Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

Zhang Su stood behind the van and immediately spotted the fiery zombie across from him, with a torrent of heat flowing under its skin. The air around its body was distorted due to the high temperature, and even the iron chains binding it were red-hot from the heat. One could imagine how high this thing’s temperature must be!

This was clearly different from what Wu Baokang had described, so the answer isn’t hard to find; it must be that subsequent researchers conducted various experiments on the mutated zombies, and its abilities were enhanced as a result!

Small nuclear reactor!

That was Zhang Su’s first reaction; that constant emission of fiery heat bore little difference to a small nuclear reactor!

There is still a difference, and that is that a nuclear reactor has radiation, while this thing only emits heat.

If any faction could possess such a zombie, heat energy and electrical energy would no longer be a problem; using it purely as a weapon would be somewhat of a waste!

This is a living mutated zombie with applications that can be developed in various ways!

If they could have managed to capture the Venom Zombie alive back then, it could have created many possibilities as well...

Before he could continue to imagine, the cargo box of the van opposite started to turn, aiming the open side toward the shops by the roadside. Once people cleared out from that direction, a dragon of flames spewed out from the cargo box, transforming the entire box into a massive flamethrower.

”Holy crap, the fourth child of Huluwa!”

As the scene of the fire spraying unfolded, Zhao Dezhu’s face lit up with an interesting expression; his eyes were rounder than longans!

He had witnessed the venomous spitting of the Venom Zombie before. Without discussing the lethality of venom and flames, purely from a perspective of momentum, the Venom Zombie was definitively defeated. Its range fell short compared to this flame, which was more exaggerated than professional flamethrowers; those who didn’t know might think they were back on a World War II battlefield!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

The flames spewed across a twenty-meter gap from the cargo box to the shop, fiercely impacting the reinforced concrete with considerable force, instantly exploding into a fiery flower. The fire tongues engulfed the three-story tall shop, quickly burning any combustible material. The concrete building began to crack and fall apart, and metals with lower melting points showed signs of liquefaction!

Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi felt the power of the Fire-breathing Zombie up close, unable to help but gaze at each other. Both of them rather unusually didn’t erupt in hostile emotion because the Survivor Alliance’s strength exceeded their expectations!

Unless the Fire-breathing Zombie was weak like ordinary zombies, vulnerable to a single bullet, its threat was indeed massive!

Li Zongkai looked woodenly at the zombie spewing fire to burn the shop. The stronger the Survivor Alliance, the more disadvantageous it was for him, as every trick seemed powerless in the face of absolute strength.

Unfortunately, there was little he could do now; he could only wait for the opportune moment.

Gong Chengming’s face remained calm. As the second-in-command of the Survivor Alliance, he naturally knew about the Fire-breathing Zombie. His room being toasty every day was thanks to it; he wasn’t as afraid of the Fire-breathing Zombie like Liu Yao and others were because it was a weapon at his disposal!

”Alright, cease!”

As the merchant’s sign was being roasted out of shape, Liao Youzhi gave a command.

Puff.

No one knew what had happened inside the cargo box, the fire-breathing was suddenly cut off, just like they didn’t know why the zombie suddenly spewed fire.

”Liao Youzhi, you’ve come to my territory to show off your muscles? I feel like you’re showing off your intelligence! Watch this!”

Zhao Dezhu didn’t immerse himself in the shock brought by the Fire-breathing Zombie; he smoothly delivered a bold yet humorous line according to the prior plan.

As his voice fell, a loud bang erupted from the west side of Beidong Town, almost simultaneously...

Boom!

A three-story commercial building not far from the Survivor Alliance instantly blossomed, dust soaring as debris pierced the sky, and shards were blown across the opposite road; the astounding might caused all those from the surrounding factions to be taken aback.

”Tank!”

Someone from one of the factions suddenly shouted, ”It’s a tank shell! There is a tank ambushed nearby!”

Among the North City Four Tigers, only Civilization Guardian was suspected to possess a tank, yet seeing them surprised too made it highly unlikely...

The power of the tank was felt directly; ordinary buildings were no match for its shell.

One could imagine what a shell hitting the gathering spot would result in.

