《“Oops! I Prepped for the Apocalypse and Became a Zombie”》


 Chapter 1: Warning Message

    "In three minutes, the people around you will turn into zombies."


    Xu Duoduo''s first reaction upon receiving this text message was to scoff. It was a recent internet meme, and many apocalypse-related bloggers had played out this series of scripts. She immediately replied: "Is this Jiajia? Or Yaoyao? Are you messing with me? It''s not even April Fool''s Day."


    Just as she sent the message, the light above her flickered, causing her heart to skip a beat.


    Her colleague, Sister Liu, couldn''t help but look up as well. "Hey, that''s strange. How long has it been since we''ve had a power outage in K City? What''s going on?"


    Xu Duoduo was a 22-year-old intern at an internet company. Working overtime was common, and it was now 6 PM. In early winter, it got dark early, and outside it was already completely black. It seemed like it was about to rain, with tree branches swaying outside the window, vague and indistinct.


    Like shadow monsters from a dark fairy tale, they seemed to be reaching out with claws, ready to drag people into the abyss.


    Xu Duoduo was considered brave, but when Sister Liu from the neighboring cubicle turned her head to look at her, that pale face and rigid pupils still startled her. Her gaze moved downward, and she noticed that the edges of Sister Liu''s nails were also starting to turn blue.


    Sister Liu seemed to find Xu Duoduo''s daze a bit strange and leaned in closer to express concern: "Duoduo? What are you spacing out for? Be careful, or the director will scold you again."


    The putrid smell that wafted over almost made Xu Duoduo vomit. She abruptly stood up.


    Other colleagues in the office also looked up, wondering what was wrong with her.


    Xu Duoduo nervously swallowed and began packing up to leave. "I''m not feeling well. I''m going home first. Sister Liu, can you help me ask the director for leave?"


    With that, she grabbed her bag and headed out, indeed looking unwell.


    Behind her, Sister Liu still looked puzzled and remarked strangely: "How did you suddenly become unwell? Young people these days, they''re just spoiled. I was bitten by a dog yesterday, got a rabies shot, and still came to work. Hey, be careful, the director might get angry and fire you!"


    Xu Duoduo heard the last sentence as she reached the office door. "If I get fired, so be it! I quit!"


    Her heart was racing.


    After leaving the company, she checked her phone messages. It had been two minutes since she received that message. Fortunately, this company was not located high up, situated on the third floor. After a moment''s thought, she quickly took the stairs down.


    It''s not safe to use the elevator when the power is unstable. If she got stuck in the elevator, it would be over.


    She''d become a living canned meat.


    Xu Duoduo practically flew down the stairs. Just as she reached the bottom of the company building, she heard a sharp scream from above. The passersby around her couldn''t help but exclaim "What the hell!" and looked up towards the building.


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    "Damn, that scared me!"


    "What''s going on? Don''t tell me someone''s about to jump because of work pressure again?"


    "Ugh, that''s terrifying. Let''s get out of here quick!"


    ...


    Hearing the scream, Xu Duoduo''s hands were shaking. She glanced at her phone - it was exactly three minutes. She didn''t dare look up at all and directly swiped her card to leave the software park.


    Once out of the office area, she scanned a code to rent a bike and headed home, not daring to linger.


    She didn''t dare take public transportation either.


    Her phone didn''t receive any new messages, and the signal was intermittent.


    Xu Duoduo wanted to send messages to warn her friends about their safety, but couldn''t send a single one. She knew then that this world was really about to have problems.


    At this moment, a storm was brewing.


    She cycled quickly, and fortunately, the people on the road all seemed normal.


    Twenty minutes later, she successfully arrived at her residential complex. Xu Duoduo finally felt a bit relieved, but she didn''t idle. Before going upstairs, she entered the largest supermarket at the entrance of the complex, casually grabbed a shopping cart, and began a major shopping spree.


    Milk, bread, instant noodles, chocolate, and various high-sugar, high-calorie drinks.


    At this point, Xu Duoduo''s brain was still in a daze, and her nerves were highly strung. Her actions were entirely subconscious, guided by survival instincts.


    After she filled up a large cart, the supermarket shelf stocker, Auntie Wang, suddenly spoke up with concern: "Young lady? What''s wrong? You don''t look too good! Are you feeling down? Why aren''t you working overtime today?"


    Xu Duoduo often came to buy things after work in the evenings, so the supermarket staff were quite familiar with her.


    "Ah, um, yes, I''m feeling down, so I''m planning to have a big meal," Xu Duoduo said, as if suddenly awakened, forcing a smile at the shelf stocker. "By the way, don''t you offer delivery service here? Can you help me deliver ten boxes of mineral water? Just to Building A, 8th floor. You can leave them in the elevator."


    The shelf stocker heard this and said of course they could, but wondered: "What does a young girl like you need so much mineral water for? How long will it take you to use all that?"


    Xu Duoduo, while stuffing various canned meats into her shopping cart, replied: "I''m too lazy to keep buying. I got fired from my company today, and I''ll be busy job hunting starting tomorrow. I won''t have time to come shopping again."


    Upon hearing this, the shelf stocker auntie sighed: "The pressure on young people these days is too much. Alright, alright, I''ll write up the order for you in a bit, and you can come pay. How can a young girl keep eating all this junk food? Even if you''re feeling down, you can''t binge eat like this. It''s so bad for your stomach!"


    Hearing these caring words, Xu Duoduo felt a lump in her throat. She was adopted, and after the elderly couple who adopted her passed away, their house was demolished. She had only moved to this area less than a year ago, and being cared for so suddenly by a stranger really made her emotional.


    She opened and closed her mouth several times, but still couldn''t bring herself to tell the other person about the zombies.


    After all, she didn''t have enough evidence to prove that the apocalypse and zombies were really coming.


    So she silently followed the shelf stocker auntie to pay. The auntie even kindly helped her pack everything nicely and escorted her all the way to the elevator.


    Xu Duoduo then went upstairs with her emergency supplies and ten boxes of mineral water. Before the elevator doors closed, she could still hear the security guard chatting with the shelf stocker auntie.


    "Oh, Sister Wang, delivering again? Why did that young lady buy so much stuff?"


    "Ah, she got fired and is feeling down. Says she''s going to start job hunting tomorrow and is too lazy to keep buying mineral water. These young people, when they''re stressed, they just like to buy, buy, buy. Not like us older folks who''ve been through hard times, eh?"


    "Haha, that''s true."


    She couldn''t hear anything after that. Xu Duoduo quickly moved her things out when she reached the 8th floor, then closed the elevator and carried everything back to her apartment. Only when she was back in her familiar space did she feel somewhat at ease.


    She collapsed onto the sofa, with the light above dazzling her eyes. She could only close her eyes to calm her nerves and catch her breath, planning to sort out the supplies piled at the door later. But as soon as she closed her eyes, something felt off.


    It was as if she suddenly had a hallucination. With her eyes closed, she could see a Rubik''s cube, one with an incredible number of faces. Countless faces, densely packed.


    Spinning rapidly.


    Xu Duoduo let out a "Wa!" and started to retch. The spinning had made her dizzy.

 Chapter 2: Multi-faceted Space

    She wasn''t a internet novice. As someone who frequently dealt with the internet, she was no stranger to web novels. The term "apocalypse" had long been associated with "space," so after some experimentation, she discovered that this Rubik''s cube was indeed a storage space! This realization filled her with both joy and sorrow.


    She was happy to have gained an enormous storage space, but sad that the world had truly become abnormal.


    After she regained her composure, the cube stopped spinning, as if the initial rotation had been merely a startup ritual.


    Now the cube space stood quietly in her consciousness.


    Xu Duoduo finally came to her senses.


    The dizziness subsided.


    She got up and went to the window, watching people strolling below. Everyone was still unaware of what the future held, so they all behaved as usual.


    Some were rushing home from work, while others were out for a family walk after dinner.


    Delivery riders zipped back and forth occasionally.


    The streetlights bathed everything in a glow, making it all seem extremely happy. This was an ordinary evening that used to be commonplace, but who knew if they would ever see such a scene again.


    Xu Duoduo''s nerves remained taut. She then closed the curtains and stored all the supplies from the doorway into her space, finding that she could indeed access them at will.


    She turned and opened the room to the right of the entrance door. This was a storage room with three large shelving units and a big freezer.


    Thanks to the previous epidemic, when the community was locked down and supplies were scarce, Xu Duoduo, being a survival enthusiast, had stocked up on food. After the epidemic ended, her desire to hoard things grew even stronger.


    That''s why she had this reassuring food warehouse. Inside were canned goods with a shelf life of up to ten years, a full twenty boxes of various types of canned food.


    Both meat and vegetarian options.


    As well as ten boxes of compressed biscuits in various flavors, ten boxes of high-calorie energy bars, plus five bags of fifty-kilogram rice, along with various instant noodles, powders, self-heating meals, and even ten boxes of mineral water in reserve.


    As for milk and vegetables with shorter shelf lives, she replenished those occasionally.


    The large refrigerator in the kitchen still had plenty.


    The storage room also had some seasonings, including three boxes of salt in reserve, and a few of each other type, such as light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and aged vinegar.


    Then there were survival supplies: a complete survival kit backpack with many handy small tools and food for one person.


    Outside the backpack were an electric saw, a battle axe, and a knife.


    There were three cans of gasoline.


    Mainly for power generation, in case of a power outage, she also had a home generator.


    Of course, there were also several large boxes of medical supplies, including items for stopping bleeding, anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, bandages, both internal and external medicines, including vitamins.


    These were all things Xu Duoduo had prepared for fun, but now looking at this storage room, she couldn''t help but feel conflicted. She never thought they would actually come in handy.


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    She quickly stored all these items in the cube space, feeling the connection between this space and herself. The reason Xu Duoduo felt comfortable putting her entire belongings into the space was because of this feeling.


    There was a sense of blood connection. At least while she was alive, everything would be there, and only she could take things out or put them in.


    It gave her a strong sense of security.


    After emptying the entire storage room, Xu Duoduo went to the bathroom. There was a large barrel in the bathroom that always stored water. After some experimentation, she found that she could store the water in one of the cube''s faces without needing a container. So she turned on the faucet, planning to empty the barrel into the space at regular intervals.


    She decided to use one of the faces to store water. She could sense that each face of the space was about 200 cubic meters, and this Rubik''s cube-like space had countless faces.


    She couldn''t even count them all!


    Xu Duoduo suddenly felt much more at ease. After that, she chose not to go downstairs to replenish supplies, as nights were always more dangerous than days.


    She decided to wait and see what would happen.


    So she prepared to have dinner, turning to go to the kitchen. Although she worked at an internet company, they fortunately had big and small weekends off, so on weekends, she would prepare some pre-made meals for herself and put them in the freezer. Now, when she wanted to eat, she just needed to microwave them for three minutes.


    Soon, a steaming bowl of eggplant and shredded pork over rice appeared. Xu Duoduo also washed a small bowl of fruit, large blueberries that were good for the eyes.


    Finally, she carried everything to the coffee table in the living room to enjoy, while turning on the TV. Although many young people now use projectors, she still preferred TV, as it always reminded her of watching TV with her grandparents in the past, making her feel secure.


    She turned on the local news channel that she used to watch with her grandparents.


    [Welcome to Daily Hot News, this is reporter Xiao Wei reporting for you.]


    [According to citizen reports, a rabies outbreak occurred on the third floor of Building B, Phase II of the Software Park, at Flying Fast Internet Company. The victim was a young lady, bitten by her colleague Liu. This person had just received a rabies vaccine last night, but unfortunately, the onset was faster.]


    Xu Duoduo had just lowered her head to take a bite of food when she heard this and froze, suddenly looking up. In the video, the female reporter announced this news with a regretful expression, then brought up the issue of leashing dogs when walking them.


    Daily Hot News was the last highlight of this news program, covering the latest news events in the city each day.


    Therefore, events that occurred just after 6 p.m. could immediately make the news.


    As the reporter explained, a video clip of what happened in the office was shown in the upper left corner. From the perspective of the person filming, when Sister Liu first went berserk and bit colleague A, the filming colleague B was still joking: "Haha, it''s over, Sister Liu''s rabies has flared up because of overtime!"


    However, when colleague A screamed out, and Sister Liu bit her until she bled and then viciously tore off a chunk of flesh, the filming colleague B was also scared into screaming. After that, the video became a shaky escape footage, all blurry, with the surrounding people''s attitudes changing from curiosity to panic.


    [Many netizens are saying this is a zombie bite, but that''s just a rumor. It''s just that this Liu person''s teeth were a bit sharper, which is why she bit through to the flesh.]


    [To avoid causing panic among citizens, please don''t believe rumors carelessly.]


    After the reporter finished with these final words, the host took over with a smile and began to say the closing lines.


    Xu Duoduo couldn''t even eat anymore. She directly used her phone to cast to the TV, trying to open Weibo''s hot search. Sure enough, the incident at her company today was trending.


    #K City Zombies


    #End of the World


    She connected to her home network, trying to refresh several times before the signal improved.


    At the same time, it seemed as if messages had been delayed, and she suddenly received many notifications.


    There was one from colleague C.


    - Holy crap, Xiao Xu, what kind of lucky koi spirit possessed you? Sister Liu went crazy right after you left!


    - Oh, no, it was her rabies flaring up.


    - Good thing you left quickly!


    This colleague C had joined the company around the same time as her, just one day apart.


    They had a decent relationship.


    Xu Duoduo wasn''t in the mood to reply. She couldn''t eat anymore and was breaking out in a cold sweat. It was so close, just a little bit more, if she hadn''t left, the person bitten would have been her, because she was closest to Sister Liu.

 Chapter 3: The Beginning of the Apocalypse

    Fortunately, she had believed that text message.


    "Ding dong!"


    Her phone vibrated again, showing a new message. Was it from the person who warned her?


    Xu Duoduo''s hands were almost shaking as she sent a message, asking who they were.


    The other party directly ignored these inquiries and instead sent a download link.


    If it weren''t for Sister Liu''s incident matching up, Xu Duoduo wouldn''t have dared to click on it. But she had three backup phones, so she wasn''t afraid of her phone getting infected. Her savings bank cards weren''t linked to online banking, so she wasn''t worried about unauthorized transactions.


    Therefore, she quickly clicked on the website and downloaded it to her phone.


    Soon, an apocalypse survival guide popped up. Xu Duoduo read it carefully, word by word. This survival guide of less than 3,000 words mentioned climate changes, various disasters, and even the later stages of global chaos.


    Plus the two words "Mutation".


    These two words were in large, bold red font, suggesting that everyone would evolve.


    It made sense.


    Without evolution, no one could survive in such a chaotic world.


    Xu Duoduo was worried that electronic devices might not work later, so she immediately ran to the desk in her room, downloaded and printed out multiple copies of this survival guide, and stored them in her space.


    By the time she finished all this, her meal had long gone cold. She ate it without tasting it, not wasting a single grain of rice. Then, thinking about the initial period when there might be no electricity, she hurried to cook rice.


    Each compartment of the Rubik''s cube space, or multi-faceted space, had its own preservation function.


    Xu Duoduo planned to prepare as much ready-to-eat food as possible. Looking at the survival guide, it stated that the initial stage would see biting incidents occurring in various places, also known as the early appearance of the zombie virus. Starting tonight, there would be no more peace.


    Afterwards, a massive electromagnetic storm would break out, signals would completely disappear, and outside power lines would explode, making the electricity supply increasingly unstable.


    Water would start to be gradually contaminated after three days, which was terrifying.


    What Xu Duoduo needed to do was to stock up on food and water while there was still electricity and clean water.


    She had many types of pots at home.


    So she set all three rice cookers to cook rice, two pressure cookers to cook various meats and meatballs, and she had to cook all the meat stored in the refrigerator and freezer.


    Instant foods that could be microwaved went into the microwave, or directly into the air fryer.


    There were four gas stove burners.


    One for cooking porridge, one for ginger soup, one for herbal tea, and one for soup. Because it was said that there would be very hot and very cold times later, and soups and drinks would be most healing. They could be stored in large thermos flasks for drinking later.


    Xu Duoduo didn''t dare to sleep at all.


    From finishing dinner, she had been busy non-stop. She set online news to auto-read mode, listening through Bluetooth earphones as it read from top to bottom.


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    As for food, she prepared as much as she could. Every extra portion of food was an extra guarantee.


    Although humans would eventually mutate, mutation was risky. Not everyone could successfully mutate, and failing to evolve meant death.


    Xu Duoduo still hoped she wouldn''t get infected too quickly, and could hold out as long as possible. After all, the later it got, the more likely bases would develop good drugs that could greatly enhance human mutation and reduce the risk of death.


    She didn''t dare sleep all night, busy making food and storing water.


    For many people, tonight was indeed an unusual night.


    The power went out in the middle of the night.


    Many screams could be heard from the residential complex, along with hoarse shouts.


    Mixed with cries for help and dog barks.


    Xu Duoduo didn''t dare open the curtains at all, keeping doors and windows tightly shut, preparing for the initial period of seclusion. When there was a chance later, she would continue to stock up on supplies.


    Now, the priority was to stay safe. Sometimes, being too greedy could be a sin.


    When the power went out, she didn''t panic. Instead, she stored the half-finished products in her space, to be taken out when the power returned. It was very convenient.


    She herself was completely exhausted and fell asleep on the sofa as soon as she closed her eyes. She slept until her phone rang the next day. It was the property management calling her.


    "Is this Ms. Xu? It''s like this, a new type of rabies virus suddenly appeared in K City last night. It spreads fast and develops quickly. We''ve received notice from above that starting today, no one is allowed to go out without authorization."


    The entire city was shut down.


    Students were on holiday.


    It was more or less the same as what the apocalypse survival guide said. The first step was lockdown.


    Xu Duoduo was already numb with exhaustion, and after a night''s time, whether she accepted it or not, she had to. Her mindset had improved a lot, so she first pretended to be surprised, then said she would follow the property management''s arrangements.


    The other party also expressed gratitude for her cooperation, and then busied themselves with calling other residents.


    It was also announced in the community group chat, but for some stubborn individuals, they had to call each household to explain the situation clearly, so the workload was huge.


    However, this wasn''t the first time they had been locked down, so everyone had some experience.


    Food would be distributed on time, and everyone just needed to stay at home.


    Many people in the group chat were panicking.


    Because of the screams from last night.


    As a result, the group chat was muted for all members, silencing everyone''s voices.


    The signal was still unstable.


    The TV kept freezing, and the news broadcast was stuttering.


    The key words that could be caught were: typhoon, geomagnetic storm, earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption.


    As the season was approaching winter, several typhoon embryos had formed unexpectedly, and they were uncontrollable.


    Coastal areas in various countries had already sounded alarms, preparing to face super strong typhoons.


    Starting today, large geomagnetic storms would occur frequently. Many scientific researchers were busy preparing countermeasures, while constantly broadcasting ways for residents to cope, urging everyone to pay attention to their personal safety.


    At the same time, volcanoes both underwater and on land around the world were detected to be stirring, entering an active period, and could erupt at any time.


    Finally, all broadcasts were announcing that humans on Earth would face the greatest disaster in history. This could potentially be a mass extinction event for humans, like the dinosaurs before. Therefore, the United Nations called on all of humanity to unite and overcome this catastrophe together.


    When Xu Duoduo heard this, her eyes were already turning red. Looking at the sun outside, it seemed that days like before might never return.


    Suddenly, bursts of desperate cries and wails came from the residential complex.


    More people were breaking down.


    Xu Duoduo could only compose herself and continue to prepare food.


    She had to make full preparations.


    In the following days, bad news kept coming. The signal was still unstable, so many disaster reports couldn''t be transmitted in time.


    Imagination was scarier than reality. The people cooped up in K City''s residential complexes were under extreme mental stress. The number of people who couldn''t handle the pressure and committed suicide increased dramatically.


    The climate had already started to become abnormal. Within just three days, it had gone through several changes, with temperature differences reaching 30 degrees, dropping sharply.


    Many people fell ill as well.

 Chapter 4: Turning into a Little Zombie at the Start

    Xu Duoduo had always been very careful. When people in the community group were exchanging needed supplies, she didn''t participate. Later, when some people couldn''t stand staying inside and started visiting neighbors in the hallways, she didn''t go out either, trying her best to avoid contact with others.


    The internet signal was constantly intermittent, so any news was delayed.


    The messages she sent to her friends were like stones sinking into the sea, making her heart sink along with them.


    Meanwhile, she started keeping a diary to record events.


    Day One was the zombie outbreak, but the authorities were already doing their best to handle it, so it was still under control for the time being. There were just many more vehicles coming in and out of the residential complex, and many people in protective suits were busy downstairs.


    On Day Two, there was a big temperature drop. The biggest temperature difference was that in the morning it was so hot that clothes were almost unbearable, but by night it was so cold that everyone couldn''t stand it.


    Fortunately, the living facilities were still intact, and the timely heating saved them.


    On Day Three, some water sources started to have problems, the zombie virus infection became somewhat uncontrollable, and worst of all, power outages were becoming longer.


    Xu Duoduo barely slept for these three days, finally managing to cook most of the food, but later she didn''t dare to eat food with strong smells.


    Because after Day Three, food supplies were cut off. No one came to deliver food anymore. The area below the residential complex was in chaos, becoming empty, and no more cars came.


    On Day Four, the water started to smell strange. People didn''t dare to drink tap water anymore. By the afternoon, some people couldn''t stand it anymore and wanted to go out of the complex to check the situation. Although many people were shouting from upstairs, telling them not to go out.


    But they said, "Are we supposed to die of thirst if we don''t go out and look? You''re too cowardly to go out, we''ll go!"


    "That''s right! What if they''ve all abandoned us and run away? Even the medical staff didn''t come today! Are we supposed to just trap ourselves here?!"


    The bolder ones didn''t listen to advice at all, or perhaps after experiencing these magical events for the past few days, their minds were already on the brink of collapse.


    Just as they were about to go out, they saw a figure in a protective suit appear. This made them all feel relieved. They immediately waved and even started cursing, "Damn it, I thought you were going to let us starve and die of thirst. Do you know that the tap water tastes weird?"


    The others chimed in, "That''s right! Quickly deal with the drinking water!"


    Xu Duoduo felt that these people were really impolite to the volunteers, but the next second she saw that the person in the protective suit wasn''t moving normally. Her heart sank even further, and she couldn''t muster any more hope.


    She dimly pulled the curtains closed, turned to sit against the wall, took out her diary from her space, and wrote: November 6, 2029, all medical volunteers have fallen, the residential complex is about to lose order.


    If no official personnel came, it could only mean one thing: they couldn''t come.


    The situation was indeed bad.


    Sure enough, terrified shouts came from downstairs. The few people who were preparing to leave the complex were frantically shouting that this volunteer had also contracted the rabies virus.


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    People upstairs were all too scared to make a sound, almost everyone immediately went to lock their doors.


    Xu Duoduo''s eyes welled up with big tears, but this was unavoidable. The apocalypse survival manual had already estimated the date when order would collapse, and sure enough, it officially began on the fourth day, right on schedule.


    She wiped away her tears. The road ahead would depend on herself. She had to survive until the later stages.


    The difference between having official order maintenance and not was huge. On the fourth night of the apocalypse, the screams in the residential complex grew louder, along with the constant sound of heavy objects falling, and some animal-like roars from downstairs.


    People in other buildings started fighting over supplies. Everyone was in a panic.


    Xu Duoduo also saw the content people were posting in the community group chat when there was signal. Despair dominated most of it. She tried hard to block out the bad news.


    To keep herself calm.


    In this situation, the most frightening thing was mental breakdown. As an ordinary person, Xu Duoduo felt she was already very strong, and she still had her space to rely on. If she didn''t have the space, she might have felt despair too.


    Compared to others'' anxiety about food and water, she was doing okay.


    So when someone knocked on her door, Xu Duoduo didn''t make a sound. She had food and drink, and staying put was the best protection for her.


    Two more days passed. Water and electricity were completely cut off, and the residential complex became lifeless.


    Downstairs were now wandering zombies. They scratched at the doors every day, but the early-stage zombies didn''t have the ability to break doors, they could only scratch.


    As long as you didn''t go downstairs, it was very safe.


    However, the survivors'' fight for supplies was intensifying. Xu Duoduo''s door had been bashed several times, and neighbors in the same building muttered that her door was sturdy, impossible to break open no matter how hard they tried.


    However, they didn''t know that if they really broke in, Xu Duoduo, waiting by the door, would start her chainsaw. Although she was afraid, it didn''t mean she wouldn''t fight back. Fortunately, her door was really sturdy.


    It wasn''t in vain that she spent over ten thousand on the anti-theft door. It was really, really solid.


    But even without contact with people.


    Xu Duoduo didn''t understand why she seemed to be turning into a zombie. Her brain''s reactions started to slow down, her body became sluggish, as did her tongue. So on the tenth day of the apocalypse, she had to admit that she had become a zombie. Angry, she lay in bed for a full ten days.


    This start that made her turn into a zombie, what was the point of giving her a protagonist''s standard space?!


    It really made her angry to death!


    She couldn''t speak when she opened her mouth, only making "aba aba" sounds, which made her kick her legs in frustration.


    Then she found that her leg-kicking movements became more flexible. She finally rolled out of bed, and then she discovered that her body had gone from stiff to soft again, regaining some agility, only her tongue was still not nimble.


    Maybe it was because she hadn''t spoken to anyone for so long, and also psychological reasons.


    Xu Duoduo could still only say "aba aba" when she tried to speak, which made her cheeks puff up in anger. She sat cross-legged on the bed thinking for a long time before remembering to write in her diary.


    Then she found that her brain hadn''t fully recovered either, working slower than before. Some things took a long time to think about. Realizing this fact made her collapse for another three days. Finally, she discovered that she could survive without eating, which made her want to cry even more.


    The apocalypse had just begun, and she had stored a lot of food and drink. Now that she had turned into a zombie, she couldn''t eat it!


    Xu Duoduo really wanted to cry out loud, but zombies don''t have tears. She silently closed her mouth again, took out some food to chew dry, only able to taste about one percent of the flavor, leaving her heart feeling cold.


    During the several times she collapsed in her room, more than half a month had passed since the start of the apocalypse.


    Xu Duoduo knew nothing about the outside world. Her residential complex was completely lifeless, with more and more zombies downstairs, and even wall-climbing zombies appearing.


    There were still survivors.


    She could hear them coming out to look for supplies during the day, and they tried to pry open her door several times, but still couldn''t open it, so they had to give up.


    Xu Duoduo couldn''t be bothered to deal with them. After all, she wasn''t human anymore, was she?


    She was prepared to continue being useless, until the morning of the 26th day of the apocalypse, when the previously quiet K City began to hear the sounds of artillery fire. The rescue operation had finally begun.

 Chapter 5: The Little Zombie is Afraid

    Xu Duoduo silently touched her heart. There was no heartbeat. She couldn''t help but cry, "Yiwuwu yi!"


    No one could save her.


    For other survivors, the arrival of the rescue team was a sign of hope.


    But for Xu Duoduo, it meant she was approaching her end. She suddenly calmly accepted this fact, so she hugged her knees and hid on the bed, treating herself like a mushroom growing darkly in the corner.


    Suddenly, the sound of artillery fire erupted from downstairs in the residential complex. Many survivors upstairs were cheering excitedly.


    After an unknown amount of time passed.


    They started clearing her floor. The sounds of combat could be heard from downstairs.


    In a daze, she heard a familiar voice.


    [Qingyuan Residential Complex, Building A, 7th floor cleared.]


    Xu Duoduo shuddered when she heard the words "cleared". She was still afraid. It would soon be her floor''s turn. Was she about to die?


    Her whole person, no, her whole zombie self wasn''t feeling good. She wanted to cry, but zombies have no tears.


    Steady footsteps penetrated the walls and reached her ears. "Bang!" It was a gunshot! The growl of a zombie came from next door.


    "Tch, this zombie is too ugly, howling so annoyingly. I blew its head off with one shot. Little Bai, how''s the situation on your side? Hurry up and finish so we can go back. I''m hungry, I want to eat hot pot, the kind with scalded brain."


    This voice was carefree, with a clear tone, and the muttering had a familiar feel to it.


    Xu Duoduo, who had been burying her head and hugging her knees like an ostrich, raised her head in confusion.


    "I''m almost done here, it''ll take at most half an hour to finish. Old Wang, notify the vehicles to come and pick up the survivors. Tch, why is this door so hard to open?"


    Hearing this, Xu Duoduo shuddered violently. Familiar or not, she was about to be gone, wuwu!! She was about to cry out "aba aba", but remembering that this man had complained about her neighbor''s howling being annoying, she quickly covered her mouth, trembling as she sat on the bed waiting for him to end her.


    Yes.


    She didn''t have the courage to end herself, so it was better to wait for someone else to do it, saving her from a more unsightly death later, because she was no longer human.


    Xu Duoduo''s heart died thinking about this, but when the door was kicked open with a "bang", her whole zombie self was still trembling. The next second, she was shocked by the person''s strength. How could anyone kick open her front door?!


    "Damn, this door was really hard to kick! Hm? Is this unit uninhabited? It''s quite clean, like a model home."


    However, the person didn''t stop searching. Xu Duoduo had already started acting like an ostrich, continuing to bury her head and shiver, waiting for the final judgment.


    She could hear that the person didn''t go to the storage room or the kitchen, but walked directly towards her room. The footsteps seemed to be stepping on her nerves.


    She was so nervous she was about to explode!


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    "Bang."


    The room door was opened...


    The next second she heard the sound of a gun being cocked, "Click". The familiar voice sounded again, "Any wounds? Bitten by zombies? Any degree of mutation? Please answer these questions truthfully."


    Xu Duoduo still kept her head down, pretending to be dead, even wanting to burrow into the nearby blanket.


    Then she heard the person impatiently click their tongue, and their tone turned fierce, "Didn''t you hear me asking you to answer? I''m the captain of the 3A Special Operations Team, an official special rescue team. Ma''am, if you don''t answer, it might affect your rescue time. Do you understand... Hm??"


    Xu Duoduo was just wondering why the person said "Hm?" when the next second, they quickly came over and grabbed her, scaring the little zombie into trembling. She closed her eyes pretending to be dead, then heard the person speak with interest: "Little Class Monitor?"


    The familiar upward inflection, the carefree tone, with a hint of surprise at reunion after a long time.


    Xu Duoduo finally opened her eyes to look at the person, who was also about to judge her. As soon as she opened her eyes, she met a magnified handsome face, and they stared at each other wide-eyed.


    Before the person could speak, another voice came through his earpiece, "Who? Little Class Monitor? Qin-ge, have you finally gone crazy? Missing the little class monitor so much you''ve gone mad?"


    Qin Luo impatiently turned off the earpiece and began to examine the little thing in front of him. He hesitantly asked, "Xu Duoduo? Damn, how come you haven''t changed much after so many years? Still the same face."


    Xu Duoduo was stunned. Her slow brain finally remembered who this person was. Meeting an old classmate, it was really hard to describe. He was still as silly as ever.


    Looking at Qin Luo''s combat uniform, this guy was still tall, his features had lost their childishness but looked more proper now, the kind of handsome that could make a group of girls swoon. Back then, he was both the school heartthrob and the school bully.


    As the class monitor, Xu Duoduo had spent a lot of effort dealing with this issue for her deskmate.


    She wanted to say expressionlessly: "Hello." However, when she opened her mouth, she could only say "aba aba".


    So she chose to remain silent.


    Qin Luo, like a big dog, curiously examined her. After so many years, the little class monitor from junior high was a bit different. Thinking about it, he noticed subtle differences in Xu Duoduo, such as her icy cold body.


    He couldn''t help but frown.


    The next second, Qin Luo touched Xu Duoduo''s neck, pressing to find no pulse.


    Xu Duoduo almost thought he was going to strangle her, but later she understood he was checking for a pulse.


    She felt a little sad and a little gratified in her heart. Her former underachieving deskmate was now eating the national grain and had even become part of a special operations team.


    Really amazing.


    Their junior high homeroom teacher, Old Li, would surely feel proud too.


    "Tsk, weren''t you quite clever? How did you not make it through the initial stage?"


    Qin Luo felt greatly disappointed, but why did his expression and tone seem so annoying???


    Xu Duoduo furrowed her brows and started to get angry, glaring at him with puffed cheeks, just like when she used to chase him to do his homework.


    Qin Luo just laughed.


    "Oh right, I almost forgot the main task." As he said this, he started looking around the room as if searching for something.


    Xu Duoduo couldn''t help but start trembling again, thinking he might be looking for a good place to dispose of her. So she closed her eyes again and pretended to be dead.


    Qin Luo looked around but didn''t find anything useful, so he simply picked up a small blanket. Turning his head, he found Xu Duoduo with her eyes closed, trembling. He sighed and directly tied her up.


    Xu Duoduo realized she was being tied up even with her eyes closed. She thought he probably feared she would struggle and die in an unsightly manner, wanting to leave her some dignity. She opened her eyes and gave him a grateful look, thinking he was quite nice after all.


    Qin Luo felt complicated, thinking the zombified Xu Duoduo was a bit weird. How could she look grateful for being tied up? It was puzzling.


    He then picked her up horizontally, along with the blanket, and stuffed her into the closet to hide her. "Stay put for now, I''ll come back for you later."


    After muttering this, he took one last look at Xu Duoduo. Her little face was snow-white, and she was blinking her big eyes at him.


    Qin Luo''s ears suddenly turned red. He clicked his tongue: "What are you, a zombie, trying to act cute for?"


    Xu Duoduo: ???

 Chapter 6: Will You Come With Me?

    Soon, a series of door-kicking sounds and gunshots came from upstairs, along with the excited voices of survivors.


    Xu Duoduo sat in the closet, lost in thought. Her slow brain was pondering: She... wasn''t dead? Her old classmate actually didn''t shoot her on the spot?


    The little zombie didn''t quite understand.


    She looked down at the thin blanket that had tied her up tightly, struggled a bit to find it was very secure, and finally gave up trying to break free.


    Xu Duoduo slumped in the closet, blinking as she waited for time to pass. After an unknown amount of time, there was finally movement outside again.


    "Everyone head downstairs and line up! Buses will come soon to take you to the survivor base."


    This voice sounded quite stern when reprimanding people, all traces of casualness gone. One might think he was conducting military training.


    Xu Duoduo was lost in her thoughts when she heard someone ask where he was going. Qin Luo had taken out all the zombies in the entire building without even breaking a sweat, clearly becoming everyone''s pillar of support and source of security.


    Then she heard him coldly and ruthlessly tell them not to mind, "You all go on your way, I''m going to fetch something."


    The forgotten "something" - Xu Duoduo suddenly paused, then her eyes looked a bit gloomy.


    So when Qin Luo came in muttering and took large strides, as soon as he opened the closet, he met a pair of slightly resentful, gray eyes. They were zombie eyes, having lost their human luster, but the gaze was quite spirited.


    "Hey, the little class monitor is indeed the little class monitor, huh? Even as a zombie, you''re smarter than others."


    This praise is unnecessary, thank you very much.


    Really.


    Xu Duoduo''s eyes were full of disdain. If she could speak, she would really like to make a sarcastic comment or two.


    Qin Luo, as if he had found a new toy, untied the knots on her body and wrapped her in the blanket again. "Can you understand what I''m saying? If you can understand, nod. I''ll take you with me. Did you read the apocalypse survival manual that headquarters mass-distributed? Early-stage zombies generally have no rationality to speak of, but you''re very strange. It seems like you still have some remaining consciousness?"


    In front of her, he reverted to that carefree manner, occasionally curling his lips into a mischievous smile, even showing his right canine tooth.


    This familiar smiling face was dazzling, making Xu Duoduo momentarily dazed, feeling as if she had returned to those carefree three years of junior high school life.


    Seeing her in a daze, Qin Luo frowned a bit, "You haven''t really gone completely stupid, have you? Hey, hey, hey? Look at me. I''m asking if you want to come with me? Maybe if you come back to the base with me, there''s still hope for you. Professor Ji at our research institute is quite capable. Or do you want to stay here?"


    Joke.


    Who would want to die if they could live??


    Xu Duoduo was startled by him and quickly nodded obediently.


    She felt that her originally stiff neck had become much more flexible.


    Qin Luo''s lips curled into a smile again, his little canine tooth showing. He looked quite sunny and handsome. After hearing her response, he nodded satisfactorily, picked up Xu Duoduo who was wrapped like a caterpillar, and put her on his shoulder, taking large strides out.


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    "Alright then! Let''s go. Bet you never thought you''d end up in my hands one day, did you?"


    "Right, little class monitor?"


    Xu Duoduo indicated she didn''t want to answer, burying her head in his shoulder and playing dead.


    If she hadn''t turned into a zombie, this direct way of carrying her would really make her vomit. Who carries a zombie like a sack of potatoes like this?!


    Xu Duoduo''s face was full of despair for life.


    Qin Luo, on the other hand, was quite excited, carrying her and bounding down in just a few steps.


    Xu Duoduo also just realized something was off. Although Qin Luo was already a member of a combat team, wasn''t his physical ability too terrifying??


    Not only did he single-handedly sweep through the entire building, but he didn''t even break a sweat?


    Moreover, his speed going downstairs wasn''t something an ordinary person could match. He could even easily leap down an entire flight of stairs, which was quite scary.


    Xu Duoduo''s slow brain thought of two words - [Evolution]. There was also a delayed reaction; the apocalypse survival manual Qin Luo mentioned earlier was actually mass-distributed by headquarters?? That proved that she wasn''t the only one who received the text message that night, and Liu-jie from her company wasn''t the only one who fell ill...


    This was a disaster that had been foreseen early on. When this thought appeared in her mind, her whole body shook, and she understood again that the future might be impossible to change, and the situation would only get worse and worse.


    Just then.


    Qin Luo, tired of running down stairs, jumped out of the window when there were still three floors left, landing steadily on the first floor while carrying her.


    Xu Duoduo, her face turned to the side, looked up at the sky. It was hazy, as if it had been a long time since she''d seen the sun. Occasionally, brilliant rays of light flashed in the sky, flickering from time to time.


    The residential complex below was no longer as clean and tidy as before. Zombies were everywhere, and the walls were splattered with various filth.


    Even the plants seemed to be covered in a layer of dust, looking lifeless.


    The survivors were huddled in a relatively clean area, shivering. Everyone was both happy and afraid.


    Survivors from other buildings also came down in waves, all gathering in one place. Regardless of whether there had been fights over supplies before, at this moment, no one cared about that anymore.


    Suddenly, several reporting sounds came from the distance, [3A Special Operations Team - Wang Hu reporting, Qingyuan Residential Complex Building B has been cleared.]


    [3A Special Operations Team - Bai Shu reporting, Qingyuan Residential Complex Building C has been cleared.]


    [3A Special Operations Team - Flying Eagle reporting, Qingyuan Residential Complex Building D has been cleared.]


    ...


    Xu Duoduo looked dazedly towards the source of the sound. Then she heard a cool voice next to her ear, Qin Luo saying: "3A Special Operations Team - Luo Shen reporting, Qingyuan Residential Complex Building A has been cleared."


    Huh??


    So lame!!


    What kind of chuunibyou codename is that?!


    Xu Duoduo couldn''t help but squirm, feeling embarrassed for Qin Luo. She wanted to dig a five-room double-story villa on the spot to hide in.


    Yet these chuunibyou words made the hearts of those present feel more at ease.


    These reports, one after another, proved that no one had abandoned them, that no one would be left behind.


    Many survivors belatedly began to sob, then broke into loud wails. Some hugged each other tightly, some cried out the names of their loved ones.


    Xu Duoduo felt a mix of heartache and confusion, completely unsure of where the future lay. Only the shoulder she was leaning on seemed reliable, along with the warmth from her old classmate.


    It was indeed a bit comforting.


    Xu Duoduo''s consciousness soon began to blur. In her hazy state, she heard several people come over, exclaiming "Holy shit" in amazement, followed by talks about the little class monitor, rescue, survivor supplies...


    But later she fell asleep. While sleeping, she had a dream, returning to her middle school days. That year, a very unruly transfer student came to their class, successfully becoming the school heartthrob within a day.


    Within a month, he had ascended to the position of school bully, becoming the number one headache for teachers.


    Later.


    He became her deskmate.

 Chapter 7: The Canned Food Factory

    When Xu Duoduo regained consciousness, she found herself in a vehicle compartment.


    She blinked, staring at the ceiling.


    "Qin-ge, are you really going to bring the little class monitor along? But she''s already turned into a zombie, you know?"


    "A first love is a first love, it''s truly extraordinary. Even as a zombie, you can''t let go. But the little class monitor has turned into quite a unique zombie."


    "Yeah, can zombies even sleep? I don''t remember headquarters mentioning zombies that sleep. I need to go through the survival manual again."


    ...


    The voices from the front were a bit distant, coming from the front seats of the vehicle.


    The light in the compartment was dim.


    Suddenly, someone leaned in close, "No way, it''s been too long since I''ve seen the little class monitor. I need to take a good look. Earlier I only got a glimpse, but she doesn''t seem to have changed much? How is it, Qin-ge? Seeing how you''re holding her and not letting go, is the little class monitor still as pretty as before?"


    Then this person was pushed away by Qin Luo''s hand. He impatiently said, "Get lost!"


    The others immediately burst into muffled laughter, their shoulders shaking.


    "Didn''t we say not to tease him? Our Luo Shen can''t handle your jokes, you know. But Qin Luo, they''re not wrong."


    "Come on, have you forgotten? Who was it that always said the little class monitor was his first love during Truth or Dare?"


    "Tch, aren''t you guys annoying? Can''t you just drive properly?"


    Xu Duoduo later realized that she was being held in Qin Luo''s arms. She was still wrapped in a blanket. It seemed Qin Luo had been teased to the point of exploding, so after scolding them, he took Xu Duoduo to the last row.


    He''d rather squeeze in with other supplies than stay too close to these troublemakers.


    Suddenly, a burst of laughter erupted from the front seats, with someone teasing Qin Luo about his age, "How can you be so cute, Luo Shen? Hahahahaha."


    Xu Duoduo also found it amusing, and even felt a bit dazed, as if she had returned to junior high. These voices were quite familiar. She matched them up and realized they should be the group that used to hang out with Qin Luo back then.


    They were: Wang Weihu, Bai Shu, and Chen Xiaofei. She just hadn''t expected that the three of them would still be together with Qin Luo, and their relationship was still very good.


    "Awake? Don''t listen to their nonsense. That was just me making things up during Truth or Dare to deal with them."


    Qin Luo suddenly lowered his voice and said this to her, mumbling, which was indeed a bit cute. Xu Duoduo was more surprised that he knew she was awake.


    Perhaps her expressions were too lively. Qin Luo pointed at his eyes, "Evolution, you understand? You''ve read the survival manual, right? I can see in the dark now."


    As if he had finally found someone to show off to, he snapped his fingers, and faint electric currents even flickered at his fingertips, making a blue buzzing sound.


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    "See, one of my skill points. It''s still not very stable right now."


    Xu Duoduo was truly surprised. Reading about it in the survival manual was one thing, but seeing it in person was another. Just as she was getting curious, the compartment was suddenly hit hard, and an elephant''s trumpet came from outside.


    If she wasn''t a zombie now, she would have gotten goosebumps.


    Wang Weihu, who was driving, cursed, "Fuck, did an elephant escape from the zoo?"


    Bai Shu immediately asked, "Has it mutated? What''s the degree of mutation?"


    He suddenly picked up a tablet and started searching.


    Chen Xiaofei looked in the rearview mirror and calmly reported, "Level one mutation, enhanced limbs, increased hair growth, showing some atavistic phenomena."


    Qin Luo reached beside him, grabbed a sniper rifle, and tossed it over. Bai Shu caught it and opened the sunroof, while Chen Xiaofei held onto his legs to steady him.


    Then came several gunshots, pop-pop-pop. The hit elephant let out a cry of pain but still chased after the car, even ramming the bus behind them.


    This caused the survivors on the bus to scream frantically. Fortunately, the driver was from the combat team. Even though the mutated elephant had knocked them off course and even scraped along the wall for a while, they managed to stabilize and continue driving.


    Bai Shu''s marksmanship was excellent. With a few shots, he took down the elephant. "Damn, good thing it was only level one. Otherwise, our few vehicles wouldn''t have been enough to fill its teeth!"


    Wang Weihu''s driving was also very steady. Hearing this, he said exasperatedly, "These days even elephants are turning carnivorous."


    Chen Xiaofei took the tablet and entered some information, "This is just the beginning. In a while, even rabbits will be able to eat a child in one bite."


    Xu Duoduo listened, feeling chilled to the bone. Qin Luo beside her remained calm throughout, and even the three in front stayed composed after discovering it was only a level one mutated animal.


    This world was truly going mad.


    "There''s a thunderstorm ahead in ten minutes. Let''s find a place to take shelter."


    Qin Luo glanced at the data watch on his wrist and suddenly spoke up. The other three acknowledged in unison, and eight minutes later, they arrived at a factory area. Wang Weihu and the other two went to clear out the zombies.


    Xu Duoduo was also stuffed into the back seat by Qin Luo. Before he left, he instructed her not to wander off, "The apocalyptic nights are dangerous. Don''t run around, understand? If you go out and get caught by a mutant beast, you''ll really become a little zombie snack in one bite."


    ...


    What''s with this tone of scaring little kids?!


    The little person in her heart was screaming frantically, cringing so hard she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself.


    However, in reality.


    Xu Duoduo silently watched him turn and leave. Finally, with the sound of the car door closing, intense noises came from outside, along with waves of exclamations and screams from other survivors, who seemed to be terribly frightened.


    There was nothing she could do.


    She couldn''t make many expressions, only her eyes were still somewhat lively.


    Ten minutes later.


    Qin Luo suddenly yanked open the car door, leaned in to pick her up, and met her gray eyes darting around. He paused, then reached out to scoop her into his arms, "Hey, those little eyes are so lively. When we get back, let Professor Ji take a look at you. Who knows, you might turn out to be some new species."


    He had never seen such a clever early-stage zombie that didn''t bite people or make random noises.


    Qin Luo picked up Xu Duoduo and carried her. She could only wrap her arms around his neck. This was much more comfortable than being slung over his shoulder, so she held on tightly, not letting go.


    The factory area had been cleared out. Except for a pile of zombies lying on the ground and some bloodstains, the other areas could be made barely habitable with some cleaning.


    Wang Weihu was settling the survivors over there, letting them find places to rest, and picking a few who could cook to prepare some simple food.


    "Qin-ge, there are quite a few canned goods in that warehouse that haven''t been contaminated. Should we notify headquarters to send people to retrieve them?"


    Chen Xiaofei had finished scouting and came over to whisper when he saw Qin Luo carrying the little class monitor in. These days, supplies were more valuable than anything.


    They could prioritize acquiring supplies during their missions, but they didn''t have many storage cards.


    Even pooling together, the four of them didn''t have 500 cubic meters of storage space, which could hold very little.

 Chapter 8: Spatial Ability

    If they let headquarters take over, they''d get at most a few points. As supplies become scarcer in the future, prices will likely skyrocket, and those points won''t be enough.


    "Should we contact Jiang An''an from Team B? To be honest, I really don''t want to see that woman, but her mutation is also spatial, and it''s said to be very large. Although we''d have to give her 50% if we store things with her, at least we''d still have 50%. If we give it to headquarters, we''d only get points."


    It wasn''t that they were disloyal, but mainly because headquarters was in chaos now, with various factions scrambling to hoard supplies. If they didn''t keep some for themselves, life would be tough later. No one wanted to work on an empty stomach in the future.


    Chen Xiaofei was really troubled, but after he finished speaking, his eyes fell on Xu Duoduo, and suddenly lit up. He immediately greeted her politely: "Hello, little class monitor, we meet again. As expected of the little class monitor, you''re extraordinary even as a zombie. Truly the prettiest zombie pup!"


    As he spoke, he winked at Xu Duoduo and gave her a thumbs up.


    Xu Duoduo: ...


    Seeing her awkward expression, Qin Luo burst out laughing, "She''s disgusted with you, haha."


    This little thing was too interesting.


    Chen Xiaofei also scratched his head, "Oh my, how embarrassing."


    They had so much drama.


    Xu Duoduo watched, dumbfounded. Meanwhile, Bai Shu had also returned, "There are three warehouses for canned food, two for meat, one for fruit."


    He habitually tried to push up his glasses, but pushed at nothing, and finally seemed to remember he didn''t need them anymore, giving a self-deprecating smile.


    Bai Shu used to wear glasses, a well-behaved good student. Now he didn''t need them; his mutation was in his eyes. It seemed useless, but combined with his role as a sniper, it was strangely very suitable for him.


    "Let''s go take a look at how much there is and think about how to handle it."


    Qin Luo carried Xu Duoduo as if she weighed nothing, sometimes holding her, sometimes tucking her under his arm, sometimes slinging her over his shoulder, like a casual accessory.


    Chen Xiaofei immediately bounced along, "Qin-ge, can''t the little class monitor walk on her own? You''re always carrying her. Why don''t you put her down and let her take a few steps? I want to see if there''s any difference in how she walks compared to other zombies."


    Other zombies walked with a swaying, dragging gait, occasionally glancing at people with bloodlust, lunging at them in a rush.


    How could the little class monitor be like this? Obediently clinging to their Qin-ge''s neck.


    Her face was snow-white, but her whole body was clean, still wearing cute pink bunny pajamas.


    Qin Luo took large strides while glancing down at Xu Duoduo, who was looking around curiously. He wasn''t sure if it was his imagination, but her neck seemed more flexible, "Who knows? Let''s put her down later and see how she walks."


    For now, let''s just keep moving.


    Bai Shu, watching Qin Luo carry the little class monitor like a doll, suddenly teased, "That''s right, I see someone cherishing her like he can''t bear to let go. The little class monitor really doesn''t need to walk, you can just keep carrying her."


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    Qin Luo''s ears visibly turned red, and he told Bai Shu to shut up.


    Chen Xiaofei immediately snickered, lowering his head to hide his laughter, "Qin-ge''s skin is too thin."


    As they bantered, they arrived at the large warehouse. Jokes aside, when it came to serious matters, the three of them became completely serious. Chen Xiaofei stood guard, Bai Shu opened the door, and Qin Luo went straight inside, with the other two following.


    The warehouse was at least several hundred square meters, with stacks of canned goods, all in whole boxes.


    "There''s really quite a lot."


    Qin Luo took a look. There was so much that indeed only a spatial ability user could store it all. But according to predictions from future ability users, there would be fewer than 1,000 spatial ability users worldwide in the later stages.


    You can imagine how precious this ability is.


    Their country''s top spatial ability user, codenamed Taotie, was currently known as the strongest spatial ability user, and his space could even be divided.


    Each of the four of them had a storage space card embedded in their wristbands. As the team leader, Qin Luo''s was 180 cubic meters.


    Wang Weihu, Bai Shu, and Chen Xiaofei each had 100 cubic meters of storage space.


    But they had to store weapons and some food, making it difficult to hoard too many things.


    The storage space cards were independent spaces separated by Taotie, but these weren''t secret. He could know everything they stored.


    It was also a measure by headquarters to prevent their betrayal; the amount of stored items was transparent.


    However, these storage space cards were currently very rare. If it weren''t for their Special Operations Team being so strong, and Captain Qin Luo having developed lightning storm abilities, their small team might not have gotten these four storage space cards.


    Chen Xiaofei really disliked Jiang An''an. He sighed, "So many canned goods, my goodness. If only they were all ours. Why don''t we have a spatial teammate?! Future supplies will dwindle with each use. Just thinking about having to eat nutrient solutions in the future, as mentioned in the survival manual, makes me feel awful, wah."


    He was almost growing mushrooms from depression, crying alone while staring at the mountain of canned goods.


    Bai Shu also pondered for a long time, "This factory area has relatively low contamination. As supplies become scarcer in the future, I suggest we keep as much as we can."


    Qin Luo was also thinking. If they reported it, with headquarters in such chaos now, it might be intercepted and privately hoarded by other opportunists. It might be better to keep it in their own hands.


    Xu Duoduo''s thinking ability was slower now, processing some information with a delay, but she understood the current situation from their conversation. She also knew that to continue existing, she needed to have some value.


    For example, her current difference from ordinary zombies was the reason she was allowed to survive. If she had been like other zombies wanting to bite people, Qin Luo would probably have eliminated her with a shot back in the residential area.


    How could she be treated so well as to be held in someone''s arms?


    So Xu Duoduo patted Qin Luo and pointed towards the pile of canned goods, "Ah woo ah woo."


    As soon as she opened her mouth, she heard her own gibberish, so she promptly closed it again.


    Chen Xiaofei noticed her first and immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Whoa, Qin-ge, the little class monitor spoke! My goodness, her call is so cute! Ouch!"


    Bai Shu directly slapped Chen Xiaofei''s head, "How dare you call the little class monitor cute?!"


    Qin Luo indicated he didn''t want to communicate with these two idiots. He looked down at the little thing in his arms, "What are you doing? Go to the canned goods? Can you still eat canned food?"


    He was also very shocked.


    Xu Duoduo had a face full of exasperation. How could these people''s thought processes still be so peculiar?!


    She persisted in patting and indicating Qin Luo to walk over there. Qin Luo had no choice but to comply, "What exactly do you want to do?"


    He had never heard of zombies being interested in canned goods. Until the next second when Xu Duoduo''s finger touched the cans, and the entire row of canned goods disappeared.


    ...


    Silence.


    Suddenly, it fell quiet.


    The next second, all three of them exclaimed "Holy shit!" in unison, their faces full of shock.

 Chapter 9: Gobbling Up Canned Goods

    "Ahhh! Qin-ge! Am I seeing things? A batch of canned goods just vanished!" Chen Xiaofei screamed.


    Bai Shu rubbed his eyes repeatedly, then exclaimed as his worldview shattered, "How can a zombie have abilities?! It''s only the early stages of the apocalypse!"


    The apocalypse survival manual didn''t mention this at all. What''s going on?


    Qin Luo was also startled, alternating between looking down at Xu Duoduo and glancing at the now empty space. "Xiao Bai, Xiao Fei, you two go check. Are they really gone? Or is it some kind of illusion ability?"


    His voice was tense. After all, spatial abilities were extremely precious.


    Xu Duoduo sighed helplessly, patiently waiting as Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei went to investigate. They even walked to where the cans had been, moving freely through the space. The canned goods were indeed stored away.


    To demonstrate her skill, after the two left, she directly performed several actions of releasing and storing, leaving the three of them dumbfounded.


    Finally, Qin Luo covered his face, both incredulous and somewhat delighted, "Okay, okay, we get it. We understand your ability now. You can stop demonstrating."


    Only then did Xu Duoduo stop reaching out, instead steadily continuing to cling to Qin Luo''s neck. Her thoughts were simple now: she was clumsy, and with Qin Luo as a mobile tool, she naturally wanted to hold on tight.


    Chen Xiaofei was still questioning reality, "Heavens, this isn''t a dream, right? My goodness, so many supplies. The little class monitor''s space isn''t small at all!"


    He belatedly said this, then suddenly remembered something and quickly covered his mouth, lowering his voice, "We should keep this a secret for her, right?"


    Qin Luo gave him a "obviously" look, "Are you stupid enough to tell anyone about this?"


    Chen Xiaofei hurriedly shook his head.


    Bai Shu was calmer now, "The most important thing now is to figure out how big the little class monitor''s space is, and exactly how much it can hold."


    Chen Xiaofei''s eyes also lit up, staring intently at Xu Duoduo.


    Xu Duoduo leaned closer to Qin Luo, a bit dazzled by Chen Xiaofei''s titanium-alloy dog eyes. But she also wanted to collect supplies; otherwise, what was the point of having this space? She needed to have some value for them to be willing to keep her around. Plus, she knew them well; their character was beyond reproach.


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    After all, they had been classmates for three years.


    Xu Duoduo pointed to another pile of canned goods, patting Qin Luo''s shoulder to indicate he should go over.


    With his long legs, Qin Luo took just a few strides to get there. Then came the moment of witnessing a miracle. The little zombie in his arms would point to a spot, and he would obediently move there, eventually collecting pile after pile.


    Chen Xiaofei''s expression changed from delight to surprise, then to shock, and finally to numbness.


    Bai Shu almost burned out his CPU from extreme joy. He tried to push up his non-existent glasses again, finally putting his hand in his pocket and saying, "We''re set now!"


    The little class monitor was like a mobile giant warehouse! They could collect so many supplies!


    How could they not be thrilled?


    Chen Xiaofei shed tears of excitement, "We''ll never have to beg for scraps of supplies again!" Direct zero-yuan shopping!


    Bai Shu was thinking about the gasoline they''d encountered on their journey. That was the key resource, along with medicines from hospitals and pharmacies.


    These things were still very necessary in the early stages of the apocalypse and could be put to great use.


    Meanwhile, Qin Luo was wandering around with Xu Duoduo, collecting as they went, occasionally muttering, "Are you still okay? Don''t force yourself if you can''t take more. Your brain is already deteriorating from the zombie virus, don''t overexert yourself. We don''t want you turning into a real little idiot."


    Xu Duoduo gave him an exasperated glance, but still patted his shoulder to indicate he should continue walking.


    Seeing her little glance and gesture, Qin Luo couldn''t help but laugh. For some reason, he was quite happy to discover she still had human consciousness.


    "I never thought I''d run into you. We lost touch after graduation. How have you been?"


    Xu Duoduo paused when she heard this, pressing her lips together without a sound. After graduating from junior high, they had scattered like dandelion seeds, each going their separate ways.


    She had actually been doing quite well afterwards, busy studying, studying, and studying.


    If she could speak, she would have liked to ask him how he''d been doing. How did he suddenly end up in the military, along with Bai Shu and the others?


    Unfortunately, she couldn''t speak. Opening her mouth to make baby noises would be too embarrassing.


    Xu Duoduo refused to do that!


    So she kept quiet, quickly storing various canned goods into her space. The small spaces within her multi-faceted cube space were gradually being filled.


    Qin Luo didn''t seem to need her to answer, muttering a couple of sentences to himself. For the rest of the time, he just carried her around, walking and walking, while she collected and collected, completely emptying the warehouse of supplies.


    The entire large warehouse became so empty that there was an echo when they spoke.


    Chen Xiaofei was thoroughly satisfied, thrilled at the thought that all these supplies belonged to their small team! He then went to help scout another warehouse.


    This made it convenient for Qin Luo and Xu Duoduo to collect supplies. It''s worth noting that the canned food factory here was very clean, so collecting the cans was effortless.


    Just as they reached the second warehouse, a rumbling thunder sounded from ahead.


    It felt like the ground was shaking.


    Xu Duoduo looked up. In the distance, dark clouds covered the sky, so thick it was frightening. Lightning kept flashing within the clouds, striking down the next moment.


    Then the thunder exploded right by their ears.


    Suddenly, a large hand touched the back of her head, pressing her head against his chest and covering one of her ears. "Don''t listen, be careful not to go deaf," Qin Luo said with that annoying mouth of his! Really!


    Xu Duoduo sighed regretfully. Such a good-looking face, so handsome and dashing, but he just had to open his mouth and ruin the atmosphere.


    Seeing the thunderstorm ahead, Bai Shu immediately checked his watch, took out a tablet from his storage space card, and started taking photos of the front. Then he uploaded the data to the headquarters database.


    "These thunderstorms are getting worse each time. Goodness, the lightning protection measures in this factory are quite good. Let''s hope they can withstand it later."


    Chen Xiaofei also looked out, then went to help Qin Luo and Xu Duoduo keep watch.


    Although they had cleared the zombies from the factory area, they were wary of the occasional straggler or other mutated animals.


    Their small team of four, despite their usual joking around, never slacked off when it came to serious matters. When it was time to be serious, they were more serious than anyone.


    Fortunately, everything went smoothly afterwards.


    Xu Duoduo''s space was so enormous that collecting from three large warehouses seemed effortless. This amount of supplies barely made a ripple in the space within her consciousness sea.


    Bai Shu saw the thunderstorm area approaching and called out urgently: "It''s coming fast! Qin Luo, you two hurry up! Let''s go to the factory area to take shelter first!"

 Chapter 10: Hes About to Throw a Little Tantrum!

    As they spoke, the three of them immediately ran towards the factory building. The entire process was incredibly thrilling, with people running in front and lightning striking behind them. The thunderous roar never ceased.


    Qin Luo directly hoisted Xu Duoduo onto his shoulder, holding her waist as he sprinted. Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu ran at full speed. Finally, the three humans and one zombie dashed into the factory building, quickly pulling the main gate shut behind them.


    "Boom!" The loudest thunder struck outside, followed by a flash of lightning. The entire factory lit up instantly. Another clap of thunder followed, making it feel as if the ground itself was shaking, frightening several survivors into screaming.


    Wang Weihu shouted, "What are you screaming for? Everyone, be quiet! Don''t touch anything that might conduct electricity. Be careful not to get electrocuted! Stay calm, understand?"


    His angry rebuke made the survivors obedient, and they quickly covered their mouths and nodded.


    He might have been harsh, but it was for their own good. After all, they had already experienced several days of the apocalypse, and the survival manual had been mass-distributed by headquarters. Why were these people still screaming from time to time? Didn''t they know that in the apocalypse, those who scream die quickly?


    The factory''s lightning protection system was effective. After enduring a few minutes of the most intense thunderstorm, suddenly heavy rain began pouring outside, adding to the irritation.


    They would have to spend the night here.


    Everyone silently shared food. This factory happened to process canned fruits, and there were still quite a few leftover fruits and canned goods that hadn''t been sent to the warehouse yet.


    Wang Weihu warned them not to eat any exposed fruits as they had been contaminated, but the finished canned products were safe to consume.


    Meanwhile, the people who had been assigned to cook earlier also prepared a large pot of instant noodles.


    The entire community''s survivors numbered just over a hundred people, down from nearly two thousand before.


    Qin Luo took Xu Duoduo to inspect the factory area, eliminating potential dangers, such as closing and locking all doors.


    Their group stayed in the packaging workshop with the finished canned products.


    Everyone found a corner to sit and eat. Some people plucked up the courage to ask Wang Weihu about the situation, finally calming down enough to think rationally.


    Wang Weihu felt somewhat gratified and took the initiative to briefly explain to the group.


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    In essence, he told them that some people in high places had been able to predict the coming of the apocalypse. The authorities had been secretly preparing all along, but this information wasn''t suitable for public release. Therefore, they had kept it hidden, only issuing a unified announcement three minutes before the apocalypse to prevent early notification from causing panic.


    Hearing this, the survivors couldn''t help but curse, "What''s the use of such a late notice!" "Exactly, who would have thought this was real?"


    Most people had thought it was a prank, while a minority hadn''t received the message due to signal issues, leaving them completely unaware of the situation.


    People began to cry and hold their heads in their hands again, remembering their deceased loved ones and the uncertain future. Everyone felt lost, but those who had survived until now didn''t want to die. Pain was inevitable.


    Wang Weihu sighed, "Raise your hand if you haven''t received the apocalypse survival manual. I''ll give you physical copies. From now on, most ordinary electronic products will be useless, and your phones won''t work. Better get used to it soon."


    It would probably take some time to restore previous communication capabilities.


    Everyone would have to endure.


    Meanwhile, Chen Xiaofei was opening some dry rations. While tearing open the packaging, he turned his head to look at the survivors and said, "Old Wang is really suited for this job."


    In their small team, Wang Weihu played the role of the father figure, handling everything from comforting survivors to mending their clothes in the past.


    Bai Shu nodded in strong agreement. It wasn''t that he and Chen Xiaofei were lazy; it was mainly because he was a tall, thin, refined person, and Chen Xiaofei had a baby face. Whenever they tried to communicate with people, no one would listen to them.


    They needed Wang Weihu to take charge. His nearly 1.9-meter tall, muscular frame was intimidating just standing there, and ordinary people were more likely to listen to what he said.


    When it came to managing people, he was adept at using both soft and hard approaches, striking just the right balance.


    As for Qin Luo, their "Brother Qin" or "Luo God," he was the main combat force. He was great at fighting, but not suited for comforting the masses, and his face was too eye-catching.


    Likely to attract unwanted romantic attention.


    As a result, Wang Weihu could only resign himself to being the team''s diplomat.


    Xu Duoduo found their division of labor quite interesting. She had known before that the four of them were close, but she hadn''t expected them to join the military together.


    Chen Xiaofei took out the dry rations. The four of them had bread, mineral water, and a chocolate energy bar each, with one portion for each person.


    "Ah, I really want to eat something hot," Chen Xiaofei said, his baby face full of worry.


    "We''re lucky to have anything to eat at all. In a while, we won''t even have dry rations," Bai Shu said as he munched on an energy bar while looking at his tablet, filling out the report on the thunderstorm information they had recorded earlier, which needed to be uploaded soon.


    Qin Luo hadn''t started eating yet. He suddenly thought of a question: What do zombies eat?


    Just as he lowered his head, he saw Xu Duoduo suddenly produce an 800ml thermos out of thin air and hand it to Chen Xiaofei.


    Chen Xiaofei was a bit confused, biting his bread as he asked blankly, "Huh? What? Brother Qin, why is the little squad leader giving me a thermos? Should I open it for her?"


    Qin Luo was also confused for a moment. "How should I know?" But he still took it and opened it for her. After all, he was right there, so why bother asking someone else?


    Xu Duoduo suddenly became anxious, but then calmed down again.


    As Qin Luo opened the thermos in bewilderment, revealing the preserved egg and lean pork porridge inside, the aroma wafted out, causing Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu to look over sharply. They both exclaimed, "Holy crap!"


    The thermos contained porridge made by Xu Duoduo. It was very thick, with lots of preserved egg and lean pork. It looked very substantial, with a smooth and creamy texture.


    Xu Duoduo patted Qin Luo, gesturing for him to quickly give it to Chen Xiaofei.


    Chen Xiaofei was momentarily overwhelmed, "My god, thank you, little squad leader. I mean, how is there porridge? Damn, it smells so good."


    He rambled on while drooling, quickly accepting the thermos.


    Bai Shu, also smelling the fragrant porridge, suddenly swallowed hard. He suddenly felt that the energy bar in his hand wasn''t appealing anymore. He said languidly, "The little squad leader seems to be playing favorites." He pushed at his nose bridge, forgetting he wasn''t wearing glasses.


    Xu Duoduo then took out another dark blue thermos from her space. She had plenty of thermoses and insulated bottles, but not much else. The one she gave to Chen Xiaofei was light green, while the one she handed to Bai Shu was dark blue.


    "Thank you, little squad leader. I was wrong, little squad leader. You''re the fairest person in the world!" Bai Shu quickly thanked her and accepted it. When he opened it, he found it also contained preserved egg and lean pork porridge.


    Then Xu Duoduo stopped moving.


    Qin Luo had been secretly expecting his turn, but after waiting for a few seconds, he grew impatient. "Where''s mine? You can''t be this biased, can you? After all, I''ve been carrying you all this way! Don''t I get any?"


    He was about to throw a little tantrum!

 Chapter 11: The Divine Little Zombie

    Xu Duoduo was just teasing him. She casually took out an orange-red thermos from her spatial storage and handed it to him, identical to the ones Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu had.


    It was all preserved egg and lean pork porridge.


    Qin Luo finally accepted it with satisfaction. To be honest, it had been almost a month since the apocalypse began, and he hadn''t had a proper meal since it started.


    He had been either gnawing on dry rations or casually eating a few energy bars, just enough to not feel hungry.


    It couldn''t be called tasty.


    The three of them now felt revived as they sipped the hot porridge.


    Chen Xiaofei was the first to eat, pouring it directly onto the lid and blowing on it before eating. After taking a sip, he felt something in his stomach, which also eased his stomach discomfort.


    "Phew, that feels good. My God, this moment is simply too blissful. Little Squad Leader, are you a celestial being? You actually have hot porridge!"


    To fully embody the term "celestial being," Xu Duoduo swiftly took out a can of hot porridge for Wang Weihu, along with four wooden spoons, four tea eggs, four large meat buns, and a box of cherry tomatoes.


    Wow.


    This was a complete meal with meat, eggs, and fruit - both nutritious and delicious!


    After swallowing a mouthful of porridge, Bai Shu looked at Xu Duoduo with admiration in his eyes. "So much food, Little Squad Leader, how long did it take you to prepare? I guess only our Little Squad Leader would take that warning message from headquarters so seriously."


    Otherwise, she wouldn''t have prepared so much food in advance, which ended up benefiting them.


    Chen Xiaofei had just peeled a tea egg and eaten it in one bite. After happily chewing, he said with his mouth full: "Mmm, so the key question is, what does Little Squad Leader eat? She can''t just photosynthesize like a plant, right? We might not even have sunlight in the future, look at those thick dark clouds overhead."


    Qin Luo also looked down at Xu Duoduo and found her squatting with her knees hugged to her chest, alone... no, one zombie lost in thought.


    "Poor thing."


    Qin Luo gave a summary, and Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu nodded along. It was too pitiful - she had prepared so much food but ended up becoming a zombie.


    Xu Duoduo saw their gazes and felt even more helpless. It was simply ridiculous. She was already in a miserable state, and these three still had to stab at her heart. Wuwuwuwu!


    The little zombie was in tears.


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    Oh, fake tears. She didn''t have any, it was just a very grief-stricken expression.


    In the end, it was Qin Luo who finished his dinner in a few bites. He took off his gloves and patted her head, saying: "Look how wronged you are. Tell me, what do you want to eat? Let''s forget about eating meat, it''s too bloody and unsightly. We girls can''t do such inelegant things. If you want to drink blood, we few will accompany you to the bitter end and give you our blood to drink?"


    Bai Shu had just bitten into a bun when he heard this and laughed, "It''s come full circle, bro. Little Squad Leader gave us food, and now we''re giving Little Squad Leader food to eat. Hey, does this count as our Little Squad Leader also eating the food she prepared herself?"


    Chen Xiaofei heard this and started laughing with his head down, his shoulders shaking.


