The Apocalyptic Evolution.

Bai Yi adeptly maneuvered to avoid an approaching advanced zombie, inadvertently colliding with a tree while ensuring he remained elusive from the pursuing creatures. He occasionally bumped into trees as he changed directions.

Observing this, Bai Yi's eyes brightened with inspiration. He quickly positioned himself behind a tree, just as an advanced zombie broke through the underbrush, letting out a fierce roar as it charged toward him. Without hesitation, Bai Yi darted out from his hiding spot and made a swift knife strike. The zombie instinctively recoiled, and although his aim was off and merely grazed its neck, Bai Yi felt regret but managed to escape to safety once again.

The rapidly advancing zombie tore through the surrounding vegetation, undeterred by its tattered clothing and the scratches covering its exposed skin. Meanwhile, Bai Yi was facing challenges of his own; despite his efforts to evade thorny branches, his new clothes, which he had donned that very morning, were now in tatters.

Bai Yi's strategic thinking allowed him to navigate the obstacles effectively, skillfully avoiding the advanced zombie's attacks while occasionally countering with his own strikes. However, his efforts to take down the advanced zombie were met with relentless resistance, as it continued to outpace him.

As the zombie's bloodshot eyes flared with fury, it disregarded its injuries and focused solely on pursuing Bai Yi. The pressure was mounting; each swipe from the powerful zombie sent Bai Yi's sword spiraling off course.

Bai Yi managed to deflect the zombie's claws, severing one of its fingers in the process, but the force of the encounter caused him to lose grip on his weapon. As he prepared to leap over another bush, he unwittingly tangled his shoelaces in the thorns and fell heavily to the ground.

The black knife slipped from his grasp as he felt a crushing weight on his chest, the impact akin to being struck by a vehicle.

With urgency, Bai Yi attempted to rise, but his shoelaces ensnared him in the branches, hindering his escape. He struggled to free himself, but his efforts proved futile.

Just then, the advanced zombie emerged from the thicket and loomed before Bai Yi. Fear surged through him as he quickly grasped the flying black knife, desperately hacking at the thorns around his feet.

The relentless zombie would not let its target escape. It lunged forward, bearing its bloodied teeth as it prepared to bite.

In that fateful moment, Bai Yi was met with a pungent stench, and his thoughts momentarily faded. Suddenly, he witnessed an awe-inspiring sight: the zombie's head exploded, a red light whirling overhead before crashing into a nearby tree trunk.

In disbelief, Bai Yi looked up to see a fire axe—bloodied and embedded in the wood. Behind the fallen zombie, Xia He stood, drenched in sweat and dirtied by blood, holding the tree for support. His right arm still outstretched from the throw, he trembled with adrenaline.

Once he saw that Bai Yi was unharmed, Xia He collapsed against the tree, clearly exhausted. Bai Yi pushed the corpse aside, freed his legs, and stood up, surveying the scene. He then pulled the axe from the trunk and extracted a glowing red crystal core from the zombie's decimated head.

It was confirmed: the core would only appear upon the death of a zombie by one's own hand. The dim light that enveloped both him and Xia He suggested their experience points were not as abundant as before. Bai Yi pondered how much Xia He had gained from this encounter.

Unbeknownst to them, Xia He had accumulated substantial experience from their previous struggles, gradually enhancing her overall abilities. This improvement, particularly evident in her timely intervention with the axe, had saved Bai Yi's life.

"Are you alright?" Bai Yi inquired as he assisted Xia He to her feet. They simultaneously expressed concern for one another, then exchanged a moment of shared relief.

Handing her the axe and the crystal core, Bai Yi urged, "We need to move quickly; we risk attracting more zombies!"

Xia He hesitated, contemplating the core but ultimately accepting it after meeting Bai Yi's earnest gaze. She stowed it securely within her inner pocket.

Supporting one another, they made their way out of the woods, recovering their abandoned bags—precious supplies they could not afford to leave behind. Fortunately, the food bag was undamaged, having been carelessly thrown aside during the chaos. Xia He gleefully dusted it off, eliciting a sudden halt from Bai Yi as he detected a looming shadow watching them from the woods.

"Stay still!" he cautioned in a hushed tone.

Xia He froze, her instincts kicking in, sensing the urgency in Bai Yi's demeanor. 

Bai Yi remained tense, sweat pooling in his palm as he clutched his knife. "Stand up slowly and walk forward without looking back!"

Following his instructions, Xia He rose mechanically and stepped away from the potential danger, while Bai Yi remained vigilant, urging her to grab her bag and run towards the gymnasium.

As if sensing the change in dynamics, the ominous shadow hesitated before emerging from the underbrush. Bai Yi's eyes widened in terror, an undeniable sense of dread enveloping him.

Suddenly, with a deafening roar, the beast lunged forward. Xia He's instinct prompted her to turn, but Bai Yi held her shoulders firmly, redirecting her focus as he swung his knife with all his might.

Xia He rolled to safety, clutching her backpack. Behind her, she caught sight of a monstrous creature bearing down on Bai Yi, its wide mouth filled with bloodstained fangs.

In the chaos of the moment, the creature's claws raked across Bai Yi's chest, leaving gashes that caused him to stagger back, blood streaming from his wounds. Despite the injury, his determination remained unwavering as he faced the beast directly. 

"Xia He, go!" he shouted, urging her to escape.

Xia He was torn, but she recognized the truth in his words—her strength had waned, and remaining at his side would only hinder him. With a heavy heart, she picked up her backpack and called out, "I'll wait for you at the archery gym! You must come back!" 

As she fled into the woods, the creature pursued. Bai Yi, bloodied and determined, faced the threat head-on. "Come on, Huan! Let's see how much you've grown since we last met!"

The beast hesitated momentarily at the sound of its name, a flicker of recognition crossing its form before it bared its teeth once more. Bai Yi was resolute; he recognized Huan, the stray dog that had crossed his path before the world changed.

What started as a frightening encounter over a meal had transformed into a life-and-death struggle, but Bai Yi was ready for the challenge.