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thINKer: For a second, I thought that was Guts.
Challenge Goals
Challenge 1 - Reach 15 votes on NU
Reward - 3 bonus chapters
Current progress - 9 (+4) / 15
Meishan Town, bisected by its main road, was a quiet ruin. Low-rise buildings—shops below, homes above—lined the street, their ransacked interiors spilling goods onto the pavement. It was a ghost town. This whistling breeze and the swirling plastic bags floating like lonely ghosts added to the desolation. Unchecked greenery invaded roads and structures, hinting at nature’s swift reclamation. Wandering zombies, now the town’s masters, slumped in corners or basked in sunlight, conserving energy. No hordes were visible yet, suggesting a high-level zombie’s control. There was a boss somewhere; Chen Liu sensed it. Zhao Tinglong’s intel, confirming that no survivors had reached Liao City, implied Meishan was fully undead territory. The convoy pressed toward the Xincheng Power Plant. The engines roused zombies to chase futilely, their slow pursuit comical yet chilling.
At the middle school gates, a horde loomed—thousands packed the sports field, a grim legacy of the apocalypse striking during classes. Chen Liu observed the kids with a heavy heart. “Everyone out! Prepare for battle!” Zhao Tinglong ordered, undaunted. Rat-a-tat-tat! Soldiers formed lines, unleashing gunfire with frenzied rage, their hatred for zombies born of countless fallen comrades. They’re unhinged, Chen Liu thought, noting some charging recklessly. Bullets mowed down sluggish zombies, but the field’s main horde surged, six-star or stronger, their stampede shaking the ground. In a classroom, a two-star Berserker feasted, two nine-star zombies pinning student survivors. It was the zombie king here. The Berserker, sated but demanding more, howled. Sensing the convoy’s noise, it grinned, ordering its nine-stars out.
“Grenades—ready!” Zhao Tinglong commanded. Whoosh! Grenades tore through the horde, shredding limbs but not stopping their crawl. As the horde neared, guns’ range advantage waned. “Fall back!” Zhao ordered, soldiers using vehicles as cover. “Your turn!” he signalled the adventurer teams. Fu Guo’an of Groundhog Team struck first, shouting, “Earth Spike!” Pillars of earth erupted, slowing the horde. Impressive, but limited, Chen Liu thought, knowing Fu’s spikes could become walls at higher levels. The Jinghu Squad and others stepped up, ready to hold the line.