I Am Honkai

Night.

Bang! Bang!

The heads of two zombies exploded like watermelons, splattering black and red brain matter everywhere.

"Which wave is this... it's never-ending," Sean muttered, frustrated as he shot the zombies trying to attack him while he kept watch on the farm perimeter.

Turning on his flashlight, he could see the ground littered with rotting corpses. Further out, more decaying bodies shuffled in twos and threes into view.

The air was thick with a nauseating stench that made breathing difficult.

"Damn, this isn't good," Sean said, pinching his nose as he backed away, sighing deeply. Within just an hour, he had eliminated at least three waves of zombies.

Though the number of zombies attacking was small enough for Sean to handle alone, his experience told him this was a precursor to a larger horde. The farm, lacking a proper defense system, wouldn't be safe for long.

Realizing this, after clearing the small gathering of zombies, Sean hurried back to the farmhouse to warn everyone about the impending danger.

Inside the farmhouse, the sound of gunfire had everyone on edge, clutching their guns and gathering together in the house for safety.

"What's happening? Why are there gunshots?" Hershel asked, his face tense with worry.

"Hershel, don't worry, Rick and Sean are out there..." Before he could finish, Sean burst through the door, looking serious.

"The number of zombies wandering around the farm tonight has significantly increased!"

Everyone's face changed dramatically upon hearing this, including Hershel's family.

Hershel's stubbornness came from his lingering hope, his fear of losing his family. With his wife turned into a zombie, he continually deceived himself that she was just sick and could be cured. Deep down, he always knew she was gone.

Now, faced with the harsh reality, his ideals clashed with reality. Compared to his already deceased wife, he was more afraid of losing his family again. He knew all too well that the appearance of a horde meant the farm was no longer safe.

After Rick returned, they discussed Merle's previous suggestion, and everyone started to consider it. Since the farm was no longer secure, why not move to a safer area immediately?

"Beth, Maggie, pack your things. We need to leave," Hershel said, his voice heavy. He lowered his eyes, forced himself up, and shakily made his way to his room.

Although forced by reality, Hershel had no choice but to leave. Giving up the home his ancestors had lived in and abandoning his previous beliefs weighed heavily on his heart.

"Sean, let's get in touch with Merle. Glenn and T-Dog, keep watch and alert us to any movement in the woods. Everyone else, pack your things and bring the cars over," Rick quickly organized the response.

Hearing this, the others began to move. They were seasoned "veterans" when it came to dealing with zombies and understood the severity of the situation, so they quickly started packing.

However, only Carol remained unwilling to leave. Though she knew staying would endanger everyone, her daughter was missing. As a mother, she couldn't just give up!

Carol, eyes red with tears, pleaded desperately, "Rick, please, just wait a little longer. I beg everyone to wait a little longer... I... I haven't found Sophia, I can't leave."

Her words plunged everyone into silence. Although Sophia's disappearance saddened them too, they were ordinary people wanting to survive. Staying here was too risky.

Seeing everyone fall silent, Carol panicked, turning to each person in despair, "Glenn, Dale..." But all she got was silence, and hopelessness filled her eyes.

"Carol."

Rick's voice suddenly cut through the silence. Carol turned around hopefully, looking at Rick with expectation, hoping he would help her find Sophia.

"I'm sorry, but I can't risk the group... you can ask Hershel if he's seen a little girl recently; that's all we can do now."

Hershel and his family had believed zombies were just sick people and could be cured, so they had been capturing zombies and locking them in the barn.

Hershel shook his head at Rick's question, saying, "I haven't seen any little girl, and none of the captives... zombies are little girls."

Carol was devastated upon hearing this, collapsing as if all the strength had been drained from her body, muttering incoherently, "No... no... it can't be... no..."

She seemed like a madwoman, utterly broken.

Everyone's eyes darkened with sadness, knowing that after all this time, the chance of Sophia being alive was almost zero.

"Sigh, take Carol with us. We need to leave."

Sophia's situation had cast a pall over everyone's spirits, but surviving was still the top priority.

Rick spoke with Merle and expressed willingness to move to his camp, including Hershel's family.

Everyone started bustling around. Unlike the original story where they fled in panic, this time, they had ample time to take what they needed.

With enough vehicles, aside from the necessary water and food, the most valuable items to Hershel's family were the livestock and seeds. These were essential for sustainable development.

Once everything was packed, they carefully moved the injured Carl into the RV.

Finally, with complex emotions, Hershel's family watched as Merle closed the car door and led the convoy away.

The cars left the farm and saw several zombies heading toward it. While grateful they left in time, they also looked forward to life at the new camp.

Only Carol remained in her sorrow, silent and expressionless, like a walking corpse herself.

In less than a day, following the abandoned railroad, the prison camp came into view.

"Is this your camp?" Rick looked at the layers of barbed wire, towering watchtowers, and sturdy walls reinforced with wood and iron. It seemed much safer than the farm.

After the military robots moved aside the barricades, the vehicles drove into the prison yard. The four inmates on guard at the door greeted Merle and Daryl with smiles, opening the gates for them.

Selene had informed them that Merle would be bringing new people back. In the apocalypse, having more living allies was certainly something to celebrate.

"This is our camp. The prison is cleared and very safe. Follow me to meet the boss," Merle said, smiling with pride at the group's amazement.

Rick, serious, asked, "I haven't asked yet, are these robots government property? Where is Selene? Who is this boss of yours?"

Facing this barrage of questions, Merle simply smiled and motioned for everyone to follow him.

Passing several military robots, they arrived at the warden's office.

What they saw was...

"Sophia!"

Carol shouted, rushing forward to embrace a blonde girl.

It was Sophia, long missing.

Wanting to change the group's tragic fate, Selene hadn't forgotten about this poor girl.

Ignoring the heartwarming reunion of Carol and her daughter, Selene stepped forward and greeted the group, "Welcome to the prison camp."

...

At the welcome banquet, Rick and the others were still processing the explosive news that Selene was Merle's boss.

The banquet was held in the dining hall where prisoners used to eat, and the food was plentiful. Since the apocalypse began, it was their first time enjoying such a rich and fresh meal, with canned meat, rice, vegetables, bread, drinks, and more, in a reassuring environment that made them feel like they were back before the world ended.

Rick recalled Merle's words, "In this world, you're still so naive!"

In a daze, he thought, "Maybe I'm not cut out for this." Rick knew he hadn't fully adapted to this world, and many of his actions hadn't been the best.

With mixed feelings, Rick and the others finished eating and moved into their chosen rooms (cells).