    Xu Duoduo''s face was full of exasperation. She raised her hand to brush away Qin Luo''s hand, indicating refusal. She wasn''t hungry at the moment and had no desire for blood or flesh.


    Qin Luo, on the other hand, was genuinely looking down and checking the information. He found that ordinary zombies craved blood and raw meat, but there was nothing mentioned about special cases like Xu Duoduo - zombies that actually had abilities. This point was very strange.


    Even in the later stages, no matter how deformed the different factions of evolved beings became, they still had heartbeats. There really weren''t any special cases like Xu Duoduo.


    Bai Shu later joined the information-checking army, as did Chen Xiaofei.


    Unfortunately, they couldn''t find any reliable information.


    Xu Duoduo was very curious about their tablets, as well as their watches.


    After Wang Weihu finished comforting the survivors on the other side, he also walked over to this side. "What are you guys eating? I could smell it as soon as I came over."


    It smelled too good.


    As he spoke, he looked back, thankfully the survivors were also somewhat afraid of them and didn''t come close to this side, otherwise it would have been easy to discover.


    Chen Xiaofei immediately offered the food Xu Duoduo had reserved for Wang Weihu, "Hurry up and eat, then shut up. Little Squad Leader brought it, I''m telling you it smells amazing!"


    When Wang Weihu heard this, he was shocked. He guiltily glanced towards the survivors, who were all eating instant noodles over there. The smell of instant noodles was stronger, and with the distance, it really wouldn''t be discovered, but these three were also quite bold.


    "Aren''t you afraid they''ll make a fuss? What if they say we''re giving preferential treatment?"


    That''s what he said.


    But Wang Weihu also couldn''t refuse such a thermos of hot preserved egg and lean pork porridge. He still took it and started eating it, head down.


    After eating, his stomach felt much better. It tasted so much better than those dry rations and sickeningly sweet energy bars!


    Qin Luo and Bai Shu researched for half a day but couldn''t find any guidelines on how to raise a zombie. Therefore, they could only take it one step at a time and see how things went.


    Wang Weihu looked at Xu Duoduo. He always thought more than the other three. "Are we just going to bring Little Squad Leader along like this? What will others think?"


    Before Qin Luo could speak.


    Chen Xiaofei exploded first, "What? Old Wang, let me tell you, the porridge in your hand is from Little Squad Leader! You can''t bite the hand that feeds you!"


    Bai Shu also glanced at them.


    Qin Luo, on the other hand, seemed very fond of her, not minding at all that Xu Duoduo was a zombie. He protected her and said: "What''s wrong? Isn''t Xu Duoduo fine? She''s not rotting or smelly, how can you dislike her?"


    As he spoke, he scooped up Xu Duoduo again, holding her in his arms like a big doll.


    Wang Weihu could barely eat anymore. He said helplessly: "I''m not disliking Little Squad Leader, what kind of person do you think I am? Except for her eyes, you can''t really tell anything''s wrong with Little Squad Leader if you don''t look closely. Why don''t we say we have some colored contacts or something, have her wear them a bit, to avoid causing unnecessary trouble."


    Truly worthy of the father figure role. Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei looked at him with newfound respect. "That makes a lot of sense!" "Mm-hmm, it''s indeed a solution."


    Qin Luo started pondering where to get some colored contacts, and looked down to ask Xu Duoduo if she had any.


    Xu Duoduo actually did... She hesitantly took out a box of colored contacts, but this kind of delicate work was beyond her current abilities, so she looked at the three of them.


    Bai Shu immediately said: "Whoever''s first love she is, that person helps her put them on. We two won''t interfere."


    Chen Xiaofei nodded in agreement.


    No choice.


    Qin Luo didn''t bother to explain anything more and just took the colored contacts to study them. "Wait, how do you put these on?"


    In the end, Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei still came over to help. The three straight men studied how to put colored contacts on a little zombie.


    Wang Weihu watched the three of them acting like nerves of steel. Actually, daring to bring Xu Duoduo along was firstly because they had enough ability to ensure they could kill her if she lost her mind, to prevent her from hurting other survivors. Secondly, zombies with residual consciousness were truly rare. Special cases like this were usually brought back to headquarters'' research institute to see if they could be saved.


    So bringing her along was fine. This was also part of their mission.


    In the end, Qin Luo clumsily managed to put the colored contacts on Xu Duoduo. They were amber-colored, looking much better than her gray, cloudy eyes. The three of them all exclaimed "Wow!" in unison, repeatedly praising how good she looked. One could say they were being extremely supportive.


    Fine then.


    What a day this has been.

 Chapter 12: The Mutant Monkey Horde

    Night was always full of dangers.


    Although Xu Duoduo had become a zombie, for some reason she still felt sleepy, even though she had been able to stay awake for the past ten days or so. Now she started to feel drowsy, so after everyone finished their dinner, she collected the thermos flasks and found a spot to curl up and doze off.


    The survivors in the factory did the same after dinner, finding places to rest just like her, but no one was alone - they all huddled together in groups.


    Wang Weihu and Bai Shu were resting, while Qin Luo and Chen Xiaofei took the first watch. The two of them would guard for the first half of the night, with Wang Weihu and Bai Shu taking over for the second half.


    Outside, the thunderstorm had passed, and heavy rain began to fall, mixed with hail that pattered loudly on the factory roof, occasionally making quite a racket.


    But the survivors felt at ease, knowing at least someone was protecting them. They thought they could sleep soundly.


    How naive they were. After nightfall, Qin Luo and Chen Xiaofei became visibly more alert, no longer bantering or engaging in idle chatter.


    Xu Duoduo could sense their tense mental state and guessed that the night would be very unsafe. So she didn''t dare fall into a deep sleep either.


    The little zombie closed her eyes to rest her spirit.


    Not far away, Wang Weihu was snoring away, while Bai Shu slept soundly leaning against the wall beside him.


    Chen Xiaofei patrolled around on alert, while Qin Luo found a central spot, sitting on a shipping container to load magazines. From his position, he could quickly respond to trouble in any direction.


    Due to the thunderstorm, the electricity in the factory area had been cut earlier, leaving only dim emergency lights.


    Xu Duoduo originally thought the first threat would come from something else - zombies or other mutant creatures. But unexpectedly, it started from among the survivors. Just as an abnormal snarl came from that direction, a gunshot rang out through the quiet night, followed by screams.


    "Ahhhh!! It''s trying to bite me to death! Why are there still zombies?!"


    "What? There are zombies??"


    Earlier, all the survivors had appeared normal. They had been checked repeatedly before boarding the vehicles to the survivor base. Only those without wounds were allowed on board.


    But some small injuries could be overlooked, and some people hid their physical discomfort, naively hoping nothing would happen to them.


    The result was zombies biting people, and zombies were much more agile at night than during the day.


    The survivors fell into panic.


    "Quiet down. Now, anyone feeling feverish or unwell, step forward," Qin Luo said as he holstered his gun and jumped down from the container. He scanned the survivors, who had realized one of their own was infected with the zombie virus. They fearfully scattered, no longer daring to huddle together.


    Chen Xiaofei''s boyish face turned serious as he walked over to explain: "In the early stages of zombie virus infection, people experience slow thinking, stiff limbs, low fever, and bleeding from the throat. At night, they develop a craving for blood and raw meat. If anyone is feeling unwell now, please step forward. Otherwise, you''ll end up hurting your companions."


    The survivors looked at each other - some terrified, some hesitant, some biting their lips and clenching their fists. Eventually, three people stepped forward one after another.


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    There was a woman pulling her husband back, shaking her head and pleading quietly: "Don''t go out there. You just have a fever, you''re not infected with the zombie virus. Please don''t go, I''m begging you. You''re all I have left."


    Some people immediately moved away from the couple, while others couldn''t bear to watch anymore.


    Chen Xiaofei was already walking towards them. The woman was on the verge of a breakdown, clutching her husband and refusing to let go. The man was worried about hurting his wife.


    This situation would require some careful handling.


    Meanwhile, Qin Luo directed the few showing symptoms to a separate corner. Their eyes were already starting to glaze over, but they seemed agitated. Their skin had begun turning pale and bluish.


    Xu Duoduo couldn''t resist poking her head out to take a look. She also noticed her body was more agile at night than during the day. But Qin Luo''s senses were too sharp - as soon as she peeked out, she met his calm yet penetrating gaze...


    She was scared stiff!


    Her brain froze for a second. Just from that look, she understood that if she made even the slightest move to harm them, she would likely be shot dead on the spot. Even her spatial ability wouldn''t save her then.


    A zombie with abilities that could hurt people was an even more terrifying prospect.


    Fortunately, her gaze was pure and innocent enough. After glancing at her, Qin Luo''s expression softened. He tilted his head, gesturing for her to hide and not look around.


    Alright then.


    Sorry to bother you.


    Xu Duoduo silently retreated, hugging herself tightly, wishing she could squeeze herself into a crack. She even felt a bit scared, realizing how close she had come to losing her life.


    After the commotion among the survivors, they were finally roughly divided into two groups. But having realized the virus had an incubation period, people no longer dared to gather in large groups carelessly.


    Soon the surroundings quieted down again, but several gunshots rang out in the second half of the night, occasionally mixed with sounds of people panicking. Those few infected survivors didn''t make it, and others couldn''t help but break into anguished sobs again.


    They had thought they were safe, but it turned out things weren''t as secure as they had imagined.


    Xu Duoduo trembled at each gunshot. It was enough to almost give her a heartbeat, even though she didn''t have one. Later she realized it was just her nerves being too tense.


    What was pulsing wasn''t her heart, but her nerves. The subsequent incident involved that woman whose husband had tried very hard to resist, but ultimately couldn''t escape the virus. His whole body had started to mutate. As Chen Xiaofei raised his gun, the woman began screaming and tried to lunge forward.


    Her piercing screams made everyone''s scalps tingle. Suddenly, a chorus of shrieks erupted from outside the factory building, echoing back and forth in extremely high pitches. Someone cried out in fear: "Ahhh, why are there monkeys?!"


    Chaos broke out inside the factory.


    Wang Weihu and Bai Shu snapped awake. The two of them got up without hesitation, immediately looking towards the source of the commotion.


    Something kept banging on the main door, and there were sounds of claws scratching the metal sheets on the roof, creating an eerie screeching noise that sent chills down everyone''s spine.


    When Xu Duoduo looked up again, she saw that the windows had been smashed by monkeys throwing rocks. She found herself face to face with one of them - or rather, something that could no longer be called a monkey. Its face was terrifyingly grotesque, with enlarged teeth, blood-red eyes, and extremely long, sharp claws.


    The other survivors naturally noticed this too, and upon seeing it, another wave of piercing screams erupted.


    It couldn''t be helped.


    They were all ordinary people, and it was impossible not to be afraid. It was mostly just instinctive reactions.


    However, hearing the screams seemed to excite the mutant monkey horde even more. They started shrieking in excitement.


    Wang Weihu immediately shouted for the survivors to be quiet, "Everyone find a place to hide together! If you''re too spread out, we can''t protect you all!"


    As he spoke, he had already shot down several monkeys. Bai Shu went hands-on, grabbing survivors and tossing them to one side, herding them into one area.


    Chen Xiaofei also rushed over to help Bai Shu protect the survivors, while Wang Weihu assisted in clearing out the mutant monkey horde. "Damn it, how did we end up encountering such troublesome creatures!" he cursed.


    As for Qin Luo, he was single-handedly slaughtering the monkeys. He had switched to dual blades, moving much faster than the monkey horde could react. With each slash, he could take down several monkeys, leaving the ground covered in wet, bloody streaks.

 Chapter 13: The Mutation Core

    The situation changed too quickly.


    Likely enraged by the deaths of its monkey kin, a mutated old monkey king went berserk.


    It grabbed a railing and shook it violently, screeching madly. Not satisfied with just that, it charged straight at Qin Luo, its mouth gaping into a bloody maw. Those sharp fangs were enough to make anyone''s blood run cold.


    The other monkeys became even more agitated, their collective shrieks causing ear-splitting noise.


    It was extremely painful.


    Chen Xiaofei couldn''t help but curse, "Can''t win in a fight so you''re resorting to sonic attacks, huh?!"


    Xu Duoduo became the calmest person among them all. After all, she didn''t have the scent of flesh and blood, and she wasn''t screaming, so she didn''t attract the monkey horde''s attention.


    Wang Weihu also noticed something. He shouted at the survivors to stop yelling, as the more they yelled, the more excited the monkey horde became. These creatures were inherently vicious and bullied the weak while fearing the strong. "Use whatever you have in your hands to fight back!" he roared.


    He couldn''t protect everyone by himself. His angry shouts reached the survivors'' ears, and a small portion of them finally remembered to fight back.


    The monkey horde wasn''t having it easy either.


    Xu Duoduo couldn''t stay safe forever. Soon, some monkeys set their sights on her too.


    Fortunately, she was more agile at night than during the day.


    She rolled on the ground, dodging a crazed monkey that had lunged at her.


    Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu both glanced in her direction. Seeing that she knew how to dodge, they breathed a sigh of relief before returning to their own battles. They had to eliminate this monkey horde; it seemed endless. How could there be so many monkeys?


    Other survivors couldn''t help but shout out this question too.


    Until someone mentioned that K City''s zoo had the most monkeys, which explained why so many had escaped.


    The entire factory area was in chaos.


    Xu Duoduo was also dodging monkeys on her side. As she rolled, blood stuck to her, seeping through her clothes and clinging to her skin, making her extremely uncomfortable.


    At the same time, she discovered that her body was much more agile. While running, she picked up scattered cans and threw them at the monkeys. Her aim was surprisingly good.


    She hit her target every time.


    After one can exploded a mutant monkey''s head, even Chen Xiaofei had to shout, "Little Monitor, that was awesome! You''re as good as Qin-ge!"


    Xu Duoduo had no time to bask in the praise because her resistance had drawn the attention of the monkey horde. The number of mutant monkeys chasing her increased from one to four or five.


    Each mutant monkey was quite large, with mouths split to their ears, constantly dripping saliva mixed with blood and filth - truly disgusting.


    Xu Duoduo frowned as she ran to the fire escape, only to find it was a dead end. She could only lean against the wall, staring at the several mutant monkeys opposite her. Their blood-red eyes looked especially terrifying under the emergency lights.


    She steadied herself, but the mutant monkeys didn''t give her much time. They immediately pounced.


    In the next second, she pulled out a chainsaw. With a roar, it started up, its loud buzzing filling the air.


    Xu Duoduo''s legs were shaking, but her hands gripping the chainsaw were steady. Her expression showed no fear - of course, she couldn''t really express fear now anyway.


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    ...


    By the time Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu had finished dealing with the mutant monkeys in the factory area and rushed to Xu Duoduo''s location, they fell silent at the scene before them.


    She was covered in blood and gore, holding a chainsaw. The ceiling, floor, and walls were splattered with mutant monkey limbs and blood.


    What a horrifying scene!


    Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu''s expressions turned serious, with Bai Shu gripping his gun tightly.


    "L-Little Monitor?" Chen Xiaofei called out.


    He really didn''t want to face the reality that his old classmate had completely lost her mind. The apocalypse had already taken away too many friends and family; having one more familiar face was incredibly precious. Moreover, Little Monitor was truly a good person.


    And she had so many cans in her spatial storage; her spatial ability was very important.


    Both for public and personal reasons, they hoped she was alright.


    Bai Shu also felt heavy-hearted, fearing that Xu Duoduo might not recognize them.


    But the little zombie opposite them nodded demurely and even let out an "Mm."


    Her tone was even a bit cute.


    The two of them immediately breathed sighs of relief. "Goodness, we almost thought you''d completely lost consciousness."


    Xu Duoduo was also confused about herself. She had clearly become a zombie, yet she still retained her consciousness. She looked down at her blood-covered hands.


    She felt a bit lost.


    This sudden attack by the monkey horde had reduced the original hundred-plus survivors to ninety-two. The remaining people all looked somewhat numb.


    They had likely suffered significant psychological trauma.


    Wang Weihu was treating the wounded nearby. When asked by survivors if they would be infected and mutate, he couldn''t give a definitive answer.


    Even prophets couldn''t predict the entire future, and the survival manual wasn''t omnipotent.


    Everyone felt somewhat desperate.


    Wang Weihu could only encourage them to stay strong; he couldn''t say much else.


    Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei were using tablets to photograph and record data. Later, they would upload both the data and written reports. These frontline collected materials were extremely important for humanity''s future survival.


    Xu Duoduo found a place to stand, silently looking at the [REDACTED] on the ground.


    Qin Luo had dealt with the monkey king. One of his hands was bloody, clearly injured, but in his grip was a crystal emitting a faint green glow.


    Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei both stood up. "Qin-ge, is your hand okay?" "Is this the mutation core?"


    Xu Duoduo caught the familiar term, something mentioned in the apocalypse survival manual - the [Mutation Core], something that developed inside mutated creatures.


    It must have significant uses.


    Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei took more photos of the object. Qin Luo happened to look over, and Xu Duoduo felt a bit afraid of him now. Earlier, when she had peeked out to look, his fierce gaze had startled her badly.


    This guy would kill her.


    Including anyone in his team. But she also understood that if she truly lost her mind completely and became nothing but a man-eating monster, she would die.


    But at that point, she would rather die.


    Ending her life at their hands would be fine; after all, she didn''t have the courage to do it herself.


    The atmosphere became somewhat awkward.


    Chen Xiaofei tried to explain that Xu Duoduo still had her consciousness and was about to gesture wildly.


    Then they heard a "Gurgle~~" sound.


    Xu Duoduo was hungry.


    For some reason, she smelled the mutation core in Qin Luo''s hand and craved it.


    The scent was somewhat like a sweet fruit.


    It made her mouth water.


    Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei were also shocked because they realized Xu Duoduo''s stomach was actually growling. How could a zombie''s stomach rumble with hunger?


    "Wait, what do we do if Little Monitor is hungry?!"


    Chen Xiaofei looked at Bai Shu, who shrugged, indicating he didn''t know either.


    Qin Luo noticed Xu Duoduo staring at the mutation core in his hand, clearly craving it. Though her gaze was fixed on the core, she was still trying hard to look away.


    "Whoa, Qin-ge, are you going to give that thing to Little Monitor? What for?" Chen Xiaofei asked in shock.


    Bai Shu also tried to stop him, "Qin Luo."


    According to headquarters'' requirements, this mutation core needed to be collected.


    When Xu Duoduo looked up, she found Qin Luo already standing in front of her, holding out the mutation core and asking, "Do you want it?"


    She looked at his expression, which didn''t seem to be joking. After hesitating for a moment, she struggled with whether to nod or shake her head. Eating a mutation core seemed strange no matter how she thought about it.


    This behavior seemed even less human. She still felt a bit of shame inside.


    But she was really hungry.

 Chapter 14: H City Survivor Base

    Before Xu Duoduo could answer, a mutation core was tossed into her arms. She held it in her hands, still feeling a bit dazed. The core felt ice-cold to the touch.


    Meanwhile, Qin Luo was facing questions from Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu. He replied, "It''s just a lowest-level mutation core. Let her eat it. Isn''t her value worth more than a level one core? I''ll take responsibility if headquarters questions it."


    Since the captain was willing to take responsibility, the other two followed his lead, trusting he could handle it.


    But Wang Weihu didn''t know about this!


    He hadn''t witnessed the scene of collecting cans, nor had he seen Xu Duoduo taking porridge.


    Just as Wang Weihu was about to ask something, with his loud voice and people all around, the sharp-eyed Chen Xiaofei noticed and quickly pulled him aside. After a round of explanations, Wang Weihu''s eyes widened in disbelief!


    This little zombie classmate actually had an ability? And it was the rare spatial manipulation type?


    She could even eat mutation cores?


    Wang Weihu was instantly shocked.


    After all this commotion, it was almost dawn. It would be safer to travel during the day.


    So they packed up and set out immediately.


    With luck, they could reach the survivor base before nightfall. It wasn''t far, just in the neighboring H City.


    Unfortunately, the entire K City had completely fallen and was no longer habitable.


    Although there was no sun today, it was very bright.


    As they drove along, ruins were everywhere, mostly remnants from zombie clearance operations. Some areas clearly showed signs of fierce battles.


    Those were encounters with mutant beasts.


    Xu Duoduo was still in the car, this time without ropes binding her. She curled up in the back seat, with Qin Luo sitting nearby, fiddling with his knife.


    This guy was skilled with both knives and guns.


    However, after last night''s brutal fight, the four of them plus one zombie were all filthy.


    There was no time to clean up properly. This was the apocalypse, not the old days.


    Qin Luo secretly glanced at Xu Duoduo. Since last night, she seemed a bit afraid of him, which wasn''t surprising considering he had almost eliminated her.


    The reason for bringing her along was partly duty, partly sentiment from their younger days.


    If she had lost her sanity at that moment, he would have had to follow orders and kill her, just as he would have to personally end the lives of infected teammates or survivors.


    The apocalypse was always cruel.


    Fortunately, she hadn''t lost her mind.


    Qin Luo was actually relieved she was alive, because this disaster had taken away far too many people.


    Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei had also stopped their antics. After last night''s mutant beast attack, everyone was a bit exhausted.


    Luckily, the rest of the journey was smooth. Before they reached their destination, they could see a massive wall in the distance, truly enormous.


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    At least twenty to thirty meters high.


    Xu Duoduo was amazed. It had only been about a month since the apocalypse began, yet they had managed to build such a tall wall?


    The top seemed to be electrified, as no birds dared to approach.


    Not far from the survivor base, they finally saw other rescue vehicles. They exchanged greetings by honking at each other.


    Xu Duoduo peered out the window. The vehicles of other teams were in no better shape, all battered and dented from unknown creature impacts, or covered in colorful stains. Some even had bizarre mutant animal carcasses tied to them, looking like sheep but not quite.


    When the vehicles stopped at the survivor base entrance, everyone had to get out for inspection.


    Qin Luo got out of the car and grabbed the old blanket, gesturing for her to come over.


    He just quietly waited for her.


    Xu Duoduo suddenly understood what this meant. If she wasn''t tied up, people might be afraid, because even she didn''t know what kind of creature she was now.


    But her consciousness still leaned towards the human side. She didn''t want to harm humans. In the past, it was the warm grandparents who took her home.


    She liked warm people, and although humans had some flaws, there were always good people.


    So to stay on the human side, she had to cooperate a bit.


    Xu Duoduo voluntarily moved closer, allowing Qin Luo to tie her up, then lift her onto his arm, carrying her in a seated position.


    This posture was much more comfortable.


    Certainly better than being slung over a shoulder.


    Meanwhile, other survivors arriving here were stunned, staring blankly at the huge city gate.


    A familiar loudspeaker announcement played at the entrance: "Welcome to H City Survivor Base. All newcomers must enter the passage to isolation rooms for 24 hours of quarantine. After quarantine, personal information registration is required. Those with injuries, please use the left passage..."


    Everyone felt a bit like they were in a different world, but also felt like they had come back to life.


    Without Wang Weihu needing to call out, they all voluntarily lined up for quarantine.


    Chen Xiaofei stretched as he got out of the car, "Man, we''re finally back. I''m exhausted."


    Bai Shu reached to push up his glasses but found nothing, "I need to go find new glasses as soon as we get back and wash up for a nap. I''m not used to being without glasses."


    Their vehicle was also being inspected by the staff at the city gate.


    Qin Luo carried Xu Duoduo to a small cabin by the city gate, knocked on the window, registered, and then made a special phone call inside, moving to the side to do so.


    Xu Duoduo was left staring at the staff member, a young woman who signed the papers and stamped them, then gently reassured her, "Everything will be alright. Coming to the base means you can rest easy. The base will provide suitable work for you all."


    Unfortunately, she still couldn''t speak, possibly due to psychological reasons.


    The female staff member felt a bit awkward. Just then, Qin Luo returned from his phone call. The staff seemed quite familiar with him and immediately said, "Brother Qin, who is this little sister you brought back?"


    Qin Luo clicked his tongue, telling her not to pry, then turned and picked up Xu Duoduo, waiting for someone to come and receive them.


    The woman behind them grumbled about his harshness, then called out loudly, "Brother Qin, remember to go to the hospital for ability data monitoring after you enter!"


    Qin Luo just waved his hand perfunctorily, considering it a farewell.


    Xu Duoduo noticed the name "Du Chunjiang" on the staff member''s work badge.


    What a nice name.


    She looked back at the woman a couple more times. How wonderful it must be to still be human.


    Qin Luo caught her small gesture and didn''t miss the envy in her eyes. He felt a sour, bitter feeling in his heart that he couldn''t quite describe.


    Xu Duoduo didn''t have to wait long before a scholarly-looking man in a white coat came hurrying over to where Qin Luo had brought her by the city gate.


    "Is this the classmate Xu you mentioned? Hello, I''m Ji Yan. You can call me Teacher Ji."


    Perhaps it was the man''s gentle demeanor that made Xu Duoduo''s tense heart ease a little. She pursed her lips and nodded, docile in a way that didn''t seem zombie-like at all.


    Professor Ji had never seen a case like this before. He kindly asked if she could walk on her own.


    Xu Duoduo nodded.


    Professor Ji glanced at Qin Luo, who scratched his face a bit awkwardly.


    "Since you can walk, please come down. Let''s remove these bindings. I can see that Miss Xu has no aggressive tendencies, but to avoid causing panic, you''ll need to wear this collar. Don''t worry, as long as you don''t show any aggressive behavior, it won''t harm you."


    To reassure Xu Duoduo, he even cited recent cases of increasing mutations, where many people''s bodies had mutated and even become deformed and frightening in appearance, but they still retained human consciousness and were harmless.

 Chapter 15: The Age of Apocalypse

    Headquarters had specific protocols for such individuals. As long as they didn''t lose their sanity, they could live like normal people within the survivor base.


    Xu Duoduo looked back at Qin Luo, and only after seeing him nod did she put on the collar. It had an electronic screen, presumably to deliver an electric shock if any aggressive behavior was detected. A green display meant emotions were stable, orange indicated some emotional fluctuation, and red represented loss of control.


    Her screen currently showed green, indicating she was completely stable.


    Professor Ji was very gentle, gesturing for Xu Duoduo to follow him for some physical examinations. To avoid making her uncomfortable, he also had two female researchers accompany them.


    Xu Duoduo kept looking back at Qin Luo, instinctively seeking him out in this unfamiliar environment. Fortunately, Professor Ji noticed and said, "Little Qin, why don''t you come along too? You also need to have your abilities monitored."


    Qin Luo obediently agreed and followed behind them.


    Xu Duoduo felt inexplicably more at ease. As soon as they entered the survivor base''s passage, they heard the city''s broadcast, which was currently looping information about the disaster situations in nearby cities and the number of survivors rescued.


    What moved her most was hearing the announcer say in her professional voice, "We will never compromise with the apocalypse. We will never abandon any human being."


    Xu Duoduo looked up at the broadcast when she heard this, listening to the subsequent list of rescue team casualties. Each name represented a life, people who didn''t have to die but had rushed to the front lines to save others and perished there.


    Along the city wall were over a dozen people whose bodies had grown rock-like, extremely muscular with their upper bodies partially covered in a layer of stone-like material.


    "They are rock mutants, with a mutation towards stone. One of their skills is ''Solidification''. This entire wall was built by them working day and night. It gives a sense of security, doesn''t it?" said Research Assistant A.


    She winked at Xu Duoduo, "Don''t worry too much. You''re not outcasts. As long as you have human consciousness, you''re still you. We now have very comprehensive protection measures for mutants, and most people will accept you."


    Research Assistant B promptly added, "The base will also arrange suitable positions for you. The base now uses chip cards, and the currency is points. Points aren''t much different from the old currency."


    They could still be used to purchase various items. The H City Survivor Base was quite large, and many shops had been preserved, making life quite stable.


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    As for how to earn points, it was through labor.


    Combat teams could earn points by taking on various missions, with harder missions offering more points. Other logistical personnel could also earn points through work. For example, the rock mutants building the wall earned eighty points per day.


    Keep in mind that a full breakfast now only cost three points.


    So their wages were considered high.


    Not only was Xu Duoduo confused by all this, even Qin Luo was bewildered. He took a sharp breath, "Wait, how has everything changed again? I''ve only been out on a mission for less than ten days!"


    Professor Ji sighed in response, "In the apocalyptic era, rapid changes are normal. Everyone must accept this high-speed change and keep up with the pace."


    Otherwise, they would be eliminated.


    The younger generation adapted well, but it was the older generation who struggled. Many elderly people who had barely figured out electronic devices now faced a world turned upside down, and quite a few couldn''t accept it, becoming mentally unstable.


    Xu Duoduo was speechless after hearing all this. As she observed the city''s landscape along the way, sometimes if you ignored the massive walls, the street scenes looked just like before. But upon closer inspection, differences became apparent.


    For example, occasionally oddly-shaped people would walk by, but they all wore collars around their necks.


    Just like the one on her neck.


    The buses were still crowded with people, but everyone was carrying weapons and chatting.


    "There are new rules in the city. All returning personnel must be quarantined and change clothes before being allowed to walk on the streets. Last time, a team came back covered in blood and almost scared a bus full of kindergarteners to death," Research Assistant A kindly informed them, then glanced at Qin Luo and Xu Duoduo, both covered in blood and grime...


    Awkward.


    Professor Ji smiled and reassured them, "It''s alright, people near the city edge are used to it."


    There were always people here who hadn''t had time to clean up.


    But they should be careful in the city center, as being covered in blood could easily get them arrested.


    Xu Duoduo followed them through a special passage, which turned out to be a subway entrance. However, it required a card to enter, and there were few people on the subway.


    Their destination was the H City Special Research Center. Once aboard, the subway didn''t seem much different from normal, but its speed was terrifying.


    Xu Duoduo felt like she had just boarded, and within a minute, the gentle research assistant told her they had arrived. Arrived?? Twenty kilometers in less than a minute??


    Her shocked expression must have been quite amusing, as it made both research assistants laugh.


    "You''re quite cute. I wonder what your mutation direction is? I heard it was zombie-like? But little cutie, you''re much cuter than ordinary zombies."


    The speaker was Xiao Qiao.


    This time, Xu Duoduo clearly saw the name on her work badge, just the characters Xiao Qiao.


    Probably a code name.


    Da Qiao was a bit more composed. She friendly reminded, "Stay away from Xiao Qiao, she loves dissecting strange things."


    Xu Duoduo shrank back in fear.


    Qin Luo clicked his tongue, "Don''t scare her. As agreed, she''s a reserve member of our team."


    Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were very intrigued. "Oh? Really?" "Didn''t your team swear never to take new members? What''s different this time?"


    Professor Ji reminded them that the elevator had arrived, and the group stepped in once again.


    Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao continued to chatter.


    "How can she join your team? Such a special mutant should definitely stay at our research center to help out! What if she''s damaged on the front lines?"


    "Exactly! Professor Ji, talk some sense into him. Let''s keep this child here."


    Maybe it was just an illusion, but these two had very similar expressions. Although their faces were different, their mannerisms and tones when speaking were identical.


    Professor Ji didn''t argue with them, just chuckled and said, "I''m afraid I can''t make that decision."


    Xu Duoduo looked back at Qin Luo again. Actually, going out with him wasn''t bad. At least she could hoard things, taking advantage of the early stages of the apocalypse to stock up.


    She already had a habit of hoarding, and now facing this strange apocalypse, she wanted to hoard even more. It didn''t matter if the items would be useful or not; she just liked hoarding. The act of hoarding gave her a sense of security.


    However, what she feared most was her spatial ability being discovered.


    But Qin Luo didn''t seem too worried. He was also looking around at the new environment, showing that the changes brought by the apocalypse were indeed earth-shattering.


    He too needed to process the new environment, new rules, and various pieces of information.

 Chapter 16: Ability User or Mutant

    Qin Luo had to go to the second basement floor to see a doctor, while Xu Duoduo was to follow Professor Ji and the Qiao sisters to the eighth basement floor. The research center was underground?


    Xu Duoduo once again felt intrigued, as if she had entered a strange new world.


    She obediently cooperated with the three of them for a simple examination, similar to before - routine checks, blood tests, CT scans, etc.


    Finally, they came to a surprising conclusion, "Good girl, you might be the only zombie baby in our H City Survivor Base."


    The examination revealed that although Xu Duoduo had no heartbeat, her other organs were functioning normally, and even her brain hadn''t atrophied.


    This would have been extremely strange before the apocalypse, but in the apocalyptic world, it seemed quite normal.


    Xiao Qiao smiled and told Xu Duoduo, "I''ve even seen a person with only a brain left, and they could still talk~"


    Xu Duoduo''s silence was deafening!


    How terrifying!!


    A talking brain!


    This completely defied science!!


    But Xu Duoduo thought to herself, a zombie like her with no heartbeat who could walk and jump, with a clear consciousness, was also quite unscientific!


    Well, fine.


    The apocalypse was full of strange things; this world seemed to have collapsed.


    Later, Professor Ji helped her check the reason for her inability to speak, but found nothing unusual, finally diagnosing it as a psychological issue.


    This was a bit troublesome.


    But Professor Ji was very gentle, saying there was no rush. "When you want to speak, it might just happen naturally."


    Finally, they recorded a series of her physical data and used a strange device to check her ability, ultimately filling in "None" for her ability.


    Huh??


    The current equipment couldn''t detect spatial abilities? Xu Duoduo immediately felt relieved.


    She liked hoarding things, but she didn''t like others knowing what she had hidden. That would make her feel too insecure, and hoarding would no longer be enjoyable.


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    Fortunately, it couldn''t be detected.


    Later, they tested her agility and found it to be 1.5 times higher than normal humans.


    In the end, they concluded that she was just a small, useless zombie who could potentially achieve immortality, but even this immortality was quite rare.


    Professor Ji and the Qiao sisters only asked Xu Duoduo to come to the research institute once a month to donate blood. They were a bit disappointed about this.


    But they remained gentle with Xu Duoduo, "Duoduo, what did you do for work before the apocalypse? We can arrange a similar job for you, or you could help out at our research institute? It might be a bit tiring though."


    Xu Duoduo felt a bit lost, then typed out a line on the tablet, [I want to go with Qin Luo and the others.] and showed it to them.


    The Qiao sisters immediately expressed regret, "Oh, wouldn''t it be better to stay with us at the research institute?" "Yeah, even though you don''t have an ability, you''re the only human with a zombie mutation. Going to the front lines would be like cannon fodder. Why follow Qin Luo, that battle maniac? Stay with us!"


    Xu Duoduo still shook her head, stubbornly wanting to follow Qin Luo. She felt uneasy in the research institute and was still afraid of these people walking around in white coats.


    Professor Ji didn''t force the issue, but asked Da Qiao to bring over a watch or what they called a wristband. "This is the latest communication tool. Most electronic products from before can no longer be used, but this one can."


    This device was a combination of mobile Wi-Fi and various other functions. The tablet needed to be connected to one''s own wristband to work, otherwise there was no signal.


    Ordinary people in the base couldn''t even connect to the internet with their wristbands; currently, only ability users could have this privilege, as the base heavily relied on their abilities.


    Rescuing survivors and recovering resources all depended on ability users. Ordinary people simply couldn''t face various mutant creatures; even the most common zombie virus could be fatal to them.


    Therefore, the base''s best resources were prioritized for ability users.


    Ability users and mutants were two different things. Ability users were normal people with enhanced abilities and overall physical qualities.


    Mutants, on the other hand, usually had bodies that were no longer normal, like the rock mutants repairing the wall earlier, whose muscles displayed rock-like properties.


    Many things now couldn''t be explained by science, but researchers still needed to work hard to understand them.


    Those who could stand here calmly talking to Xu Duoduo, a little zombie, in the early stages of the apocalypse, all had to have extremely strong psychological qualities. Otherwise, they couldn''t work stably.


    Xiao Qiao gave Xu Duoduo a sensor key for a new room. Since she was Qin Luo''s reserve team member, she would naturally live in the same building as him.


    "We''ve also integrated the room card into your wristband. You can use it to enter and exit the community and your room!"


    "Qin Luo should be done soon. You can sit here and wait for him to show you around."


    Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao each left a parting word before leaving to continue their busy work.


    Professor Ji also had new personnel to receive, so Xu Duoduo sat alone on a bench on the second basement floor, waiting for Qin Luo to take her away.


    She wasn''t the only one there.


    Due to genetic mutations, whether ability users or mutants, everyone''s body had changed to some extent. For example, ability users had become taller and stronger.


    Consequently, even the benches in the research institute were made wider.


    A big guy next to her was sleeping sitting up, snoring loudly. He fit perfectly on the bench.


    Xu Duoduo, sitting a bit further in, could even swing her legs. She looked around, noticing that not many people paid attention to her amidst the bustle. Everyone was busy with their own affairs, only occasionally glancing at her collar.


    She felt a bit uncomfortable, touching the cold collar, feeling insecure.


    Until Qin Luo''s figure appeared in the corridor, emerging from an examination room. He wasn''t wearing a shirt on his upper body, with bandages wrapped from his waist to one arm. He had been injured in the fight with the mutant monkeys.


    But later he acted as if nothing had happened, and Xu Duoduo had forgotten about it. Although her brain hadn''t atrophied, sometimes her thinking did become slower.


    Like now.


    It took Qin Luo brushing her hair with his clothes and gesturing for her to follow before Xu Duoduo came to her senses. She jumped off the bench and followed behind him.


    Step by step.


    Qin Luo glanced at Xu Duoduo''s feet. When she turned into a zombie, he had directly scooped her up from her room without giving her shoes.


    Now her feet were covered in blood stains, all from when she used the chainsaw to kill the monkey group. Even her pink bunny pajamas were covered in stains.


    Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, knowing Xu Duoduo was a zombie with tough skin, hadn''t thought to give her shoes, so she had been barefoot all along.


    Qin Luo felt uncomfortable seeing this. Passing by an examination room, he popped in to greet someone and grabbed a pair of disposable slippers. They were thin but better than nothing.


    He bent down and told her to put them on.


    Xu Duoduo felt her corpse warm up a bit. She looked down at the slippers and smiled, pursing her lips.


    Qin Luo glanced at her without saying much, then turned and continued walking.


    Xu Duoduo followed him.


    The two had been a bit awkward since the mutant monkey incident, because Qin Luo had almost shown killing intent towards her.


    Although the reasoning was sound.


    It was still awkward.


    Qin Luo felt uneasy on his side.

 Chapter 17: The Forum

    Once Xu Duoduo understood, she didn''t mind at all. Although she feared he might kill her, she also knew he wouldn''t harm her as long as she didn''t lose consciousness.


    If there ever came a day when she lost her sanity, she wouldn''t be herself anymore.


    Just a walking corpse.


    Then if he killed her, so be it. Besides, whether it was imprinting or their relationship as former classmates, when she turned into a zombie, he was the first person she saw. If he had been someone who would rather kill wrongly than let go, with a "bang!" of the first shot, she would have been gone.


    How could there be so many things happening now?


    Xu Duoduo believed he wouldn''t mistakenly kill her, so she stopped being coy and just wanted to follow him.


    She really didn''t like the research center.


    The cold-toned lighting and the white-coated researchers hurrying about.


    It felt like she might be tied to an operating table and dissected at any moment.


    Xu Duoduo would rather go out to fight, collect resources, and rescue other survivors.


    This seemed much more meaningful to her.


    After leaving the research institute, they again took the special subway to their destination, finally arriving in front of a huge new residential complex.


    Qin Luo led her, swiping his wristband to enter the complex, then to Building A. Coincidentally, Xu Duoduo''s previous residence was also in Building A, and now here too.


    "Straight ahead is the activity center building. The first floor is the cafeteria, the second floor is the supermarket, the third floor has various shops, and the fourth floor has a cinema and gym."


    The complex had seven residential buildings, arranged in a circle as ABCDEFG.


    The activity center building was at the center point.


    Qin Luo automatically became a tour guide once they entered the complex, explaining everything to her.


    Their residences were both on the 19th floor of Building A.


    "My room is 1900, yours is 1901. Old Wang is in 1905, Old Bai is in 1906, and Xiao Fei is in 1907. Those three are right next door."


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    If Xu Duoduo hadn''t been predetermined to join Qin Luo''s team, she wouldn''t have been assigned such a nice apartment.


    She was very grateful for this.


    All the way up, like entering the complex, they swiped their wristbands to enter the room. It was a one-bedroom apartment with a living room, kitchen, and bathroom.


    It looked like a model home, with white bedding just like a hotel.


    Qin Luo leaned against the doorway, watching the little zombie spin around looking at her new home. It was quite cute. "I''m right next door. Come find me directly if you need anything."


    He knocked on the door twice after speaking, gesturing for Xu Duoduo to look over. Seeing her nod, he then turned to leave, closing the door behind him.


    Xu Duoduo happily wandered around on her own. She quite liked this little apartment, and it even had a balcony. She loved sunlight.


    It''s a pity that she didn''t know if she could see normal sunlight again in the future.


    Qin Luo hadn''t asked her for the canned food, so it must be staying with her for now?


    Xu Duoduo checked the multi-faceted Rubik''s cube space in her consciousness. Several small grids were filled with canned food, which gave her a sense of security just looking at them.


    Afterwards, she began to explore the wristband. It had small card slots on both sides for inserting various chip cards, with a medium-sized screen.


    She could tap directly on the screen. There was a chat application and a page displaying personal information, which was her electronic ID card.


    [Name: Xu Duoduo, Gender: Female, Age: 22, Height: 1.63m]


    [Mutation Tendency: Zombie Virus]


    [Ability: None]


    [Strength: Speed boost 1.5x]


    There was also a recently taken photo of her, an expressionless headshot.


    Besides the chat application and personal information, there was also an application for various barcodes.


    Opening it showed transit codes, base entry/exit codes, and personal residence codes.


    This was simple too.


    There was also a payment app, which showed a balance of 100 points.


    The income notification showed she had just participated in the K City Qingyuan Community rescue operation, performed well, and thus received a bonus of 100 points.


    Xu Duoduo was quite happy to see this. These were the main functions of the wristband for now. The remaining standard equipment was a tablet, which had only three simple apps: one for taking photos, a gallery, and a forum.


    After logging into the forum, she found several sections. The serious ones were [Mission Release Board], [Mission Experience Sharing Board], and [Information Database Board].


    The casual one was just a [Free Chat] board, full of gossip topics.


    Upon entering, she saw a post pinned at the top with the title: [Discussion on the Function and Formation Speculation of Mutation Cores].


    Xu Duoduo immediately clicked on it. It seemed to be the poster''s own speculation that mutation cores were derivatives of mutated organisms or non-living things, not necessarily in the brain, and not limited to living beings.


    OP: I just participated in a rescue mission in C City yesterday. A computer actually mutated, and it even had a mutation core inside. We almost got wiped out. The culprit was an AI software in the computer.


    She shared a link to the information board, which was her experience sharing written just yesterday.


    There was also a video showing the combat team prying out the mutation core from the computer''s mainframe. It was actually a mechanized mutation core.


    This discovery shocked everyone, which is why this post topped the board.


    - This world has really gone mad!


    - AI ruling the Earth?


    - It used to be a joke, but now it''s very possible.


    - Hahaha, don''t stop me, let''s all die together! It''s over! Everything''s over!


    - How much crazier can this world get?


    ...


    There were many similar replies, with everyone feeling both devastated and terrified.


    Xu Duoduo had eaten a mutation core just last night, from the mutant monkey king. Qin Luo had said it was the lowest-level mutation core. Although it looked ugly and bloody when first taken out, the core itself was very clean.


    Eating it was like candy, crispy and refreshing with a sweet taste.


    It also gave a feeling of fullness.


    Xu Duoduo still felt about 70-80% full from that one core, and it was indeed delicious.


    She also suspected it could improve physical qualities, as she clearly felt more agile after eating it. She could now move almost as freely as a normal person, no longer as clumsy as at the beginning.


    Sure enough, the original poster was also speculating about its effects. She said her companion accidentally ate a bit and developed a high fever, then suddenly enhanced their physical qualities and even developed a new ability.


    But she warned that consuming mutation cores might be dangerous, and reminded everyone not to try it lightly. She had written a report, and those interested could go read it. She also welcomed rational discussion.


    Everyone became excited about this.


    Xu Duoduo also went to check the information database section and found a lot of information. She finally understood the purpose of Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei''s video recording of the lightning storm earlier.


    Among the top 20 newest and hottest posts, there were ones posted by Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei, titled [Latest Lightning Storm Dynamics] and [Mutant Monkey Group].


    The introductions were very simple and clear, interspersed with various on-site photos and videos.

 Chapter 18: A House Visit

    Xu Duoduo was engrossed in browsing the internet, something she hadn''t done since the apocalypse began. She went through each post one by one.


    It wasn''t until she noticed the sky darkening outside that she realized she had been crouching on the floor, scrolling through her tablet for a long time. Being a zombie, her legs didn''t get sore, unlike a normal person whose legs would have gone numb. She finally stood up, swaying a bit.


    Looking down at her blood-stained clothes, now dry and stiff, she immediately headed to the bathroom.


    She carefully adjusted the water heater temperature, making sure not to cook herself.


    Thanks to the Mutation Core from the old monkey king, she had regained control of her body. Otherwise, she would only be able to move freely at night, which would have been too miserable.


    Xu Duoduo carefully washed herself clean, pulling out toiletries from her multi-faced cube space, turning herself into a fragrant little zombie.


    She then took out a change of clothes and put on another comfortable set of pajamas.


    As for the pajamas she had taken off, she soaked them in the washbasin, attempting to clean them. Sometimes her brain would suddenly stall and fail to process things properly.


    If it were the normal-thinking Xu Duoduo, she would have probably thrown them in the trash bin by now. However, the little zombie Xu Duoduo''s instinct to save money outweighed her rationality, so without thinking it through, she subconsciously put them in water to soak.


    When Qin Luo and Chen Xiaofei knocked on Xu Duoduo''s door, she was still scrubbing clothes. So she ran to open the door with her hands full of soap bubbles.


    "Little team leader, look what we''ve brought you! Well, actually, we''ve exchanged some... Huh? What are you doing?"


    Chen Xiaofei was shocked to see Xu Duoduo with hands full of soap bubbles.


    Qin Luo frowned, peeking into the bathroom. He grabbed Xu Duoduo''s arm and led her to wash her hands. "Why are you washing those clothes? They''re full of contaminated fluids. This stuff needs to be sealed in a garbage bag and thrown into the hazardous waste bin downstairs."


    Xu Duoduo hadn''t thought it would be so particular, but it made sense. After all, the survivor base wasn''t just for ability users; there were also many ordinary people living there. If they came into contact with the contaminated blood from the mutant monkey group, wouldn''t that end up killing people?


    Frightened, she quickly tried to retrieve the clothes, but Qin Luo stopped her. He pulled out a sealed garbage bag from a box next to the sink. "I''ll do it. You wash your hands, and when you''re done, come out to eat."


    Xu Duoduo was still wondering about the meal when she finished washing her hands as instructed. Then she heard Chen Xiaofei calling from the other room, "Little team leader, come quick!"


    How could these two be so familiar! This was her house!


    Couldn''t they show some respect for a corpse?


    Xu Duoduo ran out, feeling annoyed. She saw a transparent box on the table containing three Mutation Cores: one green and two orange-red.


    "Look! To welcome you to our 3A Special Operations Team, our Brother Qin spent a lot of money to buy you three Mutation Cores!"


    "You''re such a lucky little zombie. You just happened to join when the base rules were reformed. Now we don''t have to hand over Mutation Cores anymore! We can even buy Mutation Cores with points in the future!"


    They''re just a bit expensive.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Chen Xiaofei looked excited and urged her to come try the taste. "And little team leader, you''re really something else. Other normal people and ability users would die immediately if they ate Mutation Cores, but you can chew them like candy. Can you eat another one for me to see?"


    Qin Luo had already packed up the contaminated clothes and washed his hands. Hearing this, he clicked his tongue and said, "Are you treating her like a monkey to perform tricks?"


    By now, Xu Duoduo''s eyes were sparkling as she leaned close to the coffee table, staring at the three Mutation Cores. The transparent box was probably made of some special material; one had to get very close to smell the fragrance of the Mutation Cores.


    The green Mutation Core still had that fresh scent, like the smell of fresh grass, while the orange-red ones smelled a bit like cumin-flavored barbecue skewers.


    It smelled so good.


    But she wasn''t hungry at the moment. She felt her stomach carefully and estimated it was about 60-70% full.


    "Ding dong, ding dong."


    The doorbell rang again.


    Xu Duoduo turned to look. Qin Luo had already gone to open the door. Bai Shu and Wang Weihu had arrived too.


    Bai Shu had changed into a white shirt and black trousers, wearing frameless glasses. He looked more like the familiar Bai Shu that Xu Duoduo knew; he had worn glasses since middle school.


    Wang Weihu was also wearing casual clothes. In his left hand, he held several unopened sets of combat uniforms. "Just got these approved. Size 165 clothes, should fit the little team leader. Her code number also came down. It''s quite unlucky."


    Bai Shu couldn''t help but complain about this, "The headquarters people even said, ''The little team leader is already a zombie virus mutant, why worry about 444 being unlucky?'' Damn, don''t mutants have rights? It''s too unfortunate to get this number."


    Chen Xiaofei exploded when he heard this, slamming the table as he stood up, "What? This is too much!"


    Even Qin Luo asked, "Didn''t anyone ask the headquarters? How can they give such an unlucky number to a girl?"


    Bai Shu said, "They brushed it off, saying it''s the apocalypse now, not peacetime. They don''t have time to deal with our trivial matters and told us to make do. It''s all just talk. There''s even someone with connections waiting to pick their number next door! It''s clearly discrimination."


    ...


    Honestly.


    If it weren''t for the huge walls outside and her still lack of a heartbeat, Xu Duoduo, watching the four of them chat casually, might have thought for a moment that the apocalypse was just a dream. But unfortunately, the apocalypse was real, and she was truly just a corpse with consciousness. So she took out her tablet, tapped away, and then showed them what she wrote: [It''s okay, I don''t mind.]


    It''s just a code number after all.


    After reading this, the four of them fell silent for a moment. Then Qin Luo turned to make a phone call, "No, I''m going to ask about this. We should at least get a luckier number. I want to know why people with connections can change their numbers, but we can''t after risking our lives on the front lines? This doesn''t make sense. They''re just bullying us!"


    Chen Xiaofei also complained dissatisfied, "That''s right! Even in the apocalypse, they''re still playing the connection game?"


    After saying this, he urged Xu Duoduo to eat, "Don''t worry about this nonsense. Little team leader, eat up! Brother Qin pulled a lot of strings to get these Mutation Cores!"


    Bai Shu also stared at the three Mutation Cores and sighed, "Old Qin can even get his hands on these?"


    Wang Weihu leaned in to take a look and thought about the mutant animals with a headache, "These things are much more troublesome than zombies. Even these low-level ones are annoying. If there are higher-level mutant creatures in the future, life will really be..."


    The topic became a bit heavy.


    So the three of them immediately fell silent. Bai Shu put some nutrient solution and a bag of steamed buns on the table, "Let''s eat first. It''s only been ten days, and the food in the cafeteria has already decreased by 80%. Guess how many points this bag of steamed buns cost?"


    Chen Xiaofei skillfully opened the bottle of nutrient solution and asked curiously, "How much?"


    Wang Weihu sighed and said, "8 steamed buns, 200 points."


    Chen Xiaofei gasped, "How much?! 25 points for one plain steamed bun?"


    His face immediately showed pain at the cost.


    Xu Duoduo remembered that Professor Ji and the others had said at the beginning that three points could buy a full meal, but given the current situation, being full certainly didn''t mean eating well.


    She also fell silent.


    Wang Weihu, while munching on a steamed bun, said, "There are too many rescued survivors now, and the base''s food supply is tight. We have to prioritize the ordinary people. Those of us who can survive on nutrient solution will just have to make do for now."

 Chapter 19: A New Mission Location?

    Bai Shu said, "We should be grateful to have steamed buns. Let''s make do with what we have."


    As he spoke, he reluctantly took out a jar of chili sauce from his item storage card.


    Chen Xiaofei immediately snatched it away, saying, "I knew Brother Bai was the nicest!"


    His words were sweet, but his actions were ruthless. He scooped out a large spoonful, nearly driving Bai Shu crazy. "You bastard! That''s the last jar. Couldn''t you take a little less?!"


    Wang Weihu, despite his usually composed appearance, also managed to sneak a large spoonful while Bai Shu was distracted trying to protect his food.


    These three were as unreliable in private as they were dependable during rescue missions.


    They nearly came to blows over a jar of chili sauce. In the end, Xu Duoduo silently took out four large boxes of food, which she had previously stockpiled.


    The three of them froze, staring intently at the four boxes of food.


    Xu Duoduo had packed them in disposable transparent containers, each with rice and three dishes.


    All four boxes had the same menu: Yu Xiang Rou Si (shredded pork with garlic sauce), garlic-flavored green vegetables, and braised chicken with brown sauce.


    She then brought out four cans of tomato and egg soup. Seeing that they still weren''t moving, she opened the lids of the food containers. The aroma of the dishes wafted out, making the three of them swallow hard in unison.


    "Good heavens, am I dreaming? Little Squad Leader, are you Doraemon?"


    "Help, how long has it been since I''ve seen normal food? Is this really not a dream?"


    "Thank you, Little Squad Leader. You''re truly the best person in the world... no, the best zombie in the world!!"


    What brought tears to their eyes was a proper meal with three dishes and a soup!


    No exaggeration.


    Chen Xiaofei was crying as he ate, mumbling between sobs, "I thought I''d be lucky to have a bowl of hot porridge. I never imagined I''d get to eat real dishes again!"


    Wang Weihu and Bai Shu had already stuffed their mouths full of food and were still fighting over more.


    The Yu Xiang Rou Si and braised chicken were incredibly appetizing! The garlic-flavored vegetables were refreshing, and with a sip of tomato and egg soup, it was a feast. These were the most common home-cooked dishes before the apocalypse, but now they were priceless treasures.


    Xu Duoduo was also happy, holding three mutation cores. She had secretly added an extra roasted duck leg for Qin Luo. If nothing else, his efforts in finding mutation cores for her were enough to earn her gratitude. She was delighted to have obtained food supplies.


    When Qin Luo returned, he found that his three team members had transformed into three pigs, burying their faces in the fragrant dishes, their cheeks puffed out with food.


    Chen Xiaofei, while eating, pushed his box towards Qin Luo and mumbled, "It''s so good, Boss Qin, hurry and eat!"


    Qin Luo: ...


    To be honest, Xu Duoduo''s cooking skills were indeed impressive. The Yu Xiang Rou Si was flavorful and delicious, the chicken in the braised dish was incredibly tender, and just the sauce mixed with rice felt like it could make them devour a huge pot of rice.


    In an instant, the living room fell silent. Xu Duoduo sat by herself on one side, while the four of them gathered around the coffee table on the opposite side, heads down, eating. Everyone was sitting directly on the carpet.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Worried they might not have enough, she brought out four more boxes of white rice.


    In the end, they still managed to finish everything.


    Finally, Chen Xiaofei leaned back against the sofa, his stomach bulging, "Help, I''m so full!"


    Bai Shu, also satisfied, sat in a daze.


    Wang Weihu was still cleaning up, making sure to finish every last bit of food.


    Qin Luo was looking down, replying to messages. Eventually, he waved his tablet, "It''s done. Xu Duoduo''s ID number is [redacted]. Much better than before."


    Chen Xiaofei and the other two were too full to speak, so they all gave him a thumbs up in unison.


    Qin Luo accepted it, then turned to look at Xu Duoduo. The little zombie hesitated for a second, then also gave him a thumbs up. This made Qin Luo burst into laughter.


    Suddenly, Chen Xiaofei and the others started laughing too. The feeling of being full and content was indescribably blissful.


    "Little Squad Leader, don''t mind us. The world has changed so much since the apocalypse, and all sorts of regulations are changing too. When we first left, the base didn''t treat mutants like this at all."


    Who would have thought that mutants would be uniformly recruited? And who could have imagined that so many people whose bodies had mutated could still maintain clear consciousness?


    The signal on their wristbands wasn''t always stable, and sometimes the forum''s database updates weren''t timely either.


    For various reasons, they had initially been somewhat wary and vigilant towards Xu Duoduo.


    Xu Duoduo touched the collar around her neck, then shook her head, and finally typed on her tablet, [It''s okay. It''s normal for you to be cautious.]


    After all, they represented the headquarters and were working for the future of all humanity.


    They weren''t children anymore.


    They were all adults, and it was good to clear things up. This matter was now behind them.


    The rest of the evening was pleasant.


    Everyone helped clean up the coffee table. The remaining bottles of various flavored nutrient solutions and leftover steamed buns were all stored in Xu Duoduo''s spatial storage.


    After dinner, they chatted, discussing the current situation, reviewing the new rules of the base, and talking about taking on new missions.


    Qin Luo explained to Xu Duoduo, "Currently, there are two types of missions we can take. One is specially assigned by headquarters, which usually can''t be refused. The other is missions we choose ourselves from the forum board."


    The missions assigned by headquarters had more stable rewards and occasionally special bonuses, while self-chosen missions tended to be riskier.


    The clients for self-chosen missions were usually wealthy individuals or other ability users like themselves.


    Chen Xiaofei, who was browsing the forum, joked, "Little Squad Leader, you know about food delivery guys, right? We''re pretty much like that."


    Bai Shu thought it was quite an apt comparison.


    Since Xu Duoduo, as a zombie, was new to all this, the four of them explained a lot to her. Although things had changed a lot since the apocalypse, they still knew more than she did.


    Later, they added each other as friends, and Wang Weihu gave Xu Duoduo an earpiece for communication. "The range is limited, only within ten kilometers. Being able to make phone calls freely like before is probably not possible in the short term."


    He sighed as he said this.


    Qin Luo was looking at the mission board, while Bai Shu was discussing with him.


    "With Little Squad Leader''s spatial ability, we can make multiple trips to places with abundant resources, but unexplored areas are bound to be more dangerous now."


    Bai Shu analyzed methodically, circling several locations on his own tablet. "There are two choices for resource-rich areas. One, go to C City, where the country''s largest granary is located, but there''s a non-biological mutation core there, making it extremely dangerous. Two, go to I City, but it''s coastal, so the danger level is unknown, though there''s a weapons depot there."


    He said that apart from these two locations with the most abundant resources, other places had been visited by many small teams, making it easy to encounter other people, and resources were more scattered.


    The key was that the missions they could take were limited to rescue operations. Stockpiling resources had to be done privately because Xu Duoduo''s spatial ability couldn''t be exposed.


    Otherwise, it would be very dangerous for her. If people found out, their entire small team would be in trouble.


    It wasn''t that they couldn''t protect her, or that headquarters would harm Xu Duoduo, but she would definitely be under surveillance, and at the same time, she would completely lose her freedom.


    It would be very troublesome.

 Chapter 21: The Mutant Snake-Man

    The journey was not smooth.


    After leaving the safe zone of the base, they could see scattered zombies wandering by the roadside.


    Qin Luo basically drove straight through them. They weren''t engaging in clearing these scattered zombies now, as they had more important matters at hand.


    Bai Shu reported on the mission they had accepted, "It''s a commercial district. There are an estimated 500 survivors in the mall, currently hiding on the fourth floor."


    He shared the location with everyone.


    Chen Xiaofei added, "The survivors on the outskirts are the real trouble. They''re too scattered."


    Xu Duoduo, curled up in the back, also looked at the location on her tablet, her little paws tapping and occasionally zooming in to check the map of the area.


    The entire commercial district was surrounded by various pedestrian streets, with countless shops in rows.


    Just before the apocalypse hit, it had been evening, with many people out for walks and shopping. It could be said that the area was now a massive zombie nest, with an incredibly high concentration of the undead.


    Wang Weihu also found it headache-inducing, "Tch, these places are the most troublesome. The zombies are numerous and densely packed, and rescuing people is difficult. We can''t use heavy firepower, only guns and small explosives. It''ll probably take a long time to clear."


    Their last mission in K City had taken them ten days. They had barely managed to clear the zombies around Qingyuan Residential Area and rescue over 90 survivors.


    After that mission, each member of their team had received 3,000 points, along with some weapon rewards. The vehicle renovation was also a mission benefit.


    They didn''t know how long they would have to spend in this commercial district, and the scattered distribution of survivors added to the difficulty of their rescue operation.


    The only advantage was that being in a commercial street, there would be no shortage of shops.


    With luck, they might be able to salvage some remaining supplies, though it would take time.


    Bai Shu said, "These days, everything is in short supply. Even an undamaged piece of clothing is valuable. As equipment breaks down later, there won''t be enough clothes for ordinary people."


    At least in the early stages of the apocalypse, it was the most awkward and embarrassing time.


    That''s what the Apocalypse Survival Manual said.


    Hearing this, Xu Duoduo glanced at her multi-faceted magic cube space again. The small compartments weren''t even close to being full yet.


    But at least she had quite a few clothes, so she wouldn''t end up without anything to wear.


    Qin Luo remained focused on driving. He drove fast and aggressively, directly ramming into many zombies or mutant dogs. Those creatures, with their blood-red eyes and drooling mouths, clearly had no consciousness left.


    They only retained the instinct to bite, so ramming into them carried no psychological burden.


    Dazed little zombies like Xu Duoduo were easily distinguishable.


    Qin Luo wasn''t afraid of misjudging.


    Bai Shu and the other two were discussing how to rescue people with minimal firepower consumption, as in the apocalypse, every resource had to be carefully calculated to survive.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    As they drove, they eventually got onto the highway, as the national roads were too slow.


    They had checked the route in advance, and it was currently relatively clear. Occasionally encountering zombies and small mutant animals, they simply rammed through. The vehicle''s body was made of some unknown material that didn''t retain water; any dirty liquid that splashed onto it would slide off, keeping the body consistently clean.


    The modified wheels were huge and could crush anything, making the drive much more enjoyable than before.


    The highway route was new, with few previous travelers, so there was no awkward situation of cars blocking the way, eliminating the need to get out and clear the path. However, the weather was deteriorating, getting darker as they drove.


    Xu Duoduo glanced at her wristband. They had been driving for several hours, and it was now noon, but the sky looked like evening.


    Dark clouds loomed ahead.


    Qin Luo checked his wristband and said, "No thunderstorms, probably just heavy rain."


    His teammates all indicated understanding.


    They still pulled over, each getting out to take care of personal needs.


    Using the restroom.


    Preparing for the possibility that the upcoming storm might make it inconvenient to stop.


    As a little zombie, Xu Duoduo had this advantage: apart from the small amount of blood in her body, she didn''t cry, had no physiological needs, and didn''t need to drink water or use the bathroom.


    She chewed on a green mutation core, enjoying its fragrant grass and fruit flavor.


    Delicious.


    After Bai Shu and the others got back in the car, Wang Weihu took over the driver''s seat this time.


    Chen Xiaofei moved to the passenger seat.


    Qin Luo came to the middle row, immediately filling it with his imposing presence.


    Xu Duoduo silently retreated further back.


    Although ability users had much better stamina than normal people, driving required concentrated attention, especially in the current apocalyptic world where anything could appear unexpectedly. It was difficult to maintain high alertness for long periods.


    Taking turns driving was the best option.


    Chen Xiaofei started complaining about hunger and asked Bai Shu for leftover steamed buns from the night before to munch on.


    Xu Duoduo then took out eight large rice balls, filled with tuna sauce and cucumber, wrapped in seaweed. They were really big, each the size of her fist.


    One was enough to fill her up for a meal, but the others probably needed two to be satisfied.


    So she also brought out canned food from the factory, four meat cans and four fruit cans.


    Chen Xiaofei ate a rice ball while holding another to pass to Wang Weihu. He had cans piled on his lap, looking utterly blissful. "It''s so good to have Little Squad Leader. Before, we could only eat dry rations, but now we have good food for every meal. Life is so good, I could cry!"


    Wang Weihu could finish a rice ball in just a few bites, feeling extremely satisfied.


    Bai Shu was chewing while busy browsing the forum, currently their only channel for getting the latest world information. Whichever teammate had free time would check it, as you never knew when the latest knowledge might come in handy.


    Qin Luo was eating a rice ball while turning to look at Xu Duoduo. Seeing her little paws holding the tablet, scrolling all morning, only eating a mutation core.


    "You can''t eat any human food now? Can''t swallow or digest it?"


    He was quite curious.


    Xu Duoduo silently took out her tablet to type, [No taste, waste of food.]


    She had tried before. Delicious food in her mouth only had a bland taste, like drinking plain water or chewing on dry paper towels.


    Not interesting.


    Not being able to enjoy food was one of her pains, and yet someone kept asking about it.


    Xu Duoduo turned her body away, ignoring him, and continued scrolling on her tablet. She had just seen that a mutant had actually turned into a snake-man, but instead of his lower body becoming a snake, it was his upper body.


    It made her feel sick and uncomfortable.


    Most importantly, he had betrayed humanity, not only devouring his own kind but also eating zombies and all sorts of filthy things. Now he had become a huge fat snake with two human legs trailing behind, utterly disgusting.


    This was actually a wanted notice. It was said that killing him would earn 100,000 points!


    And his escape route was heading right towards C City.


    Xu Duoduo: ...


    Did it have to be so coincidental?! She really didn''t want to encounter such a thing at all!!


    Bai Shu had naturally also seen this urgent pinned red post and immediately passed it to Qin Luo to see. "A mutant wants to be his own boss. It''s said he attacks anyone he sees and even tortures them. Headquarters is offering a big reward to eliminate him."

 Chapter 20: Departure

    After considering the options, Qin Luo finally chose C City as their destination. It was the closest, and I City was just across from it, so they could potentially cover both if possible.


    "Food is too easily contaminated. If we can salvage food, that should be the priority."


    Because hot weapons might not be effective against later-stage monsters, and more importantly, there were other troops stationed in I City.


    It wouldn''t be easy to acquire.


    Bai Shu had no objections to this. After all, everywhere was equally dangerous in the apocalypse.


    "Alright, let''s confirm it then!"


    They were headed to C City!


    **


    Early the next morning.


    The team was geared up and ready to go. They had accepted a mission to rescue survivors in advance, planning to venture into C City along the way and collect as much grain from the granaries as possible.


    Their off-road vehicle had been thoroughly inspected and repaired. The previous dirt and dents had been completely renewed, and the vehicle had even been reinforced.


    When Qin Luo first saw it, he let out a loud whistle and knocked on the body. The maintenance personnel beside him were still explaining the new features of the vehicle.


    "Captain Qin, your vehicle has been approved for the maximum upgrade by headquarters. This button here activates a fully enclosed state, allowing temporary transformation into a submarine or tank mode. Over here is the built-in telescope function..."


    Chen Xiaofei''s jaw had already dropped. He was touching the completely renewed vehicle, exclaiming, "So cool! This car is too awesome! It''s black and gold!"


    Bai Shu kicked the large tires twice and praised, "Not bad, these wheels are sturdy!"


    Wang Weihu was satisfied with the huge body of the vehicle, "No more cramping in the car!"


    Only Xu Duoduo, the little zombie who had also changed into combat gear today, looked up at this "behemoth". She figured she''d have to climb to get in.


    In the whole team, Wang Weihu was nearly two meters tall, a big guy at 1.96 meters. Then came Qin Luo at 1.89 meters, followed by Bai Shu at 1.85 meters. Even the baby-faced Chen Xiaofei was 1.80 meters tall.


    Only Xu Duoduo! She was the only one at 1.63 meters! She stood out significantly among them.


    When Qin Luo finished the handover, he noticed that the little zombie Xu Duoduo was trying to climb up awkwardly when no one was looking. He almost laughed out loud, then went over and easily lifted her up by the waist.


    "If you can''t get up, just say something. Aren''t you tired of struggling on your own? What are all these teammates for? Hm?"


    After climbing up, Xu Duoduo didn''t respond to him. Even little zombies can feel embarrassed. She crawled into the back seat, curled up with her knees to her chest, and stared wide-eyed, taking in the new view.


    Because it was a modified off-road combat vehicle, the body was extremely high, offering a far-reaching view.


    Comfortable!!


    Inside was a super spacious seven-seater, with the trunk packed with supplies.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    From gasoline to bullets.


    And a bunch of nutrient solutions and various compressed biscuits that nobody liked.


    Later, the rest of them got in the car too. Today, Qin Luo was driving, Wang Weihu was in the passenger seat, and Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu sat in the second row.


    Xu Duoduo stayed alone in the last row, and someone threw her a blanket. It was fluffy and comfortable, and she even grabbed it to rub it a bit.


    Bai Shu spoke up with a smile, "Just snagged it. Little Squad Leader, feel free to use it."


    From the driver''s seat, Qin Luo told them to fasten their seatbelts. Xu Duoduo hurriedly nodded at Bai Shu and lowered her head to buckle her own seatbelt.


    Then she started taking things out again, a thermos for each person containing cool herbal tea for soothing throats and reducing heat. She poked Bai Shu to pass them forward.


    Chen Xiaofei opened his and took a sniff, "Wow, Little Squad Leader, you''re too good! You even have herbal tea. How do you have everything? By the way, do you have any snacks?"


    Bai Shu had just passed the other two thermoses to the front row when he heard this and turned back to knock on Chen Xiaofei''s head, "You think this is a spring outing, Chen Three-Year-Old?! Snacks, really!"


    Wang Weihu also reminded them to be careful, "Although the car windows have anti-peeping film, all sorts of strange abilities exist in the apocalypse. We should still be cautious."


    Xu Duoduo nodded as well. After thinking for a moment, she took out a wooden whistle from her multi-faceted magic cube space. When agreeing, she would blow a short sound.


    The four of them indeed noticed and turned their heads to look at her in unison.


    Xu Duoduo''s little paws were gripping the wooden whistle quite nervously. Her eyes, with colored contacts, darted around looking at them. Was it not good enough?


    She was just hesitating whether to put it away.


    The four of them simultaneously gave her a thumbs up, clearly thinking it was a good idea.


