Back at the dormitory, the three pulled food from their backpacks and ate their fill.

They'd stuffed three large bags at the supermarket-enough to last two or three days.

Their dorm was stocked well by now. Food, supplies, all scavenged. For the short term, they could live comfortably enough.

"Rest up. We're heading out later tonight," Yang Bin said.

"It's already dark. What are we going out for?" The other two looked at him, confused.

"These zombies don't seem to get stronger during the day. But every morning, they're noticeably tougher than the night before. We need to find out why. If we figure out the method, maybe we can do it too." Yang Bin said.

"Makes sense. We should check it out."

"Mm."

The three lay on their beds, phones out of habit. The Mobile Signal was still holding-probably the best news humanity had left. At least people could still encourage each other.

"Wanna play a couple rounds?" Hu Wenliang said suddenly.

"Play what?"

"Games. We've got nothing to do right now."

"......"

"If you can actually match with teammates and opponents, I'll be impressed." Yang Bin rolled his eyes.

"Uh... fair point. I'll just play against bots then."

"Knock yourself out." Yang Bin and Chen Hao both shook their heads. This guy's gaming addiction was something else.

The moment Hu Wenliang opened the app, his expression soured.

"Can't get in..."

"Obviously. Tencent's barely keeping messaging alive at this point."

"Fine."

"Bin-ge, look at this!"

Chen Hao shoved his phone over.

The three huddled around the screen.

A video was playing. A group of people fighting zombies. Then the one at the front thrust out his hand-a ball of fire shot forward, slamming into a zombie. The creature ignited instantly, thrashing as flames consumed it. Seconds later, it collapsed, charred and still.

All three stared, stunned.

The comment section had exploded. Some called it special effects. Others said magic tricks. A few guessed it was a genuine ability.

Opinions flew in every direction, but one thing was undeniable-the video had gone viral. In a world drowning in despair, it was a shot of adrenaline. Something for hopeless people to cling to.

The three exchanged glances. They all saw the same conclusion.

"An ability user," Chen Hao said, voice low and serious.

"Yeah. Fire-type Ability. Strong offensive power," Yang Bin said.

"Damn. Now that's what I call an ability. Why do ours feel so lame?" Hu Wenliang's eyes went wide.

"Who says? In a real fight, I go invisible and drop him in seconds." Chen Hao scowled.

"Okay, fine. But mine and Bin-ge's are still kinda lame."

"Without my ability, you think we'd be living this well?" Yang Bin said flatly.

"Uh... fair point."

"Our abilities aren't weak. Their rarity probably far exceeds his. They're just not combat-type, so they don't look as flashy in a fight. But in the apocalypse? Our survival odds crush his," Yang Bin said.

"Exactly. You think your ability is lame? Hospitals are gone. Medical care is gone. If those people get injured, what's waiting for them? I guarantee-once anyone finds out what you can do, the strongest people alive will be begging you to join them," Chen Hao said.

"Haha, alright. When you put it that way, I feel a lot better."

"Still, we do need a combat ability on the team. If we run into one, we should find a way to recruit them," Yang Bin said.

"Sure, but people are complicated now. Finding someone with a combat ability who won't stab us in the back? That's a tall order."

"We'll take it slow. With these eyes of mine, we'll find the right person eventually."

"Haha, true enough."

"Get some sleep. We go out tonight."

"Mm."

11 PM.

The three climbed out of bed and left the dormitory.

By the faint glow of the few remaining streetlamps, they spotted several zombies within minutes.

They crouched behind a flower bed, watching. After a long stretch of observation, nothing stood out.

"They're just shambling around like they do during the day. Nothing different," Chen Hao said, frowning.

"Keep watching. We're not leaving until we figure out why they're getting stronger," Yang Bin said.

"Alright."

They settled in. Patient. Still. An hour crawled by.

As the clock hit midnight, the wandering zombies froze. One by one, they went silent and tilted their heads upward, staring at the sky.

Yang Bin's group followed their gaze immediately.

"The Nine Stars of the Big Dipper!"

The three whispered it almost in unison.

"Do they only appear at midnight?" Yang Bin murmured, thinking.

"Why can't we see Polaris?" Hu Wenliang asked.

"It fell," Chen Hao said. "That night-I was half-conscious, but I'm pretty sure I saw it. Polaris dropped out of the sky, and then that Crimson Star appeared in its place."

"Yeah, I saw it too. But now the Crimson Star is gone as well," Yang Bin said, frowning slightly.

"In ancient times, Polaris was called Ziwei Star. If Ziwei Star moves, great upheaval follows. If it falls..." Hu Wenliang's brow furrowed. "That's heaven and earth thrown into chaos."

"It's the apocalypse. I'd say we're already there."

"Uh... yeah, fair."

Yang Bin turned his attention back to the zombies nearby. They stood motionless, seemingly absorbed in some kind of trance.

He activated True Vision Eye.

Immediately, he saw it-faint wisps of transparent energy drifting from the surroundings, flowing steadily into the zombies' bodies.

"Spiritual Energy?" Yang Bin thought.

If it was, that explained everything. Every night, the zombies absorbed Spiritual Energy. Every morning, they were stronger.

But how did zombies know to absorb it? Why couldn't humans do the same?

He shifted his gaze toward Chen Hao and Hu Wenliang. Nothing. No Spiritual Energy gathering around them at all.

"Haozi. Liangzi." Yang Bin's voice was sudden, sharp. "Both of you-focus on the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper. Stare at them. Concentrate."

"Oh. Okay."

The two raised their heads, fixing their eyes on the nine brilliant points overhead.

Yang Bin activated True Vision Eye again, watching the space around his teammates closely.

Slowly-after a stretch of silence-faint threads of Spiritual Energy appeared around them, drifting into their bodies.

Less than what the zombies were pulling in. But it was there.

"Man, holding my head up like this is killing my neck." Hu Wenliang rubbed the back of his neck and rolled his head to one side.

The instant he moved, the Spiritual Energy around him vanished.

Yang Bin's eyes lit up.

"So that's how it works."

"Let's go-up to the Rooftop!"

He was already moving toward the stairs.

The other two had questions written all over their faces, but they didn't waste time asking. They followed.