There was a moment of silence in the truck as Lu Cai digested what they had said.
"I copied a boss and killed the boss in the side story?"
She hadn't even known she had this ability, but recalling the system backpack she had copied, she began to believe it. But Zhao Yan said that as they desperately called out to her, she gradually began to react. The moment she opened her eyes, the copied piece of flesh had turned into a pool of blood.
Therefore, the monster body copied by Lu Cai is not real and permanent. Once it leaves her conscious control, it will become a pile of waste.
Qin Yu observed Lu Cai's expression and could only say that if Lu Cai could act like this, he would truly be the ultimate boss.
"So, what are you doing in the C City refugee camp?" Qin Yu asked her.
Lu Cai moved her legs and found something in her pocket: "Looking for someone—" She took something out of her pocket.
Another transparent card - Memory Fragments II: Bravely Entering the Mountain City.
"You also have memory fragments?" Zhao Yan stared at the fragments with his eyes wide open.
Lu Cai saw his expression and then looked at the fragment in his hand: "Memory fragment...what use is it?"
"This is a clearance item!" Zhao Yan raised his voice. "Each dungeon has three to five memory fragments. Based on these memory fragments, you can piece together the main plot of the dungeon. From there, you can find the link between the dungeons and trigger the appearance of the final boss. Only by killing the final boss can the player leave the dungeon world—"
He paused: "--However, the memory fragments are hidden in the side story and are difficult to come across, and only the players who have contributed the most to complete the task can get them. Just like this research institute, you and Qin Yu are the main force to complete the task, and each of you got a fragment..." His tone was full of envy.
"After leaving the dungeon, did you return to the community area?" Lu Cai held the memory fragment and gave it to her. Perhaps it was a hint that she could also participate in the exploration of the main storyline and the boss battle.
So what was the point of her completing the dungeon? She was an NPC, and since the last side story, she hadn't received any point rewards. Besides the points, the point of completing the dungeon was to leave the dungeon world...
But, this fragment looks like a glass tile, how can it be pieced together into the main plot? A puzzle?
Just as Zhao Yan was about to speak, Qin Yu stopped him: "You ask too many questions."
Lu Cai was annoyed and took out the small notebook from the card slot of his backpack, ready to put the memory fragments in it. His hands were empty, and he looked at the card slot again. The memory fragments and the fragments from the last zoo branch quest were superimposed in the same card slot.
——Memory fragments [x2].
Zhao Yan started the truck and drove back to the road.
——
The pace of disaster will not slow. Even within the already devastated towns and villages, there may be hidden signs of life. Many residents who were unable to escape in time hide in the chaotic cracks, watching their former friends and family transform into the monsters of today.
Xiao Yue followed Senior Brother Sanshui and took a helicopter to search for survivors every day, but with little success.
The sky was overcast that day, with an occasional breeze. They arrived at a small village surrounded by hills. It was small, and based on the buildings, this miniature valley could be considered a resort for the wealthy.
Looking down from the sky, you can see vermilion tiled roofs, courtyards full of flowers and plants, and the gently curving cement roadsides are also covered with wild flowers and vegetables.
Xiao Yue sighed with emotion: "It is said that there are elderly residents living here. The quality of life of these elderly residents is really extraordinary——"
"The old residents are long-time residents of the town, which means they own land and houses at home. They are all invisible local tycoons—" the young woman on the side continued.
"Unfortunately, when disaster strikes, everything is just an illusion..." Xiao Yue's eyes dimmed.
The young woman snorted coldly: "Don't be sad, you still have a little niece to take care of-"
Thinking of his little niece, Xiao Yue also had a headache: "I don't know what's wrong with Nian Nian lately. She asks me every day if I'm a bumblebee. When I say yes, she says I'm a big liar and not a bumblebee. When I say no, she says I'm not a bumblebee and won't talk to me...Are children so hard to comfort nowadays?"
The young woman was also amused: "Is this why you pick up trash?"
Ever since Xiao Yue adopted Nian Nian, whenever he saw any Bumblebee-related gadgets while on missions, he would pick them up and bring them home to Nian Nian. His home has almost become a Bumblebee exhibition hall.
