C25 A Lot of Leaders

At 1:40 PM, Lin Chen led a squad of ten teams, totaling over a hundred people, to begin the rescue operation at Building 49. Meanwhile, the rooftop of Building 48 was in disarray, with over three hundred individuals clamoring for democracy, unable to reach a consensus.

Some suggested staying in the dorms to avoid danger, as the zombies were locked in their rooms and posed no immediate threat. Others proposed following in Lin Chen's footsteps to the cafeteria, or even learning from his methods to train warriors willing to fight. And there were those who had already set out for the sports and recreational center.

The chaotic scene was a stark realization for many: their pursuit of so-called democracy had led to a lack of decisiveness and execution, to the point where they couldn't even form a cohesive team.

Regret began to set in among some, as they saw the merit in joining Lin Chen's team and heeding his commands. But what they didn't realize was that their opportunity had already slipped away.

Only the twenty who had reacted most swiftly would be considered by Lin Chen, who was resolute in not allowing anyone harboring democratic ideals to join his ranks, to avoid future complications.

Bai Zhengfeng massaged his furrowed brow, internally berating himself. He recognized that he had overrated his organizational skills and influence.

He was well aware that Lin Chen's approach was the correct one, yet he couldn't bring himself to simply follow Lin Chen.

Beneath Building 49, Lin Chen was already putting two new squads through intensive training, with superpowered individuals Yu Yang and Deng Shulin bolstering the ranks.

After twenty minutes, the new recruits had overcome their psychological hurdles and were ready to engage in combat.

The team initiated a full-scale assault!

By 2:20 PM, the corridors of Building 49 were cleared of zombies, and over 300 survivors, armed with makeshift weapons, converged on the rooftop.

Lin Chen didn't mince words as he recounted the events that had transpired on the rooftop of Building 48. He presented the survivors with an immediate choice: join his autocratic team or the democratic group of Building 48.

He made it clear that only those brave enough to fight could be part of his team. He promised to train them for combat and to do his utmost to ensure their safety, though he cautioned that in these perilous times, no one could guarantee absolute security.

Out of the survivors from Building 49, 60 chose to fight alongside Lin Chen and follow his command.

No sooner had they made their decision than the survivors from Building 48 arrived in a flurry.

After Lin Chen and his team departed, the eight committee members, each backed by their own faction, refused to yield to one another. All aspired to lead the Self-Rescue Committee and seize the chance to stand out.

Eventually, these eight formed their own squads, resulting in a loosely knit alliance.

Leveraging his family's influence, Bai Zhengfeng rallied 70 to 80 people, establishing the most formidable group.

Kong Yifan, capitalizing on his connection as Lin Chen's brother, attracted over 50 followers, securing the position of the second-strongest force.

The remaining six individuals each managed to gather around thirty supporters.

Thus, the charade of democracy came to an abrupt halt, cast aside by these once-privileged elites.

Many were deeply disillusioned by this turn of events.

Damn, had they known it would come to this, they would have joined Lin Chen's team from the start.

Once the spoils were divided, the faction leaders swiftly led their members to Building No. 49, intent on expanding their ranks.

They were well aware that Lin Chen wouldn't take everyone into his fold; he'd pick those who were quick and leave behind the slow.

Kong Yifan had been concerned that Lin Chen might want him to merge his team back into the fold. But Lin Chen merely gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder, leaving him with a mix of relief and a sense of aimless loss.

Was this the moment they would go their separate ways and forge their own paths?

Those in Building No. 49 harboring democratic ideals quickly shed their impractical notions, clamoring to join Lin Chen's ranks.

Regrettably, Lin Chen rejected them without a second thought, unwilling to let the seeds of democracy sprout any potential discord within his team.

The survivors of Building No. 49 had no choice but to join teams they had previously overlooked.

Six new teams emerged, led by a deputy director's son from the Public Security Bureau, a department head's son, and three individuals with acquired superpowers.

With that, the male survivors from the Engineering Department had formed a total of fifteen teams. Lin Chen's, by far, boasted the most members and the greatest strength.

They established a verbal alliance, pledging to avoid internal conflict and present a united front.

This perfectly illustrated the innate tendency of Hiekith's people to form exclusive circles.

Lin Chen couldn't help but think to himself that it was indeed in times of chaos that heroes emerged. Suddenly, so many leaders had risen to the occasion!

Lee Ying glanced at the lively scene and nudged her brother, Lee Jun, with her elbow. "Bro, why don't we head back and put together our own team? You could be the boss."

Lee Jun managed a wry smile. "Sis, you know I'm only into martial arts. Plus, leading a team isn't as easy as you think. Being the boss means a never-ending stream of worries. I'd rather keep things simple. Right now, sticking with Boss Chen is the best bet for our safety. If we get the chance to check on our hometown later, that'd be enough for me."

Lin Chen felt a surge of satisfaction hearing the siblings' conversation.

And why wouldn't he? Given the Lee siblings' current prowess, even those with First Level Extrasensory Perception posed no threat to them. For at least the next month, they would be formidable combatants. And with his guidance, there was a good chance they could awaken their own abilities. Having two such powerful allies sincerely on his side was definitely a reason to feel good.

