52: A Level 2 mutant has been discovered underground, and survivors in Qingyang County are eager to return home.

Chapter Fifty-Four: A Level 2 Mutant Appears Underground; The Survivors of Qingyang County Surrender Their Hearts

The chaotic battle inside the grain depot lasted only ten minutes before ending in a one-sided slaughter.

Those stubborn strongmen were either burnt to charcoal by the flame throwers of the Bone Armor Power Armor squad or had their bones shattered by a single punch from the Awakened One, Wang Hu. The Bald Man was so suppressed by Lin Yan's speed that he had no power to fight back, eventually being pinned to the ground by soldiers, unable to move. The dozen or so zombies that had crashed through the wall were also turned into a pile of minced meat under the dense firepower of Assault Team Two.

As the smoke cleared, the woman holding the child knelt on the ground, bowing repeatedly to the soldiers. Over a hundred survivors also stood up, their eyes filled with gratitude. Lin Zhou waved his hand, signaling everyone not to stand on ceremony, then crouched down and looked at the young man named Chen Yang: "Where is the entrance to the underground warehouse?"

Chen Yang did not dare to delay and quickly pointed to a stone slab in the northwest corner of the grain depot: "Right there! After that group of strongmen occupied the grain depot, they sent someone down once. The person who returned said there was a monster covered in bone spurs inside, and many shiny stones were hidden there—what you call crystal cores..."

He paused, his voice carrying the relief and bitterness of surviving a disaster: "Qingyang County originally had a population of 120,000. During the first few days of the apocalypse, zombies flooded the streets like a tide. If you were a step too slow, you became their rations. With a survival rate of five-thousandths, those who have lived until now are all tough people who have rolled through the gates of hell."

Chen Yang pointed to the survivors huddled in the corner, then tilted his chin toward the north of the city: "The grain depot here is the last gathering point in the county seat. Including those just rescued, there are five hundred and seventy-three people in total, mostly young adults and children. The factory in the south and the Hospital in the west held out for half a month before being overrun by zombies; the people inside are likely all gone. Only the mountainous area in the north has treacherous terrain that's easy to defend and hard to attack. I reckon there are still a hundred or so people hiding there, but no one dares to head that way to scout for news."

Lin Zhou's heart sank slightly. Out of 120,000 people, only six hundred remained. Behind this cold number were countless broken families and wails of despair. But a survival rate of five-thousandths was already a blessing among misfortunes compared to those counties that had completely become dead cities.

"Wang Hu, take ten Power Armor soldiers and follow me down to scout it out!" Lin Zhou ordered in a deep voice. At the same time, he took a pitch-black pistol from his tactical belt—it was the energy submachine pistol rewarded by the system when he was promoted to Regiment Commander. The gun body was forged from Dark Energy Alloy, and the magazine was filled with Compressed Crystal Energy Rounds. At close range, it could pierce the bone armor of a Level 1 Mutant, its power far exceeding ordinary firearms.

"Yes!" Wang Hu responded and immediately gathered the team.

The stone slab was lifted, revealing a dark entrance, and a foul, bloody stench wafted out. Chen Hao stood at the entrance, closed his eyes to concentrate his senses for a moment, and spoke with a grave expression: "Commander, there is a very strong energy fluctuation inside; it's the aura of a Level 2 crystal core! Also... there's a powerful Mutant. Its heartbeat is heavy and forceful; it should be the bone-spurred monster Chen Yang mentioned!"

Lin Zhou gripped the energy submachine pistol. The cool touch from the gun body steadied his mind, and he was the first to jump down.

The underground warehouse was larger than expected, filled with moldy grain. On the walls, dense bone spurs protruded from the concrete, glinting with a cold light. In the deepest part of the warehouse, a zombie even more robust than a Power Colonist was prone on the ground, gnawing on something.

[Level 2 Mutated Zombie · Bone Thorn Body]

- Appearance: Two and a half meters tall, covered in blade-like bone spurs. The head is retracted within bone armor, limbs are thick, and the claws on the fingertips are half a meter long. There is a large scar on its back, likely a mark left by a previous human attack.

- Ability Settings: Strength is 5 times that of an ordinary zombie. Bone spurs can block machine gun bullets and can be actively fired with a range of ten meters. Speed is twice as fast as a Power Colonist, specializing in ambushes in dark places. 100% probability of producing a Level 2 crystal core; the crystal core energy is ten times that of a Level 1 crystal core.