"What is that?" Xiao Yue looked through the sight of his rifle and saw a long, thin tentacle emerging from the ground.
"Attention!" As soon as the young man who had been silent spoke, they all shut up.
The helicopter buzzed loudly, stirring up a strong wind.
Xiao Yue joined the army during his university years, without any lofty ambitions, and he can't remember why he joined. Just as he was about to be discharged, disaster struck.
At this moment, he was really grateful to be in the army. At least he had guns and bullets, as well as the ability to protect and avenge.
At that moment, tender red tentacles suddenly swooped down towards the helicopter. The helicopter had already been flying low in search of the living. The tentacles suddenly attacked, leaving no room for avoidance.
The fuselage was shaken by the impact, and the people in the plane didn't care about anything else and started shooting at the tentacles.
But the tentacle continued its attack, ramming the plane so hard it cracked the tail wing. The fuselage swayed and fell toward a large reservoir to the side.
"Jump!" The young leader gave the order, and no one questioned it, and they all jumped down.
Xiao Yue was at the door, moving the fastest. The moment he entered the water, he saw tender red tentacles coming towards the reservoir...
——
After a day of clear weather, it was rainy for several days. On the way, they encountered a dust storm. Lu Cai realized that when faced with a storm and a tide of corpses, the most effective way was to lie in the truck and pretend to be dead.
Of course, the prerequisite is that you have to have a partner with psychic powers, otherwise just run.
Following Qin Yu and Zhao Yan, Lu Cai felt like his escape in this apocalyptic world was like a wandering vacation. He would drive around in the truck, filling up at gas stations and expanding the trunk at supermarkets and convenience stores.
The most recent piece of bad news we received was that "the C City refugee camp has fallen."
"We can't go to City C, what are you going to do?" As long as Qin Yu is not aggressive, he can be considered a good companion.
Lu Cai looked through the windshield of the cab at the sparse traces of system information in the sky.
"Let's go south." She thought thoughtfully.
Qin Yu nodded: "We don't know where to go, so we'll give you a ride."
After hearing this, Lu Cai looked up and gave Qin Yu an awkward look. Zhao Yan also gave her a strange look from the driver's seat.
"Are your eyes cramping?" Qin Yu hated it most when people acted sarcastic in front of her.
Zhao Yan finally spoke: "Qin Yu, what you just said really didn't sound nice... I'll give you a ride... Tsk tsk, if it were me, I wouldn't dare to get in this car."
After hearing what he said, Qin Yu thought about it carefully and realized that this was indeed what he meant. He couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed, but he was unwilling to give in.
"Afraid? Afraid of getting off the car—" She glanced at Lu Cai, who was sitting steadily beside her.
Lu Cai waved his hand: "Qinyu Guanyin Bodhisattva has come down to earth, what should I be afraid of——"
Qin Yu bared his teeth, looking as if he had a toothache, but Zhao Yan smiled.
"Bodhisattva" was the nickname Lu Cai gave Qin Yu after she repeatedly held up barriers against the zombie hordes. It was said that with the Bodhisattva's blessing, everything would be fine, and she would be protected from zombies.
But Qin Yu said that Bodhisattvas have compassion, but she doesn't.
Lu Cai didn't care. To her, those who saved her life were all Bodhisattvas.
The truck gradually drove south. This was a small town with good infrastructure. Fortunately, the road was wide, otherwise it would not be possible to bypass it smoothly when an empty truck blocked the road.
They stopped outside a small fork in the road, facing a large, tightly closed iron gate covered with branches and vines, and inside the gate was overgrown with weeds.
Lu Cai pointed to the cement road on the side of the iron gate: "Here—"
The cement road winds its way for a long time and merges into a paddy field.
It was midsummer, and the paddy fields should have been lush and green, but there were indentations of trampling everywhere, with blood stains often trailing across the fields, and there was also black and red blood on the cement.
The three of them looked at each other, and none of them dared to suggest going in.
"There won't be another side quest, will it?" Zhao Yan believed it. He didn't want to accidentally fall into the side quest again.
