Apocalypse Survival Guide for a Beta [GB] - Chapter 18

“Beep—beep—”

“Beep—”

A bright, spotless white room was filled with observation screens of various sizes. Most of the screens displayed either flat, unchanging lines or orderly waveforms, with a white-robed observer stationed in front of each one.

Beneath the screens, various colored sensor wires extended toward a massive cocoon inside a glass chamber at the front of the observation room.

On one of the screens, a waveform fluctuated slightly, only about a millimeter, but the observer monitoring it immediately noticed. At the same time, three observers stood up simultaneously.

“Endorphin fluctuated.”

“Cortisol levels rising.”

“Adrenaline levels increasing.”

One of the observers lowered his head and spoke into the communicator clipped to his collar, “Notify the Bishop. The subject’s consciousness has exhibited emotional fluctuations.”

Outside, a flurry of hurried footsteps echoed before someone strode into the observation room. “What kind of emotional fluctuation?”

Within fifty seconds, an analyst had already compiled a detailed table on the screen. With a serious expression, he reported, “Preliminary analysis suggests the emotion being conveyed is… displeasure.”

When he received no immediate response, the analyst hesitated and glanced up, only to see the striking young man with golden hair standing before him, his eyes glistening with warmth. The analyst froze in surprise.

The young man placed one hand over his chest while the other gently rested against the glass, touching the massive cocoon. His gaze was filled with reverence as he whispered, “Increase the localized stimulation hormones. We must… wake Him as soon as possible.”

Then, he emphasized once more, “Ensure absolute safety.”

“Yes, sir!”

***

Tianhai Tower’s parking lot.

Wen Xiaxia and the medics were performing surgery on Li Fan and other injured team members inside the parking lot’s guard post, while the rest of the group rested and resupplied under a makeshift shelter Zhou Yu had quickly assembled.

Among them, the seven-year-old Xi Ya stood out. She was undergoing physical training, her small, slightly chubby face glistening with sweat from the workout.

Xi Ya seized every moment to train her endurance. Earlier that morning, she had clearly felt the benefits. When she summoned flames with her hands, the previous sluggishness had lessened significantly. She had also worked well with Brother Zhou Yu and Sister Song Yan, using the perfume beads effectively in combat.

At the very least, she had been able to help in the battle. It only strengthened her determination to train even harder as she wanted to become as strong as her mother.

Seeing the young girl’s dedication, Peter was also inspired to train alongside her.

And when others saw the pair, one young child and one adult, pushing themselves so diligently, an unspoken sense of urgency spread among them. One by one, they began exercising as well.

In the apocalypse, maintaining a strong body was never a bad idea.

Amidst the sound of heavy breathing from the training, a rhythmic ‘ding ding ding’ rang from the shelter where Lin Bai was hammering a piece of metal. No one knew what she was doing, nor did anyone dare to ask.

Lu Jia, still upset about Lin Bai shooting at Lou Tiannan earlier, couldn’t help but glance at her with a lingering sense of resentment.

Song Yan noticed and nudged Lu Jia with her elbow. Lu Jia knew he shouldn’t hold grudges against a fellow survivor, but he simply couldn’t let it go.

Suddenly, the door to the makeshift operating room swung open and a medic rushed out to report to Zhu Liang. “Vice Captain, Xiaxia says there’s a metal fragment lodged less than three millimeters from Li Fan’s femoral artery. The conditions here are too crude. We don’t have anesthetics and we’re low on disinfectants and hemostatic agents. If we remove it forcefully, there’s an over 80% chance of secondary trauma, not to mention the necessary debridement and follow-up procedures. If severe bleeding occurs…”

The medic didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone already understood what that meant.

In the distance, Lou Tiannan heard the conversation. His body temperature was still abnormally high, but he forcibly suppressed his discomfort and asked, “What did Xiaxia say?”

As soon as Lou Tiannan approached, the others could feel an intense heat radiating from him, but no one had time to care about that right now.

“Xiaxia said we have at most ten minutes to find a fully stocked, sterile operating room suitable for surgery. Otherwise, she can’t guarantee success.”

The group fell silent. Wen Xiaxia was their best medic. If even she wasn’t confident, that meant the situation was critical.

Before the apocalypse, this wouldn’t have even been a request. Hospitals were everywhere, ready to provide what they needed.

But hospitals, malls, and schools had become high-density zombie zones, breeding grounds for second-tier and third-tier zombies. Hospitals, in particular, as the first places hit by the outbreak, were among the most dangerous.

Clearing a location in ten minutes and getting Wen Xiaxia, Li Fan, and the others into an operating room? Impossible.

Lu Jia’s eyes turned red. “Captain Lou, I’ll go find one!” Li Fan had joined the Third Squad at the same time as him. The two were close and Li Fan had been injured while covering him as he used his ability.

Lou Tiannan was studying the map when he heard Lu Jia’s words. Without looking up, he assigned tasks, “There are five 24-hour automated pharmacies nearby. The storage rooms should have the necessary meds. Zhu Liang and I will go retrieve them.”

“Can we make it in time?!” Song Yan couldn’t help but worry. More than that, she was concerned about Lou Tiannan’s condition. He had just fought a brutal battle that morning and then cleared out the parking lot. He couldn’t see it himself, but she had noticed the redness around his pupils, an obvious sign of ability overuse.

“We do what we can—”

“I can perform the surgery,” someone suddenly spoke.

Everyone turned to the speaker at once.

It was Lin Bai.

“You?” Lu Jia was skeptical.

Lin Bai pulled a few vials from her pocket and waved them in front of the group.

Their expressions instantly changed.

