Chapter 883: Beep Times Up
Chapter 883: Beep Times Up
The zombies wandering the streets of X City appeared dirty, listless, and seemingly devoid of any vitality. They shuffled aimlessly as if driven by some force, without any goal or motivation.
However, the occasional glint of malice in their blood-red eyes and the barely visible claws beneath their ragged sleeves served as a silent reminder to any humans hiding in the shadows of the terror these monsters posed.
Each one of them could instantly transform into a swift predator once they spotted prey, more ferocious and bloodthirsty than wolves. Once they’ve got their sights on an unfortunate target, the victim could experience that these creatures are not just hunting-they are savoring the process. Even if they risk losing limbs or their lives, they would still howl loudly, using every last bit of energy trying to tear you apart, devour you…
When they open their mouths, which frighteningly resemble ours, with similar teeth, they unleash an astonishing bite force capable of shattering human bones into pieces. Their claws can easily tear through fragile flesh like steel blades, negating any need for weapons.
Humans, compared to these once-similar beings, are truly much weaker.
However, at this very moment, there was a human picking and choosing among these zombies…
“This one… although it’s only mutation-level, it seems pretty agile… And this one, with its psychic power evolution somewhat lacking, its body has nonetheless evolved quite fully… Typical case of all the nutrients going into the limbs. Probably was someone with strong limbs but simple mind before the variation… Damn! There’s even one exhibiting a variation here! Alright. I won’t stand on ceremony then…”
After five minutes of this “thought selection”, an unusual disturbance began to appear within the group of zombies.
Three zombies in different positions suddenly stopped in their tracks, shook their heads, and then abruptly looked up, all turning their attention in the same direction-Rosen Medical Equipment Sales Company.
This slight change in them went unnoticed by their peers until they completely snapped out of their rigid state and began moving slowly.
“Swish!”
The feeling of being watched by numerous zombies was definitely not pleasant, especially when it came from three different directions at once!
As a Controller, Ling Mo immediately felt the pressure, as if he was surrounded by more than triple the number of zombies…
Compared to before, these zombies had clearly undergone quite a transformation in appearance.
Firstly, their skin was paler, with blood vessels more pronounced and visible… Probably due to increasing competition, most zombies appeared ravenous, and many looked at his Zombie Puppets as if they could pounce at any moment. This feeling was akin to being targeted by a pack of savage wild dogs.
Next was the scent… These zombies emitted a peculiar smell, a mix of blood and decay. Their clothing, unchanged for ages, had become tattered and, having been washed by various forms of blood and unknown substances, now resembled a butcher’s leather apron.
Overall… walking among them was indeed more daunting than before.
However, Ling Mo’s willpower and psychic power had also vastly improved, so this slight discomfort still fell within a bearable range for him, barely even eliciting much tension… It was a rather fascinating sensation, as he was perfectly controlling the three Zombie Puppets. From the moment he established control, Ling Mo was fully engaged… ṝåΝȯ฿ΕȘ
In his perception, his spirit was like a huge psychic light cluster, and these three Zombie Puppets were parts of his limbs… But the truly critical aspect was Ye Lian and the three girls, representing the heart…
Every action of the limbs would impact the safety of the heart, one of the most profound thoughts Ling Mo had after immersing himself…
Therefore, even upon realizing that some zombies were eyeing “him” maliciously, Ling Mo managed to maintain his calm, even returning their gaze.
These zombies wouldn’t act impulsively because there was an alpha zombie present… But would the alpha zombie just watch these three zombies leave? Ling Mo wasn’t sure. Zombies weren’t purely instinctual animals; they had a more complex way of thinking and might also have more intricate social rules…
“In times like this, it’s better not to take risks, but observing the alpha zombie now is still beneficial for the future…” Ling Mo was just contemplating this when he heard a low growl not far away.
Almost all the zombies immediately turned to look in that direction, with some emitting responsive sounds.
“Don’t these monsters resemble a newly formed army? I’ve heard of army ants, but thinking about an army of zombies still makes my skin crawl,” Zhang Xincheng said, taking a glance through the window without turning his head.
Ye Kai, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed to rest, responded coldly, “So what? No matter how much they evolve, humanity won’t be easily destroyed.”
“I’m not worried about the end…”
Before Zhang Xincheng could finish, Skinny Monkey interrupted with a miserable face, “Enough, stop discussing this. I’m the one hearing everything the clearest. Can you understand the pain? It feels like hundreds of zombies are screaming at my ears! Do you understand?!”