    Qin Luo even raised an eyebrow with a smile, "Not bad! As expected of our Little Squad Leader, always having more solutions than problems."


    Chen Xiaofei turned his head and started chattering to her, "From now on, blow once to agree, and if you need our help, blow a longer sound..."


    Accompanied by his chatter, the car soon started moving, passing through each checkpoint one by one.


    A series of electronic voice prompts sounded.


    [Welcome to the first exit checkpoint of H City Survivor Base. Beep, all clear. The entire H City Survivor Base wishes you a safe journey.]


    They passed through three checkpoints in succession. At the final exit from the base, there was a human-operated gate.


    Wang Weihu handed over a card showing their team''s accepted mission and destination.


    "Captain Qin, heading out again? You''re working too hard, only staying for one night each time you return."


    The staff member smiled as he took the card to register them.


    Qin Luo smiled nonchalantly and joked, "Can''t help it, the world changes every day. If we don''t work hard, we''ll fall behind."


    Hearing this, the staff member also sighed about the hardships of these combat teams, "That''s true. There are still millions of comrades living in dire situations. You are great. On behalf of all H City members, I salute you and hope for your safe journey and return home."


    He finished speaking and solemnly saluted them, his expression somewhat grave.


    Qin Luo leaned on the steering wheel and chuckled, "You do this every time. Alright, we''re off."


    He gestured for Wang Weihu to take back the exit card, nodded to the staff member, and the car zoomed out, moving much faster than before.


    Xu Duoduo, sitting in the back, stretched her neck and was jolted by the acceleration, falling back onto the rear seat before scrambling up again.


    She was about to grumble when she looked at the road they had come from and suddenly fell silent. In just one night, at least half of the trees along the roadside had withered and died.


    Chen Xiaofei also exclaimed, "Damn, it''s so toxic! At this rate, won''t all the plants die?"


    Bai Shu was fiddling with his tablet, "It''s just specific areas. Look at R City, it''s a paradise for plant-type mutations. A huge old banyan tree has wrapped around the entire R City. Vehicles can''t even enter now."


    Hearing this, Chen Xiaofei exclaimed again and leaned over to look at Bai Shu''s tablet.


    Xu Duoduo, hearing the commotion, lowered her head and took out her own tablet to check. In the latest information posts on the forum, there was a new update: overnight, an old banyan tree had grown explosively, directly encircling the entire R City.


    Currently, the R City Survivor Base had sent out a distress signal, and headquarters was gathering personnel to consider rescue strategies.

 Chapter 22: The Drenched Little Zombie

    Just as Qin Luo was thinking how cute the pouty little zombie was, wanting to poke her, he saw the post Bai Shu showed him and immediately frowned.


    "That looks disgusting."


    Suddenly, Xu Duoduo raised her hand and patted Qin Luo''s head. Qin Luo thought she was angry and deliberately teasing him, so he grabbed her hand from his head and held it, "Don''t mess around, I''m reading a post. Tch, this thing can actually level up by devouring?"


    However, looking at the distant forest through the right side window, a huge snake body stood up. Xu Duoduo then realized this creature didn''t lack a face; rather, its human face and snake head were mixed together, making it as repulsive as possible.


    Her sanity points were plummeting.


    She reached for her whistle and blew a short sound, then patted Qin Luo again, finally attracting both their attention. Seeing them look over in unison, Xu Duoduo pointed out the window, her body almost rigid with fear.


    This world was too fantastical.


    Qin Luo and Bai Shu turned their heads to look, successfully spotting a mutant snake-man writhing like an earthworm in the forest not far from their lane. Occasionally, it would raise its snake head to look forward, then continue squirming. The important thing was that when it squirmed, its tail tip raised up was actually two legs...


    Both of them fell silent.


    Finally, Bai Shu exclaimed, "Damn, how is it so big?!"


    Qin Luo said with a frown, "It''s really disgusting."


    He was genuinely repulsed.


    Xu Duoduo struggled to record a video clip on her tablet, then forwarded it to Bai Shu, asking him to post it. She really didn''t want to look at this thing for another second.


    Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei hadn''t even noticed this creature, showing how stealthy its movements were. It was only when Chen Xiaofei heard the commotion in the back and asked about it that they learned a mutant snake-man had appeared at their 3 o''clock position moments ago.


    Both of them got goosebumps; these soft, slithering reptiles were the most repulsive.


    But disgust aside, they weren''t afraid.


    The mutant snake-man seemed to be on its own journey and didn''t come to bother them.


    Both parties just passed each other from a distance.


    "It''s heading towards C City, and so are we. The chances of encountering it are higher. According to the official post, the snake''s weak point is at its seventh vertebra, and this creature''s weak point is the same, plus its head," Bai Shu said.


    After he finished, the others acknowledged, but no one was in a good mood.


    As the car drove a bit further, it entered a curtain of rain. That side was so gloomy it seemed like another world. While this side had no sun, at least it was clear, but the opposite side looked like hell, giving a sense of eternal darkness.


    But they still had to go.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Almost instantly upon entering this area, the rain came down in sheets.


    Wang Weihu frowned, "Visibility is less than half a meter!"


    He turned on the hazard lights.


    Qin Luo could only tell him to drive slower, "The cloud mass here isn''t dispersing. We have no choice but to drive slowly and see how it goes. If it''s not possible, we''ll find a place to stop for a while."


    Wang Weihu replied, "Understood."


    Chen Xiaofei also became fully alert, helping to monitor the road conditions around the vehicle.


    The rain was so loud it could be heard clearly inside the car. If the off-road vehicle wasn''t so heavy, it probably would have been shaken by the rain.


    Xu Duoduo looked up at the car roof, then pressed against the window to look outside. Even with her eyes wide open, she couldn''t see clearly. Suddenly, something went "splat" against the window, startling her and making her shrink back.


    It turned out to be a mutant frog, as big as a human head, clinging tightly to the window. Its tongue was covered in spines, stabbing at the glass, making a screeching sound.


    The little zombie got angry. She wanted to kill this thing that had scared her. After becoming a zombie, Xu Duoduo could be a bit childish, and she wanted revenge.


    But with the rain so heavy outside, the window couldn''t be opened. She could only glare at it angrily.


    Chen Xiaofei also complained that it was blocking the view, "How is this frog so big too? Even with such heavy rain, it hasn''t been washed away!"


    Bai Shu checked some information and said, "This thing is afraid of fire. It''s a low-level mutant frog, brainless, with no mutation core. It''s non-poisonous but eats meat and will use its tongue to peck at people! Those spines can scrape off a lot of flesh."


    Chen Xiaofei made a disgusted sound, his face full of revulsion, "Just hearing about it makes me feel the pain."


    Xu Duoduo stared at it for a while, her mind full of thoughts about how it feared fire and would peck at people. If they let it cling on, it might ambush them when they got out of the car later.


    So, before anyone could react, she used insecticide and a lighter. She quickly opened the window, and in the second the mutant frog tried to jump in, she swiftly pressed the flame, directly "whoosh" burning the frog black all over. It fell "splat" under the car and was finally crushed by the rear tire, splattering everywhere...


    Xu Duoduo took less than three seconds from opening the window to spraying fire and closing the window again.


    The mutant frog was indeed knocked off by the fire, but the back seat area was also soaked by the rain.


    Xu Duoduo was especially drenched, her hair wet, clothes soaked, becoming a drenched little zombie. She stood there dumbfounded for a moment.


    The three in the front were also stunned.


    Wang Weihu quickly glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing the situation and was shocked to the point of gaping.


    Xu Duoduo looked at everyone''s silence, then at the wet back seat, and suddenly felt like a child who had done something wrong. Her mouth puckered, and she was about to cry.


    But zombies don''t have tears.


    However, they didn''t let her cry. Just as her mouth started to pucker, Qin Luo already called out, "Hey, don''t cry! Why are you crying? You did well, really!"


    He immediately turned and went to the back seat, hugging Xu Duoduo to the cleaner left side, then took the half-wet blanket to wipe the seat.


    Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei also immediately reacted, opening their mouths to praise her.


    "That''s right! Little Squad Leader, you did great! I couldn''t even see the road conditions on the rear side because of that thing! You eliminated it well! Excellent job!"


    "Exactly, your skills are impressive! As expected of a little zombie with 1.5x speed boost!"


    "Isn''t that right? Whose teammate reacts so quickly? Said eliminate and it''s done. It''s just this rain that''s not good, the rain is too heavy!"


    As the two of them sang each other''s praises, Wang Weihu couldn''t help but speak up, "Actually, we could have..."


    Chen Xiaofei immediately interrupted, "Haha, children need encouragement! Old Wang, what are you doing? Really, Little Squad Leader did very well!"


    He winked and made faces at Wang Weihu. Last night''s report on Xu Duoduo had come out, showing her intelligence was unstable, sometimes at 18-19 years old, sometimes regressing to 7-8 years old. Why bully a child?


    Besides, it wasn''t a big deal.


    It was indeed better to deal with this mutant frog sooner rather than later. Who knows if it might suddenly mutate again in the next second?


    Xu Duoduo, seeing them frantically trying to comfort her, suddenly froze again, unable to cry.


    Qin Luo, after bustling about for a while, finally managed to wipe the seat clean, but it was still damp. So he turned around and fished out a towel from the back, putting it on her head, "Quick, dry yourself off. After that, change into some dry clothes. Do you have any curtains in your space? Take one out, and we''ll help you cover up a bit."


    Bai Shu then took out a piece of green cloth from his storage space card, "This can cover it. We can each hold one side."

 Chapter 23: Scooping Up Gasoline

    Qin Luo and Bai Shu each held one side of the curtain, shielding the back seat area.


    Xu Duoduo changed into her spare combat uniform behind the curtain they had put up. When she was done, she blew her wooden whistle once.


    Only then did Qin Luo and Bai Shu take down the curtain. Qin Luo said, "All changed? Come here, I''ll carry you to this side. The back seat is damp, don''t stay there."


    As he spoke, he directly picked up Xu Duoduo and brought her over. The middle row was very spacious, with two separate seats that could easily fit four people.


    So Xu Duoduo went from the spacious back seat to sitting next to Qin Luo.


    Bai Shu didn''t have much reaction. After putting away the curtain, he started editing the mutant snake-man video Xu Duoduo had just sent him, preparing to post it on the forum.


    The little zombie had changed into a new set of clothes and felt much fresher, except her hair was still damp. Qin Luo couldn''t stand it and took a clean towel to wipe her hair, one hand rubbing her head while the other swiped on the tablet.


    "There''s a service area twenty kilometers ahead. Let''s go there and stop for a while."


    After saying this, Qin Luo threw the tablet into his storage space card and started focusing on rubbing the little zombie''s head. Both hands covered her head with the towel, kneading it. It looked rough but he was actually controlling his strength very well.


    Xu Duoduo felt sleepy from the rubbing, her body swaying slightly.


    Qin Luo told her not to move around.


    Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei immediately agreed when they received the order. Their four-person team had always been in sync. If Qin Luo said to stop, he must have his reasons. His ability was lightning storm, so he was particularly sensitive to weather.


    Before they reached the service area, it started hailing. Ice pellets rained down, pounding the vehicle. If this wasn''t an improved off-road vehicle with shatterproof glass, it probably couldn''t withstand the basketball-sized hailstones crashing down!


    Xu Duoduo''s eyes were practically glued to the window. The hailstones falling outside looked like they could really kill someone, making a constant clanging noise.


    The car wasn''t easy to drive either, with the body shaking slightly, but all four in the car had military backgrounds. This level of road condition was a piece of cake for them.


    Wang Weihu even accelerated through this hail-covered section, crushing the ice shards under the wheels.


    They occasionally encountered a few cars parked by the roadside. They slowed down to check from inside the car, honking the horn. But as they got closer, they found all the cars were full of zombies. Chen Xiaofei casually threw a few small bombs, flipping over the cars behind them as they drove away.


    The latter half of the journey was bumpy but they managed to reach the service area smoothly.


    Here, the hail had stopped, and it wasn''t raining anymore. But the sky was terrifyingly dark. There were zombies in the service area too, swaying towards them when they heard the car.


    Wang Weihu directly ran over a few more, driving straight to the gas station. "I''ll go down to see if there''s any gas left. Qin Luo, open the fuel tank."


    Qin Luo directly replied, "Okay." He leaned over to the driver''s seat and operated something, and the fuel tank cover on the side opened. "Xu Duoduo, you stay in the car. After we finish refueling, just press this switch, understand?"This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Xu Duoduo nodded directly and blew her wooden whistle once. Qin Luo ruffled her hair one more time before turning to get out of the car.


    With a "bang", the car door closed, and all four of them got out.


    Chen Xiaofei followed Qin Luo towards the main building of the service area to eliminate zombies. The two moved extremely fast, and soon a gunshot rang out.


    Wang Weihu and Bai Shu were refueling the car outside, while also checking how much fuel was left at this gas station. Everyone had their own tasks.


    Xu Duoduo waited for Wang Weihu to give her a hand signal, then she closed the fuel tank cover. After that, she also pushed open the middle door and jumped down from the car, fortunately without falling.


    But she startled both of them.


    "Little Squad Leader, why did you come down? Go back to the car and wait. We''ll let you out when it''s safe."


    "It''s not safe here. Be good, wait in the car. You''re more valuable than us right now."


    No joke, with her huge spatial ability, she was indeed incredibly valuable.


    Although they had seen Xu Duoduo kill a group of mutant monkeys with a chainsaw before, they still couldn''t let anything happen to her. They tried to coax her back into the car.


    But Xu Duoduo wouldn''t listen.


    Bai Shu was getting a headache from her not listening to them, thinking it would be better if Qin Luo were here.


    Xu Duoduo had no time for them. Seeing the fuel cans Wang Weihu had found from the gas station and was filling up, she reached out her hand.


    Bai Shu immediately panicked, "Ancestor, you can''t touch that directly!"


    Xu Duoduo had already touched it, directly storing the gasoline in her space. She just used her remaining hand to make a rough gesture.


    She took out a can from her space, put it back, then pointed at the fuel barrel.


    Wang Weihu understood, "Little Squad Leader, are you directly storing this gasoline?!"


    Xu Duoduo nodded modestly. With her expressionless face, she looked cool and aloof, but with her messy short hair, she actually looked quite silly. After explaining, she focused on collecting gasoline.


    Bai Shu exclaimed, "That''s awesome! Directly storing it is indeed efficient. Well then, Little Squad Leader, keep at it! We''ll stand guard!"


    Xu Duoduo nodded again like a pecking chick, earnestly collecting gasoline.


    She only needed to lightly touch the gasoline with her fingertips, just like when she collected water in her kitchen before.


    Because they were at a gas station, they couldn''t use fire nearby. So when zombies approached, Wang Weihu and Bai Shu dealt with them physically, kicking them away.


    Later, Bai Shu found time to look for more barrels to fill. Xu Duoduo just needed to go around collecting, though running back and forth was a bit troublesome.


    After collecting from the bottom fuel tanks of the gas station, the two humans and one zombie all had satisfied smiles.


    Xu Duoduo obediently washed her hands clean, while Bai Shu and Wang Weihu guarded her.


    "Little Squad Leader, are you tired? There''s still a lot of stuff in the convenience store at this gas station. Shall we collect it all together?"


    Xu Duoduo nodded almost immediately. She walked towards it herself. She liked hoarding things more than anyone! Hoard, hoard, hoard! Collect everything that could be collected!


    Thinking about the supplies that must be in the service area, she felt very happy.


    Bai Shu and Wang Weihu also felt great about having a super large mobile warehouse! The two humans and one zombie started to cooperate. Wang Weihu swept everything from the shelves onto the ground, piling it up for Xu Duoduo to collect in one go.


    Bai Shu stayed by Xu Duoduo''s side to protect her. Xu Duoduo directly stored the shelves she could collect into her space. It took less than a minute to empty the small convenience store at the gas station. Most of the goods were cup noodles and drinks.


    Various flavors of instant noodles were tempting! As well as some biscuits and snacks.


    Wang Weihu sighed, "It''s hard to say if instant noodles will still be produced in the future. Hoarding these, we can still enjoy some noodles when we''re hungry later. That''s pretty nice."


    Bai Shu strongly agreed.


    When they first joined the military, having a big bowl of instant noodles after training was the best feeling.


    After Xu Duoduo finished collecting these items, seeing several more small grids of her multi-faceted magic cube space filled up, she felt more secure. Especially important resources like gasoline, which were very valuable in the early stages of the apocalypse!

 Chapter 24: Free Shopping at the Service Area

    The three of them were so absorbed in collecting gasoline and items that they didn''t realize an entire afternoon had passed, or perhaps it was just that dark to begin with, making it hard to tell the time.


    Bai Shu looked at his wristband and was shocked, "We''ve been at this until 6 PM??"


    Time had flown by so quickly.


    Wang Weihu also stretched his shoulders and neck. Throughout the afternoon, zombies would occasionally approach, and he had to take time to eliminate them, leaving his whole body aching now.


    Just then, an explosion sound suddenly rang out not far away, accompanied by a flash-bang like effect, with electricity crackling through the air.


    Xu Duoduo looked up in that direction, instinctively feeling a bit scared.


    Bai Shu pushed up his glasses and said with a smile, "I guess Qin Luo got annoyed and started using his ability. This guy hasn''t adapted to his power yet, he usually doesn''t like using it."


    Wang Weihu also muttered, "I don''t like using mine either. It''s hard to control the strength."


    Among the four of them, Qin Luo had the rare lightning storm ability, Bai Shu had enhanced eyes, Wang Weihu had strength, and Chen Xiaofei had speed.


    Because the apocalypse had only started about a month ago and everything was in chaos, headquarters hadn''t yet developed a good manual for using abilities.


    Everyone could only figure things out on their own.


    They tried to cooperate with the research institute, hoping to understand these abilities better through this work, but it was a long and difficult road ahead!


    After an afternoon of clearing, they had finally eliminated all the zombies in this area. The smarter ones had probably run away. At least no zombies could be seen in the parking lot now, though the ground didn''t look too good.


    It was all pixelated.


    Xu Duoduo followed Bai Shu and Wang Weihu to find Qin Luo and Chen Xiaofei.


    The dark, stormy night sky gave people an uneasy feeling.


    Wang Weihu and Bai Shu had already contacted Qin Luo and Chen Xiaofei through their wristbands, "Qin Luo, Xiaofei? Where are you? Respond if you hear me, respond if you hear me."


    Through the earpiece, Xu Duoduo faintly heard them say they were in the cafeteria inside.


    Wang Weihu said, "Roger that, we''ll be there in about twenty minutes. We''re collecting some things first."


    Xu Duoduo was already itching to reach out and collect items from the specialty stores on the first floor.


    Qin Luo''s voice came through the earpiece, "Alright, there are about a dozen survivors here."


    He meant to let them know there were outsiders, so they needed to be careful about certain things.


    Bai Shu also responded, "Understood."


    Xu Duoduo still opened the door and went inside to start collecting. The specialty store here was full of dry goods, expensive mushrooms, ginseng, and snacks like rose cakes.


    Everything she could touch vanished into thin air, which looked very satisfying.Stolen novel; please report.


    Xu Duoduo was also enjoying the collection. Dried goods like sheep''s stomach mushrooms and red mushrooms that used to be sold by the gram were now free for the taking. It was too wonderful.


    These were very nutritious dried goods that could be used to make soup next time there was a chance.


    Wang Weihu had his eye on a whole row of cigarettes and alcohol. He called out, "Little Squad Leader!"


    Xu Duoduo turned her head to look, immediately ran over, and directly collected the entire cabinet. Even the big tough guy Wang Weihu couldn''t help but clench his fist in excitement, "Little Squad Leader, if you have any requests in the future, just say it! As long as there''s cigarettes and alcohol, I''m up for anything! You can order me around as you like!"


    Bai Shu was looking at medicines in the shop across the way. Hearing this, he teased, "Weren''t you acting all righteous before? The kind who would never bend the rules? Now you''ll do anything? I told you to be nice to the Little Squad Leader earlier."


    Hadn''t they seen how Chen Xiaofei had been buttering up Xu Duoduo from the start? To the point where as soon as he said he was hungry, Xu Duoduo would immediately take out food for him.


    Wang Weihu scratched his head a bit embarrassedly, only able to laugh sheepishly.


    Xu Duoduo''s zombie brain was now full of [HOARD] [HOARD] [HOARD], and she didn''t pay any attention to what they were saying.


    She collected whatever she wanted, occasionally stepping over the pixelated areas on the ground, pretending not to see them. In the end, she cleared out the entire specialty store.


    What a valuable shop this was!


    When Bai Shu called her from across the way, she dived into the pharmacy opposite.


    It was all nutritional supplements and common medicines, like motion sickness pills, cold medicine, and such.


    Xu Duoduo collected it all in one go, emptying the small pharmacy. Then, with her two "bodyguards", she went on to raid the food shops. Food from before the apocalypse was still displayed at the front of the small shops, but food exposed to air had already been contaminated.


    That couldn''t be taken.


    Xu Duoduo went straight to the back kitchen, collecting the stock from refrigerators and storerooms.


    Bai Shu saw some pre-prepared dishes and kept shaking his head, "Tsk tsk tsk, even crossing-the-bridge rice noodles are pre-prepared dishes now. This food safety, tsk tsk tsk."


    Wang Weihu was more open-minded about it, "Once the apocalypse hits, who cares about pre-prepared dishes or not? It''s good enough to have something to eat. Just take it all."


    Bai Shu watched Xu Duoduo, this zombie lady, moving through these small shops, and started to wonder just how big her space was.


    It seemed like a bottomless pit.


    He lowered his voice and said to Wang Weihu, "She had already collected three large warehouses of canned goods before, then collected so much gasoline later, and now she''s still collecting non-stop without even blinking. The Little Squad Leader is really something!"


    Wang Weihu also looked on in awe, then told Bai Shu not to mention this again, "The more powerful she is, the more we need to keep it secret. Be careful, walls have ears."


    In the apocalypse, all sorts of strange abilities had appeared, which they often forgot.


    Bai Shu immediately shut up, nodding to show he understood. After that, he just accompanied Xu Duoduo as she finished raiding these shops. She even collected the stock from small snack and fried food stalls, along with several large barrels of cooking oil.


    These were good things too!


    When the three of them arrived at the cafeteria Qin Luo had mentioned, they saw over a dozen survivors standing and sitting inside the glass doors. One girl was clinging tightly to Chen Xiaofei, crying out, "I''m so scared, I''m so scared, wuwu!"


    Chen Xiaofei''s face was full of pain and helplessness, "Comrade, I know you''re scared, but it''s safe now. Please stop clinging to me!"


    Several girls were trembling, wrapped in thick clothes. One was crying her eyes out, trying to grab Qin Luo.


    Qin Luo stepped back to avoid her, not even looking up as he said, "If you can''t stand, just go sit down. Stop crying and wailing, be stronger."


    After saying this, he asked questions to a male and female survivor who could still answer, "So you''re saying that as soon as the apocalypse started, you two felt something was wrong, so you locked the doors and survived until now on the food from the cafeteria?"


    This couple looked to be in their forties or fifties, and seemed to be in the best condition among the survivors. The two of them chattered away in accented Mandarin.


    "Yes! I still remember that night, it wasn''t even dinner time yet, around 6 o''clock, when more than a dozen customers came in. Suddenly there was fighting outside! I was so scared I quickly told my husband to close the door. As soon as he closed the main door, people started biting each other outside!"


    "That''s right, that''s right. We closed the door and pulled down the shutters on the side. We also blocked this glass door with tables and chairs. If it weren''t for you young men coming, we wouldn''t have dared to open the door!"

 Chapter 25: Want to Know More?

    A young man wearing designer clothes and a green Rolex watch, surrounded by several people, seemed to have regained his composure. He smarmily offered a cigarette, "Bros, you''ll definitely protect us and get us home safely, right? Seeing you in combat uniforms, you must be sent by the government to protect us? When will you take us back?"


    He introduced himself as Yang Cong, saying his father owned a big company and was very rich. If they prioritized getting him home, he would definitely reward them generously.


    He even disgustingly lowered his voice and said, "Hey, let me tell you, those girls are all here to play with me. If you safely get me home, you can have fun with them however you want!"


    He finished with a lewd smile, his tone extremely lascivious.


    Qin Luo glanced at him and asked with a cold smile, "Where do you live?"


    Yang Cong thought this military brother was interested, and immediately said with a fawning smile, "I live in K City! You know San Yang Trading? That''s my old man''s company, very famous! Everyone in K City knows it!"


    Qin Luo smiled and said, "Oh? I know it, but buddy, K City has already fallen. The last batch of survivors was evacuated just yesterday. It''s an empty city now. Also, buddy, do you know about the crime of prostitution?"


    "Luring, harboring, introducing, or using other benefits to induce others into prostitution, etc. You could be charged with organizing prostitution, which carries a sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison, understand?"


    This educational moment was incredibly cool.


    Yang Cong''s face turned from green to white, as if constipated.


    Bai Shu and Wang Weihu both laughed. Chen Xiaofei had finally managed to shake off that girl and quickly ran back to get away, thoroughly frightened by her.


    After his explanation, Qin Luo put on a fierce expression. Holding a tablet, he pointed at the group of unruly young people, six or seven men and women, and ordered them to sit properly.


    His own righteous demeanor made this group look even more like a mess in comparison.


    "Listen up, the world outside is no longer the world you remember. This isn''t a movie set, it''s not a joke. Everyone needs to be serious. This concerns your personal safety, understand?"


    Qin Luo told them, "We''re not the search and rescue team responsible for this area. We have our own mission. Now, I can give you two options."


    "One, stay here at the service area. We''ll contact headquarters to see if any team has taken on the mission for this area. Even if not, we can arrange for someone to come pick you up and take you to the nearest survivor base."


    The survivors were tempted upon hearing this, all expressing their willingness.


    Qin Luo ignored them and continued, "The downside is, because it''s the apocalypse now, even though the zombies here have been cleared out, there are still other mutant creatures that could threaten your safety."


    The survivors'' faces fell again.


    "Two, find someone among you who can drive and is brave enough to come with us. If we encounter other combat teams completing missions and returning, you can go with them to the nearest survivor base."If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "The advantage is that we''ll protect you, but the situation on the road is unknown."


    "However, I can guarantee we''ll do our best to protect your personal safety. Our team can even spare two people to ride in the same car with you."


    Qin Luo demanded that if they wanted to follow them, they had to behave themselves on the road. Otherwise, they wouldn''t need to wait for zombies or monsters to kill them - he would do it himself!


    His fierce demeanor was so scary that it made the survivors hesitate.


    There was no choice.


    The first principle of headquarters and all bases was - Never compromise with the apocalypse, never abandon any human.


    They didn''t come here specifically for search and rescue. They originally just wanted to find a place to rest, but since they encountered these people, they couldn''t ignore them. They had to help.


    Unless they brought it on themselves.


    Qin Luo had no intention of helping those who didn''t deserve it. Bad people didn''t need to exist in this world.


    Xu Duoduo looked at these people as they struggled with the decision. The atmosphere was a bit tense until Wang Weihu stepped in, distributing apocalypse survival manuals to them - paper versions, since ordinary electronic devices were completely unusable now.


    Qin Luo also handed over the task to Wang Weihu, as he hated dealing with these troublesome negotiations.


    With the survival manual, at least they could have a clearer understanding of the apocalypse. After all, they had been locked in here since it started. The service area was brightly lit, and with several doors closed and no internet, these people really had no idea what was happening outside.


    They were quite lucky, thanks largely to the quick reaction of the middle-aged couple.


    Qin Luo was quite polite to the couple and asked for more details. The couple was originally from L City, and had come here to run the cafeteria to make money. They never expected to encounter the apocalypse. It was truly lamentable.


    The man was called Zhao Gang, and his wife was Liu Chunhui. They were both honest, hardworking, and kind-hearted people. They expressed that they would prefer to go with Qin Luo''s team.


    "I can drive! My wife can too. We used to drive trucks for freight transport! If the car breaks down, I can fix it too. As long as you''re willing to take our family of three, that''s fine. That''s our daughter, called Xiao Ya. She just turned eight this year. We don''t have any other relatives."


    Zhao Gang said it would be good enough if their family of three could stay together. Staying here was too dangerous, and they didn''t know when a team would come to pick them up.


    Liu Chunhui also nodded, "I can cook too, and do any kind of work! I''m not afraid to fight those crazy people! A few days ago when we ran out of medicine, the weather was good, and I saw through the door crack that those biting maniacs were slower during the day. I went out once to get medicine."


    She said she was brave and dared to fight them, and finally mentioned that she had even slaughtered pigs before.


    This couple was too honest.


    Qin Luo and his team all smiled. Xu Duoduo was also secretly watching from the side.


    Liu Chunhui noticed Xu Duoduo too. Worried that they might not want to take just their family of three, she quickly added, "Is that young lady not feeling well? I see her complexion isn''t good. It would be nice for our daughter to keep her company! Don''t look down on our girl because of her age, she''s very good at taking care of people!"


    After hearing this, how could they have the heart not to take this family of three?


    Bai Shu smiled and said, "Don''t worry, as long as you''re willing to come, we''ll take you along for the journey."


    Hearing this, Qin Luo also smiled and glanced at Xu Duoduo. Xu Duoduo felt a bit embarrassed. She didn''t need anyone to take care of her, so she shook her head in protest at Qin Luo, indicating that she could manage on her own and was very capable.


    "She doesn''t need anyone to take care of her. Your family of three just needs to look after yourselves."


    Qin Luo said this to them, then asked Zhao Gang a couple more questions. With this experienced driver, the safety of their family of three would greatly improve. Moreover, the couple''s spirit was admirable.


    Full of energy and hope - that''s what''s needed to survive. In the apocalypse, the most dangerous thing is people with fragile minds.

 Chapter 26: Collecting Cars

    That night, everyone temporarily stayed at the service area to rest. Another heavy rainstorm came, but by daybreak, the rain had stopped.


    The night was relatively peaceful.


    This was the advantage of the service area - in the middle of nowhere, on a newly opened route that few people knew about, there weren''t many zombies scratching at the doors in the middle of the night.


    Xu Duoduo emerged from her blanket with messy hair. Qin Luo was next to her, and Chen Xiaofei was a bit further away.


    Bai Shu and Wang Weihu had taken the second half of the night watch. They were now over there helping the survivors pack up. After seeing the apocalypse survival manual last night, no one wanted to stay behind, especially since mutant creatures were even scarier than zombies.


    Xu Duoduo blinked her eyes. The soft blanket felt so comfortable that she kept touching it. Suddenly, her hand slipped and touched Qin Luo''s thigh next to her, waking him up.


    They stared at each other wide-eyed.


    Was it too late to say she didn''t do it on purpose?


    Xu Duoduo immediately tried to pull her hand back, but Qin Luo caught it and gave her palm a squeeze before letting go.


    "Well, well, taking advantage of me first thing in the morning?" His voice was husky from just waking up, tickling her ears and making the little zombie feel strangely embarrassed.


    Then the little zombie tried to hide, covering Qin Luo''s head with her blanket, attempting to "destroy the evidence". If she couldn''t see him, it wouldn''t be awkward.


    Xu Duoduo got up, performing a disappearing act on the spot. She actually intended to go outside to see what Bai Shu and Wang Weihu were doing.


    Behind her came Qin Luo''s muffled laughter, making the little zombie turn back annoyed to look. He didn''t even bother pulling the blanket down, just rolled over to continue sleeping.


    Hmph!


    Bad guy!


    Xu Duoduo knew they loved to tease her, finding amusement in this zombie.


    Treating her like a child.


    Although her brain was sometimes slow when thinking, she wasn''t a little fool, just slow to react. She turned and headed towards the parking lot outside.


    Bai Shu and Wang Weihu were helping Zhao Gang repair a car. They had chosen the newest bus and had the survivors clean the inside with rags and buckets of water. The three of them were modifying the bus a bit.


    Liu Chunhui was in the kitchen with her daughter, cooking the remaining food to take with them. All the flour had been kneaded into steamed buns - she had been up all night doing this.


    Xu Duoduo watched them modify the vehicle for a while from outside. The service area had a repair shop with all the tools, and they were busy working early in the morning.


    The little zombie stood on the wet ground, thinking for a moment. She looked around the parking lot and began collecting clean vehicles, not picky about what kind. As long as there were no zombie corpses inside, she collected them all, feeling they might be useful.


    Because she was selective in her collection, the others working at the repair shop didn''t notice the gradual disappearance of some vehicles.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Only Bai Shu, seeing the little zombie wandering around by herself, nearly screamed in fright. He looked around and realized Qin Luo really wasn''t watching her, not worried that some mutant creature might swallow this little thing in one bite.


    "Little Squad Leader, don''t wander off! Even though the zombies have been cleared out and we''re in the middle of nowhere, you still need to be careful of mutant animals!"


    Bai Shu walked over and realized Xu Duoduo was collecting cars. He was shocked again, "Wait, just how big is your space?"


    Xu Duoduo had already moved from collecting small cars to the truck area. In the blink of an eye, she collected another large truck. Hearing the noise, she turned to look.


    Seeing it was Bai Shu, she lowered her head to type on her tablet and held it up: [I''m fine, can do myself, you busy, later, I go back.]


    Xu Duoduo was so focused on hoarding things that she couldn''t spare attention for speaking, only able to type as briefly as possible, somehow giving off a cool vibe.


    Bai Shu didn''t know whether to laugh or cry, "No way, if something happens to you later, our team''s food storage will be in danger. You keep collecting, I''ll go find Qin Luo."


    Xu Duoduo wanted to say no, but Bai Shu had already pressed the contact button to call Qin Luo, "Are you going to manage your first love or not? If she gets carried off by a mutant creature later, I''m not taking responsibility. I''m still working on the car over there."


    Sigh.


    The little zombie sighed.


    Xu Duoduo couldn''t be bothered anymore. She turned back and collected all the large vehicles in the parking lot that caught her eye, feeling they could be valuable as scrap metal to sell at the base later.


    The apocalypse survival manual did say that all resources are important in the apocalypse.


    It''s just that in the early stages, the priority is still on rescuing people and securing food and medicine. Other resources can''t be focused on yet and are only collected as they go along.


    Some things are too big to take away, so they just dismantle and take the important parts.


    Just as Xu Duoduo finished collecting here, Qin Luo came over. This tall guy with his long legs only needed a few steps to reach her. He immediately picked her up, "Finished collecting? Save some space for other things."


    Qin Luo scooped her up and tucked her under his arm as easily as picking up a small toy, "If there''s a chance, other teams will come to collect the vehicles here. Our targets are food, weapons, and medicine, okay baby?"


    He said they were going back, "Don''t stray too far from your teammates. You''re getting bolder, wandering off by yourself. I thought you were with Bai Shu and Wang Weihu."


    Xu Duoduo looked back at the parking lot. If she hadn''t already collected everything she wanted, she might have struggled a bit. But her current combat ability was no match for Qin Luo, so she simply gave up, letting him carry her back inside.


    Qin Luo carried her inside and put her down. Chen Xiaofei had also woken up, squinting his eyes with messy bed hair sticking up everywhere. Seeing Xu Duoduo, he called out fawningly, "Little Squad Leader, where did you go so early? I''m hungry!"


    Liu Chunhui happened to be bringing out several large bowls of handmade noodles. Hearing this, she asked, "Who''s hungry? I have noodles here, hand-pulled this morning. They''re delicious and chewy!"


    The other survivors looked used to this, apparently accustomed to waiting for food.


    Hearing there were hand-pulled noodles, Chen Xiaofei stopped asking Xu Duoduo for food and turned to ask Liu Chunhui for noodles instead, "Auntie, I want a bowl!"


    The water here hadn''t been contaminated yet, they were using well water.


    Just that the water usage was limited.


    Qin Luo instructed Liu Chunhui, "Before we leave later, try to bring as much water as possible."


    They couldn''t guarantee clean water sources on the road ahead, and water was essential.


    Liu Chunhui nodded, saying gratefully, "Thank you for reminding me. I still have a lot of noodles, I cooked a big pot. If it''s not enough, there''s more."


    Over there, Yang Cong was complaining, "Aunt Liu, today''s noodles are too soft and mushy."


    Before Qin Luo could speak, Chen Xiaofei scolded first, "You''re complaining when you have food to eat? Later I''ll let you chew on some grass roots, see if you still whine then!"


    "Have they been like this the whole time? You two shouldn''t be too soft-hearted, spoiling them like this," Qin Luo frowned, glancing at the group of people.


    Most were young people, especially Yang Cong and his group - two male followers and three girls, six in total, not doing any work at all.


    Qin Luo thought Liu Chunhui and her husband were just being kind, but Liu Chunhui smiled awkwardly, "They gave us quite a bit of money, so my husband and I thought we''d try to earn a bit more..."

 Chapter 27: The Joy of Unboxing Deliveries

    Very good.


    Qin Luo liked such honest people! However, he still had to say what needed to be said, "The currency has changed now, and it''s uncertain if you can exchange it in the future. Don''t spoil them anymore; you can''t rely solely on yourselves for the journey ahead."


    Liu Chunhui nodded, thanking him repeatedly, and said finding the main group was reassuring.


    She then asked a few questions about the survivor base, learning that everything was in order there, just with a new lifestyle and currency system.


    Liu Chunhui expressed great trust in the headquarters, saying it was fine to start anew.


    Qin Luo''s gentleness towards the couple was not without reason; both of them understood the situation clearly, and their young daughter was quiet and well-behaved.


    Unlike Yang Cong and his group, who were truly ignorant of the times.


    Fortunately, Chen Xiaofei was managing them, making them get back to work after eating.


    They were angry but dared not speak out.


    Xu Duoduo, meanwhile, was immersed in her own space. Her mental sea of multi-faceted cube space had filled up some more, with several compartments holding various vehicles.


    There were luxury cars and commercial vehicles of various big brands, even a motorhome, and four large trucks. Surprisingly, the trucks still had cargo?


    Xu Duoduo hadn''t looked closely before, but later discovered that one truck was full of flour, another with hardware components, and another with fruit, though unfortunately, after so long in the apocalypse, most of the fruit had rotted.


    The last truck was full of... parcels??


    It was a huge truck, a 9.6-meter box truck, said to be able to hold nine to ten thousand parcels. How exciting!


    Although she was a zombie, the little zombie still remembered the joy of unboxing deliveries.


    Xu Duoduo took one out and started opening it. The first one turned out to be a rabbit ear headband, which looked very cute. She immediately put it on.


    When Qin Luo had a chance to look at her, he was surprised to see her opening parcels.


    "Where did you get these from?"


    Qin Luo couldn''t help but laugh, seeing her with a pink and white rabbit ear headband on her head. It was quite cute, and he couldn''t resist reaching out to squeeze one of the rabbit ears.


    It felt nice.


    Xu Duoduo glanced at him secretly, feeling a bit guilty as if caught doing something naughty. But then she remembered that with the major cities fallen, these deliveries couldn''t be completed anyway.


    The little zombie became more relaxed.


    She even stuffed two small parcels into Qin Luo''s arms, planning to make him her "partner in crime."


    Qin Luo thought for a moment and guessed where they came from. He had a good memory and remembered glimpsing the delivery truck yesterday while clearing out zombies, but he hadn''t thought much of it.


    He mainly didn''t know how big Xu Duoduo''s space could be. Who would have thought she''d be like a hamster, loving to hoard things, wanting to stuff everything she saw into her space?


    But it had to be said, thanks to this hobby of hers, her space had accumulated quite a lot of resources.


    Seeing that they hadn''t set off yet, Qin Luo casually opened two parcels. One contained a mechanical keyboard, the other a string of Buddhist prayer beads.


    He found it uninteresting, but when he turned to see Xu Duoduo unbox a mobile phone and a gold bracelet, he was shocked! What kind of incredible luck was this?A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Xu Duoduo''s eyes lit up when she saw the gold bracelet, and she immediately wanted to put it on her wrist.


    Qin Luo quickly stopped her, "Hey, hey, hey, don''t wear it! It''s too eye-catching with so many people around. Don''t flaunt your wealth, you know? Someone might kidnap you, and then we''d be in trouble."


    As the saying goes, "Antiques in peace, gold in chaos." Gold was still very tempting these days.


    The little zombie was sometimes clever and sometimes naive, and Qin Luo was genuinely worried she might be taken away.


    She was so small, he could pick her up without any effort.


    Although Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei said she could kill several mutant monkeys with a chainsaw, looking at her small frame, it seemed incredible no matter how he thought about it.


    Qin Luo was worrying unnecessarily.


    Xu Duoduo really just wanted to try it on, she had no intention of running around wearing a gold bracelet. So she just reluctantly put it back into her space.


    However, she did keep a special compartment for jewelry, which made her happy.


    Shiny things.


    Pretty!


    The little zombie liked them.


    Chen Xiaofei quickly gobbled down two bowls of noodles, then turned to see Xu Duoduo and Qin Luo, a human and a zombie, fiddling with something behind people''s backs.


    He thought they might be having a secret snack. "What are you two eating in secret?"


    Chen Xiaofei tiptoed over and spoke, only to find the two opening parcels. "Holy crap! Wait, where did these parcels come from at a time like this?"


    Seeing this, Xu Duoduo finished opening the last one and stopped, stuffing everything back into her space.


    Qin Luo was already questioning his life choices. He complained, "Five parcels, five! Xu Duoduo got two mobile phones and a jade ornament. And me? I got a Russian nesting doll and a ceramic stew pot!"


    Talk about bad luck.


    Without comparison, there is no sense of loss.


    Qin Luo was done.


    Chen Xiaofei laughed heartily, "The little team leader sure has good luck!"


    Xu Duoduo had just finished typing and raised her tablet. It read [Collected from the delivery truck outside.]


    Chen Xiaofei understood this was her reply to his question. The delay was too slow, making him laugh, "Ah, alright, I got it, little team leader."


    Xu Duoduo looked around to make sure no one was watching, then stuffed two small parcels to Chen Xiaofei to open.


    No one could resist the joy of unboxing deliveries.


    Chen Xiaofei accepted them, and ended up unboxing a belt and a men''s wallet, both high-end brands.


    He exclaimed, "Wow, if it weren''t for the apocalypse, these would be worth tens of thousands!"


    Later, he looked down and realized, oh, these were from a certain express company. Packages sent through this company were usually more expensive items, no wonder they were all good stuff.


    After seeing this, Qin Luo expressed that he didn''t want to play anymore, "Xu Duoduo, are you messing with me on purpose? You gave me all the bad ones."


    How childish.


    The little zombie just stared at him with her round almond eyes, as if to say, "What are you talking about? I just grabbed them randomly!"


    Qin Luo laughed again, her little fangs gleaming. He was just teasing her on purpose.


    The little zombie''s expression was wooden, but her eyes were very lively. When angry, she would glare; when upset, her eyes would look pitiful. It was fun to tease her.


    Happy times are always short.


    The three of them only played for a few minutes. Once the survivors finished their breakfast and the bus was ready, they started loading things onto the vehicles, preparing to set off.


    But just before leaving, another problem arose.


    Yang Cong and his group actually proposed to ride in Qin Luo''s SUV.


    "Such a big car, we can squeeze in, right? That bus looks unsafe no matter how you look at it."


    Qin Luo responded coldly, "If you keep talking nonsense, you can get lost."


    To outsiders, Captain Qin was cool and arrogant, only showing kindness to his own people.


    Yang Cong shut up.


    A few of his companions were slightly more sensible, at least knowing to apologize.


    They finally pulled Yang Cong back.


    Xu Duoduo nimbly climbed into the SUV. This time, Chen Xiaofei and Wang Weihu had to go to the survivors'' vehicle; someone needed to keep an eye on things there.


    Yang Cong''s gaze fell on Xu Duoduo, and he spat out, "What''s with the act? Fake high and mighty, but still bringing a girl out on a mission? Probably his mistress. Why else would he bring such a girl out? What can she do?"


    She looked so weak and delicate.


    Wu Zijie advised, "Brother Yang, don''t be angry. We can''t afford to offend these people right now."

 Chapter 28: Crisis

    Yang Cong spat out another curse, "He''s just showing off because he has abilities. Pah! If I had abilities, would it be his turn to act so high and mighty?"


    Wu Zijie felt awkward hearing this, but having been Yang Cong''s follower for so long, he didn''t dare to contradict him. "Didn''t Brother Wang give us the apocalypse survival manual? I don''t think these abilities are that easy to activate."


    After all, it was something unfamiliar. Who knew if there would be side effects after gaining abilities?


    The other girls were already scared stiff these past few days. Hearing the two still chatting about this, they urged, "Can we get on the bus now?" "Yeah, Uncle Zhao is about to start driving."


    Yang Cong cursed again when he heard this, "Are you looking to die? You bitches dare to order me around?"


    Though he was cursing, he still had to get on the bus. The girls'' eyes were red from being scolded.


    Chen Xiaofei was taking roll call on the bus. Yang Cong''s group had six people: himself, Wu Zijie, another guy named He, and three girls.


    There were also Zhao Gang and Liu Chunhui with their daughter, a pair of migrant workers who were good friends from the same village, both in their forties.


    Additionally, there was a young couple and a group of three female friends. In total, there were sixteen survivors.


    After confirming everyone was present, Chen Xiaofei signaled Zhao Gang to close the door and start driving. "Please focus entirely on driving, no matter what you see, don''t panic. Can you do that?"


    Zhao Gang nervously swallowed, looked at his wife and daughter beside him, then nodded firmly, "Don''t worry, young man. I''ll drive carefully."


    Chen Xiaofei also found a seat in the front row, "Good, then please start driving. Just follow our captain!"


    The vehicle immediately set off.


    On the other side.


    Xu Duoduo, with nothing else to do, was still secretly opening parcels in the middle row.


    The rustling sounds never stopped.


    Qin Luo was in the driver''s seat, while Bai Shu was checking road conditions and browsing the forum for the latest news. Hearing the mouse-like sounds from the back row, they found it quite amusing. Having a little zombie around certainly added some fun.


    Xu Duoduo wasn''t too excited when she unpacked electronic products. Ordinary electronics weren''t worth much in the apocalypse. Smartphones that cost nearly ten thousand before the apocalypse had now become scrap metal, only waiting to see if they could fetch a price in the future.


    However, she was very excited when she unpacked food, especially a large box of snacks.


    After a while, she got bored with unpacking.


    Xu Duoduo started looking out the window again. Although it wasn''t raining, the weather in this area was very bad, with thick dark clouds overhead that wouldn''t disperse.


    The road ahead even encountered dense fog.


    "It''s not good to change the route. If we get off the highway and take another road, it''s all blocked with cars. We''d better stick to the highway and take it one step at a time," Bai Shu analyzed, looking at the tablet with a real-time map on the forum.


    Blocked roads were reported with the latest conditions by other battle teams, so all the teams from the base could know the road conditions in this area.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Qin Luo drove fast and aggressively, but had to be careful when encountering dense fog.


    Xu Duoduo had just thought that although the road conditions weren''t good today, at least the journey had been smooth so far. She glanced at the tablet, seeing they were less than 200 kilometers from C City.


    But just as she felt relieved, suddenly a group of wild boars rushed out of the dense fog ahead. Qin Luo still crashed into them, sending them flying.


    The bus behind was also startled, but fortunately, Zhao Gang''s psychological quality was good. The car only swerved for a few seconds before he regained control and continued driving.


    Qin Luo looked back and praised, "Zhao Gang and his wife are doing well."


    They were suitable for combat missions.


    Mainly because of their strong psychological quality. It was a pity they hadn''t awakened abilities, otherwise they would definitely be valuable.


    Now with the world turned upside down, it was really difficult for ordinary people to survive. However, ability users were too few, there was a severe shortage of people. Having one more comrade was a good thing.


    Bai Shu pushed up his glasses and said, "Their quality is indeed not bad. If the base develops evolution serums later, they might really have a chance to become members of the combat team."


    Qin Luo smiled and said, "Let''s hope so."


    Xu Duoduo looked at the road conditions on this side. Except for occasional mutant animals rushing out from the mountains, the highway was very quiet at other times.


    This kind of quiet wasn''t the reassuring kind, but rather gave an ominous feeling.


    Or perhaps it was her nature being triggered?


    As a zombie, Xu Duoduo didn''t feel hostility towards humans, but when encountering mutant beasts, she would be scared, but at the same time, her whole body would tense up and enter a combat state.


    Because in her mind, she still identified as human, even though she was now a zombie.


    Almost instantly, her brain sent out a strong danger warning. She suddenly turned her head and saw a huge figure coming towards them from the 8 o''clock direction below left! It was that snake-man!!


    Xu Duoduo immediately grabbed the whistle on her chest and blew it, successfully alerting the two in front. Qin Luo instinctively observed the road conditions.


    Bai Shu also turned back and asked, "What''s wrong? Is there a situation?"


    Xu Duoduo nodded vigorously.


    Qin Luo also successfully saw the scene in the rearview mirror. At some distance behind them, that snake-man appeared again, and this time it was coming straight for them. "Damn, this thing is coming for us!"


    Bai Shu saw it too. That thick snake body, who knows where it had gone to swallow more things. In just one night without seeing it, this thing had grown another circle larger.


    Qin Luo kept his eyes on the road ahead and said, "Notify Old Wang to take over driving. We''ll speed up and see if we can shake it off. If not, we''ll have to fight hard."


    Such a troublesome mutated creature wasn''t easy to deal with.


    It would take at least several teams.


    Unfortunately, there were no other combat teams around on their route.


    Although Bai Shu''s face didn''t look good, he quickly notified Wang Weihu''s side. After dialing, Wang Weihu immediately agreed.


    Meanwhile, the survivors screamed again, unable to control themselves.


    Even Yang Cong''s voice was the loudest, crying out in despair, "I told you not to follow them, but you insisted! Now look! We''ve been targeted by a monster! We''re all going to be eaten by the monster! We''re going to die!"


    The rest of his words were muffled by Chen Xiaofei, and only "mmph" sounds could be heard as his mouth was covered. "Don''t worry, Brother Qin, you just drive. We''ll catch up right away!"


    As expected, teammates were reliable.


    Qin Luo smiled, "Alright, hurry up then."


    Chen Xiaofei agreed quickly: "Got it!"


    Wang Weihu asked Zhao Gang to stop the car, and he quickly switched places with him. In less than ten seconds, the bus started again, suddenly rushing forward.


    The two vehicles began to move at high speed.


    Qin Luo, leading the way in front, was under more pressure with the bad road conditions while maintaining acceleration.


    Even Xu Duoduo felt it was difficult.


    Although he drove aggressively, he remained steady, even when they reached the winding mountain road section and started making sharp turns.


    Xu Duoduo was thrown around, only able to cling tightly to her seat. Eventually, she moved to the back row, hugging the back seat, watching to see where the snake-man monster had gotten to.


    She hadn''t realized how close it was until she looked. It was getting closer and closer.


    It was so tense that her scalp tingled with fear.

 Chapter 29: The Battle Begins

    Chen Xiaofei opened the window and leaned out, firing a burst of shots at the rear. The sound of gunfire scared the survivors in the vehicle, making them crouch together and scream while covering their heads.


    Yang Cong had been tied up tightly to prevent him from causing trouble.


    Zhao Gang was anxiously waiting, while Liu Chunhui held their little daughter tightly. The family of three was anxious but quiet, neither screaming nor causing chaos.


    Wang Weihu drove aggressively, closely following Qin Luo''s SUV.


    Until Qin Luo signaled with his lights, he immediately understood it meant to stop and fight.


    "No choice, we can''t escape. Zhao Gang, you drive and take the others forward. You should be able to meet other rescue teams when you reach C City," Wang Weihu shouted to Zhao Gang. The bus had a full tank, and they had several canisters of gasoline scavenged from other vehicles stored in the back.


    It was more than enough for them to reach C City. "You''ll have to go on your own from here. Listen carefully, no matter what mutant animals or zombies you encounter, don''t be afraid. Stay calm, and if you can crash through, just do it."


    Although Zhao Gang''s hands were shaking with nervousness, he nodded repeatedly, "I understand. But what about you? Can you handle that big thing?"


    Liu Chunhui, pale-faced, also said, "There are only a few of you, how can you fight that monster? Why don''t we all leave together? Just drive faster."


    But Wang Weihu said there was no time left. "If we continue like this, none of you will escape. We''ll buy some time, and if things get really bad, we can still escape. If we take you along, we can''t fight freely, it''s easy to get distracted."


    After saying this, he stopped the car.


    Zhao Gang didn''t dare to delay any longer and immediately switched to the driver''s seat. Because Wang Weihu had been driving, they had successfully put some distance between them and the snake-man, buying them a little time. He gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, we won''t hold you back. Please be careful. If we meet anyone, we''ll ask them to come and support you!"


    Wang Weihu smiled and patted his shoulder, telling him to try to drive as fast as possible.


    Their little daughter, curled up in Liu Chunhui''s arms, opened her big eyes and said, "Uncles, you are heroes. Please be safe."


    Wang Weihu reached out and patted the little girl''s head, "Be good and listen to your mom and dad."


    The little girl nodded.


    Chen Xiaofei immediately pulled back from the window. He had just fired several shots, but could only manage to graze a few small wounds on the big fat snake. "Damn, this thing is so agile, can''t hit it at all!"


    Wang Weihu jumped off the bus, "Xiaofei, hurry up!"


    Chen Xiaofei agreed and jumped down, then added, "If you want to live, you''d better not untie that dog, to avoid causing trouble."


    The others were all trembling with fear. Hearing this, they all looked at Yang Cong.


    If Yang Cong wasn''t tightly bound and gagged, he would have been cursing loudly. He struggled with a terrified expression on his face, but couldn''t move at all.


    The others nodded repeatedly, understanding that this guy was the most likely to cause trouble.


    Wu Zijie even said ingratiatingly, "Do you need us to take your little female teammate with us?"


    Wang Weihu switched weapons, as did Chen Xiaofei. He suddenly remembered the scene of Xu Duoduo killing mutant monkeys with a chainsaw and involuntarily shuddered. He said, "Our teammate doesn''t need that."If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Not to mention anything else, there were too many uncertainties in the apocalypse, and it would be too dangerous for Xu Duoduo to go alone.


    In any case.


    It was just one mutant snake-man, not necessarily unbeatable. At worst, they''d trade some injuries for the snake''s life!


    Even if Xu Duoduo couldn''t help much, protecting her would be less troublesome than protecting these ordinary people.


    Wang Weihu waved for them to leave quickly, and Zhao Gang immediately stepped on the gas and left.


    The whole process took less than two minutes. The bus suddenly overtook the SUV on the side and drove straight ahead, honking as they passed by as a gesture of gratitude.


    Qin Luo honked back, and then he and Bai Shu quickly got out of the car.


    Xu Duoduo didn''t need to be told; she could figure out that she couldn''t stay in the car. No matter how sturdy the car was, it was no match for mutant creatures.


    Staying would be like becoming canned food.


    So she quickly jumped out of the car too.


    Zhao Gang looked back in the rearview mirror. These young people were buying time for them to survive. Even though he knew it was their duty, it was hard not to be moved. The grown man''s eyes reddened.


    Liu Chunhui was also praying in her heart, hoping these young people would be alright, and that their busload of people could escape safely.


    Wu Zijie saw the little girl jump out of the SUV behind them, and she actually didn''t run away.


    No crying, no fuss, no weak knees.


    If nothing else, just based on this, she was definitely not the weak and delicate beauty that Yang Cong had described.


    Looking at their own side.


    The survivors were already too scared to speak, all sitting weakly in their seats, clutching the railings tightly. There was even a smell of urine.


    It wasn''t clear who had wet themselves out of fear.


    For ordinary people to see such a strange giant snake and not go crazy was already considered psychologically strong.


    **


    On Xu Duoduo''s side, the battle began. She knew her combat ability was limited, so when Qin Luo, as the captain, told her and Bai Shu to stay put,


    She quickly followed Bai Shu and ran towards the slope beside the highway.


    Bai Shu was in the sniper position. He had to quickly find a good spot and get ready.


    Qin Luo took out a handful of small bombs from his storage card space, each about the size of a marble. Everyone''s earpieces were quickly turned on.


    "Old Wang, Xiaofei, hold this thing off. I''ll come to support you right away."


    ...


    Xu Duoduo followed Bai Shu through the woods towards the direction of the snake-man.


    Instructions for their coordination came through the earpieces.


    Despite Bai Shu''s scholarly appearance, his movements were truly agile. By the time Qin Luo and the others reported their coordinates, he had already set up his rifle in position.


    Xu Duoduo stayed by Bai Shu''s side, on alert. The apocalypse had changed everything dramatically; even the insects in the forest had mutated. Colorful spiders as big as fists were everywhere. She fought her nausea and stabbed them accurately with her dagger, one by one.


    Bai Shu, in battle mode, spoke very little, but he noticed that Xu Duoduo was actually helping him clear "obstacles"?


    She quietly "cleared" everything that might disturb him.


    The little team leader lived up to her title.


    They stopped at a rock, surrounded by many trees, very well-concealed.


    After Bai Shu got into position, he informed the other three that he was "in position." Then the battle officially began!


    The sounds of combat were intense.


    Xu Duoduo crouched beside him, driving away mutant insects. These insects in the forest, starving and cannibalizing each other, had finally found fresh meat. They all tried to crawl towards Bai Shu, only to be sprayed with insecticide by Xu Duoduo.


    Finding it effective, she simply poured two packs of insect repellent powder on Bai Shu.


    It worked well.


    Bai Shu trusted her completely and didn''t even mind what she was doing.


    He entered a flow state directly.


    One shot, one wound, but he couldn''t hit the snake-man''s vital point. He could only keep changing positions to avoid being discovered by the mutant snake-man.


    Through the earpieces, they could hear how intense the battle was. Later, Xu Duoduo couldn''t keep up with Bai Shu and stopped following. She looked towards the few people fighting not far away.


    Wang Weihu was already covered in blood, clearly injured. Chen Xiaofei''s movements were becoming labored. Qin Luo was still going strong for now.

 Chapter 30: A Bitter Victory

    Qin Luo truly lived up to his role as the team''s main attacker, his output matching that of several people combined.


    His reckless fighting style was terrifying to watch.


    Xu Duoduo observed as he battled the mutant snake-man. After a round of ineffective bombardment with guns and explosives, Qin Luo switched to his dual blades.


    The human face on this mutant snake was truly sanity-draining; even the little zombie felt nauseated looking at it.


    Wang Weihu acted as the team''s damage-absorbing shield. His ability enhanced his strength, and he was also incredibly tough. A set of his punches could make the mutant snake-man vomit a pile of pixelated mess.


    This puddle of filth contained no small amount of mutant animal and human remains.


    Chen Xiaofei''s ability was speed enhancement. He was responsible for attracting the enemy''s attention, constantly disrupting the mutant snake-man and occasionally inflicting wounds.


    The mutant snake-man would become disoriented, its massive snake head shaking wildly.


    Bai Shu''s shots were precise, each bullet creating a bloody wound, but the snake was too evasive, always dodging vital spots.


    He kept changing positions from afar, and the snake-man had no idea from which direction the next shot would come.


    Qin Luo''s ability seemed not yet fully adapted; he rarely used it, but eventually did.


    Xu Duoduo witnessed him summoning lightning. The gloomy weather was perfect for Qin Luo''s home field advantage, and electrified blood mist exploded from the mutant snake-man''s body.


    But this mutant snake-man was too large; she couldn''t even tell what level it was.


    Despite Qin Luo and the others'' continuous attacks, they couldn''t kill it. Instead, they enraged it into a berserk mode, sending Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei flying.


    As time passed, Qin Luo and his team gradually began to lose ground.


    Xu Duoduo grew anxious.


    She watched as Chen Xiaofei and Wang Weihu were knocked away, blood gushing from their mouths and noses.


    Qin Luo was also covered in wounds.


    The mutant snake-man''s attacks also carried sonic waves; its screams caused headaches.


    When she saw Qin Luo being coiled up by the mutant snake-man, Xu Duoduo couldn''t stay put. Her mind buzzed, and she instinctively ran towards them. For a moment, she thought she heard her own heartbeat.


    The multi-faceted cube in her mind was spinning frantically, making her dizzy.


    "Xu Duoduo!! Run!"


    "Little Team Leader!"


    When Xu Duoduo came to her senses, she was already standing in front of the giant snake.


    She was so small.


    Not even enough to fill the giant snake''s tooth gap.


    The opponent let out a sharp, cackling laugh: "Oh? A zombie wants to join the fun? Very well, come here! Let me chew on you, crunchy, chicken-flavored."


    Its massive snake body undulated, coiling tighter around Qin Luo. Qin Luo''s face didn''t look good as he cursed, "You dog, I''m your father! Say that again and see what happens! Who do you want to eat? You dog!"


    He roared and unleashed a massive lightning explosion, actually electrocuting the mutant snake-man from head to tail. Even the two human legs at the tip of its tail were shaking.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    The mutant snake-man was instantly covered in numerous small, bleeding wounds from the electricity. Enraged, it screamed, "It hurts! It hurts! I''ll kill you! I''ll kill you!!"


    Qin Luo was thrown away, crashing into the mountainside by the highway.


    "Brother Qin!!"


    "Captain Qin!!"


    "Little Team Leader!!"


    Xu Duoduo''s mind and ears were buzzing, the cube space in her consciousness kept spinning, making her dizzy and nauseous.


    At this moment.


    A foul-smelling wind suddenly swept past her, and the world seemed to slow down.


    The mutant snake-man opened its bloody maw, its huge fangs gleaming before her, its blood-red mouth cavity and black throat visible.


    Xu Duoduo instinctively raised her hands to shield herself, and then a few words suddenly appeared in her mind. She subconsciously followed along, silently mouthing them.


    Space instantly froze and compressed.


    Then she witnessed the mutant snake-man freeze in front of her for a second, its eyes bulging, its throat uttering "No, impossible" before it exploded, its entire massive snake body bursting apart.


    Blood and gore drenched Xu Duoduo from head to toe, chunks of flesh flying everywhere.


    The scattered pieces of meat on the ground were still twitching, blood-red snake flesh.


    The entire scene fell silent.


    Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei were stunned, then after a while, they started laughing softly, collapsing on the ground and exclaiming in shock.


    "Incredible, Little Team Leader is awesome!"


    "Hahaha *cough* *cough* *cough*, my god."


    The feeling of being alive was too good.


    Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei couldn''t help but laugh while marveling at their survival.


    Xu Duoduo was dazed for who knows how long, her head buzzing as she sat slumped in the bloody mess. Blood had splashed into her eyes, giving her the sensation that the whole world was red.


    When she regained some awareness, she found a pair of large hands wiping her face, clearing away the blood and gore, then lifting her to her feet.


    "Wake up? Scared stiff?"


    Qin Luo was in terrible pain from his injuries, but this beast was still the first to stand up, forcing himself to walk over and pick up Xu Duoduo.


    There was no choice.


    The poor thing was sitting dazed in the bloody mess, looking pitiful.


    Qin Luo saw the red mutation core that had fallen nearby and picked it up, placing it in the little zombie''s hand.


    Xu Duoduo instinctively grasped the mutation core with her small hand, still in a daze.


    Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei were still sprawled on the ground, grimacing in pain. It hurt terribly; even with their enhanced bodies as ability users, they still felt pain. Though they healed faster, it still took time. But it was thanks to being ability users that they survived at all.


    If it had been ordinary people facing this monster, they would have only ended up as food.


    Bai Shu was the least injured, only suffering ear damage from the snake''s sonic attacks.


    When he drove over and saw the brutal scene, he was speechless.


    Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei couldn''t even get up, and the little zombie was completely stunned.


    Captain Qin Luo was also severely injured.


    Bai Shu sighed.


    He wanted to help Qin Luo, but Qin Luo waved him off, picking up Xu Duoduo and saying, "No need, I can walk. Go help Old Wang and Xiaofei."


    Bai Shu had no choice but to turn and help Chen Xiaofei, while Wang Weihu was still lying on the ground, gasping for air.


    Qin Luo, supporting himself, hoisted Xu Duoduo onto his shoulder and staggered back to the car, climbing into the back seat with her.


    Soon, Chen Xiaofei was also helped back to the middle row, lying on the seat and hissing in pain, "Ouch, ouch, it hurts so much!"


    Bai Shu was also exhausted, slowly helping Wang Weihu back.


    The car was filled with the smell of blood.


    "Damn, that was intense. What level was that mutant snake-man? It was so hard to beat."


    "I thought we were going to die here today."


    "Psh, we had Little Team Leader, didn''t we? My god, speaking of which, what happened with Little Team Leader? For a moment, I felt like time slowed down."


    "I''ve heard that if a space-type ability is strong enough, it can develop into a killer move."


    Chen Xiaofei and Wang Weihu chatted intermittently, trying to distract themselves from the pain. Sometimes they would shake from the intensity of it.


    Bai Shu went back to take some photos and videos, then quickly drove away from the area. If they stayed any longer, who knows what else might show up.

 Chapter 31: Completing the Bounty Mission

    The mutant snake-man, named Liang Yong, was a 40-year-old general manager of a listed company. He had just been arrested for embezzlement before the apocalypse. In his youth, he loved eating exotic meats, and when government regulations made those unavailable, he turned to eating snakes.


    Just before the apocalypse, he had been bitten by a snake. On the day the apocalypse began, Liang Yong transformed directly into a snake-man, immediately devouring the police who were about to arrest him, as well as many passersby and even zombies.


    After mutation, his common skills included [Constriction], [Knockback], and [Devour], with a derived skill of [Sonic Attack] that could cause dizziness, hallucinations, and vomiting.


    He leveled up by devouring.


    Headquarters had updated their rating standards, and this mutant snake-man was classified as a three-star monster.


    The highest star rating was currently set at ten stars.


    Bai Shu had just logged onto the forum when the data section updated with information on this wanted mutated snake-man.


    Chen Xiaofei, who was treating his wounds, couldn''t help but complain, "This information came too late. It would''ve been better if we had complete data earlier. My head is still spinning, and my ears are ringing. Plus, his health bar was so hard to deplete!"


    "Xiao Bai, make sure to include its high defense characteristics in the report," Wang Weihu added as he bandaged his own wounds.


    They had stopped at an emergency lane. Wang Weihu poured disinfectant directly onto his wounds, shaking from the pain.


    It couldn''t be helped.


    It was a physiological reflex.


    Both of them had numerous external injuries, but fortunately, as ability users, their constitution was excellent. The bleeding had already stopped; they just needed to disinfect and bandage the wounds.


    After taking some oral medication, they would fully recover in about a week. For ordinary people, such injuries would mean death or months of bed rest.


    Bai Shu nodded, his left ear bleeding slightly from the sonic attack. But he had no time to worry about that; he prioritized uploading the data on this mutant snake-man to prevent other teams from encountering similar monsters unprepared.


    "Since no one had accepted the bounty, the reward has been increased to 200,000 points. It''s just been credited. I''ll transfer 100,000 points to Little Team Leader, and we four will split the remaining 100,000. Any objections?"


    Bai Shu pushed up his glasses as he spoke, but at this point, no one really cared about the points.


    Wang Weihu said, "It''s fine, I don''t mind."


    Chen Xiaofei, grimacing as he wrapped bandages around himself, nodded and said, "Sure, you can even give more to Little Team Leader. If it weren''t for her final hidden killer move, the three of us might have died here today."


    Wang Weihu strongly agreed, looking at his injured fist and clenching it, "We''re too weak. I mean, we''re all too weak. They''re classifying these things into star levels now? This was just a three-star."


    It was only a three-star monster,


    Yet it nearly wiped out their team. They used to work together flawlessly on normal missions, but today they almost perished.


    Chen Xiaofei fell silent, unusually dejected, and couldn''t help but sigh.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Bai Shu quickly finished the report and distributed the points to each account. "If you''re feeling discouraged now, I suggest you check the forum. We''re still in the early stages of the apocalypse, and the highest-level monster that has appeared is only five-star. Also, headquarters said there will be additional rewards for successfully eliminating this three-star mutant snake-man. We can look forward to that."


    It was worth noting that just the four of them plus one little zombie had taken down a three-star mutated monster.


    His implication was that they had already done quite well.


    Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei paused, then both moved closer to Bai Shu, looking at the trending posts on the tablet, where many people were praising them.


    -What?! This mission that no one dared to accept, which brave team took it on? Oh, it''s the 3A Special Operations Team. Alright, I have no questions.


    -Damn, a three-star mutated monster! What kind of team is this powerful?


    -What''s the background of the 3A Special Operations Team? Newbie civilian here, seeking answers.


    Due to the apocalypse, many new internet terms had emerged on the forum.


    For example, combat teams with military backgrounds would call themselves "enlisted," while ordinary people who gained abilities due to the apocalypse would call themselves "civilian newbies."


    The discussion was lively.


    No matter how difficult the world became, gossip would never be absent; otherwise, people would go crazy.


    People always need a place to unwind.


    Browsing the forum was a good way to relieve stress.


    When someone asked about the 3A Special Operations Team, other military comrades eagerly provided information.


    -The 3A Special Operations Team? It''s nothing special, just a combat team that''s been rated A for 36 consecutive months over three years. [Bitter] [World-weary] [I''m not crying]


    -Don''t listen to the above, civilian newbies. This team is really impressive, otherwise they wouldn''t be in the legendary A Group. I heard there are seven teams in A Group, and 3A is very strong! They''re at the top of the pyramid. We ordinary people shouldn''t compare ourselves to them; they''re a bunch of beasts! Fearless of death and tireless, the kind that can survive without food for ten days!


    Other comrades agreed, presumably having been compared to them by their own superiors, each sounding world-weary and pained.


    This led the civilian newbies to express their admiration, thinking how cool they were!


    -No wonder they''re so amazing! We''re so strong! Our team felt terrified when we encountered a one-star mutant animal before, almost getting wiped out. This is a three-star mutated monster! It used to be human! Not even an animal, the pressure must be immense.


    -Haha, you''re such adorable civilian newbies. Never killed a person before, right? For us enlisted folks, we''ve dealt with real people before. The psychological pressure isn''t that bad, it''s mainly that these not-quite-human opponents look disgusting.


