2: The first appearance of the zombie horde

Chapter 2: The First Appearance of the Zombie Tide, Scavenging Iron for Gold

The crimson rain was still pitter-pattering down. When Lin Zhou's Fire Axe split the skull of the last Speed Type zombie, thick black blood splashed across half of Su Mei's face. She didn't even flinch, simply wiping the stain away with the back of her hand, her gaze locked onto the dense mass of the zombie horde at the end of the street.

"At least a hundred, mostly Ordinary Types, mixed with seven or eight Speed Types." Su Mei's voice was still raspy, but it carried the characteristic calm of a soldier. "They were attracted by the noise just now; they'll surround us within three minutes."

Lin Zhou nodded, glancing at the three deep-to-the-bone scratches on her arm. The area around the wounds had already turned an abnormal greenish-black, clearly indicating the zombie virus was spreading. He didn't ask much, just tossed the Fire Axe over: "Take it, for self-defense."

Su Mei was stunned for a moment. She looked at the cold, glinting Fire Axe, then at Lin Zhou's empty hands, and finally took it. Her stance as she gripped the axe was standard and crisp; she was clearly someone used to cold weapons.

"There's a power station on the rooftop. It can block the rain, and we can treat your wounds there." Lin Zhou pointed overhead. "Go up first. I'm still short 23 metal points; I need to scavenge some supplies from downstairs."

Su Mei said no more, taking the lead and retreating toward the stairwell. Her steps were steady, dagger still held in her palm, alert to any movement around her. Lin Zhou brought up the rear, his gaze scanning the abandoned vehicles on both sides of the street, finally landing on an overturned pickup truck—its bed was filled with rebar, and there was a rusted iron toolbox. It was definitely a gold mine for metal points.

"Follow me closely," Lin Zhou barked softly, vaulting toward the pickup. His tactical prowess as a veteran was on full display. His feet stepped into the puddles without making a sound, his body agile like a cheetah, avoiding broken glass and snapped rebar on the ground.

Su Mei followed closely behind, the Fire Axe dancing in her hand like a blur. Any Ordinary Type zombie that slipped through and lunged was split open at the skull by her axe. Her movements were clean and efficient, not inferior to Lin Zhou's at all.

"Clang!"

Lin Zhou kicked open the pickup's door and reached for the rebar in the bed. As the cold metal sensation came through, the system prompt immediately rang in his mind:

[Devoured a medium amount of rusted rebar. metal points +18. Current metal points: 7 (original 5 + new 2) → 25]

[Convert to red alert system resources? Yes/No]

"Convert!" Lin Zhou said without hesitation.

[red alert system metal: 25, power: 10]

[Barracks construction requirements: metal 30, power 5 -> metal 25 met, 5 short; power sufficient.]

He was still short 5 metal points. Lin Zhou's eyes fell on the iron toolbox nearby. He reached out and pulled the box over. Just as his fingertips touched the casing, the system prompt rang again:

[Devoured a small amount of iron plating. metal points +6. Current metal points: 31]

[Convert to red alert system resources? Yes/No]

"Convert!"

[red alert system metal: 31, power: 10]

[All Barracks construction requirements met! Build immediately? Yes/No]

Lin Zhou was overjoyed. Just as he was about to speak, Su Mei's low shout came from behind: "Watch out!"

He spun around abruptly to see three Speed Type zombies darting from the street corner. They were as fast as ghosts, claws lunging for his back. Su Mei reacted instantly, her Fire Axe sweeping out and catching the hind leg of one. The zombie shrieked and tumbled to the ground, but the other two didn't pause, continuing their lunge at Lin Zhou.

"Perfect timing!"

Lin Zhou didn't retreat but instead stepped forward, sidestepping one zombie's swipe. His right hand shot out like lightning, accurately grabbing the other zombie's wrist. The grappling techniques he learned in the military came into play; he exerted sudden force, and with a crisp "crack," the zombie's arm was snapped clean off.

At the same time, he kicked the zombie in the chest, sending it flying. It crashed right into the bed of the pickup truck, its brains splattering.

