Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

Zhang Su’s gaze remained fixed on Chen Hanzhou’s back as he returned to the car and sat among the crowd. It was clear that something was wrong with him, but at least for now, he posed no threat to those around him. Everything would have to wait until the current problem was solved for further investigation.

”Bozai, some zombies are coming from over there. You and Old Liu take a few brothers and wait at the intersection.”

Zhang Su glanced up and noticed a few ordinary zombies slowly approaching from afar, still over a thousand meters away. They hadn’t noticed anyone here yet, but precautions had to be taken just in case.

”Me?... Eh, okay then.”

Lu Yubo was reluctant. He knew a fierce battle was approaching and wanted to watch, but he couldn’t disobey orders. Fortunately, Liu Yao was there to commiserate, and so he gathered a few combat personnel who seemed unsightly and grudgingly headed toward the intersection, casting a wistful glance at the battlefield.

Awo, woo, awo...

The black mist zombie, devoid of consciousness, had repelled a formidable enemy only to face another tough opponent who didn’t intend to fight.

Ju Mumio, after rescuing Chen Hanzhou with Zhang Su’s help, leisurely circled around with the black mist zombie. It seemed like they were teasing it, but her expression was very serious as she carefully observed and occasionally sniffed the air, as if detecting a scent.

”The attack range of the black mist is about 2.6 meters. Beyond this distance, it won’t use the black mist to attack, only mechanically pursue.”

Aware that Zhang Su had approached, Ju Mumio shared her observations.

”What’s the nature of this ability? What’s its connection to the restaurant?”

Zhang Su was puzzled by the black mist zombie. It was like a controllable field that could materialize for offense and defense, while inside it could compress objects. Too high-tech!

He scratched his head, unable to fathom what in the restaurant could have caused such a powerful mutation!

Previously, the mutated zombies’ abilities were linked to their environments: zombies at the quarry developed petrifying skin, those buried in chemical raw materials at the agrochemical plant mutated into venom zombies, zombies trapped by metal machinery partially transformed into superconducting metal...

What inside the restaurant could evolve into black mist? Most critically, can expand and contract at will? A pufferfish?

”Can you smell a faint scent of liquefied petroleum gas?”

Ju Mumio asked while evading the black mist zombie, sniffing her nose, a light scent trickling into her nostrils.

Liquefied petroleum gas is colorless and odorless, but this characteristic poses risks in civilian areas, so ethyl mercaptan or similar chemicals are added, creating a unique and strong scent that alerts people to leaks quickly, a scent hard to mask!

”Huh? Really?”

Zhang Su was surprised. Although his hearing and sight were enhanced, his sense of smell was unchanged, and combined with the cold, he was slightly congested. A faint scent of liquefied gas refused to register. Even thick smoke was challenging.

”Okay, assuming liquefied petroleum gas caused the mutation, what’s the relation with this black mist shield? That thing is transparent!”

”I don’t know, we can ask the chemistry teacher when we get back.”

Ju Mumio had not been educated in the sciences, physics or chemistry. She had little knowledge about liquefied petroleum gas...

”Good thing we didn’t use fire, or unimaginable disasters could have occurred.”

Zhang Su stared at the swaying zombie, filled with dread. The black mist shield hadn’t reacted to bullets or explosions, but higher temperatures might damage it. Its body could be akin to a gas storage tank; an explosion’s force wouldn’t be less than a Venom Zombie!

”Should we take it down and study it slowly? Will you do it personally or should I?”

Ju Mumio didn’t typically toy with her prey; her prior actions were solely for observation.

”I’ll handle it!”

Seeing Chen Hanzhou’s struggle earlier, Zhang Su felt the urge to take on this new foe.

”Sure, you’re full of energy, let it loose!”

Leaving an intriguing and slightly pretentious remark, Ju Mumio withdrew toward Lego Mall, leaving Zhang Su a bit bewildered, imagining a fierce creature in his mind.

Awoo awo!

Momentarily distracted, Zhang Su refocused his attention on the black mist zombie.

”I wish I could study you thoroughly, but not knowing how to control your power, I’ll have to eliminate you.”

Zhang Su pondered, taking down his rifle with one hand while wielding the fiercely sharp Dog Leg Military Saber in the other. He aimed to swiftly send the black mist zombie away if possible...

Battle was imminent as staff on the first floor of Lego Mall held their breath, ready to witness. Some climbed onto cars for a better view, while others bypassed the plant barrier, showing trust in Zhang Su.

Windows on the second and third floors were crowded with eyes reflecting hope amidst dark surroundings.

”Move away quickly, let me see my brother!”

Zhao Dezhu couldn’t contain himself, rushing from the clothing store to the window, just in time for the fight’s inception.

Swift attacks, quick like a rabbit, feigned assault!

Zhang Su was pragmatic and not stubborn. His comrades had risked their lives to find weaknesses, which he wouldn’t ignore.

A seemingly fierce attack, actually a strategy worked out long ago: wielding the Dog Leg Military Saber, he launched it at the black mist shield, causing a shallow mark about two centimeters deep.

In defensive stance, even Zhang Su’s near-maximal attack couldn’t inflict substantial damage, yet spectators nodded approvingly as close-range weapons had never breached the shield before.

Awow...

When the black mist shield was damaged, the zombie seemed provoked. It roared furiously at Zhang Su, then unsurprisingly, the shield expanded rapidly!

”Hmm?”

Zhang Su enveloped the zombie in white mist, tracking its every move. As soon as the swirling began, he knew it was the pre-attack shake and immediately retreated, but felt off once the shield bulged!

Ju Mumio had just told him the shield’s attack range was about 2.6 meters, yet he was almost three meters away. The shield, however, pursued rapidly. Visual perception was inadequate, but within the mist, the chaotic motion was clear.

Pa.

With quick reflex, Zhang Su pressed his ankle and slapped the ground, pushing himself back another meter beyond the strain on his legs, barely dodging the shield’s strike—estimating from its edge to the zombie was about 3.12 meters!

A sphere over six meters in diameter emerged on the dim street, no less noticeable despite the black mist’s density.

2.56 to 3.12 meters was the radius; half a meter may seem negligible, but between a five-meter sphere and a six-plus meter sphere, the difference is visible to anyone!

”Oh no!”

Standing aside, Ju Mumio felt guilty and admitted, ”My information was inaccurate; don’t rely on it!”

...

Zhang Su smirked; he had deduced the cause.

Previously, the black mist zombie hadn’t pushed its limits. His assault harmed the shield, triggering a stronger retaliation; bullets and explosives hadn’t incited due to their range.

These zombies seemed devoid of awareness, but their combat instincts matched logic, refraining from futile efforts.

Swoosh...

The shield rapidly contracted after expanding further than before, its process slightly longer, those extra fractions of seconds igniting hope in Zhang Su’s eyes.