    -It''s the 3A Special Operations Team, so it''s not surprising. Haven''t you seen the on-site photos and videos? My God, it''s all big chunks of meat, ugh! How strong must they be to chop a three-star mutated monster into pieces like that?


    -Whew, now that you mention it, these chunks with snake skin, they look just like snake meat pieces, don''t they? Like chopped eel sections. Makes me hungry.


    -??? The person above, don''t be too crazy!


    -To the person above, people shouldn''t, at least they shouldn''t...


    ...


    In short, everyone was discussing enthusiastically, treating the 3A Special Operations Team as idols to worship. Only they themselves knew that it was a bit...


    Chen Xiaofei rubbed his nose and said, "We really don''t deserve this praise this time. If it weren''t for Little Team Leader, we might not have been able to defeat that thing."


    Wang Weihu also felt guilty.


    Bai Shu looked back at the rear of the vehicle. Qin Luo and Xu Duoduo were both sleeping. As soon as they got in the car, Qin Luo had hastily wiped the blood off himself, applied some medicine, and wrapped himself in bandages. He then grabbed a small blanket, roughly wiped the blood off the little zombie, and fell asleep holding her. The little zombie had closed her eyes and fallen asleep as soon as she got in the car.


    Chen Xiaofei hesitated, "Should we wake them up? At least Brother Qin''s wounds need to be properly bandaged, and Little Team Leader hasn''t changed her clothes..."


    Wang Weihu peeked in to look; the two were sleeping soundly, cuddled up together.


    Bai Shu shook his head and said, "Let them sleep for now. We don''t know Little Team Leader''s situation, and it''s normal for Qin Luo to sleep right after a fight. According to the latest research, sleep helps mutants quickly recover their strength and heal wounds. If you two can sleep, you should take a nap too."

 Chapter 32: The Clingy Little Zombie

    "Bro Bai, how do you always get information so quickly?" Chen Xiaofei was full of admiration.


    Wang Weihu, who had also gotten into the car, agreed, "It''s true, Xiao Bai knows everything."


    Bai Shu returned to the driver''s seat and pushed up his glasses, "Because I love learning, and learning loves me. Someone in our group has to keep an eye on the news."


    The world was constantly changing, and without checking the forum often, it was easy to fall behind.


    Chen Xiaofei and Wang Weihu laughed sheepishly. They couldn''t help it; they all had their specialties, and very specific ones at that. They were only interested in what they liked, and learning was too demanding.


    In this aspect, they really couldn''t compare to Bai Shu''s attentiveness.


    ...


    Several hours later.


    When Xu Duoduo opened her eyes, she saw two figures swaying in front of her. Her vision was still blurry, as if covered by a red veil.


    After rubbing her eyes, she realized the people in front of her were actually Liu Chunhui and her daughter???


    The little zombie was stunned.


    It took her three or four minutes to slowly and vaguely recall something.


    Was this a dream?


    Hadn''t they separated from the others? The survivors went ahead, while their team stayed behind, then fought a fierce battle where everyone was injured...


    !!!


    Injured!


    The little zombie remembered!


    She frantically looked around, finding herself in an old warehouse, very spacious, with many survivors resting nearby.


    After scanning the area, her gaze settled on their backs.


    Qin Luo was already awake, standing straight. Beside him were Wang Weihu, Chen Xiaofei, and Bai Shu, all talking about something.


    If it weren''t for seeing his battle-damaged clothes, stained with blood and dirt, and one hand hanging down with bandaged fingers visible, the little zombie would have thought she was dreaming.


    It took her a while to understand the situation. They must have caught up with the survivors, after all, they were only about two hours behind.


    She belatedly realized her head hurt a bit and felt stiffer than before.


    Wooden.


    She frowned.


    Nearby, Liu Chunhui and her daughter were discussing something, whispering.


    "Mom, but sister is covered in blood. Wouldn''t it be better to change her clothes?"


    "Sweetie, you''re right. Captain Qin and the other boys probably can''t take care of her. Why don''t we work together to help sister clean up? She''d feel more comfortable, right? But we don''t know if she has any wounds."


    Liu Chunhui hesitated, wanting to help but afraid of hurting the young girl.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    She was covered in dried blood, which was truly pitiful to see.


    Xu Duoduo had just heard their conversation clearly and almost jumped up. Although she had become a little zombie, she was still a little zombie with dignity.


    She definitely didn''t want to be stripped naked!


    She immediately jumped up and stumbled towards Qin Luo, clinging to his arm without letting go.


    Seeking a sense of security.


    The little girl was startled. She had just turned her head to find a figure darting away, and her "Hello, sister" was left unsaid.


    Liu Chunhui was also startled. Since the apocalypse began, she had been very vigilant. Without knowing what was happening, she instinctively hugged her young daughter tightly. Then she realized it was the little girl who had darted away, even running to Captain Qin''s side and clinging to his arm like an ostrich, looking at them warily.


    The mother and daughter felt a bit awkward.


    They guessed she had heard their conversation. Perhaps southern girls weren''t used to such open interactions?


    Chen Xiaofei exclaimed happily, "Little Team Leader? You''re awake?"


    Bai Shu noticed her eyes were still bloodshot, but she seemed unaware. An ordinary person would probably have trouble opening their eyes, but she looked calm.


    This made him once again clearly understand that Little Team Leader was truly not human.


    Bai Shu saw how she depended on Qin Luo, not even acknowledging them. Seeing Chen Xiaofei and Wang Weihu about to say something, he steered them away, "Qin Luo can handle this, let''s go take care of other matters."


    To avoid being third wheels.


    "Huh? Why? I haven''t even talked to Little Team Leader yet." Chen Xiaofei was forcibly led away by Bai Shu.


    Wang Weihu opened his mouth, but noticing Little Team Leader''s silent, dazed face and her unusually dependent behavior on Qin Luo, he realized her condition wasn''t normal.


    So he also retreated with Bai Shu.


    As for Qin Luo.


    Qin Luo was still talking to someone else, "Mm, that''s fine. I have no problem with that."


    He noticed the little zombie approaching, just glanced at her, and didn''t say anything when he saw her tiny claws firmly locking onto his arm.


    "Alright, then the survivors will follow Captain Zhang and your team back. If there are no other issues, we''re done here."


    Xu Duoduo turned to look at the person opposite, realizing it was the captain of another combat team. The other captain nodded in agreement and saluted Qin Luo, "Thank you for your hard work, Captain Qin. We''ll take it from here."


    Qin Luo nodded.


    Xu Duoduo felt like the other person glanced at the collar on her neck, making her uncomfortable. She retreated further onto Qin Luo, almost sticking to him completely.


    Qin Luo simply picked her up with one hand, tucking her under his arm as he walked away. It was a very masculine way of carrying her; he really loved treating her like a doll.


    Xu Duoduo just gave up, hanging from his arm, completely limp.


    Qin Luo hadn''t cleaned up either. He carried Xu Duoduo to the shower area; this warehouse was inhabited and conveniently had a row of shower stalls.


    He tossed Xu Duoduo into one of them, "Take a shower and change clothes first. I''ll be next door. If you need anything, whistle or call me. You can shower by yourself, right?"


    Just as Qin Luo was muttering about whether to ask Liu Chunhui to help her bathe, Xu Duoduo reacted after a delay, quickly shaking her head. She definitely didn''t want that!


    "Hey, no wonder Liu Chunhui and her daughter looked strange earlier. They probably wanted to help you? But you ran away and startled them?"


    Qin Luo had noticed as soon as she woke up, and he had just caught a glimpse of the mother and daughter''s expressions.


    Qin Luo''s logic was spot on, immediately connecting the dots. How could he not understand?


    "You''re quite shy for a little zombie, aren''t you?" He looked down, teasing her. The poor thing looked miserable, in her battle-worn clothes, with black hair and a snow-white face, all covered in dried blood. It wasn''t a pleasant sight.


    He felt frustrated that he couldn''t protect her better, and she ended up saving him instead.


    Qin Luo could see that the little one seemed even more dazed, regressing to the state when he first met her, with delayed reactions.


    He raised his hand to squeeze the back of her neck to help her relax, "Alright, stop thinking so hard. Your little brain will overheat. Go take a good shower and rest."


    Qin Luo pulled out a blue water bucket from his own storage space card. It was leftover and just big enough to fit Xu Duoduo inside.


    Seeing her tiny figure standing in the blue water bucket, he was quite satisfied with his handiwork, "I''m such a genius. Go ahead and wash up."


    He closed the door and went into the shower stall next door. Soon, the sound of water could be heard. There was no electricity here, so they could only take cold showers.

 Chapter 33: Debriefing

    Halfway through his shower, Qin Luo noticed the little zombie scratching at the door. With all his injuries, washing was particularly inconvenient for him. How could the little zombie finish so quickly, just by soaking and scrubbing?


    "Hey, hey, hey, I''m coming, I''m coming. Stop scratching, ancestor, the door''s about to break."


    Qin Luo had no idea why Xu Duoduo was clinging to him now. Her thoughts couldn''t be understood by normal human logic. What reason could a zombie have?


    When he opened the door, he saw Xu Duoduo in soft pajamas, no longer wearing her combat suit. She looked very similar to when he first reunited with her.


    Looking at those apricot eyes, blinking innocently, they seemed clear yet foolish.


    Before, they used to dart around, full of little schemes. Now she looked even more pitiful than when they first met.


    Qin Luo leaned against the doorframe, examining Xu Duoduo in front of him. The little zombie seemed embarrassed and reached out to tug at his fitness suit.


    He was only wearing a dark green fitness suit now, which really showed off his physique. A certain little zombie was staring at his chest and abs.


    "Oh no, Xu Duoduo, you seem to have gotten even dumber than before. What if someone kidnaps you one day?"


    Qin Luo sighed, reaching out to ruffle her wet bangs, styling them into a slicked-back look. Fortunately, Xu Duoduo had a small face with delicate features, so exposing her forehead gave her a different look, which even surprised Qin Luo.


    He alternated between combing her bangs down and pushing them back up. "Hey, you know what, it''s amazing how different she looks."


    Just as he was playing with her hair, some young members from another team passed by. They caught a glimpse of Captain Qin "flirting" and immediately blushed, looking at him as if he were a pervert.


    Qin Luo froze, just as he met Xu Duoduo''s eyes. Her contact lenses had been splattered with blood, turning them red. He tried to wipe her eyes with his finger but couldn''t clean them properly.


    He simply scooped her up under his arm again and carried her away. "Tch, we need to do something about your eyes. I''ll ask them how to fix this."


    Three minutes later.


    Xu Duoduo was sitting on a blanket-covered floor, with Qin Luo sitting behind her, drying her hair. Facing them were Bai Shu, Chen Xiaofei, and Wang Weihu.


    The four men were seriously discussing her contact lenses.


    "We should take them out, right?"


    "Bro Qin, you''ll have to do it. You put them in, so you take them out. It seems even harder to remove than to put in."


    "What''s wrong with Little Team Leader? Why does she seem so dazed?"


    They were a bit embarrassed about losing to the mutant snake-man, but what doesn''t pass with time?


    Soon they found their rhythm and didn''t feel awkward anymore.


    Qin Luo tilted Xu Duoduo''s head back, holding her chin and leaning down to look at her eyes. "Tch, I''m just afraid to touch them. Should we find someone who knows how to do this? I''m worried I''ll poke her eye."


    He looked up when he realized the three opposite him were silent.


    Well, well.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The three had indescribable expressions, with Wang Weihu even rubbing his arm.


    Chen Xiaofei, sitting cross-legged, let out a "Wow" and said, "Bro Qin, are you going to kiss Little Team Leader in that position?"


    Bai Shu immediately covered his mouth, "Excuse us, my son doesn''t know any better."


    Chen Xiaofei exploded, struggling in his grip, "Mmph! Who''s your son?!"


    Wang Weihu helplessly brought up the main issue, "Should we find a girl who knows how to wear contact lenses? Provided Little Team Leader allows her to remove them. Also, don''t you think Little Team Leader''s condition is off? It''s been strange since she used that killing move."


    He had mentioned it several times, but no one responded. It was indeed very unusual.


    After Bai Shu finished "tormenting" Chen Xiaofei''s head while discussing who was the father and who was the son, he straightened his crooked glasses and said seriously, "It''s probably an after-effect. Her move seemed similar to compressing space, directly crushing the snake-man."


    But it was just a guess.


    However, the line of thought wasn''t wrong. Xu Duoduo hadn''t used this ability before. During the mutant monkey incident, when Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei arrived, there were already dismembered limbs everywhere, and she was holding a buzzing chainsaw. But they hadn''t witnessed the initial scene.


    Therefore, they couldn''t deduce whether she had used her ability or the chainsaw that time.


    She hadn''t fainted then, but although there were many mutant monkeys, they were just annoying. Except for the Monkey King, which was a bit tougher, the other monkeys weren''t even one-star level.


    At most, they were animals in the early stages of virus infection, frenzied but not too difficult to kill.


    But this snake-man was three-star. They all struggled to fight it, let alone a little zombie like Xu Duoduo. It would be strange if there wasn''t a backlash.


    Chen Xiaofei, with his short hair messed up, sat up and pondered, crossing his arms, "Tsk tsk tsk, that means Little Team Leader''s killing move is really powerful! But overusing it leads to intelligence regression?"


    Wang Weihu also thought this reasoning made sense, "We just don''t know how long it will take her to recover. Or if she can recover at all?"


    This statement was a bit heavy.


    The three of them turned to see Qin Luo''s reaction. Although Qin Luo could be unreliable at times, he was still the team leader and dependable when it really mattered. Moreover, Little Team Leader was his first love.


    But what they saw left them speechless. Qin Luo was prying open the little zombie''s mouth to look at her teeth and even sticking his finger inside.


    Bai Shu couldn''t take it anymore and threw a wet wipe at him, "Hey! Did you wash your hands before sticking your finger in her mouth?"


    Chen Xiaofei had an OMG expression, covering his face but peeking through his fingers, pointing at Qin Luo and saying, "Bro Qin, how come I never noticed you were such a pervert before?"


    Wang Weihu was also dumbfounded.


    Qin Luo caught the wet wipe Bai Shu threw and quickly explained, "Hey, I just showered, how could my hands be dirty? No, wait, I''m checking her teeth. Did you know she''s grown little fangs? It''s amazing, really!"


    This statement scared the three of them. Was Little Team Leader turning completely into a zombie?


    But Qin Luo''s next sentence was: "It''s really amazing, super cute."


    Bai Shu and the others'' expressions fell. They thought he had a problem. Had the intense battle affected his brain too?


    But then they glanced at Xu Duoduo''s fair and delicate face, her big eyes, her pert little nose, and the way her little fangs peeked out...


    Well, okay.


    Maybe it was kind of cute?


    But that wasn''t the point!


    Wang Weihu looked at the wounds on Qin Luo''s face and was shocked to find they had healed a lot. He exclaimed, "Bro Qin, how did your facial wounds heal so quickly? Come to think of it, your final move today was more powerful than usual, right? Are you okay?"


    His words drew the attention of the others. Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei both looked over.


    Qin Luo stopped joking and thought seriously, "At first, I did feel a kind of exhaustion, like my brain went blank for a moment..."


    But at that time, all his attention was on Xu Duoduo. Seeing her sitting in the blood and gore, looking so pitiful, he still forced himself to go to her.


    He couldn''t think about anything else.


    Bai Shu calmly analyzed, "It''s true. I thought Qin Luo was just being tough, getting up with such severe injuries, not needing help, and even carrying Little Team Leader. Thinking about it now, it is quite incredible."


    He then pointed out to Chen Xiaofei and Wang Weihu, "Don''t you think that although your injuries looked severe this time, your recovery is much faster than before?"


    Bai Shu pondered for a while, suddenly pushed up his glasses, and finally concluded, "Maybe, perhaps, this overloaded state can lead to self-improvement?"

 Chapter 34: The Onlookers

    This was very interesting.


    Qin Luo clenched his fist, feeling the abundance of ability energy in his body. "We can try it next time."


    Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei nodded in agreement, while Bai Shu took out his tablet to start writing a summary.


    How could a good team not debrief after a battle? They always did.


    The little zombie wasn''t feeling well. Since regaining consciousness, her discomfort had intensified. She felt an inexplicable lack of security, wanted to cling to someone, and her teeth were itchy, wanting to bite something.


    Most importantly!


    Qin Luo smelled so good after his shower, much better than the others.


    The little zombie almost drooled. She felt her saliva was more abundant than usual today. While the four of them were chattering about the post-battle analysis, although her brain was slow to receive signals, she was really trying to listen.


    But Qin Luo smelled too good. He had her encircled in front of him, drying her hair, sometimes making her tilt her head back to check her eyes, sometimes asking her to open her mouth to look at her teeth.


    The little zombie''s mind was muddled by Qin Luo''s scent. She cooperated with whatever he asked, being very obedient. She felt a bit warm, which was very strange.


    Since becoming a zombie, she only felt cold in her body, rarely experiencing this "warmth," and she even felt thirsty.


    While the four of them were talking, Xu Duoduo secretly leaned into Qin Luo''s embrace, sneakily looking at his neck, at his moving Adam''s apple.


    She wanted to bite.


    "Gurgle~~"


    A stomach growl successfully interrupted their debriefing.


    All four of them looked at Xu Duoduo.


    The little zombie was still blinking her eyes, lowering her head a bit guiltily. She felt guilty because she was craving Qin Luo''s body.


    Chen Xiaofei slapped his thigh and said, "Little Team Leader is hungry! Where''s the mutation core? You know, the shiny thing? It''s in your space, Little Team Leader, can you look for it?"


    He made a series of gestures.


    Xu Duoduo still stared at him blankly, instead trying to shrink into Qin Luo''s embrace.


    Chen Xiaofei looked sad, "Oh no, Little Team Leader doesn''t even recognize us anymore."


    Bai Shu patted his shoulder, also feeling very complicated. After all, it was to save them that Little Team Leader ended up like this.


    Wang Weihu also spoke up, "If she can''t take it out herself, can she eat something else? Will she eat nutrient solution?"


    Qin Luo took out a nutrient solution from his storage space card, but Xu Duoduo didn''t even look at it.


    Headache.


    Their strange behavior had already attracted the attention of others.


    Suddenly, a weird post appeared on the forum with the title: [Is the 3A Special Operations Team on some kind of escort mission for a rich young lady?]


    The main post included several secretly taken photos and some shocking words.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    - Ran into the legendary 3A team on a mission. They''re all really handsome, but when we saw them, they were all injured. Even 3A struggles against three-star monsters! But the fact that they could all still stand after the fight is truly amazing!


    - The strange thing is, why do they have a girl with them? They''re all fawning over her, shattering the 3A filter!! [Image] [Image]


    In addition to the three photos in the main post, two more secretly taken photos were attached.


    The first three showed the backs of Qin Luo and the other three, all tall and handsome. Wang Weihu was especially muscular. There was also a front view of another combat team''s captain.


    The last two were taken secretly, from an angle that showed Qin Luo holding a girl in his arms. Bai Shu, Chen Xiaofei, and Wang Weihu were all slightly bending down to look at her, creating an atmosphere that was both ambiguous and strangely harmonious.


    Then this post exploded in the gossip and chat section of the forum.


    The ability users who had just finished fighting were exhausted. Those who could browse the forum were resting and in desperate need of some mental nourishment. Suddenly seeing such juicy gossip, everyone perked up, and the popularity skyrocketed.


    - Damn, why didn''t anyone tell us newbie civilians that the 3A Special Operations Team was so good-looking!!!


    - Help, they''re so handsome!


    - Those bodies are so solid, and those long legs, who''s jealous? Not me, sob sob.


    - Even their battle-damaged outfits are so sexy! [Heavy breathing] [Heavy breathing]


    - I''m crushed, bro. Speak properly, why did the OP post such photos! [So angry]


    - Ah, does 3A need any healing-type ability users? I''m super strong at healing! I can grit my teeth and heal four at once! Brothers, quickly recruit me into the team, sob sob!


    - Don''t even think about it, 3A doesn''t accept new team members. When the apocalypse first started, headquarters suggested they take on new people, but only their group refused.


    However, after seeing the ambiguous photos at the end, everyone''s tone became strange.


    - Wait, who''s that girl? She''s so pretty! Can we hook up with her?


    - I''m so envious, I want a soft girl lying in my arms too, sob sob.


    - Tsk~ Why is their relationship so ambiguous?


    - Hehe, those who know, know. These days, how many women use their beauty to climb the ranks? Nothing strange about it.


    - Reported. The comment above is too disgusting. Maybe she''s Luo God''s sister?


    - What are you dreaming about? Luo God doesn''t have a sister.


    - No way? Such a powerful team, and they''re all simps? How noble must this girl''s identity be to have all four of them revolving around her?


    ...


    There were many similar comments.


    Unfortunately, Bai Shu and the others were too busy to check the forum at this time.


    Qin Luo found a girl from another combat team to help Xu Duoduo change her contact lenses. They had no choice; ordinary people didn''t know about mutants, and seeing her little zombie appearance might scare them, although she wasn''t really scary.


    The girl from the neighboring combat team was a support-type, with a very spirited personality, but her movements were gentle. Xu Duoduo was more cooperative than expected.


    "Aw, little sister, you''re so good, so cute. I feel like amber-colored contacts really suit you."


    After Mu Enya finished changing the little zombie''s contact lenses, she couldn''t resist pinching her fair, soft cheek. "Wow, it''s actually soft. That''s amazing. This is the first time I''ve seen a zombified mutant. Little darling, you must try to live for a long time. It''s too dangerous to always be on the front lines with 3A. Little sister, do you want to join big sister''s team instead?"


    Qin Luo, hearing this from the side, immediately said, "Hey, hey, hey, we''re still here. Are you openly trying to poach our member?"


    Chen Xiaofei, who was looking for food, chimed in, "That''s right, that''s right. Don''t even think about taking our Little Team Leader!"


    Mu Enya clicked her tongue and closed the contact lens case. "I''m just saying. But if she''s willing, I really could take her in. But speaking of which, why do you call her Little Team Leader? What... exactly is your relationship?"


    Seeing their reactions, it was clear they didn''t know about the gossip on the forum yet.


    As luck would have it, when Mu Enya was called over, she had been snacking on dry food and browsing the forum.


    So, with the mindset of a frontline gossip-monger, she immediately stood up and followed, rushing over. As soon as she arrived, she saw this zombie cutie. Oh, her heart melted instantly!


    Chen Xiaofei opened a bottle of nutrient solution and drank it. "Little Team Leader is Little Team Leader. She was our class monitor for three years in middle school. We were even in the same class after streaming. Impressive, right? Her grades were so good back then, always in the top ten of our grade. She was an excellent class monitor too. Our whole class really respected her. She''s really a great person."


    Finally, he added, "Just a bit short. She was only 153cm tall back then, haha."

 Chapter 35: Confronting the Troublemaker

    Mu Enya burst out laughing, finding the 3A team quite interesting. She finally kindly informed them about what was happening on the forum.


    The four men''s faces immediately darkened, plus one confused little zombie who didn''t understand what was going on.


    After reading the forum post, Qin Luo and the others all took a sharp breath, pondering how anyone could think Xu Duoduo was their shared lover.


    How could people these days be so outrageous?


    Chen Xiaofei was so shocked he started to stutter, "I-I-I never had that kind of intention towards Little Team Leader!"


    Never.


    The pressure from Little Team Leader during their teenage years was so great that he only felt respect for her.


    Wang Weihu also clarified that he absolutely had no such thoughts. During middle school, he hadn''t even awakened to such things, and later he was solely focused on fighting on the front lines. How could he have thought about this? Besides, he preferred mature women with hot figures.


    Bai Shu was even less likely. He pushed up his glasses and said, "I''m asexual."


    Moreover, whenever they had gatherings with others and played truth or dare, when asked about first loves, Qin Luo would blush and stammer the first time. After hesitating for a long time, under everyone''s gaze, he finally said his first love was Xu Duoduo, their middle school class monitor.


    The others would then make various teasing noises.


    After Qin Luo opened up about this, he became quite talkative. No matter what others asked, he could answer. How did he fall for her? He''d say she was beautiful, looked good when serious, and was cute even when angry.


    For so many years, he''d always talk about Xu Duoduo.


    As his buddies'' crush, his first love, his teenage secret admirer, who else could compete with her? But Chen Xiaofei and the others truly never liked the class monitor that way. It was absurd that the forum could spread such rumors based on just one photo.


    Chen Xiaofei exploded, "Who''s the jerk taking secret photos?!"


    He shouted out loud.


    Everyone was resting on the floor in the warehouse, spread out in their own areas. Hearing the commotion, they couldn''t help but look up.


    Chen Xiaofei was furious, "What kind of petty person plays such underhanded tricks?"


    Bai Shu told him to calm down, "The more angry you get, the more satisfied they''ll be. I''m serious."


    Wang Weihu also scanned the surroundings. The survivors didn''t dare to look too much, lowering their heads and occasionally stealing glances before focusing on their own business again.


    Currently, only the combat teams from various bases could connect to the network.


    This warehouse wasn''t small, housing five teams. Mu Enya''s team was unlikely to be responsible; they had dealt with her team before, and all seven of them were quite nice.


    Zhao Gang and his group of survivors were handed over to Mu Enya''s team, and they had previously dealt with Zhang Chi, Mu Enya''s team leader.


    Excluding them, there were three other teams that they weren''t familiar with.


    How could you always meet acquaintances when out on missions? There were bound to be people from other survivor bases.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    When Wang Weihu looked around, he couldn''t discern anything. Those who could come out on missions all had strong psychological qualities, naturally not as easy to read as ordinary people.


    Qin Luo acted even faster, directly clarifying on the forum and introducing their new 3A team member - the mutant Xu Duoduo.


    Everyone exploded.


    - Damn! Luo God actually came online! And personally confronted people???


    - A mutant? They actually recruited a mutant? What''s this girl''s background?


    - Are mutants no longer controlled by the base now? Shouldn''t they be working at the base?


    - A teammate accepted by the 3A team must be very powerful, right? Is it a healing ability or spatial ability? Currently, these two abilities are the rarest.


    - Nonono, you guessed wrong. I just took a look at the new member''s ID that Luo God tagged. Her personal profile says her mutation tendency is zombification, no other abilities, just a 1.5x speed boost. Only slightly stronger than ordinary people.


    - Isn''t Chen Xiaofei from their team also like this? His evaluation is 3.8, not much stronger than this newcomer? And this newcomer is just a civilian rookie.


    - Hard to say.


    - Leaving that aside, their behavior seems too intimate, doesn''t it? Who lies in a new teammate''s arms? Those who know, know.


    Qin Luo, upon seeing this vulgar comment, angrily tagged the person and scolded: Hey, Mr. Know-it-all? Come on, tell us, what exactly do you know?


    Others didn''t expect him to personally confront people, and immediately a crowd gathered to watch the drama.


    - Oh my god, Luo God is really getting involved?


    - LOL, thanks for the invite. I went to high school with this guy. He''s stubborn and can argue with you for ages.


    - Isn''t this indirectly proving that he''s protective? Alright, alright, he''s super in love, we have no hope.


    The "Mr. Know-it-all" that Qin Luo tagged immediately went silent, probably not expecting Qin Luo to confront him directly. But he didn''t dare to really argue with Qin Luo, given the terrifying number of completed missions on Qin Luo''s personal profile.


    Luo God wasn''t called that for nothing. He was a pure battle maniac. Not to mention his pre-apocalypse achievements, in the short time since the apocalypse, he had completed over a hundred missions, big and small. In missions, he was a pure damage-dealing monster.


    Who would dare to provoke him?


    Everyone also mocked that "Mr. Know-it-all", enjoying this drama tonight.


    Because Qin Luo personally confronted them, those looking for trouble became more restrained and didn''t dare to speak rudely anymore. Instead, a group of people started teasing playfully, and the situation barely passed.


    - Since she''s just a teammate, does that mean you don''t have a girlfriend? Can I join 3A?


    - Yeah, can I pursue you, Luo God?


    - Luo God, can you be more flexible about gender? Bro, what do you think about me? [Shy]


    Qin Luo choked, directly refusing. He then contacted the headquarters to lock the post. Such rumor-mongering posts were quickly locked, and he also asked the headquarters to investigate.


    In the apocalypse, investigating information had become much simpler. With only so many people able to access the internet, one search would yield accurate results. Qin Luo quickly received the information.


    Then he stood up, scanned the area, locked onto his target, and strode over. "Hey buddy, seems like you have a lot of thoughts about our 3A? Let''s have a chat, shall we?"


    Xu Duoduo watched with her own eyes as Qin Luo dragged that person outside the warehouse.


    She blinked her eyes.


    Wang Weihu also got up and followed.


    Bai Shu was using his tablet to provide feedback, finally updating Xu Duoduo''s personal profile. There had been a bug earlier, and Xu Duoduo''s personal profile didn''t have their team''s icon and name. Now it was finally updated.


    Under her name ID, their 3A Special Operations Team name was displayed.


    It showed her participation in three missions: the mutant monkeys at the canned food factory, the service area rescue, and the elimination of the mutant snake-man. The first two didn''t earn many points, but for the last one, Bai Shu didn''t report Xu Duoduo''s spatial ability, only mentioning that her help was crucial, briefly describing the process.


    But her personal profile looked much better now, having participated in three official missions.


    Chen Xiaofei was still chattering beside them, "We really needed to push for this update. Look how Little Team Leader''s profile wasn''t updated, causing others to misunderstand us so badly."


    They were either thought to be simps chasing after Little Team Leader or keeping her as a mistress.


    It was truly a case of being on a mission outside while rumors flew over from the forum to land on their heads.


    Unbelievable.

 Chapter 36: Do You Like Me?

    The guy who took unauthorized photos was escorted back by Qin Luo and Wang Weihu. Whatever method they used must have scared him badly enough that his legs turned to jelly - he probably wouldn''t dare to take sneaky photos or make snide remarks anymore.


    When Qin Luo returned to his seat, the little zombie was just finishing a mutation core, munching away with puffy cheeks like a hamster.


    He poked her cheek, muttering, "Tch, and they say we''re too intimate just because of this?"


    He was just talking to himself.


    The little zombie glanced at him with sparkling eyes, making him feel oddly embarrassed.


    Bai Shu looked at Qin Luo exasperatedly, "You''re always picking her up and carrying her around, either over your shoulder or in your arms. Plus you''re constantly poking her or patting her head. What do you expect people to think?"


    Qin Luo felt awkward as he realized it was true. He just couldn''t help teasing her - seeing her made him feel nostalgic.


    He just wanted to playfully tease her.


    But his pride made him defensively say, "It''s just convenient, that''s all."


    Bai Shu responded sarcastically: "Sure, sure."


    Chen Xiaofei quietly snickered.


    Wang Weihu coughed and pretended not to hear, lying down to sleep.


    Qin Luo: ...


    Well.


    There was no explaining it!!


    Long after Xu Duoduo finished chewing the mutation core, she remembered she was supposed to get them food. But by then, all four of them had already lain down to sleep.


    She was confused for a second, then wrapped herself in her small blanket and lay down too. She hoped to get better soon - this delayed thinking was really annoying. The irritated little zombie stared at Qin Luo''s neatly trimmed nape and his back...


    She wriggled over like a caterpillar in her blanket, snuggling up against her delicious-smelling food reserve to sleep. Tonight would definitely be sweet dreams.


    **


    At dawn, everyone in the warehouse started getting up one after another.


    Those who had been on night watch went straight to the vehicles to catch up on sleep, while others packed up to prepare for departure.


    Apart from the occasional noise of dealing with stray zombies during the night, everyone had gotten a good night''s sleep - something extremely rare in the apocalypse.


    Chen Xiaofei stretched with his messy bed head, sighing contentedly, "Ah~ Slept so well last night. We should thank Zhang and his team for taking the night watch shifts and letting us get such good rest."


    Bai Shu also got up, squinting as he looked for his glasses.


    Chen Xiaofei opened his eyes to find four familiar-colored thermoses neatly arranged in front of him. He turned to look at Xu Duoduo and exclaimed excitedly, "Wow, Little Squad Leader, you''re better now?"


    The little zombie''s eyes had regained their spirit, no longer appearing dazed like yesterday. She even gave him a cool nod and handed him a jar of side dishes - crispy spicy radish chunks to go with their porridge.


    Chen Xiaofei was almost moved to tears, holding the jar of spicy radish while whimpering, "Waaah, Little Squad Leader, you''re like my second parents! This is great, we can go back to living the good life with delicious food again!"


    Bai Shu simply smacked Chen Xiaofei''s head, scolding, "Why are you making such a fuss first thing in the morning?"Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    He was fine otherwise, just had a bit of a temper when waking up. Usually, it was best not to bother him, but Chen Xiaofei just had to make such a racket first thing in the morning, irritating him.


    Chen Xiaofei immediately perked up, holding his jar of radish saying, "Well then, don''t eat any later!"


    Bai Shu finally saw clearly what he was holding, his eyes flashing. He got up calmly and said, "Oh, fine, I won''t eat it."


    The next second, he snatched Chen Xiaofei''s spicy radish jar, "I''m confiscating this!!" and quickly stored it in his spatial storage card.


    All four of them had spatial storage, though their spaces weren''t large, and headquarters could monitor what was inside - there was no privacy.


    Chen Xiaofei was stunned by Bai Shu''s shameless move, frozen on his bed.


    Bai Shu had already run to the bathroom.


    Wang Weihu sighed helplessly, "Alright, stop fooling around. Let''s eat and get moving."


    He also got up.


    True to his father-figure nature, while others ran off after waking, he started making the beds first.


    He folded each blanket into neat squares before storing them in his spatial storage card.


    Xu Duoduo squatted nearby watching the whole show with great interest, finding their bickering quite entertaining. Seeing how pitiful Chen Xiaofei looked, she gave him another can of preserved anchovies.


    Chen Xiaofei instantly revived! "I''m back! Off to wash up!"


    Wang Weihu noticed the little zombie squatting at the side, looking particularly small, and politely greeted her, "Morning, Little Squad Leader. Feeling better today?"


    After all, she had saved three of their lives - they now shared a life-and-death bond.


    Though she had become dazed last night and even grew fangs, the electronic display on her collar had remained green throughout.


    How good of a person must she be to have no desire to harm others even after becoming a zombie?


    Wang Weihu had never seen such a zombie before, but that didn''t stop him from admiring her.


    Xu Duoduo didn''t like people looking at her collar. As a little zombie who firmly believed herself to be human, she disliked being treated as different. So when Wang Weihu greeted her and glanced at her collar, she felt uncomfortable and only nodded vaguely.


    Then she turned and left, going to squat in another direction, guarding the breakfast she had prepared for them - four thermoses of hot porridge plus a box of tea eggs, probably containing eight or nine eggs.


    Qin Luo had gone out early for a perimeter check. He had woken up earlier than anyone else, mainly because he couldn''t sleep - the little zombie had been using him as a chew toy last night.


    The little thing had snuggled up to him while sleeping, and sometime in the middle of the night, she had changed positions and somehow ended up in his arms, suddenly biting his wrist. It had startled him awake, and he almost snapped her neck.


    When Qin Luo realized it was her, he was stunned for a long while. When he finally came to his senses, he found she was just teething on his wrist, probably too afraid to actually bite, just playing with his wrist.


    She had drooled all over his hand.


    Qin Luo was dumbfounded. He called out to her but got no response - she just kept gnawing on his wrist with her eyes closed, probably uncomfortable from teething. Her brows were tightly furrowed, her little face all scrunched up, making him feel quite troubled.


    He felt quite awkward about it and barely slept all night. In contrast, the little zombie seemed like she was sleepwalking. When he woke up in the morning feeling uncomfortable, she woke up too, blinking at him, but showing no signs of embarrassment.


    This made him blush, and he decided to go out for some fresh air. After making several rounds and taking down more than a dozen lone zombies and mutant dogs, he still couldn''t figure it out.


    Among the four of them, why did she stick to him specifically? Perhaps...


    There could only be one truth!


    Xu Duoduo must like him too! That had to be it! It would explain everything!


    She had been staring at his chest muscles while he was showering yesterday. Such a handsome guy like him must have caught the little zombie''s eye. Qin Luo nodded while stroking his chin, fully convinced of his reasoning. Well, who could blame her? He was quite the looker!


    After figuring this out, Qin Luo felt completely refreshed. When he returned to see the little zombie squatting there guarding their breakfast, she couldn''t have looked more adorable.


    Oh.


    Who couldn''t like her?


    He went over to look at her, squatting beside her. The little zombie turned to see him return, her eyes immediately brightening, and she moved closer to him.


    She had to be right next to him.


    Qin Luo felt delighted inside, and turned to ask her, "Hey, do you like me?"


    As he said this, he felt quite shy - Squad Leader Qin was experiencing his first flutter of romance at age twenty-two.


    Xu Duoduo looked at the delicious-smelling Qin Luo in front of her, barely holding back her drool. She immediately nodded, very seriously nodding - she did really like him.


    Want to eat him.


    Qin Luo turned completely red, blushing from his ears all the way down to his neck.

 Chapter 37: Growing Pains

    When Bai Shu, Chen Xiaofei, and Wang Weihu returned, they found Qin Luo''s ears still red, and the three of them kept stealing curious glances.


    Before they could ask, Qin Luo warned them not to - or he''d have to silence them permanently!


    Chen Xiaofei immediately nodded obediently, saying he wouldn''t ask, but then secretly whispered to Bai Shu: "What''s wrong with Brother Qin? Is he losing his mind?"


    Bai Shu pushed up his glasses, looking like a wise sage, "Oh, men in love are all fools, completely devoid of reason."


    Chen Xiaofei buried his head, trying to suppress his laughter.


    Though Qin Luo''s face still felt hot, he put on a serious expression and pulled rank as team leader, telling them to hurry up and finish breakfast so they could depart.


    Others had clearly noticed their situation - things appearing and disappearing into thin air.


    While ordinary survivors looked shocked, other ability users wore envious expressions.


    They knew how valuable spatial storage cards were, yet the 3A team each had one!


    Incredible.


    When Mu Enya passed by, she couldn''t help commenting, "You guys are so enviable, everyone really has a spatial storage card? In our team, only our captain has one, and it''s just fifty cubic meters."


    These items could only be obtained through headquarters'' approval, with resources matching abilities.


    Mu Enya was just making conversation - she''d heard that the 3A team worked incredibly hard, saving countless survivors. Their benefits were well-deserved.


    After all, there were risks they wouldn''t take, but the 3A team was always on the front lines.


    She swallowed hard and continued, "And your meals are amazing! You even have porridge - did you buy it at the base or cook it yourselves? And you still have the energy! When I return from missions, I just want to collapse."


    Mu Enya sighed.


    Chen Xiaofei looked up and mumbled through a mouthful, "Mmm, our Little Squad Leader cooked it. Amazing, right?"


    Just as he finished speaking, Bai Shu quickly snatched the egg from his bowl, infuriating Chen Xiaofei!


    The four of them were wolfing down their food, and only Wang Weihu managed to properly respond between bites, "Would you like half of my porridge?"


    Mu Enya was actually tempted to accept - she was that hungry. How long had it been since she''d eaten normal food? All she''d had was dry rations and sickly-sweet nutrient solutions. She was starving to her bones.


    But then suddenly, a bright red thermos appeared before her.


    Mu Enya looked down to see the little zombie expressionlessly offering it to her, though her eyes were bright. She was shocked: "This... this is for me??"


    She had only stopped to chat because she was too hungry to resist.


    She hadn''t actually meant to beg for food.


    Mu Enya hesitated, "Ingredients must be expensive now, right? Who knows how many points rice costs at the base now, and this porridge has meat, mushrooms, and vegetables..."The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    She kept swallowing as she spoke.


    Qin Luo told her, "Take it, she wants you to have it."


    Hearing Mu Enya describe the porridge''s ingredients so accurately, they knew she was truly hungry.


    Everyone was trying not to smile.


    Bai Shu also took out the spicy radish from his spatial storage, "Here, take this too. You can eat it with your rations for some flavor. Thanks for last night - we all got good sleep because of your team''s watch."


    Mu Enya finally accepted, quickly thanking the little zombie while taking the food, "It''s nothing, we''re heading back to base while you''re going to the front lines for rescue. You need the energy more - our return trip will be quick."


    This was true.


    Many routes had been cleared by combat teams, leaving few zombies on the roads. Only scattered ones remained.


    They just needed to watch out for special mutants and mutated animals - the return journey would be much faster.


    When Xu Duoduo heard this, she looked at Mu Enya''s teammates - seven people in total - thought for a moment, and pulled out a bag of large buns for her.


    Mu Enya was almost moved to tears, "God, I''d almost forgotten what buns taste like!"


    Knowing how precious these were, she quickly thanked them, hugging the food while saying softly, "I can''t thank you enough - let''s meet up properly when we''re back at base!"


    Unable to salute while holding everything, and finding the little zombie squatting nearby too adorable, Mu Enya couldn''t resist giving Xu Duoduo a kiss on the cheek, "Thank you, sweetie! You''re truly the world''s best little zombie! When we''re safely back, let''s become sworn sisters at the base!"


    Such amazing cooking skills!


    Having such a friend was pure happiness!


    She finally understood why the 3A team treated this little zombie so well!


    She deserved it!


    Mu Enya happily left with her food, leaving behind a dazed Xu Duoduo and shocked expressions on Chen Xiaofei, Bai Shu, and Wang Weihu!


    Was this how girls thanked each other? Just kissing cheeks without warning?


    Qin Luo bristled, exclaiming urgently: "Hey, how can you just kiss someone like that?"


    In contrast, the little zombie, after a moment''s surprise, seemed quite happy, swaying back and forth while squatting, as Mu Enya had reminded her of her own good friends.


    Being treated like a human felt wonderful, and the little zombie was delighted.


    Qin Luo kept muttering, feeling the pain of having someone pet his precious flower without permission - how could someone be so informal, kissing people randomly?


    But Xu Duoduo was still happy!


    So happy that she pulled out a chew toy and started gnawing on it, making creepy crunching sounds.


    While Bai Shu and the other two were enjoying the rare sight of Qin Luo being jealous, the next second they got goosebumps from the teeth-grinding noise, like nails on a chalkboard.


    Chen Xiaofei winced at the sound, "Whew, is it okay for Little Squad Leader to grind her teeth like that?"


    Wang Weihu shook his head, "Maybe it feels better this way? Reminds me of my little niece when she was teething."


    Bai Shu, having finished breakfast, was scrolling on his tablet, "Old Wang, what you said reminds me of a post I saw about how some people''s abilities can cause regression issues when overused."


    He thought for a moment before offering a new theory, "What if for mutants, this evolution is like a new growth phase? If I''m right, could our Little Squad Leader be entering the oral stage?"


    In animal terms, it would be the teething phase.


    If this wasn''t regression but evolution, that would be interesting.


    What would mutants ultimately evolve into?


    Would they still be human?


    Chen Xiaofei rubbed his arms vigorously, exclaiming, "Could you stop making such scary hypotheses?!"


    Bai Shu calmly pushed up his glasses, "The desire for knowledge is the source of human progress."


    Wang Weihu recalled the scene of Xu Duoduo killing the mutant snake-person - it had taken them forever to reduce its health bar by a third, yet she had destroyed it in one move.


    That difference in power...


    If Bai Shu''s guess was right, wouldn''t that mean ability users were inferior to mutants?


    Seeing their serious expressions, Qin Luo spoke up, "Enough, why think so much? We''ll have answers eventually."


    Their job was to train, improve their strength, and gather supplies.

 Chapter 38: Shopping Spree in the Commercial District

    After everyone removed their belongings from the warehouse, it was empty again.


    Located near C City''s highway toll station, their brief encounter was coming to an end as they prepared to go their separate ways.


    Mu Enya held onto Xu Duoduo reluctantly, making her promise to visit when back at base, "I live in Building B, very close to you."


    Xu Duoduo nodded. This was her first friend in the apocalyptic era, and she was so happy she even gave her a piece of chocolate.


    Mu Enya was delighted.


    Having nothing to give in return, she gave the little zombie her protective charm necklace.


    Zhang Chi called for Mu Enya to hurry up and get in the car, so she rushed off.


    Xu Duoduo didn''t even have time to refuse.


    She couldn''t accept the charm.


    Zhao Gang shook hands with Qin Luo and the others, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you so much. If it weren''t for your rescue, our family of three might still be hiding in that service area."


    Especially since that mutant snake-person had passed through there - if they had hesitated and not left with the team, they would have eventually encountered it.


    Even without the snake-person, they couldn''t have lived in the service area forever.


    Now, joining the main group and understanding how this new world worked, Zhao Gang felt more at ease. "Once we''re settled at H City Survivor Base, we must treat you all to a meal - please don''t refuse."


    Liu Chunhui also brought her young daughter over to thank Qin Luo and his team.


    Qin Luo and the others just said it was their duty, "If not us, other rescue teams would have come."


    This was headquarters'' current principle - never abandon any human.


    Zhao Gang was deeply moved by this principle, and with this feeling of gratitude, he got into the car.


    Qin Luo watched as the vehicles drove onto the highway toll station, and then it was time for them to begin their mission.


    Wang Weihu was driving today, with Chen Xiaofei in the passenger seat. Qin Luo and Bai Shu sat in the middle row, while Xu Duoduo returned to her spacious spot in the back.


    The car''s interior had been cleaned with the blood-removal solution provided by the base. The solution worked well, leaving no heavy blood smell behind.


    "It''s about forty minutes to the commercial district. We can head straight there. I''ll clear out the zombies, Old Wang and Bai Shu will rescue survivors, and Xiaofei will go with Xu Duoduo to collect supplies nearby."


    Qin Luo assigned everyone their roles. Wang Weihu and the others agreed, and Xu Duoduo blew her whistle to signal understanding, making everyone laugh.


    Their modified SUV headed straight for their destination - the Baoli Commercial District in C City.


    The closer they got to the commercial district, the more zombies they encountered.


    Bai Shu and Qin Luo shot through the sunroof, each headshot taking down a zombie.


    During daytime, zombies moved more slowly, some even hiding in shaded areas.


    But nothing escaped their sharp eyes, no matter where the zombies tried to hide.


    Xu Duoduo sat in the back, watching the street scenes through the window. The once-bustling city was now silent, with only occasional howls from mutant dogs and zombie groans. No living person was visible on the streets.


    Her eyesight was quite good too, and she occasionally noticed curtains moving on second floors - probably survivors who were too cautious to reveal themselves to unknown visitors.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    The sound of gunfire continued, along with explosions from small bombs they dropped.


    After circling around, they had eliminated about 90% of the zombies, finally stopping at the main entrance - Gate One - of the large shopping mall.


    Wang Weihu parked at the entrance, and it was time for them to split into three groups.


    "I''m heading out. Keep your earpieces on for contact. Xu Duoduo, don''t wander off alone. Xiaofei, take care of her."


    After giving his final instructions and seeing Chen Xiaofei''s OK sign, Qin Luo left with Wang Weihu and Bai Shu. They soon split into two teams, with Qin Luo heading into the mall for a killing spree.


    Wang Weihu and Bai Shu would rescue scattered survivors around the mall.


    Despite yesterday''s injuries, ability users healed quickly. They could move freely today, and working while injured was common for them anyway.


    None of the four seemed concerned, each focusing on their tasks.


    "Little Squad Leader, let''s go! C City is known as the granary capital, there should be grain shops nearby. Let''s go raid them!"


    Chen Xiaofei was excited, carrying his gun at the ready, his baby face full of enthusiasm.


    The little zombie nodded gracefully, then headed straight into the nearest shop, which happened to be a grain store.


    Most shops in this area indeed sold food, but the bulk of supplies would be in warehouses.


    They needed to patiently search for warehouses - those were the real treasure troves.


    However, this commercial district also had a residential area with high-rise buildings nearby, so there were plenty of shops.


    Even small finds would add up.


    As soon as Xu Duoduo entered the grain shop, she saw a zombie stuck at the cash register - probably the cashier, still wearing the store''s apron, though her face was now unrecognizable due to decay.


    She didn''t linger on the sight.


    Chen Xiaofei took it down with one shot, finally letting the young woman rest in peace.


    The store indeed sold various grains, mostly whole grains, and seemed to be a tourist spot, also selling local specialty snacks.


    The little zombie knew to check expiration dates, reaching out with her small claws to examine them. Seeing they had six-month shelf lives, she confidently collected them.


    There were many of these traditional sweet pastries, plus bottles and jars of grains on the shelves on both sides.


    The center of the store had bags of rice and other items.


    Xu Duoduo''s claws snatched up everything she passed by, taking only sealed items and leaving opened bags. She quickly cleared out the entire store.


    Chen Xiaofei found it oddly satisfying to watch, just following her lead.


    Xu Duoduo was clearly experienced at this, moving quickly. Next door was a spicy hot pot restaurant, and she went straight for the refrigerators.


    While the displayed ingredients had rotted, the freezer contents were fine since power hadn''t been cut.


    She collected three freezers'' worth of hot pot ingredients - various meatballs, beef slices, lamb slices, and their special soup base seasoning packets.


    The shops had few zombies inside - most doors were open, so zombies had wandered outside. Only those trapped behind counters remained.


    Next was an outdoor sports store, where they collected many tents, fishing gear, camping equipment, backpacks, and waist packs.


    Chen Xiaofei was particularly pleased with this store, especially for its outdoor clothing and shoes. It was a huge store with a comprehensive selection.


    "Little Squad Leader, how big is your space actually? Can we take all these men''s clothes? I really love them!!"


    Chen Xiaofei preferred wearing sportswear, especially from this premium brand he usually couldn''t afford.


    Xu Duoduo coolly nodded, wandering over to touch and collect everything.


    Chen Xiaofei couldn''t help grinning, following her with his gun, "Wow, this is amazing! Little Squad Leader, your space is truly huge!"


    Besides Taotie in B City headquarters, he''d never heard of anyone with such large storage capacity. They''d already collected three warehouses full of canned goods, plus lots of miscellaneous items, and could still keep collecting.


    It was incredibly satisfying!


    Next to the outdoor sports store was a huge snack shop. These had been the most popular stores in the past decade, offering an enormous variety.


    This chain snack store had the most complete selection, even with a dedicated childhood snacks section, ranging from spicy strips to preserved fruits to meat snacks.


    Everything had its own area.


    It was a bit dirty inside, with traces of the chaos from when the apocalypse first hit.


    Ignoring the bloodstains on the floor and some messy areas, about 80% was still good - the store had relatively low contamination.


    Chen Xiaofei and Xu Duoduo made the perfect team - both loved snacks. Entering the store, they were like mice in a rice bin!


    "Little Squad Leader, quick, come here! I''ve picked up all the scattered snacks and put them back on the shelves. You can collect the whole shelves at once!"


    Xu Duoduo went over when she heard him. The shelf was full of various gummy candies that looked delicious. Another small section of her mental multi-faceted space cube was filled, but there was still plenty of room left.


    It seemed impossible to fill it completely!

 Chapter 39: Rescue in Progress

    The beverage section of the convenience store was truly dazzling, with all kinds of drinks, both common and rare.


    Xu Duoduo simply collected everything in sight. As long as it wasn''t dirty, she took it all.


    If she didn''t take them, others would eventually, or they''d be destroyed by mutant creatures. She felt justified in her collection, believing that resources were safer in her hands.


    They quickly finished raiding the convenience store and moved on to the neighboring bakery. The cakes in the display cases were naturally useless, having all gone bad.


    However, the baking area in the back still had many leftover ingredients - flour, milk powder, sugar, and the like.


    Along the way, there were many such food establishments, and their task was to take away all the usable inventory.


    The most exciting find was the gold shop!


    The store was filled with gold, glittering brilliantly. Both the little zombie and Chen Xiaofei let out a "Wow!"


    "My goodness! How much would all this have been worth before the apocalypse? Squad Leader, hurry, let''s take it all! I think there''s a tobacco and liquor store next door! Old Wang''s favorite, let''s go there after we''re done here!"


    Xu Duoduo nodded, waiting for Chen Xiaofei to eliminate the few zombie ladies behind the counter before breaking the glass and starting their collection mode.


    The neighboring tobacco and liquor store was equally shocking. Chen Xiaofei couldn''t help but exclaim, "If Old Wang were here, he''d be over the moon, wouldn''t he?"


    Xu Duoduo said nothing, simply packing up the entire wall of cigarettes and alcohol.


    While the hoarding duo was happily exploring and collecting supplies, on the other side, Wang Weihu was sneezing repeatedly, looking quite disheveled along with Bai Shu.


    "Everyone, follow me this way. Don''t fall behind, and don''t shout," Wang Weihu called out to the survivors behind him, leading them towards a convenience store and arranging for them to take shelter inside.


    Bai Shu covered for them. Even in daylight, these zombies became exceptionally agitated when encountering a group of fresh, living flesh. They lunged at any human they saw.


    Bai Shu kicked away another zombie that pounced towards him, then quickly finished it off with a shot. "Tch, these things are really annoying, endless, impossible to finish off!"


    He looked up to see many zombies that had been hiding in the shadows emerging again.


    They had already eliminated about 90% earlier, but now there were so many again?!


    It was almost dark!


    Wang Weihu threw a marble bomb at a small wave of zombies gathering in front. This device could control explosions within a five-meter diameter range - precisely five meters, no more, no less.


    With a "bang," it exploded.


    Instantly, a small cluster was eliminated.


    "Little Bai, you stay and guard the survivors. I''ll go rescue the others and bring them over here."


    The flesh of the living constantly attracted zombies. Simply leaving the survivors here wouldn''t work; if they got scared, they might scream, which could attract who knows what.


    Bai Shu nodded, catching his breath. He took out his water bottle and gulped down a large mouthful of cold tea. It was from the Squad Leader; they each had a large bottle. He didn''t know where she got so many thermos flasks from, probably collected them along the way.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Wang Weihu patted Bai Shu on the shoulder, then quickly ran towards the front, eliminating zombies while turning into the next street to rescue others.


    Bai Shu continued eliminating zombies while occasionally changing magazines, sometimes glancing at the survivors in the convenience store, who were covering their mouths in terror, hiding.


    Sigh.


    He let out a deep sigh.


    Meanwhile, on the other side.


    Qin Luo had become a zombie-slaughtering machine. The zombies in the large shopping mall were truly numerous. He couldn''t use large bombs and had to rely on marble bombs.


    Even the marble bombs couldn''t be used too much, for fear of setting off a chain reaction by hitting electrical appliances.


    Even if they didn''t explode, there was the risk of starting a fire.


    Therefore, except for the more spacious areas of the mall, he had to resort to guns or knives in other places.


    Qin Luo plunged into the horde of zombies, killing relentlessly. Wave after wave fell. Most of the time, he was a numb killing machine, but occasionally his mind would wander, wondering what his teammates were up to.


    As the team split up to carry out their respective tasks, night began to fall.


    Chen Xiaofei also became more alert. "Squad Leader, from now on, don''t stray too far from me. Just stay right behind me."


    Even knowing the little zombie had a killer move, the after-effects were still unclear.


    Better not to let her use it if possible.


    Xu Duoduo heard this and gave a short blow on her wooden whistle to indicate she understood. She looked up at the sky; the gloomy clouds seemed to have dispersed, and there was actually a moon tonight. It had been a long time since she''d seen one, and she was momentarily stunned.


    When Chen Xiaofei called for her to keep up, she followed him to continue collecting items.


    The two of them had already ransacked the stores near the mall, filling up much of the multi-faceted magic cube space again. Xu Duoduo felt reassured looking at it.


    After finishing with the last pharmacy, Qin Luo''s voice came through the earpiece, "Hey, hey, is everyone done? It''s dark, return quickly."


    Their agreed resting point was the mall, and clearly, Qin Luo had already secured it by himself.


    Chen Xiaofei excitedly replied, "Roger that! The Squad Leader and I are on our way back."


    Xu Duoduo also blew her whistle once.


    They first met up with Bai Shu and his group, who were escorting survivors to the mall.


    When Wang Weihu saw Chen Xiaofei, he called out, "There are still about a dozen survivors at the convenience store at the intersection ahead. I''ll go get them; you two help escort these ones inside first!"


    Chen Xiaofei indicated it was no problem, and Wang Weihu hurriedly went back.


    Xu Duoduo looked at Bai Shu and Wang Weihu, covered in blood and grime from the zombies'' black blood. Then she looked at herself and Chen Xiaofei, who only had dust and a little blood on them. Compared to the other two, they were clean.


    Not easy at all!


    When Bai Shu saw Xu Duoduo, he laughed, "As expected of our Squad Leader, everything you provide is so useful. Your cold tea really helped Old Wang and me soothe our throats today!"


    Otherwise, their throats would have been hoarse from calling out to the survivors so many times. It was too difficult.


    Last time too.


    As a sniper, nothing could distract him no matter what he encountered.


    Therefore, during each mission, he might get bitten by some insect without realizing it. Last time, the Squad Leader gave him some insect repellent powder, which directly saved him from suffering.


    Although it wasn''t a big deal for a grown man to endure a little discomfort, it was still nice to avoid it.


    Hearing this, Chen Xiaofei strongly agreed, "The Squad Leader is like Doraemon, really. She has everything, and it''s all very useful. It''s very comfortable to go on missions with her!"


    Bai Shu laughed when he heard this, "You''d better not let your Brother Qin hear that."


    He''d get jealous.


    Chen Xiaofei belatedly realized and chuckled, "I''m not afraid, I''m open and aboveboard!"


    Combat teams and doctors have a similar kind of magic. When the people protecting you can chat and joke around, it proves that the current situation is safe enough.


    Therefore, hearing the two of them joking with each other, the survivors also relaxed a bit.


    Xu Duoduo noticed that many people were staring at her neck. She uncomfortably used her collar to cover it, really disliking people looking at her collar.


    It made her feel like an outsider, although she was indeed a little zombie.


    The people of C City were all very tall.


    Looking at the survivors, they all seemed big and tall. Everyone was surprised to see such a small girl out on a mission.


    They were more astonished than anything else.

 Chapter 40: Acquiring a New Map

    This rescue operation went much faster than expected; they had thought it would take much longer.


    Qin Luo also noticed an improvement in his physical abilities, though he still couldn''t use his abilities much. Whenever he tried, his whole body would ache, probably due to overexertion.


    He needed to rest and recover properly.


    The survivors gathered together numbered over 600, a daunting sight when all clustered in one place.


    After counting everyone, their squad had to notify the nearby logistics team to come and pick them up by vehicle.


    Seeing that someone had come to rescue them, the survivors burst into tears of joy.


    "Thank you, thank you so much! We thought we were going to die here. We can''t thank you enough!"


    The young man leading the group kept saying this, holding onto Qin Luo''s hand and not letting go. He was reportedly the manager of a hot pot restaurant on the fourth floor, who, like Mr. and Mrs. Zhao Gang, had gathered people into his restaurant during the emergency.


    "I''ll never forget that day. It happened just after 6 PM, during the busiest time in the shopping district. Many people were out shopping when suddenly someone in the mall fell ill. The news spread quickly through the employee group chat."


    The manager showed them a video on his phone, clearly showing the early stages of zombies biting people. A man suddenly bit his pregnant wife.


    At first, some kind-hearted people tried to intervene, but they too were attacked by the man.


    "Fortunately, I received that warning message. I''ve always been a bit paranoid, and after seeing that message, I felt uneasy. I kept thinking about it afterward."


    The manager''s hands shook as he recalled the events.


    "It wasn''t until I heard screams from downstairs that I snapped back to reality. I quickly told my colleagues not to go out and then called all the customers on the fourth floor into the store. Soon, customers from the second and third floors started running up too."


    "Those of us who survived are the ones you see here. We tried to save as many as we could."


    They were lucky that the fourth floor was all restaurants. They managed to survive on the food stocks, rationing carefully until now.


    The manager was able to successfully send out a distress call to headquarters because he had read the apocalypse survival manual. "It said phone signals would fail, so I kept sending messages until I finally got through to the rescue department at headquarters."


    Wang Weihu praised him, "You''re really impressive and level-headed. Because you quickly gathered everyone into the store and locked the doors, these 500-plus people were able to survive. You''ve done something truly remarkable."


    The manager scratched his head, embarrassed. "Anyone would have done the same. I just did what I could."


    He was an ordinary worker with no special education, and he never expected to become the pillar for a group of people after the apocalypse. He led them in rationing food, tried to improve their living conditions, and attempted various self-rescue methods.


    He even comforted other survivors, which is why they were able to survive.


    Bai Shu, while writing his report, suddenly realized something. "If the customer flow was normal, why were there so many zombies in the mall?"Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    When they first arrived, they saw the mall packed with zombies.


    The manager quickly explained, "Because there were zombies outside too, and people from outside thought they could take shelter in the mall, but instead..."


    He didn''t need to finish the sentence.


    People from outside thought they could find refuge in the mall, not realizing it had become hell inside.


    And zombies couldn''t operate the revolving doors.


    So they all got trapped inside.


    Everyone sighed, but there was nothing to be done. In the apocalypse, only the fittest survive, and sometimes luck plays a small part too.


    Qin Luo patted the young man''s shoulder. "We''ll report the situation accurately. For outstanding performers like you, headquarters will provide rewards."


    The manager was very modest. "I really didn''t do much. You guys are the cool ones! At first, I thought it would be like in the movies, with a big rescue army coming in, all grand and impressive."


    Instead, only a few people came, but after seeing the ability users in action, he was even more in awe!


    The manager introduced himself as Ding Shengjie. "How can one become an ability user? The apocalypse survival manual didn''t mention how to become one."


    He said he wanted to be cool like them and save more people.


    Qin Luo smiled and told him to wait. "Who knows, maybe the base will research a way in the future."


    Wang Weihu also put his arm around Ding Shengjie''s shoulder, saying with a smile, "Alright, young comrade, you should rest now. Thank you for your cooperation. We''ve gathered all the information we need. Tomorrow, buses will come to take you all to the base."


    The nearest base from here was the H City Survivor Base, with A City a bit further, and B City even further. Currently, these three major bases were holding out, while other cities were still very dangerous.


    Bai Shu looked at the large number of people. "H City is almost at capacity. This group probably won''t all go there."


    Qin Luo agreed, "A City has fewer people, so some might be sent there."


    While they were discussing business, they hadn''t noticed Chen Xiaofei and Xu Duoduo for a while. The two were busy comforting children with candy. Many kids looked numb and timid, hiding in their parents'' arms.


    Even worse were the children without parents. About twenty or so children had no one to care for them.


    They were all crying quietly.


    Chen Xiaofei couldn''t bear it and discussed with Xu Duoduo. They took out some candy and gave each child a handful to put in their pockets.


    The air inside was really not good.


    Some survivors were clean, others dirty, but no one complained about each other.


    After Qin Luo and Bai Shu finished discussing business and reported the completion of their mission, they walked over to see what Chen Xiaofei and Xu Duoduo were up to.


    "Kids shouldn''t eat so much candy, right? It''ll rot their teeth," Bai Shu said bluntly as he approached.


    This scared the children, who looked like they might cry again but didn''t dare to. Their expressions were heartbreaking.


    Chen Xiaofei immediately responded, "Hey, what are you doing? Don''t scare the kids. Life is hard enough, what''s wrong with a little candy? And don''t look at us like that, the Squad Leader and I aren''t just fooling around, we''re doing important work!"


    They had managed to get information from the children about the exact location of C City''s food warehouse.


    The roads here were too complicated, and GPS was useless. It would be hard to find without a local''s knowledge.


    Among the orphaned children was a ten-year-old girl who was old enough to understand. When Chen Xiaofei asked, she even drew a map. As soon as she finished drawing, she started to cry, "These are the crayons my mom bought for me, but it''s the last box... waaah!"


    As soon as she finished speaking, the little girl burst into loud sobs, startling the three men and the little zombie.


    Xu Duoduo hurriedly stuffed chocolate into her mouth, trying to stop her from crying. The crying was making her head buzz, and it really scared the little zombie.


    Chen Xiaofei crouched down to comfort the child.


    Bai Shu took the cute crayon-drawn map to study it. "Wow, this is really good. You''re very talented, little one. Have you studied drawing before?"


    Qin Luo also put his hand on the little girl''s head, patting it gently. "Don''t cry. You''ve done very well. Your mother would be proud of you."

 Chapter 41: The Great Granary

    The granary was located in a town not far from the commercial district, about a twenty-minute drive away.


    That night, after sending the rescue message to headquarters, the logistics team arrived with buses to pick up the survivors, but they didn''t come until noon the next day.


    "We''re so sorry, our team was quite far from here. We rushed over as soon as we received the message. We hope we didn''t cause you any inconvenience."


    The young woman leading the logistics team kept apologizing. Wang Weihu went to talk to her, saying it was alright. "We''ve already sent you the list of survivors. Many of them have some psychological trauma."


    The young woman nodded in understanding. "Don''t worry, we have a healing ability user in our team. Her mutation allows her to create dreams, and she used to be a psychologist!"


    Wang Weihu felt relieved upon hearing this, but he couldn''t help marveling at such an unusual ability. "Things are getting more and more incredible."


    While he was handling the handover, Qin Luo was studying the route with Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei. Xu Duoduo joined them, curious. The three men and the little zombie gathered around the map.


    "I told you we shouldn''t take new missions. How are we supposed to follow this route now?"


    "Let''s withdraw and take a different one."


    "No way! That would look bad. Has the 3A team ever backed out of a mission?"


    "Xiaofei is right, it would look bad. Why don''t we take on another one and finish them quickly?"


    Xu Duoduo listened to them discuss, making mission-taking sound as casual as deciding where to eat. No wonder everyone on the forum called the 3A team battle maniacs, always rushing to the front lines. How could they not be formidable?


    Qin Luo finally made a decision. "Let''s go! We''ll figure it out as we go. Stop overthinking!"


    He hated wasting time.


    Bai Shu pushed up his glasses and stood up. "Alright, Old Wang should be done with the handover. Let''s move."


    Chen Xiaofei also stood up, brushing off his pants. They had spread the map on the ground and squatted to look at it. They had no choice; the little zombie was too short to see the map if they held it standing up...


    The little zombie didn''t know this, so she stood up too, imitating Chen Xiaofei by patting her pants.


    Seeing this, Qin Luo grinned and patted Xu Duoduo''s head. "Your pants aren''t dirty, why are you patting them? You have to copy everything, don''t you?"


    She really was like a child.


    Xu Duoduo glanced at him and took out her chew toy, gnawing on it with a "crunch crunch" sound.


    Chen Xiaofei immediately rubbed his arms. "Ugh, that sound!" It gave him goosebumps every time he heard it.


    Bai Shu cleverly moved away silently, turning towards their off-road vehicle.


    Chen Xiaofei quickly followed.


    Qin Luo saw her chewing hard and was about to tell her not to bite so forcefully when Wang Weihu called them to get in the car. He didn''t have time to say anything.


    He scooped up the little zombie and walked to the car, tucking her into the back seat.


    They had important business to attend to.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    As their team left, the logistics team saluted them.


    The survivors looked numb, scared, and relieved. They were too preoccupied to pay attention to their "heroes." Only the manager and the dozen or so orphans waved energetically, shouting, "Be safe!"


    Wang Weihu responded by honking the horn as a gesture of acknowledgment.


    With so many survivors, the logistics team would be busy for a while arranging everything.


    As a combat team, they couldn''t delay too long. They needed to take on as many missions as possible.


    "Let''s go! Off to the granary! With all these supplies, we''ll have enough to eat for a long time!"


    Chen Xiaofei cheered from the passenger seat, his baby face full of excitement!


    ...


    Ping''an County, C City.


    The previous silence was broken by the roar of the vehicle, zombies flying as they were hit.


    The modified off-road vehicle was comfortable; in the past, they wouldn''t have dared to drive like this.


    Another wave of zombies cleared.


    Theoretically, these low-level zombies shouldn''t have any mutation cores. Usually, they''d need to evolve to at least one-star monsters to have cores. Mutation cores were rare in the early stages of the apocalypse. But strangely, they had collected over a dozen cores on this trip, all pale yellow and transparent.


    The atmosphere in the car became tense.


    Qin Luo looked at the core in his hand. "Zombie cores are pale yellow?"


    Chen Xiaofei also said seriously, "Exactly! Isn''t this ratio a bit off? And the zombies here seem more agile than in other places."


    Bai Shu checked the forum but found no information about this area. C City was large, and there was still a severe shortage of combat teams.


    Currently, most combat teams were officially organized. Even if ordinary people gained abilities, it took time and effort to adapt to the apocalypse.


    This resulted in a significant manpower shortage, with many areas still awaiting rescue. Areas untouched by humans naturally lacked any data.


    Ping''an County was such a place. Headquarters knew about the granary here but wasn''t sure if there was still food inside or if it had been taken by other ability users. They were concerned about sending combat teams on a potentially fruitless mission.


    In reality, they simply couldn''t spare the resources for this area, prioritizing the rescue of survivors.


    This worked out well for the 3A team.


    Bai Shu recorded everything, planning to write a report to upload to the forum later. "This means the zombies are also starting to level up faster."


    Chen Xiaofei kept grumbling, "Why does it take us so much effort to level up, while these zombies just wander around and reach one star?"


    His complaints lightened the mood in the car, making everyone chuckle.


    "But at least our little Squad Leader has food now! These dozen or so cores should last her a long time!"


    Chen Xiaofei said, turning to look back with a grin.


    Qin Luo held the mutation core. Despite being inside a zombie''s head, once removed, it was a miraculous object that repelled water and dust.


    It was clean.


    Crystal clear.


    He casually offered it to Xu Duoduo. "Want to eat? You can have all of these."


    Unexpectedly, Xu Duoduo declined, her little face scrunching up. She didn''t want to eat zombie cores, feeling like she was eating something from a human body.


    Little zombie refused.


    Qin Luo smiled at Chen Xiaofei, saying, "See? She doesn''t like these. She won''t even eat the mutated snake-person cores."


