Published: February 10, 2025
Flames scorched the wood, crackling loudly as the entire camp of the Radiant World Army's sixth battalion fell into chaos.
For the more than five thousand evolvers within the camp, the zombie horde's attack came as a surprise.
Over a year had passed since the apocalypse began, and even the smaller factions had already established alert systems for every time period. Not to mention the nearly semi-militarized management of the Radiant World Army.
They couldn't quite understand how these zombies had suddenly infiltrated the camp in such large numbers.
What was even more perplexing was that these zombies… were all high-level.
At least, from what they could see now, they had not discovered any lower than level four.
How could there be such a terrifying horde of zombies? This did not align with the pyramid structure of the mutated life forms.
Yet, this terrifying horde had indeed charged in.
Strictly speaking, for evolvers, a surprise attack is only a general concept. For example, when the zombies were a considerable distance away, no one noticed them. But once they initiated their charge, they could not escape the perception of the evolvers.
The only difference was the length of preparation time.
However, for a horde of zombies that numbered no less than the Radiant World Army's sixth battalion, this time was already sufficient to create the effect of a surprise attack, as they charged into the Radiant Army's camp like a hot knife through butter.
"Teams six and seven, go to the warehouse and move supplies. Teams one, two, and three, hold the front! Teams four and five, flank and scatter these filthy creatures! Team eight, investigate the small teams at the rear; if it’s safe, signal. Other teams, upon seeing the signal, engage and retreat. Is that clear?"
The army commander, Yu Zai Ke, commanded the leaders of the eight small teams, "I know things are a bit strange, but there's no time to probe right now. If the situation turns unfavorable, regroup at our predetermined meeting point. Anyone who hasn't arrived by five o'clock tomorrow afternoon will be abandoned, including me. Is that clear?"
"Understood," several team leaders replied in unison.
"Alright, stay cautious and move out."
The personnel immediately dashed back to their respective teams.
"Old Li, we—"
Before he could finish, Yu Zai Ke suddenly halted, turning sharply to look at a dark corner on his left rear.
There, two pairs of eyes were watching him.
If the sudden fire that erupted in the camp could still be vaguely described as carelessness, at this moment, Yu Zai Ke was certain that tonight, they had been set up.
But by whom?
………………………………………………………………………………
Even in the deep of night, the bar here was still vibrant with lights and filled with voices.
For evolvers, there truly was no distinction between day and night; their stamina allowed them to revel for a long, long time.
In the air, the intoxicating scent of hormones lingered, overpowering even the smell of smoke and alcohol.
In the apocalypse, it was a time of moral collapse, and the sense of shame here had been trampled beyond recognition.
Lu Lan tilted his head back, pouring the red liquid from his glass into his mouth, savoring the spicy and fishy taste.
This drink, called "Catherine," was an expensive concoction made from seven types of fine wines mixed with the blood of seventh-level mutated life forms. Because of the blood content, it could also enhance one’s physical constitution, earning its name from the legendary female protagonist.
Even in the affluent Divine Hall, Catherine was considered a luxury.
Of course, for a special skills researcher like Lu Lan, this drink was nothing; if he wanted, he could bathe in it.
Once, someone had said to invite Lu Lan here for a feast, claiming it would only cost a few Grade 1 Magic Crystals, calling him “Glasses.”
A nostalgic expression flickered across Lu Lan's face.
He didn’t know why he couldn’t forget that person who had passed away nearly a year ago. He wasn’t even attracted to the same sex; he simply couldn’t articulate why.