Chapter 111: A Thousand Strange Wonders

Aquatic zombies typically possess abilities reaching at least an R2 level. However, much like animal-based zombies, the probability of them evolving is millions of times lower than that of humans. At least for the time being, Xie Han had not detected any evolved zombies within this vast body of water.

The sheer variety and quantity of aquatic zombies now emerging left Xie Han stunned. Looking at their numbers, he couldn't help but suspect that the officers and soldiers who once manned this experimental base must have been saints. It was incomprehensible that they had sat beside such a massive, bountiful lake teeming with aquatic life without ever harvesting any for their own tables.

Perhaps because the lake had remained undisturbed since the military experimental base was established, giant fish that had lived for twenty years or more were everywhere. Countless corpse-fish, one or two meters long, occasionally breached the surface, their imperfect digestive systems forcing them to exhale massive bubbles. Interspersed among these giants were smaller black corpse-fish; though only the size of a palm, they were incredibly agile. It was a mystery how their small bodies could withstand the XR virus infection.

Among these fish-zombies were hundreds of giant river crabs. They had largely retained their intact carapaces and were waving massive claws, ruthlessly snapping in two any fish that blocked their path. Under the assault of these violent giant crabs, the entire surface of the water was stained a murky black.

"Damn it..." Seeing this stampede of giant crabs, Xie Han abandoned the composure expected of a commander and began to curse. Half of these crabs were at least 20 centimeters in size, not to mention a few that exceeded 30 centimeters—they were absolute titans among river crabs. In peacetime, the price of a single one would have been astronomical.

"But how... how on earth did all of these become infected zombie crabs?"

Compared to the giant crabs, the few dozen water rats appeared much more refined, merely flicking their tails as they wove between the larger zombies. Do not be fooled by their seemingly gentle appearance; Xie Han, who had been observing them closely, knew exactly how deadly they were. A giant fish nearly three meters long had simply blocked their path, only to have its entire body shredded in an instant by their long teeth. They had chewed it to pieces, leaving not even a head or a bone behind.

As the variety of species increased, Xie Han became numb. Any creature living in the water capable of carrying the XR virus seemed to have gathered here. The chaotic water was filled with constant biting and devouring. Unlike the zombies in Wangtian City, which were controlled by humanoid R3s, these creatures were completely disorganized; they attacked one another incessantly, focusing on one-hit kills. The loser was invariably devoured. As more aquatic zombies gathered, Xie Han knew the thirty-five-square-kilometer area was too vast to eliminate them all at once, so the number of zombies currently filling his field of vision was already quite satisfactory.

Just as Xie Han prepared to order the destruction of the soil dam, the gathered aquatic zombies suddenly became even more chaotic.

The zombies covering the lake surface suddenly parted to create a massive open space, as if they had encountered a terrifying predator. As they scrambled, the lake water churned, kicking up huge waves. Through the clear water, one could vaguely see massive dark shadows emerging from below.

The soldiers participating in this mission were all equipped with long-range observation gear, allowing them to see every detail from afar. This anomaly caused them to hold their breath; a sense of oppression rose in everyone’s hearts. It seemed that whatever was approaching posed a grave threat.

The shadows became clearer. Finally, a black, hard shell the size of a round table broke the surface. The familiar patterns allowed everyone to recognize its identity instantly: a turtle!

After surfacing, this grotesquely sized turtle suddenly thrust its previously retracted limbs and head out from its shell. Its form was little different from when it was alive. The XR virus infection had caused minimal physical damage to its body, but its stark white head, cloudy eyes, and the black, viscous liquid it spat betrayed its status as a zombie turtle.

It was not alone. There were as many as five of these giant turtles. Their pitch-black shells made everyone realize the terrifying defensive capabilities they likely possessed.

Xie Han found the situation increasingly interesting. Even the lowly turtle had become something that panicked the other zombies. It had to be said that the XR virus must have granted them a brand-new mode of attack. Yet, until it was revealed, no one knew what that attack might be.

"All units, attention. All units, attention. Monitor all movement at all times. Demolition team, get ready. Initiate dam demolition."

Under Xie Han's order, the explosives planted on the dam detonated with a thunderous roar. The massive force caused the already fragile dam to give way instantly, pushed aside by the surging lake water. Within seconds, the water rushed through like a broken levee, charging downward with reckless abandon.

The zombies closest to the dam were caught in the sudden, powerful suction, rolled into the massive pit along with the floodwaters.

If they were normal aquatic animals, the sound of the explosion alone would have been enough to send them fleeing. But once infected, sound became their greatest trigger; wherever a noise occurred, they would appear. The breach did not frighten them—it acted as a maddening beacon, drawing them frantically into the pit.

Xie Han had been a bit too conservative; the three-hundred-meter-square pit was still too small, leaving many aquatic zombies unable to enter even after it was packed full.

The large stealth mines were not merely contact-triggered; they could also be remotely detonated. After disabling their contact mode, they remained silent at the bottom of the pit despite the massive impact of the zombie surge.

