With everyone working together to attack, the mutated giant rat's struggles gradually weakened, and it finally collapsed to the ground, no longer moving.
Its massive body lay sprawled in a pool of blood, the surrounding earth stained a shocking dark red.
"We're rich!"
"This rat is so big, it'll keep us eating for a long time!"
"Haha, now I can eat meat for many days in a row!"
A burst of joyful cheers erupted from the crowd.
However, the man who had just plunged the steel spear into the giant rat's mouth immediately shouted, "Keep quiet! Have you forgotten my warning? This jungle is fraught with danger, and there may be other threats lurking nearby."
Everyone quickly shut their mouths, their smiles still lingering, but their eyes regained their wariness.
They skillfully bound the mutated giant rat's limbs tightly with vines, then, in pairs, laboriously carried the heavy prey towards a hidden stalactite cave.
At the cave entrance, two gaunt men on lookout duty were stunned to see the hunting party bring back such a large rat.
The next second, they showed expressions of ecstatic joy.
But they remained silent the whole time, trying not to make any noise.
The stalactite cave is very deep, and the small lights hanging on the walls provide some light so that people can see the path under their feet.
The damp, musty smell constantly lingered around their noses, but no one cared.
Simply because this cave is secluded and safe enough.
In the apocalypse, safety is the top priority.
After walking several hundred meters inside the cave, a fire suddenly appeared ahead.
The men carrying the rat couldn't help but smile even more delightedly.
arrive!
Soon, a spacious open space of at least 500 square meters appeared before them.
In the center of this open space, a large fire was burning.
Small lamps were also hanging on the surrounding cave walls.
Dozens of women and children were busy in the open area inside the cave.
They all looked haggard, with disheveled hair and tattered clothes.
But nobody cares about any of that.
Some of them squatted on the ground, intently processing the wild vegetables they had just picked.
Some sat to the side, their hands skillfully sharpening the tips of spears.
Meanwhile, some children were spinning large spinning wheels.
These large turntables are all connected to complex devices, which ultimately connect to individual batteries.
This is a hand-cranked charger made by these survivors!
The stored electricity is enough to power the small lights on the wall, and they even have enough left over to charge a mobile phone.
When the women and children saw the men return safely, carrying a large, mutated rat that weighed at least several hundred pounds, they were first stunned, then they all cheered.
The cheers echoed through the cave, dispelling some of the gloom that hung in the air.
"My God! Such a big rat! How much meat must it contain!"
"This is enough for so many meals!"
"Will we be able to eat meat every day for the next while?"
"With mushrooms, wild vegetables, and tree bark, this mouse, if eaten sparingly, could feed us for at least a month!"
"But we don't have much salt left, so we can only dry out the rat meat."
The men placed the giant rat on a flat boulder.
Beneath that boulder, a huge waterproof tarpaulin was laid to ensure that the precious blood could be collected during the dissection of the giant rat.
In such an apocalyptic world, even a little bit of meat is a precious commodity, and not a single bit can be wasted.
Soon, the cave became even busier.
Those with knives took knives, those with saws took saws, and those with buckets took buckets.
Everyone was orderly and did their jobs conscientiously without needing any instructions.
The man in the lead, along with several other responsible persons, sat around a table to discuss the next steps.
A woman in charge of supplies said cautiously, "Boss, we still have one and a half bags of salt, but we have 65 people and the consumption is huge. We need to find a chance to get some more salt."
The man in the lead and the others all frowned.
They are well aware of the importance of salt for survival; in fact, salt is the most important resource available to them now.
Salt is not just a seasoning, but also a key ingredient in maintaining bodily functions.
If they lack salt, their already emaciated bodies, which are becoming increasingly thin due to long-term malnutrition, will become even weaker.
At that point, let alone defending against zombies, mutated beasts, and mutated insects, even daily work will be difficult to sustain.
The man in the lead took a deep breath and said, "Let's go to that village again."
Upon hearing the man's words, the group exchanged glances, a hint of worry flashing in their eyes.
The man continued, "I know that incredibly fast zombie in that village is terrifying. Besides that fast zombie, there's also that tall, mutated zombie that's very powerful. But besides that place, do we have any other choice?"
“Those easily accessible places have long been looted clean. The remaining places are more dangerous than those two zombies in that village.”
A tall man next to the man sighed, "We went to that village four times, each time with thorough preparation, but we still lost three brothers. And if it weren't for their desperate resistance, our losses would have been even greater."
A flicker of pain crossed the leader's eyes, but he gritted his teeth and said earnestly, "But we know that place best, and we know where the village has supplies. If we're discovered again, I'll cover the rear!"
The tall man shook his head and said, "Boss, you are the core of our team. I will take on the role of the rearguard. We can prepare more thoroughly this time. If I can act as bait and kill that incredibly fast zombie, we won't have to worry about supplies for a long time to come."
The leading man and the other officials all stared intently at the tall man.
Just then, a commotion broke out inside the cave.
The screams of women and children could also be heard.
Several women dressed in white robes rushed in like ghosts.
The two women in white robes at the head of the group were also carrying the two men who were on lookout duty.
The two men remained motionless; it was unclear whether they were dead or unconscious.
Hearing the exclamation, the leader of the group stood up abruptly, grabbed a steel spear from the side, turned around, and roared, "Who are you people!"
The other leaders also reacted quickly and picked up their weapons.
Those who were dissecting the restraints all stopped what they were doing, picked up their tools, and watched these uninvited guests warily.
The women in white robes remained calm and showed no signs of panic despite being surrounded by a group of people.
The two women in white robes at the head of the group gently placed the man on the ground. One of them glanced at the crowd and said with a smile, "Don't panic, everyone. We mean no harm."
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