C9 Chapter 9

Unbeknownst to Jiang Ruan, she had already become the target of someone's animosity without having done anything to provoke it.

As the door swung open, the zombies that roamed the lower floors were instantly roused. The scent of blood, the unmistakable aroma of humans, beckoned them, driving their ravenous hunger into a frenzy.

Jiang Ruan had taken care to conceal her presence, ensuring the zombies were oblivious to her. They pounded on the door, their roars echoing through the air.

Earlier, while ascending the stairs, Jiang Ruan had dispatched the few zombies that remained. Now, they reached the main entrance unimpeded.

At the doorway, sixteen zombies lurked. Zeng Qiang whispered instructions, "Miss Jiang and I will handle the four tall ones over there, as well as the children and the elderly. The rest of you, divide and conquer—each person takes down two. We don't carry dead weight in this team."

Before Zeng Qiang could finish, Jiang Ruan charged forward, heading straight for the four adult zombies.

With a thunderous "Roar!" the zombies, elated by the sight of approaching humans, quickened their pace, their entrails dragging behind as they bore down on Jiang Ruan.

A putrid stench filled the air as an adult zombie, towering a full head above her, loomed closer. Jiang Ruan gripped her bone knife and struck the zombie's head with a swift blow.

The skull burst forth, and the dark brain matter exploded like a punctured water balloon. The zombie let out an enraged roar, its gaping maw dripping with yellow fluid, snapping at Jiang Ruan.

The bone knife was lodged in the zombie's skull, unyielding. Jiang Ruan swiftly drew another kitchen knife from her backpack, and as the zombie lunged, she sliced through it with precision.

The head split open, revealing the crystal nucleus, which Jiang Ruan snatched up in the blink of an eye, too quick for anyone to catch.

She then yanked the bone knife from the zombie's skull and hurled it at another charging foe. The blade burst the zombie's eyes, and it howled in protest, outraged at the audacity of being wounded.

With a deft sidestep, Jiang Ruan wielded the kitchen knife and decapitated the zombie, swiftly securing another crystal nucleus. Glancing around, she saw four zombies laid out on the ground—two of which were her own handiwork.

"Let's make this quick, or we'll be swarmed with more zombies." She had overestimated the group's capabilities. Everyone except Zeng Qiang was shaking with fear, dodging incessantly, too scared to even throw a punch.

If things kept up this way, they'd draw every zombie in the city. Jiang Ruan swiftly dispatched a few elderly zombies with her knife and took down an adult one as well.

However, in that moment, Jiang Ruan sensed impending danger. As she closed her eyes to focus, she identified the threat as a mutated first-level zombie. It was no match for her, but for the others, such a creature could end their lives in an instant.

"Great, we've got trouble," Jiang Ruan muttered. Keen on not revealing the full extent of her power, she pulled Zeng Qiang aside and urgently briefed him on their dire situation.

"See that one charging at us? It's clearly faster, and its limbs aren't as stiff. We're likely dealing with a mutant zombie." Jiang Ruan's revelation sent a wave of panic through the group.

Zhu Zhengyan was visibly terrified. "What do we do now? We're not strong enough. Maybe we should head upstairs?"

"Didn't you notice it can climb stairs?" Jiang Ruan scoffed with a cold laugh. In a world like this, cowering in fear was a sure way to get killed.

Zeng Qiang gripped his knife tighter, sensing the looming threat. "Mutant zombies are real!" He was unaware that superhumans had also emerged, though they were rare—perhaps only ten in a hundred thousand.

With superhumans in short supply and zombies evolving, the future of humanity looked bleak.