The Apocalyptic Evolution.

"It would be better if you died instead!"

A disturbing thought suddenly crossed Xia He's mind, leaving her taken aback.

She felt a shiver run down her spine. Why was she thinking such things? Was she really becoming like those who lacked even the most fundamental sense of morality?

"Why are you still sitting there? Come and assist me!" Bai Yi was oblivious to the dark contemplation that had overcome his trusted teammate in a matter of seconds.

The overwhelming force of the advanced zombies had rendered him unable to break free, forcing him to rely solely on agility to evade their grasp. Responding to Bai Yi's urgent call, Xia He quickly recognized the gravity of the situation; she could not let him perish, as that would only leave her vulnerable.

Biting her tongue to ignite her focus, Xia He seized the arrow at her feet, nocking it with determination. With all her strength, she released the arrow, which zipped through the air towards the forehead of the zombie grappling with Bai Yi.

"Dang!" The arrow struck the target but failed to penetrate as anticipated. The skin and bone of advanced zombies proved far more resilient than those of their less evolved counterparts. Despite her best efforts, Xia He's shot merely grazed the surface.

"Curse it!" Bai Yi instinctively jerked back, narrowly avoiding the arrow that whisked past his ear in a near miss.

Both he and Xia He were startled by the close call. In that moment, the formidable advanced zombie seized the opportunity; Bai Yi found himself hoisted off the ground, completely at its mercy.

With a fierce determination, he grasped his knife tightly, using every ounce of strength to subdue the zombie attempting to rise again. With fierce resolve in his eyes, he implored Xia He, "Focus your abilities and eliminate it!"

Bai Yi was shocked that Xia He's combat instincts faltered at such a critical moment. She was frozen, not utilizing her powers even when it was most imperative. If this continued, neither of them would survive the encounter.

Hastily, Xia He retrieved the damaged arrow thrown by Bai Yi. A twinge of doubt crept in as she assessed the compromised arrowhead, but time was of the essence. After taking a determined breath, she readied her longbow.

As the bowstring strained against her strength, a sharp screech pierced the air. With her gaze fixed ahead like a hawk, Xia He felt the unique energy within her begin to coalesce around the damaged arrow.

Her focus sharpened entirely on the looming threat before her. In that moment, external chaos faded; she could neither hear the zombies' roars nor witness the surrounding turmoil.

A gust of wind enveloped her, lifting her hair gently as she prepared for her shot.

With a swift motion, Xia He released the arrow, which whistled through the air like a projectile. 

As Bai Yi grappled with the zombie's ferocity, the sound of the arrow cutting through the air filled his ears. A gripping sense of danger overtook him, forcing him to relinquish his hold as the powerful advanced zombie hurled him away.

The clash between the awakened threat and the unleashed arrow resulted in a monumental explosion of force. Amid the chaos, the arrow found its mark, piercing through the zombie's neck before disappearing into the distance.

Debris from the destroyed arrows scattered violently, and Bai Yi, now on the ground, shielded his head from the falling remnants.

In a moment of silence, Bai Yi stared in disbelief at the battered form of the once-threatening zombie. Its neck was barely held together by sinew, its head nearly severed.

While the knife that had been plunged into its neck fell to the ground, the zombie remained animated, its head hanging at an unnatural angle as it continued its pursuit of Xia He.

In fear, Xia He discarded the broken bow and stepped back. "Stay away from me!"

Observing the zombie's weakened state, Bai Yi gritted his teeth, grasped the remaining knife, and forced himself upright. With a fierce determination, he aimed for the neck of the now-damaged creature and, with a roar of effort, drove the blade downward.

This time, the blade did not fail him; it cleanly severed the zombie's head, sending it crashing against the wall before it collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

Breathless, Bai Yi let the knife slip from his grasp and collapsed in exhaustion as he finally prevailed.

As the threat was vanquished, Xia He stood stunned for a moment before the reality of the situation settled in. She looked at Bai Yi, who had exhausted himself, and a myriad of emotions flashed across her face before she turned away.

Bai Yi, feeling a wave of relief, was taken aback as he witnessed Xia He's abrupt departure. "Hey! Where are you going? Come back and help me!"

Xia He paused, turned slowly, and with tears welling in her eyes, spoke coldly. "Why should I assist you? You abandoned me when it mattered most! I didn't expect you to be so selfish. Is this what teamwork means to you?"

Bai Yi caught her gaze, a mix of regret and frustration filling him as he replied, "If I had left, would I have come back at all?"

Xia He scoffed, "Explain why you left me to deal with the danger alone!"

Bai Yi faltered, struggling to articulate his reasoning, for it entailed a personal truth he was not yet ready to disclose.

Her voice dripping with skepticism, she retorted, "You cannot provide an explanation. I doubt your intentions. This time, I won't be misled again." With that, she turned resolutely toward the stairs.

"Wait!" Bai Yi called, desperation rising in his voice. "There's something you need to see!"

But Xia He scoffed, "What could you possibly say now? Why continue deceiving me?"

Instead of explaining, Bai Yi extended his left hand and retrieved the skull-cutting knife from where it lay. The blade materialized in his grasp like an enchantment.

This surprising display rendered Xia He speechless, her expression shifting from disdain to astonished focus.

Using the knife to support himself, Bai Yi spoke softly, "Remember your questions about why I left? Follow me, and I'll clarify."

Without waiting for her response, he moved away, his steps determined despite his injuries.

Curiosity, mingling with reluctance, compelled Xia He to follow him quickly.

After a brief distance, Bai Yi halted in front of a dormitory door nearby. Xia He took in the scene; the door had been forcefully severed, revealing a decapitated zombie inside. "What is the significance of this?" she asked.

With keen insight, she recognized it as evidence of Bai Yi's fighting method.

Pointing at the corpse, Bai Yi explained, "You wanted to know why I left the fight. I came here to deal with this specific zombie."

Xia He had anticipated various explanations, but Bai Yi's candidness took her by surprise. Torn between disappointment and indignation, she retorted, "Do you think me naive? While we faced imminent danger, you diverted your attention to this?!"

Bai Yi shrugged, offering an apologetic smile. "Trust me, I had my reasons. Remember your inquiry from yesterday about my abilities? This is part of them. Defeating zombies enhances my strength, and each time I level up, I can restore my physical condition."

In disbelief, Xia He processed his words, grappling with the revelation. If it were true, all the peculiar improvements in Bai Yi's capabilities began to make sense.

"Initially, I was injured. Under those circumstances, I couldn't overcome this zombie. I knew I needed to eliminate just one more to level up. While it wouldn't heal my injuries, it would restore my state to its peak, allowing me to effectively confront the threat."

As Bai Yi earnestly detailed his experience, a flicker of contemplation crossed Xia He's face. "I truly meant what I said about us being teammates. If it came down to it, I would choose to level up to ensure my survival first before confronting a zombie. If you cannot accept that, I won't force you."

Bai Yi studied her, waiting for her response with earnest intent.

Xia He's cheeks warmed—she felt an inclination towards belief in his sincerity yet struggled to articulate her thoughts. Sensing that Bai Yi was a simple soul at heart, she stomped in frustration and lightly hit his chest. "Ah, this is infuriating! Fine, I'll forgive you this time!" Embarrassed, she turned and dashed away.

Bai Yi, having anticipated an answer, was caught off-guard as her punch met his injury, eliciting a yelp of pain. However, relief settled over him after hearing her words; the threat of their partnership dissolving was averted.

Clenching his teeth, he called after her, "Wait! There's something else important I need to discuss!