Many couldn’t help but swallow their saliva, glancing towards Civilization Guardian’s hostage and Li Zongkai, wondering if without their existence, shells might’ve been called already?

Maybe it wasn’t fired because the other side held hostages too, and the Fire-breathing Zombie was deployed already, but however observed, the Fire-breathing Zombie might suffer because its attack range doesn’t compare with the tank...

Their restraint was based on both possessing powerful weapons!

Some worried that nearby zombies might be attracted by the loud noise; however, in turning the thought, they figured they weren’t far from Celestial Horse Island, where zombies should have been cleared substantially. Even if there were, they wouldn’t be many, and now gathered were top combat forces from five factions, capable of massacring even tens of thousands of zombie groups with ease!

Liu Yao sported an extremely peculiar expression, thinking back to not long before about coming to Celestial Horse Island with people to cause trouble, and now realizing it’s akin to seeking death?

With dozens of people under him, believing Little Eagle was enough to dominate, he hadn’t expected truly powerful factions already owned actual war weapons.

If he knew a drone capable of dropping bombs was always standing by, and a mysteriously placed bomb-hiding dog was watching the spectacle, how would he feel?

If he further knew, the bumpy road ahead was set with enough bombs to send everyone present to the heavens, how would he react?

Yang Xinqi felt his mouth dry; like Liu Yao, he thought of suggesting at last night’s banquet to just march to Celestial Horse Island, holding in disdain for so-called bandits outside the city. Now upon comparison, he felt like more of a bandit...

Gong Chengming and Xiao Xuejian silently exchanged glances; both knew Celestial Horse Island had tanks, but doubted their battle capability until now where they had a clear answer.

”Alright, everyone’s shown their tools, it’s time to proceed to the hostage exchange stage?”

Zhao Dezhu’s cheerful voice echoed down the street.

”That’s inevitable!”

Liao Youzhi’s gaze shifted from the semi-collapsed building, responding to Zhao Dezhu. Neither was particularly scared by the opponent’s tools, as they hadn’t revealed their trump card.

He also believed Zhang Su wouldn’t show the real ace to him; they all played dumb knowingly.

Just as Zhang Su initially predicted, neither he nor the opposing leaders likely wanted a large-scale blood conflict; people capable of assuming leadership positions considered perspectives very differently and appreciated the importance of population, cherishing their own feathers.

Even the armed subordinates cherished their lives, knowing once war breaks out, it’ll be uncontrollable; nobody wants to fire the first shot.

”Then bring the hostages over.”

Speaking simultaneously, Zhao Dezhu gestured forward, indicating for Ju Mumio to bring the hostages over.

”Wait a moment!” Liao Youzhi’s voice rang out, then continued: ”I want to verify identities; how do we know they are our brethren if their heads are covered?”

Being a leader of the Survivor Alliance didn’t come with stupidity, considering whether the opponent substituted others’ useless lives or mixed in people intending to stealth attack.

Zhao Dezhu didn’t get stuck on this, as it was indeed a necessary procedure, thus he ordered the removal of the hostage headcovers.

Swoosh, swoosh, puff...

One headcover after another was removed, revealing weary faces under the sunlight; the prolonged darkness made their eyes unable to open, mouths were bound by rope — two words to describe: miserable.

Liao Youzhi’s face turned iron-blue as he confirmed through binoculars the identity of five Guard Team members including Wu Baokang, then handed the binoculars to Yang Xinqi standing by the truck bed.

Once Yang Xinqi confirmed accurately, Liao Youzhi was about to speak when Liu Yao intervened.

”Leader Liao, ask him where the bodies of my Little Eagle Association brothers are!”

Liao Youzhi frowned inwardly at the redundant remark but understood Liu Yao was performing for other members of the Little Eagle Association, thus picked up the microphone: ”Identity confirmed, however, Zhang Su, where are the bodies of the three Little Eagle Association brothers?”

”I warn you not to push your luck; returning live ones is already fortunate. The bodies are tossed at the camp, go get them if you dare!”

Zhao Dezhu responded quite impatiently.

Taking advantage of this bickering time, ten hostages had their headcovers put back on once again, and right under their noses, a switcheroo was performed.