C61 Mutant Zombies Avoided Tang Bing's Senses and Cautiously Tried to Save Him.

You can't let your guard down for a second out there!

Tang Bing had just posted a message on the forum when, out of nowhere, something plummeted from the sky, pinning him to the ground in an instant.

Simultaneously, a vicious bite at the back of his neck sent waves of excruciating pain through him. In a panic, he reached back with both hands, grasped the assailant's head with all his might, and shoved it away with all his strength.

Before his attacker could lunge again, Tang Bing, fighting through the pain and dizziness, spun around, kicked the figure to the ground, quickly drew his silenced pistol, aimed at the head, and pulled the trigger.

[You have killed a mutant zombie C and earned 1000 experience points!]

Tang Bing shot up to level 10 and was now a mere 100 experience points shy of level 11.

He was wearing the Ocean's Heart, which granted him a +5 to his sensing ability. So why hadn't he detected the zombie? It had always been effective before; Tang Bing could sense any approaching zombies. Had the necklace lost its power?

That couldn't be it! He had been using it just before this encounter and could sense zombies all around him without fail!

Mutant zombie C... Could it be that this was a special ability of the mutant zombies, to evade his detection?

It seemed to be the only plausible explanation.

A large chunk of flesh had been torn from Tang Bing's neck. Any normal person would have been a goner.

Thankfully, he had his system. He quickly popped an antibiotic and a painkiller into his mouth and washed them down with a few gulps of water.

The infection from the zombie bite was rapidly suppressed, and the painkillers allowed his health to steadily recover.

Naturally, he didn't forget to apply a hemostatic bandage. The dual action of the painkillers and the bandage not only stopped the bleeding but also accelerated his health recovery, bringing him back from the brink to full health in no time.

Shaken but not deterred, Tang Bing heightened his vigilance.

This world was no longer populated by just mindless zombies; it was filled with mutant zombies of varying abilities, each more dangerous than the last. He wasn't sure if it was good or bad luck, but he had encountered three mutants in just a few days! It couldn't be that he had run into every mutant in the city all at once, could it?

His sensory abilities clearly had their blind spots, or perhaps they were being countered in some way. Otherwise, how had that mutant zombie managed to appear out of nowhere and launch a stealth attack on him?

Despite his powerful perceptual abilities, Tang Bing knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down. Overreliance on his senses could be fatal, a lesson underscored by the recent harrowing encounter.

With a silenced pistol in hand, Tang Bing meticulously scanned his surroundings. The likelihood of encountering another mutant zombie like the one he'd just faced was slim, but he couldn't shake the fear of such a possibility.

His concern, however, proved to be unfounded. A thorough search confirmed the absence of additional mutant zombies, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

He hurried over to the fallen creature and began to rummage through its belongings.

[You have received a Bulletproof Vest (Normal)]

[You have received 30 Pistol Bullets]

[You have received 20 Submachine Gun Bullets]

[You have received 1 Sniper Rifle Bullet]

[You have received Moldy Bread]

[You have received "The Brave One's Trial"]

[You have received an Exquisite Flashlight]

The Bulletproof Vest (Normal) boasted a defense rating of 20, offering more protection than any of his makeshift armor pieces. Even as a standard-issue vest, its defensive capabilities were impressive. And while gun violence might not be an immediate threat in this world, the future was uncertain. The vest was a welcome addition to his gear.

Without hesitation, Tang Bing donned the vest, a timely replacement for his damaged suit jacket.

The pistol bullets were immediately useful, and having 30 was a significant boon. The submachine gun and sniper rifle bullets might not have immediate use, but they would be vital should he come across the corresponding weapons.

The moldy bread, though a potential source of sustenance, carried the risk of food poisoning. Tang Bing had no desire to endure such discomfort and promptly discarded it.

The exquisite flashlight was an excellent find. Simple yet practical, it came with two fully charged batteries and provided excellent illumination. It would serve well for nighttime visibility or signaling others.

Lastly, "The Brave One's Trial" appeared to be a certificate-like document with a challenge inscribed: "Prove your valor. Eliminate ten male zombies in melee combat within the allotted time for a surprise reward!"

Tang Bing was puzzled by the object's purpose; it seemed to be part of a mission. After a moment's hesitation, he stowed it away in his backpack.

Glancing at his phone, he saw a response on the forum: "We're on the 13th floor of the east building in the square!" Below that, another message, likely from Sun Meng, read, "Bing, where are you? Are you alright? Why aren't you picking up?"

Tang Bing skimmed the message but didn't respond to Sun Meng. Peering out from behind the car, he scrutinized the buildings around the square. Identifying the east building proved challenging; he was not familiar with this part of the square and certainly couldn't ask a mutant zombie for directions, nor could he brazenly check each building's number.

