Xie Hao didn't even spare a single zombie a glance.
He was among the top five combatants in his former team of a hundred.
His ability was of the physical augmentation type.
In terms of physique, he was comparable to zombies of the same level, but as a human, his intelligence far surpassed theirs.
He could use weapons.
He understood combat techniques.
These were things zombies lacked.
"Chengyun, restrain!" Xie Hao commanded in a low voice.
"Understood!"
"Go!"
He immediately drew his battle saber.
On the other side.
Zhang Chengyun activated his earth-element ability.
Due to the dense foliage obscuring their vision, the zombie hadn't discovered them yet.
Suddenly!
Rocks erupted from the ground, instantly enveloping the zombie's feet.
They extended upwards from the ankles, quickly wrapping around its calves, as if it had gained a layer of stone armor.
This was a restraining ability, similar to Xiao Ruoruo's vines.
The zombie's legs were covered in thick rock.
It was immobilized.
Xie Hao charged forward with his saber.
Slash!
He struck with all his might.
However...
Clang!
A deafening explosion.
Sparks flew!
The zombie blocked his saber with its arm, and even more unbelievably...
The saber!
Broke!
Xie Hao was aghast.
The team had been attacked the day before yesterday. The zombies evolved yesterday morning at nine. He had no idea about that!
As it happened, this zombie had been short when it was alive.
After evolving, its height was no different from a common level 3 zombie.
Undoubtedly.
With Xie Hao's level 3 physical augmentation strength, he couldn't penetrate a level 4 zombie's defenses.
Absolute penetration meant a single strike that could kill.
The zombie's arm was indeed injured.
The wound was deep enough to see bone.
But it hadn't severed the arm bone completely!
The most critical issue was that level 4 zombies had higher intelligence. Xie Hao aimed for its head, but it used its arm to block, avoiding the fatal blow.
Furthermore.
His saber was broken!
"Roar!"
The zombie let out a deafening roar.
With a boom.
It lifted its leg forcefully, shattering the rock restraint.
"Retreat!"
Xie Hao was terrified.
He turned and ran.
As a physical augmentation ability user, his speed far exceeded that of other ability users, theoretically giving him the best chance to escape.
But...
Whether one could escape during an attack was not solely related to one's own strength.
There was a crucial factor.
It depended on who the zombie decided to chase.
This level 4 zombie was enraged.
How dare they cut at its head?
Almost sever its arm?
If it didn't eat them, it wouldn't be a zombie!
With higher intelligence.
It gained self-awareness and emotions.
It hated Xie Hao immensely, ignoring Lu Yingjian and Zhang Chengyun, and focused solely on chasing him!
Poor Xie Hao was level 3, his physique couldn't compare to the zombie's.
It took the zombie a little time to break free from the rock restraint.
This gave Xie Hao a head start.
However.
The distance between them was closing at an astonishing rate!
At this rate, he would be caught in no time.
Xie Hao noticed that the zombie was specifically targeting him.
What to do?
Suddenly!
He ran towards Lu Yingjian, who was not far away.
Lu Yingjian was closer to him.
Zhang Chengyun had split off and was running in a different direction, so he was further away.
"Brother Hao, you..." Lu Yingjian's face changed drastically.
He realized!
"Little brother, I'm sorry." A chilling glint flickered in Xie Hao's eyes.
"You saved me, and as long as I had something to eat, there would always be a share for you!" Lu Yingjian recalled Xie Hao's words in his mind.
He also remembered how Xie Hao would give him the larger portion every time they distributed food.
How ironic!
There were such people in the world.
They appeared generous and loyal, and would often take care of you.
But that was as long as it didn't affect their core interests.
When faced with life and death, such people would sell you out without hesitation!
Without a doubt.
Xie Hao was one of them.
If I have food, I can share a bit, or even give you more, since it won't kill me.
It also makes outsiders think I have good character and am grateful.
But if I'm about to die...
Forget teammates, I'd sell out my own father!
Lu Yingjian came to his senses and started to run.
Unfortunately.