The first to strike were not the prepared humans, but the surging aquatic zombies. Countless palm-sized black fish utilized their light, agile frames and the powerful propulsion of their tails to perform long-range leaping attacks.

This collective leap of the small black fish looked like a massive wave of black shadows, pouncing toward the vehicles and weaponry thirty meters away.

Xie Han was stunned again. Watching the small black fish flying through the air, he turned to Xu Qiang and asked, "Qiangzi, does every single zombie fish possess this attack method?"

Xu Qiang stared seriously at the approaching fish and said, "You’ve heard the saying about 'fish leaping over the dragon gate,' which shows that fish can jump. And after rain, fish in rivers and lakes often leap out of the water. This is an innate instinct, but after infection, their abilities have become incredibly powerful, and this instinct has been enhanced geometrically, evolving into a lethal attack skill."

As they spoke, the pouncing fish slammed into the vehicles. With the sound of shattering glass, screams erupted. Without needing further orders, the soldiers, already armed, began attacking the fish that had smashed through the windows in a chaotic scramble.

Hearing the screams, Xie Han and Xu Qiang exchanged a look. "It seems we underestimated the capabilities of these aquatic zombies."

The small black fish capable of leaping through car windows were in the minority. Often, when they struck the glass, it would shatter, but the fish would fall to the ground in front of the vehicle. Only the lucky ones managed to spring through the broken glass and bite the soldiers inside.

These fish were extremely difficult to deal with once inside a cabin, and their bites were vicious, reminiscent of the piranhas from the Amazon. A single bite from an XR-infected fish was fatal. If even one entered a cabin, the result was almost always the infection of everyone inside.

Only standard vehicles were attacked; armored vehicles had bulletproof windshields and were otherwise encased in special metal alloys, providing a level of defense that the small fish could not breach, no matter how strong their impact.

The ground was soon littered with black fish that had flown out of the pit. They opened their evolved mouths, revealing rows of white, serrated teeth, and used their tails to slap the ground, leaping repeatedly. While less powerful than in the water, they could still jump several meters high and far.

"Ah..."

A soldier scrambled out of a weapon transport vehicle, clutching his face, blood seeping through his fingers. A palm-sized black fish was clamped tightly onto his waist; no matter how he tugged, he could not pull it off.

In this transport vehicle, which usually carried two soldiers, the other man could be clearly seen slumped over in the driver’s seat. A fish was frantically thrashing while attached to his throat, and black blood gushed out, soaking his chest.

The soldier who had just jumped out of the vehicle was quickly spotted by the fish on the ground. Within moments, dozens of them leapt simultaneously, covering his entire body.

"Ah... help... someone save me... save me..."

His desperate screams tore through the air, causing everyone who heard them to look away in anguish. No one could save him; from the moment he was attacked, he was already infected. In the apocalypse, infection meant death—there was no cure.

In just half a minute, the screaming soldier collapsed, silent. Under the tearing of dozens of fish, his flesh was stripped away, leaving only a blood-red skeleton with scraps of meat still clinging to the bone.

This soldier was just one of many. Within minutes, several other bitten soldiers turned into zombies, mindlessly stumbling out of their vehicles. Ignoring the fish attacking them on the ground, they swarmed toward the other vehicles.

Xie Han had never imagined that the first wave of small fish would cause such heavy losses. With a grim face, he ordered, "All units, eliminate the mutated zombie soldiers. Then, begin area-of-effect attacks on the pit."

Automatic rifles poked through small firing ports, precisely hitting the heads of the dozens of zombie soldiers. Even though these had been their comrades just minutes ago, those living in the apocalypse had long since accepted that this day might come. It was merely a matter of whether you killed others or they killed you.

After dealing with the zombie soldiers, the large stealth mines at the bottom of the pit were triggered. A dozen massive water columns erupted, mixed with the mangled remains of countless aquatic zombies. The power of these mines was enough to cripple a warship, let alone these aquatic creatures.

Following the detonation, the armored vehicles unleashed everything they had, firing wildly into the pit. The dense rain of bullets ensured that one in every dozen shots would strike a zombie in the head, while high-powered weapons like laser cannons tore them to shreds without needing to target their heads.

As the humans attacked, the aquatic zombies fought back. Countless fish leapt into the air, only to be blown apart by anti-aircraft machine guns. The few that dodged the bullets lacked the terrifying jumping ability of the small black fish and landed on the ground after only a dozen meters.

The field base command vehicle’s primary weapon system consisted of four retractable high-energy cannons on either side. As the most advanced weapon of the apocalypse, it had only been in service for six months, and very few units were equipped with them. Fortunately, the command vehicle had one. Unlike laser cannons, high-energy cannons used high-energy activation, but the power they unleashed was vastly different.