Cai Lu leaned back dejectedly: "My shoulder still hurts. If I have another fight, I'm afraid I'll really lose my life—"
Qin Yu said nothing. She tried to probe: "Let's park the car here."
Lu Cai understood. He wasn't sure if there were any side plots, but there were definitely big monsters. The car and supplies were all consumable, so he couldn't take any risks...
"How did you track your companions?" After getting off the car, Qin Yu directly changed to a submachine gun, and in the process did not forget to inquire about Lu Cai's affairs.
Lu Cai smiled and said, "Telepathy." She loaded her pistol and held the dagger in her left hand.
Zhao Yan jumped down from the side and said: "You said your companions were a man and a woman. The man couldn't be your boyfriend, right? Why are you so persistent in pursuing him?"
"Bigger picture." Lu Cai followed Qin Yu and slowly walked down the cement road. "Maybe that woman is my girlfriend."
Zhao Yan was sullen, but he couldn't stop talking. "Never mind boyfriends or girlfriends. They've been on the verge of life and death these past few days, all alone together, they must have forgotten about you. Have you ever seen the American TV series The Walking Dead? When you wake up, not only is the world changed, but you're also covered in cuckoldry..."
Lu Cai's eyes fell on the gun in his hand: "I owe you a favor, and I must repay it."
Qin Yu just stopped and noticed her gaze: "Are they players?"
Lu Cai was stunned for a moment, then realized there was nothing to hide: "The man is a player, and the woman is an ordinary NPC."
Seeing the faint sadness in her eyes, Zhao Yan was sure that Lu Cai had fallen for that man and it must be unrequited love. After all, Lu Cai was thin and weak, and looked like a sick ghost.
Then look at the way she fights zombies, blowing them up with one hand. It can bring a sense of security, not a protectiveness. A woman like this, it's fine to be the boss, but as a wife... anyway, Zhao Yan wouldn't want a wife like that.
The three of them gradually walked deeper into the path. The rain stopped, but the ground was wet.
Lu Cai was very careful. The surroundings were empty except for the grass swaying gently. The grass leaves were bent by the wind.
With a rustling sound, the grass leaves swayed, and the three men pointed their guns at the grass on the side that was higher than their heads.
"An ordinary zombie, about 1.7 meters tall and weighing about 130 kilograms—" Qin Yu lowered his voice.
"I'll do it—" Lu Cai stuffed his pistol into his trouser pocket, then quickly stepped forward and stood guard at the edge of the grass.
Zhao Yan felt a cool breeze brushing the back of his neck, and then he saw the grass part on both sides, and a ragged, faceless zombie rushed out. It was a young man of medium height, wearing a wine-red T-shirt and baggy jeans.
It didn't even have time to roar before Lu Cai grabbed its throat. He raised his hand and stabbed the dagger into the zombie's skull. With a twist of his wrist, he cut off half of its head.
Even after seeing it so many times, Zhao Yan was still caught off guard. She had chopped off the man's head, then grabbed his neck and laid him flat on the ground, as if he were just fast asleep.
Zhao Yan felt that girls were just pretentious. They cut off half of a person's head and still wanted to give it some dignity.
Qin Yu saw through his thoughts and said, "It was the zombie virus that killed them, not us."
"He didn't die a good death, and his body couldn't be preserved intact. I'll do my best to give him a decent death, so that our friendship as NPCs in the same dungeon will not be in vain." Lu Cai stood up, holding the dagger.
Zhao Yan rubbed his nose and didn't refute them. After all, one of them was exploring while the other was charging, and he was the one taking advantage and gaining points.
Qin Yu raised his index finger and made a gesture to silence him, and Lu Cai fell silent and became alert.
"There's a fight in the village—" Qin Yu's eyes were empty and vague, her face solemn. "Someone's being besieged... It's not a player..." She suddenly came to her senses and looked at Lu Cai. "Are you sure you want to go?"
Lu Cai looked up at the sky. The trace of Cheng Mushen's system disappeared into the dark sky, and dark clouds of varying shades rolled leisurely.
"Do you want to earn points?" she said at last. "If you want to earn points, I can try to only attack with my legs." Lu Cai changed his pistol and entered combat readiness.
