The Apocalyptic Evolution.

Xia He nodded, her expression obscured by her mask, yet her determined dark eyes were evident. The corridor on the third floor had been cleaned by Bai Yi the previous day, leaving him to address the zombies trapped in a room. Utilizing his established technique, Bai Yi shattered the glass on the door with his knife, prompting the zombies within to reach out with frantic hands.

With excitement, Bai Yi continuously struck with his black knife. A surge of energy coursed through him, erasing any lingering fatigue. He realized that he had been promoted to the next level.

Even without consulting the light screen, he could assess the changes in his attributes. With his second thrust, he distinctly felt an increase in his swing speed and strength. The black, skull-splitting knife cleaved through the zombie's head with ease.

"Excellent!" Bai Yi exclaimed joyfully, having reached level five. In that moment, he recognized that his capabilities had surpassed those he possessed prior to his awakening.

It felt as if he had acquired a new body, sparking a desire to express his exhilaration. However, with Xia He nearby, he kept his enthusiasm in check.

He swiftly moved to the next room, his eyes gleaming with determination. Every encounter was a learning opportunity, and he understood the significant experience this ability required.

Bai Yi moved at remarkable speed. Xia He was initially astonished by his effective and safe method of dispatching zombies. Suddenly realizing his presence, she called out, "Wait for me!" However, she noticed that Bai Yi had already concluded the latest battle.

She watched in amazement, surprised by his remarkable speed. If his previous speed of 9 points had been impressive, the new speed of 11 points made him appear particularly extraordinary.

"Be careful!" Xia He warned as Bai Yi prepared to break down another door, which unexpectedly swung open, releasing two zombies. Reacting instinctively, she reached for her bow and released an arrow. However, she was startled to see that Bai Yi had already severed one of the zombies' heads with his knife.

Just as Bai Yi extracted his knife from the defeated zombie, a sudden rush of wind caught his attention. He turned just in time to see an arrow speed past him, embedding itself in the face of the remaining zombie.

"Wow, you almost hit me!" Bai Yi exclaimed, his heart racing. If he hadn't moved at the right moment, the arrow would have struck him.

Xia He was equally taken aback. Despite her previous confidence in her marksmanship, she quickly realized her mishap. Blushing slightly, she remarked, "I was trying to assist you, but I didn't anticipate your swift actions!"

Upon absorbing this, she recognized that Bai Yi's combat ability had markedly improved since the previous day.

Could it be an illusion? Xia He pondered, observing Bai Yi's industrious figure with newfound curiosity.

There were not many zombies on the third floor. Within half an hour, as the last zombie fell, both of them exhaled a sigh of relief. Bai Yi shook his weary arms; although he had reached level five, he felt comparable to an ordinary person.

This was to be expected, as his attributes had not yet surpassed the capabilities of the average individual. Xia He realized that she had merely followed along, having not engaged in the battle at all apart from the earlier incident with the arrow. 

For the first time in eleven days of the apocalypse, she absurdly wished for more zombies to encounter. With the battle concluded, it was time to gather the spoils.

The two worked collaboratively, each selecting a side and vigorously searching the area. In addition to essential food items, Bai Yi also collected necessary supplies for Li-Mei, including unworn underwear and personal hygiene products.

However, they quickly noted the scarcity of useful items in the female dormitory, prompting Bai Yi to express eagerness to leave and return to the cafeteria.

Unfortunately, from their vantage point on the fifth floor, they could see the lingering horde of zombies congregated outside the dormitory building. Despite a day's worth of dispersal, it was insufficient for them to feel confident about making their escape.

With a sigh, Bai Yi recognized that they would need to wait another day. As darkness fell, the prospect of continuing their pursuit for experience points was dashed. They discussed the food they had gathered, and Bai Yi then began to repurpose a table into strips, using the iron bed frame from the dormitory as a base for a simple stove.

Xia He found Bai Yi's innovation intriguing, taking the initiative to clean a dusty frying pan with mineral water before placing it over the flames. It fit perfectly.