On the other side, Su Mei had already dealt with the remaining two Speed Types. Her Fire Axe was coated in black blood, and her breathing was ragged. The greenish-black discoloration on her arm had spread to her elbow, and her face was turning pale.

"Go!" Lin Zhou didn't linger, grabbing Su Mei's arm and rushing toward the stairwell.

The zombie horde behind them was closing in, their roars deafening. Countless cloudy eyes were fixed on them, like wolves eyeing their prey.

The two rushed into the stairwell. Lin Zhou slammed the fire door shut behind them and dragged a nearby concrete block to prop it up. Thuds immediately echoed from the door panel as zombie claws scraped against the iron door, making a screeching sound that made one's skin crawl.

"Get to the rooftop, fast!" Lin Zhou barked.

Su Mei gritted her teeth, forcing herself upward. With every step, a surge of sharp pain came from the wound on her arm, and the dizziness from the spreading virus grew stronger. Seeing this, Lin Zhou simply half-supported and half-carried her, sprinting up to the rooftop.

As soon as they reached the rooftop, Lin Zhou immediately issued the command in his mind: "Build Barracks!"

[Consumed metal 30. Remaining metal: 1, power: 5. Please select a construction location.]

He selected the empty space next to the power station. A pale blue light descended once more. As the light faded, a fifteen-square-meter Barracks appeared. The grey walls were stamped with the iconic red alert five-pointed star, and the searchlights at the entrance automatically lit up, illuminating the rooftop as bright as day.

[Barracks construction complete! Basic unit available for training: Conscript (metal 5, power 2, Training time: 1 minute per person)]

[Detected survivor Su Mei has been recruited. Gained 10 faith points! faith points can be used to upgrade the Barracks; once upgraded, higher-tier units can be trained.]

Lin Zhou breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at Su Mei. She had collapsed on the ground, her face as pale as paper, lips purple, and the greenish-black stain on her arm had reached her shoulder.

"Hang in there!" Lin Zhou immediately rushed to the power station to rummage through the supplies inside. Fortunately, the power station contained not only diesel but also a first-aid kit with iodine, gauze, and several antibiotics.

Without the slightest hesitation, he poured the iodine onto Su Mei's wound. Su Mei's whole body convulsed in pain, but she didn't make a sound, simply biting her lip hard, her forehead covered in cold sweat.

"There's no specific cure for the zombie virus. You can only rely on antibiotics to suppress it and your own constitution to pull through," Lin Zhou said while wrapping her wound tightly with gauze. "You're a special forces soldier with a strong foundation; you'll definitely make it."

Su Mei struggled to open her eyes, looking toward the Barracks and then at Lin Zhou. "That... what is that? red alert?"

Lin Zhou didn't hide it. "A system. It can build bases and train troops."

A flicker of shock crossed Su Mei's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. "Good stuff... with this, we can survive."

Just then, a loud crash echoed from the rooftop entrance. The fire door had been broken open by the zombies!

A festering zombie was the first to charge up, followed by a second, a third... The dark mass of zombies surged up the stairs, their roars deafening.

Lin Zhou's gaze sharpened. He immediately walked to the Barracks entrance and issued the command: "Train Conscript!"

[Consumed metal 1, power 2. Training Conscript x1. Remaining metal 0, power 8. Training time: 1 minute.]

The Barracks doors slowly opened, and a Conscript wearing camouflage, a steel helmet, and carrying an AK47 stepped out. His eyes were sharp, his movements disciplined as he saluted Lin Zhou: "Commander!"

Lin Zhou clenched his fists. He glanced at the second Conscript currently in training, then at the approaching zombie horde, and turned to pick up the Fire Axe from the ground.

The crimson rain continued to pour, and the rooftop searchlight cut a beam of light through the curtain of rain.

Lin Zhou stood at the edge of the rooftop. Beside him was the fully trained Conscript, and behind him were the glowing Barracks and power station.

The zombie tide below was like a black wave, surging forward relentlessly.

And atop the rooftop, that single spark of steel fire was slowly beginning to burn amidst the wind and rain.