Night fell, and the continuous drizzle once again began to fall in a fine mist.
The piercing and shrill warning sirens shattered the veil of rain, echoing endlessly above the base.
All surviving ability users hurried toward the eastern hunting zone. They had lost too much combat power—this time, each sentry post could barely be assigned a single Tier 4 ability user.
The minefield that had been trampled over the past few days had yet to be repaired, allowing the zombie tide to surge in silently. Only two kilometers remained between them and the protective net.
More than twenty Tier 4 zombies at the front were already clearly visible!
An ability user climbed onto a sentry post, his heart sinking into despair.
“It’s over… We’re done for…”
At present, only a dozen Tier 4 ability users were still able to fight, while the remaining Tier 2 and Tier 3 ability users had to fend off the massive zombie tide. If even one Tier 4 zombie managed to jump over the iron net… the Southern Base would be completely lost!
Despair began to spread.
Even the ordinary people who had been driven to the front lines like pack mules trembled uncontrollably, gripping their spears, their legs shaking at the overwhelming power gap. The fearless determination they once had to fight for survival was now completely gone.
In the past, with ability users guaranteeing their safety, they killed zombies primarily to earn crystal cores.
But today, even the ability users couldn’t withstand this zombie tide. If the defenses were breached, they would all be doomed!
“I’m not doing this anymore! I’m leaving the base—there’s still time to run!”
Clang.
Someone threw down their spear and turned to flee.
And with the first, there was naturally a second, and a third.
No one wanted to die. They were just ordinary people—why should they be the ones to stand at the frontline of a zombie tide? When it came to enjoying privileges, they were never included!
Fear spread like wildfire.
More and more people dropped their spears, forming a wave of retreat as they fled toward the rear.
Some were already nearing the buses when—Bang! Bang! Bang!
Every single tire exploded simultaneously.
The Azure Dragon Squad, the most loyal supporters of the city lord, showed no mercy as they ruthlessly destroyed the ordinary people’s only means of escape.
“The buses are gone. If the zombie tide breaks through the base, none of you will outrun them!”
“You might as well fight to the death right here! If we win, you’ll have plenty of crystal cores to spend! Who knows, you might even awaken an ability on the brink of death and rise above the rest!”
“Those of you with families, think of your wives and children, your loved ones and friends still inside the base! Only if you hold this line can they have a chance to survive!”
The shouts echoed through every corner.
All the ordinary people were forced to pick up their spears again. They didn’t want to die, but with their escape route cut off, they had no choice but to turn and face the zombie tide.
The ability users standing atop the sentry posts silently watched these people who had fled and now returned.
“What’s the point of calling them back?”
“Aren’t they just being sent to their deaths?”
The captain of the Azure Dragon Squad sneered, “If the protective net really falls, at least they’ll buy us some time to escape.”
The cold and ruthless truth lay bare before them, and all the ability users fell into silence.
Had they… already decided to abandon the city and flee?
The Azure Dragon Squad’s captain didn’t care about what others thought.
In his eyes, at worst, the Southern Base’s living space would shrink further while the Eastern Hunting Zone expanded.
As long as they, the ability users, escaped in time, they could survive no matter what.
“Everyone, stay alert!”
The Tier 4 zombies in the corpse tide were the fastest jumpers, and before long, they had already reached the front of the base.
“Stop them!”
All the ability users focused their efforts on dealing with the twenty-plus Tier 4 zombies, using superior numbers to suppress them. At first, they managed to hold the line. But as the massive horde of ordinary zombies surged against the iron net, the Tier 1, 2, and 3 ability users had no choice but to divert their attention to fight them off.
In an instant, nearly half of the Tier 4 zombies lost their opposition.
They roared excitedly, trampling over their own kind’s heads as they swiftly climbed the iron net.
Someone shouted in despair, “Sentry Post No. 3 needs backup! Sentry Post No. 3 needs backup!”
“Sentry Post No. 7! A Tier 4 zombie is climbing the protective net at No. 7!”
“Sentry Post No. 10…!”
The intercom crackled with desperate pleas from all the sentry posts.
But no one could provide support.
The fastest Tier 4 zombie had already climbed two-thirds of the way up the iron net.
Before long, it would leap inside and slaughter the defenseless ordinary people at will.
