"This is Eagle-I, we are at the target area."
"Roger, this is Eagle-II. Eagle I, open electronic life detection."
"Roger. Opening electronic life detection."
The aerodynamic exterior design had an external door at the back with a heavy machine gun attached. The disk-shaped turbo accelerators on both sides of the craft emitted a deafening noise as the air vibrated beneath them. Inside the vessel were soldiers fortified to the teeth, each armed with pitch-black turbo packs that held terrifying single-person heavy firearms. On the right side of the craft, Liuding Town’s logo was drawn over traces of what seemed like scratched-out symbols.
Attack Helicopter-51. PCA equipped the amphibious attack helicopter in year 2153 to primarily serve the Southern Sea fleet as it was particularly effective in beach landings. But after the war, it became less effective.
The two black helicopters flew separated by 1000 meters and hovered above a building.
Wang Shiwu glanced at the the life detection device that displayed the unknown bacterial level outside of the armored craft. He then flanked the building outside of the helicopter, a gloomy expression cast over his face.
"This has to be the place."
"Life form matches. The target is in the building. Eagle-I requesting permission to attack."
"Negative." Wang Shiwu cautiously gazed at the building. He activated the communication device on the power armor. "This is the Dark Knight Squad. We are above the target creature. The target creature information is unknown. We request missile support."
"This is the command center, missile support approve."
The cost of a direct invasion was too high. Wang Shiwu couldn’t risk his comrades’ lives without even spotting the creature. He cautiously requested missile support in hopes of exposing its body.
"Eagle-I, Eagle-II, missile will arrive in 1 minute. Please increase altitude."
"Roger.""Roger."
The two helicopters began to increase their altitude to avoid friendly fire. The sunrise cast rays of yellow paths through the radiation dust. With the disgustingly greenish-yellow particles emerging from the yellow building, the entire area looked like an egg from above
[What’s hidden inside the building?]
Wang Shiwu locked his eyes onto the murky yolk.
Why would Liuding’s elite force show up 30 kilometers away from the city border? The story began with the battle meeting two days ago.
Bohai Aircraft Carrier, Command Tower, Meeting Room.
"Area coordinates (412, 151) displayed an unusual life signal. Our scientists are unable to determine the creature’s identity, but the crystal energy indicator has increased to 90,141, surpassing the limit by 300. Since it is within our strike range, we have to stop it from evolving further and retrieve the crystal. I need you to take care of this thing. Do you understand?" The middle-aged man in an old PCA uniform stood and commanded from in front of the full-sensory map.
"Yes, sir!"
The uniformed soldiers barked out in unity. They wore the PCA navy seal uniform to the meeting in an organized manner.
"That is all for this meeting!"
"Yes!"
The electronic life detection device was commonly used in the wasteland. Research indicated that all life forms emitted certain life signals that could be detected over long distances through emissions. It had been used as a tracking device during the war and after it, a rescue aid. In the current apocalypse, it became a civilian equipment.
The unit detected not only humans but also any life signal that could be recorded on the radar life electronic screen. The life signal was proportional to the energy of the creature. Mutant creatures had a higher life signal than humans. The advanced ability to calculate a mutant creature’s crystal energy had only been completed after the war and was possessed by the majority of the larger survival bases.
After recording any unusual life signal, the survival bases in the vicinity often chose to attack the creature as it was extremely dangerous to let mutant creatures evolve. Unfortunately, there was always the possibility of strange creatures forming since all mutations were spontaneous.
Evolutionary pathways that once took thousands of years could take three days in a nuclear crater. The evolved creature could be a harmless bug or a colossal monster.
Any creature with over 300 crystals were considered extremely dangerous.
But it did not mean they were strong.
Compared to the ones with 40 to 300 crystals, the extremely dangerous mutant creatures were easier to deal with. A 100-pound human for example, would have a difficult time beating someone who was 200 pounds since they were not in the same category. But what about someone weighing 500 pounds or 1,000 pounds? They would be considered disabled, unable to maintain basic life functions.
Similarly, mutant creatures with over 300 energy crystals were considered "disabled." Under the influence of radiation and other factors, the continuous mutation endlessly expanded the life energy, but that did not necessarily equal strong destructive ability. Once anything surpassed a limit, it would be a hindrance.
