When Ling Chen said that, everyone suddenly remembered that a new day had arrived.
“Captain…” Zhou Xiaoyu’s voice was anxious, breaking the deadly silence. She held the last deflated first-aid kit in her hand, which only contained a few painkillers and a small roll of bandages. “Medicine…is completely gone…Water…only half a bottle left…”
Food! Water! Medicine!
The cruel reality was like a cold Anvil, smashing the air that had just been solidified by despair.
After hope was shattered, more primitive survival needs, like hungry beasts, instantly seized everyone’s nerves!
“Food…there’s none left at all…” Wu Tao’s voice was dry and hoarse. He had searched every corner of the classroom, even licking clean the biscuit crumbs in the drawer cracks.
“Water…only this much…” He held up a plastic bottle of mineral water with only a little at the bottom.
Hungry rumbling and thirsty swallowing sounds echoed one after another in the silent classroom.
The students’ eyes, which had been numb with fear, were now replaced by a more primitive, green glow called “hunger.”
They looked at each other, at the soldiers’ bulging tactical backpacks, their eyes filled with undisguised longing and…a hint of imperceptible danger.
Li Zhenguo suddenly woke up!
He saw the wolf-like green glow in the students’ eyes! He also saw his team members instinctively protecting their backpacks! Material shortages! In the face of absolute despair and hunger, the fragile dam of human nature could collapse at any time!
“Inventory all supplies!” He forced himself to stand up, his voice hoarse but with an unquestionable authority, “Including what we brought!”
As the order was given, the soldiers silently opened their tactical backpacks. Compressed biscuits, energy bars, high-calorie chocolate, water purification tablets…not much, but enough to make the hungry students’ eyes go straight! Especially in Wang Lei’s huge backpack, there were even two boxes of military canned meat!
“All supplies will be centrally managed!” Li Zhenguo said sharply, his gaze sweeping over everyone. “Distributed per person! Prioritize the injured and those on guard! No one is allowed to hide anything! Violators…will be dealt with by military law!” The last four words carried a cold killing intent.
The soldiers executed the order without hesitation, gathering the food and water from their backpacks in front of Li Zhenguo.
The students looked at the pile of food, which was normally unremarkable but now as tempting as a mountain of gold, their eyes complex. Longing, struggle, shame…Ultimately, under the cold muzzle of the gun and Li Zhenguo’s authoritative gaze, no one dared to step forward and snatch anything.
Food and water were carefully distributed.
Everyone received a small piece of compressed biscuit, a fingernail-sized piece of high-calorie chocolate, and…a small sip of water.
The injured received an extra half a biscuit. For people who had been hungry for a day and a night, this amount was merely a drop in the bucket. But at least…it temporarily suppressed the possibility of a riot.
“This little bit…won’t last long…” Sun Qiang chewed on the hard compressed biscuit, his metallic throat making a dull rubbing sound, “We must…go out and find food and water…”
“But outside are all Ghouls and Rat Swarms! How do we go out?!” A girl cried out.
“Are we going to wait to die?!” Li Mingyu suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, “If we don’t go out and search! We’ll all starve to death! Die of thirst!”
“Mingyu is right!” Li Zhenguo said in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping over everyone, “Sitting idly by only leads to death! We must take the initiative and find supplies!”
He looked out the window. In the faint light of dawn, the campus ruins were deadly silent. The Ghouls’ roars seemed to have weakened significantly with the arrival of day, and the Rat Swarms had also disappeared. But everyone knew that the danger had not vanished, only gone into hiding.
“Target: School Supermarket! Straight-line distance from the main teaching building is three hundred meters!” Li Zhenguo quickly formulated a plan, “There might be leftover food and bottled water there! Anvil, Dove, White Dove, follow me! Li Mingyu, Sun Qiang, you are responsible for cover and transport! Everyone else, stay and guard the fortress! Fortify the defenses! Maintain vigilance!”
