Chapter 49

Luo Jia Bai had never cleared such a difficult D Grade Instance before. When he entered the Game Instance Hall, he was so exhausted that he could have fallen asleep right on the floor.

Half-awake and half-asleep, he seemed to return to the world before the Necromancer Game.

That was the [apocalyptic world overrun by Zombies].

He was a survivor, taken in by a team where almost everyone had awakened an Ability, and he did all the odd jobs in the group.

He was also unfortunate, because he was the only one in the team who hadn’t awakened an Ability, so his status was the lowest.

Everyone in the team looked down on him, yet everyone needed him:

“Luo Jia Bai, I’ve overused my Ability today and I’m not feeling well. Help me take the night watch, will you?”

“Hey Luo, there aren’t many cans of meat left in the team. The little bit everyone gets isn’t enough to fill the gap between your teeth. You’re so skinny, you barely eat anything each time. Give me your share of meat.”

“Hey you, things aren’t worth much in the apocalypse, but I saw you secretly hiding gold and jewels in your bag. Give me half, and I won’t tell Brother Biao. I trust you, and you trust me.”

Luo Jia Bai was worn out helping everyone, letting them divide up his meager resources, yet he still smiled and said, “Okay.”

“As long as I’m useful, that’s good.”

Being useful meant he wouldn’t be abandoned.

They mocked him, “Luo Jia Bai, you really are a good person.”

Until the team was ready to set out.

The day before they were to reach the human Base.

Their modified bulletproof vehicle was suddenly surrounded by a tide of Zombies, the glass shattered, and Luo Jia Bai, sitting in the last row by the window, was bitten by a Zombie.

The team members stared at him in horror, screaming, “Brother Biao, Luo got bitten by a Zombie! He’ll mutate within a day, and then everyone in the car is doomed!”

“We’re just one step away from success. We can’t let him ruin it!”

“Push him out!”

Inside the jolting car, Brother Biao pushed past the others and walked over to Luo Jia Bai, who watched in despair.

“Let me see the wound.”

Luo Jia Bai was trembling all over. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing his Arm, which was already oozing black blood.

Brother Biao’s eyes flickered. He patted Luo Jia Bai’s shoulder, “Mutation isn’t that fast. Don’t be nervous, let’s have a talk.”

While repairing the shattered glass and wiping his sweat, he said, “You were only bitten once by a Zombie, it’s a minor injury. If the car goes fast enough, we can reach the Base before sunset. There are rare Healing Ability users inside, and they’ll cure you quickly.”

Luo Jia Bai’s lips were pale, “Will I… will I survive?”

“Of course you will. I’m the team leader, don’t you trust what I say? We’ve made it this far together, you’re part of the team, and I’ve seen all you’ve done. How could we abandon you at the last moment?”

The wound throbbed, Luo Jia Bai felt alternately hot and cold. Suddenly, he relaxed, picking up his glasses and wiping his tears repeatedly, “Thank you, Brother Biao.”

Brother Biao said, “Now I need to help you focus, so you don’t lose your human consciousness.”

Luo Jia Bai: “Okay.”

“When is your Birthday?”

Luo Jia Bai’s vision began to blur, and he gave a date.

He vaguely heard someone talking to Brother Biao not far away.

“No, that number’s wrong.”

Brother Biao grew impatient, his tone aggressive, “What about your father’s? Your mother’s? Oh right, you used to have a very cute little sister. When is her Birthday?”
Luo Jia Bai did his best to stay focused, straining to recall and recite several numbers.

There was a soft “click.”

“Got it!” a team member cried out in delight, unlocking the lock on Luo Jia Bai’s backpack. “The last date was the password! It’s open! There’s so much gold and so many jewels inside! This kid hid all these good things. We’re almost at the Human Base-these can be traded for so many resources! And the rest of this stuff, what is it?”

Everything else in the bag was thrown to the ground like trash.

Luo Jia Bai struggled. “My bag! Give it back! That’s mine!”

Brother Biao laughed. “This is our team’s bag now. We’re about to return to the world where humans gather, and gold still has its uses. As for you, you’re useless now.”

Luo Jia Bai’s pupils began to blur. The wound on his Arm started to fester. He reached out to grab Brother Biao, but was kicked aside.

“You… you lied to me?”

“This isn’t deception; it’s a choice.” Brother Biao fixed the window, then opened the car’s back door. A cold, sinister wind swept into the vehicle.

“Even though this is your life, you’re the least qualified to make decisions in the team. Let me decide for you this time.”

“Luo Jia Bai, for the safety of everyone in the car, we’ve decided to sacrifice you.”

“You’ve always been the most useless in the team. Honestly, I’m glad it was you who got bitten by the Zombie.”

Luo Jia Bai was pushed out of the car, his body aching so badly he couldn’t move. His face was pressed into the mud, and his glasses had fallen off somewhere, lost.

The wound on his Arm grew hotter and hotter, until it started to glow. He heard the engine of the car, which had already driven off, coming back.

“He’s awakened an Ability-it’s a Healing Ability!”

“There are only ten people with a Healing Ability in the entire Human Base! Every one of them is worshipped like a star! We’re going to be the strongest team!”

“Luo Jia Bai, turns out you’re our lucky star! We misjudged you before. You’re such a good person-please forgive us.”

Amid cheers, Luo Jia Bai was lifted high by the others.

The team members, crowding around, stomped his glasses into the mud with their hiking boots.

They brought Luo Jia Bai into the Human Base, excitedly shouting to the survivors outside:

“We have a Healing Ability user in our car! Make way! We want to see the Leader!”

“Let us in first, give us the resources first! This is a Healing Ability!”

The place where Luo Jia Bai was bitten by the Zombie miraculously healed. He did not mutate; even the wound disappeared, leaving behind smooth, new skin.

On the bumpy ride, Luo Jia Bai thought vaguely:

I’ve awakened an Ability… Am I useful now?

A faint vibration came from his Arm. Luo Jia Bai mustered all his strength to lift his hand, a tingling running down the back of his neck.

He discovered he was wearing a strange Wristband with a screen. On it, a new message appeared from Lu Li.

Lu Li: I went traveling with another good friend today, planning to have fun all day! Don’t start the next Instance yet-wait for me to come back.

Luo Jia Bai’s hand dropped heavily again.

So sleepy…

Who is Lu Li?

The name… sounds so familiar.