Liuding Town had similar strike operations in the past where their target was an unknown creature with 110,000 crystal energy.
Once the squad had arrived, they were met with a crowd of corpse-eating creatures and a massive half-eaten meatball.
A meatball that filled the entire street.
The clueless squad had to call missile support to blow the meatball into pieces. With an energy detector they were able to locate the meter-tall crystal and transport it back. The rest of the meatball attracted an endless number of corpse-eating creatures in the vicinity, so it was impossible to retrieve. It was unfortunate because it would have been an excellent source of nutrient supply.
These excessively mutated creatures had no fighting power most of the time. For economic reasons, they were much easier to deal with compared to Death Claws or Roshan.
With this reason, selfish commanders were spurred into action to destroy the mutant creatures.
Wang Shiwu was dealing with such a creature.
Although the soldiers began to whisper about finishing the mission and taking a shower since the power armors were extremely humid to wear. Wang Shiwu felt something was off and cautiously followed the missile support procedure.
The Eagle-I in the front opened the radar to provide exact location for the missile at Liuding.
"Prepare for missile launch, raise the barrel! Quick!" A few people in work uniforms hustled. They controlled the equipment around the launch pad as a ten-meter-long barrel emerged from the aircraft carrier.
The sleek-looking barrel had a famous name—electromagnetic gun.
"Distance between two points are 310,203 meters, detecting the thickness of the target. Use a 10-kilogram missile, raise to 47 degrees, and adjust power setting."
The technician on deck was changing the settings with a tablet computer. Bohai’s fire control system had originally been destroyed by an electromagnetic pulse during the war. These fixed gun barrels were later fixed by survivors and connected to nearby terminals to be controlled at close distance.
The technician pressed <Fire>.
A blue spark filled the barrel as the high-density electricity generated a short but deafening noise.
There was no explosion.
There was only the initial noise of the missile breaking the sound barrier. A trail of light blue casted across the horizon.
The force of the electromagnetic ripple pushed the barrel slightly backward. Steam began to rise as the liquid cooling system activated. A light flashed from the back of the aircraft before fading into the endless ocean.
The flat-headed missile flew across the sky. The remaining electricity from the initial firing maintained the internal detonation device and also created a vacuum around the missile.
As it approached the target, the vacuum layer disintegrated.
The speed coating began to melt as the missile expanded.
Followed by a red trail, the cylindrical missile hit the building like an iron fist.
The deafening explosion spread as the missile penetrated the building as if it was paper.
The building crumpled under the force of explosion, a hollow space left behind by the missile.
"Direct hit. Great shooting."
"Target spotted. Wait! What is that! Dammit."
"Eagle-II, report the situation. Eagle-I…"
"Crashing! Crashing! Please send assistance." Sounds of chaos.
From the explosion, a giant emerged. No, to be accurate, it was a giant gun.
A dark red energy began to focus before ejecting a beam.
The red ray cast a straight line across the sky.
It didn’t directly hit any helicopters, but it rendered all electronic devices in the area useless.
<Warning! EMP strike>
The power armor’s EMP resistors opened suddenly, but all the devices suffered different degrees of damage before they were triggered.
Because of the EMP resistance, all communication signals were blocked.
"Fuck! EMP! Jump!" Wang Shiwu roared into the intercom. In the rapidly plummeting craft he managed to regain his foothold. With heavy steps, he walked to the door and jumped out.
Due to the power armor’s sophisticated design, it was only momentarily disabled before all functionality returned. The two helicopters, however, did not have the same fate as the EMP instantaneously destroyed all electronic devices aboard.
Wang Shiwu gaped at the giant red barrel.
[What the hell is this? A creature that can emit EMPs? Destroyed the helicopter without even directly hitting target.]
<Landing device activated.>
After he read the letters in his helmet, Wang Shiwu let out a sigh of relief.
Cracks emerged from his knees, waist and shoulder as the small turbo engine appeared under the metal surface. Wang Shiwu felt a sudden jostle before he finally regained control.
The soldiers began to land on the ground.
"Mutation virus, concentration level 97. Dammit, what is this goddamn thing?" His comrade spoke through the intercom.