All of them had basic medical knowledge and they immediately recognized the drugs as bupivacaine, carbazochrome sodium sulfonate, and other anesthetics and hemostatic agents.

Zhou Yu was delighted. “Then get in there right now—”

“I have conditions.” Lin Bai tucked the vials back into her pocket.

“What conditions?” Lou Tiannan looked at her.

“I want a third-tier zombie crystal core. One.” Lin Bai recalled the conversation she had overheard. Since Lou Tiannan had been willing to pick a fight with Elena over an unfamiliar hostage, would he give up a third-tier core for a teammate’s life?

“Absolutely not!” Song Yan instinctively refused. She knew exactly how important those cores were. Securing them was one of their mission’s top priorities.

The moment Lin Bai made her demand, everyone’s first reaction was rejection. But inside that makeshift operating room, their teammate was still in danger.

“It’s up to you,” Lin Bai said indifferently. “A third-tier core for your teammate’s life. Decide for yourselves.”

“Can you guarantee he’ll survive?” Lou Tiannan asked.

“Of course.” Lin Bai had seen the wound while Wen Xiaxia treated Li Fan in the vehicle. The metal fragment was in an extremely dangerous position. If the goal was to save his leg, she couldn’t promise success. But ensuring he stayed alive? That wasn’t a problem for her.

“How can we trust you’re telling the truth?!” Lu Jia snapped, furious. His resentment toward Lin Bai was at its peak. She had shot at Lou Tiannan and now, even though she had the medicine to save Li Fan, she was using it as leverage to get a third-tier core.

Lin Bai ignored him. She looked directly at Lou Tiannan, waiting for his answer.

“Deal.” Lou Tiannan’s voice was low but firm.

“Captain Lou!” Lu Jia was frantic.

Lou Tiannan stared at Lin Bai and said, “But Wen Xiaxia has to be in there.”

Lin Bai felt like she had found Lou Tiannan’s weak spot. She said, “Sure, but give me the crystal core first.”

“I’ll give it to you after Li Fan survives.”

“No. Now.” Lin Bai didn’t budge, her gaze unwavering.

After just three seconds, Lou Tiannan relented. “Song Yan.”

Song Yan looked at him questioningly, but he gave her a firm nod.

She reached into the bag she carried, clenched her fist around something, and held her hand out to Lin Bai.

Lin Bai extended her palm.

With a brief exchange, a third-tier zombie crystal core now rested in her hand.

She slipped it into her pocket but remained where she was.

“Aren’t you going in?” Lu Jia asked.

“I’m taking a break,” Lin Bai replied.

“You—!” Lu Jia was furious. This woman was too much!

One look from Lou Tiannan and Zhou Yu pulled Lu Jia away.

The other survivors were watching from a distance. They couldn’t hear what was being said, but they could tell Lu Jia was upset.

Not long after, Wen Xiaxia came out. Zhu Liang gave her a quick rundown of the situation. Though Wen Xiaxia was also skeptical of Lin Bai, an order was an order. She could only nod in response.

Time was slipping away. The ten-minute critical window for treatment was passing and the tension in the air was palpable.

Just as Lou Tiannan was about to speak, Lin Bai casually walked into the guard post with her hands in her pockets after having absorbed energy for three minutes.

Wen Xiaxia hurried in after her.

Inside, only Li Fan remained. He was in terrible shape, his face deathly pale from the pain.

Lin Bai handed the medication to Wen Xiaxia so she could prepare the injection.

Meanwhile, Lin Bai disinfected her hands and examined the metal fragment lodged in Li Fan’s femoral artery. The surrounding area had already been disinfected by Wen Xiaxia, all that remained was to remove it.

Wen Xiaxia held the syringe and injected the anesthetic into Li Fan’s muscle.

As soon as the anesthetic took effect, Lin Bai picked up the tweezers and clamped them onto the metal fragment in Li Fan’s leg.

Wen Xiaxia held her breath, about to warn her, but before she could speak, Lin Bai had already pulled the fragment out in one swift motion.

Wen Xiaxia immediately grabbed a gauze pad and prepared for massive bleeding, but there was none.

Lin Bai’s hands were incredibly steady.

Even though the fragment was only three millimeters from the femoral artery, she removed it so precisely that there was almost no secondary trauma.

It was the best possible outcome!

After extracting the fragment, Lin Bai used a scalpel to cut away the damaged tissue surrounding the wound.

The sight of torn flesh was gruesome, making everyone’s scalp tingle. Yet despite how ‘rough’ she seemed in excising the necrotic tissue, she avoided the femoral artery with absolute precision, all within such a makeshift surgical environment.

Wen Xiaxia was shocked by Lin Bai’s skill, but she didn’t stop moving.

“Gauze.”

“Saline solution.”

“Toothed forceps.”

“Suture needle, suture thread.”

…

“Scissors.”

A soft snip and the sutures on Li Fan’s wound were cut.

Wen Xiaxia finally exhaled in relief. Now, all that remained was post-surgical care and recovery, something she could handle.

From the moment Lin Bai entered the guard post to the completion of the stitches, less than thirty minutes had passed.

When they stepped out, a group of people was waiting anxiously outside. Seeing them emerge so soon, their expressions turned serious as they studied their faces.

Wen Xiaxia gave them a simple nod. The tension immediately eased and several people let out quiet sighs of relief.

Lin Bai, having secured a zombie crystal core, was in a good mood. She was just about to speak when a sudden, hammering pain struck her mind and everything went black.

“Lin Bai?!” The group was startled and someone instinctively moved to support her.

But in that instant, Lin Bai’s vision nearly vanished. Hyper-alert and on edge, she instinctively pushed away the person reaching for her, only to stumble into an embrace burning with intense heat.