A few days later.
A video conference of the Three Major Bases.
Top-tier experts watched the image before them: a transport vehicle driving on a desolate road. Ahead, two zombies appeared; one was a strength-type zombie, the other a normal one.
The transport vehicle slowly came to a stop.
A figure appeared, looking as if it had emerged from a world of future battle armor. Its entire body was covered in black metal, a straight dao slung across its back, the hilt wrapped with a black cloth that swayed in the wind.
Upon its appearance, the normal zombie walking beside the strength-type zombie turned its head, let out roars, and then charged at high speed towards the mysterious armor.
Facing the charging zombie, the mysterious armor didn't move. Instead, at the moment the zombie approached, a metal-clad fist suddenly struck towards the zombie's head. With a thud, the normal zombie's head exploded like a watermelon.
Watching the image, the top-tier experts from the Three Major Bases showed expressions of astonished admiration.
A light of hope flickered in their eyes.
Professor Ha slowly said, "The powered exoskeleton armor, a development series of the mobility platform, cannot be considered version 2.0. Instead, it is a culmination of human wisdom, an entirely new battle armor to combat the apocalypse. I call him Cang Long. Its capabilities are far beyond this; continue watching."
In the picture.
Hung Ung, wearing the Cang Long battle armor, felt the power brought by technology and crystals. It was truly an unprecedented exhilaration. Even when facing the distant strength-type zombie, he wasn't flustered in the slightest.
Previously, he needed to cooperate with Diep Hong to barely kill a strength-type zombie. But now, he was confident he could easily obliterate the opponent by himself.
"Ao ao..."
The strength-type zombie roared, angrily rushing towards Hung Ung.
Hung Ung slowly drew the straight dao slung across his back. This straight dao had already absorbed seventeen crystals; the Cang Long battle armor had absorbed nineteen. The all-around enhancement had brought this suit of armor an unimaginable upgrade.
It had also been upgraded to its limit.
This was a discovery made by Professor Ha through research: Lam Pham's Frostmourne, when placed on the ground, could not be moved by anyone but himself.
This situation was extremely crucial. Finally, through experiments, it was found that when an item absorbed twenty crystals, it could no longer be moved by humans, and it was also a waste for them, squandering twenty crystals.
Twenty was a threshold.
To this day, Professor Ha still hadn't understood why this situation occurred; he could only assume it was a kind of qualitative change.
As the strength-type zombie approached, Hung Ung gripped his straight dao, leaned to the side, and slashed. Pfft, he directly severed the strength-type zombie's arm. Simultaneously, the enraged strength-type zombie spun violently, its other arm smashing towards Hung Ung, a colossal force erupting.
If it were the previous situation, Hung Ung would have long been sent flying by this immense force.
But now, he was actually unharmed, merely taking a few steps back. Then, with a horizontal slash at the strength-type zombie's waist, thwack, as if cutting through tofu, he directly bisected the strength-type zombie. Viscous blood flowed out profusely.
With a loud crash.
The strength-type zombie fell to the ground.
Hung Ung gripped his dao, cut open the strength-type zombie's head, took out the crystal, knowing the entire process was being broadcast live. He dangled the crystal in his hand, as if to say, "Very simple, problem solved."
At this moment.
Everyone in the conference room was shocked by the image before them.
They had never imagined that killing an evolved zombie could be so simple.
There was no discernible difficulty at all.
Professor Ha was very calm. He found the current situation quite normal. After all, with so many crystals used, if it were still an evenly matched fight against a strength-type zombie, then it would truly be desperate for humanity.
"Everyone, humanity's future begins from this moment. Although there is only one suit of Cang Long battle armor for now, I firmly believe that as long as we advance with hope, more Cang Long battle armors will appear."
He was like a shot of strong stimulant, fiercely injected into everyone's hearts.
He needed everyone to feel hopeful.
However, the requirements for wearing the Cang Long battle armor were very high. One had to be a "King of Soldiers" from the military to truly unleash its power. If an ordinary person wore it, their physical fitness, nerve reactions, and combat experience would all be insufficient. It was just that the number of survivors currently suitable to wear the Cang Long battle armor was truly too few.
...
Duong Quang Complex.
The complex's first reading recital officially began. The children, in an orderly fashion, took turns going on stage to recite, some reciting ancient poems from memory, others reciting essays.
The adults sat on small stools, watching with smiles on their faces. To them, their current life was truly something they had never imagined. Could this really be experienced in the apocalypse?