In line with Lin Chen's earlier directives, the other fourteen teams had sorted themselves out, separating those unwilling to fight to handle logistics from those ready to train for combat as per Lin Chen's strategies.

After gathering over a hundred people at the event hall, and excluding the two hundred or so who preferred the safety of their dorms, the Engineering Department now boasted 1,200 male students. Of these, over 400 were content to support logistics, while more than 700 were eager to engage in battle.

Lin Chen gave the newcomers the freedom to join any team they wished, stepping back from micromanaging them. He distributed food generously to those who hadn't eaten and instructed his own team to travel light: just a few articles of clothing, a small amount of water, and some food, ensuring the total weight didn't exceed 10 kilograms.

Though puzzled, his team complied with his instructions.

Before setting out for the girls' dormitory, Lin Chen laid out his overall plan: The logistics personnel would remain behind, while his team would handle any significant zombie threats encountered on the road. The others were encouraged to pick off stray zombies to give their team members some combat practice.

The leaders of other teams were eager for this opportunity. They wanted to bolster the morale of their fighters, but they were acutely aware of their own limitations. Life-and-death situations were not to be rushed.

At 3 PM sharp, the march began. The male students of the Engineering Department organized themselves to combat the apocalypse.

Within Y University, the survivors from the Engineering Department were the first to form a substantial brigade.

Led by Lin Chen's formidable squad, the frail zombies they encountered became fodder for experience, aiding team members in overcoming their mental barriers, bravely engaging the undead, and continuously honing their combat skills.

They steered clear of dense zombie populations, covering over a kilometer in a straight six-hundred-meter stretch, dispatching over a thousand zombies.

Over two hundred individuals, a mix of students, teachers, and others, emerged from the buildings they passed and trailed behind them at a safe distance, careful not to interfere with their combat.

Some tried to ingratiate themselves with the battling Engineering students, but no one paid them any mind.

With the ever-present threat of lethal zombies lurking in any hidden corner, who had time for idle chatter? Each combatant was on high alert.

By 3:30 PM, the twenty-seventh female dormitory came into view.

...

The hallways of the twenty-seventh female dormitory were filled with wandering and wailing female zombies.

The surviving girls hid in their rooms, shaking with fear, careful not to make a sound that might attract the zombies' attention.

The female dormitory's plight was dire; the rooms were either completely intact or utterly devastated.

Inherent timidity and lack of strength meant the appearance of a single zombie could lead to a dormitory's total annihilation. Even the presence of a strong-willed girl was no match for two or three zombies.

Many girls tried to flee, bursting out of their rooms in desperation. But escape was a rare feat; most ended up in the hallways, joining the ranks of the undead.

Su Wan was particularly unlucky, with four out of the six people in her dormitory turning into zombies.

Thankfully, Yuen Meng was a skilled fighter. With Su Wan's assistance, Yuen Meng managed to eliminate four zombies.

Yuen Meng originally had a pistol at her disposal. However, in her rush to protect Su Wan, she didn't have the opportunity to retrieve it from the box and was left with no choice but to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the zombies.

In a desperate moment, Yuen Meng's hands crackled with lightning, and she swiftly dispatched four zombies, leaving her pale and collapsing to the ground.

Su Wan wasn't so fortunate; a zombie managed to tear her skin.

As her body began to burn with fever and her consciousness started to fade, Su Wan nearly believed her life was at its end.

But when she awoke around eleven in the morning, she discovered she had awakened to the wind type of Extrasensory Perception. Her speed had significantly increased, she could now unleash wind blades, and her physical condition had improved twofold.

Su Wan had, in fact, hit the jackpot.

At present, it was unknown that the odds of turning into a zombie after being bitten stood at 70%, the chance of physical enhancement was 20%, and the probability of gaining Extrasensory Perception was a mere 10%.

Having read her share of Doomsday Literature, Su Wan quickly assessed her situation. The apocalypse had indeed arrived, and both she and Yuen Meng had acquired the fabled Extrasensory Perception. Yet, despite their new abilities, they faced considerable difficulty in dispatching even a dozen zombies in the hallway, and there was little more they could do.

The idea of Yuen Meng using her gun was out of the question. Nearly every apocalyptic story she knew of highlighted the zombies' keen sense of hearing, and she saw no reason to doubt this. Rather than test the theory herself, she chose to trust it.

Firing the gun could potentially draw every zombie in the building right to their doorstep, leaving them with no escape.

In essence, she and Yuen Meng were trapped.

Despite the dire situation, Su Wan wasn't panicking. She was confident that the authorities in Janville were aware of her identity, and there were many other students in the school with similar status. She was certain that once the government regained control, a rescue operation would be launched, and she, Su Wan, would be among the first to be saved.

The girls' dormitory was naturally stocked with plenty of snacks. Su Wan was convinced that help would arrive long before their food supply ran out.

For now, she and Yuen Meng passed the time by leaning against the windowsill, idly chatting as they watched the zombies shuffle about below.

Suddenly, Yuen Meng pointed into the distance and whispered urgently, "Miss, look over there!"