He looked at Ling Chen, who was leaning against the wall and still “weak”: “Ling Chen, your perception ability…can it help scout the way? Avoid dangerous areas.”
Everyone’s gaze instantly focused on Ling Chen. This severely injured young man had previously “perceived” the Rat Nest and the underground cave; his ability…might be the only hope.
Ling Chen slowly opened his eyes, his face as pale as paper, his breathing weak. He nodded with difficulty, his voice hoarse: “I…I’ll try…The range…isn’t big…I can only…perceive…nearby…energy…fluctuations…”
“That’s enough!” A glimmer of hope flashed in Li Zhenguo’s eyes, “You come with us! Chen Xue, take care of him!”
“Yes!” Chen Xue quickly responded, tightly supporting Ling Chen’s arm.
The team quickly assembled. Li Zhenguo, Wang Lei, Zhao Xiaowen, and Zhou Xiaoyu, four soldiers fully armed. Li Mingyu and Sun Qiang as the main combatants. Ling Chen, supported by Chen Xue, “barely” followed. The remaining students, led by Wu Tao, used their last strength to fortify the doors and windows.
The heavy debris was laboriously moved to create a gap. The team slipped out of the classroom like ghosts, blending into the pale light of dawn.
The air was cold and foul, mixed with a strong smell of blood and decay. The ground underfoot was sticky, every step landing on congealed blood clots and shattered tissue. The dilapidated teaching building was like a giant tombstone.
“Ling Chen, which way?” Li Zhenguo lowered his voice, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.
Ling Chen leaned on Chen Xue, his eyes slightly closed, his brows tightly furrowed, as if trying to perceive something with great effort.
The Soul Jade Physique’s cold will scanned the surrounding environment like an invisible radar wave.
Ghouls…mostly lurking in dark corners or inside buildings, with faint energy fluctuations. Mutated beasts…the Scaled Claw Rat Swarm had retreated to their underground nest, their aura cold and silent.
The direction of the small supermarket…was relatively “clean,” with only a few scattered ordinary Ghouls wandering nearby.
“Forward…turn left…bypass…the flowerbed…” Ling Chen’s voice was intermittent, with “weak” gasps, “Behind the flowerbed…there are…two…ordinary Ghouls…energy…is very weak…”
“Received!” Li Zhenguo made a gesture. Wang Lei, like an Anvil, silently crept over, his military dagger flashing with a cold light in the dim light.
Puff! Puff! Two extremely faint thuds, and the heads of two wandering Ghouls were precisely pierced, falling silently to the ground.
The team continued forward. Under Ling Chen’s “precise” guidance, they walked like dancers on a knife’s edge, skillfully avoiding several areas where Ghouls were relatively dense and clusters of mutated plants emitting dangerous auras. The journey was uneventful.
“Ahead…is…the small supermarket…” Ling Chen pointed to a low-rise building with all its glass doors shattered.
The entrance of the small supermarket was littered with messy shelves and broken product packaging, and the inside was a mess, obviously having been ransacked countless times.
But perhaps…there was still something left?
“Li Mingyu, Sun Qiang, guard the entrance! Anvil, Dove, follow me inside to search! White Dove, take care of Ling Chen!” Li Zhenguo quickly gave instructions.
Li Mingyu and Sun Qiang stood on either side of the broken glass door, vigilantly scanning the surroundings. Li Zhenguo, with Wang Lei and Zhao Xiaowen, silently infiltrated the supermarket like leopards.
Ling Chen leaned in the shadow of the supermarket’s outer wall, Chen Xue nervously supporting him. His gaze seemed to weakly scan the surroundings, but the Soul Jade Physique’s will was operating at high speed.
The time…was almost right.
How could he be so kind as to let them find food immediately? Ling Chen’s goal was completely different from theirs.
