Dozens of metal floating spheres filled with mutated gold liquid darted around in the central area of Savage Valley, spinning and spraying fine liquid, as if a messy drizzle was falling on the entire central area.
But this drizzle is not the gentle, life-giving rain of spring; it is "death water" that can cause rapid transformation as soon as it comes into contact with the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
In just a few minutes, the tens of thousands of survivors gathered in the central area of the Savage Valley screamed, covered their faces, and began a terrifying transformation that they could not control—
Children and women with weak constitutions collapsed to the ground with bloodshot eyes and convulsions after inhaling the "rainwater," but they quickly got up, only to look completely different.
The stronger men and young women, although they did not die from the mutation at the beginning, became frenzied and began to indiscriminately attack everyone they could see when they were sprayed with the golden-red liquid from the metal sphere.
But that's not the worst part.
The most terrifying thing is the elite soldiers from various bases who come here carrying guns.
Their physical condition was far superior to that of the ordinary survivors, and their resistance did not mutate immediately. Almost all the soldiers pulled out medication to stop the spread of the virus from their backpacks or pockets at the first moment, but…
Whether it was because the new potion created by Sanchek was too toxic, or because the antiviral agent lost its effectiveness against the new virus, in any case, most of the elite warriors at these bases who drank the antiviral agent in time only lasted for more than ten minutes before mutating.
The elite warriors who mutated into zombies were incredibly lethal. Their physique, speed, and regenerative abilities were all enhanced. Honey Badger Fugui, who was lying in the pit looking out, even discovered that an American mutated soldier seemed to still retain his fighting spirit. He dodged two bullets aimed at his head with precision and then began to fight back.
He cursed Sanchez, that heartless bastard, in his heart, while also worrying about Xie Tianlang, who had come with him.
But in this situation, he can't possibly get out of the pit he dug himself and go looking for death. In fact, he has to dig even deeper in the opposite direction to avoid being contaminated by those highly toxic mutation agents.
Fortunately, the watch hanging around his neck rang in time. Honey Badger Fugui quickly pressed the answer button with his little paw and heard Xie Tianlang's somewhat hurried voice.
"Have you come into contact with those medicines? I'm coming to find you."
"You didn't come here to find me, you came here to die! How could anything happen to Dad, who dug a hole and hid underground? On the contrary, you were the one who got hit by those metal balls and sprayed potions. Even if you did, don't give up. Drink the blocking agent first, just hold on and don't die!"
Then, Honey Badger Fugui heard a low laugh coming from the phone.
"If you're okay, then I'm okay."
"Then you should stay hidden underground. I'll lead the team to evacuate first. You can sneak out when it's completely safe at night, or you can simply go underground. In any case, don't make any rash moves. Your safety is the most important thing, okay?"
Honey Badger Fugui rubbed his little ears, feeling inexplicably hot, and coughed lightly: "I already told you Daddy will be fine. I'm just a honey badger, I can survive for a long time. On the other hand, your base will be attacked soon, and Sanchek must have prepared a lot of these mutation potions, you... you must be careful."
"Please don't die."
Xie Tianlang listened to the last sentence, smiled, said no, and hung up the phone. Making a call to his Yuanyuan while running away was already the limit; his remaining goal was simply to survive in this zombie horde.
"Lu Hu carried Si Mingri on his back and ran back to the base in a U-formation! The base will definitely face the great danger of being besieged by zombies. San Chuan notified the base commander to inform all survivors to retreat to the research institute, surround all heavy vehicles next to the research institute as cover, and also land the helicopter above the research institute."
Xie Tianlang gave orders as he ran, thankful that Yuanyuan and his intuition hadn't led the team along.
Otherwise, there would definitely be losses in the team of twelve. He was not standing in the center of the valley and there was a big tree next to him for cover, yet he was still almost splashed in the eyes and nose by the sprayed liquid. Any member of the team who reacted slower than him could have been hit.
This world is far more dangerous than the last one.
"Luckily we're on the outer edge. If we'd gone into the valley, I probably wouldn't have made it back alive... What on earth is that madman Sanchez thinking?! He's not researching the antidote for the Golden Liquid anymore, but instead he wants to turn everyone into zombies. Has he lost his mind?!"
Ma Chenggong cursed as he ran, feeling a chill run down his spine as he realized he was a sniper, not the best in physical combat within the team. His words echoed the doubts and thoughts of most: what had Sanchez been thinking? If he intended to turn everyone into zombies from the start, why wait until now?
Si Mingri, who was being carried on Lu Hu's back, pursed his lips and said in an extremely hoarse voice, "...It's probably because of the plant mutation."
"How did the plant mutation cause him to go crazy? It's not like the plant mutation is..."
Ma Chenggong suddenly stopped talking at this point, then cursed again and remained silent.
At this moment, Sanchez was still standing on the high platform in the center of the valley, and his smile grew wider as he watched the scene of fighting, roaring, terror and bloodshed in the valley.
Look at these inferior products that are killing each other.