    Chen Xiaofei scratched his head. "Well, if she doesn''t want them, we''ll find something else later."


    Bai Shu added, "It''s not a big deal. We can trade the zombie cores with others."


    They didn''t criticize her for being picky or difficult to feed. Instead, they all felt that if she didn''t like something, that was fine. They''d find alternatives. No one thought she was being fussy.


    The little zombie felt warm inside.


    Speaking of mutated snake-person cores, those were probably the highest-level cores they could get.


    Bai Shu said, "Since the little Squad Leader won''t eat them, let''s sell them all to the base for points when we get back."


    Everyone agreed.


    Soon, they saw a vast area of granaries.


    They looked like Mongolian yurts.


    White buildings stood on the flat ground, each storing grain.


    Everyone was amazed.


    Xu Duoduo''s eyes sparkled. Wow! Her zombie inventory was about to be filled up again!

 Chapter 42: Ding! Acquired 240,000 Tons of Grain!

    The vehicle stopped at the roadside, and the four people and one zombie, fully armed, headed towards the granary.


    Once again, they cleared zombies along the way, instinctively protecting Xu Duoduo in the middle. She didn''t even get a chance to use her chainsaw.


    They were held up at the main gate for a while, but since it was the apocalypse, they simply used small explosives to blast it open successfully.


    Surprisingly, there were no zombies inside.


    However, they remained cautious. Chen Xiaofei, being the most agile, acted as the scout. After confirming it was safe, he called the others in. They successfully entered the granary area.


    As soon as they stepped in, they noticed how exceptionally dry it was, which explained why the grain was well-preserved.


    The granary area was filled with neat rows of storage units. Chen Xiaofei quickly surveyed the area and found there were thirty-two units in total.


    "Damn, this place is huge! Can our little Squad Leader handle it?"


    Qin Luo crossed his arms and nodded towards Xu Duoduo, indicating Chen Xiaofei should look for himself. "I think she can manage."


    Chen Xiaofei turned to look and was amazed. Xu Duoduo, like a mouse in a rice bin, had already started collecting. Her ability to collect items worked through contact; no matter how much there was, as long as she touched it, everything would be taken at once.


    Thirty-two granaries meant she only needed to collect thirty-two times.


    It was much more convenient than in supermarkets or snack shops. The little zombie just had to reach out her paw, and all the grain would be packed up and taken away! It couldn''t be more satisfying!


    Bai Shu, with nothing else to do, even checked the amount of grain stored here. The results were shocking.


    Each nearly cylindrical granary could hold 7,500 tons of grain.


    And there were 32 of them...


    Qin Luo couldn''t help but say, "We''ve secured enough food for our lifetime, and we can even feed many, many people in our base."


    Bai Shu nodded happily.


    Wang Weihu was too shocked to speak, "Little Squad Leader is amazing!"


    The little zombie didn''t know anything, she just knew that hoarding things made her happy. She was immersed in this joy, though unfortunately, the 32 granaries were gone in the blink of an eye.


    But many small spaces in her multi-faceted cube space were filled, giving her a sense of satisfaction, a very, very happy feeling.


    It was all food!


    All kinds of grains!


    Rice was the most abundant! And it seemed to be of very good quality.


    After collecting all the grain, Xu Duoduo was elated, a bit dazed, with sparkling eyes. Finally, Qin Luo scooped her up to leave. "Why do you look drunk? Are you intoxicated by grain?" He let out a pleasant, deep laugh.


    Everyone was in a good mood.


    Including Wang Weihu, Bai Shu, and Chen Xiaofei. Successfully collecting so much grain made them feel much more secure. Although it was a drop in the ocean for the base, it was better than letting it rot here.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Since the apocalypse began, every day had been unpredictable. No one knew what might happen next, so it was best to collect resources as soon as possible.


    They also asked Xu Duoduo for some grain to hand over, otherwise they couldn''t account for their actions to headquarters, especially since someone had seen them asking the children for a map.


    To avoid trouble, they planned to sell the grain in their storage cards to the base when they returned, exchanging it for points. This way, they could earn points for daily use and also help alleviate the base''s urgent needs.


    After successfully leaving the granary area, they rescued more survivors along the way and scavenged various supplies from the area.


    The small town also had many shops and malls.


    There were no rescue teams nearby, but they were already preparing to return.


    So they directly took this group of survivors with them. The vehicles Xu Duoduo had collected earlier at the service area came in handy. Large trucks were used to transport the survivors'' belongings, while buses carried the people.


    The modified off-road vehicle led the way, with other vehicles following closely behind.


    They had been out for several days now, but they had experienced more in this time than in several months before. Each day was incredibly "eventful," unlike the routine of going to school or work before, traveling the same route day after day.


    Xu Duoduo felt like she had been out for a long time, but it had only been three days.


    The journey took some more time, and finally, on the fourth day, their team returned to the base. Seeing the tall walls from afar brought an inexplicable sense of security.


    Then came the standard procedures.


    They stopped for inspection, while the other survivors queued up for isolation before entering the base.


    Many survivors burst into tears when they saw the staff at the city gate, wearing red coats and name tags, a familiar sight. They had finally escaped death; life after the apocalypse was unimaginable.


    The staff were patient, offering words of comfort and guiding them in.


    Qin Luo and his team stood by their vehicle, waiting for it to be inspected and checked by the staff. The vehicle would be taken away for cleaning and maintenance, then delivered to the parking lot at their residence.


    They could just drive it away when they needed to go on missions.


    Chen Xiaofei stretched and yawned as usual, "Ah~ I''m exhausted."


    Bai Shu also looked tired, moving his neck and sighing, "Let''s take a shower and sleep when we get back."


    They didn''t even feel like eating.


    Wang Weihu went to find a place to smoke. During missions, he was too tense to smoke, but once back at the base and relaxed, he always had a cigarette or drink in hand.


    As the team leader, Qin Luo went to handle the handover with the staff at the city gate, registering their return. "We passed by a granary this time and brought back a lot of grain. We''ll keep 200 jin (100 kg) of rice for ourselves, you can take the rest."


    Ms. Du Chunjiang couldn''t help but be surprised, "Wow, really? You guys are incredible. It''s already impressive that you complete several missions each time you go out, but this time you even fought a three-star mutant monster? And not only did you complete more missions after that, but you also brought back grain? Luo God, your team is truly my idol! By the way, the forum has been buzzing about your team lately."


    They were really too amazing. Others struggled to complete one mission, with two being the limit for the most capable. The 3A team were true battle maniacs. Which other ability users could match these four? And now they even had a new little cutie!


    Du Chunjiang couldn''t help but look at the little zombie, lowering her voice to say, "She''s really pretty and well-behaved, just a bit aloof."


    She didn''t seem to respond much when talked to.


    Qin Luo stepped back a bit, "Tsk, if you have something to say, just say it. Why are you getting so close?"


    Du Chunjiang rolled her eyes, "Brother, if we''re being formal, I should call you cousin. What are you nervous about? I just wanted to get to know her."


    Qin Luo smiled and said, "If you want to get to know her, just do it directly. Why whisper? And she''s not aloof, she just can''t talk right now."


    He muttered a few more words.


    How could the little zombie be anything but adorable?


    She''s not aloof at all!


    Xu Duoduo had been standing at the side waiting for Qin Luo for a long time. She had wanted to leave, but she craved his scent, so she decided to stay a bit longer to wait for him. She planned to take a few more sniffs to satisfy her craving, which would make her sleep better at night.


    The little zombie, whose brain tended to get stuck, didn''t realize how creepy this behavior might seem.

 Chapter 43: Teething Phase

    As Qin Luo approached, the little zombie quickly stuck close to him. When more alert, she wouldn''t easily reach out to touch him, instead following behind.


    Being close enough, she could smell his scent - a fresh, sweet fragrance that wasn''t cloying, like a mix of mint and fruit hard candy.


    The little zombie''s teeth started to itch as she craved the smell, so she took out a teething stick and began to chew. This item was originally meant for human children.


    It was made of flour, sweet potato powder, and carrot puree, baked until very hard.


    She must have collected it from some baby store, but at least she had something to use.


    When her small fangs were growing, her mouth felt uncomfortable and her gums itched. It was bearable when she wasn''t paying attention, but when the itching started, she just wanted to bite something.


    Xu Duoduo was feeling a bit down. Normal people wouldn''t chew on this thing, so she didn''t feel the joy of growing up, but rather an unusual sense of depression.


    "What''s wrong? You''re chewing and looking all withdrawn? Not happy?"


    Qin Luo found it curious. He had been paying attention to her the whole time. The little thing was happy when he came over, but as they walked, she took out the teething stick to chew.


    He was worried her short legs couldn''t keep up, so he deliberately slowed down.


    He thought it was nice to leisurely walk the little zombie.


    Usually, when they returned to the base, he would have rushed back to his room to rest.


    How could he have time to walk slowly with her?


    But now she was chewing and getting upset, which Qin Luo didn''t understand. However, when the little zombie looked up at him, a trail of blood suddenly flowed from the corner of her mouth, completely shocking him. "Wait, what the hell? What happened to your mouth?! Are you injured? Internal injury? Did your space ability backfire from storing too many things?"


    Qin Luo urgently pried open her mouth, looking closely to find it was just her teeth bleeding from the chewing. However, Xu Duoduo was still staring at him with big eyes, her nose sniffing. Oh my, the food reserve had become even more fragrant as he got closer!!


    Although she didn''t plan to eat him, the sweet scent was too intoxicating!


    She was dazed by the fragrance.


    Seeing her unresponsive, Qin Luo panicked. He scooped her up and ran towards the subway entrance. In less than two minutes, they appeared at the research center. Seeing Xiao Qiao, he quickly called out, "Hurry, her teeth are bleeding, can you stop it?"


    Xiao Qiao thought something serious had happened and quickly said, "This way, this way, to the emergency department!"


    But one minute later...


    Xiao Qiao put her hands on her hips and laughed heartily, "Qin Team, are you crazy? The little zombie is just teething. You should check the latest research report, data that hasn''t been uploaded to the database yet. Studies have shown that some infected organisms go through a second growth phase. Congratulations, your little zombie has grown a bit~"


    Qin Luo was speechless, watching the emergency doctor smilingly stop Xu Duoduo''s bleeding. The little zombie had her mouth wide open, her eyes still looking towards him.


    She really was troublesome.


    He knew she liked him, but was it necessary to stare at him all the time?Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    It made him feel awkward.


    Qin Luo''s face flushed, and he snapped his fingers at her, "Look at the doctor, why are you looking at me?"


    The doctor, wearing a mask, smiled with crinkled eyes and was about to say something when Qin Luo interrupted, "I know she''s teething, but why did she chew until she bled?"


    Xiao Qiao was organizing things and replied without looking up, "What do they call it when concern makes you confused? This is exactly that. She chewed too hard."


    The newly grown fangs were hard, and so was the teething stick. How could it not bleed when hard meets hard?


    The doctor auntie also said gently, "If possible, give her softer things to chew on. After all, we''re not rodents, it''s better not to bite on things that are too hard."


    Human babies have teething rings, but for Xu Duoduo, a little zombie with a mouth full of intact teeth, soft teething rings wouldn''t last a single bite, they''d break immediately.


    Qin Luo asked seriously, "Can''t she just not chew?"


    The doctor auntie said that not chewing would make her uncomfortable, but if she could endure it, it wouldn''t be a problem.


    Xiao Qiao called him a devil, saying how uncomfortable it would be to not chew and just endure it. "Do you even know how to take care of her? If you can''t, just leave her to us, we''ll make sure she''s well taken care of."


    "Really, you think everyone''s a tough soldier like you guys? Able to endure such discomfort."


    Xiao Qiao muttered, but she couldn''t interfere with the doctor auntie treating patients. Seeing there was nothing serious, the doctor auntie started to usher the three of them out.


    She then gently called the next number.


    The little zombie had always been a good baby, a good child, with an innate fear and respect for doctors and teachers. At first, she was worried about scaring the human doctor auntie, but as she was leaving with Qin Luo, she saw the next "patient".


    This child came with her mother, with small leaves growing on her head, looking quite cute. She seemed to be about seven or eight years old. But when the doctor auntie asked her to open her mouth, goodness! Her mouth could split all the way to her ears!


    A mouth full of countless sharp teeth.


    Xiao Qiao cheerfully explained, "How about that? This child is cute too, right? Her mutation is a man-eating flower! Also a devouring type ability."


    "If properly cultivated, her ultimate move could swallow a bunch of mutant monsters in one bite! The only issue is that she eats a variety of things, so she often comes to the hospital."


    Xiao Qiao was happy about this. "And you know what? This new little baby''s seed is very interesting. The small leaves on her head will bloom and bear fruit, and the seeds inside the fruit can be planted to grow small man-eating flowers that can be used as guard dogs!"


    The only downside is that sometimes they have trouble recognizing their owner, being a bit silly.


    ...


    Oh my goodness.


    This world has gone completely mad.


    "Alright, Xiao Qiao''s commentary ends here. You two go do what you need to do. Oh, and the new research report is very important, make sure to read it carefully when it''s out. Now, you two should go for an ability monitoring check."


    Qin Luo and Xu Duoduo were bundled into the elevator by Xiao Qiao, sent directly to the second floor. She waved at them with a smile before turning to leave.


    Xiao Qiao, in her white coat, skipping away happily, clearly enjoyed her work.


    The little zombie felt envious.


    Qin Luo also tried to forget about the sanity-draining little girl they just saw, turning his attention to Xu Duoduo. Seeing her unable to resist biting her lip again, he knew her teeth were still itching. So he tentatively offered his wrist to her?


    Xu Duoduo''s eyes lit up, and she swallowed hard. She was craving it!!


    What a generous offer!


    Was he really going to let her eat? Was he that kind? Could this exist in reality?


    But the little zombie didn''t bite.


    She was too shy.


    Qin Luo silently withdrew his hand, feeling a bit disappointed for some reason, but he knew that a clear-minded little zombie really wouldn''t bite people. She was a good child.


    He couldn''t help but sigh.


    It was just as well.


    As soon as they reached the second floor, they saw Wang Weihu and the others who had just finished their ability monitoring. Their abilities weren''t as special as Qin Luo''s, so they didn''t need to do it as often. Headquarters only required regular ability users to do it when they felt unwell.


    For special cases like Qin Luo with his lightning storm ability, he had to do it every time he returned from a mission.


    This time, Bai Shu and the others came for monitoring because of the recent team battle against the mutant snake-person. Sure enough, Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei had become a bit more powerful, while Bai Shu, who hadn''t been injured, showed little change from before.

 Chapter 44: A Major Typhoon Approaches

    The monitoring area on the second basement floor was crowded with many people, or rather, ability users and mutants.


    For example, there was a bouncing rabbit-person, covered in fluffy fur with long ears, but with a normal human face and limbs. They looked more like someone wearing a furry mascot costume, but clearly, the fur wasn''t fake, and they moved with hops and jumps.


    Seeing people, they would open their mouth and ask, "Bro, which department do I go to for fur issues? My fur''s been itchy lately."


    The guy being asked was a chicken mutant, with a large red comb on his head and a rugged face. He replied, "Cluck cluck, bro, you go to dermatology, cluck cluck."


    ...


    This fantastical scene made it hard not to imagine some kind of alternate world.


    Xu Duoduo and the others looked away in unison, and after three seconds of silence, they all agreed to discuss this at home.


    So they split up.


    Bai Shu and the other two went back first, while Xu Duoduo and Qin Luo went for their monitoring.


    Qin Luo''s ability had upgraded, but there was no change for the little zombie Xu Duoduo, her speed still at 1.5. This wasn''t particularly disappointing.


    After all, her ability was spatial manipulation.


    As they were walking back, they encountered a beautiful spider lady. Her upper body was human, but her lower body was that of a spider. As she approached, many people who were afraid of spiders screamed, making her blush with embarrassment.


    Da Qiao, wearing a white coat and holding a bullfrog, was urgently helping to clear the area. "Make way, make way, this is a newly mutated spider lady. Don''t scare her, please be understanding."


    The spider lady covered her face in embarrassment, waving her eight legs as she crawled into the consultation room.


    Da Qiao sighed in relief and, spotting Xu Duoduo and Qin Luo, immediately came over to greet them. "Oh, you''re back? Here for ability monitoring? Your 3A team did great this time, taking down a three-star mutant monster."


    She even noticed at a glance that Qin Luo''s ability had improved. "Keep up the good work. Recently, the number of mutant monsters has been increasing, and their levels are getting higher. If our combat teams can''t keep up with the mutant monsters'' pace, we''re done for!"


    Mutants and mutant monsters are different. The former still possess human consciousness, while the latter have blood-red eyes, eat anything they see, and can hardly control their emotions. That''s the difference. Mutants can live in the base under collar control, but mutant monsters can no longer be called human.


    Da Qiao was also busy. She said she was in the middle of an experiment when she got a call to receive this spider lady, and now she had to return to the lab to continue her work.


    "Let''s have a drink together when we have time. It''s been so hectic lately."


    Even someone as calm as her was becoming irritable.


    Da Qiao finished by winking at Xu Duoduo, "The little zombie baby should come too."


    Qin Luo was already pulling Xu Duoduo away. "We''ll see. For drinking, go find Old Wang. He loves it, he''d drink every day if he could."


    With that, they slipped away.


    Da Qiao was left laughing in exasperation.


    "These two sisters aren''t good news. If they invite you to eat, they definitely want something from you for research. Avoid them if you can, refuse if possible. Don''t foolishly go along, or you might end up being researched. Understand?"Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Qin Luo earnestly explained to the little zombie. Xu Duoduo nodded obediently.


    Although they had been gone for less than four days, the changes in the base were visible to the naked eye.


    For instance, evolved humans, whether ability users or mutants, were now collectively called "new humans."


    Many new high-rise buildings had been constructed in H City. To build so many buildings in just a few days must have been the work of ability users and mutants. There was no choice; with so many survivors crowding into H City, expansion was necessary.


    They took the subway directly to the entrance of their residential area, which was the activity zone for ability users and mutants.


    Ordinary people''s psychological resilience and physical constitution couldn''t keep up with the new humans. Moreover, combat teams returning from missions often had blood stains, which were harmless to new humans but lethal to ordinary people.


    Dividing areas and living separately was a good solution.


    The base''s broadcast was still announcing nearby areas that had fallen, rescue numbers, and lists of casualties.


    "Bzz bzz bzz."


    "Good evening, everyone. We interrupt with an urgent notice. According to meteorological monitoring, Typhoon No. 1 ''Tyrannosaurus'' and No. 2 ''Xizi'' are approaching our coastal waters and will make landfall within 24 hours."


    "The typhoon''s path has been sent to the email inboxes of all combat teams. Please check. Personnel in the typhoon''s path who are currently outside, please pay attention to your safety and protect the survivors. All personnel in H City base are not allowed to go out. The entire base will stop work, production, and classes."


    The warning report came from a female announcer with a professional tone, but you could hear a slight tremor and tension in her voice.


    Nearby ability users couldn''t help but grumble upon hearing this. "Damn, I was planning to take on a few more missions. Now that''s gone. I can barely afford the rent with my points!"


    Someone else said, "This typhoon seems to be coming in strong. Even the announcer''s voice is shaking. Think about those coastal cities. Last time they were almost submerged. If we''re stopping work and production here, those cities in front must be completely..."


    Damn!


    It''s hard not to swear in this crazy world. No one can stand it.


    Xu Duoduo was still looking up, listening to the broadcast. The silver metal collar on her neck glinted a bit.


    The little zombie looked very obedient like this.


    Qin Luo reached out and patted her head. "Let''s go. Stop listening. Let''s head back. It''s on the forum too. This is for ordinary people to hear."


    Ordinary people didn''t have the base''s special wristbands and couldn''t access the internet at all.


    They had successfully returned to the era without internet, and only combat team members could use it. The residential area wasn''t free to live in either.


    To prevent combat teams from becoming arrogant, you had to pay rent to live in good housing. Without points, you could only live in dormitories, the kind where several people share one room.


    The A, B, C, D, E, F, G buildings here represented quality from best to worst, with F building being the worst with eight-person dorm rooms.


    Qin Luo and his team lived in A building, the best single apartments. Their team had plenty of points to pay the rent.


    Chen Xiaofei and the others were cooking hot pot. This team battle against the mutant snake-person had earned them an average of 25,000 points each, enough for them to enjoy a good meal.


    The three of them had sent a message earlier, telling Qin Luo and Xu Duoduo to come directly to Chen Xiaofei''s room when they got back. It was on the same floor, just a few steps away.


    Qin Luo led Xu Duoduo to turn right, arriving at Chen Xiaofei''s door. They opened it and went in directly. "Yin-yang pot? Wait, how many points did you spend?"


    "Not much, not much. Tonight''s on me. I bought a lot of new and interesting ingredients. You guys are in for a treat!" Chen Xiaofei said with a smile as he busied himself bringing out dishes. "Little Squad Leader, make yourself at home. We''re all family here, so no need for formalities!"


    Xu Duoduo peeked out from behind Qin Luo. In the living room was a large yin-yang pot, divided into a white bone broth side and a spicy beef tallow side.


    On the table, they had already prepared some dishes. Actually, Wang Weihu was in the kitchen wearing an apron, preparing the food, while Chen Xiaofei was running back and forth, bringing out ingredients and setting them on the table.


    Bai Shu was reading information from the forum''s database, occasionally pushing up his glasses.


    To be honest,


    If it weren''t for his ability, he wouldn''t have been able to fulfill his dream of being a sniper.


    Now he wore glasses purely out of childhood habit, as it gave him a sense of security.

 Chapter 45: The Latest Research

    Xu Duoduo followed Qin Luo and sat on the carpet by the sofa, looking at the table full of food. She silently took out several more large boxes of food.


    Sliced beef rolls, lamb rolls, a box of various meatballs, duck blood, wide noodles, spring rolls, fried tofu puffs, enoki mushrooms, and shrimp paste - everything was complete.


    Qin Luo and Bai Shu stopped talking and turned to watch her take out the food. It was too amazing!


    "Little Squad Leader, you''re really like a treasure box. You have everything we need. These are all in fresh-keeping boxes, and the beef rolls look like they''re from real meat, not synthetic!" Chen Xiaofei exclaimed happily as he brought out a small basin of vegetables.


    The little zombie finally took out a large can of canned peaches. The three of them let out a "Wow!" and couldn''t help but applaud. This was a real treat.


    Bai Shu smiled and said, "Little Squad Leader, can you maybe bring out some alcohol? Old Wang likes white liquor, and we''d like a few bottles of beer. We promise not to drink too much."


    Xu Duoduo nodded demurely and directly took out a case of beer, followed by a bottle of Maotai.


    Ta-da! Wow! It felt like the table was suddenly shining with golden light!


    Bai Shu laughed again, "Old Wang, come quick! Look, Little Squad Leader brought Maotai for you!"


    "What?" Wang Weihu rushed out from the kitchen, hurrying to the living room to see. His face lit up with joy. "Little Squad Leader, you''re truly a great person!!"


    He really loved alcohol.


    Chen Xiaofei was yelling from the kitchen, "Old Wang, the water''s about to overflow!"


    Wang Weihu then returned to wash vegetables, his mood visibly improved. He was even humming a tune, looking quite domestic washing vegetables while wearing an apron.


    After all the bustle,


    Everyone could finally start eating dinner. By now, it was already 8 PM.


    Bai Shu played the latest research report on his tablet for everyone to hear.


    Then they started eating and drinking.


    "Little Squad Leader, do you have any sesame paste? Hot pot without sesame paste has no soul."


    "Put some beef in for me."


    "Little Squad Leader, I want clear oil dipping sauce."


    "Damn, this meat is so fragrant! Good beef really tastes best in clear broth!"


    "I, as a spicy food lover, absolutely disagree!"


    "Xiaofei, what did you buy? Why are there these pink chunks of meat?"


    "Well, I''m not brave enough to eat that."


    "Tsk, this is shrimp!! Shrimp! Mutant shrimp! Other teams brought it back, and the research center checked it. It''s edible and twice as delicious! Heavens, I only managed to get one piece. Do you know this stuff sells for 300 points a box?"


    The little zombie stared at the basin of so-called shrimp meat. It was indeed shrimp meat, just a magnified version. Each piece of shrimp meat was as big as a fist.


    This was the good stuff Chen Xiaofei was talking about, which he had fought with a bunch of people to get at the supermarket.


    "Damn, it''s really delicious!"This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Eating shrimp like this is too satisfying!!"


    "Little Squad Leader, do you want to try a bite? Can zombies eat mutant shrimp?"


    Qin Luo had just given Xu Duoduo a piece of shrimp meat. "Do you want to eat it as sashimi?"


    Xu Duoduo stared at it for a while, not taking the raw shrimp meat with chopsticks, but instead eyeing the cooked shrimp meat in his bowl. She actually seemed to be craving it, which was rare.


    Qin Luo understood immediately. He put the shrimp meat from his chopsticks into the spicy pot to cook for a minute, then took it out to cool. While it was cooling, the little zombie''s paw was resting on his arm, silently swallowing.


    Chen Xiaofei and the other two started laughing. "So the Little Squad Leader can crave food too?"


    Bai Shu took off his glasses and put them aside. "Why wouldn''t she? It''s just that we don''t know if she likes cooked food. Doesn''t the new research say that mutants prefer eating mutated animals?"


    Wang Weihu took a sip of white liquor, his whole body relaxed, watching them eat and drink. This kind of life was simply too good to be true.


    Hearing his friends'' words and seeing the little zombie craving so much that her whole body was pressed against him, Qin Luo thought, how could she not crave? That night she even climbed into his lap and gnawed on his wrist. "Alright, it''s cooled down. Eat up."


    Seeing the shrimp meat fed to her mouth, Xu Duoduo opened her mouth with an "Awooo" and ate it. The large shrimp meat was sweet and juicy, and her eyes lit up!!


    She could actually taste it!!


    A taste other than mutation cores! The taste of shrimp!! Her face was full of surprise.


    The little zombie was stunned.


    Chen Xiaofei, biting his chopsticks, was also shocked: "What''s wrong with the Little Squad Leader? She''s like a frozen computer, stuck."


    Bai Shu and Wang Weihu also looked at her nervously. It was the first time the little zombie had eaten anything other than mutation cores.


    Qin Luo was very calm. Having watched her for a long time, he knew her little thoughts. "Probably stunned by how good it tastes. It''s fine, she''ll be back to normal in a moment."


    Sure enough.


    The little zombie started chewing again, her eyes bright and shining, her paw still gripping Qin Luo''s forearm.


    It wasn''t that Xu Duoduo didn''t want to eat by herself. She could grab things, but she couldn''t use chopsticks for these delicate tasks. Her paws weren''t adapted to it yet.


    But it didn''t matter.


    She had an automatic feeder beside her.


    Qin Luo ate a couple of bites himself, not forgetting to cook some mutant shrimp meat for her.


    Chen Xiaofei and the others breathed a sigh of relief and resumed their smiles as they continued eating and drinking.


    "So what does the latest report mean? I can''t really understand it."


    "Me neither."


    Hearing Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei''s words, Bai Shu said helplessly: "Did you two even listen carefully?"


    The report had become background music.


    Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei just chuckled. They indeed hadn''t listened carefully.


    Bai Shu looked at the two of them, then at their captain playing the feed-the-little-zombie game next door. None of them could be relied upon. So he simply cleared his throat, leaned back on the sofa, took another sip of beer, and started explaining to them.


    "The gist is that one of the research center''s latest discoveries is about the use of mutation cores. This thing is the key to the evolution of all living and non-living things globally."


    The source of the global infection hasn''t been identified yet.


    But infected organisms or non-organisms all evolve through [Devouring], which is why zombies want to bite people, mutant animals want to eat people, and mutant monsters accept anything, eating whatever they can.


    It''s all to accumulate enough energy to evolve and become stronger.


    The infected all contain this energy element. Lower-level ones have very little, while higher-level ones have more.


    For example, ordinary zombies and ordinary mutant animals don''t have mutation cores, but they keep [Devouring], gaining improvements through eating.


    Eventually, mutation cores will grow in their bodies.


    [Devouring] is also one of the main skills of all mutants currently, and it''s quite common.


    "The second latest research is that the diluted serum of mutation cores has been approved and is now in mass production. Ability users can enhance their abilities by injecting the diluted mutation core serum, but whether they can digest and use it depends on themselves. Breaking through oneself is also a way to accelerate improvement."


    Using or not using the diluted mutation core serum is like using spirit stones in cultivation novels. Without the serum, you rely on absorbing the world''s infection source normally. When your ability is exhausted, you can achieve a breakthrough. Using the serum allows you to level up faster, but it''s just an empty shell built up.


    Abilities are like knives; they need to be tempered a thousand times to be sharp enough.


    Levels built up by drugs are very hollow.


    They were all shocked by this information.

 Chapter 46: Diluted Mutation Core Serum

    Everyone had to adapt to everything in this new world.


    After eating and drinking their fill, they left a messy table, and everyone helped clean up.


    By the time they finished, it was already 10:30 PM.


    So everyone returned to their own homes.


    Xu Duoduo also returned to her little nest, which she had only stayed in for one night before.


    She busied herself taking things out of her spatial storage to decorate this small home.


    She put out cute dolls and various small ornaments, changed the curtains to her preferred warm colors, and replaced the carpet with a light green one.


    The bathroom doormat had to be made of water-absorbing diatomite material, and various toiletries were placed in the cabinet above the bathroom sink.


    The kitchen refrigerator magnets were also replaced with cute ones, and some daily seasonings were added.


    The whole little nest finally felt like home.


    Xu Duoduo was busy running around, moving the living room cabinet to a new position one moment, changing the bedding and sofa covers the next.


    Since her fingers couldn''t do very delicate work, it took her a long time just to put on a duvet cover.


    Finally, after she finished, she sat on the bay window in the living room, staring blankly outside. The outdoor broadcast had been turned off, and the entire residential area was left with only dim lights, enough to illuminate. It was quiet below, with no one staying outside.


    The huge wall was very conspicuous, standing in front, yet it made people feel secure.


    The little zombie hugged her tablet again, browsing the forum. She saw quite a few bizarre posts, which were unfortunately locked, but that didn''t prevent her from viewing the content.


    The latest research report had become a hot topic on the forum, with everyone discussing it.


    -I heard rumors before that ability upgrades relied on mutation cores, but I didn''t quite believe it. I can''t believe it''s actually true??


    -Damn, mutation cores are so hard to get. What are the lower-level combat teams supposed to do?


    -Another serum, and it''s something injected into the body. Is this really okay?


    -Laughing to death, if you''re afraid, don''t use it! So many researchers worked day and night to develop it, and you''re still not brave enough to use it?


    -Whoever wants to use it can use it. I''m going to wait and see. Who knows what will happen after the injection?


    -Mind your own business. Do you think this stuff is for anyone to use? I just got first-hand information that the first batch of serums won''t be available to us ordinary teams. They''re prioritizing the top teams.


    -Oh, you don''t want it? In the future, you won''t even be able to find a way to buy this stuff even if you want to. Just wait and see. After the apocalypse, the gap between humans will only get bigger and bigger.


    ...


    Seeing everyone arguing in this post, Xu Duoduo quickly switched to another post, turning her attention to real-time disaster situation reports.


    It wasn''t just their country suffering; other countries around the world were experiencing terrible disasters.


    A certain country R had suffered a super-strong earthquake, causing seawater to flood in. It was estimated that few people were left. International rescue efforts were willing but unable to help. Everyone was struggling to cope with their own problems. Who had the energy to worry about others? They were all busy trying to save themselves.


    The whole world was in chaos.


    Xu Duoduo scrolled through videos. The zombies abroad were several times more ferocious, truly creating scenes of zombie sieges, running crazily to catch and eat people.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The videos were full of screams and the sounds of biting.


    Country M even had huge monsters appear, plus versions of ordinary zombies, their entire bodies wrapped in zombies, like a giant humanoid furnace.


    Those swallowed up didn''t even leave a splash of blood.


    People screamed and fled in all directions, most only able to rely on themselves to escape.


    There was no order at all.


    Most satellites in various countries had malfunctioned, planes couldn''t take off, parts of the sea were covered in fog, and even ships couldn''t sail.


    Communication between countries had almost completely broken down.


    They could only fend for themselves.


    It wasn''t just various monsters, but also weather disasters, tornadoes, blizzards, and suddenly rampant tumbleweeds, almost enough to submerge entire countries.


    Xu Duoduo looked at those mutated tumbleweeds, feeling they were like spiky balls, running wild on the streets of a certain country, with many people stuck on them.


    It was chilling.


    The comments under these videos weren''t even enabled. People could only watch.


    They couldn''t comment.


    In the face of disaster, humans seemed so small. Of course, this was no time for jokes!


    After watching these videos, one could only be grateful that the order in their own country hadn''t collapsed.


    They quickly established three major bases in the three most solid and reliable mega-cities.


    Then, with these three solid backings, they went to support other cities. Currently, more than half of the fallen areas had been rescued, and chaotic areas were being stabilized with great effort.


    They strived to develop the chaotic areas into other small bases. The location for becoming a base was also crucial - it had to withstand natural disasters and be far from the coastline.


    Coastal areas had all been moved towards the central regions.


    They also strengthened the management of ability users and mutants, re-planning new regulations.


    Xu Duoduo tried hard to digest everything, feeling that although the apocalypse hadn''t started long ago, the previous stable life seemed like something from many years ago.


    It made the little zombie feel dazed.


    ...


    Early the next morning.


    Outside, the typhoon was coming, but because it hadn''t arrived yet, it just felt stuffy and hot.


    The sky was very bright.


    There was no sign of rain at all, but now it seemed more like the calm before the storm.


    Xu Duoduo was woken up by Qin Luo, gathering to go to Professor Ji''s place. He said the diluted mutation core serum had just arrived, and the professor wanted them to come over to try its effects.


    When they arrived at the research center, Professor Ji was still explaining the usage to other combat teams. Seeing them arrive, he immediately waved to the five of them.


    "Come over, let me tell you about the situation first, then you can decide whether you want to take this serum or not."


    They entered a conference room, where Professor Ji showed them a PowerPoint presentation first. Currently, this serum couldn''t be widely distributed, so they could only conduct private education.


    "Everyone''s body is different. After the injection, various side effects may occur, such as dizziness, fever, vomiting, and so on. Even entering a state of heat is possible."


    Professor Ji explained to them one by one, "But the effects are also significant. After the injection, everyone''s absorption situation is different. If you can use it well, it will lead to a great breakthrough in your physical constitution."


    After he finished, he clicked to the next page, which showed pictures. "The mutation cores extracted from each type of creature have different effects. After the injection, you can temporarily gain the ability of that mutation core."


    The picture showed an elephant, with the extracted mutation core being earth-yellow in color.


    "For example, this strength-type mutation core, after injection, can provide a temporary strength boost. The test subject was a 17-year-old girl from a martial arts school. After using it, her explosive power in one strike could kick the head off a two-star mutant lizard person. It''s an amazing burst of power, isn''t it?"


    There were many such cases, all results obtained through day and night experiments by the research institute.


    Qin Luo and the others were already shocked beyond words. Xu Duoduo also stared with wide eyes, dumbfounded.


    "Wait, that girl just now, and the uncle after, and this young man, why do they look so strange? Are they cosplaying?! With elephant tails and leopard ears and all."


    Qin Luo pointed this out, and Chen Xiaofei and the others nodded vigorously in agreement.


    Professor Ji coughed awkwardly, "Well, as I mentioned, this serum currently has some side effects. Partial animal-like mimicry of the human body is one of them. It''s more obvious in some people, less so in others."


    "But these mimicries will disappear as the serum is metabolized by the body. They won''t stay like this forever."


    Qin Luo and the others fell silent, feeling strangely that this side effect was a bit perverted. What if a grown man ended up with cat ears or something...


    The image was too beautiful to imagine.


    The faces of the four men turned black, looking as if they had lost all hope in life.


    The little zombie''s eyes, however, were bright and shining, secretly glancing back and forth at the four of them.


    She was actually a bit excited, what should she do?!

 Chapter 47: Big Doggy!!

    Probably seeing their straight-man awkward self-esteem, Professor Ji comforted them, "It''s okay. If used well, the beastified parts can actually bring you additional abilities."


    For example, mimicking claws can be used to scratch people, and if you have cat-like paw pads, you can jump from high places unharmed like they do.


    Mimicking a tail can help maintain balance, and you can even use the tail to attack people.


    Like an alligator''s tail.


    Professor Ji said this very seriously, "You should try to choose mutation cores that match yourself as much as possible. In other words, ordinary ability users cannot withstand multiple types of mutation core serums. The maximum tolerance is only five types."


    But he suggested not to exceed three types, trying to select the most suitable ones for oneself within three types, and then only using that fixed type in the future.


    Otherwise, the body would explode.


    "At the same time, you may have noticed a problem. After injecting the mutation core serum, you will have mimicry like mutants. So this serum cannot be used by mutants, but they can improve their level by consuming diluted mutation core liquid of the same type. Meanwhile, we''ve discovered a new issue."


    Professor Ji clicked to the next page of the app with a heavy expression. It was a video showing a lizard man screaming in pain, going berserk while saying he didn''t want to lose his sanity. It was a very manic state.


    In the end, he still completely lost his sanity and was regrettably killed.


    "Whether ability users or mutants, when the virus load in the body is too high, they will lose their sanity. Therefore, ability users absolutely cannot seek shortcuts by directly consuming mutation cores or injecting too much diluted mutation core serum at once."


    Professor Ji said this problem was very serious and asked them to remember this point, otherwise they would eventually become terrible mindless monsters.


    This topic became somewhat heavy.


    Qin Luo and the others weren''t concerned about themselves, but all turned to look at Xu Duoduo.


    The little zombie was still looking up at the PowerPoint, watching the lizard man in it screaming in pain, crying out that he didn''t want to die, begging to be saved, that he didn''t want to lose his sanity.


    As if someday in the future, she might become like this too.


    It was inevitably saddening.


    Professor Ji also noticed this and couldn''t help but smile, "I didn''t expect your team to have such good feelings for each other. Don''t worry, as long as it''s well controlled, mutants won''t turn into monsters so quickly. Remember our base''s principle? We never compromise with the apocalypse, we never give up on any human being. No one will abandon you."


    The last sentence was directed at the little zombie. Xu Duoduo couldn''t help but look at Professor Ji. His smile was very reassuring, so she nodded. She was willing to believe these hardworking researchers.


    Professor Ji then smiled at Qin Luo and the other four, "So, how about you four? Do you want to try injecting the diluted mutation core serum and experience it? At normal doses, this stuff won''t endanger life."


    Just the side effects might be a bit uncomfortable.


    The serum was rare.


    Qin Luo and the other four looked at each other, you looking at me, me looking at you.


    Finally, they nodded resignedly.


    What else could they do?


    They had to keep up with the pace, otherwise, if their strength couldn''t keep up, they wouldn''t be able to survive in the apocalypse.


    Seeing a 17-year-old girl, previously from a martial arts school, never been a soldier, but able to kick off the head of a two-star lizard monster with one foot...


    They had trained so hard for so long, a team that had been honing themselves since the beginning of the apocalypse, yet they still struggled against two-star mutant monsters.


    If they didn''t make up this gap, they would really be washed up by the new wave.


    Seeing the four of them nod, Professor Ji contentedly took out several password-protected boxes, "Come on, take a look at what I''ve prepared for you."


    Because he knew them well enough.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Professor Ji had actually selected diluted mutation core serums that were more suitable for them early on.


    He was just teasing them.


    He also knew they would definitely agree. How could such a strong team as 3A, who pursued combat power, be content to watch others surpass them?


    Qin Luo and the others took their own serums and awkwardly went out to get injections.


    Chen Xiaofei was still muttering, "Wuwu, I hope I don''t grow an eagle head. That would be so ugly! I''d rather grow eagle feet than have my head turn into an eagle''s head!"


    Xu Duoduo waited for them to return in the conference room, swaying her body in anticipation. Although she couldn''t take the diluted mutation core serum, Professor Ji had given her a box of twelve bottles of diluted mutation core liquid, pink in color.


    "This is strawberry flavored. Little girls should like it. It''s made from one-star mutated flower cores. You can drink it when you''re free. It can also improve your strength a bit."


    Xu Duoduo didn''t dare tell Professor Ji that she had been chewing mutation cores dry like candy, so she obediently typed a [Thank you] on her tablet and put away the box of diluted liquid.


    Professor Ji nodded with a smile. Just then, another combat team arrived, so he went to answer their questions. It was just a matter of a few words.


    Someone suddenly glanced inside, their gaze fixed on the little zombie, then fell on the collar on her neck. Xu Duoduo uncomfortably touched her collar, her mood suddenly becoming low.


    She even bared her teeth at the person angrily.


    "Pfft, so this is 3A team''s new member? Apart from a pretty face, she seems very ordinary. I don''t understand why Captain Qin would recruit this kind of person."


    Hearing this, Professor Ji warned, "Did you feed your manners to the dogs?"


    Only then did the person perfunctorily apologize, "Ah, sorry, sorry. I''m just straightforward."


    The little zombie was about to get angry! She was just about to go out and beat up this judgmental person, and even take out her chainsaw to give him a taste.


    But the next second, this big guy flew out. Yes, he really flew out. Faint electric currents flashed in the air, along with a familiar scent!!


    Xu Duoduo''s eyes widened. It was the fresh scent of mint fruit candy!


    At the same time, Qin Luo''s cool voice rang out from outside, "What kind of cat or dog dares to criticize my team member? Who do you think you are?"


    Professor Ji also exclaimed in surprise, "You kid, not bad! You mimicked so quickly! Less than ten minutes, right? Others take at least two or three hours, the slowest even ten hours. You''re amazing! Good boy! Quick, come with me to test what your ability value is."


    Qin Luo let Professor Ji go first, "You go ahead, I''ll be there shortly."


    Seeing him glance into the conference room, Professor Ji patted Qin Luo''s shoulder with a smile, "Alright, I''ll wait for you over there. Hurry up, don''t waste time."


    He said as he hurried towards the testing room, his face full of excitement.


    Qin Luo had once again delivered an amazing result. You should know that the earlier the mimicry succeeds, the easier it is to absorb, and the future potential is limitless!


    As for the foul-mouthed guy who got beaten, Professor Ji didn''t care about him at all. Not to mention his foul mouth, getting beaten up would teach him a lesson. Besides, ability users weren''t that fragile. Being kicked once wouldn''t kill him, at worst he''d be in pain for a few days.


    Professor Ji was busy preparing for the test. Qin Luo was the most important research subject.


    "Look at you, what''s the use of getting all puffed up when others insult you? You should snarl back! Come back later and I''ll help you settle the score. You can beat him up however you want."


    Qin Luo had just entered the door and started lecturing Xu Duoduo. He had just gotten the injection and was feeling dizzy and hot all over. He had just walked out of the clinic when he heard this dog insulting her, which made him rush over in three or five steps.


    The little zombie felt wronged. She was just about to counterattack when he arrived!


    But when she saw him at first glance, all her anger instantly disappeared.


    Because of the unusually hot weather, Qin Luo had just worn a black tank top and jacket when he left. He had taken off his jacket for the injection and didn''t put it back on when he came out feeling hot, just holding it in his hand. Now his good figure was fully revealed.


    His height of 189cm was no joke. Tall stature, solid chest, nice muscle lines on his arms, tight abdomen, plus camouflage combat pants and black boots, making his legs look long and straight.


    That waist was really powerful!


    His face was very handsome, with sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, a high nose bridge, and red lips. Especially when he was impatient, he looked really cool, but when he was relaxed, he looked adorably bad. Plus that single small fang was very special.


    But now!!


    Now he had a pair of gray, fluffy upright ears on top of his head!! He was a big doggy!!


    The little zombie was stunned.


    He was frowning and muttering to her, complaining that she was easily bullied.


    "You''re already small, and being bullied makes you look even more pitiful. Forget it, from now on, stick close to me. Wherever I go, you go, got it?"


    Qin Luo said very seriously. If it weren''t for his flushed face, you''d really think he was being serious. But then he noticed the little zombie was dazed again.


    "Comrade Xu Duoduo, your captain is lecturing you! You dare to be distracted?"


    But the next second, the little zombie grabbed his tank top, making Qin Luo bend down. Otherwise, his black tank top would turn into a V-neck cleavage outfit!!


    The next second.


    She grabbed the ears on his head, and the little zombie actually got so excited she let out an "Awoo."


    Qin Luo''s face instantly turned bright red. He stood up straight abruptly, the wolf tail behind him involuntarily swaying. The little zombie let out another "Awoo" and pounced to hug his big tail, making his whole body shudder uncontrollably.


    The sensation went straight from his tailbone to the top of his head!!


    Damn!


    He had actually forgotten about the mimicry!

 Chapter 48: Everyones Mimicry

    The little zombie didn''t even "awoo" anymore, but went "woof woof!" Her little paws were secretly stroking his tail.


    Qin Luo''s face was bright red. He wanted to pull his tail away but felt a bit weak in the knees. "I''m a wolf."


    "Woof woof."


    You''re a big doggy!!


    Qin Luo watched the little zombie hugging his fluffy big tail, even tilting her head to nuzzle it, looking so happy. He really couldn''t help but grit his teeth.


    Finally, he said with tears in his eyes, "Okay, okay, I''m not a wolf. I''m a woof woof. Even if the sky falls, the sea explodes, and the Earth is destroyed today, I''m still a dog."


    No one could stop him.


    For no other reason than her blinking eyes and tilting her head to "woof woof" was too cute!!


    Heavens! Help! Whose zombie is this cute?


    The little person in Qin Luo''s heart couldn''t help but beat his chest and stamp his feet, but the grey wolf''s tail couldn''t be touched!


    He was touched until his legs went weak and numb, his whole body hot, feeling like smoke was coming out of the top of his head~


    Fortunately, a good buddy came to the rescue.


    Chen Xiaofei flapped his wings and rushed out! "Woah ah ah ah, Qin bro, look at me! Little squad leader, look! I can fly!!"


    He crashed over, scaring the little zombie into letting go of her little paws with a "plop". Qin Luo quickly pulled back his big tail, but couldn''t dodge in time. The three of them rolled into a heap, while Chen Xiaofei, this idiot, was still laughing.


    "Look, look! I actually have wings! My goodness, it''s a wonder of the world."


    Chen Xiaofei was flapping his white-grey wings with white spots on his back. Apart from the wings, his feet had also transformed into eagle claws. Everything else was normal.


    He put his hands on his hips and said, "Hahaha, soon I''ll be able to fly in the sky, zooming around at high speed!"


    Qin Luo picked up the little zombie and stood her up, then directly gave Chen Xiaofei a knock on the head. "Attention! Stand straight! Quickly apologize for knocking down the girl!"


    Xu Duoduo was still a bit dazed and confused, obviously the little zombie''s brain had crashed again.


    Chen Xiaofei then apologized for getting too excited, quickly bowing 90 degrees, "I''m sorry, little squad leader. I was wrong, little squad leader. I didn''t mean to. To make it up to you, I''ll buy mutation cores for you to eat later."


    His baby face was full of sincere expression, also blinking his eyes at the little zombie.


    Xu Duoduo heard him say he would buy mutation cores for her to eat, so she nodded, her gaze falling on the big tail behind Qin Luo again.


    Qin Luo was scared and quickly coughed twice, "The tail can''t be touched." He couldn''t handle it if it was touched.


    The little zombie pouted.


    Qin Luo immediately added, "You can touch it when there are no outsiders around."


    At least he wouldn''t lose his dignity as a captain due to blushing, weak knees, and smoke coming out of his head!


    The little zombie suddenly realized, nodding demurely to show she understood. No touching in public, but free to touch in private! Her little paws could touch freely!


    Seeing her little expression, Qin Luo thought she understood and even praised her for being smart.


    Chen Xiaofei was confused, scratching the back of his head, looking at his captain, then at the little squad leader. Only then did he notice the big wolf ears on top of Qin Luo''s head.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    "Damn! Qin bro, you look so handsome! So cool! What kind of wolf is your original form?"


    "Native Tibetan wolf."


    Qin Luo said with a sour face. What handsome or not, he just felt stupid with two dog ears on his head, and this fluffy tail behind him.


    He didn''t know his tail also swished impatiently with his mood.


    Chen Xiaofei, on the other hand, really liked his new image, flapping his wings, jumping with his claws. The claw tips made crisp sounds when they hit the tiles. "Look, doesn''t it look like I''m tap dancing? Ding ding ding ding."


    Qin Luo looked at his flapping foolish appearance, at a loss for words. "It doesn''t. It looks like a flapping wild chicken."


    Chen Xiaofei retorted, "My species is the king of all eagles - the gyrfalcon!"


    He flapped his wings, feeling quite beautiful.


    When Bai Shu came out and saw this scene, he really didn''t want to admit that an idiot like Chen Xiaofei was his teammate. He couldn''t help but push his glasses, walking out helplessly, "Can you stop jumping? The noise is giving me a headache."


    Chen Xiaofei got excited when he heard this. He just jumped and jumped! Just flapped! Until several girls walked by quickly, looking at him and covering their mouths to giggle. Only then did his face turn red, and he lowered his head to cover his face as he walked into the conference room.


    How embarrassing...


    Qin Luo also pulled Xu Duoduo inside, with Bai Shu quickly slipping in behind them.


    "So what species are you? Never seen it before. Why are you all fluffy?"


    That''s right.


    Bai Shu was different from the two of them. He not only had small ears, but his whole body was fluffy. So he helplessly spread his hands and sighed, "Russian flying squirrel, more accurately called Siberian flying squirrel."


    It''s a type of flying squirrel.


    When Chen Xiaofei heard this, he laughed, thinking of the serious Bai Shu actually being such a cute creature. He couldn''t help but tease.


    "Oh yo yo, here comes the little flying squirrel!"


    "Chen Xiaofei, you''re finished!!"


    With that, the two of them almost started fighting on the spot. Qin Luo pulled Xu Duoduo to the side to watch the show.


    But after waiting for a long time without seeing Wang Weihu, they felt something was wrong.


    So they had to go look for him.


    Xu Duoduo followed behind them to watch the fun. If she could grin widely, she''d probably be grinning like an idiot like Chen Xiaofei right now.


    Her eyes were bright and shining.


    When Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu opened the door of the compartment, they suddenly burst into thunderous laughter, holding their waists and laughing, "Oh my god hahaha, Old Wang hahaha!"


    Even Qin Luo couldn''t help but get curious, "What does Old Wang look like? Let me see."


    Xu Duoduo also peeked behind him. If Qin Luo hadn''t forbidden touching his tail in public, she really wanted to hug the big tail behind him.


    When they looked...


    Wang Weihu was about to fall apart. He was sitting in the corner with his back to them, showing two ears and a yellow and black striped tiger tail.


    It was just that for a big tough guy nearly 1.9 meters tall to suddenly be so cute was really hilarious!


    Bai Shu laughed until tears came out.


    Chen Xiaofei laughed so hard he squatted down and pounded the ground, "Hahahahaha, hahahahahaha."


    Qin Luo also burst into laughter.


    It felt like their laughter was about to shake the roof off.


    Wang Weihu turned his head, angry and embarrassed, "Don''t laugh!!"


    His mimicry was too silly!


    But when they saw his face with two tiger ears, and short ones at that.


    The three friends laughed even harder.


    In the end, Wang Weihu was coaxed out by his teammates. Bai Shu was holding back so hard he almost bit through his lower lip. Chen Xiaofei''s voice was shaking as he spoke, "Hm ha, ahem, actually, this, this is quite good! You look honest and simple. In the future, when you negotiate with survivors, it''ll definitely be even easier."


    His mimicry didn''t need guessing, pure Siberian tiger, and the chubby kind!


    So silly and honest.


    Qin Luo was also trying hard to keep a straight face, just occasionally his shoulders would shake from holding back.


    But he firmly suppressed it.


    Xu Duoduo followed behind the four of them, watching Wang Weihu''s tail swishing back and forth. The round, plump tail was also very cute, but he looked like he was about to fall apart. The little zombie felt that if she pulled his tail, she might make him cry.


    So the little zombie considerately didn''t touch it, just staring at Qin Luo''s big tail. This tail was still the best, with good texture, a big fluffy tail.


    The grey color was also easy on the eyes.


    As Qin Luo walked, he inexplicably felt a chill down his back. He looked back and saw the little zombie blinking her eyes and tilting her head at him again. His ears immediately felt hot.


    He swallowed awkwardly, then pretended to be serious and lectured, "Xu Duoduo, zombies can''t always act cute, you know!"

 Chapter 49: Upgrade

    The little zombie didn''t know, the little zombie wanted to hug the big tail, but couldn''t right now.


    Xu Duoduo was craving it.


    It felt like he smelled even better now~


    Professor Ji happened to come back looking for Qin Luo, but found that all four of them had completed their mimicry. He exclaimed in delight, "You all! Quick! Come with me, let''s do an ability monitoring test. You''re not feeling too uncomfortable, are you?"


    Qin Luo and the other three obediently shook their heads. They did feel a bit uncomfortable and uneasy, but it was bearable.


    Professor Ji led the four of them away and asked Xiao Qiao to play with Xu Duoduo for a while.


    To prevent the little zombie from getting bored.


    "Don''t worry, the childcare service in our research center is very good. Your little zombie teammate won''t get lost, and no one will bully her."


    Professor Ji, concerned they might be worried, specifically mentioned this, then ushered the four of them into the ability monitoring clinic, smiling.


    Xiao Qiao indeed received the order and came bouncing over. She was wearing a white coat and had her hands behind her back. Seeing the little zombie, she smiled and said, "Little baby, you''re here again? Come on, let sister take you to play for a while?"


    The little zombie didn''t really want to move. She sat on the long bench in the waiting area, swinging her feet.


    Her eyes looked a bit conflicted.


    Seeing her hesitation, Xiao Qiao simply plopped down beside her, "Oh, it''s okay, if you don''t want to walk around, we can just wait for them here!"


    She was very considerate!


    The little zombie happily swayed her body. Xiao Qiao''s heart was almost melted by the cuteness, "How is it? Is it tiring following Captain Qin and the others on missions?"


    ......


    When Qin Luo and the other three came out, they saw Xiao Qiao chatting enthusiastically with the little zombie.


    Basically, Xiao Qiao was doing all the talking.


    "Yes, yes, yes, so that old baldy was transferred away, and Professor Ji came to replace him. Our Professor Ji is really super gentle and super nice."


    "Baby, you haven''t been to the city center yet, right? It''s quite lively over there. You can go take a look when you have time, as long as you follow the base rules, there''s no problem."


    "I heard that the higher-ups are going to hold an award ceremony for your team, and they''re planning to have the TV station record the news. It''ll be broadcast on the big screen in the city center, but it''s been delayed because of the typhoon."


    "Da Qiao''s house is on the first floor of the residential area. She planted another batch of little man-eating flowers, you know, the seeds from that man-eating flower baby. As a result, when she went out that day, they spat saliva at her, hahaha, a bunch of naughty kids."


    Qin Luo and the other three were stunned. Are girls'' conversations this dense?


    The little zombie couldn''t speak but could use a tablet. Her little paws tapped away and then held it up. Xiao Qiao would then chatter on endlessly, all gossip.


    It was interesting to listen to. Who doesn''t love to hear gossip?


    Finally, Qin Luo walked over and coughed twice, "Xu Duoduo, let''s go."


    After saying this, he also politely said to Xiao Qiao, "Thank you for your trouble, for helping to watch her. Did it take up your time?"This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Xiao Qiao watched the little zombie jump off the chair and scurry to Qin Luo''s side, following him. She sighed helplessly, "After all, she''s closer to you."


    Qin Luo was on high alert, one hand instinctively wrapping around the little zombie, "What!? Are you saying you want to take her away?"


    No wonder!


    No wonder such a busy researcher would have time to accompany Xu Duoduo!


    His protective manner was so silly.


    Xiao Qiao looked at him with disdain, "Of course I want to take her away, who wouldn''t like such a cute zombie baby? But I was really just working. It''s almost my lunch break, what''s wrong with keeping her company before I get off work?"


    If she really wanted to take her for research, would she need to trick the little zombie like this? She could just tie her up and take her.


    Her ability was vines, after all.


    "Baby, if you ever don''t want to follow this silly Captain Qin, come find sister, okay? Love you~"


    Xiao Qiao made a heart sign at the little zombie, then glanced at Qin Luo and made a "tsk tsk tsk" sound. These guys sometimes had such strange thought processes.


    After saying this, she walked away with a click-clack sound.


    Qin Luo: ......


    He felt like he''d been played!


    Chen Xiaofei also ran over, "The little squad leader is so popular, everyone wants her."


    Wang Weihu asked in confusion, "Baby??" Although the little squad leader looked young, how could she have any connection to a child?


    Bai Shu understood, pushing his glasses, "It''s a term of endearment between girls. But it''s not wrong to call the little squad leader that, isn''t she immortal?"


    If we''re talking about her current lifespan, she is indeed a baby still in the growth stage.


    Wang Weihu understood!


    Qin Luo poked the little zombie''s cheek, "How do you manage to be so lovable?"


    The little zombie didn''t understand. In her eyes, all she saw were the grey wolf ears twitching on top of his head.


    She wanted to pinch them!


    Qin Luo saw her staring at him and felt a bit embarrassed, "I know you like me the most, but stop staring. People will laugh if they see."


    Chen Xiaofei and the other two made an "Eww~" sound. It was really hard to watch.


    After the check-up, they prepared to go home.


    Professor Ji had already given them the diluted mutation core serum, one small box each, containing six doses of serum. For now, they were to take one dose every three days.


    Xu Duoduo hadn''t gone in just now, so she didn''t know.


    As they walked, Qin Luo explained to her, "The assessment system for ability levels has been perfected now. They use ranks to represent them, divided into levels one to ten."


    Corresponding to the one-star to ten-star mutant monsters.


    Bai Shu added, "Currently in our team, only Qin Luo is at mid-third rank. Old Wang and Xiaofei are both late second rank, and I just broke through to second rank."


    He was a bit slower because he was previously a long-range shooter and hadn''t been seriously injured by the mutant snake people, so he fell behind a bit. But after today''s injection, he broke through.


    You can see how powerful this mutation serum is, great for improving levels!


    Wang Weihu also said, "After taking the serum, you can understand what Professor Ji meant by an empty frame. Your body is full of energy but you don''t know how to use it."


    They also hadn''t fully adapted to the mimicry yet.


    Professor Ji told them to explore the advantages of their own mimicry to adjust their training.


    For example, Qin Luo''s lightning Tibetan wolf mutation core was the most special. This serum was extremely compatible with him, with a genetic match as high as 95%.


    The genetics here don''t refer to one''s own genes, but the compatibility of gene fusion between the two.


    After taking the serum, not only did it enhance the strength of the lightning storm, but it also added a speed-increasing buff.


    Wolf claws could also be weapons.


    Professor Ji said that if he could achieve full mimicry without losing control in the later stages, he would be invincible. It''s just that this kind of special mutation core is hard to come by.


    If Qin Luo needs to take more serum later, he can only try to exchange other mutation cores for lightning ones.


    Chen Xiaofei''s gyrfalcon mutation core was also a speed type, but he was also lucky. It came with wind system abilities, which could help each other to achieve faster speeds, and it also meant he could research his own killing moves.


    Professor Ji said that wind can be gentle or fierce. For example, a tornado could attack a large area.


    He even joked, "Isn''t this like the games you young people play, what''s it called, area of effect attacks?"


    In short, he encouraged them to explore their own abilities more and research techniques, saying that this shouldn''t be difficult for young people like them.


    It might be harder for middle-aged and elderly people to understand, but for young people who had played plenty of games before the apocalypse, they should learn quickly.

 Chapter 50: Awo?

    Bai Shu''s flying squirrel had activated short-term flight and jumping abilities, which, combined with his previous eye evolution, made him very suitable for assassinating enemies.


    He inherited an [Berserk] ability that could enhance his body to a certain degree when facing enemies, but it couldn''t be maintained for too long.


    This was a skill of the flying squirrel with the Mutation Core. The headquarters spent a lot of time trying to kill it, and in the end, it used [Berserk]. The cost was consuming its own energy, but it became incredibly strong when berserk.


    One swipe of its claws could leave a bone-deep wound in an ability user''s waist.


    In the end, it was still subdued.


    Professor Ji suggested that Bai Shu should try to activate this skill when he had the chance, but to be mindful of the timing. As long as he could defeat the enemy within the berserk duration, there would be no problem.


    Wang Weihu activated his earth-based ability. The owner of his Mutation Core, that Northeastern tiger, had crushed many people and zombies to death with condensed earth balls. It also liked to chase people with earth balls, scaring them half to death before crushing and eating them.


    Mutated animals had no rationality, only the instinct to devour.


    Although this move was quite disgusting.


    Professor Ji thought it would be good if Wang Weihu could inherit it, or perhaps modify it to create earth walls or earth spikes. It was up to him to explore.


    In summary, their team''s overall level had improved, and the rest depended on their own exploration. If headquarters had the capacity, they would also arrange teachers for them.


    "It feels so magical! In just over a month, the world has changed so much," Chen Xiaofei said with a smile.


    Wang Weihu nodded, "It''s like a dream. The Earth is gradually becoming unlike Earth."


    Bai Shu calmly pushed up his glasses and said, "The Earth is still the Earth, whether it''s the Cambrian period, the Ice Age, the modern era, or now in the apocalypse. What''s changing is our living environment."


    What they needed to do was to adapt, as did all of humanity.


    But fortunately.


    Humans are creatures with extremely strong adaptability and creativity.


    When the apocalypse came, they built fortresses.


    Rescued companions.


    Strived to let everyone live a "normal" life as much as possible, even though "normal" people weren''t so normal anymore.


    They couldn''t help but laugh.


    Qin Luo didn''t care, saying nonchalantly, "Live one day at a time. Whatever the world is like, strength is the most important tool for survival!"


    The others all agreed.


    "We can all level up, let''s teach the little squad leader later, see if we can help her learn how to use abilities too."


    "Teach her ourselves? Can we do that?"


    "Otherwise, do you think her ability is suitable to be exposed? What if it''s discovered? There are always some pests in the headquarters. What if she gets taken away for monitoring?"


    "That definitely can''t happen!"


    Qin Luo decided immediately, "We''ll teach her ourselves! Who can''t learn by analogy?"


    Bai Shu also said he would help research information, striving to ensure the little squad leader''s safety!This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Chen Xiaofei didn''t know where he could be useful, so he said, "Then I''ll buy Mutation Cores for the little squad leader. Without her, there''s no good food. I''m still counting on her to get me tasty treats. The little squad leader needs to live well too!"


    Wang Weihu scratched his head, his tiger ears twitching, "I''ll do the same as Xiaofei."


    His favorite cigarettes and alcohol were all in the little squad leader''s space. If they were in his own storage card, they''d probably have been confiscated by the higher-ups long ago.


    They still needed the little squad leader to be well.


    They really trusted her, not worried at all about her running away or dying.


    If that happened, their things would really be gone.


    The little zombie watched as the four of them whispered, quietly discussing strategies.


    The corpse felt warm.


    Xu Duoduo suddenly remembered something.


    Ever since her adoptive grandparents passed away, she had been all alone.


    Actually, her three years in middle school were her most relaxed and happiest period, also the most carefree three years. She only needed to focus on studying, somehow became the class monitor, and was loved by everyone. Everyone was very kind to her.


    In high school, her grandfather started getting sick. She was busy with school and helping her grandmother take care of her grandfather. At first, her grandmother didn''t want her to worry, telling her to study well, but later when her grandfather passed away, her grandmother also fell ill.


    Their savings were depleted.


    Xu Duoduo started working part-time while attending university, and eventually, her grandmother also passed away.


    In the end, that area was developed, and she was forced to move from that small home, then moved to a new house in K City. But not long after, the apocalypse began.


    After her grandparents were gone, she had always been very lonely. She rarely had extremely close friends, only occasionally keeping in touch with a few college roommates.


    This feeling of living together, doing missions together, being bound together almost all the time was very novel. Their small team was a whole.


    Xu Duoduo felt very secure following them. Although things were a bit chaotic when they first met, everyone was very nice. Indeed, people who were originally good remained good even after so many years. She felt very lucky.


    "Little squad leader? Little squad leader? Let''s go, the weather''s not good, a typhoon is coming."


    "Xu Duoduo? Are you daydreaming?"


    The little zombie''s rare moment of clarity was suddenly interrupted. She let out an "Awo?" What was she just thinking about? She couldn''t remember.


    What was it?


    She got stuck.


    Seeing her suddenly freeze, Qin Luo couldn''t help but laugh. He turned around as usual, scooped her up under his arm and started walking, "How did you suddenly space out?"


    Chen Xiaofei also laughed, "Why does the little squad leader look so puffed up?"


    The little zombie was indeed angry!


    Because she forgot something, and it was all their fault! This feeling of thinking of something halfway and then not being able to remember what you were just thinking about was too awful!


    The little zombie couldn''t describe it.


    She could only puff up angrily, struggling with a "hmph", but was locked in place by Qin Luo. "Shh, don''t move around. See those plastic bags flying up there? If we delay a bit more, all five of us will be meeting in the sky."


    The little zombie was stunned and hadn''t responded yet when Chen Xiaofei foolishly asked, "Huh? Why?"


    Bai Shu said helplessly, "Because when the typhoon comes later, it could blow us up into the sky."


    Wang Weihu suddenly burst out laughing, though it wasn''t clear what exactly he found funny.


    Chen Xiaofei: ...


    They got on the subway, then quickly exited the station. The sky had already visibly darkened, giving a feeling that the heavens were about to collapse. The wind started howling, so they needed to walk quickly.


    Fortunately, the subway exit was very close to the community entrance. They successfully entered the building just as the rain started to fall. Suddenly, the lights flickered, and the power went out, replaced by dim emergency lights. The base had started cutting power!


    The broadcast also began to sound, and alarms went off throughout the entire base.


    "Super Typhoon Baolong is approaching. Please do not linger outdoors. Please do not stay outdoors."


    "Due to the super typhoon, the jammers on the city walls may be affected. Uncertainties are increasing, and there may be attacks by mutated birds or insects at any time. Please close your doors and windows and remain quiet, ordinary citizens."


    "All combat teams, be prepared for rescue at any time. For specific rescue areas assigned, please check your email notifications."


    Upon hearing this, Qin Luo said, "Oh boy, no sleep tonight. Everyone be careful!"


    Bai Shu and the other two nodded.


    Xu Duoduo also picked up her wooden whistle and blew it once. This time, they were fighting a defensive battle.


    Defending home!

 Chapter 51: Telekinesis

    Though it was noon, the sky was as dark as night. Outside, there was an unusual sense of unease. Humans are instinctively afraid of darkness.


    The wind was getting stronger.


    Even tall buildings began to sway, and everyone in the base felt inexplicably anxious that day.


    H City Survivor Base was already one of the largest bases in the country. Normally, it could withstand most dangers due to its massive walls and monster jammers, with many checkpoints set up for entering the city.


    The safety of civilians living in the city was generally guaranteed.


    But this time it was a natural disaster, so there was nothing they could do.


    And the failure of the jammers meant that mutated monsters would arrive.


    The staff on duty were still preparing for the typhoon.


    Until there were fewer and fewer people outside, the entire base fell into absolute silence.


    Only the howling wind remained.


    In the New Human Residential Area.


    On the 19th floor of Building A, warm light shone through the door crack of Xu Duoduo''s apartment.


    She had taken out a rechargeable table lamp and placed it by the coffee table. Then she urgently learned how to use abilities with her teammates. After taking the serum and leveling up today, they had more insights and seemed to have realized something.


    "Using abilities requires concentration. Little squad leader, try to focus and see if you can use any skills? By the way, our skills all came with the serum, only you and Brother Qin have abilities that came with yourselves, right? It''s amazing!"


    Chen Xiaofei was the most talkative. He could mutter to himself a lot, holding a can of sweet soy milk in his hand while stuffing super spicy snacks into his mouth.


    Chewing while talking, occasionally taking a sip of soy milk.


    He really didn''t waste any time.


    The coffee table was covered with snacks.


    Bai Shu was looking up information on a tablet. "The feeling of using abilities? It''s indeed hard to describe. It feels more like an energy you need to mobilize yourself."


    Usually hidden in the body.


    Flowing like blood.


    When needed, you concentrate to mobilize it. How to use it depends on yourself.


    Wang Weihu agreed, "Before, I only had a simple strength enhancement. When I threw a punch, I would mobilize the ability to concentrate on my fist."


    He demonstrated for the little zombie, clenching his fist and then swinging it in the air. The powerful wind made a "whoosh" sound, and you could even see the power of his fist with the naked eye. "See, like this! After taking the serum, I can clearly feel that the ability inside me is many times more abundant than before."


    If he could throw fifty such punches before, now he could throw a hundred!


    The little zombie looked at the three of them in surprise, indeed feeling their changes.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    The wolf ears on Qin Luo''s head twitched. It was his turn to share his experience. "Xu Duoduo, just follow your heart and try. First, concentrate on mobilizing your ability and see if you can control and lock onto a small space?"


    He had nothing to share, after all, this battle maniac only knew how to charge ahead! He didn''t know how to explain, so he could only let her try like he did.


    Chen Xiaofei and the other two immediately went "Wow!", giving Qin Luo a thumbs up!


    As expected of the captain.


    Bai Shu also pushed up his glasses, "Right, no amount of theory is as good as trying it yourself."


    Try it yourself, and you might just get the hang of it. Take it step by step.


    The little zombie pondered for a while, finally nodding firmly to show she understood, then closed her eyes and tried to find the feeling they described.


    Then one minute passed, two minutes passed, three minutes also passed.


    The four of them went from intently watching the little zombie''s changes to feeling deflated.


    Their mimicry hadn''t disappeared yet, and it looked like it wouldn''t fade for at least a day.


    At this moment, their moods were reflected in their beastified parts. Qin Luo''s wolf ears twitched from time to time, Wang Weihu was swishing his tail, Chen Xiaofei kept flapping his wings, and Bai Shu was staring at the little zombie.


