Chapter 46 Battle on the Road
The massive joint convoy, like a long steel dragon, wound its way along the dilapidated national highway.
About 30 kilometers from the base, the surrounding environment became increasingly desolate.
The number of abandoned vehicle wrecks is increasing, and dried, blackened bloodstains and scattered bones are frequently visible on the road. A faint stench of decay permeates the air, reminding people that this is no ordinary road.
The convoy maintained a relatively tight formation, with military armored vehicles leading the way and covering the rear, while the superhuman team and private vehicles were positioned in the middle.
Ruan Ning's SUV followed behind several military trucks. Zhou Min sat in the passenger seat, constantly sensing the surrounding environment, while Lin Yan was wiping her new weapon—an alloy battle axe that she had redeemed with points.
“The energy fluctuations are very chaotic,” Zhou Min suddenly said, her brows furrowing slightly. “Five kilometers ahead, behind the hillside on the right, there are a large number of low-level life forms reacting, and… several relatively strong signals are moving rapidly!”
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, an emergency communication came from the armored vehicle at the front of the convoy:
"Attention! Attention! Large horde of zombies spotted ahead! Unusual activity on the right hillside! All vehicles maintain speed, do not fall behind! Prepare for battle!"
As soon as the order was given, the hillside on the right side swarmed down like dumplings being dropped into a pot! Their numbers were staggering, and they roared as they merged into a dark gray torrent that rushed directly toward the middle of the convoy!
Even more chilling was the presence of several incredibly fast mutants mixed in with the horde of corpses. They moved on all fours like cheetahs, aiming precisely at the vehicle's weakest points: the tires and windows!
"Damn it! They're here!" Lin Yan roared, rolled down the car window, and leaned half her body out. Her alloy battle axe, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, cleaved a swift zombie that was trying to climb onto the car door!
Ruan Ning's eyes were icy as she steadily steered the wheel, navigating through the chaotic traffic. Instead of immediately unleashing her wide-range abilities, she spread her mental energy like a spiderweb, precisely capturing the details of the battlefield.
She "saw" Lei Bao's "Thunderstorm" squad positioned to their left and slightly ahead. Lei Bao stood in the bed of a modified pickup truck, his body crackling with electricity. With a wave of his hand, a blinding chain of lightning instantly turned three or four ordinary zombies into charred remains, drawing cheers from his men. His performance was extremely eye-catching.
His team cooperated well; the earth-type ability users erected low walls to block the way, while the fire-type ability users took the opportunity to attack, clearing away the approaching horde of corpses.
"As expected, it's at the peak of level one. The attack power of lightning-type abilities is indeed formidable." Ruan Ning assessed in his mind. At the same time, he noticed that Lei Bao seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally moving closer to the core and safer position of the caravan, clearly unwilling to expend too much strength on the journey.
Just as the convoy was struggling to break through the horde of zombies and was about to escape the encirclement, the worst thing happened!
The reconnaissance vehicle at the front reported a desperate message: "Report! The bridge ahead has collapsed! Repeat, the bridge ahead has collapsed! Impassable!"
The entire convoy was forced to stop in a relatively open area with hills on both sides! Behind them, the zombies that had been left behind, as well as more zombies that had rushed in from all directions after hearing the news, were slowly closing in!
"Engineering team! Immediately assess whether a temporary bridge can be erected! All combat units, establish a perimeter defense! Protect engineering vehicles and logistics!" The commander's voice came through the radio, tinged with barely concealed anxiety.
The convoy came to an instant, descending into chaos. Military soldiers swiftly disembarked, using the vehicles to create a defensive line, unleashing full firepower to repel the zombies surging in from all directions. The various superhuman teams also fought independently, guarding their respective areas.
Ruan Ning's team was also in a tough fight. They were positioned near the edge of the convoy, putting them under immense pressure.
"Water Blade Storm!" Ruan Ning held back no longer, waving her hands, and countless spinning water blades erupted from her center, cutting the seven or eight zombies that rushed at her to pieces and temporarily clearing a small area.
Lin Yan stood guard in front of the car door like a war goddess, wielding her battle axe. Any zombie that approached was cleaved in two by her axe, and her roar even drowned out the howls of the zombies.
Zhou Min, pale-faced, forced herself to endure the strain on her mental perception and continued to report: "Three speed-type mutants are approaching from the left three o'clock position! There's a slight vibration in the ground from the right rear wheel position; we suspect a burrowing type!"
Just as she issued her warning, the ground behind Ruan Ning's car suddenly burst open, and a burrowing zombie, resembling a giant earthworm and covered in slime, opened its sharp mouthparts and bit at the tire!
"Freeze!" Ruan Ning reacted swiftly, a blast of cold air instantly enveloping the zombie and freezing half of its burrowing body to the ground. Lin Yan seized the opportunity to step forward and smash the exposed part of the zombie to pieces with an axe.
Amidst the chaos of the battlefield, Ruan Ning's mental energy detected something unusual.
Lei Bao's team fought and retreated, trying to move towards the center of the convoy and the area where the military forces were strongest. During the process, they had a minor skirmish and shoving match with another small team in order to compete for a more advantageous defensive position.
Chaos, conflict, and being overwhelmed with their own problems... This is exactly the opportunity Ruan Ning has been waiting for!
While manipulating the water flow to condense several water shields to block the fireballs flying from the side, she concentrated most of her mental energy, like an invisible poisonous stinger, silently bypassing the energy turbulence on the battlefield, and accurately stabbing at Lei Bao, who was arguing with someone!
This wasn't a fatal attack, nor was it particularly powerful. Ruan Ning's goal wasn't to kill, but rather—to disrupt and frame someone!
"Huh?" Lei Bao, who was waving his hand to release lightning and force back his opponents, suddenly felt a very slight stinging pain in his mind, like being pricked by a needle. Although it was not strong, it made his lightning strike off course. The arc of electricity that was originally aimed at the open ground grazed the scalp of the small team leader and burned a clump of his hair!
"Lei Bao! You fucking want to double-cross us?!" The leader of the small team was both shocked and furious. What started as a verbal argument had now escalated into a full-blown argument, with the leader now believing that Lei Bao was about to resort to underhanded tactics!
"Bullshit! I..." Lei Bao was both shocked and furious. He hadn't intended to make a move at all; that attack was purely accidental! But he couldn't defend himself, as the other party was already beckoning his team members to attack with bloodshot eyes!
In an instant, Lei Bao's team and that small group broke out into internal strife on the battlefield surrounded by hordes of zombies! Although the conflict was small, it still tied up some of Lei Bao's attention, preventing him from fully dealing with the zombies. This infuriated him, but he didn't know where the problem lay.
Ruan Ning coldly withdrew her mental energy, concealing her achievements. This was just the beginning, a small taste of the rewards. She continued to focus on the battle at hand, alternating between her water-based abilities and mental power to stabilize her team.
After nearly an hour of fierce fighting, and at the cost of several vehicles being damaged and some people being injured or killed, the construction team finally managed to erect a temporary steel frame structure at the broken bridge, which could allow vehicles to pass through carefully.
The encircling horde of zombies was temporarily repelled, leaving behind a ground littered with corpses.
The convoy dared not stop and immediately crossed the makeshift bridge one by one. Everyone was still shaken; they had only traveled less than halfway from the base and had already encountered such a crisis. The situation in Pingzhou was probably even worse than they had imagined.
Ruan Ning glanced through the car window at Lei Bao, who was still cursing and swearing in the distance after their internal strife had just ended, her eyes deep and unfathomable.
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