Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Mutated Beasts!

Twenty minutes later, everyone was seated in the bus that Jia Daozhang had managed to procure.

After feeding Zhuang Chen a replenishing crystal core, her pale complexion improved slightly, and her spirits lifted considerably.

Yi Shaoqing’s face had been scratched by a zombie’s nails. To ensure absolute safety, he injected himself with an antidote and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, Gu Ning and the others learned that an antidote for the zombie virus had been developed. Although it only worked against ordinary zombie viruses, it was still a heartening piece of good news.

Both sides exchanged stories about what had happened since they parted ways.

Zhuang Chen said, “We came here mainly to bring the research results of the zombie virus antidote to major bases across the country that are connected to the capital. We also collected some samples to take back. But when we got here, we were attacked by a flock of mutated birds, forcing our plane to make an emergency landing. Another plane crashed outright. There were more than ten of us, but now only two remain.”

Gu Ning really wanted to ask about Ji Jiuzhe, but in this world, she didn’t even know him. How could she ask?

Suddenly, she felt a gaze lingering on her face for too long. She turned her head and saw Yi Shaoqing sitting across from her, staring at her with a mix of surprise and suspicion. He asked, “You were in Jinyong before, and only came to the Zhongnan Base in October?”

Although Gu Ning noticed his strange expression, she didn’t know why. However, due to their connection from another world, she felt a natural closeness to Yi Shaoqing and answered honestly, “Yes.”

Yi Shaoqing’s expression grew even stranger, but before he could say more, Gao Yue interrupted.

She was holding an antidote, gently shaking it, and then asked Yi Shaoqing with a hint of certainty, “Did you add a crystal core to this?”

Yi Shaoqing was taken aback and asked, “How did you know?”

Gao Yue shook the green antidote and said, “When the extract from the crystal core mixes with the blood of an ability user, it turns green.”

Speaking of Gao Yue, when she first joined the team, she maintained her aloof demeanor, hardly speaking more than three sentences a day. But she was a complete science fanatic. After spending some time with the Three-Linked Team, she gradually integrated into the group and began to reveal her true nature. She went around drawing blood from everyone and, with Gu Ning’s support, scavenged crystal cores from the team for her research. The team was full of complaints about her exploitation, but as the only doctor besides Gu Ning who could treat illnesses, and with Gu Ning’s backing, they had no choice but to endure it.

Gu Ning even managed to get her a full set of medical equipment. Basically, whatever Gao Yue needed, Gu Ning would try to provide. This caused some discontent among the team members. Gu Ning held the financial and material authority of the entire team, and Gao Yue, being the last to join, received such special treatment, which made many people jealous. But there was nothing they could do; when they caught a cold or got injured, they still had to rely on Gao Yue for treatment.

Yi Shaoqing was surprised. After all, if she were just an ordinary doctor, she wouldn’t be researching this or have such experience. The extraction of the essence from the crystal core alone required very complicated procedures, and the idea of mixing it with the blood of an ability user was not something an average person would think of. He immediately gained a new respect for Gao Yue.

The two of them then engaged in a deep conversation about the components of the antidote and how to make it effective against the evolved zombie virus.

Medical terms flowed clearly from their mouths, but to everyone else in the bus, it sounded like an alien language.

Gu Ning’s heart stirred slightly, and she took out the five-star emblem from her pocket and handed it back to Zhuang Chen: “I found this near the crashed plane.”

Zhuang Chen’s eyes lit up and she said, “It’s mine.”

Third Brother chimed in at just the right moment: “Zhuang Chen, so you’re from the Five-Star Brigade!”

Zhuang Chen nodded. She knew which unit Third Brother used to belong to, so it wasn’t surprising that he knew about the Five-Star Brigade: “We had just arrived in Jinyong a week before the apocalypse. According to the original plan, we were supposed to recruit new members for the military, but the apocalypse came so suddenly.”

Third Brother continued to ask, “How many people from the Five-Star Brigade came this time?”

Zhuang Chen said, “This time, it’s all people from the Five-Star Brigade. But my squad only brought me and Yi Shaoqing.”

Hearing this, Gu Ning’s tense nerves finally relaxed.

However, just at that moment, Jia Daozhang, who had been in a relaxed mood, suddenly shouted, “What the hell is that?!” Before his words could fade, a loud “Boom!” echoed!

The moving bus was hit by something unknown! The entire bus was sent flying sideways by the impact! Everyone sitting across from Gu Ning was thrown to her side! Screams erupted! The bus’s four tires screeched horribly! Jia Daozhang was almost thrown out but clung desperately to the steering wheel, trying to control the bus’s direction. However, the bus still slammed into a storefront on the street and flipped over! Everyone inside was thrown around, screaming!

