C18 Rescue

Chen Yu bolted from the rooftop, making a beeline for the oil tanker he had spotted at the intersection.

It was a compact, modified 4.2-meter fuel tank truck, likely a mobile refueling station for a logistics company or fleet vehicles.

Despite its small stature, the truck's fuel supply was ample enough to create a fiery barrier across the small plaza in front of the mall.

This inferno would halt the advancing horde of zombies.

It would buy precious time for Chen Yu to rescue the survivors trapped inside the mall.

Even if a full evacuation wasn't possible, it would suffice for Chen Yu to wipe out all the zombies that had infiltrated the mall, while also severing the connections between floors, transforming the mall into a stronghold.

As long as he could stem the zombie tide and ensure a relatively safe haven for the survivors, Chen Yu would fearlessly face any Awakened zombies that might emerge, confident in his formidable abilities.

At the time of the disaster, the tanker was likely stopped at a traffic light, leaving the keys in the ignition.

The bloodstains in the cabin, however, bore silent witness to the driver's grim fate.

With most of the zombies drawn to the mall, Chen Yu commandeered the tanker with ease.

Buzz!

The engine's growl sent a jolt through Chen Yu as he sat in the driver's seat.

He deftly shifted gears and floored the accelerator.

The small tanker surged forward.

Approaching the mall, Chen Yu forcefully ripped a gash in the fuel tank.

Diesel's distinct scent instantly flooded his nostrils.

Chen Yu felt relieved it was diesel; had it been the more volatile gasoline, he wouldn't have risked such a forceful breach, nor would he have dared to employ fire as a weapon.

Gasoline posed a risk several times greater than diesel—a miscalculation could mean incinerating himself rather than the undead.

Without hesitation, Chen Yu spotted an opening in the zombie swarm in front of the mall, plotted his course, and slammed the gas pedal, plowing into the mass of undead.

The vehicle's momentum unleashed a gory maelstrom, sweeping numerous zombies beneath it.

The vehicle shook violently as it barreled forward, the windshield quickly smeared with the gore of zombies. Chen Yu, without a second thought, shattered it with a punch. Amidst the spray of tainted blood, the fuel tanker careened back and forth in front of the mall, Chen Yu desperately pouring diesel onto the plaza.

Once the fuel spread sufficiently, he leapt from the vehicle, watching as the tanker plowed into the densest cluster of zombies and toppled over. Igniting diesel wasn't as straightforward as gasoline; a mere spark could set it ablaze. Chen Yu first cleared the entrance of zombies, then, tearing off a strip of cloth, he lit it and hurled it into the fuel. The diesel caught fire, flames rapidly engulfing the square, the pungent scent of burning fuel and charred flesh overwhelming his senses.

Chen Yu didn't pause to admire his handiwork; he charged into the mall. His presence intensified, air bursting around him as he entered a relentless assault mode, mowing down zombies in the mall's grand hall. Once every visible zombie was eliminated, he methodically sought out and destroyed every access point without a moment's hesitation.

The firewall could only hold back the horde temporarily. Once the diesel burned out, the zombies would resume their siege on the mall—unless the presence of the living within was erased. To an Evolver, the mindless ordinary mutated zombies posed no real threat; it was their sheer numbers that were terrifying. When driven by primal urges, they could amass in the thousands, even hundreds of thousands, forming a horrific wave of undead.

Even a high-level Evolver, unprepared, would be overwhelmed by such a tide. Throughout the carnage, Chen Yu diligently collected crystal nuclei, vital for strengthening his team. Now, Chen Yu recognized that despite his formidable power, in the face of the apocalypse, one man alone couldn't fend off the multitude. In the current chaos, it was impossible to attend to everything.

If Chen Yu had a larger force of Evolvers at his disposal, things would be different. Even thirty or forty of them, as opposed to hundreds, would allow him to take a more proactive stance. All he would need is to establish a strong foothold in front of the mall. With him anchoring the position, he could easily wipe out this small horde of over ten thousand zombies.

Amidst frenzied destruction and wild slaughter, Chen Yu charged up to the fourth floor. He had obliterated the staircases below, cutting off any access. At that moment, he could hear the stirrings of survivors on the fifth floor, along with the commanding shouts of Chu Chenhao and Liu Qiqi. With their leadership, the survivors were slowly turning the tide.

Surveying the fourth floor, Chen Yu noted the zombies were nearly eradicated. He dropped the hefty bag of crystal nuclei he'd collected and vaulted down to the lobby on the first floor. The plaza was still engulfed in flames, but the fire at the entrance had died down, leaving several breaches. Through these gaps, scores of zombies continued to pour toward the mall.

Boom! Boom! The ground shook with the sounds of collapse on the first floor. Chen Yu was in the midst of a rampage, tearing apart display cases, shelves, and even decorative walls, hurling these massive, heavy objects at the door. He didn't expect to stop all the zombies, but at the very least, he could significantly cut down the number entering the mall, buying precious time.

Particularly since he had destroyed all the passages below the fourth floor, the mall had become a fortified space. As long as there were no surprise attacks from awakened zombies or mutated creatures, they could hold their own.

Having secured the area, Chen Yu made his way back to the fourth floor. "Damn it!" he swore, the moment he arrived. He didn't pause for pleasantries with Chu Chenhao and Liu Qiqi; anger was etched on his face, and his eyes blazed with barely contained rage.

Chu Chenhao, catching sight of Chen Yu's fury, sensed trouble. He hurried over and asked, "Boss Yu, what happened?"

"Did anyone see a bloodied plastic bag just now?" Chen Yu demanded.

"The crystal nuclei have been collected!" Chen Yu declared, his face clouded with anger.

At that moment, the fury within Chen Yu was nearly uncontrollable.

He had been fighting tooth and nail to rescue people here, and yet, to his disbelief, someone had the audacity to pull a fast one on him.

To think they'd try to pull the wool over his eyes.

They were asking for trouble!

Upon hearing this, Chu Chenhao's face also twisted in shock. The significance of the crystal nucleus was evident; no explanation from Chen Yu was necessary.

It wasn't just a simple treasure; it was far more than that—it was a strategic resource!

Without it, humanity's days were numbered, and none of them could hope to become Evolvers.

Chu Chenhao didn't wait for Chen Yu's command; he immediately went back to Liu Qiqi, who was deeply engaged in conversation with the survivors, his expression as dark as thunder.

After a brief, hushed exchange, Liu Qiqi let out a furious roar.

The next second, Liu Qiqi reached out and grabbed a man in a police uniform who had just been sharing a laugh with him.