Hearing the horrifying cries over the intercom, a member of the Azure Dragon Squad paled. “Captain! Sentry Posts 3, 7, and 10 are about to fall!”
If one section collapsed, the entire defensive line would crumble. Even if other sentry posts held firm, it would all be meaningless.
The captain clenched his jaw, holding onto one last shred of hope. “What does the city lord say?”
“The city lord—he’s been unreachable for ten minutes!”
“Fuck!” The captain cursed furiously. “That bastard He Heng—don’t tell me he ran off by himself?”
“What do we do?”
“What do we do?” The captain spat angrily. “We run, of course!”
This wasn’t his base to begin with. If He Heng himself wasn’t taking responsibility, he couldn’t be blamed for deserting in the face of battle.
The Azure Dragon Squad’s retreat sent a wave of psychological pressure crashing over the remaining ability users.
They exchanged glances for a few seconds—then one by one, they withdrew their abilities and turned to flee.
“They’re running! The ability users are running away!”
“Why should they be the ones to run? Stop them!”
No one was willing to be a disposable pawn. Furious ordinary people surged toward the fleeing ability users, blocking their path while smashing up the vehicles they had arrived in.
“If we’re going to die, we die together!”
“Why should only we be left behind?!”
“Get lost! Try smashing it if you dare!”
“Move aside!”
Zombies had already covered the iron net, waiting for the moment to swarm inside.
Yet within the iron net, the largest internal conflict had broken out.
Just as total annihilation seemed inevitable, a synchronized roar of engines suddenly echoed from the distant hunting zone.
At the front of the convoy, different ability users stood on the rooftops of several vehicles.
Above them, the once-destroyed “Venomous Insect Squad” hovered in the air. Though they had been slaughtered just days ago, today they had returned with a vengeance.
But this time, their target was the zombies climbing over the iron net!
The arrival of the convoy diverted part of the zombie horde, drawing their attacks toward the newcomers. An invisible barrier of air appeared in time, shielding the entire convoy and carving out a makeshift defensive zone.
A powerful gust of wind swept toward the iron net, forcefully ripping off every zombie clinging to it. The sharp wind blades that followed immediately severed the heads of the falling zombies.
These were the most striking three ability users, but the dozens of others standing atop the vehicles were no less formidable. Their attacks locked onto the Tier 4 zombies that were on the verge of breaking through the defenses.
“Who are they? Are they here to save us?”
“My god! We’re saved!”
The ability users who hadn’t managed to flee had the clearest view—
This sudden convoy had at least a dozen Tier 4 ability users, and the few leading them were especially ferocious.
If they truly came to rescue them… then the base might just hold!
After all, who would willingly abandon a stable base to roam the outside world unless they had no other choice?
After weighing their options, most ability users returned to the sentry posts and resumed fighting.
Meanwhile, the Azure Dragon Squad, already seated in their off-road vehicle, exchanged looks.
“Captain, what do we do now? Do we go back?”
Go back?
The captain locked his gaze onto the three familiar ability users standing atop the vehicles. He instantly understood—
These people had arrived at far too perfect a timing and came in far too aggressively to be here just for a simple rescue.
Thinking more conspiratorially… this zombie tide might be their doing!
A thief crying ‘stop the thief’!
The captain clenched his teeth so hard his molars nearly cracked. “Still no contact with He Heng?”
“None.”
“Then let’s go! Back to the sentry post—I want to see what exactly they’re up to!”
The most stubborn Azure Dragon Squad turned back, and amidst the chaos, their return unexpectedly gave the panicked ordinary people a sense of reassurance.
There was a chance to hold the base!
Then what were they waiting for? Kill the zombies!
Inside and outside the iron net, a forced alliance formed. The twenty-plus Tier 4 zombies began to perish at a slow but steady pace.
Half an hour later.
The final Tier 4 zombie fell at Wei Yan’s hands.
With their leaders dead, the remaining zombie tide wandered aimlessly for a while before finally retreating.
The moment the horde completely disappeared into the boundless darkness, a deafening cheer erupted from inside the iron net.
Many people even wept with joy.
They had held on! They really held on!
Outside the iron net, dozens of ability users simultaneously turned their gazes to Wei Yan.
Guan Zixuan jumped down from the vehicle, picked up a fallen Tier 4 crystal, and also looked up at Wei Yan.
