"Nearly a nine-death experience. If Meng Yao hadn't discovered it first, we wouldn't be sitting here today eating apples and reminiscing about the past," Lin Yuan's eyes revealed a deep fear and a strange anger.
Why could zombies mutate to be so powerful!
Suppressing his anger, Lin Yuan continued, "Because we received advance notice, we used barricades to block it for about a minute. It seemed like it hadn't fully mutated yet, so its senses weren't at the level mentioned in the broadcasts. Its intelligence wasn't very high.
This one-minute buffer allowed us to survive. I sealed off the hallway with homemade Molotov cocktails. You wouldn't believe how hard the mushroom on its head was. My Molotov cocktails shattered upon impact.
However, because the Molotov cocktail shattered on its head, the flames consumed some of its strength. It would secrete a mucus to prevent the spread of flames. Later, it tried to attack us with its tentacles. I blocked it with that shield. The indentation on it was made by it," Lin Yuan pointed to the shield. The sheet metal had a basketball-sized dent, and the wooden layer was shattered, merely adhering to itself without forming a hole.
How much force was that?
Wang Zhihai and Zhao Mengnan were almost speechless.
Even the nurses, who were still treating Mu Qingtian's wounds, turned to listen to the story.
"Later, I found an opening and got its tentacles stuck in the wall. It was originally going to attack Wu Tian, but it immediately turned to attack me. It was also fortunate that the gunshot attracted its attention, and in the end, we managed to cut off its head."
Lin Yuan looked at Wang Zhihai and the others. Who would have thought that the gunshot, which almost cost them their lives, would save Lin Yuan and Wu Tian?
Wang Zhihai could only sigh in the end, "Life is truly unpredictable."
"What happened next, what happened next? Did you find any treasures, any energy crystals, or spirit meat? Things that, when eaten, allow you to breathe fire and generate electricity!" Zhao Anjing suddenly interjected, appearing quite excited. She seemed to be a seasoned reader of novels.
"Zhao Anjing, what nonsense are you spouting again!" Zhao Mengnan felt like he was going crazy. This girl's personality was the complete opposite of her name.
Lin Yuan glanced at Wu Tian and saw her nod. He then thought that since the incident happened suddenly and their 'miracle elixirs' in bottles would be discovered sooner or later anyway, it was better to tell them to avoid any lingering resentment.
Of course, this was without knowing the effects of the item. If it were a true miracle elixir, Lin Yuan and Wu Tian would definitely have consumed it themselves, and would have brought Wu Mengyao along. After all, in any era, one's own strength was true strength.
"We did find something, but we don't know its function. I'll show it to you." Lin Yuan saw their surprised expressions and felt surprisingly good about it. After all, it was their spoils of war, the three of them, Lin Yuan, Wu Tian, and Wu Mengyao. Showing it off was also quite nice.
Zhao Anjing's eyes widened even further. What was it? She just said it casually, and it actually existed?
Had novels become reality?!
A short while later, Lin Yuan returned with a box. This was something he had left on the rooftop and hadn't brought home yet.
Everyone looked at the glass bottle in the box. A tennis ball-sized object was suspended in a solution, swaying up, down, left, and right with people's movements.
Lin Yuan placed it on the table, and a group of people gathered around to look at it. He thought Zhao Anjing would be the first to speak, but it was the female special police officer who hadn't said much who spoke first.
"Comrade Lin Yuan, how did you find this?"
"Hahaha, cough, cough. I won't be afraid of you laughing, but I've read too many novels. I thought that a boss-level monster should drop equipment, so I thought I'd search the corpse. To my surprise, I actually found this. It was found at the connection point between its tentacles and its body. I felt it was unusual, so I kept it," Lin Yuan said with a bit of embarrassment. Fortunately, he wasn't too thin-skinned, so his face didn't turn red.
"Then we can only wait for the broadcast to explain what this is," Zhu Mingjun said this time. He was also very curious about what it was.