Then he remembered the flashlight he had recently acquired. Turning it on, he methodically swept its beam across the buildings.

As evening fell and the sun dipped below the horizon, the flashlight's beam cut through the darkness, clearly illuminating walls and windows.

After a quick survey, Tang Bing posted on the forum, "Can you see my flashlight? If you have any lighting tools, signal back! If not, stand by a window so I can spot you!"

Shortly after, a reply popped up: "We see you! We're to your right, all at the windows!"

Tang Bing pocketed the flashlight and pulled out a monocular, scanning the buildings to his right. He quickly located two women on the 13th floor of a commercial building, weakly waving from a window.

The older woman was somewhat plump with wavy, curled hair. Her appearance was nondescript, the kind that would blend into a crowd. The younger woman appeared to be in her twenties, tall and slender, with delicate features.

They stood together, but it was hard to imagine them as mother and daughter; they shared no resemblance.

Tang Bing had no time for idle thoughts, though. Through the monocular, he saw the area around the buildings teeming with zombies, at least four to five hundred, all roaming the nearby streets.

The toy car had been placed too far away, failing to attract their attention.

Tang Bing glanced up at the murky sky, aware that he needed to quickly divert the zombies and make his way into the commercial building. His goal was clear: eliminate the zombies inside and reach the mother and daughter's location.

Luckily, he was equipped with a silenced pistol and ample ammunition, along with the sensory abilities of the Ocean's Heart. Unless he encountered another mutant zombie that could elude his detection, his life shouldn't be at risk.

Still, for safety's sake, he made sure to pack a medical kit and hemostatic bandages.

Prepared, he crouched and stealthily made his way toward the building where the survivors were holed up. Stopping a safe distance from the nearest zombie, he retrieved a toy car from his backpack, set it in motion in the opposite direction, and swiftly concealed himself among the flowerbeds and bushes.

The toy car's racket instantly drew the attention of the nearby zombies. Alerted by the sound, they charged after the toy car as if pursuing live prey.

Once they had passed, Tang Bing emerged from his hiding spot and hastened toward the building.

A few steps later, he noticed more wandering zombies clustered around the entrance of the commercial building, with many more roaming inside. Using a roadside parked car for cover, he tossed out another toy car.

The tactic worked like a charm!

The sound-sensitive zombies were lured away, chasing after the toy car.

Seizing the moment, Tang Bing skirted around them and dashed toward the commercial building where the mother and daughter were waiting.

"Hmm?" As he moved cautiously, hunched low, he unexpectedly came across a yellow sedan with a smashed left door and various scratches marring its body. It looked as though the owner had parked in a panic during the onset of the apocalypse, only to have the door crushed by another vehicle while attempting to flee.

The fate of the car's owner was a mystery—whether they had perished or turned into one of the roaming undead. But the key was still in the ignition, suggesting the car might start!

Tang Bing scanned the area to ensure no zombies were in sight, then hurried to the car and attempted to turn the key.

The car's engine roared to life almost immediately. Upon closer inspection, it was in good shape—just critically low on fuel. That must have been why the previous owner ditched it and fled.

Luckily, Tang Bing was flush with gasoline. His virtual backpack was brimming with it, ready to use at a moment's notice.

He promptly killed the engine and surveyed the area with caution. Then, he grabbed a gas can and hastily topped off the tank.

With that task complete, he slipped the car key into his pocket. Despite the missing left door, this vehicle could be their ticket to safety, carrying the mother and daughter survivors to escape.

Walking would be the quieter option, less likely to draw zombie attention. But considering the middle-aged woman's size, that seemed impractical. Tang Bing needed to find a way to drive them out without attracting a horde of zombies to the factory. It was a tough challenge, but one he was determined to tackle.

Once ready, Tang Bing took a deep breath to calm his nerves and entered the ground floor of the mall, his silenced pistol at the ready. He shut the sturdy glass door behind him and secured it with a chain and lock he'd previously found.

"Roar~!" A zombie, clad in a waitress's uniform, spotted Tang Bing and charged from its hiding spot.

Without a moment's hesitation, Tang Bing raised his gun and fired, the bullet shattering her skull.

Catching sight of four or five more zombies—men and women—emerging, he quickly activated the 'Trial of the Brave' from his virtual backpack.

'You have accepted the Trial of the Brave. Eliminate ten male zombies within 15 minutes! Mission reward: Complete within the time limit for three skill points. Exceed the time limit, and earn only one skill point.'

A chance to earn skill points—this was an unexpected bonus!