Chapter Six: The Impending Fall of Celestial Pillar

"You know, now that you mention it, I’ve been here for so long… never seen that before. Can you tell me exactly what happened?" I chose to conceal my encounter with the Nightmare Fiend. In truth, it didn’t really matter whether I told them or not, and in such cases, saying less is always better than saying more.

Tong Jia didn’t hold back and recounted every detail of that day’s events. When he mentioned that the fiend had been drawn by Huo Bing’s cries, I instinctively glanced at the woman who looked not yet twenty—or perhaps, more accurately, still a girl.

And considering the overlapping timelines, two days ago was precisely when I was attacked. No wonder the fiend had abandoned me so abruptly; it must have sensed more food here.

Regardless, they had, in a way, saved my life. Thinking back to my earlier attitude toward her, I wondered if I’d been too flippant. The image of the nearly four-meter-tall Nightmare Fiend made my palms sweat. It was a creature that left one feeling utterly powerless—if possible, I’d rather never encounter such a thing again for the rest of my life.

“So that’s how it was. You were quite unlucky to have crossed paths with that thing.” As I spoke, Tong Jia sighed. “Who wouldn’t say so? If I’d known something like that was lurking in ZM City, I’d never have led my team here.”

After some conversation, the atmosphere between us grew more familiar. Tong Jia put aside his earlier guardedness and even took a cigarette from my hand without hesitation.

The convenience store was now sealed off with sheet metal, leaving only the iron door as an entryway. Once shut, it became a closed space. According to Tong Jia, when he’d brought the surviving team members here, the door had been inexplicably left open, though several corpses were inside, which they’d managed to deal with.

“Brother Cao, do you think it’s better to survive alone in this ruined era, or as part of a group?” Tong Jia took a drag, his gaze probing me through the candlelight.

After finishing two cigarettes and feeling content, I tucked the pack back into my pocket and replied, “Isn’t it obvious? The odds of survival are always better with a group.”

“You said earlier you were headed for the Celestial Pillar in ZZ City? Looking for sanctuary, I suppose.”

“That’s right. The log says it’s one of only two absolutely safe places. Anyone in their right mind would try to get in.”

“You’re not wrong—everyone wants in. But brother, you’ve been holed up in ZM City for too long. You don’t know what it’s like out there now.”

“Oh? What’s happening?”

“ZZ City has already fallen. The entire urban area, except for the Celestial Pillar, is crawling with corpses. What’s worse, the Pillar’s energy reserves are almost depleted. The holy light has shrunk from a hundred meters to just sixty, and it won’t last much longer.”

At this, not only I but the other three looked at him in surprise.

“How do you know this?” I eyed him warily. If things were as he said, the Pillar would be completely besieged—no word should have made it out.

“I’m the leader of a scavenger team. I carry communication equipment, and just a few days ago I accidentally picked up a distress signal from there. That’s how I heard the news. I’m sure I’m not the only one; anyone within a hundred kilometers of ZZ City with the right equipment must have received it too.”

“And to send out that message, the Pillar must have burned through a lot of its energy. There’s been nothing since. Two possibilities: either something happened to the people inside, or the energy reserves simply aren’t enough for another broadcast.”

“But I don’t think it’s the first. The Pillar’s safety relies on having enough energy, but even so, it wouldn’t fall that quickly. The sixty-meter radius of white light should hold for a while, and with all the resources inside, they’ll do everything possible to stretch that out until someone can… help them.”

I felt uneasy after hearing Tong Jia’s words and lit another cigarette. The half-empty pack I’d just scavenged was nearly gone.

“Attention, host. The genetic eco-chain has developed new traits. Please check immediately…”

I paused at the voice in my mind, then continued, “Well, I think it’s hopeless. In this situation, no one will risk going to support ZZ City. If nothing changes, that Pillar will fall.”

No one contradicted me; instead, a heavy silence settled over us. In these times, it’s hard enough to keep oneself alive—who would send a rescue party a hundred kilometers away? The survivor log claimed that activating ninety-nine Pillars would bring some unpredictable change, but the general public treated that as nothing more than a fart.

The Pillar’s exterior is impenetrable. Even if the white light fails, the corpses outside can never get in. But those inside, starved of supplies, will eventually die out.

“You didn’t tell me all this just to keep me informed, did you? Let me guess—you want to recruit me into your team?” I exhaled a plume of smoke and chuckled.

Tong Jia was straightforward. “That’s right. Anyone who’s survived over a year on their own must have something special. In this era, we need to stick together. It’d be a pity to miss out on someone like you. And since the Pillar is out of reach, why not join us?”

Huo Bing’s expression shifted, but she quickly composed herself. Still, I caught it as I was watching her closely.

I gave Huo Bing a long look before replying to Tong Jia, “That’s not out of the question. I wasn’t planning to head for the Pillar anymore anyway. Going back to your settlement with you isn’t a bad option.”

“Brother Cao, one more thing—what was all that commotion outside just now?” Tong Jia’s teammates echoed the question, and it seemed to be on everyone’s mind.

I picked up my Tang sword and wiped it clean on the bandages around my arm, scrubbing away the blood until the blade gleamed.

“It was nothing. Just took out a few dozen low-level corpses. I’d found this convenience store earlier and came back to scavenge some supplies. You know the rest.”

One of the team members gave me a thumbs-up, his face tinged with awe. “Impressive—really impressive. You took down the horde that had us trapped for so long, all on your own with just a sword. I can’t think of any word but fierce!”

Another chimed in, “Exactly. Brother Cao, if you joined a major settlement like Solitude, you’d easily land an important position. The benefits are fantastic!”

I had no comment on that. An important position? To be honest, I wasn’t interested. Judging from their words, this so-called “Solitude Settlement” must house at least a thousand people, or it wouldn’t be called large.

I smirked, noticing something curious. Huo Bing was looking at me with a kind of hopeful anticipation, while Tong Jia appeared calm, his expression unreadable.

What was Huo Bing hoping for? And what was Tong Jia thinking?

“I’m curious—how did you manage to cover the fifty kilometers to get to ZM City?”