"Stay alert! Make sure everything is sealed. These floating viruses are giving me a bad feeling." Wang Shiwu checked the air filtration device. These viruses covered the filter in minutes.
The concentration was so high they were almost in chunks. The greenish-yellow appearance made their stomachs clench in disgust.
[Should we evade first?] The thought crossed his mind before he decided that he must figure out the terrifying barrel’s origin.
The helicopters were already destroyed. Even if Liuding sent support, it would be extremely dangerous.
"Be cautious of filter status, prepare for attack!"
"Roger."
In case anything happened, Wang Shiwu cautiously recorded the picture of the battlefield and sent it to the command center. He grabbed the machine gun from his back and pushed forward.
There was no response from the command center. The virus could block radio communication?
Probable, since the ray created an EMP effect, so the virus definitely had something to do with it.
No, this was still too odd!
Normally these extremely dangerous creatures would attract other mutated creatures to feast on, but there were no rats to be seen in the area.
It was peculiar!
Wang Shiwu was drenched in sweat before he heard the screams of his comrades.
"Above us! What the hell is this?!"
Wang Shiwu immediately looked up. Energy began to fill the red biological cannon once more.
There was nothing in the sky. What was this thing shooting at?
"Fire! Immediately!"
Without any time to think, Wang Shiwu ordered the attack with his gut feeling.
Twelve power-armored soldiers focused fire on the red cannon. The bullets shot out in clusters. No one knew if it would do anything, but there were no other solutions.
Five hundred meters was the effective range of machine guns. The spark from the bullets cast a glow on each of the vicious faces as the rapidly rotating barrels unleashed its firepower.
Suddenly, the half-building-tall cannon contracted. It was no longer charging.
Wang Shiwu was surprised that their bullets were effective against this creature.
But they were proven wrong as another explanation presented itself—the energy had been filled to the maximum.
With terrified expressions, they watched as the cannon exploded.
The red flash submerged the entire area in shockwaves that emitted across the radius of explosion. Silence ensued.
A few red-colored "meatballs" were propelled into the distance with the help of the explosion.
"Eagle-1, Eagle-II, Dark Knight Offline."
"Life signal is changing! Target is dividing!"
The commander’s face had gloom written all over it. His hawkish eyes stared at the full-sensory screen in the air.
The 90141 crystal energy symbol disappeared and was replaced by 12 unevenly distributed energy life forms.
The mission had failed.
The commander was not saddened by the loss of the 12 combatants and 4 pilots. Under their virtual reality training program, it was easy to produce these types of talents.
But the two attack helicopters and the twelve sets of MAX-I Power Armors cost a total of 220,000 energy crystals.
This was a disaster.
As to how the mutant creatures would impact the wasteland? The future is unknown.
[Apocalypse, I'm back.]
The familiar but grimy air occupied Jiang Chen's nostrils as he stepped back onto ground. He took in a slow, long breath and looked at his surroundings—the abandoned cars, cracked roads, collapsed buildings, and the mindless zombies.
This was the place he had left.
He glanced at the cage in his hand where the cute but ignorant hamster lied silently in the cage. Jiang Chen poked its soft belly only to confirm that it had passed away. He let out a sigh.
The nut had been its last dinner.
The idea of traveling with another human was unrealistic for now. Jiang Chen felt a little upset.
He followed the familiar street. Jiang Chen was careful not to disturb the powerless zombies that wandered the street as he approached the mansion.
During the day, the zombies were not frightening at all. He would even go so far as to describe them as harmless. But once night settled, even the nearly invincible Death Claw would have to think twice before entering a zombie-filled street. Without the limitation of sunshine, the zombies were as crazy as someone on drugs. They utilized every single mutated cell in their body to chase anything alive.
The mansion looked the same, but the iron gate was reinforced with steel wires. Sun Jiao must have done this while he was gone.
He walked up to ring the doorbell. Soon after, he heard steps from inside before the iron gate was flung open.
.
A graceful figure crashed into his chest. Jiang Chen anticipated the hug with both his arms extended. He welcomed the warmth he had longed for since he had left.
A wet sensation covered his lips.
"You’re finally back." She gasped to gather her breath as she ruefully looked at Jiang Chen.
"I missed you dearly, my honey." Jiang Chen slapped the firm butt as a grin appeared on his face.
