In the dimly lit sewer, water droplets from the ceiling dripped onto the stair steps, creating a rhythmic sound. The beam of a flashlight illuminated the oily, damp floor as Lianna cautiously followed Firefly, crinkling her nose at the pungent stench of organic decay that filled the air.
Before long, she felt a movement in her arms, and looking down, she saw Zero’s dark red eyes drowsily gazing up at her, as if just waking from a dream and still trying to grasp the situation.
“Want to sleep a bit longer?” Lianna suggested.
Zero shook her head, loosening her grip on Lianna’s body and standing up on the stone floor of the sewer. She looked around, wrinkling her nose in distaste.
“The sewer,” Lianna replied.
“We’re escaping; this is the planned route.”
“We all did while you were sleeping.”
Zero stifled a yawn, appearing completely detached from the seriousness of the escape, as if she were merely playing a game.
“Yvette, do you want to join the fight?” Firefly turned around and asked. Its body was an old housekeeping automaton, and although it wielded a gun, it still felt apprehensive about the possible battle ahead.
Since fleeing from the Abyss Base, all threats had been handled by Zero, while Firefly and Lianna, though capable of fighting, had little experience and weren’t as composed and adept in facing challenges as Zero.
Zero was about to nod in agreement, but Lianna quickly said, “No, you should continue resting.”
Zero looked at her, met her determined gaze, and with a tender yet serious expression, Lianna said, “You’re not in great shape; we’ll handle it.”
During their time in Firth River, particularly in the last few days in New Eden, Zero had inexplicably shown a strong propensity for sleepiness. Lianna had asked her if it was due to overexertion of her abilities or if she was unwell, to which Zero had always replied, “It’s fine.” Follow current novᴇls on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Lianna didn’t buy that response, but since there was nothing she could do, her only option was to ensure Zero expended as little energy as possible and rested more, while she and Firefly shared the burden of their duties.
Beneath the dim light, Zero smiled with understanding and nodded, “Alright, I won’t intervene unless it’s necessary.”
Lianna smiled back, saying with confidence, “Just watch!”
The group continued onward, with Firefly, being metallic and rugged, leading the way with its powerful firearm and flashlight. Following closely was Lianna, akin to a stealthy tabby cat, ready to strike with her Shadow Touch against any potential enemies. Zero, meanwhile, remained notably lazy, half-dozing with her eyes fluttering.
A few minutes later, the first group of enemies appeared around a corner.
It was an exit of the sewer system, where the wet channels reflected orange-hued lights. Three members of the Holy Order, clad in white robes, stood guard. One held a staff, another bore a shimmering shield, and the last was armed with a firearm, forming a balanced trio poised for defense and attack.
Though their helmets were completely reflective, obscuring their faces, their voices echoed with clear discontent about their duty guarding the sewer.
“Should we engage?” Firefly asked, clutching a high-end gun it had somehow commandeered from Zero, equipped with enchanted bullets that included strong pulse spells capable of penetrating steel and standard magical barriers.
As long as those three Holy Order members hadn’t raised their shields, with Firefly’s sharpshooting abilities, it could potentially eliminate them with three precise shots.
“I’ll go first!” Lianna interrupted, shaking her head. Shadows emerged from beneath her black cloak, slithering like three black serpents along the dark stone walls and cast-iron pipes, silently creeping toward the three guards.
In an instant, the muffled thuds resonated, and the three white-robed figures collapsed rigidly. Even though they had undergone partial mechanical modifications, their hearts artificial, the lethal penetration power of the Shadow Touch pierced through their helmets, halting their screams before they could even sound.
“Awesome, Lianna! If your abilities grow, one day you might be just as powerful as sister!” Firefly exclaimed in awe. “You might even surpass Yvette!”
“Maybe one day,” Lianna said, hope glimmering in her eyes.
Zero kicked Firefly lightly and said tersely, “Hurry up and lead.”
“Oh, right…” Firefly hurried ahead.
The trio continued onward, eliminating every Holy Order team they encountered with Lianna’s silent assassinations, while any communication equipment fallen from the downed foes would be hacked by Firefly to replace the deceased in maintaining contact.
Thus, in the eyes of the Holy Order’s commanders, these regions remained harmoniously quiet, responding quickly and accurately to every call.
This journey through the sewer lasted for dozens of minutes, and finally, when they crawled out through a breach in a fence at an abandoned sewage treatment plant, the cold air striking them revitalized Lianna—despite the lingering foul odor, this was a vast improvement from the sewers.
