Superpower

Emily gently shook her brother awake and led him into the space, a sanctuary that was becoming increasingly vital to their survival. As they stepped inside, they were greeted by the sight of two little ones, Chloe and Duke, amidst a bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables. The variety was astonishing, with both seasonal and out-of-season crops flourishing in harmony. Emily couldn't help but stare in utter bewilderment. Chloe and Duke brimming with pride, rushed over to her, desperate to showcase their handiwork. Chloe, with a gleeful sparkle in her eyes, claimed she had simply wished for the vegetables to grow. As she spoke, she picked up some seeds and whispered, "Little seeds, grow up quickly."

To Emily's astonishment, the seeds began to sprout, stretch, and bear fruit right before her eyes. The sight filled Emily and Alex with unparalleled joy. Regardless of the hardships that lay ahead, they were reassured of a constant supply of fresh vegetables, a treasure in the desolate landscape of the apocalypse, and a safeguard against the ailments that could arise from vitamin deficiencies.

At that moment, their father and mother came to find them, after breakfast preparations complete. The miraculous sight that met their eyes overwhelmed them with a surge of emotion. Having witnessed the unspeakable horrors of the apocalypse, they were acutely aware of the value of their children's miraculous abilities. The thought of their offspring's resilience and the hardships they must have endured to develop such powers brought tears to Elizabeth's eyes. She grasped Emily's hand, her voice trembling with emotion, "Honey, you must have endured so much."

Emily responded with a gentle shake of her head and a reassuring smile. "It's okay, it's all in the past now. Everything is going to be alright." The apocalypse had indeed arrived, but the presence of her family was her greatest solace. After breakfast, Alex took Chloe aside to a room, curiously inquiring about the activation of her abilities. Emily understood his eagerness; in her previous life, her own abilities were modest, a level two wood-type, and her daughter had shown no signs of any powers. Abilities such as lightning, ice, wind, and fire were far more potent and essential for survival in this new world.

After exchanging a few words with her parents, Emily left the space to assess the situation outside. The neighborhood and the entrance of the community had been overrun by zombies, a scene reminiscent of a nightmare from a horror film. The undead were indiscriminately attacking any living being they could find. A middle-aged man, having tripped and fallen, was swiftly surrounded by the insatiable horde. The streets were littered with crashed cars, broken barriers, and shattered streetlights, evidence of the hasty exodus of their former occupants. The chaos was palpable.

Emily observed the zombies' relentless onslaught, their attacks unprovoked and unending. Others were desperately trying to flee into the complex. She could only hope that the entrance gate would hold firm. A breach would spell disaster. It was clear that she and her brother would need to learn the art of dispatching zombies, to enhance their chances of survival. Strength and skill would be crucial for their journey to the capital.

Upon her return to the space, Emily found her brother and Chloe engrossed in their activities. Chloe, with a playful glint in her eye, was giving her uncle a most serious lesson on ability activation, instructing him to perform handstands, twist his hips, and execute somersaults. Had Emily not seen her daughter's mischievous smile, she might have been deceived into thinking she was genuinely attempting to teach. With a gentle interruption to their fun, Emily asked Chloe to take Duke to play with their grandparents. After Chloe left, She turned to Alex and shared her plan.

"I plan to practice killing zombies these next few days to refine my survival skills. Now that the apocalypse has begun, there's no telling when production will resume. I also aim to gather more supplies. Brother, would you join me?"

Upon hearing his sister's plan, Alex still felt a slight hesitation. Unlike Emily, who had come back from the future after experiencing eight years of hellish days, he was not yet accustomed to the idea of killing zombies. But upon seeing Emily's resolute gaze, that hint of doubt vanished, and he nodded firmly. "Absolutely, I'll get ready as well." His thoughts turned to the necessities for zombie combat, such as weapons and protective gear. After all, an injury in this world could well be a death sentence.

After a quick dinner, Emily took Chloe back to their room to rest. They took a shower and soon drifted off to sleep, lulled by the promise of a new day.

The following morning, the aroma of chicken noodle soup wafted through the air, rousing Emily from her slumber. She washed up and made her way to the living room, where their mother had prepared breakfast and was urging her daughter to eat. A bowl of chicken noodle soup awaited each family member, with Chloe's portion still gently bubbling on the stove. Even Duke had its own large bowl.

Once breakfast was over, Alex emerged with two long knives, two sets of anti-stab and cut-resistant linings that could protect their entire bodies, along with several pairs of gloves and other protective gear. Emily unsheathed them to reveal blades of incredible sharpness. The long knives were collected by Alex after much effort, and Emily was very fond of them. Seeing his sister's affection for the long knives, Alex shook his head with a slight smile and said, "As you mentioned, the long knives are not as valuable as these two sets of linings I have in my hands; these are also life-saving items." Once the two were fully equipped, they prepared to leave the space. Their parents remained silent but reminded their children to be cautious. With determined nods, Emily and Alex left the space and made their way to the underground parking garage with careful steps. Alex started the SUV, and Emily quickly took her place in the passenger seat, assisting her brother in scanning the surroundings for any threats.

Emily had longed for a mental ability, something akin to a mini-map in a video game that would reveal the locations of all the zombies. To her astonishment, she felt a shift in her mind—a map materialized within her consciousness. Ecstatic, she exclaimed, "Alex, I believe I have an ability too! I can sense the zombies. If we head north from here, there's a horde near the station." Alex, a mix admiration of and excitement in his eyes, pressed down on the accelerator.

Time was of the essence, and Emily hadn't yet had the chance to thoroughly test her newfound abilities. Beyond being able to sense the location of the zombies, she also noticed that the knife in her hand felt much lighter and her strength had increased significantly.

"Brother, the zombies are still in their early stages and are easy to kill. They rely heavily on their hearing to locate and attack their targets. As long as we remain quiet, we won't need to worry about them attacking us together. We can take them out one by one. All we need to do is sever their heads."

Alex drove at a high speed, and although some zombies were drawn to the noise and attempted to pursue them, they were no match for the vehicle. These early-stage zombies were slower and had less acute hearing than the more evolved ones they would encounter in the future. Even ordinary individuals could feel them if they possessed sufficient strength and knew the right spots to target. With the enhancements they had gained from the spring water in the space, Emily and Alex were far stronger and more agile than the average person. Emily's unintentional awakening of her ability provided her with an even greater tactical edge.

The challenge was that many people were gripped by fear of the zombies, terrified of the possibility of a bite or scratch. Yet, the more they feared, the less likely they were to confront their terrors. And the longer they delayed, the slimmer their chances of survival became.

As the siblings engaged in sporadic conversation, the car sped through the city center. Gradually, their chatting subsided, and their expressions grew increasingly solemn. Outside the car windows, the once bustling and safe city was now filled with vehicles billowing black smoke and shops in ruins. In the distance, the snarls of zombies and the screams of people could be heard; it was unknown whether those people were safe. However, neither of the two spoke a word, both understanding that in the apocalypse, managing to preserve oneself was already a great achievement.

They soon reached the station, where Emily's mental map was dotted with a plethora of red indicators. Alex parked the car in a secure location, and Emily and he armed themselves with their knives, advancing towards the station entrance with steady resolve.