    They were anxious for her!


    Xu Duoduo struggled for a long time and finally found a bit of that feeling. The multi-faceted Rubik''s cube space in her mind started rotating again.


    This time, miraculously, there was no nausea. Watching the multi-faceted cube fly around actually felt very cool. She tried to control the direction of its rotation and could actually control it for one or two seconds. The rest of the time it was still spinning randomly.


    Xu Duoduo suddenly got something. She suddenly opened her eyes and tried to stare at the water glass in front of her, wanting to telekinetically put it into her space.


    Unexpectedly, it actually worked?!


    "Holy crap, telekinesis! Well done, little squad leader! That''s awesome!"


    Chen Xiaofei jumped up, extremely excited.


    Wang Weihu also widened his eyes, "You learned it just like that? Too strong!"


    Their reactions gave the little zombie courage. Qin Luo also smiled and moved his drink over, "Come on, try again and see. Telekinesis is also progress. That''s it, Professor Ji also said to try more."


    This time, Xu Duoduo used it more flexibly. By concentrating and locking onto a certain object, she could achieve telekinesis, putting things into her space.


    You should know that before she could only collect things by hand, needing to touch the items.


    Now she didn''t need to?


    The little zombie was also shocked! Wouldn''t collecting things be even faster in the future?


    Later, in her excitement, she wanted to collect a small ornament on the TV cabinet in front, but found she couldn''t. She frowned and couldn''t do it no matter how much she concentrated.


    It even gave her a headache.


    Bai Shu was recording something and noticed her movement. He said, "Probably has a distance limit?"


    Qin Luo quickly got up and went to get the ornament Xu Duoduo wanted. "Here, no rush. Try one by one and see how far you can telekinetically collect objects."


    Chen Xiaofei and Wang Weihu also continued to cheer her on. "Little squad leader, it''s okay! Take it slow!" "Come on, come on!"


    The little zombie looked at the four of them and nodded, feeling confident again! She followed along, trying one by one. Qin Luo moved the distance each time. If she couldn''t do it, she shook her head, and he moved a bit closer. Finally, they stopped at one meter away.


    Bai Shu immediately helped her record it. "Very good, one meter is also progress. Who knows, with more practice, the distance might continue to expand in the future?"


    The little zombie was encouraged. She nodded vigorously, and after using her ability, she finally understood the feeling they were talking about.


    It was as if there was indeed an extra energy in her body, running through her whole body with her blood.


    As long as she concentrated, she could mobilize it.


    Xu Duoduo was very happy. When she looked at them again, her eyes were full of gratitude. She knew that her brain was prone to getting stuck now, slow to process.


    If it weren''t for their patient guidance, who knows how many years it would take for her, this little muggle zombie, to understand that abilities could be mobilized.


    She was so happy that she wiggled, and fed them a bunch of food again, various braised dishes, fried chicken, and beer. She herself took a teething stick and gnawed on it.


    Happy or not, she loved to gnaw. It was stress-relieving!


    Qin Luo and the other four laughed along, finding her adorably silly.

 Chapter 52: Mutant Bats

    The relaxed atmosphere didn''t last long.


    Soon, their wristbands alerted them to incoming emails. The location assigned to their team was confirmed - it was in the southeast direction not far from where they were, a residential area with quite a few inhabitants.


    The message stated that mutant bats had been spotted and instructed them to be careful and head there immediately.


    Outside, the wind was still howling. Many trees in the community had been blown down, though the rain wasn''t heavy. But since the mission had been assigned, as a combat team, they had to set out. So they clicked to confirm.


    Everyone hurriedly stuffed a few bites of food in their mouths before getting up and heading out.


    While waiting for the elevator, they even did some quick stretches, moving their necks and legs, preparing for battle!


    Everyone put on their earpieces.


    Qin Luo started assigning roles, "Xu Duoduo, you''re with me. Xiao Bai and Old Wang together. Xiao Fei, you''re on your own."


    Bai Shu had weaker physical abilities, so it was better to pair him with a damage-absorbing partner.


    Chen Xiaofei was now faster, and Bai Shu might not be able to keep up with him. Neither could Wang Weihu, so it was better for him to act alone, giving him more freedom to fight.


    The three of them all agreed.


    As teammates who had been on countless missions together, the four of them could work in any combination.


    Qin Luo didn''t let the little zombie stay alone anymore. Now that they had witnessed her killing move, it was time for her to train with them. The apocalypse was ever-changing, as they had seen with their own eyes. Without effort, it was easy to be eliminated.


    They had thought her space ability was just a support-type ability. None of the four had imagined it could kill people. It was indeed a good thing.


    Xu Duoduo took out her chainsaw. She was still more comfortable using this. Was she afraid? Not really. Somehow, seeing the four of them made her feel very secure. It felt like they were a team. She wasn''t just a lone zombie!


    The 3A Combat Team officially entered battle mode. As soon as the elevator opened, they charged into the rain. The wind was still strong, but the rain had lessened.


    Now everyone in the team had improved their skills and speed.


    They didn''t take the subway.


    They ran directly, as this place was only about ten minutes away from them.


    Xu Duoduo''s speed was 1.5 times that of a normal person, but for Qin Luo and the others, it wasn''t enough. So she was being carried by Qin Luo as he ran.


    "Tch, these ears and tail are really in the way!" Qin Luo impatiently shook his ears. Although he ran faster, the newly grown mimicry beast ears were too sensitive, and the tail was also troublesome. Having a tail hanging behind him felt strange no matter how he thought about it.


    Xu Duoduo was already used to being carried. She lay on his shoulder and could see his tail swishing away the rain as he ran. The rain wasn''t heavy, so the tail wasn''t soaked and still looked very fluffy. She just stared at it.


    She liked it so much!


    She wanted to hug it, stroke it, nuzzle it!


    But they were on a mission.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    On the other side, Wang Weihu was also a bit awkward. He almost lost his balance and fell because of the extra tail, but he quickly readjusted.


    Chen Xiaofei was the most uninhibited. He directly flapped his wings and took off while running. He could even control the wind to blow away the rainwater near his wings, so they wouldn''t get wet. How wonderful!


    Later, he even grabbed Bai Shu, caught him and ran to a high place, then threw him down. Bai Shu then glided down from the height, flying quite far.


    Although it was well-intentioned.


    Being grabbed and thrown down from a height for the first time, Bai Shu directly cursed, "Chen Xiaofei, I thank your ancestors for eight generations!"


    However, he did quickly grasp the essence. Bai Shu started taking shortcuts himself, climbing houses, and finally gliding to accelerate, saving a lot of energy.


    Chen Xiaofei laughed heartily, feeling that this sense of free flight was incredibly enjoyable.


    Until Qin Luo warned him not to overdo it, as their abilities were limited.


    Chen Xiaofei then woke up from his excitement and quickly indicated that he understood, "Okay, 3A Special Operations Team - Eagle has arrived at the destination."


    "Target group locked, it''s a group of large black mutant bats, circling near the residential buildings. They scattered and fled when they saw me."


    "I''m going in!"


    After saying this, he launched the first attack, directly mobilizing his ability and charging up.


    He started chasing and fighting the mutant bats.


    Bai Shu was the second to arrive. He also reported: "3A Special Operations Team - White Mouse in position. I''ve reached the designated location. Encirclement begins."


    The four of them very tacitly split into four corners, locking positions and starting to eliminate towards the center. In the end, the four of them would meet at the central point.


    This was their usual habit from before.


    Wang Weihu quickly reached a corner of the residential area as well. "3A Special Operations Team - Tiger King in position. Encirclement begins."


    Qin Luo directly replied: "Received." He had also reached the farthest corner.


    After putting the little zombie down, he said: "I''ll let a few bats through for you to practice. Figure out your own fighting style, and try to stay behind me."


    With his combat output, bringing along a little newbie was a piece of cake.


    Xu Duoduo nodded, holding her chainsaw. Then she saw Qin Luo also start to report the beginning of the battle. After that, he twitched his wolf ears and began to charge forward. He held his double-edged knife in his hand and started a one-sided slaughter. He even applied lightning to his dagger. With each strike, it was truly a sight of sparks and lightning.


    There were many bats here, densely packed to an absurd degree. Qin Luo was outputting damage at the front, occasionally letting a few large bats slip through. These bats were truly huge, about the size of a basketball, with pointed mouths and small eyes, blood-red eyes, and blackish wings. They weren''t cute-looking at all.


    The little zombie was nervous inside, but when they swooped towards her, she also swung her chainsaw to kill them. Bat blood immediately splattered out.


    A few drops splashed on her snow-white little face, and she raised her hand to wipe it off.


    Looking at Qin Luo''s back, she stepped forward again, hugging her chainsaw and keeping up with his speed. After noticing that she had eliminated the first bat, he gradually widened the gap, letting more mutant bats through for the little zombie to practice on.


    Before the apocalypse, Xu Duoduo was just an ordinary girl who went to work after graduation, living a routine life. The only thing remotely related to martial arts or training was the military training during her school days.


    She had never been exposed to these things, but unexpectedly, she turned out to be quite brave.


    Although you could see she was a bit scared, she adapted very quickly, stumbling but determined to keep up with him. Qin Luo couldn''t help but admire her.


    Although a bit clumsy.


    The little zombie was trying very hard.


    What to do.


    Qin Luo found her even more adorable. How could she be so likable?!


    The star rating of the bats wasn''t high, but the annoying part was that they seemed endless. No matter how many they killed, there were always more, continuously pouring into the base from outside.


    It was probably due to the abnormal weather causing trouble, leading to their large-scale migration.


    Their route happened to collide with the base.


    And these bats were very wind-resistant! Even more so than these ability users against the typhoon!


    Occasionally when the wind was strong, Qin Luo felt it was a bit difficult to stand. The little zombie Xu Duoduo had been blown head over heels several times.


    But the little zombie was tough and didn''t feel much pain. Every time she was knocked over by the typhoon, she would nimbly get up again, just a bit dirtier.

 Chapter 53: A Ground Full of Mutation Cores

    How many bats were there in the end? The sky was already very dark, but later when the typhoon came, the clouds moved faster, and it seemed to brighten up a bit.


    But then it suddenly darkened again, and this time it wasn''t because of the typhoon.


    Hiss.


    When the little zombie looked up sharply, her pupils shook with shock. A vast, dark swarm of mutant bats flew over, circling in the sky above.


    The sense of oppression was terrifying.


    Through the earpieces came the "Holy crap!" exclamations from Chen Xiaofei and the others.


    "Damn, why are there so many of these things? Have they gone mad? It''s endless!"


    "This isn''t right."


    "Everyone be careful, it doesn''t look good. There are too many."


    Qin Luo''s expression was also grim. "Everyone regroup first, don''t stay scattered. It feels like more than half of this batch are one-star mutant bats."


    His words made Chen Xiaofei and the other two draw in sharp breaths. They all indicated they understood and started converging towards the center, ignoring the other bats for now.


    Qin Luo was about to call Xu Duoduo when he found she was already running over with her chainsaw. Good, she was a quick thinker. Seeing her approach, he scooped her up in one motion!


    "Watch your ability consumption. Xu Duoduo, you too. Don''t overuse it and become dazed again."


    Qin Luo had just noticed that she had started using her space ability to lock onto mutant bats in small areas, then using spatial compression to blast them into a blood mist.


    Xu Duoduo nodded. Her wooden whistle was stained with blood, so she didn''t blow it.


    Soon, all the members of their team gathered together. The residents here were following the base''s instructions and didn''t dare open their doors, but there were still kind-hearted people who approached the windows to ask if they wanted to come inside and rest.


    Qin Luo replied without turning his head, "No need. Keep your doors and windows closed and don''t open them again. Please be extra careful for your own safety. Thank you for your concern."


    The kind resident sighed worriedly, "Then take care, comrades!" before obediently closing the window and drawing the curtains.


    Xu Duoduo was also put down.


    Chen Xiaofei and the others were panting as they ran, but everyone finally met up again.


    But that''s when the unexpected happened.


    Xu Duoduo suddenly felt a sense of crisis maxing out. She seemed to have a kind of premonition about danger each time, and then everything seemed to slow down like slow motion.


    The mutant bats circling in the sky suddenly all concentrated and dove towards them.


    Their target was the four of them plus one zombie!!


    Qin Luo immediately shouted: "Be careful!!" Then he used his skill [Lightning Call]. With a rumbling sound, several lightning bolts struck down from above, forming into spherical lightning in mid-air and blasting towards the swarm of mutant bats.


    Xu Duoduo''s eyes widened as time seemed to freeze. After a second''s pause, the entire world was filled with the diving swarm of mutant bats.


    First, there was a "pitter-patter" of a large number of mutant bat corpses falling down, killed by the lightning storm.


    But the mutant bats that survived luckily continued their attack, directly covering the four of them plus one zombie.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    To the naked eye, their team couldn''t be seen at all, only the blackish mutant bats flapping their wings. The residents peeking from the upper floors couldn''t help but gasp, clenching their fists in worry.


    "It''s over! The combat team is dead, what are we going to do?"


    "Oh my god! With so many bats, they must have gnawed their bones clean!"


    "So terrifying!!"


    "Waaah, I don''t want to die, waaah!"


    "Mommy, I want my mommy, waaah! Mommy, I''m so scared, waaah!"


    "They were all so young, what a pity. Why did headquarters only send five people?!"


    "Right! Headquarters! Quick, call for help!"


    "Can''t they save them? This is so irresponsible, it''s irresponsible for our people''s safety, and it''s irresponsible to their combat team! They''re still so young, there''s even a little girl!"


    "Wait, look quickly!!"


    Something wasn''t right.


    It really wasn''t right.


    Even if they were surrounded by bats, why weren''t there any screams of agony?


    Suddenly.


    Flashes of light appeared within the blackish swarm of bats, along with surging electric currents.


    The next second.


    The blackish swarm of bats suddenly let out shrill bat screams. After the electric current finished coursing through them, there was a sudden "zzzz" explosion. Then the lightning storm blasted them away, and blackish-red bat corpses exploded everywhere.


    They even burst out many shiny mutation cores, directly covering the ground.


    Then, one after another, earth spikes shot up five or six meters high out of nowhere, directly skewering some of the bats like kebabs. Several small tornadoes also appeared out of thin air, sweeping up the mutant bats and shredding them within the whirlwinds.


    The remaining bats seemed to suddenly fall into confusion, all losing their direction and a large portion crashing to their deaths.


    They even started killing each other.


    A moment of silence.


    The ground was covered with mutant bat corpses, while the four people and one zombie stood unharmed.


    They didn''t even have blood stains on them. Miraculously, it seemed like there was an invisible protective shield in front of them. The falling bat corpses actually slid down about a meter in front of them.


    "Damn! Little squad leader, that was so cool! This protective shield feels amazing!!"


    Chen Xiaofei couldn''t help but laugh out loud, throwing his head back.


    Xu Duoduo was already starting to feel dizzy. In the critical moment earlier, she just thought that she couldn''t let the four of them get hurt, absolutely not. In the emergency, she suddenly had an inspiration and a new skill appeared: [Spatial Shield]. After activating the skill, she could lock onto targets and provide a protective shield.


    She had directly generated five of them, emptying out the bit of ability energy stored in her body. Now she felt nauseous and dizzy, her little face pale.


    It was Qin Luo who noticed something was wrong. After dealing with the remaining mutant bats with his ability, he went over and scooped her up in one motion, letting her lie on his shoulder.


    "Is the little squad leader okay?"


    "Ah, my bad. I didn''t notice that the little squad leader seemed to have overused her ability! I was too busy being happy!"


    "Didn''t Professor Ji give the little squad leader some diluted mutation core serum before? Let her drink some quickly." It was Bai Shu who reacted quickly enough, reminding them in time.


    Qin Luo supported her waist, looking at the little zombie lying limply on his shoulder. She had almost fallen asleep as soon as she touched his shoulder.


    "Forget it, let her sleep for a while to recover her strength. Let''s clean up the battlefield first."


    They were too preoccupied to be happy about the ground full of mutation cores.


    Because it had really been too dangerous. It was fortunate that their coordination had been quite good.


    Xu Duoduo instantly formed protective shields, Qin Luo directly unleashed his ultimate move, Wang Weihu and Chen Xiaofei created earth spikes and tornadoes respectively.


    Bai Shu activated an illusion, making the bats dizzy and kill each other.


    Otherwise, the scale of this attack would have been too horrifying. There were at least tens of thousands of mutant bats.


    Wang Weihu and Bai Shu were also mentally exhausted, having emptied their abilities. Qin Luo was also close to his limit. Chen Xiaofei, who had been very confident at first, directly collapsed on the ground after his excitement wore off and his adrenaline dropped.


    Bai Shu pushed up his glasses and chuckled, "Show off, who could outdo you?"


    He had predicted this!


    Everyone''s levels were about the same. Even Qin Luo found it taxing, how could Chen Xiaofei escape? Sure enough, he was too tired to even crawl.


    They could only clean up the battlefield themselves, quickly collecting the mutation cores.

 Chapter 54: Twenty-Three Thousand Mutation Cores

    After the typhoon finally ended, the entire base was in shambles. The roads were filthy everywhere, covered with dismembered limbs and blood from mutant animals.


    Trees uprooted by the wind, scattered branches and leaves, sheets of metal, and other debris littered the ground.


    The logistics team led the citizens in starting to clean up.


    Meanwhile, the entire combat team collapsed from exhaustion, each heading home to catch up on sleep.


    They had successfully defended their home.


    The death toll among ordinary citizens in the entire base was less than two hundred, which was considered low. The combat team suffered zero deaths, with over a thousand seriously injured, but fortunately, none were life-threatening.


    In the apocalypse, as long as ability users still had a breath left, they could be saved.


    Their vitality was incredibly tenacious.


    The new humans'' lifespans were also different from ordinary people, having been greatly extended.


    The stronger one''s abilities, the longer they lived.


    **


    When the little zombie woke up, she opened her eyes to a ceiling both familiar and strange.


    She could hear people moving and talking in the living room.


    "Do you think the little squad leader will be overjoyed? She''ll definitely be shocked, hehe."


    "Alright, stop talking nonsense. Get to work quickly."


    ...


    Rustling sounds.


    But more importantly, she was suddenly attracted by something shiny!


    Xu Duoduo turned her head to look, and the little zombie directly sprang up like a carp, sitting up on the bed in a daze...


    Mutation cores!


    Shiny mutation cores!


    Mutation cores piled up as high as a small mountain! Her dulled sense of smell had also recovered.


    The light pink mutation cores seemed to give off a fruity fragrance!


    The little zombie shamelessly widened her eyes, feeling like she must be dreaming.


    These mutation cores filled up half of her room!!


    "How are you feeling? Is your body uncomfortable? Shocked?"


    Qin Luo''s dog nose was now very sensitive, and his hearing was good too. As soon as he discovered she had woken up, he walked over and pushed open the half-closed bedroom door.


    Leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, he smiled at her, "These are the mutation cores from last night''s mutant bats. Twenty-three thousand in total."


    All of them were one-star.


    After completing the mission, each person was rewarded with ten thousand points, plus ten boxes of marble bombs.


    "And these are from Xiao Fei as an apology for bumping into you. Old Wang and Xiao Bai also joined in and bought some for you."


    A total of ten two-star mutation cores. Chen Xiaofei bought three for Xu Duoduo, Wang Weihu and Bai Shu each bought two, and Qin Luo also bought three as a reward for her rapid progress with her ability.


    Last night, the base encountered a rare attack by mutant animals, all flying types - bats, various birds, and even moths from the insect category.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    But it was also a blessing in disguise, as they obtained a large number of various mutation cores through the slaughter.


    Now the price of mutation cores in the base had skyrocketed. A single one-star mutation core was inflated to five thousand points, not to mention the higher levels.


    Especially with the appearance of serums, the uses of mutation cores had been greatly explored.


    They were more valuable than gold.


    Qin Luo told her to put them all away, "We discussed it and decided to leave them all to you."


    The little zombie needed nutrition.


    Even after storing all the mutation cores in her space, Xu Duoduo still hadn''t reacted to the fact that they were really all given to her? All these mutation cores were really gifted to her?


    Twenty-three thousand!


    So many fragrant mutation cores all for her? But they had also killed many mutant bats last night!


    The little zombie was stunned.


    Qin Luo could tell what she was thinking with one look. "What are you thinking? If they''re given to you, just accept them with peace of mind. Good things like this don''t happen often. We were lucky this time. It''s perfect to keep them for you to eat. In the future, we can use zombie mutation cores for spending. After all, you don''t eat zombie mutation cores."


    It was rare to find food she could eat, so the four of them unanimously agreed to leave it all to her.


    Mainly because the team members all had enough points to spend, and they weren''t big spenders in daily life. They didn''t need to rely on this to earn points.


    The points from missions alone were enough for them to use, so it was better to leave the mutation cores for her.


    Qin Luo looked at her dazed expression, already used to the after-effects of her overusing her ability. Last night, he urgently asked Xiao Qiao to come over and change her clothes. There was no choice, since all four teammates in their squad were men.


    Xiao Qiao was very interested in this and took the opportunity to bring over equipment for testing. She discovered that Xu Duoduo''s speed had increased to 3.0 times normal.


    She could become a first-level speed-type ability user, just like Chen Xiaofei was initially.


    Qin Luo had a sudden inspiration to cover up Xu Duoduo''s spatial ability, so he let Xiao Qiao define her as a speed-type ability user and directly update her personal information.


    Therefore, Xu Duoduo''s personal information in the ability section was no longer [None] but had been updated to [First-level Speed-type Mutant].


    Xiao Qiao first praised Xu Duoduo for growing so quickly last night, "Her speed was only 1.5 times before, and now it''s 3.0? Captain Qin, you''re quite good at training newcomers, huh?"


    She didn''t suspect anything.


    After all, Xu Duoduo was currently the only zombie-mutated baby in the base.


    And zombies, well...


    Weren''t their habits to pounce, bite, scratch, and suddenly speed up to chase people?


    Therefore, Xu Duoduo''s speed ability didn''t raise any suspicions from Xiao Qiao.


    Because it made sense.


    As for the after-effects...


    After examining her body, Xiao Qiao found that the coma was just one of the common after-effects of ability overuse. The temporary regression in intelligence was rare but not unheard of. "There have been cases of emotional sensitivity after ability overuse before. There was even a middle-aged man who cried for his mother!"


    Now no one could give a definitive explanation, as the after-effects were varied and strange.


    However, the after-effects of ability overuse would subside on their own, so it wasn''t a big problem.


    "But too much energy is very dangerous! Extremely, extremely dangerous. Exploding to death is no joke. You guys must remember, don''t be foolish, okay?"


    After Xiao Qiao gave her final instructions, she pinched the little zombie''s cheek once more before happily leaving, pleased to have provided door-to-door service for the little zombie.


    Very good.


    End of reminiscence.


    After learning that Xu Duoduo''s after-effect didn''t harm her body, Qin Luo was no longer worried about it. After all, she just became a bit clingier.


    No big deal.


    Then he urged her to go wash up, because they had to go receive their awards later.


    Their team''s elimination of the bat swarm last night had earned them another great merit. Since all the firepower had been directed at their team, who knows how many more people those bats would have injured otherwise. Adding to their previous achievement with the mutant snake-people, headquarters decided to give them a unified reward and have them attend an award ceremony.


    "Sigh, officials just love these superficial things. Can''t be helped, we''ll just go through the motions and come back."


    Seeing her still dazed, Qin Luo simply picked her up and personally took her to the bathroom. It would be faster this way.


    Chen Xiaofei, Bai Shu, and Wang Weihu were all writing their acceptance speeches for the award ceremony later!


    It was giving them headaches.


    Today, their mimicry had completely receded. The little zombie saw this and felt a bit disappointed. She turned to look at the top of Qin Luo''s head, and the dog ears were gone too.


    The little zombie was sad!


    When Chen Xiaofei saw her, he grinned and said, "Yahoo, good morning, little squad leader! Did you sleep well? Are you surprised to see the mutation cores?!"


    Wang Weihu and Bai Shu also had smiles on their faces. "Is the little squad leader feeling alright?" "Her condition after this ability overuse seems much better than last time."

 Chapter 55: "White-Haired Monster"

    Indeed, it was true.


    The first time she woke up after overusing her ability, the little zombie''s eyes were noticeably dazed.


    This time, however, they were full of life!


    As for Qin Luo carrying her, the other three were already used to it.


    When wasn''t he carrying her around like a large doll?


    Qin Luo picked up the little zombie and stuffed her into the bathroom, squeezing out toothpaste and handing it to her.


    The little zombie''s small paws grabbed the toothbrush and instinctively started to brush her teeth, until she saw herself in the mirror and was completely shocked.


    The toothbrush fell with a "plop".


    Qin Luo was about to ask what was wrong when he saw her suddenly tilt her head back and start wailing loudly.


    The "white-haired monster" in the mirror also started wailing, and then the little zombie cried even louder when she glimpsed this. Why had she turned into a "white-haired monster" after waking up?


    Her originally black shoulder-length hair had turned into white waist-length hair, and even her eyelashes were white. Her eyes, without the colored contacts, revealed silver pupils, making her look like an albino patient.


    The little zombie wailed loudly, "Wuwu wah wuwu" The zombie had turned into a "white-haired monster" wuwu.


    So sad.


    Xu Duoduo was most afraid of becoming unlike herself; in her subconscious, she always thought of herself as human.


    How did she turn into a "white-haired monster" after just one sleep?


    Qin Luo was startled, instantly becoming flustered. "Eh, don''t, don''t, don''t cry!? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Or what''s wrong?"


    Hearing the commotion, the three in the living room who were buried in writing their acceptance speeches suddenly raised their heads.


    ??


    Why was the little squad leader crying??


    They exchanged glances, then ran towards the bathroom door, only to encounter Qin Luo carrying her out. The little zombie was hugging his neck and still wailing with her head tilted back.


    The four grown men were at a loss, completely bewildered. Finally, Qin Luo took her to the living room.


    "What''s wrong! What''s wrong! Why is the little squad leader crying? Brother Qin, did you bully her?"


    "Is everything okay?"


    "Hey, don''t cry, don''t cry. Why are you suddenly so upset? What happened?"


    Qin Luo didn''t know either. He was also confused. How did she suddenly start crying when everything was fine?


    He sat down on the carpet with her in his arms, and when he saw the little zombie in his lap grabbing her own white hair, he suddenly realized, "Damn, we forgot. She''s probably scared by her own appearance?"


    Xu Duoduo had suddenly turned white-haired after falling asleep last night. They were also startled at the time, but they happened to run into Da Qiao who was on a mission. She took a look and said it was nothing to worry about, which put their minds at ease. That''s when they learned that Da Qiao''s ability was actually healing, with [Diagnosis] as her main skill.


    After using it, she could immediately obtain the target''s physical condition and disease focus.


    Indeed, those who could enter the research center were all experts...


    As a result, they had gotten used to Xu Duoduo''s white-haired appearance, not realizing that she would scare herself and cry when she woke up.


    It was both funny and sad.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Chen Xiaofei and the others couldn''t help but laugh. Heh, they thought something serious had happened.


    "Little squad leader, don''t cry! It''s okay! You look good! Look at the appearance of other mutants, aren''t we much prettier? Right? Very beautiful!"


    "That''s right, that''s right."


    "You look like you have super strong combat power, this, this, this, tsk, they even show this on TV! Big shots all transform, right? Those who can transform are all big shots!"


    The three of them were racking their brains to comfort the zombie. Qin Luo sat cross-legged with the little zombie on his lap, hugging his neck and sobbing.


    At least she wasn''t crying as hard anymore.


    Qin Luo also said: "That''s right! White hair is cute! Look at little swans, they''re white too!"


    Bai Shu watched the three of them comforting the zombie in their straightforward male way and couldn''t help but facepalm. "Don''t you know how to comfort a zombie... Why not let the little squad leader try eating a mutation core or some diluted mutation core serum? Maybe she''ll recover after replenishing her ability."


    They had a sudden realization.


    Oh right!


    Hearing this, the little zombie immediately grabbed a mutant bat mutation core from her space and stuffed it in her mouth to chew.


    She chewed pitifully.


    She was already snow-white all over today, and after crying like this, her eye sockets and the area around her eyes were tinged light pink, even her nose tip had turned pink from crying.


    It felt like her whole zombie self had faded in color.


    Even the metal collar on her neck was silver, and her nightgown was a white lace long-sleeved fluffy nightgown. There wasn''t a single dark color on her from head to toe.


    She looked like a character from a horror game, the kind that would be a big boss.


    However, Bai Shu''s suggestion was very effective. After eating the mutation core, Xu Duoduo''s hair and eyelashes instantly turned back to black, and her whole zombie self looked much more obedient.


    The four men also breathed a sigh of relief. They had finally managed to comfort her.


    Taking care of a child was so difficult!


    Fortunately, the little zombie was very well-behaved. She stopped crying when she saw that she could recover.


    She returned to her normal state.


    She even felt a bit embarrassed for crying.


    Qin Luo also patted her head, unable to help smiling as he said, "Look how upset she was."


    Chen Xiaofei and the other two couldn''t help but laugh. With the addition of a little zombie, their lives had become more colorful and interesting.


    That''s what life is about.


    This is what makes it interesting.


    The few of them had specifically come to wait for the little squad leader to wake up so they could go receive the award together. By the time they finished writing their acceptance speeches, Xu Duoduo had also gotten herself ready.


    They had a lively breakfast together.


    Finally, at 9:30, the four of them plus one little zombie had to set off for the city center to receive their award.


    About 80% of the trees in the neighborhood had fallen. As they went downstairs, they happened to see a logistics team cleaning up, with an older brother wearing turtle shell sunglasses directing.


    "Quick, quick, everyone hurry up a bit. Later, the great Mu will be going on a mission. Wood-type abilities are very rare, and we''re still waiting for him to use his ability to revive these trees. What kind of neighborhood doesn''t have greenery!"


    Other mutants were also busy, and there were even two familiar figures.


    The rabbit mutant who had complained about being itchy last time was also there, but he was secretly eating tender leaves. He was immediately reported by a goat-horned young man, "Report! Xiao Qi is slacking off! He''s not working and stealing leaves to eat!"


    The turtle shell man immediately shouted: "Xiao Qi! Do you still want points or not! You can''t even do a part-time job properly, do you want to drink northwest wind?!"


    Suddenly, that muscular chicken big brother also passed by with his red cockscomb, opening his mouth to shout, "Old Turtle! Cluck cluck, your temper is so fiery early in the morning!"


    The other minions saw him and became excited.


    "Good morning, Chicken Bro!"


    "It''s still Chicken Bro, already eating government grain. Going to report for duty today?"


    "It''s great, there are more and more mutants in the base, we''ll soon have no work to do."


    "So envious!"


    ...


    It was really lively this early morning.


    Their new neighborhood was really huge. Buildings A, B, C, D, E, and F were all occupied by combat teams. Building G was more interesting, housing small-sized mutants.


    This building was on the edge, provided for some smaller-sized mutants to live in.


    Usually, they mostly stayed in fixed locations. Small animals have an instinct to avoid risks, and they would be afraid of the killing aura on the combat teams.


    If it weren''t for receiving part-time job assignments, they rarely came to this area.


    This was the first time Qin Luo and his team had seen this, and they couldn''t help but keep looking back. Xu Duoduo also kept watching, feeling like they had stumbled into some strange theater early in the morning.


    Later, the four people and one zombie spent the whole way wondering what job Chicken Bro had been hired for.


    Curious ing.

 Chapter 56: Weapon Upgrades for the Whole Team

    The headquarters put special "effort" into this award ceremony, even inviting a filming crew, saying they would broadcast it on the large screens throughout the base later.


    Now there were no TVs in the base, and ordinary people had no internet.


    It was quite pitiful.


    There were only a few large electronic screens set up in fixed locations, occasionally broadcasting some important information, but mostly showing news.


    When Qin Luo and his team arrived, they found that not only was their squad being honored, but also five or six other combat squads. The other squads had between seven to twelve members, while their squad had the fewest people.


    More importantly, they had just casually worn everyday clothes, but upon arrival, they discovered the other squads were dressed up like something else.


    Very formal?


    One group was even wearing suits...


    Qin Luo was stunned, while Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu almost burst out laughing.


    Wang Weihu also felt embarrassed for the suit-wearing combat squad, it was really cringe-worthy.


    However, these were all unimportant details.


    They were treated like props, and for better video effects, they even had to rehearse once. Everyone was exasperated. The newly arrived official looked like a troublemaker, even being a bit rude to the combat squads.


    Chen Xiaofei couldn''t help but ask Bai Shu, "What''s the background of this new official?"


    His temper was quite big.


    Although they believed in the headquarters and that everyone was working hard for the future of humanity, there were always some bad apples in the mix.


    Bai Shu pushed up his glasses and said quietly, "Those who do much evil will surely destroy themselves."


    Pulling this kind of stunt in the apocalypse, sooner or later he''d be taken down. The people wouldn''t tolerate this kind of person.


    These days, people only respected the strong.


    Combat ability was the real skill.


    After participating in such a hypocritical award ceremony, at least the things they received were substantial. The newly appointed official didn''t dare to steal the rewards given to them by the headquarters.


    The 3A team received a set of the latest electronic bracelets, as well as vouchers for weapon upgrades. They could take these vouchers to the Craftsman Department to find alchemists to enhance their weapons. Of the two rewards, the vouchers were the most valuable.


    The Craftsman Department was located near the city center, in a newly built circular building with nine floors. It was quite impressive inside, gathering the strongest modification-type ability users. Many things used in the base were created by them, including the earpieces and bracelets they used daily.


    Even the new battle vehicle they were rewarded with last time was modified by the Craftsman Department.


    The design was incredibly impressive!


    They hadn''t even used many of the new vehicle''s functions yet, but it could really withstand danger when needed.


    Currently, even on the black market, these were priceless and unavailable for purchase. They could only be obtained through official rewards.


    Qin Luo and his team were quite excited to receive these vouchers, especially Qin Luo. His double-edged sword was his favorite weapon, while Wang Weihu had long wanted a good pair of boxing gloves, and Bai Shu naturally wanted a good gun.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Chen Xiaofei hadn''t decided yet, but he had always wanted something like hidden weapons, similar to throwing knives, which would be invincible with his wind-type ability!


    On the way to the Craftsman Center, the four of them kept discussing weapons. As men, how could they not love weapons? They were really excited.


    "By the way, what does the little squad leader want to enhance? There''s one slot per person, it would be a shame not to use it?"


    The four of them uniformly looked down at her.


    The full-value voucher was bound to each person, with only one chance per person.


    It couldn''t be transferred.


    Because weapons could be bound to individuals, there was a contract-oriented mental-type ability user who could soul-bind weapons to you.


    When Xu Duoduo heard Chen Xiaofei''s question, she immediately pulled out her beloved chainsaw!!


    The four of them fell silent, and finally couldn''t help but give her a thumbs up!


    As expected of her!


    They took a bus to get there. This area was the city center, and everyone on the bus was trying to look presentable, at least not exhibiting any strange behaviors.


    Even the mutants were quietly staying in the corners, trying not to scare others.


    Most of the people on the bus were ordinary people, but these ordinary people were all wealthy before the apocalypse. The truly ordinary lower-class people were all busy making a living and didn''t have the chance to come out here to shop.


    They couldn''t afford to consume here either.


    Although the whole world had been reshuffled, class distinctions still couldn''t be eliminated.


    They still existed.


    However, these days, having an ability was something that ordinary people envied immensely.


    Just the extended lifespan alone was great.


    Even the most ordinary ability users could live for two hundred years, as long as they didn''t die in battle, not to mention higher-level ability users. Now was the era of admiring strength.


    But ability users also had disadvantages. They all had to participate in missions outside and take part in various defensive battles, which was much more dangerous compared to the protected ordinary people.


    For example, during last night''s super strong typhoon, ordinary people could hide in their houses, but ability users had to go out on missions even in the strong winds, enduring all kinds of harsh weather.


    Correspondingly, it was easier for ability users to earn points compared to ordinary people, and they weren''t afraid of infection. The zombie virus could kill ordinary people but not ability users. All in all, there were pros and cons.


    Qin Luo and his team still preferred having abilities. Ordinary people were protected, but when real trouble came, if their protectors died in battle, they would only be waiting to die, which was too passive.


    Striving to improve one''s abilities was still the right thing to do.


    [Ding dong, Hope Road station, Hope Road station. Passengers please exit from the rear door. Next stop, Bright Road...]


    After their squad successfully got off the bus, they saw the circular building. The top of the building was actually shaped like hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers, which was indeed quite magical. There were surprisingly many people coming and going?


    After showing their vouchers at the security checkpoint at the entrance, they were let in.


    The first floor was all exhibition halls.


    There were robots and various modified vehicles, weapons, it was simply a paradise for combat enthusiasts.


    Qin Luo''s eyes were shining brightly. It was the first time the little zombie had seen him so excited. "Damn, this is so cool! So awesome, too awesome!"


    Chen Xiaofei and the others were also exclaiming, starting to look forward to their own exclusive weapons.


    Just then, someone came over to guide them up to the second floor''s weapon level for consultation, and gave them forms to fill out. The forms were for writing down the weapons they wanted to modify, or the type of weapons they wanted, as well as what functions they hoped for.


    "After filling out the form, the Craftsman Department will make the best weapons for you. You can rest assured about the quality of the materials. After modification, you can come and collect them with your vouchers."


    Qin Luo filled out the form deftly, then said: "The Craftsman Department''s products have always been reliable, we have no worries. Feel free to be creative!"


    He finally decided to modify his double-edged sword, as he was too used to using it.


    Just some enhancements would be good.


    Wang Weihu wrote that he wanted boxing gloves, Bai Shu wanted a good gun, and Chen Xiaofei wanted hidden weapons.


    The service desk girl then looked at the only girl in the squad.


    Recently, gossip about the 3A Special Operations Squad had been spreading like wildfire on the forums, especially after last night when the 3A squad had stolen the spotlight.


    Such a large group of mutant bats! And their squad managed to come out unscathed??


    Too incredible!


    People on the forums were nothing but shocked, directly experiencing the combat power of the 3A Special Operations Squad for the first time! There was no one who wasn''t convinced.

 Chapter 57: Apocalyptic Bubble Tea

    Xu Duoduo''s paws could hold a pen but couldn''t write well, so Qin Luo helped her fill out the form later.


    When the service desk girl saw her pull out a chainsaw and place it on the edge of the table, she couldn''t help but secretly gasp. She had thought she was just a cute little girl, but indeed, anyone who could enter the 3A Special Operations Team was extraordinary.


    "Alright, I''ve collected all your information. You can pick up your items in three days."


    The service desk girl put away the forms and told them they could look around inside, but it was best not to stay too long.


    Qin Luo and his team said they were leaving, satisfied with just seeing what was inside. They couldn''t buy anything else anyway, so they might as well just wait for their own weapons.


    Seeing this, the service desk girl personally escorted their squad out. Her attitude was quite good, it was just that the Craftsman Department had strict rules.


    After coming out, they decided to go shopping.


    Since they were already here.


    The four people and one zombie started browsing from nearby. The city center was quite different from before, with all sorts of strange shops.


    There were even bubble tea shops, though the prices were much higher than before. 180 points for a cup. Keep in mind that here, 3 points could get you a "Don''t Starve Meal Set". For ordinary people, this was ridiculously expensive.


    Qin Luo turned and stopped at the bubble tea shop''s entrance, looking at the menu board. "180 points for a cup? I want to see what this is all about."


    When the girl inside saw their group, she almost screamed out loud. Their looks were off the charts! Each guy was handsome and tall, and the girl was pretty too!


    She said with a blushing face: "Welcome to Buji Buji, what would you like to drink?"


    Qin Luo glanced at the menu board. There were Classic Series and Innovative Series. The Classic Series had things like pearl milk tea and matcha latte from before. The Innovative Series was a bit peculiar, with items like Durian Boba Milk Tea, Red Banana Milkshake, Diluted Mutation Core Fruit Tea, and Extra Large Camel Milk.


    "Hmm, ten cups from the Classic Series, ten cups from the Innovative Series. What''s this Red Banana thing?"


    They could store extras in their space.


    This world never failed to surprise them every now and then.


    The shop girl explained shyly: "Red Banana is a newly discovered mutant banana. It''s ten times more fragrant and sweet than regular bananas, with a great texture. You can try it if you''d like. Alright, please scan the code here."


    After taking their order, she directed them to scan a barcode on the machine at the side.


    It used to be QR codes.


    Now it''s all barcodes.


    Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu were still examining these new things. "So mutant plants are being used for food now?"


    They had clearly noticed this point as well.


    The shop girl, who wasn''t an ability user but just an ordinary person working in the city center, explained: "Because food is scarce now, and we''ll run out sooner or later, the base has started issuing missions to collect mutant plants. After people bring them back, they''re checked at the research center. As long as the pollution level isn''t too high, they can be eaten."The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Of course.


    She added: "Currently, ordinary people still can''t eat mutant plants and meats."


    Because of the pollution.


    But mutants and altered humans could eat them, and it was even beneficial for them.


    The pollution source itself was the energy for their upgrades, also a kind of body supplement.


    Wang Weihu expressed that this was eye-opening. "If we don''t come to the city center once in a while, it feels like we''ll be out of touch with the world."


    Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei both said: "Exactly, it''s not a joke that things change every day." "Tsk tsk, scary."


    After explaining, the shop girl went to prepare their order with a smile. They saw that the two series of drinks were prepared separately. The girl outside was making the Classic Series that ordinary people could drink, while inside they were making the Innovative Series.


    Bai Shu looked and said: "I was wondering how ordinary people could handle mutant plants. Indeed, they''re prepared separately. The people inside should be altered humans."


    Compared to ability users, altered humans were actually more unstable. Most of them did other jobs in the base.


    Altered humans like Xu Duoduo who could go out on missions with them were really rare.


    Not all altered humans could control their emotions 100%, and they easily lost control.


    Those altered in the direction of herbivores were too timid and easily startled, afraid to participate in combat.


    Those altered in the direction of carnivores easily became bloodthirsty after seeing blood and gore, losing their reason, so they generally weren''t allowed on missions either.


    Altered humans as emotionally stable as Xu Duoduo were extremely rare.


    While they were waiting for their bubble tea, they suddenly saw a familiar figure. A bright red cockscomb was very eye-catching as it poked its head out wearing an apron and called: "Cluck cluck cluck, Xiao Zhang! Xiao Zhang! We''re out of boba pearls! Where''s the stock cluck cluck!"


    The girl who took their order was startled and quickly stuffed him back into the kitchen. "Chicken Bro, don''t come out! You''ll scare the customers! The boba pearls are in the small ingredient box, I just restocked them recently."


    Qin Luo and the others: ......


    Xu Duoduo poked her head out to look again and again. The mystery she wanted to solve this morning was answered at this moment, and this feeling was truly quite peculiar.


    Finally, when they got their bubble tea, Qin Luo couldn''t help but ask: "Are bubble tea shops all run by the government now?"


    The shop girl was stunned for a moment, not daring to look at him, and nodded with a red face. "Now the materials for making bubble tea are very scarce. Basically all restaurants are directly operated by the government because only they have so many materials."


    How could ordinary people possibly have the resources to open shops now? Unless they were extremely, extremely rich, but even then they''d have to buy ingredients from the government.


    So it really was eating government food, an iron rice bowl. "Please don''t mind, Chicken Bro is very nice. Although altered humans look a bit scary, they''re not much different from ordinary people. He works super hard, and even has a part-time job crowing in the civilian area, just to make life a little easier for elderly people who''ve lived in the countryside most of their lives and help them transition and adapt to life in the base."


    The shop girl was really gentle. She was afraid they were among those who discriminated against altered humans.


    Qin Luo smiled and said: "We won''t. Altered humans are all quite cute."


    Bai Shu and the others also made an "Eee~~" sound.


    Chen Xiaofei, carrying the remaining ten cups, said with a grin: "Are all altered humans cute, or just the little squad leader?"


    Qin Luo had just taken out a cup of bubble tea to hand to the little zombie, even poking the straw for her. "Tsk, don''t talk so much! If you don''t want the bubble tea, give it back to me."


    Chen Xiaofei immediately protected it, saying he wouldn''t give it back, with a mischievous smile.


    Bai Shu and Wang Weihu also laughed.


    The little zombie held the extra-large cup of bubble tea with her paws, tilting her head to look at them, and finally stared at the bubble tea. It had been a long time since she''d had freshly made bubble tea!


    There were bubble tea shop supplies in her space, but it definitely wasn''t the same as freshly made. The little zombie slurped a big mouthful, her eyes getting brighter as she drank! She could taste the flavor of bubble tea made with mutant plants!!


    Happy~


    The little zombie hugged the bubble tea and swayed back and forth. At this moment, she couldn''t be happier!


    The shop girl watched enviously as they left, joking and laughing. It was only then that she realized the girl hiding behind the super handsome guy was also an altered human??


    Because she just noticed the collar on her neck... No wonder they didn''t discriminate against altered humans.


    How nice.

 Chapter 58: Purchasing Equipment

    The other shops were mostly common snack stores. Prices were high, but considering the current scarcity of resources, it was reasonable.


    They ate and bought as they went along.


    Xu Duoduo had a ton of unspent points on her card, as did Qin Luo and the others.


    Since they usually ate supplies from their space, only occasionally buying new foods from the base, there wasn''t much they needed to spend points on.


    However, as they browsed, they came across an interesting shop. It was actually an independent store, with the name "Alchemist Xiaolin''s Treasure Shop" written on it.


    The four people and one zombie immediately stopped in their tracks and turned in. As they pushed open the door, a wind chime sound rang out, and a mechanical parrot by the door said: "Welcome, welcome to Xiaolin''s Treasure Shop~"


    The voice was very electronic and raspy, showing the owner''s peculiar taste.


    Inside, the lighting was dim, making it feel more like they had entered some kind of magical alternate space.


    At the counter was a clown puppet wearing a magician''s hat, doing calculations. Seeing them, it spoke in an emotionless voice: "Feel free to look around, self-service payment. Bear the consequences if you leave without paying."


    After it finished, the parrot at the door let out an eerie laugh, "Gah gah! Bear the consequences! Bear the consequences!"


    The pressure was immediately cranked up.


    Unfortunately for the shop, Qin Luo and his group weren''t normal people and weren''t so easily scared.


    Chen Xiaofei glanced at the noisy parrot and even said with a laugh: "It feels like a livestream control room, repeating twice whatever someone says once."


    Bai Shu made a cold joke: "The one it''s mimicking isn''t human either."


    It was obviously a puppet controlled by someone backstage, acting as a salesperson.


    Qin Luo and Wang Weihu had already started browsing. The shop owner seemed to like Western fantasy, as all the items were in that style.


    All sorts of strange potions, as well as wands that could be used to attack people.


    Things got interesting when they reached the clothing section. Could these really have protective properties?!


    "Is this cloak really fireproof? Damn, there''s even one that can turn invisible! Why are they all women''s styles? Discriminating against us men, right!"


    "Hey, little squad leader, come over here. I think you could wear these little dresses!!"


    "There are men''s styles over here too, but they''re too chuunibyou! Who could wear these out in public?!"


    When the little zombie heard about little dresses, she immediately swayed over. What girl doesn''t like little dresses? At a glance, most were Lolita style, both gorgeous and cute, with various hair accessories and ornaments.


    After looking, even Qin Luo couldn''t help but say: "Damn, these are too cute!"


    The big men were all attracted by the pretty little dresses, stopping in this area and starting to rummage through the clothes racks, looking at these little dresses.


    "Little squad leader, go try them on quick. The prices are okay, you can use either mutation cores or points. These all have attributes too, either speed boosts or increased jumping ability."


    "This red set looks good, it even gives +10% attack speed and +5% strength. That''s cool."Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Qin Luo took a light green dress. The tag said it was from the Chameleon series, able to stack speed boost with 10 minutes of invisibility. "This is good, take this one too. Try it on. Invisibility is really invincible."


    She was already a little zombie, and with her spatial ability she could really catch people off guard. Add invisibility to that, and she''d be truly undetectable.


    Xu Duoduo hugged several little dresses and went to the fitting room. The fitting room had "NO SURVEILLANCE AREA" written in large letters, so she went inside to change.


    Some clothes were a bit difficult to put on, and she struggled for a while before managing to get them on properly.


    Outside, the guys were still wandering around, finding everything novel. They were all special little items.


    "Qin Bro, let''s each buy a fireproof cloak? And an wind-resistant ring too."


    "It feels like we''ve entered some game. Can these really exist in the real world?"


    "These aren''t toys, are they? I hope we''re not paying a lot for something that turns out to be a scam."


    As soon as Wang Weihu voiced his doubts, the parrot started screeching: "Honest dealings for all ages, ten-fold compensation for fakes, ten-fold compensation for fakes!!"


    ...


    Alright then.


    Being able to open near the city center, they probably did have some real skills.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The curtain of the fitting room was pulled open, and the little zombie came out wearing a green Lolita-style outfit. Once she was all dressed up, the four of them were stunned.


    Oh my god!!


    So cute!!


    "Damn! It suits the little squad leader so well! Beautiful, beautiful! Let''s get it!"


    "Super pretty!"


    "I''m definitely going to have a daughter in the future and buy her lots of little dresses." Wang Weihu couldn''t help but exclaim. It really was beautiful, like a doll.


    "Hey, Qin Bro, why aren''t you complimenting the little squad leader? Wait, why are you blushing?!"


    Chen Xiaofei had just been criticizing Qin Luo for not joining in their praise, but then he saw that his Qin Bro was blushing, which instantly scared him.


    Qin Luo told him to get lost! Then he happened to see the little zombie staring at him, making his face even hotter. He raised his hand to rub his nose, "Mm, it really is beautiful."


    We''ll take them all!!!


    Xu Duoduo looked in the mirror herself and liked it very much. Although the dress was green, she could feel a connection with her ability when she put it on, like a faint mental layer of perception. When she walked to another place and used a tiny bit of her ability to activate it, it could blend into the environment.


    The little zombie''s figure gradually faded, until finally she truly vanished from sight.


    This shocked Qin Luo and the other four: "Holy shit!" They only relaxed when she reappeared.


    They immediately wanted to buy it!


    But when they saw the price! Good grief! A bunch of 0000s, calculating to 300,000 points for one dress. Well, excuse us for bothering you.


    Xu Duoduo looked at her card. Ten thousand points plus last night''s five thousand points and the previous two hundred points, all added up still wasn''t enough.


    She still had mutation cores from the mutant bats. The light screen behind the counter showed today''s exchange rate: one 1-star mutation core was worth 5,000 points.


    But she was reluctant to use them.


    Qin Luo said he would pay. Chen Xiaofei and the others then said with a grin that they wouldn''t compete with him, "Whoever''s first love it is, they pay!"


    Actually, when he first used the little squad leader to block those truth or dare questions, he had just said it instinctively. Maybe he really had a vague crush on her when he was younger, but he truly confirmed his feelings when they reunited, and recently it had become unstoppable.


    He liked her more and more, no matter how he looked at her.


    However, Xu Duoduo grabbed Qin Luo and didn''t let him. The little zombie understood that she couldn''t let him buy everything.


    Qin Luo''s points were truly incredibly many. Even before the apocalypse officially began, their special operations team was already online, taking all kinds of dangerous missions along the way. In the early stages of the apocalypse, they were at the forefront, accepting all kinds of tasks.


    Adding up big and small tasks, there were over 300.


    His points were almost up to ten million, several hundred million. "What''s wrong? You won''t let me pay? I have a lot of points."


    Too many to spend.


    Chen Xiaofei and the others also said: "Little squad leader, don''t feel pressured. Let him pay!"


    The little zombie still clutched his clothes, not moving.


    In the end, Qin Luo thought of a compromise. "Use zombie mutation cores to make up what you don''t have."


    After all, she didn''t eat zombie mutation cores.

 Chapter 59: Da Qiaos Request

    But the zombie mutation cores were ones they had obtained through fighting.


    The little zombie was an honest child.


    She looked towards the other three.


    Chen Xiaofei and the others thought it was fine, "Little squad leader, don''t be so particular. We eat the food you give us without being polite, right?"


    Bai Shu and Wang Weihu agreed.


    Use the mutation cores freely.


    They were the team''s resources anyway, so it didn''t matter who used them. It was all fine.


    In the end, they bought three sets of little dresses - green, red, and blue. The main added attributes were invisibility, strength, and attack speed.


    Qin Luo and the others just bought wind-resistant rings and fireproof cloaks, nothing else.


    There were a few men''s clothes too.


    But they didn''t like those effeminate Western formal wear.


    Too chuunibyou.


    It was fine for girls, they could wear any cute clothes, but not for them.


    After this shopping trip, their millions of points were gone. They had said they couldn''t spend all their points, but this was just the early apocalypse, and these equipments had just come out.


    There would definitely be other good things in the future.


    The mechanical parrot was still squawking, "Thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage."


    Chen Xiaofei clicked his tongue and said: "Paying customers really are the bosses. I feel like this parrot''s voice even got a bit cuter."


    Bai Shu and Wang Weihu just laughed.


    They browsed some more afterwards, looking at several newly opened shops selling mutant animal meat. People were actually buying? There were even queues.


    They felt they could bring these back in the future too, probably to exchange for points.


    After opening their eyes in the city center, they all still preferred the equipment shops and craftsman department. These things were most valuable in the apocalypse.


    They could come browse more often in the future.


    When they returned to the new human area in the afternoon, the ground had been cleaned. The only downside was that the subway directly to their neighborhood was being updated, so they could only ride to the station above.


    Da Qiao happened to live nearby.


    They ran into her pulling a cart when they returned, with bags of black and red blocky plastic bags on it. They greeted each other.


    Da Qiao was quite surprised to see the little zombie, "Oh, has Duobao recovered? How long did it take?"


    Her first concern was this data, because it might be useful for other similar mutants. More experience meant more peace of mind.


    Qin Luo smiled and patted the little zombie''s head, remembering how she had cried this morning and finding it funny. "We didn''t wait for her to recover on her own. Xiao Bai thought of a trick, letting her eat... drink a diluted mutation core serum."


    It was better to let fewer people know that Xu Duoduo could directly eat mutation cores.


    Otherwise, she could easily be kept captive and monitored.


    Da Qiao heard this and laughed, "You guys are quite clever, huh? That works too."The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    She would record this later.


    The diluted mutation core serum was indeed very useful, able to speed up recovery from ability overuse.


    Chen Xiaofei and the other two were circling Da Qiao''s little cart, looking at it. "Aren''t these mutant bat meat chunks? What are you using these for?"


    Da Qiao glanced at the cart full of meat chunks and calmly said: "To feed my babies. Oh right, you guys are still on vacation, right? Want to come over for a drink?"


    Qin Luo immediately became guarded and was about to refuse when she cut him off, "It''s about a mission. Will you take the one in N City? It''s a bit far from here, but a good friend of mine is trapped there."


    And they were from the research institute, a whole group of researchers were there.


    They were researching the pollution source.


    But they didn''t expect to be trapped there by a large number of zombies when they went to collect pollution source samples.


    There was said to be a new type of giant zombie there too.


    Qin Luo and his team immediately put away their joking expressions and said seriously: "Let''s go to your place and talk about it."


    Da Qiao smiled.


    She knew this combat team really loved challenging themselves.


    They were just a bunch of battle maniacs.


    Qin Luo''s philosophy was that strength was supreme. Hiding in the base every day without taking missions was just waiting to die.


    Especially when new types of monsters appeared, it was even more necessary to go and hone their skills.


    With the captain''s decision, the others naturally had no objections.


    Da Qiao saying she wanted to use these mutant bat meat chunks to feed her babies was really intriguing.


    Chen Xiaofei couldn''t help but say to Bai Shu, "When did she have babies?"


    They hadn''t heard about this, had they?


    Weren''t Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao workaholics too? They almost lived in the research center.


    Bai Shu also shrugged, indicating he didn''t know.


    But when they arrived at Da Qiao''s house, they understood what babies she was feeding.


    Her home was on the first floor of Building A in the western district, with a small yard. Besides the strange plants, the most eye-catching things were the man-eating flower babies lining both sides of the path. They were all opening their big mouths, showing full sets of sharp teeth and making "waa waa" cries, incredibly noisy!


    Da Qiao didn''t even open the plastic bags, just threw them directly into their mouths. They happily wiggled their bodies, frantically grabbing and swallowing, chewing away.


    Those that didn''t get any were still crying "waa waa". The scene was very bizarre.


    The 3A team: ......


    Da Qiao''s tastes were still so perverted!!


    Even Qin Luo couldn''t help but criticize, "What the hell! Why are you still keeping these things?!"


    Da Qiao still had that smiling face, "They''re seeds from Yiyi the man-eating flower. This is the second batch. I want to raise them and see what they''re like when mature."


    She enthusiastically shared with them that, according to research, these man-eating flowers would become a bit smarter each time they grew. At least now they could recognize their owner.


    Qin Luo and the others expressed that they were not interested, okay!!


    Especially when they walked inside, these man-eating flower babies tried to bite them. Chen Xiaofei got his clothes caught and screamed in fright.


    Qin Luo was so scared he quickly scooped up the little zombie and protected her in his arms. When a man-eating flower baby tried to come close, it was scared back by the electric current in his hand.


    Da Qiao told them to stay calm, "I''ve ordered them not to hurt people. Just don''t stare at them. They''re like a bunch of naughty kids now, the more attention you pay them, the more excited they get."


    Indeed.


    Bai Shu and Wang Weihu were calmer, so these man-eating flower babies didn''t dare bother them.


    After saying this, Da Qiao opened her front door and smiled at them, saying: "Welcome to my home."


    It was also Qin Luo and his team''s first time visiting her place. They had been nodding acquaintances before, had some dealings, but weren''t extremely familiar.


    Researchers might really all have some degree of germaphobia. Da Qiao''s house was spotless, the floor so clean you could see your reflection, with disposable shoe covers by the door.


    The little zombie happily kicked her feet into them, putting on two shoe covers.


    Qin Luo kept part of his attention on her at all times.


    After a while, he scooped her up and took her to sit on the sofa.


    Da Qiao went to make tea for them.


    Qin Luo got straight to the point, "Tell us about your mission. The specific location, number of people, and the details of that new type of zombie monster."


    When their team discussed missions, Qin Luo always made the decisions, because he was the main damage dealer. If he thought it was fine, they basically wouldn''t lose their lives.


    Accidents were another matter.


    But compared to other teams, their team had a lower chance of incidents.


    Da Qiao began to tell them the specific situation, "Ten days ago, B City Survivor Base sent out ten combat teams to various dangerous locations to collect pollution source samples. My friend was in one of those teams..."

 Chapter 60: Accepting the Mission

    "The team that went to N City had eleven ability users and three researchers. Their destination was the local research institute, which had twenty-two researchers inside. The original plan was to rescue people while collecting pollution source samples."


    "They didn''t expect to encounter a new type of zombie, extremely large in size, able to summon other zombies to surround the city, and even seemed to be toying with them."


    Da Qiao''s brows were furrowed as she spoke about this, and she handed them a tablet to look at.


    "This is that zombie. The combat team has already lost three people, and the rest are trapped in the research institute. Although there''s no immediate danger to their lives, their food won''t last much longer. The situation is very critical."


    Qin Luo and the others leaned in to look, with the little zombie also staring intently.


    It was a video clip. At first, there were only the howls of zombies outside the window. Then the camera panned up, and a huge head appeared in the window.


    It gave everyone a big scare.


    This thing perhaps couldn''t even be called a zombie anymore, it should be called a zombie monster.


    Protruding white eyeballs, bluish-black skin, rotting flesh on its face, even maggots, extremely disgusting. It''s unclear why it grew to such a large size.


    Then Da Qiao closed the short video and opened the latest information about it. The zombie monster was originally an extremely tall person, diagnosed with gigantism at the age of ten, and had frequently visited hospitals because of it.


    This was also why it didn''t dare enter the research institute - it feared such places. After becoming a zombie monster, its height continued to increase rapidly.


    Especially as it evolved by devouring its own kind, zombies were its endless food source. It could also command other lower-level zombies to trap the people in the research institute.


    Currently, it stands at 4.2 meters tall, with medium mobility, able to maintain a steady speed when chasing humans.


    Headquarters has classified it as a three-star threat.


    It has also activated the common skill of mutant monsters: [Sonic Attack]. Due to its large size, it''s difficult for it to conceal its movements.


    Its footsteps are very heavy.


    The only advantage is that you don''t have to worry about it appearing silently without warning.


    Chen Xiaofei immediately rubbed his arms and complained: "But just now when it suddenly poked its head out, it was really scary!! Where did it make any noise?"


    He was very frustrated.


    It''s not scary if an enemy is tough to beat, but it''s terrifying when they pop out like ghosts to scare you.


    Chen Xiaofei was very afraid of ghosts.


    Da Qiao also sighed regretfully, "That''s what I wanted to say too. This thing can set traps. We can confirm it doesn''t have human consciousness, and currently acts on instinct, but it''s really cunning."


    The zombie monster''s footsteps are indeed very loud when it walks, but if it reaches a nearby spot and stops moving, crouching there, it can still suddenly scare you. It likes to catch people off guard, and one scratch from it means certain death.


    Da Qiao also tapped on the tablet to draw their attention to the key dangers, "The bacterial concentration on its body is very high. My friend took a sample of its blood for research. Ordinary people who come into contact with it will definitely die painfully, and it''s also very dangerous for ability users."This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    So they must absolutely avoid having their skin scratched by it, or even mutants would be in mortal danger.


    Wang Weihu couldn''t help but say: "This thing is like a mobile super bacteria!"


    Bai Shu also frowned, "So we should avoid close combat as much as possible? Have they tried using heavy weapons?"


    Da Qiao expressed regret, "All weapons have been exhausted, and the ordinary zombies are endless. This thing hides when it sees heavy weapons, it''s really very cunning."


    A sea of corpses is no joke, the dense mass is terrifying.


    So this time, headquarters isn''t just sending one team, but it''s a large operation, gathering five teams to go there and clear out the zombies along the way.


    Qin Luo grasped the key point, "Then why did you specifically request our team to go?"


    Chen Xiaofei and the others suddenly realized too. Yeah, since it''s a group mission, why did Da Qiao insist on the 3A team going?


    Although 3A is strong, there are others stronger than them, and A-level teams aren''t rare.


    Da Qiao''s gaze fell on the little zombie, "Because my good friend is a mutant, mutated in the direction of a butterfly, specifically a dead leaf butterfly."


    It''s a dead leaf butterfly mutant with no attack ability, only able to camouflage itself to survive.


    "Although the base accepts mutants, there are still some people who strongly reject them, believing mutants aren''t human at all. The leader of this mission is Jin Chuanqiong, he''s the overall commander, and he happens to be from the faction that rejects mutants."


    She''s afraid he might not care about her friend''s life or death.


    Da Qiao spoke heavily on this topic. She approached Qin Luo and his team partly because she trusted their abilities, and partly because she valued their character.


    And their inclusiveness.


    The little zombie was really well cared for by them, this was visible to the naked eye.


    Da Qiao smiled and said: "This friend is really very important to me, so to be absolutely sure, I''m begging you to help me with this favor. I''ll give you an additional 5 million points as payment for your services."


    At the same time, she promised each of them a favor, which they could use in the future to ask her for help, and she would help them unconditionally.


    Da Qiao usually appears to be a calm scientific researcher. Even with her best friend trapped, she spoke about this matter very steadily.


    But the little zombie saw the sadness in her eyes. She reached out and tugged on Qin Luo, her silver-gray eyes looking at him. She wanted to accept this mission.


    They had encountered three-star monsters before. If worst came to worst, they could lure it far away, and when there were no bystanders around, she could use her ultimate move to destroy it.


    As for the zombie''s bacteria, she could use [Spatial Shield] to cover the four of them, reducing her own ability usage to make the shield last longer, which should be enough to protect them.


    Qin Luo looked down at her when she tugged on him, and finally rubbed her little head resignedly, "I didn''t say we wouldn''t accept. It''s a good chance to practice with a three-star monster."


    Last time their team faced a three-star mutant snake-man, they nearly suffered total defeat, it was very tough. This time with everyone''s level increased, it''s a good chance to compare.


    Da Qiao was pleasantly surprised. She actually wasn''t 100% confident, she just didn''t expect the little zombie would be willing to speak up for her. She smiled at Xu Duoduo, "Thank you, I''ll remember this favor."


    The little zombie just pressed her lips together in a smile, shyly hiding behind Qin Luo.


    Seeing the little zombie becoming more and more "human-like", Da Qiao felt quite emotional.


    Qin Luo confirmed the mission and said to Da Qiao: "Remember, 5 million points plus five favors. Don''t deny it when the time comes."


    Da Qiao assured them she absolutely wouldn''t.


    After leaving her house and struggling through the man-eating flower babies at the entrance again, they could finally go home. On the way, they were still discussing this matter.


    Chen Xiaofei clicked his tongue in admiration, "Who knew Da Qiao was so rich?"


    Bai Shu pushed up his glasses, "You think she raises those man-eating flowers just for fun? The thesis reports she writes can all earn points."


    But 5 million is indeed quite a lot.


    Wang Weihu marveled at her generosity, "Actually, if she hadn''t approached us, when the base released the mission later, we definitely would have accepted it anyway."


    They all understood their captain. How could he pass up a rare chance to encounter a 3-star monster?


    Qin Luo couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow at them, "Oh? As expected of you guys, we''re all on the same wavelength?"


    Chen Xiaofei and the others all laughed.

 Chapter 61: Special Training

    Moreover, this Jin Chuanqiong didn¡¯t have a great reputation¡ªquite the contrary, he was rather disliked.


    ¡°Squad Leader, if you ever run into that guy, stay as far away from him as possible. Jin Chuanqiong is nothing but a hypocrite and a true scoundrel, ruthless to the core,¡± Chen Xiaofei explained to the little zombie. While Jin Chuanqiong had completed a fair number of missions, his methods were dirty. To ensure mission success, he often sacrificed teammates to boost his own completion rate.


    In short, he was a cold-blooded and calculating person.


    Bai Shu couldn¡¯t help but grimace when he brought up Jin Chuanqiong. ¡°He¡¯s always aiming too high for his abilities. He¡¯ll trip over himself sooner or later.¡±


    Wang Weihu, on the other hand, tried to keep things in check. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s tone it down a bit. After all, we¡¯re all part of combat squads. If someone overhears us, it won¡¯t look good. Then he¡¯ll start playing the victim again, claiming we at 3A bully him and steal credit from his Golden Eagle Team.¡±


    His serious yet sarcastic tone made both Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu burst into laughter.


    Xu Duoduo quickly caught on¡ªthis Jin Chuanqiong was clearly bad news.


    Just then, Qin Luo glanced down at her and added, ¡°Jin Chuanqiong is all about appearances. Loves stealing credit, acting all high and mighty. Da Qiao even said he despises mutants. If he dares to bully you, just beat him up! If you can¡¯t win, run and tell me. I¡¯ll deal with him.¡±


    He was genuinely worried the little zombie might get bullied. Sometimes, she seemed sharp, but at other times, she could be adorably clueless.


    Xu Duoduo simply nodded with an ¡°mm.¡± Lately, she really had been acting more and more ¡°human.¡±


    Qin Luo thought back to how she had clung to him earlier, her big, expectant eyes looking up at him. A zombie who could feel for others¡ªXu Duoduo had been genuinely moved by Da Qiao¡¯s gesture of friendship. How could such a little creature not be considered human?


    His heart softened at the thought.


    Chen Xiaofei, meanwhile, was still ranting about Jin Chuanqiong¡¯s misdeeds. ¡°Damn poser, acts like he¡¯s some big shot. His real name is Jin Dapeng, and he named the Golden Eagle Team after himself. After he screwed over the Rose Team and got mocked by their captain for having such a cheesy name, he went and changed it to Jin Chuanqiong.¡±


    A petty person would remain petty, no matter the name. If his character was rotten, a name change wouldn¡¯t fix that.


    The only reason he was still tolerated was because the headquarters were short on manpower.


    How many times had Jin Chuanqiong crossed the line? His worst incident involved losing two-thirds of his team members! He cared nothing for his teammates¡¯ lives.


    Yet he was a master manipulator, always able to brainwash some teammates into working for him.


    Truly a ¡°talent¡± in his own right.


    The group continued their complaints all the way home. This time, they were heading to Wang Weihu¡¯s place. Despite his rugged appearance, Wang Weihu was a surprisingly domestic man.


    His home was impeccably clean.


    As soon as they stepped inside, the four humans and one zombie received an email from headquarters. They were officially invited to join the upcoming rescue mission, with a reward of 500,000 points per person. Each team would also be equipped with the latest thermal weapons and provisions.


    Qin Luo checked the departure time. ¡°Three days from now. Perfect timing¡ªwe¡¯ll get our customized weapons and head out.¡±


    Bai Shu reminded everyone, ¡°Tomorrow, we need to take the second dose of the diluted mutation core serum.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Which meant they could take the third dose on the way.


    This would also give them a chance to further enhance their abilities. Not a bad plan. Once they arrived, it would be straight into combat mode.


    Wang Weihu headed to the kitchen to prepare drinks, while Chen Xiaofei took Xu Duoduo to the sofa, where the two began gossiping.


    Qin Luo turned around to find the little zombie had wandered off. He immediately announced, ¡°Starting today, Xu Duoduo will undergo special training. No one gets to slack off these next three days.¡±


    Since the little zombie had regained her agility, it was time to stop taking it easy and start training seriously.


    Chen Xiaofei groaned dramatically. ¡°Ahhh, my precious vacation! Why don¡¯t you teach your first love yourself?¡±


    Bai Shu chuckled and cast a teasing glance at their captain. ¡°Are you sure you want us teaching her?¡±


    Qin Luo rolled his eyes. He wasn¡¯t about to get jealous over something like this! ¡°I¡¯ll handle hand-to-hand combat. Bai Shu, you teach her sniping. Old Wang, you cover martial arts. Xiaofei, teach her how to stay hidden.¡±


    In the apocalypse, every skill was a survival tool.