Although Gu Ning had grabbed onto the seat in front of her the moment the bus shook violently, when the bus flipped and Xiang Xu was thrown towards her, she let go of the seat without hesitation and pulled Xiang Xu into her arms. Her head slammed hard against the window. Everyone else in the bus was stunned by the sudden impact, and their abilities didn’t activate in time. They were all badly shaken. Jia Daozhang’s head was bleeding profusely.

Before they could recover, a second impact came!

The bus shook violently again! Those who hadn’t steadied themselves were thrown to the ground once more.

Then, with a loud crash, two huge furry paws landed on the bus’s cabin, and a massive face appeared at the glass window above them. It was the face of a black bear, but it was several times larger than any black bear Gu Ning had seen at the zoo! Its eyes were blood-red, and it bared its sharp teeth, roaring at the people inside the bus. Saliva dripped through the broken window into the cabin. Everyone inside was stunned by the appearance of this giant bear that had flipped the bus with a single strike, too scared to move!

Gu Ning swallowed hard, even doubting whether her vines could restrain this enormous black bear!

“It’s a mutated black bear!” Zhuang Chen said with a pale face: “Back in the capital, a capable team of ability users once encountered a mutated leopard while hunting zombies. In the end, all thirteen members of the team were wiped out…”

The people in the bus looked extremely uneasy. If they were outside, they could use their abilities and fight for their lives, but trapped inside the bus, they couldn’t do anything.

The giant bear seemed extremely hungry. After another roar, it thrust its claws into the bus, slashing wildly. Its claws were like steel blades, incredibly sharp and deadly. Gu Ning couldn’t imagine surviving a swipe from those claws. The claws were coming straight towards her! Gu Ning’s heart raced! She quickly rolled away with Xiang Xu, avoiding the sharp claws. Everyone else also dodged the bear’s attacks. Gu Ning pushed Xiang Xu to the side of a seat, telling her to hold on tightly, then drew the knife from her waist and slashed at the bear’s paw!

Clang! Gu Ning’s knife struck the bear’s paw, but it felt like hitting a steel plate. Despite her full strength, she only managed to leave a scratch! She was horrified and quickly retreated. She glanced at the roof hatch, which was now completely blocked by the wall due to the bus flipping over. They didn’t dare touch the windows on either side. The mutated bear was so huge that if they tried to escape, it would likely devour them one by one.

The black bear’s claws continued to slash wildly inside the bus, forcing everyone to huddle in the corners. In such a confined space, their abilities were useless.

Jia Daozhang used the medical gauze Gao Yue gave him to wrap his bleeding head. The gauze quickly soaked through with blood, turning red. He looked in bad shape.

Zhuang Chen, forcing herself to stay calm, shouted to Gu Ning: “Gu Ning! What do we do?!”

They felt like the bus was a can of human meat, and they were the meat inside. Once the can was opened, they would be helplessly devoured!

“I’ll distract the mutated bear. You guys break the glass. Fang Fa, you have speed abilities, rush out first and see if you can lure the bear away.” After seeing Fang Fa nod, Gu Ning turned to Xiang Xu and said, “Xiang Xu, are you ready?”

Xiang Xu knew what Gu Ning wanted her to do and nodded firmly, bracing herself.

“Hey! Big bear! Over here!” Gu Ning shouted at the black bear, banging her knife against the seat to make noise. The bear, which had been focused on the side with more people, was immediately drawn to the sound. It seemed to understand that Gu Ning was provoking it and became enraged! It lunged towards her, its claws shattering the glass as it reached for Gu Ning’s corner, leaving the other side empty!

Now!

Gu Ning shouted: “Go!”

Almost simultaneously, Xiang Xu’s spiritual barrier expanded, infused with the maximum amount of energy she could muster. Her face turned pale, unsure if her barrier could withstand the bear’s attack!

As the bear’s claws struck the barrier, Zhang Xiaobai’s thunderous strike shattered the glass on the other side! With a crash, Fang Fa shot out like lightning through the broken windshield!

The bear’s claws scraped against Xiang Xu’s barrier with a sharp clang! The barrier held against the steel-like claws!

The bear seemed shocked that it couldn’t reach its prey. At the same time, the sound of breaking glass on the other side caught its attention. It turned its head and saw one of its prey escaping! Enraged, it leaped from the bus and chased after Fang Fa, who was running at full speed!

“Run!” Zhuang Chen shouted!

Everyone in the bus seized the moment and scrambled out!

Gu Ning grabbed Xiang Xu and ran out with her.

Once outside, everyone instinctively ran in the opposite direction of where the bear was chasing Fang Fa. After running about ten meters, they suddenly realized—wait, what about Fang Fa?! They stopped and turned around, only to see the bear, which had been chasing Fang Fa, now turning back towards them!

Earlier, they had only glimpsed the bear’s size, but now they truly understood just how massive this mutated black bear was!