Chapter 128

Chapter 128: Interception – The Door to Rebirth in the Apocalypse

Chapter 128: Interception

Everyone found Gu Ning’s words hard to believe. Although the mutations of the zombies constantly pushed the limits of their imagination, the idea of a mutated zombie that could not only control other zombies but also manipulate human consciousness was terrifying. Despite their reluctance to believe it, Gu Ning’s recent fall from the tower had proven everything.

Everyone’s faces were as cold as frost.

Gu Ning turned to Method and said, “Method, go and bring Xiang Xu here.” She paused and added, “Bring the sniper rifle we got earlier.”

Method nodded without hesitation and turned to go downstairs.

Zhuang Chen, who had just recovered from the shock of Gu Ning’s words, looked at her and said, “Gu Ning, can you explain what just happened more clearly?”

Gu Ning glanced downstairs, where Zhang Ji was directing the special ability teams in a rotating attack. For now, there were no threatening mutated zombies attacking the gate, so they still had some time. Gu Ning then recounted what had happened after she came up, sending chills down everyone’s spines.

Zhang Xiaobai and Zhong Xu were so scared they didn’t dare look outside, fearing they might accidentally encounter the zombie Gu Ning had mentioned and end up jumping off the tower like her.

“Zhuang Chen, go downstairs and take command. I’ll stay up here and try to find that zombie again.” She then turned to Shi Tou and Luo Long and said, “Shi Tou, Luo Long, you two stay up here with me. If you see me acting like I did earlier, make sure to stop me.”

Luo Long was still uneasy, but since Gu Ning had called him out, he had no choice but to agree. He then asked, “What if all three of us get affected and jump together?”

Gu Ning replied, “Just try not to look at the zombie horde. Focus on watching me.”

Shi Tou, on the other hand, was straightforward. “Don’t worry, Gu Ning. I’ll definitely hold you down!”

“Gu Ning, this is too risky. Why don’t we wait for Xiang Xu to arrive?” Third Brother disagreed with Gu Ning’s risky behavior, still shaken by what had just happened.

“Xiang Xu can cover the areas I can’t see, which will speed things up,” Gu Ning said, pointing at the growing number of zombies below. “We don’t have much time.”

Method was fast. To save time, he carried Xiang Xu on his back and ran all the way to the watchtower.

Xiang Xu had already learned from Method what she needed to do. On the way, she had spread out her spiritual power, and now standing on the watchtower, she could fully extend her spiritual energy.

Shi Tou and Luo Long stood like statues behind Gu Ning, tensing up at her every move.

Gu Ning’s eyes scanned the zombie horde like searchlights, not missing a single spot. Soon, Method brought Xiang Xu up. Gu Ning nodded at Xiang Xu, took the sniper rifle from Method, and held it ready, prepared to shoot at any moment. At such a long distance, the speed of special abilities was much slower than bullets. Since their abilities had evolved, they had been conserving ammunition, so they still had plenty left.

Perhaps sensing Gu Ning’s threat, the zombie had hidden itself. Gu Ning searched several times but couldn’t find it.

Xiang Xu’s spiritual power had improved significantly compared to two months ago, but searching every corner and identifying the zombie Gu Ning had described within the horde was still slow.

While Xiang Xu searched for the small zombie, Gu Ning raised the sniper rifle and began targeting the evolved and mutated zombies hidden in the horde. Mutated zombies were easy to distinguish from regular ones, but evolved zombies looked almost identical to regular zombies, making them hard to spot. However, Gu Ning could keenly sense their more agile movements. She patiently searched through the horde, picking them off one by one and shooting them in the head.

Time passed minute by minute, and half an hour flew by. Xiang Xu had searched all the buildings within the three main roads three times but found nothing, and she had exhausted a lot of her spiritual energy.

Meanwhile, the other special ability teams below were growing increasingly dissatisfied with the Three-Linked Team keeping five members on the watchtower. They even began to suspect that the Three-Linked Team was deliberately holding back their strength. With this thought, their attacks weakened.

“That mutated zombie might have the ability to evade your spiritual detection,” Gu Ning said to Xiang Xu as she put down the sniper rifle. “Take a rest. Luo Long, stay here and protect Xiang Xu. Method, Shi Tou, let’s go down.”

Once downstairs, Zhuang Chen and Yi Shaoqing immediately approached. “How did it go?”