    They couldn¡¯t always keep an eye on her. The best solution was to help her grow stronger.


    Though they joked around, everyone agreed without hesitation.


    The little zombie tilted her head, observing them. Finally, she tapped a few words on her tablet and held it up for them to see: **[Teach me. I want to learn.]**


    Her determination made them all smile. That¡¯s just who she was¡ªgiven the chance, she¡¯d always give it her all.


    Dinner that night was a feast: braised beef, ginger duck, spicy diced chicken, boiled shrimp, garlic stir-fried cabbage, and a pot of seaweed egg drop soup freshly made by Wang Weihu.


    These were all pre-apocalypse home-cooked dishes.


    Most of the ingredients were ones Xu Duoduo had prepared before the apocalypse; only the soup was freshly made.


    Everyone ate to their heart¡¯s content.


    The braised beef was savory and tender, the ginger duck fragrant and falling off the bone, the spicy chicken perfect with rice, the boiled shrimp sweet and fresh, and the garlic cabbage a refreshing palate cleanser.


    Finishing it all off with a bowl of seaweed egg drop soup left everyone feeling utterly satisfied.


    Xu Duoduo couldn¡¯t eat much of these dishes¡ªjust a bite of each. She could now taste a faint hint of flavor, but it was still worlds apart from what she remembered.


    These days, she could only consume mutated plants or mutated animal meat.


    For example, the mutated shrimp Chen Xiaofei had bought the other night had been delicious. Unfortunately, such ingredients were scarce and in high demand. The use of mutated plants and animals as food was still in its infancy, but supply would likely increase in the future.


    In the end, Xu Duoduo munched on a mutated bat¡¯s mutation core, which tasted like sweet raspberry.


    ¡°Ahh, I¡¯m so full! Life is just too good! Having the Squad Leader is such a blessing¡ªI could praise her a hundred times every meal!¡± Chen Xiaofei exclaimed, ever the expert at boosting morale.


    Even Bai Shu, full and content, leaned back on the sofa, zoning out in bliss.


    Wang Weihu diligently cleaned up the dishes.


    Meanwhile, Qin Luo was busy drafting a special training schedule for the little zombie. The timetable was packed to the brim.


    The devil¡¯s training regime was about to begin!


    Xu Duoduo suddenly remembered something and followed Wang Weihu into the kitchen. Seeing how well-equipped his kitchen was, she thought about preparing more food.


    The appetites of ability users were enormous. Since everyone saved their mutation cores for her, she couldn¡¯t let them go hungry. It was time to stock up on cooked food.


    Wang Weihu noticed her wandering around the kitchen and said, ¡°Squad Leader, go rest. I¡¯ll handle the dishes. I¡¯m used to it.¡±


    Xu Duoduo couldn¡¯t speak, so she typed on her tablet: **[Space. Lots of ingredients. Need to prepare cooked food.]**


    Her thoughts often got stuck these days, so she kept her sentences short and to the point.


    Wang Weihu immediately agreed. ¡°I¡¯m not the best cook, but I can make sure everyone¡¯s fed. Squad Leader, just bring out the ingredients. I¡¯ll prep some cooked food whenever I have time. You focus on learning from Qin Luo.¡±


    The little zombie nodded reservedly and began pulling out an array of pre-apocalypse supplies from her spatial storage. These were simple to prepare¡ªjust cook them thoroughly.


    She also took out four air fryers and three pressure cookers, handing them all to Wang Weihu.


    Wang Weihu felt overwhelmed, unable to imagine how much effort Xu Duoduo must have put into stockpiling all this food before the apocalypse. Still, he nodded resolutely. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll do my best to get everything cooked.¡±


    Satisfied, the little zombie finally relaxed. When Qin Luo called her from the other room, she shuffled out to join him.

 Chapter 62: Setting Out Again

    Three days later.


    At the Craftsmen Division of the H City Survivor Base.


    The team was visibly excited as they received their new weapons. Qin Luo glanced at his newly upgraded dual-blade sword. It had been modified exactly as he had hoped.


    The blade was now longer, with a significant improvement in hardness and density. And most importantly¡ªit was electrified!


    Now, with just a casual slash, Qin Luo could release a massive current of electricity.


    It was incredibly cool!


    Additionally, the weapon now had a critical hit attribute, with a chance to deliver tenfold damage.


    Bai Shu received a specially designed gun that could be used for both long-range and close-range combat. It looked sleek and impressive, but the highlight was the magazine¡ªit had a built-in ten-cubic-meter storage space.


    This allowed him to store a massive amount of ammunition, greatly reducing the time needed to reload during a fight.


    Wang Weihu was handed a pair of gauntlets. They were much lighter than he had expected, but their power output was significantly enhanced. The gauntlets also provided excellent protection for his fists without feeling stuffy.


    They were incredibly comfortable!


    He clenched his fists to test them out, then threw a few punches to feel their weight. He was thoroughly satisfied!


    The gauntlets were waterproof, fireproof, and resistant to tearing. Their durability ensured they could withstand the claws of ordinary mutated creatures without any issues.


    Chen Xiaofei received a set of concealed weapons¡ªwrist-mounted arrows with a design that leaned toward an ancient aesthetic. Like Bai Shu''s gun, these also had a built-in ten-cubic-meter storage space, filled with various small blades. The blades would automatically return after hitting their target, and they were made of a special material that didn¡¯t retain blood.


    Just like their modified off-road vehicle, which repelled blood stains from its exterior, these small blades were similarly self-cleaning.


    The fact that the blades were retrievable made them invincible!


    Chen Xiaofei was over the moon with excitement. ¡°This is amazing! Absolutely amazing! The craftsmen are truly incredible!!¡±


    The Craftsmen Division was simply too impressive!


    Xu Duoduo¡¯s chainsaw, on the other hand, was nothing short of glamorous. Perhaps because they knew it was for a young girl, they had customized it in pink. The chainsaw was fully powered with unlimited energy, thanks to a newly discovered [Power Stone].


    One stone could last for a century, and they even gave her two spare stones.


    The chainsaw¡¯s gears were genuinely terrifying. With dual rotary blades, it could slice through anything with ease. The phrase ¡°cutting through iron like mud¡± seemed to have been made for this weapon.


    The little zombie was absolutely thrilled. She couldn¡¯t stop hugging the chainsaw, stroking it lovingly.


    A smiling staff member at the service counter asked if they were satisfied. ¡°You still have one chance to request adjustments. If there¡¯s anything that doesn¡¯t feel quite right, feel free to let us know.¡±


    The four humans and one zombie quickly shook their heads. No way¡ªthey loved their new weapons too much to complain!


    They eagerly performed the blood-binding ritual by letting a drop of their blood fall onto the grooves of their weapons, establishing a soul connection with them. A subtle sense of connection with their weapons immediately formed.


    Not bad at all!


    The staff member then pulled out ten combat suits. ¡°These are our latest combat suits, designed to provide enhanced protection compared to regular clothing. They can withstand attacks from mutated creatures up to three stars.¡±


    The suits could endure up to three strikes from a three-star creature, though anything beyond that would be too much.  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Still, it was incredibly impressive!


    Qin Luo quickly gestured for Wang Weihu to accept them. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really too kind.¡±


    While his words were polite, his heart was bursting with joy. Chen Xiaofei and the others felt the same.


    And that wasn¡¯t all.


    The staff member also handed them five machine guns, another new product. They were asked to use them and provide feedback afterward.


    Being part of a combat team had its perks, especially when the team had gained some renown. The base would prioritize providing them with the latest equipment.


    Qin Luo accepted everything without hesitation.


    Wang Weihu distributed the gear, and everyone stored their items in their personal storage space cards.


    Xu Duoduo, however, didn¡¯t need the combat suit. Her three Lolita-style dresses were slightly better in terms of protection.


    After bidding farewell to the courteous staff, they headed to the Craftsmen Division¡¯s changing room to put on their new combat suits. The suits were black and tailored to fit perfectly.


    They accentuated their figures, making them look incredibly striking. When the four of them stepped out, even the little zombie was stunned!


    Qin Luo, having just taken a diluted mutation core serum not long ago, now sported slightly longer hair styled into a wolf cut. He looked wild, rugged, and undeniably attractive, with a hint of roguish charm.


    His usual expression was cold, but whenever he looked at Xu Duoduo, his gaze would instantly soften.


    Ever since he had accidentally scared her before, Qin Luo had never given her a cold look again. From that moment on, he always greeted her with a warm smile.


    Bai Shu, with his frameless glasses and clean-cut short hair, exuded a scholarly air. His build wasn¡¯t as muscular, making him look more like the team¡¯s strategist or administrator.


    But his combat prowess was nothing to scoff at¡ªone shot from him, and any small creature would be taken out instantly.


    Chen Xiaofei, though the shortest at 1.8 meters, had a well-proportioned physique. His compact frame was solid, and his baby face always carried a cheerful smile.


    His buzz cut added to his approachable demeanor.


    Wang Weihu, on the other hand, was a towering, muscular hulk. He wasn¡¯t fat¡ªjust pure muscle.


    He was the epitome of a manly man.


    With his massive chest muscles and rugged features, he had a tough, masculine charm. But when he smiled, he looked adorably goofy.


    Xu Duoduo, dressed in a red Lolita-style dress with a matching lace headband, looked like a delicate doll.


    Since her last transformation into her white-haired state, her silver hair had faded, leaving her with a soft gray tone. Her eyes now had a faint silver sheen, which was barely noticeable unless one looked closely.


    She no longer needed to wear colored contact lenses.


    She was stunning in her own way, and as she waited obediently for them to change, she looked even more endearing.


    Qin Luo couldn¡¯t help but steal glances at her, his gaze naturally following her every move.


    Chen Xiaofei, on the other hand, openly showered her with compliments, calling her things like ¡°the cutest little zombie in the world,¡± ¡°unrivaled beauty,¡± and ¡°so gorgeous it¡¯s explosive.¡±


    Wang Weihu and Bai Shu would chime in with a few words of agreement, while Qin Luo, blushing and awkward, remained silent. It was clear whose feelings were less than pure.


    Meanwhile, the staff member from the service counter passed by with a colleague. Seeing the 3A team still there, they couldn¡¯t help but marvel.


    ¡°Their looks are off the charts!¡±


    The colleague exclaimed, ¡°Oh my god, who are they? Which team is this? They¡¯re all so handsome, and that dress is stunning!¡±


    It was incredibly elegant and exquisite.


    The staff member, feeling a bit proud, replied, ¡°They¡¯re from the 3A team. I¡¯m the one who assisted them.¡±


    The colleague was instantly envious. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing! Did you see their zombie-mutant up close? How does she look?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely beautiful,¡± the staff member recalled. ¡°Her features are incredibly delicate.¡±


    Not quite human.


    More like a perfectly crafted doll.


    The two chatted excitedly for a while, frequently glancing back at the team.


    By this time, Qin Luo had already called for everyone to move out. They boarded their vehicle and set off on their mission.


    As the vehicle exited the base¡¯s checkpoint, a familiar electronic voice greeted them:


    **¡°Welcome to the first exit checkpoint of the H City Survivor Base. Beep. All clear. The H City Survivor Base wishes you a safe journey.¡±**


    After passing through multiple security checks, they arrived at the manual inspection point.


    The same young man from before took their card and greeted them with a smile. ¡°Captain Qin, heading out on another mission? I heard this one¡¯s a big deal¡ªfive combat teams are involved, and they¡¯re all pretty sizable.¡±


    Qin Luo smiled in response. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. Every mission has its dangers¡ªit¡¯s all the same.¡±


    The young man chuckled, returning the card. ¡°Take care out there. On behalf of all the humans at the H City Survivor Base, I wish you a safe journey and a quick return home.¡±


    Though they¡¯d heard this phrase countless times, Qin Luo still smiled and thanked him. Then, stepping on the gas, he drove toward their next mission destination.

 Chapter 63: Two Worlds

    As soon as they exited the city gates, they saw a convoy of vehicles heading in the same direction¡ªtoward N City.


    Bai Shu glanced at the mission briefing. After their team confirmed their participation, the headquarters had provided a personnel list. The five teams involved were the 3A Special Operations Team, Golden Eagle Team, Rose Team, Cheetah Team, and White Dove Team.


    Unlike their team, which only had five members, the other teams each consisted of around ten people.


    "Who would¡¯ve thought? Even the Rose Team is joining. I bet Jin Chuanqiong is going to be fuming," Bai Shu remarked with a hint of amusement, holding a tablet that displayed the personal information of each team member.


    Chen Xiaofei chuckled. "It¡¯s a good thing Captain Mu Mei is here. Someone needs to put that guy in his place. And with Captain Mu leading the charge, this mission is as good as done!"


    The Rose Team was a unique combat unit made up of nine incredibly strong women.


    Mu Mei, their captain, was known for her straightforward and bold personality¡ªa true badass.


    The rest of her team members were all plant-based ability users, each with remarkable strength.


    Meanwhile, Xu Duoduo was diligently studying the profiles of the other teams on her tablet, trying to familiarize herself with everyone. Her little brain was working overtime, almost to the point of overheating.


    Eventually, she leaned back in her seat, taking a break to look out the window. Outside the base, the scenery was barren. All the trees were dead, and the roads were so dry that the car kicked up clouds of dust as it drove along.


    The wind carried the dust everywhere, a clear testament to how dry and desolate the environment had become.


    "It¡¯s only been a few days since we last went out, and it already feels like we¡¯re living in a desert. The contrast between the base and the outside world is like night and day," Chen Xiaofei sighed.


    Everyone nodded in agreement.


    Inside the base, even after enduring typhoons and other disasters, life always seemed to bounce back quickly.


    With the help of mutants and logistics teams, the base was constantly being repaired and revitalized. Plants were regrown, damaged structures were fixed¡ªwithin the walls, the base was like a paradise.


    But the outside world was a stark contrast: bleak, terrifying, and rapidly losing all signs of life.


    Qin Luo, who had been listening to the latest report on zombie activity, chimed in, "That¡¯s why we can¡¯t stay in the base for too long. It dulls our sense of danger."


    For ordinary people, as long as they stayed within the base, they could almost live as if the apocalypse had never happened.


    The base had designated specific areas for ordinary humans, free from the presence of mutants. These areas were equipped with jobs, schools, and even factories built from salvaged materials.


    Life for them was relatively safe, aside from the lack of internet.


    But this sense of security was fragile.


    When danger struck, ordinary people had no means of defending themselves and could easily perish.


    Qin Luo disliked this false sense of security. He preferred to keep his team sharp, constantly honing their skills. Otherwise, they too would eventually fall victim to the tide of evolution.


    Wang Weihu and the others agreed wholeheartedly. This trip to N City was also an opportunity to stock up on supplies.


    The journey ahead was a long one, and they traveled non-stop. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The five teams didn¡¯t interact much, each focused on pushing forward.


    Three days earlier, the research institute in N City had sent out a distress signal. However, assembling personnel, preparing weapons, and planning a rescue route had delayed their departure.


    Now that they were on the move, they had to make up for lost time.


    At one point, Qin Luo switched places with Wang Weihu, moving to the middle row to rest while Wang Weihu took over driving. Chen Xiaofei moved to the front passenger seat.


    "The areas around the base have been scavenged multiple times already. They didn¡¯t even spare the metal roofs¡ªlook at that factory over there," Chen Xiaofei commented, pointing out the window.


    Everyone glanced in that direction.


    Xu Duoduo also noticed that the factory¡¯s roof was completely gone, stripped clean along with its steel framework. Everything had been dismantled and transported back to the base.


    After taking a sip of water, Qin Luo explained, "That¡¯s how the scavenging process works. First, we rescue people. Then we prioritize food and medicine. Finally, we gather any usable materials."


    It was a systematic approach, done in waves. If the base ever ran out of resources again, they might even start dismantling bricks from buildings. Nothing would go to waste.


    "At this rate, the outside world will only become more resource-scarce. If we want to secure more supplies, we¡¯ll have to venture farther and farther out. We need to stock up while we still can," Qin Luo concluded.


    Xu Duoduo nodded in agreement, even whistling in approval.


    Her primary goal for going out was to hoard supplies.


    Although her spatial storage already contained plenty, the competition for resources was fierce. Delaying even a moment could mean losing out to contamination or destruction by mutated creatures.


    Better to store everything safely in her space.


    Qin Luo¡¯s gaze naturally drifted toward her. Seeing the little zombie in her frilly dress still made him feel a bit shy. It had taken him days to get used to her new look.


    "Well, well, someone¡¯s looking sharp after eating a mutation core. Look at those bright little eyes," Qin Luo teased her out of habit.


    The little zombie puffed up her cheeks in annoyance, glaring at him. This bad guy always made fun of her!


    Qin Luo couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily, clearly enjoying her reaction.


    Despite the lighthearted banter, the team couldn¡¯t shake a heavy feeling. The desolation of the outside world was a constant reminder of how dire things had become.


    Humanity¡¯s presence was fading, retreating entirely behind the massive walls of the survivor bases.


    From the front passenger seat, Chen Xiaofei remarked, "It¡¯s terrifying, isn¡¯t it? Feels like we¡¯re living in a post-apocalyptic movie. Except this is real life. Who knows how many people have already died?"


    The emptiness outside wasn¡¯t surprising.


    Bai Shu adjusted his glasses. "The satellite system was partially restored yesterday. If you check the latest satellite images, you¡¯ll see the global situation¡ªeverything has gone dark."


    In the past, satellite photos showed a world lit up with countless points of light, each one representing human civilization.


    Now, it was just vast stretches of darkness.


    Only the bases emitted any light, a stark contrast that left everyone feeling somber.


    Qin Luo pulled out the last of his milk tea from his storage card and handed one to the little zombie. "There are fourteen left. Anyone else want one?"


    The little zombie¡¯s eyes lit up with joy as she cradled the oversized cup. It was still slightly cold, the ice cubes clinking inside. Just as she realized there was no straw, Qin Luo instinctively unwrapped one and inserted it into her cup.


    He had grown used to taking care of her.


    Big Doggo giving milk tea to the little zombie and even inserting the straw = Big Doggo is good.


    He wasn¡¯t a bad guy anymore.


    Big Doggo was a good thing.


    The little zombie happily sipped her milk tea, practically bubbling with joy in the back seat.


    Qin Luo distributed the rest of the milk tea, and each team member received a cup. The sweet treat lifted their spirits, easing the gloom brought on by the bleak landscape outside.


    Chen Xiaofei took a big sip of his classic pearl milk tea, chewing on the tapioca pearls as he sighed contentedly. "Sweet things really do heal the soul."


    Qin Luo had noticed the team¡¯s low morale and decided to cheer them up with milk tea. It worked like a charm¡ªeveryone seemed more energized.


    Feeling quite pleased with himself, Qin Luo thought, *What a thoughtful captain I am.*


    *Sigh! I¡¯m just too good!*


    The little zombie stared at him intently, her gaze unwavering. Qin Luo coughed awkwardly. "Drink your milk tea. Why are you staring at me like that?"


    Her steady gaze made him feel a little embarrassed, his face growing warm.

 Chapter 64: Beat Him Up!

    One day later.


    After exiting the highway, the five combat teams finally gathered on the open ground in front of the toll station.


    The situation inside N City remained unclear.


    They couldn¡¯t just charge in recklessly.


    Everyone decided to rest here for the night and set out at dawn to eliminate the zombies.


    They also planned to finalize the rescue route.


    "I told you to listen to me! I¡¯m the commander-in-chief for this mission!"


    A gruff male voice rang out, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.


    It was downright rude.


    "And who do you think you are? Listen to you? Blast our way in with ammunition? What if there are still survivors inside?!"


    A crisp and articulate female voice immediately retorted, her words sharp and unyielding.


    "How long has it been since the apocalypse started?! Mu Mei, I¡¯m telling you! Our mission is to rescue the researchers! Every day we delay increases the risk! Can you afford to waste time? How many survivors do you think could still be in this hellhole?!"


    The man¡¯s voice grew louder and more irritable, his words escalating to insults. "Even if there are survivors, who¡¯s more valuable¡ªresearchers or ordinary people?! Do we not have enough sickly, useless civilians already? If they die, so be it!"


    The captains of the other two combat teams didn¡¯t dare intervene. After all, one was the captain of the Golden Eagle Team, and the other was the captain of the Rose Team.


    Both were ranked among the top thirty teams. Who would dare offend them?


    Mu Mei was furious. "So ordinary lives don¡¯t matter anymore? There¡¯s clearly another way! It¡¯s just a bit slower. We can break in from the southeast direction¡ªit won¡¯t take much longer! Why sacrifice ordinary people just to save a few minutes?!"


    Jin Chuanqiong sneered disdainfully, adjusting his collar. "I¡¯ve already said it¡ªI''m the commander-in-chief this time. You all have to follow my orders!"


    Mu Mei spat at him. "Who do you think you are? Captain Qin is also here, and headquarters clearly stated we should discuss and decide on the command together!"


    Her words made Jin Chuanqiong¡¯s face darken as if he had swallowed something foul.


    The two were on the verge of a physical fight, and their respective teammates were also itching to get involved.


    "Hey, hey, hey! What¡¯s going on here? Haven¡¯t even fought the zombies yet, and you¡¯re already fighting each other?"


    A casual, drawling voice suddenly cut through the tension, drawing everyone¡¯s attention.


    "Captain Qin!"


    "Captain Qin!"


    The voices greeting him came one after another, mostly from the other two teams.


    When they saw Qin Luo approaching, their eyes lit up. The 3A Special Operations Team had been the talk of the forums lately. They had recently taken down a three-star mutant snake-man and, during a typhoon, wiped out a swarm of over 20,000 mutant bats¡ªcoming out unscathed!


    These days, the 3A team was idolized by many, especially newcomers who worshiped them as heroes.


    "Captain Qin! You¡¯re so cool!"


    "Yeah, when will you have time to teach our team a thing or two?"


    "Exactly! I heard Captain Qin is also a top-notch fighter! Can you teach us some moves?"  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Captain Qin, can I add you as a friend?"


    Qin Luo smiled and waved them off. "Let¡¯s talk after the mission."


    The newcomers cheered in admiration.


    "As expected of Captain Qin, always prioritizing the mission!"


    "Exactly!"


    Jin Chuanqiong¡¯s face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot when he saw Qin Luo stealing his thunder.


    Mu Mei crossed her arms and let out a mocking laugh, her disdain practically dripping from her expression. "A clown will always be a clown. No matter how much you jump around, you¡¯re still just a clown."


    Jin Chuanqiong clenched his fists, activating his metal ability. A layer of metal covered his fists, and his glare looked like he wanted to kill Mu Mei on the spot.


    Mu Mei responded in kind, summoning her ability. A two-meter-high mutated rose vine shot out behind her.


    The fight was about to erupt.


    Qin Luo stepped in and interrupted, "Enough! Save your energy for the real monsters, will you?!"


    The other two teams, feeling awkward, quickly chimed in to mediate.


    "Yeah, Captain Jin, Captain Mu, please don¡¯t argue!"


    "The mission is what¡¯s important!"


    "Save your abilities!"


    Mu Mei snorted coldly, withdrawing her ability. She glanced at Qin Luo, her old comrade, and the two exchanged a nod as a silent greeting.


    Just then, a small head peeked out from behind Qin Luo, her wide eyes darting around curiously.


    "Hey, why did you follow me? Weren¡¯t you resting in the car? Go take a nap."


    Qin Luo¡¯s tone changed completely, becoming lazy and even a bit doting.


    The little zombie let out a soft "aww." She had been worried someone might bully her "big dog" and came to check on him. But it seemed like no one dared to.


    Everyone noticed her presence and was immediately stunned.


    What a breathtaking little beauty!


    Qin Luo sighed and said, "Sorry about this. My team member is a bit clingy. What can I do? I¡¯m just too good of a captain¡ªtoo lovable."


    His tone was so blatantly smug that it made everyone laugh.


    The atmosphere lightened considerably.


    Even Mu Mei was surprised. "So this is your new team member? She¡¯s adorable."


    She had heard about her from Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao before, but seeing her in person was something else.


    Qin Luo grinned proudly.


    Xu Duoduo looked up at the red-haired, stunningly beautiful woman. She estimated her height to be about 1.75 meters, with an incredible figure and short, stylish hair.


    She glanced down at her own petite frame and couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of envy.


    Qin Luo chuckled and introduced her generously, "Yes, this is our newest member of the 3A Special Operations Team¡ªXu Duoduo, a speed-type mutant."


    The little zombie, realizing she was being introduced, stepped forward and gave a reserved "hmm," exuding an air of coolness that was oddly reminiscent of Qin Luo.


    Everyone was nearly overwhelmed by her cuteness.


    "Whoa~~"


    "Hello, Comrade Xu!"


    "Nice to meet you, comrade!"


    Xu Duoduo felt a bit shy under their enthusiastic greetings but was also secretly delighted that no one looked at her with suspicion or hostility.


    Qin Luo had deliberately introduced her openly, his tone filled with pride. In just three days of intensive training, this little zombie had not only mastered combat techniques but had also significantly improved her spatial ability.


    How could he not be proud?


    Jin Chuanqiong, however, sneered and said sarcastically, "Captain Qin, you really brought a mutant like her along? What was the base thinking, allowing her to come? A mere speed-type mutant¡ªwhat use could she possibly be? Just a pretty decoration? Your 3A team is just using your achievements to make ridiculous demands of headquarters..."


    Before Qin Luo could react, the small figure beside him suddenly darted out. He couldn¡¯t stop her in time.


    The next second, they all saw her leap into the air and deliver a spinning kick to Jin Chuanqiong¡¯s chest, forcing him back two steps.


    Realizing what had just happened, Jin Chuanqiong was furious. He cursed loudly, "Damn it!"


    The little zombie was enraged. How dare he curse at her? Beat him up!


    Wow!!


    Everyone was stunned. No one had expected this little thing to be so fierce.


    She really started a fight without a second thought.


    "Whoa, her speed is insane! Those are clearly combat moves, but why does she fight so wildly?"


    "Because she doesn¡¯t follow any set patterns! Look, look!"


    Jin Chuanqiong, humiliated and enraged, didn¡¯t care that his opponent was a rookie mutant. To him, being challenged by a mutant was intolerable!


    What terrified him even more was the realization that he couldn¡¯t beat her! A rookie?!


    Qin Luo watched with a satisfied smile. The three days of training had paid off. He even started analyzing her moves, thinking about what needed improvement so he could help her refine her skills later.

 Chapter 65: Establishing Authority

    By the end of the fight, everyone was left stunned.


    Terrifying!


    ¡°Phew, just watching that made my teeth hurt. Captain Jin really ran into a tough one this time.¡±


    ¡°Wow, this little girl is ferocious!¡±


    ¡°Fighting like that while wearing a dress? That¡¯s insane!¡±


    ¡°Well, serves him right for running his mouth. Did he think everyone would tolerate him? He¡¯s gotten too cocky.¡±


    ¡°I heard Captain Jin just advanced to a third-tier ability? And yet Qin¡¯s rookie¡­ wow, unbelievable.¡±


    To be able to fight a third-tier ability user to a standstill¡ªand even outpace him in speed¡ªJin Chuanqiong grew more and more panicked as the fight went on. Ultimately, a moment of distraction led to Xu Duoduo landing a solid kick to his chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. She really didn¡¯t hold back with that kick!


    The crowd erupted into applause.


    Chen Xiaofei and the others had arrived at some point and were also watching the fight.


    When they saw Xu Duoduo win, they immediately cheered.


    ¡°Ahhh, Class Monitor, you¡¯re amazing!!¡±


    ¡°Awesome!¡±


    ¡°So cool!¡±


    Chen Xiaofei, Bai Shu, and Wang Weihu all gave her a big thumbs-up.


    Qin Luo, on the other hand, was smiling from ear to ear. ¡°Alright, come back now. That¡¯s enough.¡±


    The little zombie, still cool as ever, raised her hand and gave them all a thumbs-up in return!


    During her three days of special training, whenever she performed well, her teammates would encourage her this way. It had become a little tradition among them.


    She was absolutely delighted!


    Without even breaking a sweat, Xu Duoduo casually strolled back to Qin Luo¡¯s side. Everyone thought she might have something to say, but instead, she extended her small hand toward him, showing him a small bruise on the back of her pale hand.


    Qin Luo¡¯s expression immediately darkened. Bending down, he blew gently on her hand. ¡°Damn it, why is he so hard? He hurt my precious girl¡¯s hand.¡±


    The bruise on her snow-white hand was glaringly obvious, and Qin Luo couldn¡¯t stop himself from rubbing it gently, his heart aching.


    Chen Xiaofei and the others, seeing this, were equally distressed. They turned and started shouting.


    ¡°Hey, Jin Dapeng, are you insane? It was just sparring, and you used your ability? Have you no shame?¡±


    Bai Shu chimed in, ¡°Absolutely shameless.¡±


    Wang Weihu added, ¡°We¡¯re all comrades here, Jin Dapeng. You¡¯re a real piece of trash, you know that?¡±


    Jin Chuanqiong, still sprawled on the ground: ¡­


    The stunned crowd: ¡­ (Silence reigned like the quiet over the River Cam tonight.)


    In truth, Xu Duoduo didn¡¯t feel pain as intensely as humans did. She had been pampered too much. For ordinary zombies, bumps and scrapes were a daily occurrence. But ever since her early days, Qin Luo had been carrying her everywhere¡ªeither in his arms or under his arm.


    Thanks to him, she had smoothly transitioned through the stiff corpse phase and was now able to run and jump freely.


    At most, overusing her abilities would make her drowsy.  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Her skin was so tough that even falling during a typhoon hadn¡¯t hurt her. She wouldn¡¯t bruise easily.


    But today, she somehow ended up with a small bruise. Who wouldn¡¯t feel bad about that?


    Jin Chuanqiong, that scumbag metal ability user, had coated himself in a layer of metal for protection. Punching him had hurt her hand, and kicking him had hurt her leg. She suspected her shin was probably bruised too.


    The little zombie started to lift her skirt to show him her leg. Even though she was wearing white safety shorts underneath, Qin Luo was so startled that he quickly pressed her skirt back down. Finally, he scooped her up and carried her off. ¡°A young lady shouldn¡¯t be lifting her skirt in public! Come on, I¡¯ll check later to see where else you¡¯re hurt.¡±


    Although he had been training her to ensure she could survive longer on her own if anything happened to them, he still felt incredibly protective when she got hurt.


    Could zombies even use ointments?


    Meanwhile, Jin Chuanqiong, still lying on the ground, was grumbling and cursing under his breath. Qin Luo suddenly stopped, turned around, and snapped his fingers. A bolt of lightning struck Jin Chuanqiong, making him howl in pain and convulse on the ground.


    ¡°Listen up, everyone. Xu Duoduo is a member of the 3A Special Operations Team, officially approved by headquarters. If you have a problem with that, take it up with them. But if I hear another word of slander against her, why don¡¯t you try sparring with me next time? Bullying a little zombie¡ªwhat kind of man does that make you?¡±


    Qin Luo¡¯s tone was serious as he addressed Jin Chuanqiong, but it was also a clear declaration to everyone else. Holding Xu Duoduo in his left arm, he reached up with his right hand to tap the metal collar around her neck, which glowed faintly green.


    ¡°She can maintain emotional stability during combat. How many of you here can say the same?¡±


    With that, Qin Luo turned and carried the little zombie away to tend to her bruised leg.


    It was only then that the others realized¡ª


    Xu Duoduo, this little zombie, had managed to stay completely calm and collected throughout the fight?!


    A chill ran down everyone¡¯s spines.


    Forget unstable mutants¡ªeven ordinary people would have emotional fluctuations during a fight.


    The purpose of the emotion-monitoring collars given to mutants by the base was precisely for this reason. The collars tracked emotional states, shifting from green to orange to red. Even if a mutant¡¯s levels reached orange, they wouldn¡¯t be detained¡ªjust reminded to watch their emotions.


    But Xu Duoduo¡¯s collar stayed green the entire time???


    What kind of terrifying little zombie was this?


    And who fights this fiercely while dressed so adorably?!


    Terrifying!


    Chen Xiaofei and the others snorted and looked at Jin Chuanqiong as if he were a stray dog.


    Bai Shu adjusted his glasses, smiling gently. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s discuss the rescue route now, shall we? Ordinary people have rights too, and I¡¯m much more interested in Captain Mu¡¯s proposed route. Let¡¯s all share our thoughts.¡±


    The idea of indiscriminately using artillery to reduce the time needed for the mission, at the potential cost of survivors¡¯ lives, was truly inhumane.


    Wang Weihu and the others couldn¡¯t stomach such a plan. Only scum like Jin Chuanqiong would dare suggest it.


    If it weren¡¯t for Jin¡¯s connections and his track record of completing missions, headquarters wouldn¡¯t have tolerated him for this long. Unfortunately, he always had someone backing him up.


    Mu Mei let out a sigh of relief. She was grateful the 3A team had come. Otherwise, she¡¯d have been stuck dealing with two strong but inexperienced rookie teams, which would¡¯ve been a headache.


    At least with the 3A team, they could come up with a proper strategy.


    Bai Shu, along with Chen Xiaofei and Wang Weihu, began coordinating with the others. Compared to Jin Chuanqiong¡¯s autocratic approach, the 3A team¡¯s collaborative style was clearly more effective.


    ¡°Cheetah Team specializes in ambushes, White Dove Team excels at disruption, Rose Team is great at binding and killing, Golden Eagle Team is good at tanking damage, and our 3A team handles output. Let¡¯s assign positions accordingly¡ªhow about that?¡±


    As the discussion heated up, Jin Chuanqiong was trembling with rage. His teammates were equally indignant, grumbling angrily.


    ¡°The 3A team is such a bunch of attention-seekers! Shameless!¡±


    ¡°That mutant¡¯s collar must be faulty. How could there be no emotional fluctuations?!¡±


    ¡°Mutants are disgusting creatures. I have no idea what headquarters was thinking!¡±


    Jin Chuanqiong seethed with hatred. The 3A team was a thorn in his side, always overshadowing him. He had thought advancing to a third-tier ability would finally give him a chance to shine, but after taking a single hit from Qin Luo, he was left paralyzed¡ªand Qin Luo¡¯s control over his ability seemed even more refined.


    It was highly likely Qin Luo¡¯s ability level was above his own.


    This realization filled him with a sense of crisis, his eyes bloodshot with fury.


    Even his teammates, who had been venting their frustrations, were startled by his deranged expression. He looked scarier than the zombie girl from earlier.


    But no one paid them any attention.


    The majority ruled.


    Everyone supported the 3A team as the mission¡¯s lead. After tending to Xu Duoduo¡¯s bruised shin, Qin Luo returned to the group to finalize the plan.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go with these two routes. We¡¯ll split into teams and launch a full-scale assault on the Research Institute!¡±

 Chapter 66: The Encirclement of Zombies

    The next morning.


    At the break of dawn, the group set off in vehicles. The five squads split into two groups.


    The 3A Special Operations Team, the Cheetah Team, and the White Dove Team formed one group, while the Golden Eagle Team and the Rose Team made up the other. The two routes they took were close to each other.


    This way, they could provide timely assistance in case of danger.


    The Rose Team was paired with the Golden Eagle Team primarily to keep an eye on them, fearing they might stir up trouble.


    As soon as the vehicles reached the intersection, everyone swiftly disembarked and stored the vehicles into their spatial storage devices.


    In every combat team, at least the captain would possess a spatial storage card. For others, it depended on their individual abilities¡ªthe stronger the ability, the better the perks.


    "Let''s split up here! Take your positions¡ªoperation begins now!"


    With Qin Luo''s command, everyone responded in unison, turning and swiftly moving into action.


    Jin Chuanqiong''s expression was grim, but since the mission had already started, he had no choice but to carry it out, especially with Mu Mei, the captain of the Rose Team, keeping a close watch on him.


    "Let''s go, Captain Jin. Whoever kills the fewest zombies today is trash."


    Mu Mei sneered before leading her teammates forward without hesitation.


    Jin Chuanqiong scowled darkly but quickly barked orders, "Move! Golden Eagle Team, assemble! Follow me! Today, we''ll show them what real strength looks like!"


    His teammates echoed loudly, "Yes, sir!"


    While they were busy posturing, Qin Luo''s group had already engaged the zombies.


    During the day, zombies moved slower, but their sheer numbers made up for it. The entire highway was packed with them, their bodies severely decomposed.


    The sight was nauseating.


    "Damn, this is disgusting! The splattered blood and gore are unbearable!"


    "Ugh, it''s so stinky!"


    "One-third of these zombies are already at Tier One? How are they evolving so fast?"


    "These Tier One zombies are getting smart! They''re even using regular zombies as shields!"


    The Cheetah Team and White Dove Team grumbled as they fought, staring at the sea of zombies ahead with a sense of despair. How long would it take to clear them all?


    Following Qin Luo''s plan, they first used firearms to mow down the zombies, interspersed with the use of abilities to conserve energy.


    As the Cheetah Team and White Dove Team struggled to clear the zombies, distant sounds of battle kept reaching them. There were bursts of gunfire, crackles of lightning, howling winds, and the rumbling of the ground. Zombies were blasted into the air, only to crash back down lifeless.


    Holy crap!


    The 3A Team was absolutely brutal!


    The highway extended in all directions, and Qin Luo''s team was wreaking havoc up ahead, leaving the two rookie teams to deal with zombies spilling out from side paths.


    They cleared one area at a time before advancing slowly but efficiently.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The Cheetah Team and White Dove Team, both rookie squads, were included in this mission because of their strong abilities. This was also an opportunity to train them.


    But they had never seen so many zombies before¡ªan overwhelming, endless horde!


    Their panic made them vulnerable.


    "Shit, shit, shit! What do we do if we can''t hold them off? Captain Qin, zombies keep coming our way!"


    "Left alley! Left alley! Another wave is coming!"


    "Captain Qin! We have an injured member here!"


    Qin Luo, who was in the middle of frying zombies with his lightning ability, had just unleashed a satisfying area attack with an eight-meter radius when he heard the rookies panicking. He frowned but remained calm. "Where''s the healer? Get the healer to treat the injured. I''ll head back to assist you shortly. Don''t lose your composure, understand?"


    He ordered them to hold their ground!


    Just as he was about to turn back, a sharp whistle sounded from behind him.


    "Alright, Xu Duoduo is heading back to help you. Hold on for one minute."


    Qin Luo immediately understood the signal from the little zombie girl, their unspoken coordination almost instinctive.


    Sure enough, he spotted her small figure darting toward the rear. Her red Lolita dress was strikingly eye-catching, especially with the pink chainsaw she carried.


    This outfit boosted her strength. Just last night, the little zombie had used her enhanced attributes to kick Jin Chuanqiong to the ground, proving its effectiveness!


    With her natural speed, supporting the rookie teams was a piece of cake.


    Qin Luo sent a few more lightning strikes forward, clearing the path, and spoke into his earpiece, "If you can''t handle it, call me."


    This was clearly directed at Xu Duoduo.


    Chen Xiaofei, who had just shredded a group of zombies with a combination of small tornadoes and flying daggers, teased, "Ooooh, ''If you can''t handle it, call me''~~"


    Bai Shu, who had just used his ability *Illusion* to confuse the zombies into attacking each other before finishing off the survivors with a new weapon, joined in, "Yeah, call me~~"


    Qin Luo clicked his tongue in annoyance and scolded, "Shut up! Can''t go a day without roasting me, can you?"


    Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu burst into laughter, but their zombie-killing efficiency remained unaffected.


    Meanwhile, Wang Weihu stayed focused on his task, not paying attention to their banter. However, he couldn''t help but comment, "These mutation cores are piling up. We''re going to make a good haul."


    That much was true.


    Qin Luo nodded, "We''ll collect the mutation cores after clearing this area."


    On the other side.


    The Cheetah Team and White Dove Team, overhearing the 3A Team''s banter through their earpieces, were on the verge of a breakdown.


    How could they still joke around while fighting?!!


    Just as despair began to set in, a small figure appeared in their line of sight. The little zombie girl, dressed in her pretty outfit and wielding a pink chainsaw, arrived and instantly mowed down an entire row of zombies in one swift motion.


    The rookies almost cried tears of relief.


    "Finally, someone''s here to save us!!"


    "So this is what real strength looks like?! She''s amazing!! The zombie girl is so fierce, I''m in awe!"


    Xu Duoduo focused on clearing the zombies. These creatures were not only numerous but also reeked of decay. After nearly two months of the apocalypse, it was no surprise they had deteriorated to such a state.


    She weaved through the horde with her chainsaw, putting the zombies to rest.


    "Roar, roar!" Excuse me, coming through! Want to die? Let me help you out!


    Even in death, they found no peace. Wandering the roads, biting people, and being used as tools by mutant zombies¡ªhow miserable was that?


    Xu Duoduo swung her chainsaw, sending the zombies to their final rest. One after another, they fell.


    The Cheetah Team and White Dove Team were deeply inspired by the sight. If they weren''t so busy, they would have clapped for her. What a violent little zombie!


    "If only Little Squad Leader were part of our team!"


    "She''s incredible!!"


    "Why do they call her Little Squad Leader?"


    "No idea. I just noticed Captain Qin and his team call her that!"


    "But isn''t she a zombie? Aren''t these her kind?"


    "Are you stupid?! Mutants retain human consciousness! Little Squad Leader is human! Her mutation just happens to be zombie-related. Besides, she doesn''t even look like a zombie!"


    Everyone agreed. Xu Duoduo''s appearance was snow-white, and though her face was expressionless, her eyes were lively and full of intelligence.


    She was nothing like the mindless walking corpses around them!

 Chapter 67: A Brief Rest

    The abilities of the rookie squads weren¡¯t weak, but they lacked experience. Fear often led to mistakes. With the little zombie girl assisting them, they gradually steadied themselves. Once their nerves settled, killing zombies became oddly satisfying!


    They slowly adapted to the combat rhythm of the 3A Special Operations Team.


    By the time the zombies in the area were mostly cleared, the ground was a mosaic of flesh and gore.


    Chunks of zombie remains were piled into small mountains, and the rookie squads were utterly exhausted, their faces numb from fatigue.


    Qin Luo announced a temporary "end" to the mission, granting everyone a half-hour break.


    Chen Xiaofei was busy collecting mutation cores. Using his wind ability, he created mini-tornadoes to lift the zombie remains and separate the cores. The method was highly efficient, though the scene resembled a grotesque meat grinder.


    Upon hearing the announcement for a break, the Cheetah Team and White Dove Team finally let go of their last shreds of energy, collapsing in exhaustion. Even so, they instinctively shuffled toward cleaner spots near the walls to catch their breath, avoiding the gore-covered ground.


    Bai Shu was busy capturing footage for his report, while Chen Xiaofei continued extracting mutation cores. Wang Weihu patrolled the area, delivering finishing blows to any lingering zombies.


    Qin Luo ventured ahead to scout the route and check on the Rose Team¡¯s progress.


    Meanwhile, the little zombie girl, Xu Duoduo, was looking for Qin Luo. Not finding him, she wandered over to Chen Xiaofei, who greeted her with a grin and handed her a bag of mutation cores.


    "Here, Little Squad Leader, take these. From now on, all the important stuff for our team will be stored with you."


    After sorting the cores, Chen Xiaofei pulled out a burlap sack from his spatial storage card. Once the sack was full, he handed it to Xu Duoduo, who happily stored it in her spatial cube.


    Standing beside him, Xu Duoduo diligently collected the sacks, one after another, her mood visibly brightening.


    She loved hoarding things.


    Watching her spatial cube fill up gave her immense satisfaction.


    Since the zombie-clearing operation was split into two fronts, the 3A Team had handled the bulk of the fighting up ahead, so the mutation cores from that area naturally belonged to them.


    Having participated in the rear-end cleanup, Xu Duoduo also received a third of the mutation cores from that section.


    The Cheetah Team and White Dove Team, still sprawled out in exhaustion, marveled at how the 3A Team continued their post-battle cleanup with unwavering efficiency. They couldn¡¯t help but voice their awe.


    "Are they even human? No wonder the forums call them beasts!"


    "Same battle, but we¡¯re on the verge of death, and they¡¯re still moving like it¡¯s nothing."


    "That¡¯s why they¡¯re the 3A Team! They¡¯re ranked in the top twenty squads nationwide."


    The official ranking system wasn¡¯t formalized yet, but the forums had an unofficial leaderboard. The top twenty squads didn¡¯t have their exact rankings disclosed, partly to prevent power-hungry ability users from becoming uncontrollable. However, any squad that made it into the top twenty was undeniably formidable.


    The gap between the top twenty and those ranked twenty-first to thirtieth was significant, with another noticeable divide between the thirty-first and fiftieth ranks.


    The Rose Team and Golden Eagle Team often competed for the twenty-first spot, taking turns holding the position. Currently, the Golden Eagle Team was in the lead, occupying the twenty-first rank, while the Rose Team trailed slightly at twenty-second.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    To the Cheetah Team and White Dove Team, these squads were already legendary figures.


    The 3A Team? They were legends among legends!


    Eventually, Chen Xiaofei finished sorting the mutation cores from the rear section. In front of the two rookie squad captains, he divided the cores evenly.


    "A total of 12,000 mutation cores. Each squad gets a third¡ª4,000 cores each."


    The Cheetah and White Dove Teams quickly expressed their gratitude, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten in their excitement. Missions like this were dangerous, but the rewards were undeniably worth it.


    Xu Duoduo clutched her burlap sack and promptly stored it in her spatial cube.


    "Brother Chen, does everyone in your team really have a spatial storage card?"


    "Yeah, is that true?"


    Chen Xiaofei chuckled at the question. "Of course it¡¯s true!"


    At that moment, Wang Weihu finished delivering the final blows to the remaining zombies and walked over. He tossed two packs of cigarettes to each of the rookie squads.


    "Good work today. You all did well. Take a break here for now."


    This gesture elicited a chorus of astonished exclamations.


    "Whoa, seriously?! Cigarettes?! Brother Wang, you¡¯re the best!"


    "Thank you, Brother Wang!"


    "Thanks, Brother Weihu!"


    After the apocalypse began, items like cigarettes and alcohol became rare luxuries.


    Even if they wanted to buy them, they were hard to come by.


    Unless they ventured into the black market and paid exorbitant prices or waited for headquarters to distribute them as mission rewards, their only option was to stash some away during supply runs.


    But the areas near the base had been scavenged repeatedly.


    Unless they ventured farther into more dangerous territories, resources were becoming increasingly scarce.


    Most places were now just empty shells of buildings.


    Wang Weihu¡¯s sudden generosity with two packs of Huazi cigarettes thrilled the rookies to no end. They eagerly lit up, the act helping to ease their frayed nerves.


    Chen Xiaofei, who didn¡¯t have a smoking habit, waved Xu Duoduo away. "Little Squad Leader, let¡¯s go. Stay away from these stinky guys. If Captain Qin finds out we let you inhale secondhand smoke, he¡¯ll kill us!"


    Not wanting to get scolded, he quickly distanced himself.


    Xu Duoduo, who also disliked the smell of smoke, wrinkled her nose and followed Chen Xiaofei.


    The two of them found a second-floor platform, which seemed to have once been part of a caf¨¦. The open-air terrace felt like a good spot to rest.


    Although most of the zombies had been cleared, stragglers occasionally wandered over.


    To truly rest, they needed a higher vantage point where they could feel safe.


    Qin Luo, having just helped the Rose Team clear a large wave of zombies and divided the mutation cores with them, returned to find Chen Xiaofei in his bird form. His talons were gripping the back of Xu Duoduo¡¯s dress as he carried her up to the second floor.


    Oh, great.


    Messing around the moment I step away?


    Spotting a few more zombies emerging in the distance, Qin Luo efficiently shot them down before shouting to Wang Weihu and the others, "If you¡¯re resting, do it on the second floor!"


    Better safe than sorry¡ªhe didn¡¯t want anyone else getting scratched. One rookie had already been injured earlier, and if not for their healer, it could¡¯ve been a serious problem.


    Wang Weihu quickly ushered the rookies upstairs. After receiving the gift of cigarettes, the rookies were now incredibly obedient, following instructions without hesitation.


    Bai Shu, having finished documenting everything, easily climbed up to the second floor. Watching Wang Weihu manage the rookies, he couldn¡¯t help but comment, "Old Wang¡¯s getting better and better at this. He¡¯s got those rookies wrapped around his finger."


    Chen Xiaofei, waiting for Xu Duoduo to bring out some food, glanced over at the opposite building where Wang Weihu was leading the rookies upstairs. "Of course. Old Wang¡¯s perfect for this. He¡¯s great at sweet-talking people."


    After all, he was the 3A Team¡¯s top "diplomat."


    The two troublemakers couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    Xu Duoduo efficiently pulled out four large Northeastern rice wraps, a box of boneless chicken feet, a box of fried chicken, and four cans of hearty soup from her spatial cube.


    The rice wraps were filled with mashed potatoes, egg sauce, saut¨¦ed eggplant, sausage, and peanuts, all wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves.


    Bai Shu ate in silence, while Chen Xiaofei couldn¡¯t stop exclaiming with delight as he devoured the food.

 Chapter 68: Clink-Clink Collecting Mutation Cores

    Qin Luo jumped up at this moment, tossing a bag of mutation cores into Xu Duoduo''s arms.


    "Just traded a few two-star mutation cores from mutant beasts. Have you guys collected all the cores on our side?"


    Chen Xiaofei, his mouth stuffed full, nodded vaguely. "Mmm-mmm, all collected. They''re with the class monitor."


    The little zombie saw that her arms now held seven or eight more two-star animal mutation cores and was overjoyed. Her tiny claws eagerly pawed through the bag of cores.


    The cores were only about the size of lychees¡ªfour green ones, two red ones, and one orange one.


    They even had different scents: grass, apple, and orange.


    She loved it!!


    Qin Luo also sat down, took off his gloves, and began eating. "Rice wraps for dinner today?"


    Xu Duoduo''s space was stocked with an impressive amount of food. Who knew how long she''d been hoarding it? The variety alone was staggering, with all kinds of dishes prepared in different ways.


    And every single one smelled amazing.


    Bai Shu was eating so much he couldn''t even talk. When he got tired of rice wraps, he''d nibble on some lemon boneless chicken feet. If he felt choked up, he''d take a sip of rich chicken soup to wash it down. Life was just too good.


    "After working ourselves to the bone, having such delicious food is heaven. Class monitor, how are you this awesome? You''re just too good to us!"


    Chen Xiaofei kept rambling between bites. "I can''t even remember what life was like before the class monitor was around!"


    Bai Shu slowed down after eating to about eighty percent full and chimed in, "What was it like? Hungry, gnawing on dry rations, and drinking water when thirsty."


    The early versions of nutrient solutions tasted awful, and energy bars were overly sweet and cloying.


    Not that they were inedible.


    But eating them only kept you from starving; they never gave you any satisfaction.


    In the end, nothing beats a good meal of white rice and real dishes!


    Even Qin Luo, while munching on his rice wrap, couldn''t help but sigh at the aroma. "Without Xu Duoduo, would we even dare to dream of having multiple dishes and soup for every meal? Or of having herbal teas besides plain water? Dream on."


    Their little zombie was truly amazing!


    The three of them grew more sentimental as they ate, their gazes toward Xu Duoduo filled with palpable *affection*.


    But the little zombie had no idea. She was still busy counting mutation cores. Earlier, because they had to split the cores with the Cheetah and White Dove teams, Chen Xiaofei had done some calculations. However, he hadn''t included the zombie mutation cores they''d collected earlier. She needed to tally those up.


    Her little brain was slow, though.


    So, she diligently sat to the side, counting mutation cores with her tiny claws.


    She finally arrived at a total: 21,200 zombie mutation cores. Not bad at all!!Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Currently, the base''s exchange rate for mutation cores was 5,000 points per one-star core.


    Oh my god!


    Unknowingly, their team had become so wealthy! Xu Duoduo''s eyes sparkled with excitement. She glanced at the mountain of supplies in her Rubik''s Cube space. They had enough food to last the four of them a lifetime. The one-star mutation cores from the mutant bats were her personal snacks, enough to sustain her for ages.


    Not to mention the stash of two-star cores and even the three-star core from the mutated snake-man.


    The newly acquired zombie mutation cores could be spent or used as currency in place of points.


    She couldn''t be more satisfied.


    Her space was also packed with snacks and drinks. The little zombie was living the dream.


    She pulled out some snacks to munch on. They had a bit of flavor now, much better than before.


    Qin Luo, while reviewing the battle with Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei, caught sight of her snacking. Finding it intriguing, he casually asked, "Can you taste it now?"


    As soon as he spoke, his hand moved instinctively to flip his chopsticks around and pick up a chicken foot, which he then stuffed into her mouth, watching her chew.


    It had become a habit. Back at the base, Xu Duoduo couldn''t taste anything and would just sit there watching them eat. Since she couldn''t use chopsticks with her claws, Qin Luo had felt uncomfortable and started feeding her out of habit. Over time, it became second nature. Now, his hand acted before his brain even processed it.


    Xu Duoduo chewed and chewed. The lemon boneless chicken foot tasted like rubber in her mouth, utterly flavorless. She scrunched up her face, signaling that she didn''t want it anymore.


    Suddenly, a mocking laugh came from downstairs. "How touching. Treating your teammate so well? Even feeding her?"


    Jin Chuanqiong''s snarky mouth just couldn''t stay shut. Seeing Qin Luo feeding a zombie, he couldn''t resist making a jab.


    Bai Shu quickly reminded Qin Luo, "We still need him for the mission. Let''s deal with him after it''s over."


    Only then did Qin Luo narrow his eyes and hold back, though he really wanted to zap Jin Chuanqiong into ashes.


    Such a buzzkill.


    Jin Chuanqiong, spotting the Rose Team nearby, couldn''t help but taunt further. "Oh! Didn''t someone say whoever kills fewer zombies is trash? And yet, you''re still relying on others for help? Why not handle it on your own? What''s the matter? Can''t manage without teaming up with Captain Qin? Tsk, not everyone can fend for themselves."


    He then smugly turned to his teammates and asked, "Hey, how many cores did we collect again? 6,300, right?! All those one-star zombies flocked to us! Quite the haul, huh?"


    But the Cheetah and White Dove teams, being straightforward, immediately started discussing the numbers.


    "6,300? Really? That little? We were in the rear and still got 12,000. We split them with Captain Qin''s team, and even then, each of our teams got 4,000. Captain Qin''s group must''ve collected way more up front."


    "Yeah, totally!"


    "I think so too. Captain Qin''s team must''ve collected at least 20,000 cores, minimum."


    The implication was clear: they had way more than 6,300. Just look at the towering pile of zombie remains over there!


    These honest kids spoke with such sincerity that even their eyes gleamed with conviction.


    Wang Weihu couldn''t help but burst into laughter.


    Jin Chuanqiong''s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and his teammates felt the secondhand embarrassment.


    "Boss Jin, seriously, the zombie remains over there are way more than ours."


    "Shut up!! Do I need you to remind me?!" Jin Chuanqiong snapped, utterly humiliated.


    The Rose Team''s lovely ladies all burst into laughter. Even Mu Mei felt vindicated!


    Xu Duoduo, hearing everyone talk about numbers, perked up. She could do math! She pulled out her tablet and showed Qin Luo and the others: **[We have a total of 25,200 cores.]**


    Qin Luo was nearly overwhelmed by how adorable she was! Bai Shu and Chen Xiaofei almost laughed themselves to tears.


    Qin Luo, now energized, took a sip of soup to clear his throat before speaking in a deliberately mocking tone, "No way, no way. Don''t tell me someone¡¯s already bragging with just 6,300 cores? My little class monitor here says our 3A Team collected a grand total of 25,200 cores!"


    Chen Xiaofei immediately caught on and joined in, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh dear, oh dear. Captain Qin, you don¡¯t think someone¡¯s really this eager to show off, do you?"


    Jin Chuanqiong gritted his teeth. "You¡ª!!"


    "What?" Qin Luo glanced at him, his gaze icy and intimidating, exuding an aura of dominance that made people shiver.


    Jin Chuanqiong, having lost face, initially wanted to crush their morale. But he hadn''t expected their side to have so many one-star zombies.


    Remembering the sting of Qin Luo''s lightning, he begrudgingly led his team away.


    The Cheetah and White Dove teams, meanwhile, were slow to realize what had happened. The naive kids asked innocently, "Uh, did we just offend Captain Jin?"


    Not "maybe."


    They absolutely did!!


    Wang Weihu was thoroughly amused by these rookies. "Relax. Headquarters prohibits infighting among ability users. He won''t dare touch you."


    At most, he''d just hurl a few insults to make people uncomfortable.


    The little zombie tilted her head, glancing at everyone. Why wasn¡¯t anyone praising her for her excellent math skills?

 Chapter 69: Zombie Monster

    Qin Luo noticed her expectant look and flicked the little zombie''s forehead with a grin. "Good job!"


    Her eagerness for praise was written all over her face.


    Xu Duoduo''s eyes lit up instantly. Big Dog praised her! Big Dog is so nice.


    If only she could touch his tail again someday, that would be perfect.


    Chen Xiaofei, after laughing his fill, finally noticed their interaction and immediately gave her a thumbs-up. "Class Monitor, you''re amazing!"


    So impressive!


    Whose little zombie fights this fiercely? Their team now had an absolute damage-dealing maniac.


    Bai Shu nodded in agreement. "The Class Monitor is indeed incredible. Super incredible."


    The little zombie was so happy she could burst. Everyone was praising her! Everyone was so nice!


    She was thrilled.


    ---


    The lunch break ended quickly as more zombies began gathering below. They seemed endless, and everyone resigned themselves to continuing the fight.


    Fortunately, the drop rate for mutation cores was quite high.


    In the apocalypse, collecting mutation cores was like racking up gold coins. Mutation cores could be exchanged for points and spent as currency.


    Their luck was holding strong.


    Qin Luo reminded everyone to have the Cheetah Team''s fire-type ability user burn the remaining zombie corpses.


    Otherwise, the zombie monster might consume them and grow stronger.


    Everyone suddenly realized the importance of this and quickly followed his instructions. They had almost forgotten about this detail.


    Captain Qin was so reliable!


    The group continued their sweep, clearing zombies as they went. By nightfall, they finally reached a resting point.


    It was an unfinished high-rise building.


    The entire group quickly moved to the third floor to settle in. Nights in N City were anything but peaceful.


    "We¡¯ve entered the activity range of the zombie monster. Everyone, please be extremely cautious," Bai Shu warned.


    The others nodded nervously.


    Qin Luo began assigning positions. "The Rose Team will split into two groups to cover us in shifts. The Golden Eagle Team will guard the first half of the night, and we, the 3A Team, will take the second half. The Cheetah and White Dove Teams will rest first¡ªstay on standby."


    Everyone responded with a resounding "Yes."


    The Rose Team, composed entirely of women, specialized in plant-based abilities. They had healers, offense-focused members, and even those who could confuse enemies.


    A mandrake ability user activated her skill, **[Camouflage]**, causing a patch of mandrake flowers to bloom. This skill masked the human scent within a ten-meter radius, making it harder for monsters to detect them.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Another teammate with a rose family ability used **[Rapid Growth]**, sealing off all the windows on the third floor with vines, leaving only small ventilation holes. These holes allowed air to flow and provided a view of the outside. Any mutated animals that approached would be blocked and possibly shredded by the vines.


    For now, the Rose Team assigned these two members to guard the group, giving everyone else some time to rest. After all, they had been fighting from dawn until nearly dark.


    If they weren¡¯t ability users, they¡¯d probably have collapsed on the road by now. Even so, they were utterly exhausted.


    The Cheetah and White Dove Teams, both composed of rookies, had done exceptionally well to hold out this long. When told to rest, they immediately lay down and fell asleep.


    Most of them were just eighteen or nineteen years old.


    Wang Weihu couldn¡¯t stand seeing them sleep without proper cover. He asked Xu Duoduo for some blankets¡ªshe had plenty stocked up¡ªand tossed one over each rookie.


    With blankets covering them, they slept even more soundly.


    Jin Chuanqiong, seeing this, rolled his eyes. "Tch, acting all high and mighty."


    Qin Luo overheard and retorted, "What¡¯s the matter? Feeling unloved? Never been cared for in your life? Jealous? Call me ''Daddy,'' and I¡¯ll tuck you in."


    Jin Chuanqiong¡¯s face turned pitch black.


    Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu nearly lost it, their shoulders shaking as they tried to suppress their laughter.


    Jin Chuanqiong clenched his fists, his teeth grinding in frustration. His teammates quickly restrained him. "Captain, don¡¯t lose your cool! The zombie monster is nearby!" "Yeah, yeah, stay calm." "We can¡¯t beat them."


    Mu Mei chuckled as well. "Whoever starts it gets what they deserve. Complaining now? Pathetic."


    She found working with the 3A Team quite enjoyable. They were the fiercest in battle, the most meticulous in planning, and had the best team dynamic.


    They often joked around and bantered.


    But this lightheartedness helped stabilize everyone¡¯s emotions, preventing mental breakdowns. Missions felt less daunting when working with the 3A Team.


    Look at the Cheetah and White Dove rookies¡ªhow long had they been with the 3A Team? They were already calling them "Big Brother" and following orders without question.


    Jin Chuanqiong¡¯s poor character made it no surprise that no one respected him.


    Xu Duoduo stared at Jin Chuanqiong for a few moments, her expression clearly showing her disdain.


    Qin Luo noticed and immediately called her back. "Don¡¯t look. You might go blind."


    Xu Duoduo shuffled back to his side, and Qin Luo finally felt satisfied.


    "Do you want to sleep? Rest for a bit," Qin Luo said, glancing at the little zombie sitting beside him. She had been busy since morning, fighting non-stop. Yet, astonishingly, she hadn¡¯t even seemed out of breath.


    Then again, corpses don¡¯t breathe, do they?


    As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Duoduo collapsed against his shoulder like a device shutting down.


    She fell asleep instantly.


    Qin Luo was dumbfounded. "Huh? You¡¯re really just going to sleep like that? That fast?"


    Instant shutdown?


    Xu Duoduo had only heard him say it was okay to sleep. Being next to him, with her team nearby, she felt completely safe and immediately dozed off.


    Qin Luo glanced at her face. It was still as pale as ever, soft and smooth like a snowball. Her dress was spotless¡ªnot a speck of dirt. Ever since mastering her spatial ability, she had used it skillfully to block blood and grime from touching her.


    He raised a hand and sneakily pinched her cheek. It was cold but very soft.


    Retracting his hand, he rubbed his fingers together.


    Yep, super soft.


    Finally, he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes to rest, preparing for the battle later that night.


    "Hey, Qin Bro and the Class Monitor are already asleep?"


    "Chen Xiaofei, watch your wording. They¡¯re sleeping *together*."


    "Does it even matter?"


    Chen Xiaofei couldn¡¯t help but grumble to Bai Shu, annoyed at his nitpicking. Bai Shu, on the other hand, thought Chen Xiaofei spoke without thinking and lacked precision.


    The two bickered in hushed tones for a bit before leaning against the wall to catch some shut-eye themselves.


    Wang Weihu, smoking a cigarette in the corner, watched them with a smile. In times like these, having your teammates safe and sound was the greatest blessing.


    He soon returned to his team¡¯s area, found a spot, and sat down to rest.


    The third floor quickly fell silent.


    The entirety of N City was shrouded in darkness. The power had long since gone out, leaving no light at all.


    Thanks to their earlier efforts in clearing out zombies, the night was quieter than expected. Only the occasional distant zombie howl broke the silence. The zombie monster had yet to appear.


    Until the second half of the night, when the ground suddenly began to tremble. A series of heavy, dragging footsteps echoed through the air.


    **"Thud! Thud! Thud!"**


    The footsteps were sluggish yet heavy, each one sending a wave of unease through their hearts.


    Almost instantly, everyone woke up.


    This was the advantage of being ability users¡ªthey were sharp and alert. The group immediately went on high alert.


    Mu Mei, glancing outside, turned pale in an instant. Her position gave her a direct view of the zombie monster¡¯s head. The colossal human-like head was absolutely terrifying!!

 Chapter 70: Straight Into Battle

    Qin Luo immediately moved to the window to observe. A massive head loomed right outside. This thing was even taller than the data provided by headquarters had described.


    They were on the third floor, positioned slightly above and to the left of it. The creature had grown to a height of eight or nine meters.


    The little zombie, who had somehow woken up without anyone noticing, leaned its head out from the side, curiously watching the scene outside.


    Xu Duoduo couldn''t help but feel terrified after taking a look. *What kind of horrifying, otherworldly scene is this? A live-action anime nightmare?*


    The giant zombie''s skin was a sickly greenish-black. It even raised one of its massive hands to scrape at the wall, producing a grating "screeeech" sound.


    Anyone with a fear of nails on a chalkboard was in for a bad time.


    Sure enough, several people present turned pale, their lips losing color.


    The giant zombie''s claws were absurdly long¡ªblack, sharp, and menacing.


    If Xu Duoduo''s claws were something Qin Luo had jokingly described as "not very agile," then this giant zombie''s claws were the real deal. Just one swipe could probably wipe out a whole group of people.


    No one made any sudden moves. Instead, they quietly observed as the creature lumbered toward the Research Institute. The heavy thuds of its footsteps echoed in everyone''s hearts.


    Everyone, that is, except for Xu Duoduo.


    She was scared, sure, but her heart didn¡¯t race¡ªbecause it didn¡¯t beat at all. Instead, she clumsily tried to figure out how to fight this thing.


    Noticing that she was awake and surprisingly calm, Qin Luo turned to Mu Mei and said, "Let''s see how it moves first. Its growth rate is too fast. We need to end this quickly."


    There was no room for delay.


    The others were also aware of the situation. The mission had been labeled dangerous for a reason. With global communications down, the data they received was often outdated, with significant time lags. This meant they never knew what changes might have occurred by the time they arrived at their target. It was up to the combat teams to adapt on the fly.


    The data from headquarters hadn¡¯t described anything this massive. Now, this giant zombie was practically the size of a small building.


    It was only natural for everyone to feel the pressure.


    Qin Luo addressed the group: "Its size is its weakness. It lacks our agility. We need to exploit that advantage."


    Outside, the giant zombie continued its guttural roars, attempting to summon other zombies. But tonight, it wouldn¡¯t be able to call many. Most of the nearby undead had already been dealt with, and zombies from farther away wouldn¡¯t arrive in time.


    Frustrated by its inability to summon reinforcements, the giant zombie began to rage, its angry roars causing everyone''s ears to ache. Silently, they all put on their headsets.


    The latest models offered some resistance to sonic attacks.


    "Alright, no more wasting time," Qin Luo said. "3A, Rose, and Golden Eagle Teams will focus on the main assault. White Dove will handle perimeter security, while Cheetah will adapt to any unexpected situations¡ªespecially if mutated animals show up."


    The three main combat teams would go all out against the giant zombie, while the two rookie teams provided support.


    Everyone agreed to the plan.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Even Jin Chuanqiong had no choice but to comply. Failing the mission would be humiliating¡ªthere was no way they could afford to lose.


    Everyone got into position and prepared to move.


    Originally, they had planned to act during the day, but the creature was adept at hiding in daylight. They hadn¡¯t been able to track its movements at all. At night, however, it became more active.


    But they couldn¡¯t wait any longer.


    "Damn, this is the biggest zombie I¡¯ve ever seen," Chen Xiaofei muttered as he double-checked his gear. "Gives me goosebumps just looking at it."


    Bai Shu, also inspecting his equipment, replied, "This is still better than last time. That mutated snake-man caught us completely off guard."


    Back then, they had no experience dealing with three-star monsters. They were weak, their abilities unrefined, and their tactics amateurish.


    At least this time, they had other teams to back them up. Plus, everyone had grown stronger.


    Qin Luo reminded Xu Duoduo, "Don¡¯t make your spatial abilities too obvious. Just focus on protecting yourself."


    Their "little squad leader" had always taken care of them, even after becoming a zombie. During the mutated bat incident, she had shielded them completely, exhausting her own abilities in the process.


    But they couldn¡¯t always rely on her like that. Minor injuries were manageable, and they couldn¡¯t afford to let her overexert herself¡ªespecially in the field. If she lost her mobility and Qin Luo wasn¡¯t there in time, it would be disastrous. Not to mention the risk of exposing her spatial abilities.


    Overprotection could also dull their sense of danger in the long run.


    Xu Duoduo nodded coolly. "Got it," she said, her tone mature and composed.


    Chen Xiaofei raised an eyebrow. "Wow, the little squad leader seems like she¡¯s eighteen tonight."


    Bai Shu told him to shut up.


    Wang Weihu, having finished packing up, reported, "We¡¯re ready to move."


    Qin Luo nodded. "Alright, let¡¯s move out."


    At his command, everyone sprang into action.


    They needed to get close to the giant zombie before it noticed them.


    "White Dove and Cheetah Teams, keep an eye out. If you see an opportunity, enter the Research Institute and rescue any survivors. Understood?"


    "Understood!"


    "Copy that!"


    In the darkness, over thirty figures leapt from the third floor, silently advancing.


    Using various buildings as cover, they moved swiftly toward the giant zombie, each team leveraging their unique strengths.


    As they ran, Chen Xiaofei pulled out a vial of Mimicry Serum and injected it directly into his neck¡ªthe fastest way to activate it. Mimicry would make dealing with mutated monsters much easier.


    The other teams watched in astonishment as every member of the 3A Team began to change.


    Chen Xiaofei sprouted wings and claws. Bai Shu, now sporting animal ears and fur from the neck down, moved with incredible speed alongside him.


    Wang Weihu transformed mid-run, tiger ears and a tail appearing as he dropped to all fours, his speed increasing dramatically.


    Their auras radiated waves of energy, each one surrounded by faint beast-like projections.


