Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Breaking Out
Ye Fan's rental building nestled in the outskirts of H City, also known as Ice City, a provincial capital with considerable size. For Ye Fan to reach home conveniently, the most direct route involved traversing the highway, a journey spanning over ten kilometers from his rental building to the highway entrance.
As the vehicle emerged from the secluded street, it entered the main road, prompting Ye Fan to take in the surroundings with a deep breath. He now viewed the road through Xu Haoran's perspective, observing a chaotic scene. Abandoned vehicles littered the thoroughfare, extending endlessly from one end to the other. The once-manicured flower beds lay in disarray, trees shattered, and fire pipes sprayed water. Shop signboards and light boxes lay scattered, while paper and plastic danced in the air.
Despite several days since the apocalypse began, dark red blood splatters persisted, and the overpowering scent of blood permeated the air. While immediate threats from zombies were minimal, wandering undead roamed several hundred meters ahead.
This sight tightened Ye Fan's heart. Based on his prior assessment, initial zombie mutations had claimed over 70% of the human population. Post the initial disaster, survivors suffered substantial losses, and Ye Fan estimated that zombies now exceeded 80% of humans.
However, the current scenario suggested a grimmer reality. As far as the eye could see, not a single living person was in sight, implying that zombies might surpass 90% of the human race. This dire situation hinted at the potential extinction of the billions inhabiting Blue Sea Star if no miraculous intervention occurred.
The density of abandoned vehicles posed a significant challenge to their progress. While the mining truck might navigate relatively safely, the Warriors faced uncertainties amidst the cluttered environment.
"Xu Haoran, rush!" Ye Fan commanded. Responding promptly, Xu Haoran accelerated, and the mining truck, equipped with a formidable metal shovel, plowed through traffic. The colossal shovel effortlessly knocked down vehicles in its path.
This method acted like an icebreaker on the sea, clearing the road ahead. The Warrior followed suit, maintaining a distance of about twenty meters. The commotion attracted zombies, driven by sight and hearing to the convoy.
"Sir, do you want to shoot?" Army soldier Luo Fei inquired.
"You can shoot, but try to be as accurate as possible."
"Clear!" Luo Fei exposed his head from the mining truck, armed with a Bayi Bar. Zombies, reacting to the sight of flesh and blood, began converging.
"Sir, what's happening?" Xu Haoran queried.
"Keep moving!" Ye Fan urged, recognizing the potential danger. Luo Fei, amidst the noise and chaos, managed to maintain a roughly 50% headshot rate, thinning the approaching zombie horde.
As the mining truck continued, zombies attempted futile attacks, their claws ineffectual against the thick armor. The metal shovel crushed and cleared the way, leaving black blood in its wake. Xu Haoran intensified the vehicle's power, and the mining truck forcefully advanced.
Yet, the inexorable advance attracted more zombies. Ye Fan sensed the overwhelming challenge posed by the multitude.
Feeling reminiscent of a line from history, Ye Fan remarked, "Now I truly understand the meaning of 'Too many people in Qin and Han.'"
Ice City, located in the northern region, paled in comparison to the populous cities in the south. Yet, even in the outskirts, the sheer number of zombies overwhelmed calculation. From buildings facing the street, zombies crawled out, attempting to attack the convoy.
Although many zombies surrounded them, the mining truck's thick armor rendered the undead relatively harmless. Suddenly, the Warrior emitted a roar.
A zombie, knocked down by the mining truck, became a target for the Warrior. The proximity to Ye Fan's window brought a chilling moment, but the thick glass thwarted any immediate danger.
Despite the minor threat posed by individual zombies, their cumulative numbers presented a challenge. Li Biao, realizing the situation, opened the sunroof and began shooting at the zombies surrounding the Warrior.
Shots rang out, and black and red blood coated the car body. Despite Li Biao's efforts, zombies continued to surge like a tide. With ammunition running low, a rotation of soldiers took turns shooting.
The mining truck struggled to increase speed due to blocked roads, and the Warrior's pace also diminished. Over a dozen zombies clung to the truck, impeding its progress.
"Sir, please protect yourself!" Li Biao retreated into the car after exhausting his ammunition. Qian Xiaobing took over, continuing the relentless fight against encroaching zombies.
As the convoy moved forward, nearing the end of the viaduct, more zombies gathered. The occupants, save for Wang Hu and Ye Fan, were almost out of bullets.
The advantage of their charge lay in their proximity to the highway viaduct. However, as they approached, Xu Haoran's voice conveyed a grim discovery.
"Sir, there are so many cars on the viaduct that it collapsed!"
Ye Fan quickly assessed the situation through Xu Haoran's perspective, confirming the obstruction. A section of the viaduct had collapsed, with a mass of cars blocking any viable passage.
"Sir, what should I do?" Xu Haoran asked urgently.
Frustrated by the roadblock, Ye Fan surveyed the surroundings and spotted a fork in the road beneath the viaduct.
"If I remember correctly, this road leads to my hometown," Ye Fan declared. Recalling that the expressway was closed once during his journey home, he knew this dirt road was a potential escape route.
The expressway toll station lay beyond the collapsed viaduct. Despite the potential risks, the dirt road seemed like the only viable option.
"Xu Haoran, open the tailgate of the car!" Ye Fan instructed. As the mining truck's tailgate lowered to the ground, it formed a makeshift slope.
Wang Hu, at the wheel of the Dongfeng Warrior, accelerated, surging up the steep incline. The vehicle crashed into a pile of rice and flour, providing a temporary foothold.
"Xu Haoran, rush down!" Ye Fan ordered. The mining truck, with its metal shovel serving as a fulcrum, descended from the viaduct, zombies falling with a clatter into the carriage.
Without hesitation, Xu Haoran steered the mining truck down the dirt road, away from the congested viaduct and encroaching undead.
The convoy, now on the dirt road, rumbled into the distance. The collapse of the viaduct wasn't a mere narrative fabrication; it resonated with the reality of a city Ye Fan knew intimately, having walked on that very bridge.
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