They are greedy, they are cowardly; they rejoice when they gain something, and curse loudly when they lose something. They vividly display every evil side of human nature.
What right does such a person have to question him, blame him, or even... want to kill him?
They don't deserve it.
Sanchez originally did not intend to turn the world into this crazy place. Although the fifth-generation Golden Liquid turned him from a wise man admired by countless people into the culprit of the disaster, he still decided to forgive these ignorant people and develop an antidote to redeem them.
Even if he didn't actually create the liquid gold, and he didn't need to bear such a stigma, he still mercifully intended to be a savior and save the world.
However, the world told him he didn't have to do that.
When the water source begins to be contaminated by the poison of the golden liquid, and when the plants also begin to mutate due to the poison of the golden flower, the world tells him with facts that it is heading towards extinction or even a new era, so why should he do the work of redemption, which is redundant?
In particular, he tried various methods but still couldn't get the location of the antidote for the Golden Flower from the first warrior of the Narames tribe.
In particular, he obtained a toxin antibody from the native that could allow the mutants to maintain a certain level of consciousness.
Sanchez thought, "Isn't this the world's guidance for me?"
A world where all plants and animals have mutated, zombies with a certain level of intelligence who do not need to eat fresh food, and these zombies will obey the orders of him, the most perfect, high-level mutant!
This is a new world! A world that belongs solely to him, Sanchez!!
He will become the only king in this world!!
So why be a hypocritical and useless savior? If you're going to be one, you should be the one and only king!
Sanchez smiled as a bullet flew from the east and struck his temple with pinpoint accuracy.
However, the bullet did not end Sanchez's life. He simply shook his head and tapped his temples twice with his left hand, and the metal bullet landed in his hand.
Sanchez looked in the direction the bullet had come from and saw a mutated "successful product".
He was a soldier in a green military uniform, with black hair and black eyes. He stood straight, and half of his face showed signs of his former handsome and dashing appearance.
However, the other half of his face was covered with bluish-black veins, and his other eye was black with a reddish tinge, making him look like a demon.
The mutants around him did not attack him.
This means he was also infected by the mutation.
But instead of attacking the fleeing, unmutated survivors, he fired bullets at the mutated ones, even at Sanchez, the culprit.
This shows that he still retains his rationality.
Sanchez grinned at him.
Even if they successfully mutate, would they foolishly choose to side with inferior beings like humans?
"Doctor! Let's kill him!"
Sanchez shook his head: "No need to kill him."
"He thinks he's protecting humanity? But he'll soon realize how foolish his choice was."
"Human beings, who lack reverence and are selfish and dark to the core, will never accept those who are different. Also, others will always prioritize their own survival."
"Just watch. In just three days, this forest will be ours."
"In another month, the world will be mine."
"Humanity will...self-destruct without our intervention."
After Sanchez finished speaking, he left laughing maniacally. Honey Badger Fugui listened to their conversation and Sanchez's laughter from his cave below the platform, his eyes filled with anger and coldness.
But when he looked up at the Huazhou warrior standing in the east, all that anger and coldness turned into silent sorrow—the other side of the Huazhou warrior's face, which had not changed, was the familiar face of Chi Yuanshan.
He had forgotten that Chi Yuanshan and his team were the ones from the Huazhou base responsible for monitoring the Visible Valley, and they would definitely appear in this valley.
He didn't have time to remind or notify the team.
Perhaps, even if he had reminded him, Chi Yuanshan, the responsible captain, would have only expressed his gratitude and continued to appear here.
At this moment, the once handsome and dashing soldier stood amidst the mutated army of zombies, feeling lost because of the departure of his target, Sanchez.
Gou Fugui thought that he probably wanted to go back to the base.
But now, in his current state, he may never be able to return to the base in his heart.
As time passed, the central area of the Savage Valley was no longer inhabited by any living people. All that remained were piles of dead bodies lying on the ground, aimless living dead, and... mutated "successful products" that retained some consciousness after the mutation.
These "success stories" are not too many, but they are not few either.
There were about nine hundred people.
Compared to the nearly 10,000 people who came here, they were one in a hundred.
But at this moment, these "successful products" showed no joy on their faces. They found it hard to accept their "half-zombieization," and many of them, like Chi Yuanshan, were at a loss and confused.
What are they now?
Human? Or zombie?
If they were human, would humans still accept them?
If they are zombies, will they harm humans?
In this eerie silence, the loudspeaker in the Savage Valley blared again.
It was still Sanchez's devilish whisper—
"Welcome to all those who have successfully evolved, as you have broken free from the shackles of humanity and arrived in this new world."
"If you wish to possess great strength and a clearer mind, fresh blood will be your best food for evolution."
"Is it better to regress and remain in that decaying world to wait for death, or to become stronger!"
"It's up to you to choose."
"I'll be waiting for you all in the new world."
When Gou Fugui heard the content of the broadcast, he almost shouted angrily!
Sanchez's words were incredibly insidious; they could cause the "half-zombie" humans in the valley to endlessly side with humanity's enemies.