Gu Ning replied, “We couldn’t find it. That zombie is very cunning and likely specializes in spiritual attacks, which is why it evaded Xiang Xu’s detection.”

Zhuang Chen frowned deeply. “The number of zombies outside is increasing. With just these special ability users, we can’t kill them all. And with the wall in the way, our attacks are less effective.”

Given the density of the zombie horde outside, it was impossible to charge out and fight. Any special ability user who went out would quickly be overwhelmed by the zombies.

With the zombies now at this level, finding the mutated zombie wasn’t as urgent. Even if they killed it, the horde that had already gathered near the base, drawn by the scent of humans inside, wouldn’t easily disperse.

But they couldn’t let the number of zombies increase any further. Since they couldn’t catch the mutated zombie, they had to block the horde from continuing to surge toward them.

Zhuang Chen and Gu Ning both thought of this at the same time. They exchanged a glance and nodded in silent agreement.

They called over the leaders of the other special ability teams. Zhuang Chen briefly explained the situation, and the leaders exchanged uneasy glances, clearly reluctant.

But at this point, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and go along with it.

Zhuang Chen never mentioned the mutated zombie that could control other zombies to the other teams. If they knew the truth, most of them would likely choose to leave the base and abandon the civilians they were protecting.

“If no one has any objections, I’ll start assigning tasks,” Zhuang Chen said. “Third Brother, your Three-Linked Team will block the main road leading out from the gate.”

This vertical main road was where the zombies were surging in the most. They couldn’t go straight out from the gate and had to take detours through two horizontal main roads, which added many dangerous variables.

The other teams were relieved to hear that the most dangerous area had been assigned to the Three-Linked Team. Since the Three-Linked Team didn’t object, they were less resistant to Zhuang Chen’s plan and felt it was only natural that the strongest team would handle the area with the most zombies.

Noticing the subtle expressions of the other teams but hearing no objections, Zhuang Chen continued, “Team Leader Wang, take a few people and go here.” She then turned to Team Leader Liang of the Green Tree Team and said, “Team Leader Liang, you’re responsible for the area leading to the river.” This was also the area with the fewest zombies.

“The Yuezhou Team and the Survival Team, you two teams will handle the smaller paths. Zhang Ji’s team will lead groups of twenty guards around the base to watch for zombies climbing over the walls,” Zhuang Chen said. “Each team can only send five people. The rest must stay here to defend the gate.”

A member of the Yuezhou Team immediately protested, “Are you kidding? Five people going out there is just feeding ourselves to the zombies! And it’s nighttime…”

Gu Ning had already taken out dozens of headlamps from her space. These headlamps weren’t sold in supermarkets; she had specifically bought them from an outdoor store in another world for emergencies.

The pile of headlamps on the ground immediately silenced the protester.

Gu Ning pulled out an iron rod from her thigh and gripped it tightly. “Third Brother, Method, Cheng Ming, you three come with me. Everyone else stays here and follows Zhuang Chen’s orders.”

Although Zhang Xiaobai wanted to go with Gu Ning, he knew this wasn’t the time to play the hero and immediately agreed to follow orders.

The Three-Linked Team’s decisive stance put pressure on the other teams. They were taking on the most dangerous area with only four people. Combined with the fact that they had taken on the bulk of the mission yesterday, the other teams felt a bit sour. If they backed out now, they would look cowardly. So, gritting their teeth, they decided to go!

To be safe, Gu Ning had stored several guns in her space. Method also carried one, along with a knife Gu Ning had taken from Linda at headquarters. The four of them set off first.

They had to take a detour through the area near the river, where there were fewer zombies, to reach the main road.

Except for Gu Ning, Third Brother, Method, and Cheng Ming all fixed the headlamps on their heads, turning them on. They looked like they were about to go mining.

Their physical stamina was excellent, and they quickly outpaced the Green Tree Team, reaching the wall near the river without breaking a sweat.

Method crouched down, one knee against the wall. Gu Ning stepped on his foot and then his shoulder, using the momentum to climb onto the wall. As soon as she flipped over, zombies began to move toward her, drawn by her scent.

Gu Ning noticed that the zombies below, originally spread out, were now converging. She jumped down from the wall, bending her knees to absorb most of the impact. Feeling little recoil, she stood up, twisted the iron rod in her hands, and it split into two knives. She charged toward two zombies in the darkness.