The two quickly filled the pan with clean water, added several packets of instant noodles, and diced two sausages. Soon enough, the delightful aroma of the cooking noodles filled the air, and both found themselves eagerly anticipating the meal.

For a moment, conversation ceased as they focused on their bowls, savoring the sounds of bubbling broth and the satisfying crunch of their slurping.

Twenty minutes later, Bai Yi lay comfortably on the bed, accepting a cup of fragrant instant coffee from Xia He: "This is wonderful!"

Xia He was somewhat stunned, reflecting on the stark contrast between now and their previous state, where they lacked basic comforts. It was hard to believe that just one day later, they could enjoy hot meals and have the convenience of making coffee after dinner.

Contemplating this, she looked at Bai Yi, who seemed to relish the sweet coffee post-meal. Noticing her gaze, he chuckled, "What's the matter? Is there something on my face?" He exaggeratedly rubbed his face, attempting to lighten the mood.

Xia He rolled her eyes, replying, "Can you not be so carefree? This is the end of the world!"

Bai Yi shrugged innocently, "I am concerned; I haven't relaxed at all in these ten days. It's rare for me to indulge in such a hearty meal, and I believe it's important to unwind. Overly tense nerves can be detrimental!" He animatedly gestured to illustrate his point.

After a moment, Xia He asked, "Can you share what's happening outside?" She felt a chill at the thought of the chaotic world beyond.

Bai Yi paused, his expression growing somber. "What can I say? During the apocalypse, many perished or fled! I was fortunate to remain in the cafeteria initially. While I was briefly surrounded by zombies, the ensuing chaos led to many casualties. By the time I left yesterday, there were over a thousand individuals there. I'm uncertain how long their food supply will last."

Bai Yi expressed concern for Li-Mei, hoping she was finding ways to cope, reassured by her abilities. 

Xia He remained quiet, listening intently as Bai Yi recounted the changes that had transpired at the school over the past ten days. Despite holding a warm cup, she felt an underlying chill within her.

Once Bai Yi fell silent from thirst, Xia He gazed at him, sadness evident in her expression. "Bai Yi, if the world is overrun with these monsters, do you think we can survive?"

Bai Yi considered this for a moment, his eyes reflecting determination. "We must believe in our nation and the resilience of humanity. Help will arrive, and when it does, our country will find peace once again."

After a prolonged silence without response, Bai Yi glanced at Xia He in the dim light, noticing her curled up against the bed frame, her eyes closed in slumber, with a single tear escaping her eye.

Seeing her like this tugged at Bai Yi's heart. Despite her strength, she was still a young woman, and he realized that the last ten days prior to their meeting must have been particularly difficult for her.

He gently approached, taking the cup from her hand to prevent it from dropping and draping a quilt around her. Feeling a sense of security, Xia He hugged herself tighter, lulled to sleep by the warmth of the fire.

With a sigh, Bai Yi returned to his own bed and activated the attribute light screen.

Level: 5 (17/32) Speed: 11, Defense: 6, Strength: 4.75, Spirit: 4.75, Constitution: 3.5.

As expected, he noted the adjustments. Clicking to check the trust level between himself and Xia He, he was pleasantly surprised to see it had increased to 60% after only one day.

The experience share available from her was also noted at 30%. This significance meant that Xia He could gain experience points by assisting in eliminating three zombies. Although the impact might not be obvious now, it would become notably valuable as Bai Yi's level increased and more experience points were required. 

He deduced that it would be advantageous to find more capable teammates moving forward. Bai Yi didn't perceive this as a self-serving thought; rather, it represented a mutually beneficial arrangement, as each party would gain from the other's strength.

While Xia He slept, Bai Yi tended to his wounds, as the exertion of the day had reopened several of them. He had little choice in the matter; his healing abilities remained inadequate.

He pondered whether he might eventually achieve a level of instant recovery as his skills evolved.