Chapter 55 Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland 18
A putrid stench assaulted their senses, instantly turning Lin Wei and Zhao Dezhu's faces deathly pale.
Wang Yong took a deep breath, raised the fire axe, and ordered in a deep voice: "Stay alert! Formation retracted! Move out!"
Lei Hu led the way, with Wang Yong and Liu Jianguo in the middle, and Zhao Dezhu and Lin Wei at the very back.
Zhou Jue, like a ghost, followed them at a distance of about ten meters, his hands in his pockets, as if he were just out for a stroll.
Eight hundred meters is not a long distance, but every step is fraught with unknown dangers.
The streets were quiet, save for the sounds of their own footsteps and heartbeats. Occasionally, a few wandering zombies would be drawn to them, but before they could get close, Lei Hu, who was walking in front, would swing his club at them and knock them down. Wang Yong and Liu Jianguo would then immediately follow up with the finishing blows, their movements clean and efficient. Zhou Jue, on the other hand, would silently collect the loot.
They cooperated fairly well.
Zhao Dezhu followed behind, his legs trembling with fear, but he gritted his teeth and didn't scream. He knew that if he screamed now, it would attract more zombies, and then he would truly be doomed.
Soon, the sign for that 24-hour convenience store appeared on the street corner.
The convenience store's glass door was tightly shut, covered in dark red stains and dried handprints. From the outside, it was pitch black inside, and nothing could be seen.
Everything seemed too calm.
Wang Yong lowered his voice: "Something's not right, it's too quiet."
Lei Hu frowned as well: "Yeah, logically speaking, there should be at least a few zombies wandering around the entrance of a place like this."
Zhou Jue stood at a distance, watching quietly without offering any opinion.
This is their test, and she won't interfere.
Wang Yong and Lei Hu exchanged a glance and decided to investigate first. They cautiously approached the convenience store, pressed themselves against the wall, and tried to peek inside through the crack in the glass door.
"It's very dark inside, you can't see anything," Wang Yong said.
"What should we do? Should we go in?" Lin Wei asked nervously.
Holding the crowbar, Zhao Dezhu suggested in a low voice, "How about... how about we go somewhere else, somewhere where we can see?"
"We're already here, there's no reason to leave empty-handed." Wang Yong gritted his teeth and made up his mind: "Lei Hu, prepare to break down the door! Everyone else, prepare for battle!"
Lei Hu nodded, took off the fire suit clipped to his waist, and held it up.
"I'll count to three, two, one, then we'll charge in!" Wang Yong roared.
"three!"
"two!"
"one!"
Lei Hu roared and, with all his might, chopped the lock on the glass door with his axe!
"Clang!"
The lock snapped in response.
Wang Yong flung open the door, and the light from outside instantly dispelled the darkness inside the store!
In that instant, they saw the scene inside the store clearly.
A dozen pairs of eyes, gleaming with white light, turned around in unison!
The store wasn't empty at all! A dozen or so zombies stood motionless between the shelves, like mannequins in a shopping mall, until the door was opened and the light and sound startled them!
"roar--!"
The zombie closest to the door suddenly opened its mouth wide, let out a roar, and pounced towards them!
Immediately afterwards, all the zombies seemed to have been activated, coming to life and roaring as they surged wildly from behind the dark shelves toward the four people at the door!
"Not good! There are too many zombies! Retreat!" Wang Yong's shout was instantly drowned out by the roars of the zombies.
"Bang!"
Zhao Dezhu reacted very quickly. He stood at the door and slammed it shut, but the lock had already been broken.
It can't be locked!
Lei Hu quickly retreated, using his body and the fire axe in his hand to brace against the door. Lin Wei and Liu Jianguo also rushed forward in a flurry, and the group used all their strength to completely block the shop door.
The zombies slammed against the door, making dull thuds. Each impact made the door shake violently, as if it would be smashed open at any moment.
Through the crack in the door, the zombies' gray skin and sharp nails were faintly visible, and a foul stench seeped out, stimulating everyone's nerves.
