Chapter Fifty-Five: I Can Fly

Sun Dabiao let out a blood-curdling scream as he crashed to the ground. Bereft of the protection of the flames, the surrounding zombies surged forward, engulfing him in a tide of corpses.

"The treasure is ours." Tank clasped the box, its handcuffs still dangling with half an arm attached. The other humans nearby had all been devoured.

With victory secured, the zombies were more exhilarated than ever.

"Roar—" Tank, too, was swept up in the excitement. He raised the box and bellowed, as if hoisting the World Cup in triumph, flaunting his prize—though he had no idea what lay inside.

Amusingly, the surrounding zombies cooperated, emitting low growls to join his celebration.

"Idiot! What are you showing off for? Get moving, now!" came the unique, birdlike call of Crow.

"Huh? Right!" Tank snapped out of his excitement.

This wasn’t his turf.

Danger still lingered; he needed to leave quickly.

He subdued his posture, became more discreet, and hugged the box close, preparing to slip away quietly.

"Hey! Stop right there." Suddenly, a voice like grinding stones sounded from behind.

It was the towering Corpse King responsible for this territory.

"Hmm?" Tank halted, but didn’t turn, leaving only his broad back in view.

The Corpse King’s presence silenced the other zombie minions, who turned their gaze toward the burly Tank, following their leader’s eyes.

For a moment, Tank became the focus of the entire horde.

"Sometimes being too conspicuous... isn’t such a good thing," Tank muttered inwardly.

The Corpse King had already discerned he was an outsider.

"Hand over what you’re carrying."

"I’ll give you nothing!" Tank spat back, and shouted at Crow, "Run!"

Without another glance, he broke into a mad dash, smashing through several walls as he raced through the building.

The Corpse King’s fierce eyes widened, immediately sensing trouble.

"Catch him!"

"Roar—"

The zombies responded, howling as they gave chase after Tank and Crow.

But their speed was unmatched. Especially Tank, who bulldozed through obstacles, crashing through anything in his path, always barreling straight ahead.

Finally, Tank reached the edge of the building and leapt, plunging from dozens of meters above.

"Damn!"

---

Midair, Tank realized something was wrong.

He wasn’t afraid of the fall, but the street below was swarming with zombies, as though they’d been waiting for him.

"Bang!"

Tank landed atop the heap of corpses, his powerful impact cracking the pavement and sending several zombies flying.

Yet the rest lunged at him relentlessly.

Tank charged through the horde like a wild bull; even when zombies clung to his back, biting and tearing, he paid them no mind.

But now, the Corpse King and his elite squad had arrived.

If caught, even Tank’s strength would be insufficient to keep him from being torn apart.

"Head for the rooftop... head for the rooftop," Crow advised from above.

"Oh!"

Tank looked up—another tall building loomed ahead. He rushed forward, leapt, and began climbing its walls.

He moved swiftly, scaling to the top in moments.

Ordinary zombies lacked the ability to climb, only the elites kept pace.

"Don’t run!"

Turning, Tank saw the Corpse King and his minions closing in.

He raced across the rooftop, jumping from one building to the next like a world-class parkour athlete.

But the Corpse King was even faster.

Tank was built for strength, not speed; at the same level, he had no advantage, and the Corpse King was closing in.

Behind him, hundreds of elite zombies followed, relentless as wolf pups.

"No way I can outrun them..."

Clutching the box, Tank glanced back; the Corpse King drew closer. If push came to shove, he’d fight them all!

Crow spoke again.

"You need to find a way to hide."

"Right." Tank found the idea brilliant—why hadn’t he thought of it himself?

Ahead, the rooftop’s edge was approaching; this building was over a hundred meters tall.

Tank didn’t head for the opposite rooftop, but instead dove straight for the street below.

"Hmm?" The Corpse King sensed something was off—Tank’s body plunged out of sight. He hurried to the building’s edge and looked down.

He was astonished to find the street empty—Tank had vanished!

"Boss, where did he go?" The minions arrived and peered below, equally bewildered.

The Corpse King pondered.

"He must be nearby, hiding. Find him—now!"

"Yes..."

The elite zombies dispersed.

---

At that moment, Tank and Crow had already hidden in a small room inside the building.

---

Earlier, as he leapt from the rooftop, Tank hadn’t landed on the street, but had grabbed a windowsill mid-fall and slipped inside the building.

He hunched his massive frame, cradling the box, hiding in a corner.

"Little Black Bird, that was a good idea."

"Of course," Crow replied, unabashed.

"But... what now? We can’t get out! That Corpse King won’t let up, his minions will only gather more and more, eventually sealing off every exit—they’ll find me sooner or later..."

As time passed, Tank’s situation grew more precarious.

Crow, ever resourceful, reassured him.

"Don’t worry. I’ll go back for reinforcements. You just stay hidden."

"But how will you get out? The place is surrounded—they’ll spot you, and eat you!"

Tank tried to dissuade him.

Crow blinked his red eyes, fell silent for a moment, then looked at Tank as one might gaze at a simpleton.

"I can fly, you fool..."

With a flutter of wings, Crow flew out the window.

Tank was speechless, only now remembering—birds can fly.

Reflecting, he realized Crow was loyal; he hadn’t flown away earlier, staying to help Tank hide before heading off for help.

"Yes... he’s a good bird!"

Tank was still pondering when, outside, a black figure circled in the air and suddenly returned.

Crow landed on the windowsill, red eyes scrutinizing him.

Tank was puzzled.

"Huh? You’re back again? Don’t worry about me—go on!"

"Give me the treasure."

---

‘Knock! Knock! Knock!’

Soon after, Lin Dong’s window was tapped.

He turned to look.

Crow stood on the sill, but what caught Lin Dong’s attention was the box in Crow’s beak—silver metal, emblazoned with a red circle containing a T.

It was the exclusive emblem of the Tech Company.

"Why so polite today—coming to me and bringing something?" Lin Dong asked lazily as he opened the window.

Crow’s red eyes gleamed.

"This is a surprise."

---