“BrothervWei, it’s time, isn’t it?”
Pang Cancan rummaged through the vehicle and pulled out a loudspeaker.
Not only were they watching—so were the many ability users inside the iron net.
Everyone was waiting—what exactly did these people want?
Under countless eyes, Wei Yan took the loudspeaker.
This was a pre-planned act, a strategy guaranteed to succeed.
His steady voice echoed across the sentry posts.
“Hello, everyone. My name is Wei Yan. We, along with the ability users who defended the Southern Base just days ago—including Su Su and her giant python—are all ability users from a neighboring New-Type Base.”
“A little over a month ago, when a zombie tide struck, we rescued a small base and developed it into today’s New-Type Base. Those who frequently travel between bases should have heard of our reputation.”
“I believe that through these last two zombie tides, you’ve all personally experienced our strength.”
“At the same time, I also believe that you’ve all seen with your own eyes the cruelty of your so-called city lord and his elite squad. If we hadn’t arrived, all of you would have become sacrifices in their escape!”
His words resonated powerfully with the ordinary people and low-tier ability users alike.
Yes! If the neighboring base hadn’t arrived in time, the Southern Base would have fallen tonight!
And they—would have been swallowed by the zombie tide.
Who was to blame for all this?
The city lord!
If he hadn’t insisted on attacking Su Su and her python after they had just secured the sentry posts, the base’s combat power wouldn’t have suffered so badly! If not for that, they wouldn’t have been defenseless when the second zombie tide struck!
And blame his elite ability squad too!
They had first cut off everyone’s escape route, and then tried to abandon everyone and flee!
With a base governed by such people, what future did they have?
The loudspeaker blared again.
“The Southern Base has suffered severe ability user losses. Without enough combat power, every future zombie tide will bring complete annihilation upon you.”
“So, I hope you will open the protective net and let us in.”
The Azure Dragon Squad finally understood this group’s true intentions.
They wanted to take over the Southern Base without shedding a single drop of blood—completely replacing the current ruling force and seizing full control!
The captain frantically shouted into the intercom, hoping that He Heng would appear in time to suppress these ambitious outsiders.
No one answered.
But then, someone… opened the protective net.
It was a Tier 3 ability user—one of the few who had remained steadfast in the sentry post without fleeing!
He had long been stationed in the Eastern Hunting Zone, familiar with every mechanism and effortlessly unlocked the gate to welcome them in.
“I am willing to replace the leadership of the Southern Base!”
A hoarse voice rang out from the crowd, quickly followed by a chorus of agreement.
If there had been no alternative, they might have continued enduring the city lord’s rule…
But now, they had a better choice.
This new group was strong, had stepped up in times of crisis, and had repelled two waves of zombie tides.
Including that giant python! At the start, it too had been one of the defenders of the base!
Even if their character was questionable, at least their strength was enough to bear the responsibility of the Southern Base!
One after another, off-road vehicles drove into the base through the opened gate, greeted by cheers from the lower-tier ability users in the sentry posts.
The high-tier ability users, however, remained silent and observant.
They had no true allegiance—whoever ruled the base made no difference to them. The priority now was to quickly replenish the base’s combat power before the third wave of zombies arrived.
As for the Azure Dragon Squad, the last remaining force representing the old regime…
All they could do was watch helplessly as Wei Yan and his people walked into the base.
The captain, still desperately trying to contact He Heng, suddenly widened his eyes.
The air around him compressed, as if all oxygen had been sucked away. A tremendous pressure crushed against his head.
It was Wei Yan!
Wei Yan was attacking him!
They were both Tier 4 ability users, so even a sneak attack wouldn’t kill him instantly. The captain struggled fiercely, resisting the invisible force pressing down on him—
Until—
A tiny, insignificant venomous insect landed on the back of his neck, its razor-sharp mandibles sinking into his flesh.
The poison spread rapidly through his organs.
His eyes rolled back as his strength drained away, and the surrounding air pressure suddenly intensified—
Boom!
His head was crushed to pieces!
“Captain!”
“It’s you! You killed our captain!”
Wei Yan’s gaze swept over them—a cold, undeniable threat.
The squad members, shocked and furious, immediately fell silent.
Their strongest captain had died at the hands of the outsiders…
The Southern Base’s power had truly shifted.