"Hold on! Hold on, everyone!" Wang Yong roared through gritted teeth, his face flushed red from the effort.
Lei Hu's muscles were taut, his veins bulging. He leaned against the door with his shoulder, his body almost arched like a full moon.
Lin Wei kept her mouth tightly shut, her face deathly pale, but she did not back down. She pressed her hands firmly against the door, her knuckles turning white.
Liu Jianguo remained silent, also trying his best to block the door. His group of rookies couldn't handle so many zombies at once!
Zhao Dezhu let out cries of pain. He clung to the crowbar, his body trembling like a leaf, but he knew that letting go now meant death, so he desperately held on.
"It can't hold up! This door is going to fall apart!" Zhao Dezhu cried out.
The force coming from the door panel grew stronger and stronger, and they could even feel the door panel trembling slightly.
At this critical moment, Zhao Dezhu suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"Brother Yong! Brother Yong! Can we...can we make a crack? Just a tiny crack! Like whack-a-mole, they'll try to squeeze out one by one, and we'll kill them one by one!"
His voice was slightly distorted due to nervousness, but his suggestion made the others' eyes light up instantly.
Exactly! Why insist on stubbornly resisting?
"Great idea!" Wang Yong immediately decided, "Everyone, control your strength and create a gap that can let a zombie out!"
Everyone nodded, adjusted their posture, and loosened the door panel slightly.
"roar--!"
A zombie immediately sensed an opportunity, roaring as it squeezed its head out of the gap, its pale face and blood-red mouth almost touching the surface.
"Who's coming?" Wang Yong asked in a deep voice, already raising the fire axe in his hand.
"I...I'll do it!" Zhao Dezhu shouted first, but his voice trembled noticeably: "I...I just mentioned it, I...I'll do it!"
He raised the crowbar in his hand and aimed it at the zombie's head.
"Are you even capable?" Wang Yong snapped. "At a time like this, stop dawdling! Get to the point!"
Zhao Dezhu jolted at Wang Yong's shout; he knew now was no time to hesitate. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and slammed the crowbar down hard!
"Pfft!"
With a muffled thud, the zombie's skull cracked, and brain matter mixed with blood splattered out, intensifying the stench. The zombie's body twitched a few times before collapsing limply to the ground.
Zhou Jue stood not far away, taking in everything. She didn't make a sound, but silently continued collecting.
"Automatic data collection is so convenient!" she couldn't help but exclaim inwardly.
Zhao Dezhu looked at the fallen zombie, his stomach churning, and he almost vomited. But he knew he had succeeded.
"One more!" Wang Yong shouted in a deep voice.
Lei Hu released the door panel again, and another zombie head squeezed out.
This time, Zhao Dezhu didn't close his eyes. He gritted his teeth and smashed down with the crowbar in his hand without hesitation.
"Pfft!"
Another zombie fell.
Having learned from his first experience, Zhao Dezhu gradually got into the swing of things. Although he was still afraid, his movements became increasingly nimble, and each swing of the crowbar was imbued with a fierce power.
One, two, three...
When the fifth zombie fell, Zhao Dezhu was panting heavily, barely able to hold the crowbar. His face was covered in blood, and his body was trembling violently; he had clearly reached his limit.
"I...I'm not going to make it..." he said in a hoarse voice.
Just then, Lin Wei's voice rang out: "Zhao Dezhu, take a break, let me take over!"
Everyone looked at her.
Lin Wei took a deep breath and said, "I have to face this world sooner or later; I can't keep hiding behind you all."
Wang Yong glanced at her and did not refuse.
"Okay, you can do it."
Zhao Dezhu immediately let go, leaning against the door to block it while panting heavily. Lin Wei took the crowbar from him; although it was somewhat heavy, she still gripped it firmly.
Lei Hu made way again.
A zombie's head popped out.
Lin Wei raised the crowbar and chopped it down hard!
"when!"
With a piercing crash, the crowbar struck the zombie's shoulder. The zombie roared and swung its claws, aiming for Lin Wei's face!
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