Other survivors were struggling to survive in the apocalypse.
But they were gnawing on melon seeds, drinking tea, leisurely watching the children perform, immersed in joy.
Khuong Vi and Luc Sinh stood in a corner, watching everything before them. They had a sense of illusion, a feeling of unreality. They were survivors recently brought back by Lam Pham, enjoying the benefits here.
Previously, they had truly been prepared to desperately struggle with all sorts of work within Duong Quang Complex, or to be supervised, needing to be mindful of others' expressions.
But now, they felt it was truly illusory.
In the morning, they could have congee, eat bread, do what they wanted to do. Even if they slept in, no one would say anything. Could this kind of apocalyptic life be the same as their previous apocalyptic life?
They looked at that god-like figure's back. It was he who had created all of this, bringing a different kind of life to the people here.
If there was a savior in the world, he was the only savior.
If there was a True God in the world, he was the only True God.
But at this moment.
The applause was incessant.
"Sister Dinh Dinh is so amazing, truly amazing!"
A group of young children looked at Dinh Dinh with adoration. Just now, Sister Dinh Dinh had recited a prose piece in one go, without a single mistake, and had also very clearly explained the meaning the prose intended to convey.
In the hearts of these young children, Sister Dinh Dinh was the absolute best.
Dinh Dinh bowed to the parents in the audience, then stepped down. As she passed by Phi Phi, she made a fist, "Sister Phi Phi, good luck!"
Phi Phi blinked, looking utterly bewildered. She had received news yesterday about organizing the first reading recital and had taken it to heart. But when she wanted to read a book, she found it was a bit late, so she groggily fell asleep, completely unprepared. Seeing Dinh Dinh perform so well, in an instant, her pressure skyrocketed.
Under everyone's expectant gazes, Phi Phi, with a nervous heart, walked to the center. Looking at the crowd of expectant eyes, she felt a bit timid, her mind blank, somewhat at a loss.
Below the stage, Ly Mai covered her forehead. How could she not know her own daughter's capabilities? Where had she ever read a book? The stuff in her head was probably all "Balala the Little Fairies" transformations.
"Uncles and aunties, grandpas and grandmas, I now want to recite... recite a poem for everyone."
Phi Phi wracked her brains, and finally, she thought of what poem to recite. It had to be simple, very easy to memorize. Fortunately, when she was in school before, she had memorized poems, and even now, the memory was still fresh.
She cleared her throat, and lifted her head.
"Moonlight before my bed, I mistake it for frost on the ground, I lift my head to gaze at the bright moon, then lower my head and think of my old home. This one is called..."
Instantly, Phi Phi was a bit stumped. She remembered the verses very clearly, but she had actually forgotten what the poem's title was.
Bright Moonlight?
Thinking of My Old Home?
At this moment, Phi Phi had the urge to cry. Why am I always the one who gets hurt? So many adults are watching me, and I'm the good big sister to the children of Duong Quang Complex. I can't lose face here.
Hoang An An, who had been attracted by her mother hanging her outside the house to lure zombies, thought for a moment and said, "Sister Phi Phi, it's called 'Quiet Night Thought'."
"Right, it's 'Quiet Night Thought'! This poem aims to express the poet's longing for his hometown. Thank you, everyone, my recitation is over."
Phi Phi wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide in. I can't believe I'm not even as good as a seven-year-old Hoang An An.
It's so upsetting.
Lam Pham smiled and clapped, "Phi Phi is good, a very good recitation."
Everyone else also clapped. In their eyes, this kind of activity was not a competition, but a joyful movement that could bring happiness to everyone, letting those who were still alive know who they should strive for. These children were all the hope for the future; they should have had carefree and beautiful lives.
Not like them, shrouded by the disaster of the apocalypse.
As they were thinking this.
Lam Pham was thinking the same. He looked at these tender young faces, thinking of the past on the streets of Hoang City, the children's laughter and chatter, pooling money to buy an ice pop, sharing with each other. Such a harmonious and beautiful scene; one would smile knowingly upon seeing it.
...
In the city.
On the rooftop of a tall building.
Lam Pham sat on the edge of the rooftop, his legs dangling in the air, looking at everything in the distance. This was his hometown where he had lived for twenty years.
Beside him were two fireworks.
He took out a lighter from his pocket and lit the fuse.
Bang.
The loud explosion echoed in the sky.
He smelled the gunpowder, watching the agitated zombie hordes on the streets.
"A new round of cleanup starts now. You bunch of zombies, I'm serious about you now."