Cheng Mushen owes Lin Yong a life. If she doesn't investigate, no one will be able to get it back for Lin Yong.
Not to mention fighting, even if she was thrown into a pile of mutant flesh, she would drag Cheng Mushen with her.
"Are you inviting us?" Qin Yu said, straightening the handle of the gun.
Zhao Yan also took a stance: "We entered the dungeon just for those few points, didn't we?"
Everyone has their own interests, and being able to fight side by side is a rare fate.
Lu Cai stepped onto the cement road, walked in front, and became a pioneer.
After walking along the curved cement road, the battle officially began. Although this place seemed far from the city center, it was located in a convenient and bustling part of the town. The low hills were gentle, like earthen slopes, surrounding and separating a secluded area.
Fortunately, the mountains and rivers are beautiful and the trees are lush.
But it only takes a short five-minute drive to go shopping in the most prosperous pedestrian street.
They came over the mountains, so there are quite a few zombies here.
Lu Cai raised his hand and shot. Zombies continued to emerge, and the bushes on both sides became a cover to hide their tracks.
Fortunately, this dog game rarely has humans in it, and there are no mutated zombies.
When the three men rushed into the village, they heard bursts of gunfire, interspersed with the angry roars of zombies.
"It seems that the one inside is also a tough nut to crack—" Zhao Yan shot a handless zombie that was approaching with a smile on his face.
Qin Yu's marksmanship was very accurate, but his strength and agility were insufficient, making him suitable for sniping from high altitudes. Close combat was difficult, and using his supernatural powers would be more trouble than good.
Lu Cai took action directly and knocked down several zombies close to Qin Yu.
Seeing her movements, Qin Yu felt a bit helpless, but also a bit envious. Lu Cai always managed to turn every fight into a close combat, her fists sometimes faster than bullets.
Lu Cai knocked down a nearby zombie, looked up to identify the source of the gunshot, and identified a stone path leading deep into the forest.
She turned around and made a gesture. Seeing Qin Yu nod, she put away her gun and rushed into the zombie group with a dagger in hand.
For Lu Cai, □□ was a warm-up before the battle. When the battle became intense and chaotic, the process of aiming became a waste of time. It would be better to use a knife and a punch to carve out a path in a short time.
She clenched her fists, and the warmth on her wrists made her feel extremely at ease.
The blade sank into the skull, and when it was pulled out, juice splashed and a foul smell filled her nostrils, but she couldn't stop. She ran all the way, and all the zombies that blocked her way fell to the ground.
The sound of gunfire was just around the corner. Lu Cai saw a house by the water. The black iron gate was wide open. A figure in military uniform raised his gun and fired, trying to establish a safe area.
Lu Cai paused and looked at the figure in military uniform. He had delicate features, gentle eyes and eyebrows, and his skin was dark from long-term sun exposure. He could remain calm when facing a large number of zombies. It seemed that he was very experienced.
He is Nian Nian's uncle, and Lu Cai has seen him at the Animal World in H City.
Since they were acquaintances, Lu Cai spared no effort. She leaped forward and cleaned up the edge.
Xiao Yue quickly noticed the nimble figure. He watched the girl in black clothes and camouflage pants sway into the group of zombies, and then rush out. The girl was thin, and the hand wrapped in white bandages was pinching a struggling zombie. With the force of her fingertips, the zombie lowered its head.
He practically held his breath as his eyes caught sight of the large letters "BT" on the back of a black T-shirt. This figure looked familiar...
As the roar got closer, Xiao Yue woke up, raised his gun, and repelled the surrounding zombies.
"Follow me--" The girl's voice was cold and indifferent, making people's hearts tremble.
Xiao Yue glanced up again. She dodged a zombie, and then there was the sizzling sound of a blade piercing flesh. He thought he was already accustomed to the sight of monsters with bloody eyes and flying blood foam, but now he was also shocked by the girl's knife.
Even though he had doubts in his heart, he knew that the other party was helping him, so he followed the path that the girl had hacked her way out of the house.
After turning around a few times, Xiao Yue saw the expression of the girl beside him. Her voice was indifferent, her actions were decisive, but her face was filled with a look of awe.