    Qin Luo, now with wolf ears and a tail, clicked his tongue in irritation but didn¡¯t slow down. Sparks of electricity crackled around him as his speed surged.


    Xu Duoduo, the little zombie, surprisingly kept up, chasing after Qin Luo¡¯s tail with relentless determination.


    The other teams were stunned.


    "3A is insane! They¡¯re using Diluted Mutation Core Serum like it¡¯s nothing! And their Mimicry activation is so fast!"


    "They¡¯re not even worried about side effects? I used one dose and felt dizzy for three days!"


    Switching to private comms, the other teams couldn¡¯t help but whisper among themselves. This level of recklessness was unbelievable.


    Mu Mei was equally shocked by how quickly 3A had adapted to the serum. Jin Chuanqiong¡¯s expression darkened. The speed at which they adjusted reflected their compatibility with mutation cores¡ªthe faster the adaptation, the stronger the user.


    The gap between the top twenty and top thirty seemed small on paper, but the reality was stark.


    As they neared the giant zombie, Mu Mei and Jin Chuanqiong were still strategizing the best way to initiate the fight. Meanwhile, Chen Xiaofei had already positioned Bai Shu at an ideal sniping spot and then¡ªwithout hesitation¡ªflew straight at the giant zombie, hurling several marble bombs.


    "Yoohoo! Hey, ugly! We¡¯re here to take your worthless life!"


    The other teams: "???"


    *That¡¯s it? That¡¯s how you start the fight?*

 Chapter 71: A Team of Lunatics

    The 3A Special Operations Team''s fighting style was truly insane!


    Chen Xiaofei quickly attracted the attention of the giant zombie monster, and the rest of the team immediately followed up.


    Bai Shu set up his rifle and aimed straight for the giant zombie''s brain, but it dodged his shot. The second bullet, however, hit its chest, exploding into a spray of blood and filth.


    The giant zombie let out a deafening screech after being hit, the sound reverberating painfully in their heads.


    Chen Xiaofei had already leapt high into the air, avoiding the sonic attack. "Holy crap! With my enhanced abilities, I can actually *see* the sound waves now!"


    Bai Shu also noticed that his night vision had improved significantly, granting him sharper sight in the dark.


    The two of them focused on distracting and harassing the monster.


    Meanwhile, Wang Weihu charged forward and slashed a massive wound across the giant zombie with his claws. When the zombie retaliated with a heavy swipe, Wang Weihu agilely dodged, toying with it like a big cat playing with a mouse.


    Yet every time he struck, he left behind deep gashes on the creature.


    Suddenly, dark clouds gathered overhead. Thunder roared, and bolts of lightning crashed down onto the giant zombie, electrocuting it into a frenzy. The creature flailed about in rage, its thick, tough skin protecting it from taking too much damage.


    "Watch out for the contaminants!" Qin Luo reminded Chen Xiaofei and the others.


    The giant zombie was teeming with bacteria, and none of them dared to let their guard down. They had already realized how tough this zombie was; its thick hide and high durability meant they could only chip away at its health bar bit by bit.


    To make matters worse, the enraged zombie''s counterattacks became noticeably faster. One of its swipes nearly took Chen Xiaofei''s life.


    The rest of the team quickly moved in to support him. Members of the Rose Team activated interference abilities, while those with vine manipulation powers entangled the giant zombie''s legs. Although the vines were repeatedly torn apart, they managed to buy precious seconds each time.


    Watching from the sidelines, Jin Chuanqiong, unwilling to be overshadowed by Qin Luo and his team, covered himself in metal and charged forward with a massive blade.


    But the zombie''s hide was so tough that his blade barely scratched it. His expression soured as if he had just swallowed something vile.


    When the zombie kicked at him, Jin Chuanqiong had no choice but to dodge awkwardly. His third-tier abilities clearly had some gaps in their effectiveness.


    Even Mu Mei couldn''t help but frown at his performance.


    This was the consequence of over-reliance on firearms. Jin Chuanqiong always let others clear the way with heavy weaponry, only stepping in when absolutely necessary. His habit of bullying weaker opponents had left him stagnant in his growth.


    The 3A Special Operations Team, on the other hand, thrived on challenging themselves. The two teams operated on completely different philosophies.


    Qin Luo observed the giant zombie carefully. It wasn''t as impossible to defeat as it initially seemed¡ªit just required time and endurance. This was going to be a battle of attrition, and the question now was whether they could outlast the monster.


    By the time the Cheetah Team and White Dove Team arrived at the scene, Qin Luo and the others had already been fighting for over ten minutes.


    "Cheetah Team, White Dove Team, do you copy?" Qin Luo, multitasking as the commander, managed to issue orders while still engaged in combat.  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Panting heavily, the Cheetah and White Dove Teams responded nervously, "Copy that!"


    "Head straight to the Research Institute and rescue the survivors. The situation inside is unknown, so proceed with caution," Qin Luo instructed, hurling a lightning storm sphere at the mutated monster. The explosion created a mist of blood, prompting everyone to dodge.


    "Understood!" The two teams immediately headed toward the Research Institute.


    Meanwhile, Jin Chuanqiong was cursing loudly. "Damn it! What the hell is this thing? It''s impossible to kill!"


    Every attack caused blood and filth to spray everywhere, forcing them to constantly dodge the contaminants while fighting. The back-and-forth battle was utterly exhausting.


    Mu Mei''s team was also struggling. Their abilities weren''t at a high enough level, and running out of energy would put them in serious danger.


    What was Xu Duoduo doing during all this? She was searching for the perfect opportunity to strike. Her small frame and low presence allowed her to slip in and out unnoticed, occasionally delivering a strike with her buzzing chainsaw.


    Her strategy was simple: focus on the zombie''s legs. If its legs were severed, it wouldn''t be able to escape.


    This truly was a war of attrition.


    Bai Shu''s bullets were embedded all over the giant zombie''s arms, successfully slowing down its claw attacks. When he glanced over, he noticed Xu Duoduo had already hacked the monster''s legs into a gruesome state.


    The little squad leader really was a fierce fighter!


    Jin Chuanqiong needed to land four or five strikes just to leave a single wound, and he couldn''t even jump high enough for effective attacks. In contrast, Xu Duoduo, with her petite size and incredible agility, could leap up and slash at the monster with precision. Her abilities far outclassed Jin Chuanqiong''s, and every swing of her chainsaw left a deep gash.


    Toward the end of the battle, Xu Duoduo''s spatial manipulation abilities even allowed her to block contaminants. For her, the zombie was no longer much of a threat.


    Jin Chuanqiong was already out of commission, and his cowardly teammates had long since retreated. Mu Mei''s team was also reaching their limit. "Captain Qin, we can hold on for another three minutes at most," Mu Mei reported.


    Qin Luo, with two-thirds of his energy depleted, replied, "Understood. Fall back and rest."


    Bai Shu, still firing relentlessly, moved closer to the giant zombie and began using his illusion ability to briefly stun it, taking over the Rose Team''s role.


    The Rose Team finally withdrew, leaving only the 3A Special Operations Team to continue the fight.


    "This thing is definitely stronger than a three-star monster. Damn it, I need to report this to headquarters!"


    "Exactly! There''s no way this is our fault, Jin Bro. Headquarters must''ve messed up! How could they expect us to handle a four-star monster?"


    Exhausted from overusing her abilities, Mu Mei couldn''t even muster the energy to respond to the delusional complaints of the Golden Eagle Team.


    From a nearby four-story building, the retreating teams watched the 3A Special Operations Team in action, their expressions growing more and more horrified.


    "Are they even human? They''ve been fighting zombies all day, barely slept, and now they''re still going at it until dawn..."


    "They''re insane. They dodge attacks at the very last second like it''s nothing. Aren''t they afraid of dying? That mutant of theirs is really something else."


    Though the Golden Eagle Team kept grumbling, they couldn''t deny the 3A Team''s overwhelming strength. Watching the bursts of energy from their abilities, they couldn''t help but wonder, *How do they still have power left?*


    "Does headquarters give them better serums or something? Why are they so much stronger than us!?"


    Finally, fed up with the Golden Eagle Team''s whining, the Rose Team tied them up and gave them a good beating.


    Back on the battlefield, Qin Luo''s team was actually holding up fairly well. Compared to their first encounter with the mutated serpent, this battle was much more manageable. The zombie''s deadliest weapons were its highly infectious blood and massive claws.


    Fortunately, its mobility was average, and the earlier teams had already whittled down its health bar significantly.


    For the 3A Team, the fight was slightly easier now.


    Xu Duoduo, chainsaw in hand, stared coldly at the giant zombie. Tonight, her composure was unexpected.


    As Chen Xiaofei had said, at least for tonight, she wasn''t acting like a child.


    Ultimately, the giant zombie tried to flee but collapsed with a thunderous crash. Xu Duoduo immediately leapt forward, delivering the final blow and ending its misery.


    She then reached into its head and extracted its mutation core.


    Chen Xiaofei and the others regrouped, their exhaustion evident. "I''m so tired! Ahhh, I''m going to collapse. That thing was ridiculously tough!"

 Chapter 72: Cleaning Up the Scene

    The mutation core of the zombie monster was a deep red, resembling a crimson crystal. Xu Duoduo held it in her hand. This core had to be handed over to headquarters as per mission requirements.


    Meanwhile, the Cheetah Team and White Dove Team successfully rescued the survivors.


    Da Qiao''s friend was easy to identify¡ªantennae on her head, butterfly wings on her back, floral markings on her face, and pitch-black eyes.


    To be honest, "pretty" wasn¡¯t the word anyone would use to describe her.


    Jin Chuanqiong, that shameless guy, had already gone off to curry favor with the big shots from the Research Institute, not sparing even a glance at the Withered Butterfly mutant. The survivors couldn''t help but sigh.


    "Thank you so much. No one expected the evolution to happen so quickly. Even us second-tier mutants couldn''t defeat that zombie monster. It''s terrifying!"


    "Exactly! Even one-star zombies are becoming more common in the hordes. There''s no end to killing them. A single team can''t possibly handle them all."


    "Thank goodness headquarters hasn¡¯t abandoned us. I really thought we were done for this time."


    The Desert Team, tasked with collecting contaminated materials, arrived shortly after. They had already lost several teammates, their expressions heavy with grief but also relief.


    "Good thing that monster didn¡¯t come inside. We really wouldn¡¯t have held out until now," someone remarked.


    Jin Chuanqiong, ever eager to claim credit, raised his voice and said, "Of course, of course. Sorry for the scare. Since headquarters sent us to rescue you, even if we encounter the most dangerous monsters, our Golden Eagle Team will give it our all to protect you!"


    His shameless, glory-grabbing attitude was so repulsive that the Rose Team couldn¡¯t hold back. They immediately spoke up to the survivors, "This mission''s success is all thanks to the 3A Special Operations Team. They¡¯re the ones who really put in the hard work."


    Jin Chuanqiong glared at the Rose Team, but when he saw them activating their abilities, he backed down.


    The Golden Eagle Team lacked any healers, while the Rose Team had two, which allowed them to recover much faster than the others.


    The researchers from the institute also expressed their gratitude. "Everyone has worked so hard."


    Some had already noticed the 3A Team during the battle. Upon hearing the researchers'' words, they exclaimed in awe, "So they¡¯re the 3A Team? Incredible! I saw them from the fourth floor of the institute. They handled the monster almost entirely on their own. They¡¯re amazing! No wonder they¡¯re the 3A Team."


    Hearing this, the members of the Cheetah Team and White Dove Team immediately grew excited.


    "Amazing, right? Captain Qin and his team are absolutely unbeatable!"


    "They¡¯re insanely strong! They can shapeshift on command and fight like perpetual motion machines¡ªnever tiring!"


    "Even their rookies are monsters! That chainsaw weapon is so rare to see!"


    "The squad leader is super cool!"


    "Yeah, and reliable too! She looks so small and cute, but in battle, she¡¯s a total beast. When she came back to save us earlier, she was so badass!"  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The researchers and Desert Team members were completely baffled. They had no idea who this "squad leader" was.


    The Cheetah and White Dove Teams eagerly explained, "She¡¯s the rookie in Captain Qin¡¯s team! The zombie-mutant! She¡¯s incredible!"


    At the mention of "zombie," many faces turned pale. After being surrounded by hordes of zombies for so long, they had developed a psychological aversion to the word. It immediately brought to mind the giant zombie monster and the decaying zombie army.


    They initially assumed this "zombie-mutant" must look horrifying, but when they glanced over, they couldn¡¯t spot anyone who looked out of the ordinary. Instead, all they saw was a petite girl who looked just like any other young woman.


    "Wait, who¡¯s the zombie-mutant?"


    "Yeah, all I see is a pretty young lady. That red dress really stands out!"


    "That¡¯s her!"


    "What?! No way!"


    Everyone was stunned. That petite girl, with nothing but pale skin to set her apart, was actually the infamous little zombie from the H City Survivor Base?


    Xu Duoduo, oblivious to their shock, was focused on observing the Withered Butterfly mutant. The mutant introduced herself as Zhou Siqi.


    Her personality was rather cold, a stark contrast to the lively and mischievous Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao. How could two people with such different temperaments even be friends?


    Chen Xiaofei, full of curiosity, asked, "Hey, when you hang out with Da Qiao, doesn¡¯t she bully you to death? She¡¯s so sly, a total schemer!"


    Zhou Siqi shook her head. "Da Qiao is nice. She doesn¡¯t bully me."


    Bai Shu, unwilling to waste time, quickly cut in, "Chen Xiaofei, shut up already. Does this zombie monster have anything your institute needs? If so, collect it quickly. Otherwise, we¡¯re burning it to ashes."


    Better to destroy it completely than risk it mutating into something even more dangerous.


    Zhou Siqi nodded and pulled out various bottles and tools from her spatial storage card. Donning gloves, she began meticulously collecting samples, ignoring the strange looks from others.


    Xu Duoduo noticed the metal collar around Zhou Siqi''s neck and felt a sense of shared suffering. She approached Zhou Siqi, asking for a pair of gloves and a bottle, and started helping her collect samples.


    Zhou Siqi was momentarily surprised, her wings fluttering slightly. In a soft voice, she said, "Thank you."


    The sight of the two mutant "little monsters" working together was oddly endearing, evoking both pity and a sense of cuteness.


    Qin Luo sighed and joined them, unable to bear the sight of Xu Duoduo looking so pitiful. Her downtrodden appearance tugged at his heartstrings.


    Seeing this, Chen Xiaofei felt too embarrassed to just stand around and also began helping collect the contaminants.


    Meanwhile, Bai Shu was busy taking photos and recording videos for his report. Wang Weihu went to liaise with the researchers, informing them that the mission was complete. He explained that the next step was to arrange for the logistics team to escort them back to the base or have them follow one of the rookie teams.


    The rookie teams were surprised and immediately started chattering.


    "Brother Wang, if we¡¯re heading back, what about you guys? Aren¡¯t you coming with us?"


    "Yeah, let¡¯s go back together! I still want to exchange contact info with you guys. Maybe we can team up again next time¡ªit feels so safe working with you!"


    "Where are you guys going? Take us with you!"


    The rookie teams now looked at Wang Weihu like he was their father, clinging to him like baby birds begging to be fed.


    "We¡¯re used to taking on additional missions along the way. Are you sure you have the stamina to keep up? There¡¯s no guarantee we won¡¯t have to fight another tough battle later. Do you think you¡¯re ready for that?"


    Wang Weihu scolded them one by one, pointing out their mistakes. "If you¡¯re weak, train harder! Go back and work on your response times. By the time you arrived, your teammates could¡¯ve all been dead! And the one who got bitten during yesterday¡¯s zombie sweep¡ªstep forward! How long has it been since the apocalypse started? You still haven¡¯t adapted to the pace? With so many teammates covering for you, you still got hurt?! If you get bitten, fine, get treated later, but what¡¯s with all the screaming and crying?"


    He had held back from scolding them mid-mission, fearing it would crush their morale. But now that the mission was over, he didn¡¯t hold back, thoroughly lecturing them.


    The rookies wilted under his words, wishing they could bury their heads in the ground.


    None of them had expected Wang Weihu to be so fierce after the mission. His scolding made them feel utterly useless.

 Chapter 73: The Little Zombies Scheming Tactics

    Chen Xiaofei sealed the last bottle of contaminants and turned to see Wang Weihu standing with his arms crossed, scolding the rookie teams. Behind him, his striped yellow-and-black tiger tail swayed back and forth. The two rookie teams stood there with their heads hanging low, looking as pitiful as could be.


    "Ha! Old Wang is at it again, yelling at rookies. Does he not realize how ridiculously cute he looks with those tiger ears and tail? Hahaha!"


    Qin Luo took the two bottles Xu Duoduo had collected, combined them with his own, and handed them all to Zhou Siqi. Seeing the scene in front of him, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh as well.


    "He''s playing both the good cop and the bad cop all by himself," Qin Luo joked with a chuckle.


    As he finished speaking, he removed his disposable gloves and turned to help Xu Duoduo take hers off. But just as he reached out, he noticed her staring intently at his tail.


    A shiver ran down his spine.


    He instinctively glanced at her, then at his tail, and even the wolf ears on his head twitched nervously.


    Xu Duoduo¡¯s gaze shifted to his head, her eyes practically burning holes into his ears.


    "Ahem, ahem, ahem." Qin Luo, his face already turning red, was about to tell her not to stare. After all, there were so many people around¡ªhow could he just let her touch his ears or hug his tail in public?


    Did he not need his dignity anymore?


    But then, to his shock, Xu Duoduo turned and walked away.


    She walked away?!


    She actually walked away?!


    Qin Luo was dumbfounded.


    No, this wasn¡¯t right!


    Based on her usual behavior, she should¡¯ve pouted or acted all pitiful if he didn¡¯t let her touch his tail.


    Something was off! Very off! Xu Duoduo was acting strange. She actually resisted the urge to touch his tail?


    Qin Luo began to question everything.


    Noticing the situation, Chen Xiaofei burst into laughter. "Oh no, oh no, looks like the squad leader doesn¡¯t care about you anymore~"


    Qin Luo bared his teeth at him. "Scram, scram, scram!"


    Bai Shu, who had just finished documenting the scene, chimed in with a smirk, "Oh ho, looks like someone¡¯s first love doesn¡¯t want him anymore~"


    Chen Xiaofei grinned widely, his teeth on full display. "Haha, look at him! He¡¯s panicking, he¡¯s panicking!"


    Qin Luo, thoroughly annoyed, ignored the two troublemakers and strode off with his long legs to find the little zombie. Last night, it seemed like she had grown up a bit.


    Even Chen Xiaofei had commented that her mental state seemed to have matured by several years, though Qin Luo hadn¡¯t thought much of it at the time.


    When Qin Luo found her, she was pulling their 3A Team¡¯s off-road vehicle out of her spatial storage. She climbed onto it herself¡ªsomething she couldn¡¯t do before without struggling.


    Back then, her movements had been clumsy and awkward.


    Now, she was as nimble as could be.


    Qin Luo, feeling a bit anxious, climbed into the car as well, only to see her crawling toward the back seat. "Hey, wait a minute. What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Did seeing the Withered Butterfly upset you? Are you sad? Did it remind you of yourself? At least talk to me!"


    Just as he finished speaking, Xu Duoduo turned her head, and their eyes met. He froze for a moment.


    The little zombie glanced outside the car, nodded in satisfaction when she saw no one around, then looked back inside. Perfect. The big dog was here. She was pleased.  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    She raised her little hands and patted the seat, signaling him to come over and sit next to her.


    Qin Luo, unsure of her intentions but noticing she seemed slightly better than before, hesitated. Despite a vague sense of impending danger, he bent down and moved to the back seat as she instructed.


    The next second, she grabbed him and pulled him closer.


    They were now sitting so close that he could practically count the pores on her face.


    Captain Qin froze in place.


    Xu Duoduo wasted no time. She reached up and grabbed his wolf ears. They were fluffy, thick, and soft to the touch. Her entire zombie self lit up with joy, her eyes sparkling.


    Qin Luo¡¯s face turned an intense shade of red. Supporting himself with one hand on the seat, he used the other to cover his face. "Damn it, so this is what you were planning?!"


    He suddenly remembered telling her before that she couldn¡¯t touch his ears when there were people around.


    She knew he would follow her if she wandered off, so she had deliberately lured him into the car.


    "Well played! You¡¯re using strategy now? Pulling tricks on me, huh?!"


    If his face weren¡¯t so red, he might¡¯ve looked intimidating. But with his flushed cheeks, he lost all semblance of authority.


    Especially since she leaned in even closer. Not satisfied with just his ears, she started tugging him further into the back seat.


    Qin Luo sighed in defeat. "Alright, alright, go ahead. Just don¡¯t pull so hard, okay?"


    As long as she still liked him, that was all that mattered.


    That brief moment of cold indifference earlier had left him feeling chilly and panicked.


    Dogs feared nothing more than being abandoned by their owners.


    The moment Qin Luo settled into the back seat, Xu Duoduo climbed onto his lap. She reached for his tail¡ªa big, fluffy, gray wolf tail!


    The little zombie was ecstatic!


    She squeezed it, stroked it, and finally hugged the tip of the tail to her chest.


    Ah, bliss.


    Qin Luo slumped against the seat, covering his face with his arm in utter resignation. His ears were burning red.


    Help.


    When she ignored him, he felt miserable. But now that she liked him too much, it was overwhelming. His entire body tingled, his face flushed all the way down to his neck.


    Grinding his teeth, Qin Luo muttered, "Fine, I¡¯ll let you off this time. But make it quick, alright? Stop messing around!"


    His voice trembled slightly, and it was oddly endearing.


    The little zombie blushed.


    Xu Duoduo froze for a moment, staring at the fluffy tail in her hands. Oh no, had she hurt him?


    Still, she had her fill today.


    Reluctantly, she placed his tail back in its proper position, though she couldn¡¯t resist giving his ears one last playful tug. Finally, she sat on his lap, dazing out for a while.


    But Qin Luo, still covering his face, refused to look at her. She reached out to pull his arm down, but he wouldn¡¯t budge.


    After sitting there for a bit, Xu Duoduo grew bored and flopped forward, resting her forehead against his firm chest. Curious, she noticed how strong and steady his heartbeat was.


    *Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump!*


    For a little zombie with no heartbeat of her own, this was fascinating. She touched her own chest, feeling the silence within, and pouted. Eventually, exhaustion overtook her, and she drifted off to sleep.


    She had barely slept two hours after last night¡¯s battle. She was utterly spent.


    When Xu Duoduo fell asleep, she did so instantly.


    It took Qin Luo a few minutes to calm down. He lowered his arm and looked at her, now curled up on his lap, her head resting against his chest.


    How could she sleep in such an awkward position?


    Qin Luo sighed, gently picking her up and placing her on the seat beside him. He grabbed a blanket and wrapped her up like a little zombie burrito. She didn¡¯t even stir.


    Normal people, even while asleep, would have some eye movement. But not her.


    He knew how much she wanted to be human.


    He understood her.


    And that¡¯s why he could never resist her pitiful demeanor. She always made his heart ache in the softest, most unbearable way.


    Bai Shu passed by and knocked on the car door. "Hey, need me to close the door for you two?"


    Was it impossible for this guy to go a single moment without teasing someone?


    Qin Luo snapped, "Shut up! Is the handover done? If it¡¯s finished, let¡¯s get moving."


    Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Oh, and have that Withered Butterfly mutant come with us."


    They wouldn¡¯t linger here too long.


    They¡¯d clean up some nearby zombies, collect a few more mutation cores, and then leave. This place was too contaminated to salvage much anyway.


    Hearing the serious tone, Bai Shu straightened up. "Almost done. Just waiting on Chen Xiaofei and the others. The Withered Butterfly mutant seems willing to join us too."


    That was expected. After all, they had taken Da Qiao¡¯s five million points. That many points could buy a lot of equipment.


    Qin Luo nodded. "Alright, once they¡¯re back, we¡¯ll head out."

 Chapter 74: Northern District of N City

    Once everything was settled, everyone pulled out their vehicles. The survivors from the Research Institute divided themselves among the various teams and followed their lead.


    Mu Mei, the captain of the Rose Team, made a point to come over and bid farewell to Qin Luo and his team. ¡°Captain Qin.¡±


    However, she noticed that it was Wang Weihu in the driver¡¯s seat. Wang Weihu smiled and pointed to the back.


    Only then did Mu Mei look toward the rear seats. In the middle row sat Bai Shu and the Withered Butterfly mutant, while Qin Luo was in the very back row, reclining next to a corpse insect.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    ¡°Ahem, one of our team members is... quite special. If I leave, she starts whining,¡± Qin Luo explained awkwardly.


    Clearly, Qin Luo wasn¡¯t going anywhere today.


    Bai Shu, tapping away on his tablet, nodded in agreement. ¡°Yep, our little squad leader can¡¯t function without him.¡±


    In the passenger seat, Chen Xiaofei started snickering uncontrollably, while Wang Weihu awkwardly rubbed his nose.


    Zhou Siqi, the Withered Butterfly mutant, kept glancing back with curiosity. If the situation weren¡¯t so inappropriate, she would¡¯ve loved to take out her tablet and snap a picture of the back seat.


    Mu Mei couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Alright, I just came over to say goodbye. Thanks to your team, the mission went smoothly this time.¡±


    She made it clear that she wouldn¡¯t let Jin Chuanqiong hog all the credit. Everyone knew it was the 3A Special Operations Team that had done the heavy lifting. Without them, the mission might not have been completed.


    Those zombie monsters were just too tough.


    Qin Luo waved it off casually. ¡°It¡¯s all part of our job. Everyone worked hard.¡±


    Except for that noob Jin Chuanqiong.


    When they got back to the base, he¡¯d have to settle the score. There was no way he¡¯d let Jin off without a beating.


    Mu Mei nodded and wished their team a safe journey. She even handed over several bottles of healing potions prepared by her team¡¯s healer.


    Bai Shu accepted them with gratitude.


    Not wanting to linger, Mu Mei prepared to head back to the B City Survivor Base.


    Everyone went their separate ways.


    As the vehicles of the Cheetah Team and the White Dove Team passed by the 3A team¡¯s vehicle, a cacophony of reluctant farewells erupted.


    ¡°Captain Qin! We¡¯ll miss you! Brother Wang, take care of yourself!¡±


    ¡°Brother Bai, your marksmanship is godlike! Brother Xiaofei, you¡¯re the coolest birdman ever!¡±


    ¡°The 3A team is the best!¡±


    ¡°Little Squad Leader, you¡¯re so adorable! Leave us your contact info next time!¡±


    Hearing the last comment, Qin Luo¡¯s face instantly darkened. ¡°Which punk is bold enough to openly poach my people?¡±


    Chen Xiaofei and the others burst into laughter.


    Even Bai Shu couldn¡¯t contain his amusement. ¡°Captain Qin, you might need to investigate this. Could it be a side effect of the serum? You¡¯re acting like a protective dog over your food.¡±


    The idea that Qin Luo couldn¡¯t leave the little squad leader¡¯s side even for a moment was truly bizarre.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Qin Luo was taken aback. ¡°Wait, this is a side effect of the serum?¡±


    No wonder.


    No wonder he felt panicked whenever Xu Duoduo ignored him. No wonder he didn¡¯t want to leave her side.


    Bai Shu calmly adjusted his glasses and smiled. ¡°Oh, no. I made that up.¡±


    Chen Xiaofei laughed so hard he could barely breathe. ¡°Hahaha! Oh my god, I can¡¯t¡ªhahaha!¡±


    Qin Luo: ¡­


    Zhou Siqi glanced around at the group, finding them incredibly amusing. She couldn¡¯t help but smile faintly.


    Wang Weihu chuckled as he drove off. Their vehicle was the last to leave, continuing on their journey.


    ---


    When Xu Duoduo woke up again, the sound of gunfire¡ª*biu biu biu*¡ªfilled her ears.


    There was also the splashing noise of water outside.


    She realized that half of the view outside the car window was submerged in water. The vehicle was driving through it.


    ¡°Hurry up! Finish shooting and close the windows! Switch to submarine mode¡ªwait, why is there suddenly so much water?!¡± Chen Xiaofei shouted from the passenger seat.


    Wang Weihu didn¡¯t even bother scolding him. ¡°Captain Qin, Bai Shu, we¡¯ve got one minute before the water reaches the top!¡±


    ¡°Roger!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Qin Luo and Bai Shu, both in the middle row, were firing their guns relentlessly.


    Xu Duoduo noticed that Zhou Siqi was now seated next to her, nervously watching the scene outside. ¡°Those giant beetles are catching up.¡±


    The one-minute countdown began.


    Qin Luo and Bai Shu quickly sealed the sunroof, and the vehicle successfully submerged underwater.


    The water was teeming with mutated fish.


    Xu Duoduo saw that none of them were edible. All of them were grotesquely mutated, more horrifying than anglerfish, and they were ramming into the glass.


    If the car hadn¡¯t been modified, it might have been smashed to pieces by now.


    ¡°Why is the northern district of N City like this? The whole area is flooded!¡±


    ¡°The water¡¯s got to be seven or eight meters deep!¡±


    ¡°And those beetles were terrifying¡ªeach one was at least half a meter in diameter!¡±


    ¡°But they¡¯re really afraid of water. I¡¯ve noticed that the mutated animals and monsters here are all territorial. Back at the Research Institute, we didn¡¯t see any mutated insects. It was all zombies. But here, it¡¯s all insects and no zombies!¡±


    The group quickly discussed the current situation. Bai Shu, meanwhile, was busy writing a report.


    Zhou Siqi softly added, ¡°Because of N City¡¯s terrain, the northern district is prone to flooding during heavy rains, leading to waterlogging and even disasters.¡±


    That explained why the area was submerged. If not for the car¡¯s submarine mode, they¡¯d be in serious trouble.


    Chen Xiaofei sighed. ¡°Good thing these fish aren¡¯t ranked. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t even be able to retrieve mutation cores underwater.¡±


    After putting away his gun, Qin Luo noticed that the little zombie had woken up. He awkwardly turned his face away, hesitated, and then said, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake?¡±


    He was clearly embarrassed.


    Chen Xiaofei and the others couldn¡¯t resist teasing him. Captain Qin had such thin skin.


    They¡¯d been teasing him the entire trip.


    But for once, Chen Xiaofei let it go and instead turned to Xu Duoduo, whining, ¡°Little Squad Leader, I¡¯m hungry~¡±


    Still groggy, Xu Duoduo was trying to process the current situation. Hearing Chen Xiaofei complain about being hungry, she instinctively pulled out a few rice balls and handed them over.


    A chorus of gratitude erupted immediately.


    ¡°Thank you, Little Squad Leader!¡±


    ¡°Rice balls! I love rice! Thank you, Little Squad Leader¡ªyou¡¯re the best!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s such a blessing to have the Little Squad Leader around.¡±


    Finally, Xu Duoduo handed Qin Luo several cans of cola. The drink could quickly restore energy and lift spirits. Add some skewers, and it¡¯d be perfect.


    Zhou Siqi watched in astonishment, her eyes practically popping out of her head. ¡°You guys are loaded! How many points does all this food cost? Do you even have time to cook at the base? The 3A team is amazing.¡±


    Bai Shu, unfazed, lied smoothly. ¡°We¡¯re just too idle. We like eating, or else what¡¯s the point of living?¡±


    He put on a look of exaggerated despair.


    Chen Xiaofei nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Our Little Squad Leader is a great cook. We even have regular feasts.¡±


    Like hotpot and such.


    Zhou Siqi looked on enviously. ¡°Your H City base doesn¡¯t seem as competitive. Our B City Survivor Base is way too intense. There¡¯s no time for anything.¡±


    She barely had time to keep in touch with her friends. If not for this mission, she wouldn¡¯t have messaged Da Qiao, which ended up saving her life by sheer coincidence.


    Sometimes, it was good to have reliable friends.

 Chapter 75: Exploring New Food Sources

    The vehicle drove underwater for a while before reaching higher ground, allowing it to emerge from the water with a loud splash. Water cascaded down the sides as the car returned to a depth below the windows.


    It was only thanks to the modified combat vehicle that they were still operational. A regular car would have been ruined by water infiltration long ago.


    "Are there still any survivors in the area? N City used to be under the rescue jurisdiction of your B City Survivor Base, right?" Chen Xiaofei turned to ask Zhou Siqi.


    Zhou Siqi nodded softly, her voice gentle as she replied, "Yes, it was our responsibility, but there were inevitably some oversights."


    After all, the number of ability users was far too few compared to the ordinary people in need of rescue¡ªdesperately few.


    "Let¡¯s try broadcasting a message," Chen Xiaofei suggested, glancing outside. "I see some signs of life on those upper floors, though they could just be remnants from before."


    No one objected to the idea.


    Chen Xiaofei leaned forward and pressed the broadcast button, speaking into the microphone: **"Is anyone there? Is anyone there? H City Survivor Base is conducting a rescue operation. Please respond if you can hear this. Please respond."**


    The recording of his voice began looping on repeat.


    However, the sound seemed to attract a swarm of mutated frogs. They were similar to the ones Xu Duoduo had seen before¡ªmassive in size, with blood-red eyes and tongues covered in tiny barbs. They leaped at the car, their tongues slamming against the windows with a screeching "squeak-squeak" sound.


    Though the glass remained undamaged, the sight was undeniably revolting.


    "Damn it! Why are there so many mutated frogs here? Next time, I¡¯m definitely suggesting to the engineering department that we add flamethrowers around the car to burn these things to ash," Chen Xiaofei complained.


    Zhou Siqi glanced at the frogs and suddenly spoke up, "People in B City eat these."


    Her words left Qin Luo and his team momentarily speechless. They stared at the grotesque frogs outside, their expressions a mix of disbelief and horror. ¡°People used to eat bullfrogs, not *these* monstrosities!¡±


    But for those who enjoyed eating frogs, this was a feast waiting to happen¡ªjust imagine the size of the portions!


    Zhou Siqi, slightly embarrassed, explained, "In B City, these frogs are actually collected and sold. One of them can fetch sixty points."


    Wang Weihu couldn¡¯t help but comment, "That¡¯s not cheap."


    Bai Shu quickly pulled up some data on his tablet. "Oh, she¡¯s right. It¡¯s true."


    Qin Luo looked at the frogs outside, his expression complicated. "If they¡¯re worth money, we might as well collect some. But what do these things eat? Have they eaten humans before?"


    Zhou Siqi¡¯s tone turned serious. "When food supplies are about to run out, anything edible becomes valuable."


    The B City Survivor Base housed an overwhelming number of survivors, packed tightly together. Who knew how much food was consumed in a single day?


    At some point, there was no longer room for pickiness.


    These mutated frogs didn¡¯t eat zombies, which was already a small mercy. They didn¡¯t feed on carrion either, meaning they were classified as mutated animals rather than corrupted monsters. With proper processing, they could still be consumed.


    The conversation grew heavier.


    The three major survivor bases had been continuously accepting refugees. Across the entire country, only these three bases were relatively well-established. Other areas were still suffering in unimaginable conditions.


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    Xu Duoduo pulled out her tablet to check the latest updates on the bases. Coastal regions had been almost entirely overrun, while central regions fared slightly better. In the highlands, there were reports of mutated plants and animals, though fewer zombies were present.


    Extreme weather patterns had become completely unpredictable. Before the apocalypse, it would have been the dead of winter by now, but most of them were still wearing autumn clothes.


    Hearing about the food shortages, they decided it was worth collecting some "food" if they came across any.


    Qin Luo reviewed the latest report on edible mutated plants and animals. Sure enough, the mutated frogs were listed. "Everyone, take a look at this report. If we can gather some, let¡¯s bring them back to the base. They¡¯ll find a use for them."


    Previously, they had secured one grain warehouse, but C City was vast, with numerous smaller warehouses scattered throughout its districts. Other cities also had grain reserves, and the headquarters had some emergency stockpiles.


    But for the survivors, it was like a drop in the ocean.


    Large-scale farming was no longer feasible.


    Eventually, they would run out of resources.


    The only solution was to start exploring edible mutated plants and animals to fill the food gap.


    At least ability users and mutants could eat them. If the appearance was too disgusting, they could process it into nutrient solutions or compressed biscuits.


    Blend it up, and out of sight, out of mind.


    As they diligently studied the latest findings, they discovered that many mutated plants and animals were indeed edible.


    Xu Duoduo noticed that mutated plants had a higher acceptance rate among people and were more likely to be deemed edible. In fact, vegetarianism had become increasingly common. After witnessing so much bloodshed, many people developed psychological barriers to eating meat.


    Qin Luo quickly memorized most of the key points from the report. Suddenly, he pointed to a large tree ahead. "Isn¡¯t that a mutated loquat tree? Old Wang, drive over there!"


    Chen Xiaofei compared the tree to the report and exclaimed, "Oh wow, it really is! Old Wang, park under the tree! I¡¯ll take the Little Squad Leader up to pick some. Damn, this loquat tree is enormous!"


    Bai Shu carefully examined the tree and confirmed, "We¡¯re in luck. This type of mutated loquat tree isn¡¯t aggressive. Xiaofei, pick as many as you can."


    Qin Luo was reminded of the time Chen Xiaofei had carried the little zombie up to the second floor with his claws¡­


    He turned to look at Xu Duoduo.


    The little zombie¡¯s eyes were sparkling with excitement, her expression practically screaming, *"Let me! Let me!"* She seemed eager to prove herself.


    Great. All she was missing was a pair of wings.


    Captain Qin was not pleased.


    But he said nothing.


    Fine. He just grumbled internally. There was no time to waste on petty thoughts. "I¡¯ll provide cover. You two go ahead."


    Qin Luo grabbed his gun and prepared to stand guard.


    Chen Xiaofei climbed from the passenger seat to the middle row, opened the sunroof, and climbed out. With a flap of his wings, he took off, leaving behind a few black-and-white feathers.


    Bai Shu sighed and picked up the feathers. "Could you be a bit more careful? What if someone with allergies starts sneezing because of you?"


    If the situation allowed, the rebellious Chen Xiaofei would have loved to smack Bai Shu in the face with his wings.


    Qin Luo reached out to the back seat, letting the little zombie place her small hand in his. He hoisted her up, supporting her waist as he helped her through the sunroof.


    Chen Xiaofei, ever the goofball, grabbed the fabric of Xu Duoduo¡¯s clothing with his claws and flapped his wings. "Haha! Little Squad Leader, look, we¡¯re flying! You¡¯re so much lighter than Bai Shu. This is fun! Let¡¯s go pick lots of loquats!"


    The mutated loquat tree was massive, but its fruits were surprisingly small. However, they were seedless, incredibly sweet, and absolutely delicious¡ªpractically made for human consumption.


    Chen Xiaofei plucked one and immediately took a bite. "Oh my god, this is amazing! Thank goodness our mimicry is only partial. If I were fully mimicked, I wouldn¡¯t even have hands to pick these!"


    After all, humans were still humans.


    The diluted mutation core serum often resulted in partial mimicry, usually adding beast-like features to the body.


    For example, Qin Luo, Wang Weihu, and Bai Shu all had beast ears, but their human ears remained functional.


    Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t that look strange?


    The little zombie¡¯s eyes sparkled as she stared at the enormous loquat tree. She and Chen Xiaofei made the perfect team¡ªtwo foodies with eyes gleaming at the sight of something edible.


    Standing in the sunroof, Qin Luo kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings. Whenever a mutated frog approached, he took it out with a single shot.


    Despite the rescue broadcast playing on repeat, there was no response from the residential area nearby.

 Chapter 76: The Mutated Loquat Tree

    Chen Xiaofei was happily picking loquats, tossing them toward Xu Duoduo as soon as he got his hands on them.


    Xu Duoduo had already opened a spatial portal, allowing Chen Xiaofei to throw the loquats directly into it after picking them.


    One human and one zombie were perched high up in the tree, completely carefree.


    They weren¡¯t worried about Zhou Siqi in the car noticing that the little zombie had spatial abilities. They were solely focused on harvesting as much as they could.


    Meanwhile, Qin Luo was busy taking out mutated frogs and other small creatures while using a hook to collect the frogs. Once they returned to the base, he planned to hand them over to headquarters directly.


    Bai Shu finished writing his report and clicked "upload," while Wang Weihu turned up the volume of the broadcast.


    The desolate city echoed with waves of rescue broadcasts.


    But there was no response.


    It was disheartening.


    From the looks of it, this was likely a small town on the outskirts of N City. The street was a typical residential area.


    Aside from this enormous mutated loquat tree, there were also mutated pear and persimmon trees in the distance.


    It seemed like a good opportunity for another harvest.


    Zhou Siqi, sitting in the car, couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. She saw that everyone else was busy and said, ¡°Let me help out too.¡±


    Bai Shu smiled at her and replied, ¡°No need. Just rest well. Without any offensive abilities, it¡¯s too dangerous for you to go out.¡±


    After all, she was their honored guest from the 3A Special Operations Team, worth five million credits.


    As a Withered Butterfly Mutant, Zhou Siqi had no offensive abilities and could only rely on camouflage to evade enemies. Letting her go out was indeed too risky.


    If something were to happen...


    That would be a disaster.


    Zhou Siqi reluctantly stayed put. Her personality wasn¡¯t lively; she was clearly an introvert. Unless it was something important, she usually spoke softly and gently, her voice barely audible.


    She was starkly different from Da Qiao.


    To ease her discomfort, Wang Weihu joked with a grin, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s Da Qiao¡¯s full name? We actually don¡¯t know.¡±


    They only knew her nickname.


    Hearing her friend being mentioned, Zhou Siqi¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile. ¡°Da Qiao¡¯s full name is Qiao Yajun, and Xiao Qiao¡¯s full name is Qiao Weimo. They¡¯re distant cousins.¡±


    But their relationship was quite good.


    Their abilities were tied to the same plant-based power, Twin Lotus Flowers, though the skills they activated were vastly different.


    Da Qiao¡¯s ability was Healing, while Xiao Qiao¡¯s was Offensive.


    Although they didn¡¯t look exactly alike, their expressions occasionally bore some resemblance because of their shared ability. They also bickered frequently.


    Zhou Siqi was very close to Da Qiao but not as familiar with Xiao Qiao.


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    Wang Weihu and Bai Shu were intrigued by this tidbit. Twin Lotus Flowers as a plant-based ability? That was indeed rare.


    ¡°The Rose Team is entirely plant-based. Why didn¡¯t Xiao Qiao join a combat team?¡± Bai Shu asked curiously.


    Zhou Siqi replied softly, ¡°Because she¡¯s also interested in medicine.¡±


    Xiao Qiao sometimes envied Da Qiao¡¯s Healing ability, and the two often argued, though their bond remained strong.


    After all, their lifespans were intertwined.


    The conversation seemed to relax Zhou Siqi significantly, and she no longer felt so out of place.


    Meanwhile, Qin Luo noticed something. The curtain at the eleven o¡¯clock position moved slightly. Without drawing attention to himself, he aimed in that direction. Chen Xiaofei and Xu Duoduo, however, were completely engrossed in their loquat-picking spree, happily plucking away.


    The next moment, noise finally came from the window. A young boy, his face flushed, opened the window and shouted at Chen Xiaofei and Xu Duoduo, ¡°Picking, picking, picking! If you take everything, what are we supposed to eat?! You call yourselves rescuers? You¡¯re nothing but monster thieves! This is our loquat tree!¡±


    Chen Xiaofei was startled by the boy¡¯s outburst. ¡°Damn, kid, can¡¯t you talk nicely? You scared me! What if you frightened our little class monitor too?!¡±


    The little zombie, who was dangling from his claws, innocently blinked her eyes while clutching several large bunches of loquats.


    The boy, who looked about ten years old, was both frightened and angry. Tears welled up in his eyes as he wiped them with his arm, crying, ¡°Waaahhh!¡±


    Chen Xiaofei panicked. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, don¡¯t cry, kid! We¡¯re not bad people!¡±


    But his words only made the boy cry louder.


    Bai Shu couldn¡¯t help but laugh at Chen Xiaofei¡¯s antics. ¡°The way he¡¯s saying it makes him sound even more like a bad guy.¡±


    Wang Weihu, on the other hand, felt a headache coming on. Their team really didn¡¯t have many people who were good at communicating with survivors. It always fell to him. He turned on the loudspeaker and called out, ¡°Hey, kid! Where are your parents? Are there any adults at home? We really are from the H City Survivor Base. We can show you our identification.¡±


    Qin Luo gestured for Chen Xiaofei to bring Xu Duoduo back. The two of them had already stripped the loquat tree bare¡ªa truly impressive feat.


    If the circumstances were different...


    Xu Duoduo would¡¯ve loved to store the entire loquat tree in her spatial space and bring it back to the base to plant.


    Chen Xiaofei flapped his wings and tossed the little class monitor into Qin Luo¡¯s arms before flying toward the boy. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t cry. We really are good people. If we were monsters, we¡¯d have eaten you by now. Would we let you stand there crying?¡±


    That logic was hard to argue with.


    But the boy seemed too scared to process it, continuing to cry loudly. Chen Xiaofei had no choice but to keep trying to calm him down.


    The little zombie, having been tossed from mid-air, didn¡¯t even blink as she landed steadily in Qin Luo¡¯s arms. She reached out and instinctively grabbed Qin Luo¡¯s ear, giving it a little tug before quickly retracting her tiny hand.


    The little zombie was satisfied.


    Qin Luo, holding her, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re addicted to this, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    What could he do? Ever since his mutation, his wolf ears had become large, thick, and irresistibly soft to the touch.


    ¡°Tsk, you¡¯re lucky it¡¯s you. If it were anyone else, I¡¯d shoot them for even trying.¡±


    Wolf ears were incredibly sensitive, after all. How could he let just anyone touch them?


    The little zombie didn¡¯t know that. She was just happy to have touched them. Plus, she had picked a ton of loquats. The mutated loquat tree was enormous, and the harvested fruit now filled a corner of her spatial inventory.


    She felt like they¡¯d have enough to last a long time.


    She had even tasted the sweet flavor of the loquats.


    Once again, Xu Duoduo confirmed that she could consume mutated plants and animals and even taste their flavors.


    For a foodie, this was pure joy.


    Qin Luo still smelled sweet and fragrant, and his transformation into a big wolfdog was simply adorable.


    Even though she sometimes found herself tempted, the little zombie had never truly thought about eating him. She couldn¡¯t bear to.


    Besides, she would never eat humans.


    Because she always believed she was human.


    On the other side, Chen Xiaofei finally managed to piece together the situation. ¡°So, it¡¯s just you and your little sister at home? Are there any other survivors nearby?¡±


    The boy¡¯s name was Cheng Cheng, and he had just turned ten. His little sister, Cheng Ai, was three years old.


    Their parents used to sell vegetables, and the ground floor of their residential building was their shop, with the second and third floors rented out. The family of four lived on the fourth floor.


    When the outbreak happened, their parents locked the siblings upstairs. The couple eventually turned into zombies and were likely eaten by mutated fish.


    ¡°Waaahhh, that night, it suddenly started raining heavily, but only in our area. Downstairs, people were biting each other. My parents went to help separate them, but they got bitten too. Then the water came, and no one could escape. My parents never came back upstairs.¡±


    ¡°The old lady from a few buildings over, Grandma Liu, used to make noise, but I haven¡¯t heard her these past two days.¡±


    Cheng Cheng had been convinced by Chen Xiaofei¡¯s reasoning. If they were really mutated monsters, they wouldn¡¯t be talking to him so nicely¡ªthey¡¯d have eaten him by now.


    The boy broke down completely, crying his heart out.

 Chapter 77: A New World

    Chen Xiaofei spent some time coaxing the siblings before finally calming them down. Then, with a clawed hand, he picked up one in each arm and carried them down.


    Their parents had been unusually foresighted. Knowing that something might happen to them, they had stockpiled a large amount of food for the siblings and locked them upstairs to keep them safe.


    The older brother had been taking care of his three-year-old sister for over two months. He had even learned how to observe his surroundings and would use a clothes-drying pole to pick loquats from the tree outside when there were fewer mutated animals around.


    Their food supply was nearly depleted, which was why the boy had been so anxious when Chen Xiaofei and Xu Duoduo were picking loquats earlier.


    Qin Luo stuffed the little zombie into the car and then carefully placed the siblings inside as well.


    Zhou Siqi quickly took the siblings to the back seat, awkwardly trying to comfort them.


    "Don''t cry, little ones. You''ve already done so well. You''re so young, yet you managed to take care of your sister. That''s amazing. Don''t worry, once we get to the base, everything will be better."


    She wasn''t lying.


    The fact that the siblings had survived until now was a stroke of incredible luck. Once they reached the base, they''d finally be able to live in relative safety. The base even had a specialized childcare center for kids like them.


    That¡¯s right.


    In the apocalypse, orphanages weren¡¯t called orphanages anymore. Children who had lost their parents or guardians were collectively raised by the base. They called it a childcare center.


    Wang Weihu also chimed in to comfort them. "Exactly. You''re an amazing big brother¡ªso strong and responsible. Look at how well you''ve taken care of your sister."


    Although the siblings had no parents to look after them, they were both clean and tidy.


    The younger sister, being so small, wasn¡¯t crying or fussing. She simply curled up in her brother¡¯s arms, her gaze still bright and innocent. When she heard Wang Weihu praise her brother, she echoed, "Big brother is great!"


    Then she turned to her brother and asked for their parents, pointing toward their house and saying "Mom and Dad," indicating that they hadn''t come back yet.


    Cheng Cheng hugged his little sister tightly. "Mom and Dad went ahead. We''ll see them in a few days, okay?"


    The little girl believed him immediately. She obediently wiped her brother¡¯s tears, trying to comfort him.


    Zhou Siqi felt a lump in her throat as she watched. She reached out and gently patted the siblings¡¯ heads.


    The little zombie, observing this scene, rummaged around and pulled out a box of milk tablets, handing it to the siblings.


    Cheng Cheng swallowed hard before taking it and whispered, "Thank you, sister."


    Qin Luo noticed the three-year-old girl still staring longingly at her house, so he pulled out a tablet and took a photo of it. He tapped the screen and said, "Hey, look over here. I¡¯ve taken a picture of your house. When we get to the base, we can print it out for you as a keepsake, alright? Now, say goodbye to your home. Once we¡¯re at the base, don¡¯t dwell on it anymore."


    People needed to look forward.


    Cheng Cheng couldn¡¯t hold back his tears again. After wiping them away, he looked at his house one last time and silently said goodbye to his parents in his heart. Then, he nodded earnestly. "Thank you, big brother."


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    Qin Luo nodded approvingly. Meanwhile, Chen Xiaofei returned from his scouting trip, flapping his wings. "Qin-ge, I checked the area. No other survivors, just zombies inside."


    "Take care of them," Qin Luo said simply.


    It was better to let the zombies rest in peace.


    He then gestured for Chen Xiaofei to take a break. "Let¡¯s move further ahead. There are a few more mutated fruit trees over there. You two gather the fruit while we search for any other survivors."


    The team agreed without hesitation.


    Xu Duoduo noticed that the big brother was likely hungry too. She handed him a rice ball and then rummaged through her multi-dimensional cube space, pulling out some baby formula she had found in a maternity store. She quickly mixed a bottle for the little sister, using the hot and cool water she had on hand.


    Cheng Cheng watched the beautiful sister conjure items from thin air, his eyes wide with amazement. While wolfing down his food, he mumbled, "Are you guys¡­ magicians?"


    Besides, the rice ball was so delicious!


    He nearly cried at the taste¡ªit had been so long since he¡¯d had a proper meal.


    His little sister, drooling at the sight of the food, was fed a bite by her brother. That¡¯s when they realized that even a three-year-old could eat some regular food. They learned something new!


    Xu Duoduo then pulled out a small bottle of porridge, which Zhou Siqi took and used to feed the little girl.


    After a flurry of activity, the siblings were finally fed and content.


    Bai Shu found some educational videos made by the base specifically for children. Since many young kids had no idea what was happening in this apocalyptic world, the base had created animated videos to help them understand their new reality.


    The unknown was the scariest thing.


    At least the kids in the base, though confused, had some grasp of the situation.


    Cheng Cheng, being ten years old, had no trouble understanding. If not for his overwhelming fear, he wouldn¡¯t have cried at all. He was, at heart, a tough little guy.


    After watching the video, he quickly grasped the basics of this new world. He was both amazed and intrigued. "It¡¯s like magic!"


    It really did feel like something out of a cartoon.


    Kids and younger people were indeed quicker to adapt to this strange new world.


    Even the elderly had to relearn and adapt to new knowledge, much like children. The only silver lining was that due to the effects of the polluted environment, everyone¡¯s genes had undergone some degree of mutation. Surprisingly, some elderly people even experienced rejuvenation, with their bodily functions gradually recovering and their lifespans significantly extended.


    The downside, however, was that the fertility rate among ability users was extremely low. Ordinary people still had relatively normal rates, but this was an issue for the future.


    For now, the team¡¯s priority was rescue missions and gathering supplies to sustain the base¡¯s large population of survivors.


    The question of humanity¡¯s continuation and the base''s development would come later.


    When the vehicle reached a mutated pear tree, Chen Xiaofei and Xu Duoduo eagerly jumped out to pick fruit again. Qin Luo remained on high alert, dealing with mutated frogs as they appeared.


    Meanwhile, Bai Shu went off to search for more survivors.


    After eating their fill, the little sister fell asleep peacefully, while the older brother, Cheng Cheng, began pointing out locations of fruit trees to Wang Weihu. "There¡¯s a row of loquat trees up ahead. A lot of people here liked planting fruit trees in front of their houses."


    This area indeed had an abundance of mutated fruit trees, and Chen Xiaofei and Xu Duoduo were soon harvesting to their hearts¡¯ content.


    The mutated fruits were unbelievably delicious, though it was best not to think too much about what nutrients they were absorbing.


    This region was mostly populated by small mutated animals rather than zombies. The animals often fought and killed each other, leaving corpses that served as fertilizer for the trees.


    As for other details¡­ it was better not to dwell on them.


    After clearing out the fruit in this area, Bai Shu used his flying squirrel mutation core to mimic and scout the surroundings but found no additional survivors. The siblings were truly fortunate.


    When Chen Xiaofei, Xu Duoduo, and Bai Shu returned, the siblings were fast asleep. The team got back into the vehicle, closed the sunroof, and prepared to rest.


    Wang Weihu checked the nearby mission board and saw that other combat teams had already taken on tasks in the area. Their team had been out for quite some time and needed to head back to the base to recuperate.


    After all, staying on high alert outside made it impossible to rest properly.


    Qin Luo nodded after hearing this. "Alright, let¡¯s head back. We¡¯ll keep an eye out for survivors on the way. If we don¡¯t find anyone, we¡¯ll go straight to the base. Everyone needs to recharge."


    No one objected.


    Every battle drained them physically and mentally. Without a proper rest back at the base, they wouldn¡¯t last long.


    The 3A Special Operations Team was strong enough to handle multiple missions in one outing, but even they needed to retreat eventually. Other teams, like the Cheetah Team and the White Dove Team, were often shocked by how long 3A could stay out in the field without returning.


    "Let¡¯s go home!" someone cheered.

 Chapter 78: Returning Home

    On the way back, the team rescued another small group of survivors. After contacting a nearby logistics team, they waited for personnel from the B City Survivor Base to come and take over.


    There were more than eighty individuals in total.


    Each one of them was emaciated and starving. The food supplies 3A Special Operations Team had been saving up finally came in handy.


    The survivors devoured the food ravenously.


    It was a pitiful sight.


    Wang Weihu handed out bread and bottled water, saying, "Take your time, no rush."


    Bai Shu recorded some detailed information about the survivors.


    Qin Luo spoke to the logistics team from B City, "There''s a small town about a kilometer ahead with several mutated fruit trees. Since your team has a Spatial Manipulation ability user, you should collect them. Don''t let them go to waste¡ªthey''re pears and loquats, good stuff."


    If it weren''t for the fact that the mutated trees were too large and bizarre, and their storage space was maxed out¡ªplus Xu Duoduo''s spatial ability couldn''t be exposed¡ªthey would have taken the fruit themselves.


    The opposing team''s captain looked ecstatic. "Really? You 3A guys have some serious luck!"


    Although mutated plants were becoming more common, edible ones were still rare. Encountering non-aggressive, edible fruit trees was indeed fortunate.


    Qin Luo simply nodded. "Go on, go on." He wanted to avoid seeing Xu Duoduo looking regretful.


    Sure enough, Xu Duoduo perked up upon hearing this, her satisfaction evident. Her philosophy was clear: if she couldn''t take the food, it shouldn''t be left to rot in the danger zone.


    Seeing her like this, Qin Luo couldn''t help but chuckle. He reached out and ruffled her hair. "What are you daydreaming about? Let''s go."


    The little zombie immediately trotted after him.


    Qin Luo, with his long legs, walked quickly. For every step he took, Xu Duoduo had to take three.


    Eventually, Qin Luo couldn''t bear constantly looking back to check if she was keeping up. He turned around, picked her up, and tucked her under his arm, carrying her away directly.


    Ah, much better!


    Xu Duoduo: ???


    This familiar yet comforting feeling¡ªwhat was it? Freed from the need to walk, the little zombie fully embraced her laziness.


    Once again, she became a little accessory.


    After everyone got back in the car, they prepared to continue the journey. This time, they quickly reached the highway toll station.


    The road ahead was smooth sailing.


    Chen Xiaofei, chewing on a lollipop, cursed from the passenger seat. "Damn it, it''s a good thing we came. If that dog Jin Chuanqiong had actually set off the explosion, these dozens of people we just rescued would have been goners. That was too close."


    A small action had successfully saved eighty lives.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Bai Shu couldn''t help but comment, "When his backer falls, this kind of person is bound to die miserably."


    He was always pulling such despicable stunts.


    Qin Luo snorted coldly. "We''ll see where he''s hiding when we get back. I''ll drag him out and beat him up."


    He had been annoyed by Jin Chuanqiong''s incessant nagging the entire time.


    Chen Xiaofei immediately perked up. "No problem! I''ll track him down!"


    In the last row of the SUV.


    Zhou Siqi glanced at the siblings sitting next to her. Thankfully, the two children were sound asleep. Otherwise, she couldn''t imagine how they''d react to such violent conversations.


    Since the kids and Zhou Siqi were in the back row, Xu Duoduo had to sit with Qin Luo. While Qin Luo was chatting with Chen Xiaofei, she sneakily reached out her little claws to grab his tail. Seeing that he didn''t notice, she slowly inched closer.


    Finally, she succeeded in hugging it, even rubbing her cheek against it. It was so soft and fluffy.


    The little zombie was in heaven.


    For some reason, Qin Luo''s ears turned red, though he pretended not to notice.


    From the front, Chen Xiaofei noticed and blurted out, "Qin-ge, why''s your face turning red while you''re talking?"


    Qin Luo stubbornly replied, "It''s cramped in here. I''m hot."


    Bai Shu, having watched the entire scene, let out a chuckle. Qin Luo turned to glare at him, but Bai Shu calmly adjusted his glasses and focused intently on his tablet.


    Just as Qin Luo sighed in relief, Bai Shu suddenly spoke up. "If it''s too cramped, the little squad leader can come sit with me¡ª"


    Before he could finish.


    "No way!" Qin Luo snapped, his face protective and fierce, instinctively rejecting the idea.


    Chen Xiaofei burst out laughing, and even Bai Shu couldn''t hold back a grin.


    Qin Luo''s face turned as red as a tomato. Finally, he tilted his head back and covered his face with one hand, utterly mortified.


    He wished the ground would swallow him whole.


    The atmosphere was unbearably awkward.


    The little zombie tilted her head, looking from one person to the next. Then, delighted, she gave the big gray tail a squeeze, only to see the "big dog" shudder violently.


    "Ahem, alright, stop playing with it. Confiscated! Don''t think I didn''t notice you sneaking around with my tail!"


    Qin Luo was flustered and exasperated!


    The little zombie didn''t understand but felt guilty. She obediently nodded, placed her little claws neatly on her lap, and stared straight ahead, sitting primly.


    Seeing her behave so well, Qin Luo felt uncomfortable again. Internally conflicted, he sighed and, with the air of someone facing execution, handed his tail back to her. "Fine, fine, here, hug it. Just don''t look so pitiful."


    She looked so forlorn it was heart-wrenching.


    Xu Duoduo didn''t understand why he suddenly allowed her to touch the tail again, but she was an honest little zombie. Honest kids get treats; stubborn ones don''t.


    The little zombie was very honest.


    So she got to hug the big tail again.


    Happy zombie.


    Chen Xiaofei and Bai Shu both let out exaggerated "Eww~" sounds before quickly shutting up, fearing their captain''s wrath.


    Every day, they danced on the edge of death.


    But teasing Qin Luo was a daily necessity¡ªhow else would life be fun?


    Zhou Siqi found herself envying their camaraderie. Teams this close-knit were rare, especially in the apocalypse. Many teams lost members in battles, and replacements were often randomly assigned.


    How could new teammates ever compare to old comrades?


    Her expression turned a bit melancholic.


    Zhou Siqi hadn''t left with the logistics team from B City. She mainly wanted to see Da Qiao before deciding her next move.


    These days, every meeting felt like it could be the last.


    When they finally arrived at the H City Survivor Base, everyone heaved a collective sigh of relief.


    "Oh my god, we''re finally here! I''m back!" Chen Xiaofei yelled as he jumped out of the car, needing to let off some steam.


    Bai Shu also visibly relaxed. Outside, he was always on high alert.


    Wang Weihu handed the car over to the staff for inspection and maintenance. Noticing Zhou Siqi looking uneasy, he kindly offered, "Want me to contact Da Qiao to come pick you up?"


    Zhou Siqi checked the time and said softly, "No need to trouble you. Just tell me how to get to the research center, and I''ll find her myself."


    It wasn''t time to clock out yet.


    Meanwhile, Qin Luo was sorting through the items in their wristbands with Xu Duoduo. "Why are you so disgusted? The mutants in B City said this stuff is edible. Isn''t it just like bullfrogs? They even said it sells for eighty points each in B City Survivor Base. Don''t shortchange me."


    Displayed on the screen was a pile of mutated frog corpses.


    Du Chunjiang was utterly horrified. "Oh my god, why would you bring something like this back? You know the food storage department acts like rabid dogs around anything edible. I really don''t want to see these things in the cafeteria!"


    She complained while sorting through the 3A team''s submitted supplies. "Ugh, I''ve already had to eat stir-fried mutated locusts with watermelon rind. I don''t want to eat this too, waaah!"

 Chapter 79: Do You Have a Little Zombie at Home?

    Qin Luo watched his distant cousin Du Chunjiang wail in frustration with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He even helpfully suggested, "You could always skip the cafeteria."


    Du Chunjiang gritted her teeth. "My monthly points aren''t enough for me to eat well every day! And why shouldn''t I eat at the cafeteria when they provide meals for employees?!"


    She was genuinely heartbroken.


    Behind Qin Luo, the little zombie, Xu Duoduo, observed the scene and thought this staff member seemed quite pitiful.


    When Du Chunjiang caught sight of Xu Duoduo, her eyes lit up. "Hello, little darling! We meet again. Honestly, you shouldn''t hang around someone like Captain Qin. Working at the base is so much better¡ªthree meals a day, a stable salary, and no need to risk your life out there."


    Qin Luo immediately knocked on the table. "Hey, hey, hey, are you trying to poach my teammate right in front of me?"


    Why did everyone seem so obsessed with the little zombie? He found it baffling. However, when he lowered his gaze and met Xu Duoduo''s snow-white, stunningly beautiful face, he thought to himself, well, whose adorable little zombie is this?


    Oh.


    His little zombie.


    Qin Luo sighed and spread his hands. "Ah, what can I do? I''m such a handsome captain that even my teammates are all incredibly good-looking. The charming ones are charming, the cool ones are cool, and the cute ones are just too adorable. Having such attractive teammates is honestly a burden~"


    Du Chunjiang scoffed, "Ugh, shameless. Little darling, you should stay far away from him, lest you catch his ''idiot virus.''"


    After finishing her sentence, she tossed the emptied storage bracelet back to Qin Luo and rolled her eyes.


    She had reached her limit.


    Qin Luo didn''t get angry. He casually fastened the bracelet on his wrist with a flourish, his movements smooth and dashing. "Tsk tsk tsk, you''re just jealous. Do you have a little zombie at home? No, right? And do you have such an adorable zombie? Nope, didn''t think so."


    Du Chunjiang was so exasperated she laughed.


    Satisfied with his cheeky remark, Qin Luo left with the little zombie in tow.


    Xu Duoduo turned back to glance at the staff member, feeling a little sorry for her. She ran back and stuffed a handful of White Rabbit milk candies into her hands before dashing off again.


    Du Chunjiang was stunned. She looked at the dozen or so White Rabbit candies in her palm, then at the little zombie happily trotting after Qin Luo. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whimpered, "What kind of zombie is this, so sweet and thoughtful?!"


    She popped five candies into her mouth at once, lamenting her inability to care for a little zombie of her own.


    Sob sob sob.


    She couldn''t work another day like this.


    ---


    After passing through the base gates, Qin Luo spotted the siblings Cheng Cheng and Cheng Ai standing uncertainly by the entrance.


    "What''s wrong? Didn''t any staff members take you to the nursery yet?" Qin Luo asked.


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    Cheng Cheng, recognizing a familiar face, nodded quickly. "Hello, big brother. The staff lady told us to wait here for a bit until someone else could take us."


    Before Qin Luo could respond, a staff member rushed over. "I''m so sorry. We don''t currently have anyone heading to the nursery. Could I trouble you, Captain Qin, to take these two kids there? A truckload of survivors just arrived, and half of them are infected. We''re completely short-staffed here."


    Working at the base gates was indeed no easy task, with all sorts of emergencies cropping up.


    Seeing the siblings'' slightly lost expressions, Qin Luo agreed readily. "Alright, you take care of your work. I''ll get the kids to the nursery."


    The staff member breathed a sigh of relief and smiled gratefully. "You''re a lifesaver!"


    She turned to the siblings and said, "Be good and listen to this big brother, okay? Auntie can''t leave her post, so he''ll take you there. Don''t be scared of anything you see on the way."


    This staff member, a woman in her forties surnamed Zhang, quickly rummaged through her pocket and pulled out three fruit candies. She gave one to each of the siblings and then handed the third to Xu Duoduo.


    "Alright, off you go. No lingering at the base gates," Auntie Zhang said before hurrying off to another passageway. With half the truck''s passengers infected, the remaining survivors would need to be quarantined for a long time. There were also over ten children to deal with¡ªit was a real headache.


    Xu Duoduo opened her mouth as if to say something but stayed silent. She lowered her gaze to the fruit candy in her hand, wanting to explain that she really didn''t need candy.


    She had plenty in her storage space.


    Qin Luo noticed her dazed expression and couldn''t help but chuckle. "Well, looks like someone mistook you for a kid."


    Xu Duoduo wasn''t particularly short¡ªat 163 cm, she didn''t look like a child. But her pale face, blank expression, and large, pitiful eyes made her irresistibly endearing.


    She was just so lovable.


    Qin Luo was teasing her, of course. She didn''t look like a child; she was just a little zombie.


    Xu Duoduo puffed up her cheeks indignantly. She was not a child. She promptly handed the candy to Cheng Ai, who sweetly said, "Thank you, big sister," in her babyish voice.


    Xu Duoduo nodded coolly, successfully reclaiming some dignity as a zombie in front of the three-year-old.


    Qin Luo almost died laughing.


    "Ahem, alright, everyone follow me. Let''s get you two to the nursery first."


    One adult, two kids, and one little zombie successfully boarded a bus.


    After triple-checking that there was no blood on their clothes that might scare other passengers, they were good to go.


    The bus drove at a brisk pace.


    In the base, aside from the high-speed underground metro, buses were always packed to capacity.


    Cheng Cheng stared wide-eyed at the weapons everyone carried, clutching his little sister tightly. Before the apocalypse, he''d only ever seen toy guns. Seeing so many real weapons on a bus was both shocking and fascinating.


    Qin Luo noticed his curiosity. "Cool, huh? Everyone in our team knows how to use guns. Even the sister next to you does. If you want, you can learn too when you''re older."


    Cheng Cheng looked at the various weapons with admiration but hesitated. "But I don''t have magic powers, and my sister''s a girl. Isn''t it bad for girls to use guns?"


    Qin Luo raised an eyebrow at that and launched into an impromptu lesson. "Before the apocalypse, there were plenty of ordinary people who worked with weapons every day, protecting their homes and families. It has nothing to do with having abilities."


    "And who says girls can''t wield weapons? Everyone needs to learn how to protect themselves, especially in times like these. People who can protect themselves are cool, and those who can protect others are even cooler. Take your sister Duoduo, for example. Her weapon is a chainsaw. Do you know what a chainsaw is? It roars to life with a pull of the cord and can take down a whole group of zombies in one swing. It''s insanely cool! Honestly, I never expected her to pick a chainsaw¡ªit''s just too awesome."


    Qin Luo grew more animated as he spoke, showering Xu Duoduo with praise. He was genuinely impressed. Back when she was a quiet and studious class monitor, who could''ve guessed she''d be wielding a chainsaw in the apocalypse?


    He kept praising and praising.


    Cheng Cheng went from surprise to understanding, then admiration, and finally, numbness.


    Unable to hold back, he asked, "Big brother, do you like Sister Duoduo? Is that why you''re praising her so much?"


    It had been thirty minutes.


    And Qin Luo was still going.


    Qin Luo choked on his words, and the nearby passengers stifled their laughter. His face turned visibly red, almost as if it were about to catch fire.


    Can¡¯t people just ride the bus in peace?!


    Why were they still so nosy, even in the apocalypse?!


    Just then, the bus''s announcement played: *"Arriving at Liuwan District. Liuwan District, please exit through the rear doors. Next stop, Huaming District. Next stop, Huaming District."*


    Qin Luo grabbed the dazed little zombie with one hand and scooped up the siblings with the other, making a swift exit.


    Any later, and his face might¡¯ve actually combusted!