Chapter 253, "All Skeletons"
Hearing about a level 3 zombie, Li Yanhong's expression became serious.
For the current survivors, even level 2 zombies posed a threat capable of destroying shelters.
Level 3 mutated zombies not only have enhanced abilities but also possess higher intelligence.
Using tricks and traps against them is ineffective; they won't fall for it.
And in direct combat, humans are no match for level 3 zombies.
This greatly compresses the living space for survivors.
The best strategy is to avoid them—wherever they appear, keep away.
Li Yanhong, still frowning, asked, "Are you sure it's a level 3 mutated zombie?"
"It's highly likely, and even if it's not, it's close to a level 3 mutated zombie," Qi Hancai replied.
Li Yanhong thought for a moment before saying, "What's the plan for cooperation?"
Qi Hancai smiled again and said, "We kill the zombies together, the corpse cores are yours, and we split the other loot from the area evenly between our two shelters."
"Oh? Doesn't that mean Leader Qi is at a disadvantage?"
"We don't have the strength to take down that area, so we still need the auto repair shop's combat power," Qi Hancai crossed her legs and continued, "We're just providing some intel and a bit of combat support."
Upon reflection, it was clear why Qi Hancai had made this choice.
Level 3 corpse cores have a very low success rate when consumed.
And she didn't have the combat power of the auto repair shop, so she'd definitely get a smaller share of the loot.
Giving up the corpse cores and splitting the rest of the loot evenly was the best way.
It looked sincere, and she wasn't losing out either.
Li Yanhong waited a moment before saying, "We agree to the split. Now, tell me about the other details."
"The mutated zombie is in a neighborhood not far from our village. We can confirm there's a level 3 mutated zombie and a large number of regular zombies inside. Nothing else special," Qi Hancai said, observing Li Yanhong's reaction.
When Li Yanhong remained silent, Qi Hancai added, probing, "I heard that Leader Li awakened a new fire-based ability. Is that true?"
"Is there a problem with that?"
"Please don't misunderstand, Leader Li. Since we're working together, I thought it would be good to confirm each other's abilities so we can coordinate better," Qi Hancai explained.
"Then will Leader Qi also share her abilities with me?"
"Of course!" Qi Hancai stood up, stepped on the back of her shoes to remove her boots, and then did the same with the other, revealing her bare feet.
She then walked to the edge of the room, placing a foot on the wall, and continued climbing it step by step until she reached the ceiling.
Her feet clung tightly to the ceiling, her entire body hanging upside down, her hair dangling down.
The people from Dong'an Village remained unfazed.
But the folks from the auto repair shop looked visibly surprised.
Such an ability exists?
It seemed similar to the 'Crawler' zombies that could scale walls.
After her demonstration, Qi Hancai jumped down from the ceiling, put her boots back on, and swung a kick.
With a bang, she shattered a wooden chair like a steel whip.
"Besides wall climbing, my leg strength is also enhanced, able to unleash three to four times the power of an average person," Qi Hancai explained after finishing.
Then, she looked at Li Yanhong.
"Open the windows and clear the area," Li Yanhong instructed. Someone immediately opened the windows and cleared the people outside.
Once all was clear, Li Yanhong raised her hand and conjured a crimson fireball, tossing it out the window.
With a bang, the fireball exploded, sending streams of flame scattering across the ground.
Qi Hancai and her team's pupils shrank in shock.
The fire-based ability was more powerful than they had anticipated.
Compared to wall climbing, throwing an explosive fireball that ignited the surroundings was far more lethal against zombies.
The difference in strength between the abilities was clear.
Li Yanhong rubbed her hand, which had just released the fireball, and asked, "When do we set off? How many people can you bring?"
"The best would be to leave tomorrow. I'll bring seventy people and seven handguns," Qi Hancai replied.
"That's too many people. Reduce your numbers to ten."
"Why?" Qi Hancai exclaimed in confusion.
Typically, when collaborating with other shelters, they would ask for more manpower, but this was the first time someone complained about having too many.
Li Yanhong pointed at the skeletons patrolling outside and said, "The main combatants will be the skeletons. Too many people will only be a burden. Don't worry; we won't gamble with our lives."
Qi Hancai didn't respond immediately but sat in another intact chair, arms crossed, contemplating.
She occasionally glanced at Li Yanhong and the skeleton soldiers patrolling outside the window.
In the end, she nodded and agreed, "Fine, I'll reduce it to ten people. What time should we meet tomorrow?"
"Around 8 a.m. Bring your people over then."
"Alright, it's settled."
Qi Hancai stood up, bid farewell, and turned to leave.
......
After she left.
Wu Heng walked back from the rear.
Li Yanhong said, "I didn't expect Qi Hancai's abilities to be wall climbing and leg enhancement."
