Apocalypse Escape: Day One of Survival

”So? Can you tell what rank that powerful thing is?”

Cres’s expression was grim. ”I sense... it’s a Third Rank Mutant System.”

At his words, the others all fell silent.

”I can’t tell what its attribute is.” Cres frowned, urging, ”I think we need to move faster. We should grab what we came for, not linger, and get out of this area as soon as possible.”

Zuo Li took a deep breath and turned to Xie Ning. ”You take a group inside to collect the equipment. I’ll take Zhou Tong and the others to check that area over there.”

Xie Ning grabbed her arm, her eyes locked onto her.

Cres suddenly felt a wave of powerful spiritual power surging out.

He frowned and looked toward Xie Ning.

’What the hell is this damned woman up to now?’

As Xie Ning held Zuo Li’s arm, a series of hazy images BZZT-BZZT-flickered before her eyes, like an old television screen filled with static.

She saw the sign for an auto repair shop hanging on a dilapidated building.

Zhou Tong was thrown into the air right in front of Zuo Li, as if blasted away by some invisible force, before crashing hard onto the ground.

She saw Zuo Li rush forward, only to crash headfirst into a transparent barrier.

Xie Ning could even feel a piercing shriek from the vision that nearly ruptured her eardrums.

When she looked again, she saw Zhou Tong writhing on the ground, spewing mouthfuls of blood mixed with fragments of his internal organs.

Xie Ning gripped Zuo Li’s arm tightly, slowly coming back to her senses as Zuo Li stared at her in surprise.

”It must be a sonic-type mutant zombie.”

Although she hadn’t gotten a clear look at the zombie in her vision, there was no mistaking that piercing shriek.

A mild sonic attack can cause headaches and shortness of breath. A severe one, like what happened to Zhou Tong, could assault the internal organs, causing the victim to vomit blood, go into shock, and even suffocate to death.

Having foreseen this with her Spiritual Prediction, Xie Ning certainly wasn’t going to let Zuo Li lead Zhou Tong and the others recklessly into danger.

Zuo Li’s expression turned serious when she heard this. ”Sonic?”

”Right. It’s a mutant zombie that attacks with a piercing shriek, and it might be very fast.”

”Splitting up would be a disadvantage. Let’s collect the equipment here together, and then I’ll go with you to check it out.”

Zuo Li’s expression was grave, but she nodded. ”Alright, let’s do that.”

Without another word, the group quickly disembarked from the minibus and assembled.

Zuo Li had Chen Xiao put the vehicle away. Everyone followed the group stealthily, their movements swift and efficient, trying their best not to make a sound.

Aside from the soft rustle of their leather boots against the muddy, overgrown ground, everyone was so quiet they seemed to be holding their breath.

Zuo Li led the group briskly past the guardhouse of Wohua Hospital.

The glass was splattered with dark red blood. Half of a corpse’s face was pressed against it, its one hollow eye wide open, staring fixedly at them.

...

”Yaoyao, Yaoyao, are you alright?” Meng Lanfang, her face deathly pale, stumbled over to her side.

She reached for her hand, but Huang Shi Yao rudely slapped it away.

Huang Shi Yao was furious, bent over and frantically brushing the dirt and sand from her long dress.

It was one of her favorite dresses, its hem studded with a row of incredibly expensive diamonds.

And now, it was completely ruined by all the dust and grit!

’Damn zombies!’

’And that damned, detestable bitch, Xie Ning!’

”Where’s Zhu Zihao? Hasn’t anyone found him? Get him over here to take out my change of clothes.”

”Go get Captain Chen over here,” Zhong said, wiping his face and kicking the totaled luxury convertible.

Chen Chengchen, a Second Order Thunder Element Superpower User, was the captain of Special Ability Special Combat Team Three.

He walked up to Huang Shi Yao and Zhong with a dark look on his face, his tone grave. ”Zhu Zihao ran away.”

”Ran away?!” Huang Shi Yao’s voice cracked as her eyes widened, unable to believe what she was hearing.

’If he ran away, what was she supposed to do?’

’Her boxes of clothes, accessories, food, and supplies were all in Zhu Zihao’s Space, and now they were telling her he ran away?!’

”How could you let him get away?” Huang Shi Yao shrieked, losing control. ”Didn’t I have people watching him?”

”We did. But Amo, who was on guard duty, was dragged off and devoured by a swarm of rats. Zhao Dun was pounced on by a four-legged zombie and bitten on the left leg.”

”So where is he now?”

”He’s still conscious, but it’s not looking good. We amputated his left leg, but I can see the skin around the wound is already turning black and necrotic. I don’t think he has much time before he...”

”I’m not asking if Zhao Dun is okay! I’m asking if he saw which way Zhu Zihao went!” Huang Shi Yao screamed, rushing forward like a madwoman and pounding on Chen Chengchen’s solid chest.

”Well, hurry up and bring him over so we can question him!” Meng Lanfang barked, puffed up with borrowed authority. ”Can’t you see our Miss is anxious for answers?”

Chen Chengchen gritted his teeth and turned. Along with two silent teammates, he quickly carried Zhao Dun over.

Seeing that the man’s legs were gone and he reeked of blood, Huang Shi Yao immediately recoiled in disgust. ”Zhong, you ask him! Where did Zhu Zihao go?”

Zhong strode forward and yanked Zhao Dun by the collar. ”Zhao Dun, snap out of it! Tell us what you saw! Where did Zhu Zihao go? Speak!”

But Zhao Dun was far from lucid. His mouth hung open stupidly, drool trickling from his lips.

His eyes were starting to turn a milky, deathly gray; he was clearly infected and turning.

Chen Chengchen and a few of his teammates turned away, unable to bear watching.

Zhao Dun convulsed a few times on the ground, then his milky-white eyes snapped open. Before he could even let out a roar, Zhong brought a hammer down and smashed his head open.

”AAAH!” Miss Huang screamed in terror, stumbling backward as her face turned sheet-white.

Meng Lanfang rushed forward and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, comforting her in a soft, motherly tone. ”Yaoyao, don’t be afraid. Yaoyao, it’s alright.”

”Captain Chen,” Zhong said, turning to him with a dark expression. ”Did Zhao Dun mention anything unusual to you earlier?”

Chen Chengchen’s expression was just as grim. He shook his head. ”Things were too chaotic. Everyone was just trying to get away. We didn’t see which way Zhu Zihao ran.”

”Then go get the Healing System over here. Miss Huang hurt her arm a little in the crash. She needs him to treat it.”

Chen Chengchen’s expression darkened further. ”The Healing System is gone, too.”

”What?!” Miss Huang was beside herself with rage. She stormed forward and started pounding on Chen Chengchen with her fists. ”What kind of captain are you? The team’s Space System runs off, and now the Healing System is gone too?”

”How are we supposed to continue the mission now? Mission my ass!” she shrieked, her composure completely gone as she cursed.

The teammates beside Chen Chengchen clenched their fists, their resentment palpable.

’This damned woman!’

’Amo and Zhao Dun are dead, thirty-one of our teammates are dead, yet all this woman can do is go on and on about her lost Space System and Healing System.’