The cannons were complex to operate, requiring high-end electronic platforms. Fewer than three people in the entire base understood how to use them. Xu Qiang, a special forces soldier, had only had limited exposure to them, yet he now served as the combat commander for the command vehicle.

"Initiate energy charging. Target scanning active, activate attack acquisition elements. Engage..."

Under Xu Qiang’s barrage of orders, the two soldiers who knew the system pressed various keys, quickly completing the tasks. Observing the data from the acquisition elements, Xu Qiang said, "Targets locked at coordinates -181, -299."

"Targets locked, charging complete..."

Xu Qiang confirmed the status and said coldly, "Fire all four cannons."

The moment he gave the order, the command vehicle seemed to light up. The four 20-centimeter-wide cannons on its sides radiated a boundless white light, enveloping the entire vehicle. As the four massive light orbs were fired, the semi-levitating vehicle recoiled half a meter.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Four eardrum-shattering explosions rang out. Everyone felt a momentary deafness, and some even felt dizzy, nearly collapsing.

Huge columns of water shot into the air, over twenty or thirty meters high. The entire pit seemed to be violently compressed and then shattered; within the blast radius of the high-energy orbs, everything was torn apart—nothing survived.

Xu Qiang had targeted the densest concentration of zombies. Just four high-energy shots cleared nearly half of the zombies in the pit. Before such high-powered weaponry, there was no need to consider targeting heads; any zombie within the blast radius was simply pulverized.

Given the energy system of the command vehicle, it could only support two shots per high-energy cannon. This was perhaps their greatest weakness; if they were laser cannons, the energy for one high-energy shot could power a laser cannon for a dozen. The fact that the massive command vehicle could only store eight shots proved the severity of this limitation.

Just as everyone was stunned by the power of the cannons, the zombies in the pit launched their third wave. A dozen water rats scrambled out of the pit, sprinting toward the vehicles thirty meters away at lightning speed. With their amphibious abilities, they were even more dangerous than the small black fish.

"Quick, all machine guns, intercept those water rats!"

At Xie Han’s command, dozens of machine guns focused their fire, unleashing a hail of bullets at the sprinting rats.

The water rats were incredibly fast, and the machine gun fire only managed to reduce their numbers to five. Those five, having successfully navigated the wall of lead, used their mutated teeth to frantically tear at the bulletproof tires of five armored vehicles.

"Beam snipers, take those rats out!" Xie Han had prepared for this. At his command, fifteen beam snipers locked onto the rats gnawing at the tires.

These water rats lacked the heightened senses of R3s. With only R2 strength, they had no idea that the reaper had arrived. Five beams flashed, and the rats' heads were instantly pierced. The power of the beams shredded nearly half of their bodies.

Just as the water rats were dealt with, the five titan-like turtles crawled out of the pit, slowly advancing toward the vehicle formation. Xie Han found it hard to believe that the four high-energy blasts had left them unscathed. He didn't know if it was his bad luck or their good fortune that they had survived.

The aquatic zombies in the pit had been largely wiped out, making these five turtles crawling on land stand out. Heavy machine guns were the first to engage them. The explosive rounds were undoubtedly terrifying, but to everyone’s shock, the turtles' shells were impervious to the barrage. They continued their slow crawl toward the convoy.

"Their shells must be harder than an R3's hide," Xie Han muttered, activating his watch’s scanning function. The turtle's data quickly flashed in his mind.

Sharp fire from the cannons rang out, precisely hitting the crawling turtles. Xie Han watched clearly as, just before the shells struck, the turtles retracted their heads and limbs into their shells. The impact of the shells flipped them over, and after rolling through the air, they landed heavily on the ground.

Unsurprisingly, after landing, three of the turtles extended their limbs and continued crawling toward the convoy, while two remained flipped on their backs, struggling to right themselves.

Facing these almost indestructible "cockroach-like" turtles, Xie Han could only order, "High-energy cannons ready, target the three crawling turtles." As he gave the order, he felt a sense of irony and sorrow. Who could have imagined that the common turtles once slaughtered by humans would evolve to the point where they required the most advanced weaponry in existence to destroy?

The precision guidance of the high-energy cannons made it easy to hit the targets. As Xie Han hoped, the intense compression effect of the cannons tore the three crawling turtles into five or six pieces, scattering them in all directions.

The turtle shells were indeed strong; even under the high-energy blast, they were only torn apart rather than being vaporized like the other aquatic zombies.

As for the two flipped turtles, they were now helpless on their backs, no longer a threat. However, this ten-minute-long battle had nearly exhausted the team's ammunition.

Looking at the aquatic zombies still appearing on the lake—likely arriving from far away—Xie Han smiled bitterly and shook his head. The ammunition consumed today alone accounted for half of New City's stockpile, yet by his estimates, they had only cleared half of the lake’s aquatic zombies. It seemed this method of attrition had to stop; they needed a different approach.

Floating incendiary bombs, a new experimental weapon, caught Xie Han’s eye. Perhaps this wide-area-of-effect weapon would yield unexpected results.

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