“Where is this?” Zero curiously surveyed their surroundings.
“A derelict factory area, which has been abandoned. It used to be a gathering place for the homeless in Firth River, but since the curfew began, everyone was cleared out.”
Firefly elaborated, “There are lots of discarded supplies here that sister prepared for us in advance, enough to last for half a month.”
This was Lianna’s first visit to the site, her gaze falling on the old factories by the river. Their outlines loomed in the darkness, reminiscent of the abandoned schoolhouses often featured in horror films as investigation sites.
“Our safehouse is in here,” Firefly said, directing the two toward a large factory.
As they drew closer, aided by the starlight and moonlight, Lianna could see the factory more clearly.
It appeared to be a steel mill, with gigantic furnaces but had been long unused. The immediate area was overgrown with wild grasses, and in the distance lay the city streets adorned with fading neon lights.
Moreover, on one side of the overgrowth was a river connected to the abandoned sewage treatment plant, where vibrant hues of fluorescence marred the waters, likely remnants of some polluted magical concoction—both repulsive and strangely captivating.
“Could we signal to sister for her to retreat…” Firefly was talking as they continued walking, but just then, something shifting in the shadows caught its attention. It shouted, “Who’s there?!”
A figure stood within the building’s shadow, moving slowly, but as it approached the three within roughly 100 meters, it suddenly accelerated straight toward them! As it entered the beam of the flashlight, Lianna realized it was a man whose eyes glowed green and whose skin was disturbingly pale.
The same thought flashed through both Lianna and Firefly’s minds.
Of course, the Holy Spirit Sect was unlikely to overlook this area. Instead of dispatching police, the Holy Order, or military forces to guard it, they were aware of the undead roaming here—implying this place at least harbored a necromancer!
Instinctively, Firefly pulled the trigger, the enchanted rounds from its gun hitting the zombie and sending it flying. Surprisingly, the creature’s head didn’t explode; instead, it distorted and twisted, quickly crawling back up with its hands and feet.
Firefly fired several more rounds until finally, it blew the zombie’s head apart, showering the area with grotesque fluids.
Then it lowered its weapon, anxiously saying, “Lianna, that necromancer here seems quite powerful!”
“The gun I’m using is one of Black Tower Pharmaceuticals’ advanced series; it should instantly obliterate a standard zombie with a headshot. Yet, I had to fire three rounds just to take that one down, which suggests the necromancer behind it is of significant caliber.” Firefly analyzed, but then its tone rapidly shifted to anxiousness, “Uh, what if we head back to the sewer? This place seems unsafe…”
“Don’t panic!” Lianna said resolutely. “Sister told us that the necromancer’s true self is weak; if we find the main body, I can take care of it.”
At that moment, Zero unexpectedly tapped Lianna on the arm. When Lianna looked over, she pointed to the overgrown grass.
It was only then that Lianna noticed the ground had begun to undulate in a strange and unsettling manner, as if countless field mice were scuttling underneath. After a while, pale hands began to emerge from the soil, creeping menacingly under the moonlight.
“Run!” Lianna grabbed Zero’s wrist and charged deeper into the steel factory, aiming to cross the entire abandoned complex and escape through the other side.
Firefly followed closely behind the two girls, firing back and providing cover by shooting down the encroaching zombies.
“This is way too many!!” Seconds later, as they watched a horde of corpses surge from behind, Firefly holstered its weapon, yelling out, “Do you think they eat magical constructs?”
“I don’t know…” Lianna was equally frightened; she was just a ten-year-old girl who could fight, but seeing such supernatural entities was enough to send chills down her spine!
Immediately, she began to sprint with all her might, leaving behind a series of blurry afterimages, while Zero floated along behind, her feet lifted off the ground as she was pulled along like a flag, her smile unwavering as she seemed to enjoy the ride.
After just a few seconds, they reached the front of the abandoned steel factory. Yet, suddenly, a massive zombie, towering over three meters tall, leapt down from the top of a smelter and landed in front of the three, kicking up a dust cloud. The surrounding zombies halted their charge, remaining at a distance as they encircled the area.
Not understanding why, Lianna cautiously observed. Although the giant zombie’s eyes glowed green, its expression was not vacant; in fact, it seemed almost nuanced, clearly possessing intelligence.
“Who are you?” Lianna asked coldly.
“Hi, hello, you cute little mice, and you iron lump beside them. I’m ‘Ducha Bessemer,’ a Reincarnation High Priest serving within the Holy Order. Nice to meet you all,” the towering zombie grinned.