These zombies were irrational; they would devour all life, wanting to turn this once-prosperous Hoang City into a zombie nation, devoid of any vitality. He would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen.
"Ao ao!"
The zombies on the streets were increasing in number.
Within his sight, he saw some evolved zombies: strength-type, self-destruct-type, and also speed-type.
"Evolved zombies are gradually increasing after the thunderstorm; this is a dangerous signal."
Boom!
A firework exploded over the desolate city market.
Once, fireworks represented celebration and joy. Now, fireworks also represented the rebirth of Hoang City, representing Lam Pham, as an ordinary citizen of Hoang City, cheering for proactively clearing out these scoundrels who were the root cause of Hoang City's destruction.
"Come on."
Lam Pham pushed off lightly with both hands, descending from above. As he free-fell, he spun his body in mid-air, indifferently drawing Frostmourne, his eyes glinting with starlight.
He swung his arm.
Silvery sword light flashed. Countless zombies were seen being violently torn in half, viscous flesh and blood spraying about, while he, like a walker in adversity, wantonly and ruthlessly, unceasingly reaped all calamities.
Pfft!
Pfft!
No matter what kind of zombie appeared before Lam Pham, it would be easily sliced in half by him. Among them was a zombie with broken legs, struggling to crawl towards Lam Pham. Just as it was about to open its mouth, it was stomped into pieces by a single kick.
Perhaps for others, it was very dangerous, but for Lam Pham, as long as there was a zombie still standing, he would kill every last one of them until they were all gone.
...
Hoang City, a certain shop.
Some survivors were secretly gathering supplies.
There were a total of three survivors.
Belonging to a family of three.
Parents and daughter.
In the shop, they were grabbing various needed supplies. They lived in the building just opposite the shop. Since the beginning of the apocalypse, they had always stayed at home.
In the early stages, they were terrified by the situation outside.
People on the streets were like madmen, gnawing at each other. When they first saw this scene, they immediately thought of zombies.
Until the supplies in their home were completely exhausted.
They came out to gather supplies. They didn't know where the noise came from, but the zombies downstairs seemed to have been lured away, thus making this stretch of road temporarily safe.
"Be careful, don't make too much noise," the man said softly.
His wife and daughter both nodded.
Light-footed and gentle-handed.
Having witnessed the horror of zombies, a shadow had long been cast in their hearts. In their opinion, those things were simply not something humans could deal with.
They filled their backpacks.
They prepared to leave. As they were leaving the shop, an "Ao ao" sound came. Hearing this sound, their expressions instantly dimmed. After all, having survived until now, how could they not know what this sound was?
The man looked towards the source of the sound. A zombie, swaying, emerged from a shop, its struggling head and dull, pale eyes meeting the man's. With a roar, its ferocity erupted, and it pounced, knocking the man to the ground.
The man raised his arm, which was wrapped with books and adhesive tape, to block the zombie's bites.
"Go, you two, hurry!" The man's arm braced against the zombie's mouth, one hand gripping the zombie's neck. Facing the frantically biting zombie, his heart was terrified, a bone-chilling feeling arising spontaneously. He felt he was done for.
He wanted to push the zombie away, but the zombie's strength was immense. He thought that if he pushed the zombie away, his wife and daughter might be bitten. He could only hold on.
The mother and daughter, seeing this scene, were clearly terrified.
In her panic, the daughter searched around and saw an iron bar by the door. Without thinking, she grabbed it in her hands, gripped it with both hands, let out a low, angry grunt, and pfft, the iron bar pierced through the zombie's head.
The man pushed the zombie away. Just as he was about to run towards home with his wife and daughter, he saw several more zombies had spotted them, roaring ferociously and surging towards them.
In a brief moment.
The man considered the distance to home and their running speed. The elevator was broken; wanting to return home safely was impossible. He thought of running to the shop, but seeing the damaged rolling shutter, he knew that was impossible.
Then he saw the truck parked nearby.
"Quick, hide in the truck!"
The man led his family, running at high speed towards the truck, at the same time pulling out the iron pipe that had pierced the zombie's head.
Just at the moment they closed the truck door.
Thud.
A zombie rushed over, directly colliding with the truck door.
"Dad, what do we do?" The daughter was extremely scared.
"It's okay, Dad is here. You and your mom stay close together, absolutely don't get pulled out by the zombies."
The man panted, looking at the zombies frantically ramming the truck window. Cracks had already appeared on the window, as if it could shatter at any moment. The current situation made him feel extremely terrible.
