127: Chapter 127 Fairy Tale Invasion, the Pajama Squad's Sweet Cleanup

The roar of the [Road Overlord] team's motorcycle engines gradually faded into the distance. Five streaks of light and shadow broke through the blockade of the zombie horde and vanished at the end of the extending highway. However, less than five minutes after they left, more gray "tides" surged from the scorched wilderness on both sides of the road—countless zombies crawled out from the ravines of the wilderness and the ruins of abandoned buildings, staggering into the three-way intersection, instantly refilling the road that had just been cleared. Rotting limbs collided, and "ho-ho" roars intertwined, once again sealing the path to the finish line.

Just then, a crisp sound of hooves and a sweet fragrance suddenly drifted from the right-hand road, breaking the dullness of the zombies' roaring. A brilliant burst of color broke through the skyline like a fairytale bubble intruding upon the apocalypse—it was a snow-white Unicorn, its four legs treading on pale pink halos, pulling a floating Seven-Colored Cloud tent with all its might. At the top of the tent hovered a golden wishing star lamp, its light soft but slowly brightening; at the back of the tent, a giant colored Candy Jar was embedded upside down, with round candies constantly rolling from its mouth; in the center of the tent hung a crystal-clear Crystal Heart, emitting a faint purple shimmer. This was the [Fairytale Town] team arriving from the right-hand road—an all-female squad wearing pajamas, turning their apocalyptic journey into a domestic camping trip.

[Fairytale Town] Team: The Pajama Quintet, using beautiful fairytales to combat the apocalypse.

1. Captain Sugar and the [wishing star lamp]—Puffy-skirt pajamas, the "Home Dream-Maker" who accumulates wishes.

Sugar was nestled on the cushions in the very center of the Seven-Colored Cloud tent, wearing light yellow fluffy loungewear with white lace trimming at the collar and cuffs. Her hair was casually tied in a bun with a few stray strands hanging by her cheeks, and she held a plush star pillow in her arms. In her hand, she held a slender silver wand, the tip lightly touching the floating [wishing star lamp]—this golden star lamp was her "wish piggy bank"; every time a harmless little wish was fulfilled, the light of the wick grew a bit stronger.

"Gummy, your bunny plushie is shedding~" Sugar's voice carried the soft sweetness of someone who had just woken up. She tapped her wand lightly, activating her A-rank Talent [Origin Dream Star]. The [wishing star lamp] flashed with a gentle golden light, and a small pink comb appeared out of thin air next to Gummy's hand. "I just conjured an anti-static comb for you. After you comb it, it won't stick to your clothes anymore~" As she spoke, she rubbed her eyes and saw the star lamp's light brighten a bit more, her lips curling into a smile: "Save up three more wishes, and maybe I can make the warm light in the tent a bit brighter~"

She was never in a hurry to "advance progress." Instead, she always focused on her teammates' domestic needs: conjuring non-slip plush slippers for Marshmallow, heated hand warmers for Chocolate, and even her own wand had a small plush charm hanging from it. Every time she fulfilled a wish, she would move the star lamp closer to herself, gently brushing away candy crumbs as if caring for a small desk lamp—to her, Talent was for "adding a bit of comfort for everyone," not for "fighting and killing." Thus, she never touched requests for "weapons" or the like; even when Popping Candy asked for a "sturdier candy bag," she had to confirm it was "only for holding candy" before she would fulfill it.

2. Healer Gummy and the [Unicorn]—Coral fleece pajamas, the "Soothing Expert" holding a plushie.

The [Unicorn] pulling the Seven-Colored Cloud tent was Gummy's Dream Spirit. Gummy sat on a hammock at the edge of the tent, wearing pale pink coral fleece pajamas printed with dense bunny patterns, tightly hugging a bunny plushie half as big as herself, with a matching plush blanket piled at her feet. Her fingers gently combed the Unicorn's mane, and the pale pink energy flowing from her fingertips made the Unicorn's hoofprints glow with a warmer light.

