Listening to everyone’s laughter, Bai Yaoyao finally felt some relief from the tension that had been gripping her since her rebirth.
However, she still turned on the walkie-talkie and said, “Everyone, stay alert and be careful. When fighting zombies, there’s no such thing as a minor injury—getting hurt means death or infection. Don’t underestimate the zombies either. Some Power Zombies are quite formidable; we just haven’t encountered them yet.”
Only after hearing the acknowledgments over the walkie-talkie did Bai Yaoyao feel reassured.
When they passed by the H City National Library, Bai Yaoyao called for a stop.
She planned to collect all the books inside. She remembered that these books, especially the specialized ones, could be exchanged for a high number of points at the Main Base.
As soon as she entered the first-floor lobby, she saw nearly thirty zombies wandering aimlessly. The moment they caught the scent of humans, it was as if a switch had been flipped—they all began moving toward the entrance. One zombie was noticeably faster than the others.
Bai Yaoyao didn’t dare let the others practice anymore. She quickly tossed more than a dozen baseball bats and machetes on the ground and commanded, “Give it your all and take them down quickly!”
Everyone swiftly picked up the weapons they were most comfortable with and charged forward without hesitation—it was their combat instinct.
Since their superpowers were still too weak to be of much use, the few with Nature Power didn’t even consider using their abilities, to avoid situations where they’d stand still for three seconds casting a skill only to give a zombie a “hair wash.”
Bai Yaoyao tested her Strength Power and found it incredibly satisfying. Swinging a baseball bat, she smashed a zombie’s head to pulp with a single blow—a thrill she had never experienced in her previous life.
She targeted the fastest zombie, but before she could exchange more than a couple of moves, Gouzi stole the kill again.
Gouzi’s claws had evolved to be extremely sharp. These Level Zero Zombies were no match for him; most died after just one swipe. Since Gouzi specifically aimed for the neck, Bai Yaoyao suspected his intelligence had evolved just a tiny, tiny bit as well.
Xiaomi was also having a great experience. He had now gained control over his speed and, combined with his combat skills, was getting into the groove more and more.
Although there were many zombies, the team’s strength was formidable. In no time, all thirty zombies in the first-floor lobby were eliminated.
Bai Yaoyao instructed everyone to collect the crystal cores as quickly as possible and then hurried further inside. She was worried that the noise from the fight might attract a horde of zombies. If they got surrounded, it would be troublesome.
Without any area-of-effect skills, relying solely on blades to fight their way out would be impossible—the blades would dull before they broke through. After all, zombies are drawn to sound and scent, and the number surrounding them would only keep growing.
Once inside the library, Bai Yaoyao didn’t rush to collect the books. Instead, she dispersed the team to thoroughly check the area.
Only after confirming that there were no zombies or survivors did she collect all the books, including the shelves, into her space.
Though it wasn’t the first time they had seen Bai Yaoyao store things, everyone still found it amazing and endlessly fascinating.
When they returned to the vehicle, Bai Yaoyao checked the haul: there were 16 crystal cores in total. One of them was a faint yellow—it came from the speed-variant zombie that Gouzi had stolen the kill from.
Enhancement Type zombies all have yellow crystal cores, so ability users with Enhancement Type superpowers can absorb them more efficiently. Abilities like speed, Skin Hardening, and Strength Power all fall under the Enhancement Type.
The crystal cores of Nature Type zombies are all red, while those of Special Type zombies are all black. So far, we haven’t encountered these two categories of zombies.
Crystal cores of corresponding types are easier for ability users of the same type to absorb.
Different types can still be absorbed, but the absorption time takes about three times longer, though the effects aren’t significantly different.
Before even reaching the city center, we could no longer continue by vehicle. Cars make too much noise, attracting more and more zombies.
It had only been a few hours since everyone woke up, yet almost all social order and production had collapsed.
Out-of-control vehicles were scattered all over the roads, with cries and pleas for help rising and falling incessantly.
None of us were particularly kind-hearted people, but witnessing such scenes still made us freeze in shock.
“Holy shit, I ran a red light! Will I get points deducted?”
“Stop joking around, you idiot! Get out of the car!”
When the zombies had gathered to about thirty or forty, Bai Yaoyao called for everyone to get out and start harvesting.
By now, everyone was very familiar with the exact amount of force needed to kill a zombie with one strike—neither too weak to leave risks nor too strong to waste energy—so our progress had become much faster.
Bai Yaoyao noticed that the ratio of zombies to survivors wasn’t evenly split at all.
Initially, about fifty percent might have turned into zombies, but the spread of infection was incredibly fast. Anyone scratched or bitten by a zombie would transform into one in a very short time.
It was entirely possible that before you even woke up, the person sleeping next to you had already turned into a zombie, and with one bite, you’d never have the chance to wake up again.
Many people in the buildings along the road were observing Bai Yaoyao and her group. Seeing them in uniform attire and acting decisively, they assumed they were official rescue teams and began shouting loudly.
“Save us! There are five people in my family, including children and the elderly. Help us first!”
“Who doesn’t have children? Save us! We’re on the first floor, but there’s a zombie right at the door!”
…
Bai Yaoyao and the others acted as if they hadn’t heard a thing. After swiftly retrieving the crystal cores, they prepared to leave. Seriously, we’re assassins—it’s already a mercy we’re not killing people, and you want us to save you?
Saving people is easy, but what happens afterward? Become bodyguards to protect your safety? Play nursemaid and take care of your every need?
What a pipe dream!
The zombies on the first day of the apocalypse were so weak. If people had even a little courage and found a tool to fight back, they wouldn’t be trapped in their homes.
Seeing that Bai Yaoyao and the others were about to leave, the people in the residential buildings along the road grew frantic.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you saving anyone? How can you be so selfish? I told you there are children and elderly in my house! Everyone, shout together! Make some noise to attract the zombies! Don’t let them leave! Force them to save us!”
“That’s right! Don’t go! Save us!”
“Which department are you from? I’m reporting you! My husband is an official in the provincial government!”
Bai Yaoyao rubbed her ears. So damn noisy.
She directly pulled out her gun, twirled it skillfully, and without hesitation, shot the person who suggested attracting the zombies right between the eyes.
The scene instantly fell silent.
Bai Yaoyao and the others unleashed their full intimidating aura, glaring fiercely at the crowd that had been shouting moments before.
“So, can we leave now?” Bai Yaoyao infused a bit of spiritual power into her voice, ensuring it clearly reached everyone’s ears.
At this point, no one dared to speak anymore. Joking aside, someone bold enough to kill outright was definitely not here to save people! Anyone still making noise now would be seeking death.
Only when Bai Yaoyao confirmed the silence did she address her comrades: “Let’s go, next street.”
“Killing outright… is that alright?” the usually taciturn Shitou suddenly asked.
“As long as they deserve to die, it’s fine,” Bai Yaoyao answered directly.
Nowadays every department was overwhelmed with their own problems, no one had time to bother with these matters.
Even if they found out, with our formidable team eliminating a few deliberately troublesome scum – would they really cause trouble instead of trying to recruit us? No government could be that foolish.
Noticing the faint excitement in Shitou’s eyes, she couldn’t help but touch the bridge of her nose and ask: “Brother Shitou, didn’t you finish off all those people back then?”
“Two left, in A City.”
Bai Yaoyao nodded and patted Shitou’s shoulder: “There’ll be chances.”
“Yeah, they’re dead men walking.”
…