He looked at the truck's key slot; it was empty.
His heart turned cold.
But even if there were keys, he would still feel utterly cold. None of their family of three knew how to drive; no one had even thought of learning.
Nowadays, people who didn't know how to drive were indeed rare.
Let alone a family of three where no one could.
This situation had to be traced back to before. Their family of three had once encountered a car accident. Later, watching various videos of driving disasters, a shadow was cast in their hearts.
They thought if they didn't know how to drive, they just wouldn't go out. Transportation was so convenient now: for long distances, they could take a plane or high-speed rail; for short distances, they could take a taxi.
If they bought a car, they would first need a parking space, then insurance, gas money, and so on.
Thinking it over and over, they just didn't learn to drive.
If he had known the apocalypse would happen, he would have learned to drive no matter what, driven his family out of Hoang City. At least outside, there would still be a chance of survival.
Where was it like now, only able to stay in Hoang City?
Crash!
The glass shattered. Zombies roared ferociously, their arms reaching through the car window, clawing wildly inside. Flesh and blood were right before their eyes, thoroughly igniting the zombies' ferocity.
Seeing his wife and daughter's lives threatened.
The man, without thinking, grabbed the iron pipe and thrust it towards a zombie's head. Pfft, it pierced the zombie's head. Then, bracing his foot against the door, he pulled out the iron pipe, along with viscous fluids, looking incredibly disgusting.
It made one feel nauseous.
Fortunately, his wife and daughter didn't scream. Facing the current situation, they were equally terrified but didn't foolishly hug their heads and scream, thereby causing even greater trouble.
The front door was smashed by the frantic zombies; zombies madly crawled into the truck.
The man continued to stab the zombies with the iron pipe, his expression tense and fierce. He couldn't let his family encounter danger; he had to use all his strength to kill the zombies.
These were all normal zombies. If they encountered an evolved zombie, even if this man held an iron pipe, it would be utterly useless.
Very quickly.
The man panted heavily. Just now, he felt as if the whole world had come to a standstill. Looking at the zombie corpses fallen outside, he didn't know why he had been so brave just now.
But the only side effect was... he felt as if his arm was no longer his own, aching and numb, as if without sensation.
"Are there... are there more?"
The man swallowed.
"Dad, over there, there's..."
The daughter pointed to a situation in the distance, her face pale with fright. She saw a large-bodied zombie, different from the other zombies. Merely looking at it, one could feel an extremely strong sense of oppression rolling over.
The man followed the direction his daughter pointed.
There were still zombies there. Among them was a huge zombie, twice as tall as the other zombies, with other normal zombies following behind it, heading in their direction.
The man's hands trembled unceasingly. Looking at his wife and daughter, their faces full of despair, he gritted his teeth and made a momentous decision.
"Wife, daughter, you two hide well in here, don't make a sound. I'll go lure this group of zombies away. Remember, don't be afraid, don't panic, always maintain composure and rationality."
"Daughter, you are a grown-up now; you must bravely face whatever happens in the future."
After the man finished speaking, he prepared to open the car door but was stopped by his daughter. He turned his head, his eyes red, his breath like a bull's, panting heavily.
The daughter looked at her once kind, always smiling father, now like this. Her heart suddenly clenched, an unspeakable discomfort welling up.
The wife looked at her man, tears in her eyes. She didn't want him to go out, but her daughter was still there. She had already decided: let the man go first, and she too would be prepared to sacrifice herself for her daughter.
If there were still zombies, then the next one to rush out would be her.
The man opened the car door, suppressed the fear in his heart, waved at the zombies not far away, then turned on his heel and ran.
Was he scared?
Definitely extremely scared.
But he was a woman's husband, a girl's father.
What is called a man?
Perhaps he didn't have a burly body, no heroic ambitions or lofty aspirations, but he had responsibility and commitment. When important people around him encountered danger, he could stand up without hesitation. Even if he sacrificed his own life, he would have no regrets.
"Ao ao!"
The distant zombies saw the running man, roared, and pounded their legs, ferociously chasing after their prey.
The strength-type zombie similarly roared and gave chase.
The man looked back at the pursuing zombies. A smile that shouldn't have appeared spread across his desperate and terrified face. To him, this was what he wanted to see.
All of this was worth it.
He glanced one last time at that minivan, a look of reluctance in his eyes. That was the bond of affection. During this escape, many images flashed through his mind.
A family of three, happy and harmonious.