Chapter 42.1: Predicament [1]
Author: He Feng Yang
Translator: HeXie
Editor: Larkspur
Chapter 42.1: Predicament [1]
When faced with death, humans were always quick to come to their decision. A wise man submitted to their circumstances. No matter what people were thinking inside, they were willing to pledge their allegiance and allowed the loyalty rune to be planted within them in the first moments.
Planting loyalty rune on everyone was a simple matter for Wu Ye. He just needed to touch each of their foreheads, then the system would do the rest, directly planting the rune into their souls. People, who got the rune planted in them, would only feel a slight twinge of pain on their foreheads. And aside from the red curvy tattoo that appeared on their wrists, they wouldn’t feel anything else.
And the more this happened, the more mysterious Wu Ye’s existence became in people’s eyes.
Because Wu Ye had unlocked the second-level gene chain, the amount of loyalty rune he obtained was around twenty. Thus, with Qin Wuhua as the sole exception, Wu Ye planted the loyalty rune onto the other sixteen people without reserve.
Once the loyalty runes were planted on them, the eight wounded zombie hunters eagerly surged towards the vaccine and proceeded to inject the vaccine into their bodies. After some time, the vaccine started to work its magic. The stinky black blood gradually stopped flowing out of their wounds and their desires for flesh and blood slowly decreased to nothing.
Li Yuan was a surgeon before the apocalypse. And after it happened, he awakened a rare healing light ability. Therefore, at this moment, he naturally assumed his responsibility as the team doctor. He deftly used freshwater and ethanol that Wu Ye provided to clean everyone’s wound one by one.
After that, he used the scalpel he always carried with him and used it to get rid of the rotten skin. When their wound no longer released stinky black blood and was replaced with normal red blood, he immediately used his ability. Under the white light’s embrace, the ferocious-looking wounds quickly stopped bleeding and started healing at a speed that was visible to the naked eyes.
In the blink of an eye, only a faint pink scar remained in place.
However, the vaccine was still doing its magic as the victims’ high fevers hadn’t yet abated. Of course, healing was just a matter of time.
While Li Yuan was healing everyone, there was a sudden clatter outside followed by a loud roar that made the windows vibrate. When they looked out, they saw the huge zombie who had just been chasing the other fleets returning.
The reason was unclear, but it didn’t matter as it was returning now with an angry roar on the street across them. However, although the zombie returned to the county, it was unable to find those delicious ‘huge snacks’ that it viewed as its own. No wonder it was furious.
Therefore, the huge truck where the scent of Wu Ye and the others stuck the strongest became a tool for it to vent its anger. It grabbed the truck with one hand and smashed it to the ground, acting like a toddler throwing a tantrum.
Bang!
Roar!
Boom!
Roar!
Each loud bang was coupled with its frenzied and furious roar, the zombie hunters hiding at the top floor trembled in fear.
A few minutes later, what was once a refurbished truck was now just a huge piece of scrap iron; one couldn’t even make out the original shape. Incensed and done with the toy, the huge zombie angrily tossed the scrap iron out; the densely packed low-level zombies on the streets immediately fell to the ground. Many zombies were hit, their heads rolled around the ground.
Suddenly, the huge zombie caught a whiff of crystal core. Guided by its instinct, it slowly walked over, moved the scrap iron to the side, and shoved the crystal core found in the remains of the low-level zombies’ brains into its mouth. A moment later, it let out a satisfied sigh.
Lured by the crystal core’s energy, other low-level zombies started to become restless. Taking advantage of its momentum, a third-level variated zombie quickly sped intending to snatch the crystal core from the huge zombie, only to be stopped in its tracks by the mighty bellow. Stunned, this low-level zombie dared not move, relinquishing its desire in the process.
Having sent a signal loud and clear, now the huge zombie calmly finished devouring the crystal core. It then slumped to the ground in a momentary daze, then flung the huge scrap of iron at the rabble of zombies, and got back to its feet. After that, it enthusiastically moved the scrap iron to the side, munching on the crystal iron and happily continued the process…
This fourth-level zombie was purely relying on its senses. With both eyes damage to the point of no repair, it naturally couldn’t see. And due to the virus’ existence, there was no way it would swallow the other zombies. However, through the perpetual darkness and heightened senses, it had long discerned that as long as it tossed this scrap iron out, there’d be ‘delicious’ food on the ground for it to eat. Thus, it heartily indulged in this newfound ruthless and violent game
This fourth-level zombie’s eyes were completely destroyed; they were unable to see anything. It wouldn’t directly swallow the other zombies because of the virus. But in the darkness, it noticed that as long as it tossed this scrap iron out, there’d be ‘delicious’ food on the ground for it to eat. It seemed to have fallen in love with this violent and ruthless game.
And that huge zombie’s new-found ‘hobby’ sent shivers down the spine of those flabbergasted zombie hunters hiding at the top floor.
This was because, from the start, the survivors’ knowledge was based on the premise that the zombies had no IQ. Their natural instincts were limited to hunting for food and surviving. Their teeth and nails were their only two weapons. Besides that, if there were no collisions, the zombies normally wouldn’t hurt other zombies.
But the huge zombie in front of them had clearly shattered the two firm tenets they believed in. Not only did it directly murder the other zombies sinisterly, but it was also repeatedly using a ‘tool’ that certainly looked nothing like teeth and nails.
The difference between humans and ordinary animals lies in their IQs. It is the existence of this, and lack of in the others, that puts humans on the top of the pyramid. IQ is not limited to intelligence, it is also the ability to utilize the available resources to create tools for survival.
If the zombies evolved and gained wisdom one day…
This scary conjecture was like a bucket of cold water down their heads in September making everyone shuddered.
Wu Ye appeared calm to everyone; one couldn’t discern his thoughts from his expression. However, the cute little version of himself in his heart had already started roaring in rage. Fuck! You smashed my truck, so how am I supposed to bring these people out of the city? My poor truck ... I’ve lost all my money! The zombie is too ruthless and this is against the natural law! That’s not how it’s supposed to be! This is a dangerous place. We must return home now! QAQ.
Yang Qi lowered his voice and asked, “Boss, what should we do now?”