Her B-rank Talent [Soothing Ripple] was hidden within her gentleness—every time the Unicorn's hooves hit the ground, a pink hoofprint would be left on the scorched earth. The light waves diffusing from the hoofprints acted like "home aromatherapy," causing the zombies within range to unconsciously relax their limbs. Their roars weakened into "mumbles," and even their lunging movements became slow and lazy, like kittens that hadn't fully woken up.

"Don't pounce," Gummy said, hugging her bunny plushie tighter, her voice so soft it was about to melt. "Stay well-behaved, we'll be leaving soon and won't disturb you..." As she spoke, she wrapped her plush blanket tighter around herself and tied a pink bow on the Unicorn's mane—even when facing zombies, she was used to using a "coaxing a child" tone. Even her Talent was about "making everyone a bit more comfortable," never thinking about hurting anyone.

3. Fighter Popping Candy and the [Candy Jar]—Onesie pajamas, the "Explosion Player" munching on candy.

Popping Candy sat cross-legged on the cushions at the back of the tent, wearing an orange cartoon onesie with a grinning bear printed on the chest. Her pant legs were rolled up to her knees, revealing a pair of white ankles. Her hands gripped the edge of the [Candy Jar]—this colored Candy Jar was her Dream Spirit, and it was continuously rolling out fist-sized candies. She had a strawberry-flavored hard candy in her mouth, making her speech muffled.

Her B-rank Talent [Candy Bomb] was more like a "home mini-game"—the candies she threw didn't produce smoke when they exploded, only the scent of fruit candy filling the air. The shockwaves could flip zombies over but wouldn't break any bones; at most, they would be wrapped in candy crumbs like "colorful zongzi," struggling and unable to get up. "The 'big gray block' on the left is coming!" Popping Candy spat out a candy wrapper and grabbed a handful of green candies to throw. The scent of exploding watermelon spread, and several zombies were flipped onto the ground. She didn't forget to make a face at them: "No touching my Candy Jar!"

One of the straps of her onesie had come loose, so she used a bear-shaped patch given by Sugar to stick it back on; when her knee got some candy crumbs on it, she just wiped it with her sleeve—after all, as long as the pajamas were comfortable, it was fine. Fighting was not as sweet as the candy in her hand. Occasionally, she would hand a candy to the Unicorn, her eyes crinkling into a smile as she watched the Unicorn lick it carefully.

4. Architect Marshmallow and the [Seven-Colored Cloud]—Cloud pajamas, the "Languid Architect" snuggling on cushions.

The Seven-Colored Cloud tent itself was Marshmallow's Dream Spirit, [Seven-Colored Cloud]. Marshmallow was shrunk into a cloud cushion on the left side of the tent, wearing sky-blue loose pajamas with sleeves and a hem so large they could serve as a dress. The fabric was printed with layers of cloud patterns, and her hair was draped casually over her shoulders, with a small strand of candy stuck to it. Her hand rested lightly on the clouds; with a flick of her fingers, she could change the shape of the cloud wisps at the edge of the tent.

Her B-rank Talent [Cloud Construction] was full of "comfortable little ideas"—if a zombie tried to climb in, she would mold the cloud wisps into a "squishy wall," making the zombie crash into it as if sinking into a sofa. If a teammate felt cold, she would knead the cloud wisps into a "cloud blanket" and hand it over. Right now, she was propping her chin up and sighing: "If only we could fly," she rubbed against the cloud cushion beneath her, her voice carrying a languid nasal tone. "I could build a cloud slide, and we could slide directly to the finish line without having to take such a bumpy road. We could even sleep on the clouds..."

As she spoke, she controlled the cloud wisps to circle several approaching zombies, as if corralling "naughty pets." After Popping Candy finished throwing candies, she would release the cloud wisps—to her, "clearing zombies" was not as important as "how to make the road more comfortable." Even the cushions in the tent were molded into different shapes according to "everyone's preference."