She looked squarely at every deceased person in front of her. They were not monsters, nor were they former relatives or friends, but she gave them her final respects so that they could sleep peacefully.
Lu Cai led Xiao Yue to fight their way out of the zombie horde and met Qin Yu and Zhao Yan halfway.
Qin Yu glanced at Xiao Yue, his cold eyes flashed across him, and Xiao Yue couldn't help but feel nervous.
"It's him, let's retreat."
Lu Cai felt sad. Aside from Uncle Nian Nian, there was no one else alive here. They retreated from the village, with Lu Cai leading the rearguard.
Hearing the truck start, Lu Cai pulled out his gun and fired wildly, creating a buffer zone, then turned and rushed into the cab. She sat by the window, slammed the door, and the truck quickly reversed, turning around on the wide road and speeding away.
Lu Cai looked away as he gradually lost sight of the zombies chasing him through the rearview mirror.
Three seats for four people was still a bit crowded, so Lu Cai leaned towards the window.
"Look at the way he's dressed, are you from the army?" Zhao Yan finally met a man and could finally relax his mouth after being pent up for the past few days.
Xiao Yue sat beside Zhao Yan, but his eyes passed Qin Yu and looked at Lu Cai who was standing quietly by the window. When he heard Zhao Yan's question, he came to his senses: "Yes, I am a militiaman from H City, and I am now assigned to the search and rescue team--"
Lu Cai tilted his head. The last time he saw him, he was being shot at by a helicopter, but today he was in such a desperate situation that he was being besieged and fought in close combat on the ground.
"You and your companions were attacked?" Zhao Yan controlled the steering wheel as the scene outside the window slowly passed by.
Xiao Yue's eyes dimmed. "We were a group of six. We went to that small village yesterday to search for living people. We encountered..." He paused, not knowing how to describe it, "We encountered a large tentacle..."
"Tentacle?" Qin Yu spoke, his eyes were unrecognizable, he just stared at Xiao Yue.
Xiao Yue turned his head and met Qin Yu's dark eyes, as if he was falling into an abyss. There seemed to be a mystery hidden in those eyes, which made people sink into it inadvertently.
"Yes, tentacles!" Xiao Yue looked into Qin Yu's eyes. "The tender red flesh is covered with blood vessels and veins."
Qin Yu turned around and looked at Lu Cai, and saw that Lu Cai had a sad face.
Qin Yu was nervous: "What's wrong?"
Lu Cai raised his eyes with a tragic look: "I'll try to remember the structure of the tentacle monster. If I encounter it, I can try to copy it and crush it——"
——
The wheels rustled as they rolled over the stained road surface.
"How are you?" The girl with long hair and long skirt was taking care of a young man in military uniform in the back seat. The young man driving in the front seat occasionally looked up and looked at the soldier through the rearview mirror.
The young man in military uniform has a strong face and looks less than 30 years old. His furrowed brows and calm temperament show his leadership status.
So what? It’s still an NPC?
Cheng Mushen scoffed coldly, then looked at Zhao Manman, who looked worried. Her fair skin looked flawless and delicate. Her eyebrows were as thin as black, and when they were slightly wrinkled, they always attracted people's pity.
No matter what I do, it seems like I'm seducing people——
Cheng Mushen's eyes turned cold. It's not like he had never met an NPC in a dungeon before, but he had never met one like Zhao Manman.
In the game, the player is the savior who saves people from danger, so normal human NPCs will initially have a good impression of the player. However, since he returned from the zoo side quest, Zhao Manman has become much more distant from him.
She noticed? Impossible.
He wanted to be gentle with her and make her willing, but it seems that women are all cheap. If you treat them well, they will really think they are something great.
When Cheng Mushen raised his eyes, he met the dark eyes of the young man in military uniform through the rearview mirror, and his heart skipped a beat.
"My name is Zheng Miao, and I'm a member of the search and rescue team." His voice was a little hoarse. After fighting all night, he was seriously injured, so this was inevitable.
"Cheng Mushen--" Cheng Mushen retracted his gaze and looked at the road ahead.
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