His thought moved slightly. Behind the supermarket, deep in a narrow alley filled with rotten garbage and discarded cardboard boxes. Several Scaled Claw Rats, gnawing on a highly decomposed corpse, their scarlet eyes suddenly lit up!
An invisible wave of thought, carrying strong provocation and bloody temptation, like precisely cast bait, instantly invaded their simple and brutal nerves!
“Screech—!”
One of the larger Scaled Claw Rats suddenly raised its head and let out a sharp shriek! It stopped gnawing on the rotten flesh and suddenly turned, its scarlet eyes fixed on the direction of the supermarket!
A strong scent of fresh blood and flesh belonging to living people, like the sweetest poison, frantically stimulated its nerves!
“Screech, screech, screech—!!!”
More Scaled Claw Rats were alarmed! They abandoned the rotten flesh and, as if whipped by an invisible lash, frantically poured out of the alley! Rushing straight towards the supermarket!
“Roar—!”
At the same time! On the side of the supermarket, in the shadow of a half-collapsed dormitory building ruin, several strength-type Ghouls, attracted by the smell of blood and in hibernation, were also awakened by Ling Chen’s deliberately amplified “flesh and blood aura”!
They let out low roars, took heavy steps, crashed through the rubble blocking their way, and charged towards the supermarket!
“Ghouls! Rat Swarms! They’re coming from the back and the side!” Ling Chen suddenly “woke up,” his voice trembling with fear, pointing to the back and side of the supermarket!
“What?!” Li Mingyu and Sun Qiang, guarding the entrance, their faces changed dramatically!
“Captain! Something’s happening!” Li Mingyu roared towards the inside of the supermarket!
Inside the supermarket, Li Zhenguo and the others had just discovered a few boxes of mineral water and several flattened instant noodles, lucky to have been hidden under debris and not found. Before they could rejoice, they heard Ling Chen’s warning and the sudden roars outside!
“Retreat! Quick retreat!” Li Zhenguo roared sharply! He grabbed two bottles of water and stuffed them into his backpack, then turned and rushed out!
But it was already too late!
“Roar—!!!” A Ghoul crashed through the side window of the supermarket, roaring as it charged in! Heading straight for the nearest Zhao Xiaowen!
“Bang!” Wang Lei roared, firing his anti-material rifle at close range! A large hole exploded in the Ghoul’s chest! But the huge impact also sent Zhao Xiaowen flying!
“Screech, screech, screech—!!!” A black tide of Scaled Claw Rats, like gushing oil, poured frantically from the supermarket’s back door! Rushing straight towards everyone!
“Open fire!” Li Zhenguo drew his assault rifle and swept wildly! Bullets hit the Rat Swarm, splattering black blood! But the Rat Swarm was fearless! They instantly pounced!
Chaos! Bloody chaos erupted instantly!
“Protect Ling Chen! Get out!” Li Zhenguo roared while sweeping with his gun!
Chen Xue screamed in fright, clutching Ling Chen’s arm tightly, trying to drag him out!
“Go…hurry…” Ling Chen “weakly” pushed her, but he himself stumbled due to his “leg injury” and fell to the ground! A Scaled Claw Rat took the opportunity to pounce on his face!
“Ling Chen!” Chen Xue screamed in terror!
“Get lost!” Sun Qiang roared, charging over and smashing the giant rat away with his metal fist! He grabbed Ling Chen and hoisted him onto his shoulder! “Go!”
Under the pincer attack of the Rat Swarm and Ghouls, the team frantically broke out of the supermarket! Bullets flew! Roars shook the sky! Black blood and shattered flesh splattered!
The moment they rushed out of the supermarket, more Ghouls and Rat Swarms surged from all directions! Completely scattering the team!
“Split up! Meet at the playground!” Li Zhenguo made a decisive decision, roaring hoarsely! He, Wang Lei, and Zhao Xiaowen fought and retreated in one direction!
Li Mingyu and Sun Qiang protected Chen Xue, who was carrying Ling Chen, and broke out in another direction!