Not just him, but everyone present was curious about what this thing was and what its use was.
After looking for a while, everyone returned to their seats. No one touched the item. Those who could stick together after experiencing these events likely understood each other's personalities. Those with malicious temperaments and improper conduct might have already become mere skeletons in some small shop. Those who were deep in thought and subtle, like Lin Yuan's team, only had ten people. With no conflicts of interest, being scheming would be pure idiocy.
"It seems that the danger of this Level 2 mutant is indeed extraordinary. What is the probability of such a mutant appearing?" Wang Zhihai asked the crucial question.
"Based on Level 1 mutants, the fungal monsters, it's one in a hundred thousand. The probability of ordinary zombies mutating into fungal monsters is about 90%. This is all official broadcast information from China Central Radio and Television."
"Then the number of Nightmares in my Great China is close to 15,000?" Wang Zhihai's mood became heavy.
"The number can only be higher, not lower, because I've observed some situations, and it's not optimistic."
Lin Yuan told them about the giant black slime mold he observed that day, and the possibility that Nightmares might promote their own evolution by consuming their own kind.
"Brother Wang, is there still a way to reach Tianfu Safe Zone? Staying in the city is quite dangerous, so it would be best to leave if possible."
Before, Lin Yuan thought it was good to stay in the city, with plenty of resources and the possibility of obtaining powerful weapons like guns, and all sorts of materials. Now that he had encountered Nightmares, his mind had completely changed. The more zombies there were, the greater the possibility of Nightmares appearing, and even more mutated monsters were not impossible, given that Level 4 mutants already existed abroad.
"There are no more roads. Aside from the original plan, all other routes must pass through densely populated counties, towns, or even cities. This is indeed not a solution. Our armored vehicle has not yet been repaired, and it is also quite far from us. For now, we can only proceed cautiously," Wang Zhihai said.
Lin Yuan thought for a moment and then said, "Brother Wang, I think we should do both. We should completely clear this residential area, collect supplies before the airdrop arrives, and select vehicles in the underground garage for modification. Then, when your armored vehicle is repaired, we will go to the countryside together to carry out production and construction work. What do you think?"
Lin Yuan had extended an olive branch, and it was up to Wang Zhihai and the others to choose.
"We need to discuss it. Please give us a few minutes," Wang Zhihai was also undecided. He needed to consult with Zhao Mengnan and the others.
"No problem," Lin Yuan readily agreed.
Wu Tian leaned over and looked at the group who had retreated to the side to discuss. She quietly asked, "Lin Yuan, what if they don't agree to join us?"
Lin Yuan shrugged, "Then we'll act separately. What's so difficult to decide? Anyway, I plan to wait for the airdrop and then return to my hometown to hide. It's sparsely populated there, and there are also some favorable terrain features. I heard there were bandit strongholds before, so I'll be a mountain king waiting for national rescue."
"Dream on, I'm not becoming a bandit queen," Wu Tian glanced at Lin Yuan, then sighed, "Fortunately, our judgment was not wrong, otherwise, them carrying guns would be no different from inviting a wolf into the house."
"Don't worry, I can distinguish good police officers. Besides, I'm not completely at ease with them. My knife is always hanging on my pants. I'm confident I can deal with the three with guns within two seconds," Lin Yuan said confidently.
"Braggart, but it's good that you're cautious. After all, I suggested saving people, so I'll go first."
A few minutes passed, and Wang Zhihai walked over, his face serious and formal. "We've just discussed it and considered it from all aspects. Going to the countryside at the right time is a very good method. We've decided to join your team. Although we have more people, you saved us, and your tactical literacy and character have won our unanimous approval. As long as you don't ask us to do anything against our principles, we will follow your command until the rescue arrives."
"There's no need for command. We are a team that learns from each other and unites. We'll discuss any opinions together," Lin Yuan extended his hand and shook Wang Zhihai's.
Looking at the six people behind him, he solemnly announced, "Therefore, the Apocalypse Survival Team is officially formed!"