"Come in."
Jiang Chen stepped into the mansion as Sun Jiao skillfully locked the gate behind her.
He noticed that though it looked the same from the outside, the mansion's interior had been upgraded. The small decorative forest was chopped down to create watchtowers by the wall that were equipped with barbed wires and lined with hidden trenches. Even the mansion building itself was reinforced with the windows fitted with steel bars.
"What did you do to my mansion?" A bitter smile appeared on Jiang Chen’s face. [This is no longer a mansion anymore, it's a fortress.]
"It is going to be safer this way," Sun Jiao proudly said. "The mansion wasn’t protected at all before. I gathered some materials from the area and reinforced the place."
"I think anyone would notice if we didn’t do anything." Jiang Chen sighed.
"But this is our home after all. We can't pretend that no one lives here. There will be survivors that notice this place eventually and spread the news."
"You’re right. Thank you." Jiang Chen realized he had underestimated the situation and how crucial the problem was.
In the apocalypse, zombies were not natural protection. They were pretty much decoration during the day time. The survivors were not the friendliest people either. The absolute neutral Sixth Street was considered to be the most sympathetic force on the wasteland. If people discovered that there was food here without any protection, floods of people would rush to this place. Regardless of Sun Jiao’s strength, there was no way she could guarantee the safety of this place.
The most dangerous creature in the apocalypse weren’t the zombies but the humans.
"But why did you break the marble statues at the front door?" Jiang Chen directed a pained gaze at the mansion. The mansion had been luxurious before, but now it had no aesthetics whatsoever.
"It occupied too much space. There was no need for cover within the wall. It would just prevent me from shooting intruders," Sun Jiao reasoned with him.
[Okay fine, you are right.] Jiang Chen sighed and accepted the idea.
He pulled open the mansion's security door.
"Where's Yao Yao?"
"That girl missed you a lot too." Sun Jiao glanced at Jiang Chen with a puzzled look. She fixed his collar for him. "Go to her room. She’s been tinkering around with some small equipment to help you out."
"Mhmm." Jiang Chen nodded and walked to Yao Yao's room.
He slowly pushed open the wooden door, the hinges squeaking loudly. The room was dark. If not the rhythmic breath, he would have thought the room was empty.
[This girl, is she still in bed?]
Jiang Chen could not help but smile. He knew too well that this timid girl was always a bit dizzy in the morning due to her malnourished body.
A light, metallic scent filled the room which made Jiang Chen sniff the air. The delicate wooden desk most likely once belonged to an equally adorable girl, but the table now was filled with electronic equipment and gadgets. The full-sensory computer Jiang Chen had purchased for her was on it as well as some other unknown devices. There was a silicon board that looked as though it had come straight out of a science fiction novel on the table corner, but half of it was broken. The exposed wires were fused to another piece of circuit board.
Although he was curious, he didn't have the bad habit of touching other people's possessions without permission.
He moved his feet only to feel an obstructive force. He picked up a programming book full of professional terms and notes, reminding Jiang Chen of the "study gods" back in university.
Although he passed his computer level two examination [1], he did not understand the book contents at all.
[Is this a more straightforward and concise programming language?]
Yao Yao curled under her bed sheet as if in a sweet dream. She looked like a cute squirrel and her slightly pouted mouth like soft candies. Her hands hidden in front of her chest gave Jiang Chen a strong desire to protect her.
[Looks like she’s been eating well.] Jiang Chen kneeled down and indulgently rubbed her soft hair. Although the room was dark, her slightly chubbier face indicated her improved body condition. The gentle and soft snores made Jiang Chen not want to disturb her sweet dream.
But he really wanted to hug her.
"Yao Yao, Yao Yao," Jiang Chen lightly called.
"Huu... Heehee." Yao Yao dazedly rubbed her eyes as she sat up. With her sleepy eyes, she stared at Jiang Chen and smiled.
Then like a koala, she wrapped her arms around Jiang Chen's neck and closed her eyes again.
"Hehe, big brother, don't leave anymore. Yao Yao has been trying very hard. Yao Yao is excellent now." She murmured the words before it turned into a light snore again.
[This girl, did you mistake me for a pillow again.] Jiang Chen was about to wake her up when he saw the dark circles around her eyes illuminated by the dim lighting from under the window curtain.