In the chaos, no one noticed that Ling Chen, who was on Sun Qiang’s shoulder, had a cold arc at the corner of his mouth under the shadow of his hood.
His thoughts, like invisible threads, quietly connected to several dark purple bats circling in the air. The bats’ scarlet eyes locked onto a small depression on the edge of the playground, covered by dense mutated bushes.
There…was a relatively powerful, solitary mutated beast aura…a lone Scaled Claw Rat King, gnawing on a corpse! It had nine blood patterns at the corners of its eyes, and inside its body…was an energy-rich crystal core!
The bats swooped down! Emitting sharp, provocative screeches! Precisely harassing the Rat King that was feeding!
“Screech—!!!” The Rat King was enraged! Its scarlet eyes locked onto the bats in the air, letting out a brutal roar! It abandoned the corpse and frantically chased after them!
The bats, like agile darts, led the enraged Rat King towards the direction of Li Mingyu’s team’s breakthrough…flying rapidly!
“This way!” Li Mingyu swung his steel rod, smashing away a pouncing Ghoul, his Buli (Brute Force) ability erupting to clear the way! Sun Qiang, carrying Ling Chen, followed closely, his metal fists smashing the blocking Rat Swarm, sending blood and flesh flying!
Chen Xue stumbled behind, her face pale.
Suddenly!
“Screech—!!!”
An extremely sharp, brutal roar came from the front-side! Immediately after, a dark gray figure, much larger than an ordinary Scaled Claw Rat, the size of a small calf, burst out of the dense bushes with a tearing shriek! Pouncing straight at Li Mingyu!
The Rat King!
Its scarlet eyes were fixed on Li Mingyu, its sharp hooked claws, gleaming with a cold blue light, aimed straight for his throat! Its speed was like lightning!
“Mingyu, watch out!” Sun Qiang roared! He tried to help, but he was tightly entangled by several fearless ordinary Scaled Claw Rats!
Li Mingyu’s pupils constricted! His Buli (Brute Force) ability instantly surged to its limit! The steel rod, with a mournful whistle, smashed fiercely towards the Rat King’s head!
Bang!!!
Like a heavy hammer smashing a tough rubber tire! A dull, massive thud! The Rat King stumbled from the immense force! But its defense was far superior to ordinary rats! Its scales shattered, black blood splattered, but it did not suffer a fatal injury! Instead, it was completely enraged! It suddenly turned, its thick tail, like a steel whip, lashed fiercely at Li Mingyu’s waist!
Li Mingyu hastily blocked!
Bang!
The steel rod was bent! The immense force caused his tiger’s mouth to split! His body stumbled backward uncontrollably!
“Ah!” Chen Xue screamed in fright and retreated!
Sun Qiang was entangled by the Rat Swarm and couldn’t break free for a moment!
In the chaos, Ling Chen, who was on Sun Qiang’s shoulder, was “just” hit by Li Mingyu’s stumbling body!
“Thud!”
Ling Chen “clumsily” fell from Sun Qiang’s shoulder to the ground! He rolled into a bottomless drainage ditch covered by dense vines next to them! Instantly disappearing into the darkness!
“Ling Chen!” Chen Xue let out a heart-wrenching scream!
“Damn it!” Sun Qiang’s eyes were bloodshot! His metal fists erupted! He smashed away the giant rats that were entangled with him! He wanted to rush towards the drainage ditch!
But the enraged Rat King had already pounced on Li Mingyu again! Its attacks were even more frantic!
“Deal with it first!” Li Mingyu roared hoarsely! His Buli (Brute Force) erupted again! The steel rod turned into afterimages, fiercely fighting the Rat King!
Sun Qiang looked at the bottomless drainage ditch, then at the precarious Li Mingyu. He hardened his heart, roared, his eyes red, and turned to pounce on the Rat King! His metal fists hammered like a pile driver!