the four people's shadows, tightly interweaving them and casting them across the ruins. The interwoven shadows moved slowly among the broken walls, like an impressionistic painting, foreshadowing both the darkness and dangers of the road ahead and the future they would overcome together, illuminating each other.

Ah Yan was still insisting: "Just one dollar, how about that? I'll trade it for my performance today! Look how hard I worked just now..."

Su Lin finally couldn't help laughing, the curve of his lips so beautiful that it was hard to look away. "Are you working hard or are you being reckless?" As he spoke, he still took out a box of well-wrapped chocolates from his space, carefully broke off a piece and handed it to A Yan, "Eat it sparingly, you don't know when you'll find it next time."

A Yan's eyes lit up like a large dog that had received a reward. He took the chocolate and stuffed it into Su Lin's mouth first: "You eat it first."

This sudden action left Su Lin stunned for a moment, then he reluctantly opened his mouth to take it. The sweet taste melted on his tongue, forming a stark contrast with the dire state of the surrounding ruins. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, his expression of satisfaction pure and alluring.

Lei Qing packed up his equipment and glanced at the gradually darkening sky. "It's time to retreat. It's going to be very dangerous here after nightfall."

Mu Lin nodded in agreement, and a small ball of soft light condensed from his fingertips, illuminating the small area around them and also illuminating Su Lin's increasingly delicate face in the twilight: "Follow me, I know a relatively safe way."

The four of them packed up and quickly evacuated along the route Mu Lin had directed. Behind them, the ruins fell into a dead silence again, with only the last rays of the setting sun still stubbornly resisting the approaching darkness.

Just as they were about to leave the street, Su Lin inadvertently looked back and seemed to see something reflecting off the top of a tall building in the distance. But when he looked closely, there was nothing there.

"What's wrong?" Lei Qing keenly noticed his hesitation.

"Nothing." Su Lin shook his head and followed his teammates. "Maybe I'm dazzled."

He didn't see that shortly after they left, a telescope lens flashed again in the top-floor window of the tall building in the distance.

Night is about to fall, and this dead city holds more secrets than they could have imagined. But for the four of them, the most important thing at this moment is to stay with each other and continue moving forward in this apocalyptic world.

The sun finally sank completely below the horizon, the last ray of light disappearing into the sky. The ruins were completely swallowed by darkness, with only the occasional zombie roar in the distance foreshadowing the danger of this long night.

But in this small, battle-worn space, a faint yet resilient glow of warmth emanated from the unbreakable bond and silent protection shared by the four. Though temporarily lost in the night, this light never truly vanished. It was the precise crack of Lei Qing's gunfire, the raging flames of A Yan, the graceful icicles of Mu Lin, and the healing warmth of Su Lin's palm.

In this desperate doomsday, they are each other's sharpest spears, the strongest shields, and the only bonfire that can warm each other in the darkness.