In front of a physical augmentation ability user, he had no chance to escape.
He was caught in an instant.
"Xie Hao! You bastard! Ungrateful wretch!" Lu Yingjian roared.
"Little brother, I'll repay you in the next life!"
Xie Hao directly threw him towards the zombie.
The zombie was three meters behind them, about to reach him.
Upon seeing Lu Yingjian being thrown...
Xie Hao was stunned.
He thought that as long as there was fresh meat, the zombie would stop chasing.
Whoosh!
The zombie dodged!
And continued to chase him!
Didn't die?
Lu Yingjian landed on the ground, disoriented from the fall.
What was happening?
He thought he was dead, but found himself alive, and the zombie was still chasing Xie Hao.
However, it wasn't over.
As Xie Hao was about to be caught, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he scrambled up a tree, climbing desperately.
The level 4 zombie had higher intelligence.
But it couldn't climb trees.
It pounded the tree trunk with all its might.
The tree was as thick as three people embracing, and the level 4 zombie couldn't break it.
"Roar... Roar!"
The zombie roared in anger.
Xie Hao refused to come down.
Finally.
The exasperated zombie realized it couldn't get the bastard.
It turned its head.
And looked towards Lu Yingjian, deciding to settle for the next best option.
Not good!
Lu Yingjian was terrified.
He had just been thrown and disoriented, and as soon as he got his bearings and stood up, he prepared to flee.
As he stood up, a sharp pain shot through his calf.
His leg had been dislocated from the fall!
He limped, trying to climb the tree to escape.
The zombie charged with astonishing speed.
The distance rapidly closed.
He had already grabbed the trunk, but the zombie's sharp claws were just inches away.
Clearly.
There wasn't enough time to climb up!
At the critical moment, the sunlight filtering through the dense canopy above suddenly dimmed.
It seemed a massive object was blocking the sun in the treetops.
Swish!
A figure descended.
A cold light flashed.
Just as the zombie's claws were about to touch his leg.
It suddenly stopped.
A head rolled onto the ground, and the headless zombie collapsed with a thud.
It was Qin Feng!
He had been searching early again today.
A while ago, Xie Hao had climbed a tree to escape, and the zombie, unable to reach him, had roared in frustration below.
With hearing far superior to ordinary people, Qin Feng heard the roars from a distance.
"So that's why he's missing a leg," he muttered softly.
In his previous life.
Lu Yingjian had survived.
But he had lost a leg.
This meant that even if Qin Feng hadn't arrived, Lu Yingjian wouldn't have died.
However, he would have lost a leg!
"You..."
Lu Yingjian was dumbfounded.
Didn't die? /
Rescued by someone?
And this person was so powerful, he instantly killed a level 4 zombie!
"Qin Feng, captain of the Divine Punishment Squad."
"Thank you!"
Lu Yingjian bowed deeply.
"Want to come with me?" Qin Feng got straight to the point.
"Yes!"
Lu Yingjian didn't hesitate.
The person was powerful.
And had saved his life.
When he extended an olive branch, there was no reason to refuse.
"By the way."
Qin Feng smiled faintly, "Are there any others?"
If Lu Yingjian had companions, he could recruit them as well.
After all.
Most of the survivors now were ability users, and they were all somewhat useful.
"Yes!"
Lu Yingjian gritted his teeth, staring intently at Xie Hao in the distance, who was still on the large tree: "My 'big brother' who fed me to the zombies!"
On the other side.
Xie Hao, who had also witnessed Qin Feng's swift elimination of the level 4 zombie.
Scrambled down the tree as if flying, and scurried over, bowing and scraping, "Big brother, we are together, just now..."
Whoosh!
A spatial blade was unleashed.
"Let's go."
Qin Feng hoisted Lu Yingjian onto his shoulder.
He stomped the ground, launching himself dozens of feet into the air.
Just then.
A giant dark bird caught him.
As he was picked up by Qin Feng, Lu Yingjian saw Xie Hao from head to crotch...
Sliced in half!
His organs spilled onto the ground. He died without even knowing how.