- Weakness/Limitations: Afraid of bright light; the stronger the light, the slower its movements. After firing bone spurs, its back is exposed, which is its fatal weakness.

The Bone Thorn Body seemed to sense movement and suddenly raised its head. A pair of crimson eyes stared fixedly at Lin Zhou and the others, a low growl emitting from its throat.

"Fire!" Lin Zhou gave the order, and the energy submachine pistol in his hand was the first to spit tongues of fire.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Three crystal energy rounds accurately hit the Bone Thorn Body's head. Although they failed to penetrate the bone armor, they rattled its head, leaving it dazed. Wang Hu and the soldiers immediately pulled their triggers. Bullets hit the Bone Thorn Body's armor with clinking sounds but could not penetrate at all. The Bone Thorn Body roared, and the spurs on its back suddenly shot out, raining down on everyone like a storm.

"Dodge!" Lin Zhou shouted, while simultaneously sidestepping two whistling bone spurs.

Everyone dodged one after another. The bone spurs hit the walls, instantly piercing through the concrete layer. Lin Zhou took the opportunity to pull out a High-intensity Flashbang, pulled the pin, and hurled it at the Bone Thorn Body.

“Boom!”

A blinding light erupted. The Bone Thorn Body let out a pained hiss, its body trembling violently, and its movements became significantly sluggish.

"Now! Aim for the scar on its back!" Lin Zhou shouted loudly, his energy submachine pistol locking onto the target again.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Wang Hu's eyes. He activated the amplification function of his Bone Armor Power Armor, his muscles tensing instantly as he charged toward the Bone Thorn Body. The Bone Thorn Body sensed danger and tried to turn around but was left dizzy and disoriented by the bright light.

"Die!" Wang Hu roared, slamming a fist heavily into the scar on the Bone Thorn Body's back.

"Crack!"

The sound of bone fracturing rang out. The Bone Thorn Body let out a shrill scream as dark green body fluid splashed everywhere. Lin Zhou seized the opportunity, rushing forward a few steps. He pressed the energy submachine pistol against the Bone Thorn Body's scar and pulled the trigger repeatedly.

The crystal energy rounds released their full power, instantly blasting a large hole in the Bone Thorn Body's back. Wang Hu did not stop, raining down several more punches until the Bone Thorn Body's body went completely limp on the ground, no longer moving.

A soldier immediately stepped forward and cut open the Bone Thorn Body's cranial cavity. A fist-sized, pale blue crystal core lay quietly inside, emitting rich energy fluctuations.

System Prompt: Killed Level 2 Mutated Zombie · Bone Thorn Body ×1, obtained Level 2 crystal core ×1, energy points +50,000, resource points +20,000, unlocked [Bone Spur Weapon Forging Technology]!

Lin Zhou took the Level 2 crystal core, his heart surging with excitement. With this kind of crystal core, the strength of the Awakened Ones would surely reach a new level.

With the crisis in the underground warehouse resolved, the group returned to the surface with the crystal core. As the news spread, the survivors in the grain depot erupted in cheers. Lin Zhou stood on high ground, looking down at the weathered faces below, and said loudly: "I am Commander Lin Zhou of Dawn City! From today on, all survivors of Qingyang County can join Dawn City! We have food, we have weapons, and we have a safe home! Those willing to come with us, gather at the grain depot in three days!"

"We're willing! We're willing!"

The shouts of the survivors shook the sky. Some wept with joy, some hugged the children beside them tightly, and the hope of living on finally ignited in their eyes.

Chen Yang walked to Lin Zhou's side and handed over a crumpled hand-drawn map: "Commander, this is a detailed map of Qingyang County. I know the mountain roads well. I'm willing to lead you to find the people in the North Mountains. Even if there's only a sliver of hope, we can't give up!"

Lin Zhou took the map and patted his shoulder: "Good! From today on, you are the leader of the Qingyang County survivors!"

As the sun set, the afterglow stretched the shadow of the grain depot very long. Lin Zhou looked at the continuous North Mountains in the distance, knowing clearly that the survivors there might hide unknown secrets or even dormant dangers. But over six hundred lives were the most precious sparks in this apocalypse. As long as there was still one person waiting for rescue, this expedition could not stop.

The faint glow emitted by that Level 2 crystal core was exceptionally dazzling in the twilight. It was not only the key to weapon research and development but also the foundation for humanity to survive in this apocalypse.