In a World of Nightmares, I Keep Awakening Stronger Talents

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

“You’re not from around here, are you?” Bai Jing Ling asked, handing Levi a worn blanket, he didn’t wait for a reply before moving on to distribute the rest to the other survivors huddled in the dim safehold.

“Thank you,” Levi muttered, scanning the room. According to the stories from those who had survived the dreams, a full day here only equaled an hour back in the real world. “How long until dawn?”

“Get some rest,” Bai Jing Ling said, lowering himself onto the creaking floorboards. “We’re safe here until morning. You’ll need your strength.”

“Can he really be trusted?”

“I don’t know, if Captain Bai trusts him, we probably should.” “Whatever. Let’s just stay careful.”

Levi listened to the conversations before rising slowly, rubbing his eyes as if he had just woken up, he wandered toward the entrance.

“Where’s Bai Jing Ling?” he asked no one in particular.

“Right here, kid, missing me already?” Bai Jing Ling stepped through the doorway with a large chunk of meat slung over his shoulder, wearing that same odd smile.

He had slipped out before first light to hunt, the infected in this region were mostly low-ranked and only stirred after dark, making it a rare sight to encounter anything higher level, resources were too scarce to support them.

“Take a look around, detective,” Bai Jing Ling said as he brushed past Levi. “Who knows what you might stumble upon?”

Levi took the suggestion. ‘Might as well get familiar with this dead city. You can never be too careful.’ He kicked up small clouds of dust as he walked, eyes sharp.

Sunlight poured over the ruined houses, casting a golden hue across shattered walls streaked with old blood, the sight was both beautiful and horrifying, Levi still hadn’t figured out how to clear the trial ahead of him; so far, it had been deceptively quiet, after circling the area, he returned to the safehold.

“You’re back?” Bai Jing Ling said, stopping him at the entrance, the other survivors were too far away to hear. “Didn’t think you’d return after this morning.”

Levi’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know?”

“Just a feeling,” Bai Jing Ling replied lightly. “You strike me as someone who could be useful here. Come on, let’s get you something to eat first.”

Levi tore into the meat like a starved animal, barely chewing, the group stared.

“What? First time seeing a boy eat?” Bai Jing Ling snapped, shooing them away, once they were gone, his tone softened.

“You didn’t have to do that for me.”

“Ah, well. They had their moment.” Bai Jing Ling leaned in, voice warm. “There’s a training spot out back if you’re interested.”

Levi’s eyes lit up. “Let’s go.”

The training courtyard was small and enclosed, lined with wooden dummies frozen in various stances. “This should be fun,” Levi said.

“Just wait,” Bai Jing Ling replied, he pulled a lever at the far end, the dummies jerked to life, limbs creaking as they began to move.

“You’re kidding me,” Levi breathed, thud.

A dummy slammed into him before he could react, sending him crashing onto his backside. Bai Jing Ling watched with mild amusement. “Your speed isn’t bad. We’ve been at this for over an hour and you’re not even tired.”

“Let’s keep going,” Levi said, pushing himself up. “We still have time before nightfall.”

The days blurred together, Levi fell into a rhythm, training hard, observing the group, noting how Bai Jing Ling always left before dawn and returned with fresh meat. No matter how far Levi wandered during his walks, the area remained eerily empty of life. He began to wonder just how far the man traveled each morning.

On the sixth night, tension finally broke.

“Don’t you think our scent has soaked into this place by now?” one survivor muttered. “We should move instead of sitting here like livestock waiting to be slaughtered.”

“I’ve already made plans,” Bai Jing Ling said calmly. “The cavalry should be arriving soon.”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Heavy impacts thudded against the outer walls.

“What’s that?” a survivor yelped, sweat beading on his forehead. Only the infected moved at night.

“They found us? Help!”

All eyes darted toward Levi and Bai Jing Ling.

“We don’t want to die! You’ve been training back there, save us!”

Bai Jing Ling’s laughter echoed through the room as he slowly drew the sword from his back. “That’s not an attack. That’s the cavalry.” His grin widened. “You really thought I was saving any of you?”

Levi’s look disgusted, the caretaker had been playing them all along, a high-ranked infected wearing human skin, hiding a far more dangerous ability.

“I’ll make this quick,” Bai Jing Ling said, advancing. “As for you, Levi… you’ll make a beautiful sacrifice for the Creator. Hahaha…”

A piercing scream tore from the entrance, the infected had breached the defenses and were already tearing into a woman trying to flee.

Bai Jing Ling charged the group, sword gleaming. “How nice. Give me your best.”