5. Defender Chocolate and the [Crystal Heart]—Silk pajamas, the "Elegant Guardian" savoring Chocolate.

The [Crystal Heart] hanging in the center of the tent was Chocolate's Dream Spirit. Chocolate leaned against the cushions on the inner side of the tent, wearing deep purple silk pajamas with fine lace at the collar. Her hair was loosely bound with a silver headband, and she held an exquisitely wrapped piece of dark Chocolate, taking small bites of it. Her fingers rested lightly on the hanging chain of the Crystal Heart, and a faint purple shimmer followed her fingertips, quietly enveloping the entire tent.

Her B-rank Talent [True Love's Vow] was like a "home thermostat"—the shimmer of the Crystal Heart could keep the temperature inside the tent at the most comfortable level. It could also give the Unicorn an "endurance buff" so pulling the carriage wouldn't be tiring, give the Candy Jar a "freshness buff" so the candies wouldn't melt, and even give teammates an "anti-fatigue buff" so everyone could snuggle in their pajamas without feeling tired.

"Sugar, the star lamp's light is enough to save up for one 'big wish,'" Chocolate swallowed the Chocolate in her mouth, her voice as smooth as silk pajamas. "Why don't we try making the tent windows larger? That way we can see more stars." She never rushed anyone to "go faster." Instead, she would remind everyone to "rest if you're tired." She even dimmed the shimmer of the Crystal Heart, afraid it might hurt her teammates' eyes—to her, "defense" was not "confrontation," but "making everyone comfortable even in the apocalypse."

Pajama camping, turning the Doomsday Highway into a "Home Highway."

[Fairytale Town]'s cloud tent was like a mobile "homey nest" among the zombie horde: Gummy swayed in the hammock wrapped in a blanket, occasionally grooming the Unicorn; Popping Candy sat cross-legged munching on candy, her bomb-throwing actions like tossing snacks; Marshmallow rubbed against the cloud cushions and sighed, pondering how to make the road more comfortable; Chocolate leaned against the cushions eating Chocolate, the Crystal Heart's shimmer as warm as a nightlight; and Sugar was nestled in the center, conjuring domestic items for everyone while watching the star lamp's light gradually brighten.

"Just the last few!" Popping Candy threw the last handful of rainbow candies, clapped her hands, and stuffed another candy into her mouth. "Captain, let's go. The air here has a weird smell. I want to find a clean place to eat strawberry cake~"

Marshmallow immediately sat up straight: "I want to build a cloud dining table! And make cloud plates!"

Sugar smiled and nodded, her fingertip lightly tapping the star lamp: "Alright~ I just conjured some strawberry-flavored cake mix for you. Once we reach a safe place, we'll use a big wish to make a super big cake~"

The Unicorn neighed, the pink halo on its four hooves growing warmer as it pulled the Seven-Colored Cloud tent like it was carrying a soft dream, slowly passing through the final blockade of the zombie horde and floating toward the road ahead. The laughter of the Pajama Squad mixed with the sweet fragrance, gradually disappearing under the dusky red horizon, leaving behind only zombies covered in candy crumbs—a bizarre yet gentle contrast to the scorched blackness of the apocalypse.

Less than three minutes after they left, the silhouette of the [dream chaser] gradually became clear on the central road of the three-way intersection on the distant skyline—its dark gray body was particularly prominent on the dark red highway, and its headlights pierced through the mist. Li Mubai sat in the passenger seat, the shimmer of the [Star Rail] flickering urgently. He stared at the detection screen, his brow slightly furrowed: "The energy reactions of both teams are very strong. The energy reaction just ahead wasn't very aggressive, but the one at the very front has strong energy fluctuations. It seems their combat power isn't low."

Zhang Hao gripped the steering wheel, his gaze falling on the candy crumbs at the intersection ahead, then glanced at the quiet soul containment device in the back of the vehicle: "Let's see what the situation is first. This team ahead didn't leave any combat traces, but rather a lot of candy crumbs. They might not be hostile, but the team at the very front... we have to be careful."

The [dream chaser] slowly drove into the three-way intersection, its wheels rolling over the candy crumbs on the ground with a slight "rustling" sound—this zombie zone, which had just been treated gently by a "domestic fairytale," was about to welcome new visitors.