“Skinny Monkey…” Gu Shuangshuang gave him a sympathetic glance and quickly looked upstairs. “I wonder if they heard it…”
“It’s him, right?” Skinny Monkey asked.
“What nonsense are you talking about!” Gu Shuangshuang turned red with embarrassment, glared at him, and turned her head while hugging her knees…
Upstairs, Yuwen Xuan and Mu Chen also heard the commotion, but their reactions were quite unanimous…
“Noisy…”
“These zombies are like people, can’t stay idle when there’s a crowd…”
“Ah, I’ll continue drinking, you keep sleeping.”
They also noticed Ling Mo, but to them, Ling Mo’s frowning expression looked no different than someone trying to exert themselves… Clearly, he was focusing hard…
“This…”
In the psychic realm, Ling Mo was stunned, unable to move.
In fact, all three of Ling Mo’s Zombie Puppets had indeed stopped moving… The one causing the group of zombies to respond was most likely the alpha zombie.
Just from its growl, Ling Mo could tell this creature wouldn’t be easy to deal with.
Looking at the mutated Zombie Puppet under his control, he had already begun to form a vague assumption in his mind…
“No matter what, a zombie capable of controlling this entire street must have extraordinary combat abilities. After all, this is a commercial district-after the outbreak, the number of zombies left here must’ve been substantial. Yet now… it’s highly likely their numbers have been reduced by 99%… So, where did that missing 99% go? There’s really only one logical answer-they ended up in the stomachs of the remaining zombies here. And all the essence… it very well may have concentrated within this alpha zombie.”
This analysis was somewhat speculative, but upon hearing that growl, Ling Mo couldn’t help but entertain the thought.
“Let’s go see!”
Ling Mo, after all, wasn’t a Low-Level Zombie. He quickly snapped out of this brief moment of fear and began skillfully controlling the mutated Zombie Puppet to approach. This Zombie Puppet had unusually broad feet, with a thick layer of calloused padding on the soles. The padding was both soft and dense, resembling two cushions. Thanks to these “meat cushions,” this Zombie Puppet could move with extraordinary silence. Its speed and agility were also impressive.
This trait was precisely what made ordinary Senior Zombies so dangerous-and also what made them useful. Every zombie, over time, undergoes some form of evolution, developing unique traits suited to its own needs. For humans unfamiliar with these zombies, even the slightest variation could be fatal.
However, for Ling Mo, at this moment, even this one small trait was invaluable. It allowed his Zombie Puppet to approach the alpha zombie that would occasionally let out ear-piercing howls…
Under Ling Mo’s careful control, the Zombie Puppet quickly maneuvered through the zombie crowd. Through a gap between them, he caught sight of an off-road vehicle.
Perched on top of the vehicle sat a zombie. From the vantage point of the mutated Zombie Puppet, Ling Mo could just make out its side profile…
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
After staring for a full two seconds, Ling Mo couldn’t hold back a low growl in his mind.
Although he had mentally prepared himself, this one… this one had evolved to an absolutely extreme degree!
Compared to its massive body, its head was so small it was practically negligible!
Just looking at one of its arms, Ling Mo had no doubt it could crush that off-road vehicle with a single swing.
And this colossal humanoid monster was actually sitting with its legs dangling off the roof of the car, swaying leisurely as if it didn’t have a care in the world!
As for its bizarre howling… one glance at the size of its head made it clear there was no need to overanalyze it…
“A brainless Flesh Monster that completely operates on instinct, huh…” Ling Mo thought, his head throbbing slightly.
Dealing with a creature that relied solely on brute strength was no easy task-in-the-moment traps likely wouldn’t inflict much damage, and there was a high chance it would just disregard them entirely. A humanoid tank that only knew to charge straight ahead left you with few options-most of which involved confronting it head-on.
“Roar!”
The Flesh Monster tilted its head back and let loose another deafening howl. But this time, as its roar faded, it suddenly leapt off the off-road vehicle. With a thunderous “boom,” it landed heavily on the ground.
“Aw, come on! What kind of rotten luck is this?!” Ling Mo froze for a moment, stunned. Why on earth did it have to move right now, of all times?!
Could it be… because the weather had gone from sunny to cloudy?
Looking up at the suddenly darkened sky, Ling Mo couldn’t help but let his bitter imagination run wild: “Maybe it’s just his… bathroom break time…”
Of course, zombies didn’t actually defecate, thanks to their superhuman digestive and absorption abilities…