He thought about her murmured words and felt a bit teary.
"Yao Yao is good. Sleep for a bit more." He placed the sleeping Yao Yao on the bed again and tucked her in.
He leaned down and gently kissed her soft forehead.
As if dreaming about the sweetest thing in the world, a joyful smile appeared on her face. The slightly quirked lips had a silver string attached to it.
Jiang Chen left the room and closed the door.
"Did you eat her?" Sun Jiao watched with a mocking gaze as Jiang Chen came down the stairs.
"Am I a monster or what?" He rolled his eyes and sat across from her.
"Yao Yao," Sun Jiao hesitated, but she made up her mind and said, "Yao Yao... she really cares about you. She’s been studying computer-related knowledge for the past few days and even asked me to bring her a couple of books from the library. I don't know if what I did is correct. She’s been extremely dedicated. Maybe she wants you to notice her, and this is her way of expressing her emotion to you. "
Sun Jiao was adjusting the way she phrased her words to correctly express the intention behind the conversation.
"I... thank you."
"Only thank you?"
"But only, you are part of my family." Jiang Chen made up this mind and solemnly looked her in the eyes.
She suddenly climbed onto the table and grabbed him by the collar. In front of Jiang Chen’s shocked eyes, she laughed.
"You mean, you’re going to eat her as well?"
"That’s brotherly love. What do you want it to be?" Jiang Chen looked at the suspicious Sun Jiao. Her unexpected actions made her difficult to figure out.
"Oh? I can see that she likes you as more than a brother."
Jiang Chen became silent.
"Don't you want to say something?"
"Can’t you let me go first?"
"No, what if you disappeared again?" Tears suddenly rolled out from Sun Jiao's eyes. It made Jiang Chen frantic although he didn't know why. What made this audacious girl cry?
"I won’t disappear, honey." Jiang Chen said with a bitter smile. He reached out his hands to hug her, but she blocked him.
"Who knows? You have girls on the other side, right?" The gaze Sun Jiao used to stare at him startled Jiang Chen.
"Eh, why are you asking this?" Jiang Chen dodged her eyes.
"Yes or no." Sun Jiao did not give Jiang Chen the chance to avoid the topic.
Jiang Chen took a deep breath and honestly answered, "Yes!"
Prepared to be tied down by this wild girl, Jiang Chen was surprised when she withdrew her hand from his collar.
"You are an honest guy." Sun Jiao didn't get off the table. She half kneeled and looked into Jiang Chen's eyes.
[She smiled? Why is she smiling?]
Jiang Chen had a strange look on his face. " I am honest to my woman."
[There is no reason to lie at all.]
"So, I am fortunate to be your woman then," Sun Jiao teased him.
"If you don't want to be, I won't force you." The complexion on his face gave away his anxious thoughts.
"..." Sun Jiao had the same expression. She gently bit her lips. "Of course I want to be, but I am a bit angry at the fact that you ditched me here to find another woman."
"I'm sorry." Jiang Chen silently lowered his head but after a pause, looked up again. He carefully met her eyes. "Although whatever I say will not make the situation better, if there’s anything I can do to make up it to you, I can do it."
"Really? Anything?" Sun Jiao mischievously examined Jiang Chen's face.
"Mhmm."
"Okay then, let's start."
"Hmm?"
Before Jiang Chen could gather his thoughts, Sun Jiao had already made her move with the agility of a cat. Jiang Chen had no chance to react before he was tied down to the chair.
Sun Jiao stepped on Jiang Chen’s armrest, giving him flashbacks of when they first met.
"I, I mean."
"What did you say?" Sun Jiao acted like she didn't hear him and put her head closer. Jiang Chen now realized that she had changed into something else when she went upstairs, switching from her tracksuit into an attractive shirt.
It was his first time seeing Sun Jiao wear stockings.
He thought about the clothes he had bought for them and realized clothing after the apocalypse was not an issue as there were stores everywhere.
"No, nothing, this rope just looks familiar," Jiang Chen said with a bitter smile.
"Hehe, then let me show you again," she whispered, her red lips grinning wickedly, "how great I am."
[1] Computer Level Two examination is a certificate you can acquire for computer proficiency
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