Then, Gou Fugui saw a dozen strong American soldiers and Indian elites suddenly walk out of the valley and head towards the base, cursing. Even from a distance, he could see the undisguised killing intent in their eyes.
With them leading the way, the remaining nine hundred or so half-zombies in the valley also chose to leave with inexplicable expressions. Gou Fugui did not know what they were thinking or what their plans were for the future, but his mood became increasingly heavy and indescribable.
Until he saw the remaining eight Washington warriors in the valley.
It was Chi Yuanshan and his seven teammates.
Seven other team members, also half-zombie, surrounded Chi Yuanshan. Some were manic, some were dull, and some were expressionless, but they were all waiting for their captain's instructions.
Chi Yuanshan touched the other half of his mutated face, slowly closed his eyes, and then suddenly opened them again.
"From the moment we put on this military uniform, it is our responsibility to protect the country and the people."
"This responsibility will not be shirked because of fear, will not disappear because of death, and will not be abandoned because of mutation and rejection..."
"Third Platoon Members of the Ninth Army Corps of Huazhou, listen to my command!"
At Chi Yuanshan's command, the seven frenzied, dull, and expressionless warriors beside him suddenly stood up straight! Their bewildered crimson and pitch-black eyes instantly hardened.
"Back to base, to protect our people!"
"yes!"
With the seven resounding responses, Gou Fugui, lying in the cave, watched as the eight-person team, though trying to line up and move back, became unsteady and uncontrollable due to the anomaly. He suppressed the bitterness in his heart.
Even though they are no longer the straight poplars guarding the country, they are still strong pines with gnarled branches standing against the wind.
Even if one's appearance changes drastically, one's heart remains the same.
Gou Fugui gritted his teeth.
He glanced in the direction of the base, then turned and headed toward Sanchez's laboratory.
The base and the people don't need his protection, so he'll do what he can.
For example, how to properly kill Sanchez!
If a bullet pierced his brain and he didn't die, this guy is probably no longer human.
* * *
While the various bases on the outskirts of the valley were being besieged by the most terrifying zombies, Honey Badger Fugui had already transformed into Owl Fugui and was perched on the roof of the Sanchez Research Base.
Perhaps because of the immense chaos that had already been created, the security at Sanchez's research base was not tight. In addition, Sanchez's team had only been there for a little over a month, so it was impossible for them to build a sturdy and secure experimental building with reinforced concrete. The laboratories here were nothing more than large, folding metal floors stacked side by side.
Like the folding metal house that the European elite used to buy the golden petals.
Such metal houses are quick and easy to build, and even come with built-in solar energy collection panels. However, because they are only one story high, they also make it easy for Owl Rich to eavesdrop.
Owls have hearing and vision far exceeding those of humans.
Although it was still daytime and the wealthy owl was a little sleepy, that didn't stop him from using his ears to catch the messages and sounds he wanted to hear.
"The Doctor really did something like that... What will become of us?"
...
"Look, look! Those mutants like us have started killing each other! Hahaha! The doctor was right, we don't even need to lift a finger, they'll kill each other!"
...
"The golden flower field has been badly damaged... but it's alright, those flowers are useless now. A new world is about to begin!"
...
"Why isn't that damn savage dead yet? We've already injected him with the new mutated virus, but he hasn't changed much! He really does have antibodies!"
"But he himself couldn't explain what antibodies were."
"Didn't we ask before? We even translated it. That savage said the antidote was in the golden flower field. Ha, if it really is there, why haven't we found it yet?"
...
"Doctor, what should we do with the Golden Flower Field? The base around the valley is expected to be overrun by zombies and successful mutants within three days. Then we can leave here and head to your new world. Where do you envision your next stop? America? Europe? Or Washington? Wherever you are, all of humanity will kneel and submit to you upon your arrival."
"Hehe, no need to rush. It's more enjoyable to witness the final destruction firsthand. As for the Golden Flower Field... since it's a 'devil's flower' that brings disaster, it must be eliminated."
"...Aren't you going to stop using Golden Flower to make mutation potions?"
"The mutation agent has already seeped into our bodies and blood; it's practically everywhere. There's no need for the Golden Flower to be recreated. But...didn't that savage say the antidote for the Golden Flower is in the flower field?"
If these golden flowers suddenly transformed from 'demons' into 'angels,' that would be a truly unpleasant outcome.
Sanchez looked out the window, where he could just make out a corner of the golden flower field in the distance. His scarlet eyes were wicked and sinister.
"I can't allow any accidents to happen, so... tonight should be a bright, clear night with a clear moon. The flames should look even more beautiful under the moonlight, right?"
"You're right. Today is the 15th day of the lunar calendar in Huazhou. According to the people of Huazhou, tonight is the time when the moon is at its fullest in the first month of the lunar calendar."
On this day last month, dark clouds covered the sky.
But tonight, the moonlight will surely be the brightest.
The flames of the golden flower field will inevitably be both brilliant and despairing.
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