"It seems similar to Chen Jinlong's ability in the prison. Unlocking physical potential to enhance bodily strength," Wu Heng recalled.
The difference being Chen Jinlong's enhancement was full-body, whereas Qi Hancai's was focused on her legs.
"Leg enhancement is okay, but wall climbing doesn't seem to have much advantage against zombies, unless she's using it to escape by clinging to walls," Li Yanhong thought aloud.
Wu Heng sat down beside her, "Sometimes, for a woman like her, awakening an ability shows her determination and luck."
"You're right. Anyone in her position probably wouldn't have her kind of courage."
Even Li Yanhong had to admire her for that.
"Get the convoy ready. Tomorrow, we'll head to the place she mentioned."
"Okay!"
......
The next day, outside the passenger station.
"Sister Hong, Qi Hancai's convoy has arrived. They have two SUVs," came a voice over the walkie-talkie.
Li Yanhong, sitting in the car, responded, "Give them a walkie-talkie so we can keep in touch on the road."
"Understood."
Before long, Qi Hancai's voice came through, "Leader Li, we're ready on our side. We can set off anytime."
"Relay the position to the lead vehicle. Your car should merge behind the third truck to avoid zombie attacks," Li Yanhong instructed.
"Got it!"
Li Yanhong gave the next order, "Alright, convoy, move out. Report any issues immediately."
"Received!"
"Copy that!"
......
The convoy roared to life.
The lead truck, fitted with a triangular metal bumper, drove out first.
Followed by a line of trucks and commercial vehicles.
Qi Hancai and her team watched enviously as the well-armed convoy rolled by. After the third truck passed.
They drove their vehicles into the convoy's gap, following along.
......
Nearing dusk.
The convoy approached the area with the zombies.
From a distance, a neighborhood came into view.
Qi Hancai spoke through the walkie-talkie, "The level 3 zombie I mentioned is in the neighborhood ahead. I suggest using the skeletons to lure the zombies out in batches to ease the pressure on our teams."
"Hold on! Stay in your vehicles and don't move yet," Li Yanhong said and then fell silent.
Qi Hancai, who had just been discussing strategies, froze with the walkie-talkie in her hand.
After a couple of seconds, she set it down.
The members of Dong'an Village Shelter all looked displeased.
"What's with this attitude, acting like we're begging them."
"Had we known, we would've partnered with Ma Zhiyong instead."
"..."
Qi Hancai glanced outside.
She said, "Let's not rush. Let's see what they do first. For them to be doing better than Ma Zhiyong, they must have some real skills."
The others nodded and stayed quiet.
......
On the bus.
After waiting for a while, Xiaoxiao flew back from a distance.
She made a few gestures and merged into Wu Heng's body.
The scene Xiaoxiao had just seen was shared with him.
The neighborhood was filled with densely packed zombies.
In the parking lot, a massive zombie sat on top of a car, crushing the roof beneath it.
The zombie was larger than the Big Guy, with black, insect-like armor growing from its neck and shoulders.
Its heavy body had dented the car's roof beneath it.
Not far from the giant zombie, there was a level 2 Big Guy swinging its fists, pounding the hood of a car.
The loud bangs echoed through the parking lot.
Zombies in the vicinity, attracted by the noise, shuffled back and forth.
Wu Heng looked at Li Yanhong and said, "There are a lot of zombies. One should be a level 3 mutated zombie and one a level 2 mutated zombie."
"Two mutated zombies?"
"So many!!"
"Yeah, let the convoy know not to get out of their vehicles and not to honk."
Li Yanhong picked up the walkie-talkie and said, "There's a horde inside the neighborhood, plus two mutated zombies. Stay in your vehicles, and don't honk!"
"Roger that!"
"Copy that!"
......
Inside the SUV.
"Two mutated zombies? We only saw one. How do they know without even getting out of their vehicles?"
Someone in the SUV asked, puzzled.
They had spent days confirming basic intel.
Now, the convoy stopped for just a moment.
And they had already identified two mutated zombies?
At least get out, use binoculars, or something.
"Maybe they used a drone."
"That thing is loud and would definitely attract zombies in the neighborhood."
"Probably some detection-type ability!"
"Could be. So that means they've got three ability users."
The more they speculated, the more surprised they became.
"Stop guessing. I'm more curious to see how they plan to fight these zombies," Qi Hancai said.
But just as she finished.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock, staring in horror at the back of the truck ahead.
The canvas cover of the truck bed opened, revealing skeletons in leather armor, wielding melee weapons, jumping out one by one.
"Look over there, so many."
They looked to one side.
The skeletons were already forming ranks, and in the last row they could see.
Were skeleton archers, each holding a crossbow and wearing a quiver.
"Holy crap! That truck isn't carrying supplies—it's full of skeletons!"