15

Xie blinked his eyes. He almost let out a snort.

Excuse me? Was that a pun or what?

Art? Art from Arthur? Such a coincidental name could happen?

"Oh." Xie gave out a dry response. "Okay." He awkwardly scratched his neck. Should he act impressed upon hearing that name? Should he not?

The man named Art touched Xie's forehead and slowly smoothened the creases formed on it. He sighed.

"Why couldn't you remember anything about me? How could you forget about me, Wu Zhi? How do you think you could ever survive in the dangerous apocalyptic world, being an ordinary human with a special blood type?"

"What?" That's the first time he heard such a piece of absurd news. Whoever has a unique blood type?

What's so special about his blood? Was it Rh+++ something or a rare blood type owned by a handful of humans?

Or, was he bled purple or blue, unlike the other humans, which bled red?

If he bled another color, he wouldn't be called human. Right? Nah, the last time he checked, though, his blood was indeed red.

"You keep exuding a special pheromone, and the source came from the blood that runs inside your veins. The scent could drive anyone, anything, and any being, humans or non-humans alike, into madness. They will have this intense desire to eat you."

"What am I? A walking, fragrant meat?! Every time they saw me, they would love to do nothing but eat me. Is that what you mean?"

"Presumably, yes."

"What the hell with that nonsense?! Just because I smelt nicer than the rest, they decided to eat me?" Xie exasperatedly said. "I am thin and without any meat. There are only bones! They should hunt someone else."

Art suddenly clasped his left wrist and brought it to under his nostril. He took a whiff of the pleasant smell that emanated from under his skin and seemed to enjoy it. Under the half-clouded eyelids, his eyes glinted red.

Xie shuddered. He felt a sense of crisis once he saw the inexplicable change of Art's irises.

Under the dim lighting, Art's pale, white skin seemed to glow with a silver luster. He looked like a holy being, appeared surreal in his eyes with otherworldly beauty. This person was, without a doubt, not human. What was he? A high-level ability user or a zombie? But, for a zombie, he was too good-looking. Perhaps, a zombie king?!

But, rather than a zombie, his appearance is much suited to be called a vampire instead.

"..." Xie was too engrossed in his thought, but he's the transparent type, whatever he thinks about displayed on his face. And currently, Art knew what did this man thinking about right at this moment.

Art chuckled. So cute.

He kept sniffing Xie's wrist and seemed very much addicted to the smell exuded from it. The alluring scent acted like a drug that stimulated his hidden desire. He really wants to take a bite of this person's flesh. Subconsciously, he licked his deep, red lips and drooled over the feast that obliviously struggled in his embrace.

"Could you stop that?" Xie tried to dismantle Art's grip over his hand.

Instead, this man tightened his hold around his wrist, without any hint to release him.

"You..!" Xie gritted his teeth. "You make me uncomfortable. Stop it, will you?!"

"Silly, boy." Art's eyes inexplicably turned several shades darker. They were gleaming in the dark. "It was not only your tempting scent, but your blood was exceptional, alongside your beautiful body. Every part, here and here, had their specialty." Art clung to his wrist and rubbed his face around it. He suddenly licked that area, dragging his wet tongue across the skin. Eventually, it escalated into something more dangerous. From a casual licking and nibbling, his teeth which somehow had grown a pair of fangs pierced Xie's skin and tasted the metallic flavor of blood.

Xie flinched. His face contorted into a painful expression.

What he experienced right now was definitely not a dream! The pain was real! Every single action imposed on him, Xie clearly felt it.

Ambiguous yet noisy slurping sound, along with ragged and heavy breathing, resounded across the barren hallway.

Xie's face flushed red as he weakly leaned his body toward Art's embrace. Had it not been because Art was holding onto him, Xie would already collapse on the floor.

"I needed you, Wu Zhi. Why wouldn't you heed my advice and stay at your home? Why would you heeded toward your demise?" Art sullenly retracted his fangs but still tenderly tended the injury he caused. He slowly closed the wound with his saliva, which fortunately had a healing substance in it.

Xie was muddleheaded. He was partially affected by something. The saliva contains healing properties, yet it also has substances that resemble drugs.

And the other reason was due to dizziness as he did lose some blood.

Art nuzzled his neck and relished over the delicious smell seeping out from his gland. The scent was the strongest in this area.

"Tell me, Zhi. Why were you outside? Why would you disobey my word?"

Xie shook his head. Why? If his memory served him right, someone did remind him to stay inside his small room, no matter what happens. That someone also asked him to ignore the zombie siege. He got coaxed by him to stop feeling afraid. Someone firmly assured his safety as long as he stayed inside his room.

He did stay inside the entire night because he trusted that person's words. But why did he go outside? For what reason did he leave his perfect shelter?

Xie, unfortunately, couldn't remember the reason why he went outside. His memory became blurry at some point, and the next thing he knew, he was already outside, out of his house. He got mingled with the rest of the survivors in a daze-like state.

"I...don't know." Xie blinked his eyes and felt the haziness had clouded his sight. He felt his surrounding had become blurry. Xie then replied in an unsure tone. "I don't know why I was outside. I didn't know the reason."

Art stared down at Xie.

As time passed by, Xie became even more drowsy. His consciousness slowly slipped out from this dream plane that Art specially created to meet his Wu Zhi.

Xie felt sleepy and couldn't suppress the drowsiness.

Art's powerful ability could only work in this apocalyptic world. In the world beyond this one, some restrictions could affect the effectiveness of his ability. And, another version of him residing in another world seemed to repulse his influence and refused to accept him.

With his limited ability, Art cannot leave this place nor world hop over there. His hands bounded to himself, unable to further help Wu Zhi.

Art ruffled Xie's hair and imprinted his kiss on Xie's forehead. At least, that world was free from any dangerous elements like zombies or monsters. He was sure that Xie would lead a safe and happy life over there. Unlike his previous one.

"Stay safe, Wu Zhi. I will come after you once I settle this burdensome problem that shackled us down." He tightened his hug as he felt reluctant to separate. His Wu Zhi belongs to him, and he never wants to let him go.

That day, when he saw Wu Zhi's bloodied and battered corpse, without any limbs intact, he got driven to the verge of madness. He massacred all the zombies in that place and even accidentally killed innocent bystanders.

That area no longer resembled a town but a plain desert with nothing above it. All buildings, zombies, and living beings residing in that city perished instantly in one bright light.

His overwhelming power exploded. His emotional support had died, so how could he control the madness in his heart? And due to the impact of the explosion, the entire continent shook. Another series of earthquakes followed suit for several days and several nights. Another version of living hell descended once again on the barren earth.

It was a one-sided obliteration caused by him.

Art wouldn't care as long as he could vent his anger. He was furious. Sorrow and remorse overwhelmed him. How dare this lowly being touch his precious treasure! His Zhi had died painfully!

He looked down and saw Wu Zhi's sleeping expression. He gently caressed his face and kissed his forehead again. Wu Zhi's breathing evened up, and he looked peaceful in his sleep. His light snore was like a melody to his ears, soothing and comforting. By now, he was glad that Wu Zhi could relive his life in another world. Thank goodness. At least, if the opportunity arose, he would be able to meet him again.

Art sighed. His eyes sadly swept his surrounding, which bits by bits shattered into tiny fragments. As expected, this place had become unstable and couldn't hold out any longer.

Guess this was the end.

The separation between them was imminent, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

He waved his hand, and darkness immediately swallowed that space, leaving nothing behind.

Xie, who had long ago fainted, had never realized the abnormality in his surrounding. What he knew, the moment he woke up, this dream was no longer in his memory, forgotten forever.