Apocalypse Cockroach

Chapter 227: Kill without pardon

All the words that the lady said after that were no longer heard by the machine gunner. His mind flew into a complete mess, in a moment he thought about his tendons being ripped apart, the next he thought about Zhang Xiao Qiang throwing him to feed zombies. It was not until he heard the last sentence from the lady, “Leader Zhang said that’s the only punishment for you guys.”

The machine gunner trembled, he hugged her thighs and screamed, “What….what punishments, please state them clearly…”

Seeing the boorish machine gunner hugging her own legs and begging her, the lady felt an intense sense of satisfaction. This stupid man has always been bad to me and constantly thinks of suppressing me at every single thing, is this his retribution?

“Leader Zhang said that all your rations for this month, cigarettes, alcohol, meat coupons will be canceled. It seems to be all, oh yes, Leader Zhang said that mine will increase by half, hehehe….increase by half…”

The machine gunner fell on his butt and wiped the perspiration off his forehead. He did not dare believe why Zhang Xiao Qiang let him go so easily? Didn’t it seem that all those who have offended him have all suffered?

The machine gunner did not know that Zhang Xiao Qiang had a bottom line, although the machine gunner had been lazing off and sleeping while on duty, Zhang Xiao Qiang did not see it as a huge matter. All the zombies in a radius of 10 li had been cleared, there were no other enemies in sight, so naturally, Zhang Xiao Qiang was at ease. But in the case of what if, these skiving people still needed a warning.

“Oh right, Leader Zhang also said that I’ll be our leader from now on, heh…..the leader of the night sentries, you, yes you. There’s no one else here, go up and get those people sleeping to wake up, tell them that their new leader, Sister Cao, says to get up….”

The assistant machine gunner rested on the sofa and popped a piece of sweet into her mouth. She watched as the disheartened machine gunner made his way up the 18m watchtower and felt immensely pleased with herself, happiness is built on other people’s pain, the saying is truly real.

The two men sleeping atop the watchtower beside the Type 54 AA gun were still unaware of what had happened, their treatment was already considered at the bottom of the food chain, they were dreaming….On the next morning by the osmanthus tree on the hill, the air was silent and atmosphere solemn.

Zhang Xiao Qiang stood in front of the nine tombstones, behind him was He Wen Bin, then Three, Old Frank, and the others. The 100 odd fully equipped combat team members stood perfectly in a square formation, all dressed in yellow military uniform and leather belts with 80% holding the brand new Type 56 AR and donned on the M1 Helmets.

Everyone had solemn expressions, they looked at the nine tombstones on the hillside, it was the first time members had sacrificed themselves ever since the base had been established. It was the first, but definitely not the last.

It is simply cruel to live in an apocalypse. In the brutal apocalypse, an individual’s strength is too insignificant and definitely insufficient. The Combat Team members lying in the graves might have had their own lives before the apocalypse, but they were now just waiting to turn into dust.

Zhang Xiao Qiang looked at the words written on every tombstone carefully, hoping to carve them into his mind. At the highest tombstone wrote, “Wang Chong, Otaku, Spectacled nerd, born 87. When he was alive, he was a negligible person being trampled upon by others, but he was more of a man than anyone can ever be, a real man.”

Zhang Xiao Qiang took one last look at Wang Chong’s tomb, then turned and looked at the 100 combat team members standing in formation. When Zhang Xiao Qiang turned, all of them who were initially standing at ease immediately stood at attention, every single person sturdily puffed up their chests and their eyes remained straight at Zhang Xiao Qiang with solemn expressions and waited for him to speak.

“All of you are standing on the place where your tombstones will be, of course, I am too, but why do I say that? The old members all know it, how many zombies have you killed while following me? How many monsters? And, how many enemies? …..It’s an endless number, you don’t even know how many you’ve killed.”

At this point, Zhang Xiao Qiang looked at the 20 old team members standing at the forefront, these 20 emotional and agitated old team members were the core members of the group, he led them to fight at the spa, across the highway, recover a town, trapped by large rats, ambushed by enemies in the night. They had endured through all of these and finally transformed into real and strong fighters.

“But, do you know how many more zombies are there outside? How many more monsters? How many more enemies? …..We don’t…..none of you do……but I do……it’s never ending…..and never ending more battles waiting for you, god knows when will you be struck by a bullet to the head, dragged by a monster to their nest, and most probably…..being eaten alive by countless zombies, and even your bodies will no longer exist.”

At this time, Zhang Xiao Qiang glared at all the members with his powerful eyes, the old members maintained their stance and looked back towards him. The 20 of them could be considered dead people who had crawled out of their graves, to them, being able to live another day is a blessing, as long as they could eat and run, they were content.

All the members who had fought the rats and got ambushed in the night had no mood fluctuations, they had seen blood and massacre. To them, they had already died on the day the rats dug a hole under the prison walls. To be breathing at the moment was their fortune and blessing, it was Wang Chong who had given them this blessing. If they were to truly reach the day to die, they were willing to go.

But for the newly recruited 60 members had differing expressions, some were excited and so badly wanted to howl. These were the brave individuals yearning for battle. Some remained expressionless and unmoved, they had already considered themselves dying before joining the team and had mental preparation. While some started to hesitate and panic.

They had joined the combat team for the material benefit, or the power to be able to go after women. For them to consider death, it caused them to hesitate, they started calculated in their hearts, if I were to die like that, will it be worth it?

Zhang Xiao Qiang’s new and acute eyes were able to recognize those hesitating, he slowly added, “It’s not too late to back out, the old members know this. I have a rule, anyone who turns and run in the battlefield, I…. kill…without….pardon…”

Zhang Xiao Qiang clenched his jaws and stressed the words ‘kill without pardon’, causing many people’s hearts to turn cold.

“In the near future, the base will gradually transform. Anyone who performs and contributes well will have a chance to earn the same treatment and material benefit as combat team members. So long as the person works well, they have the opportunity to marry and have children, and can even exchange your contributions for luxury goods. Everyone has the opportunity, I do not believe in pulling strings with relations. As long as you are capable, you will have everything.”

As Zhang Xiao Qiang explained further, the hesitation within many people’s eyes started to grow, who would be willing to risk their lives when they have such an opportunity?

“Last chance, whoever wants to back out now, this is the last chance you will have. No one here will get another opportunity like this to back out. If you’re lucky, you’ll continue surviving. Otherwise, you’ll be buried here, of course, people who run away will not have the opportunity to be buried here, this is the burial for fighters.”