DipNovel Chapter 120 Devastating Victory
Chapter 120 Devastating Victory
Chapter 120 A Decisive Strike (Seeking Monthly Tickets at the Beginning of the Month)
Xu Mo charged into the chaotic battle like a whirlwind, the force of his movement even dispersing the stench of blood and decay in the air. However, the moment his gaze swept over Lu Chuan and his group of five, his heart sank.
Upon closer inspection, Lu Chuan and his group appeared to be in a worse condition than they had been from a distance. Not only were the five men wounded, but more importantly, two of their wounds had an unnatural bluish-black tinge. The bald, burly man with the shield, in particular, had a wound on his arm where the flesh around a claw-like cut was beginning to ulcerate slightly, and the blood flowing from it had a dark tinge – clear signs of an escalating zombie virus infection!
At this rate, it probably won't be long before some of them succumb and completely transform into zombies who only know how to kill. At that point, what I'll save won't be comrades, but rather death warrants!
"If I rush in now, wouldn't I be walking right into a trap?"
This thought was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, instantly sobering Xu Mo up. He had to act quickly, eliminate all threats before these people completely mutated, and then escape immediately.
In a flash of thought, a fierce glint appeared in Xu Mo's eyes, and he held nothing back. He took a deep breath, and the surging blood and qi within his body circulated at an unprecedented speed, instantly filling his entire body with a scorching power.
"Whoosh!"
His figure left only a faint afterimage in place. The dark, dull triangular dagger in his hand seemed to break through the limitations of space, piercing the temple of the agile zombie closest to him, which was pouncing on the back of the young female team member, with a speed that was difficult for the naked eye to perceive.
"puff!
"7
With a soft thud, the agile zombie's forward lunge came to an abrupt halt. The momentum caused it to stumble forward two steps before collapsing limply to the ground.
Xu Mo didn't even look at the result. With a flick of his wrist, he smoothly pulled the triangular dagger from the zombie's head, leaving a trail of red and white residue. At the same time, his footwork shifted, and with a swift and fluid turn, he had already pounced into the heart of the battle like a ghost, standing firmly beside Lu Chuan and his group of five, who were panting heavily and barely able to stand back to back.
The entire process was seamless, from the initial incursion and kill to positioning, all within the time it takes to breathe.
Lu Chuan and his group of five only saw a blur before their eyes as a black shadow flashed by, and an imminent threat was averted. Then, a figure shrouded in black combat uniforms, with his face covered by a headscarf and only a pair of cold, sharp eyes visible, suddenly appeared within their defensive perimeter.
All five men simultaneously showed expressions of astonishment and wariness. Who was this person? He didn't seem to be one of their other teammates, and his speed was incredible! Such ruthless and precise techniques!
However, Xu Mo completely ignored their surprised gazes, and showed no intention of exchanging words. His movements didn't falter at all; the instant he regained his footing, the muscles in his right arm tensed violently, and all the power in his body surged through his arm like a tightly wound spring!
"call out--!"
He used the blood-stained triangular dagger as a throwing weapon, hurling it with unimaginable speed and power, the dagger even making a faint whooshing sound in the air.
The target was another agile zombie to the side and front, who was trying to bypass the shield-wielding burly man and attack the team member using an electric short stick.
The agile zombie seemed to sense the danger and suddenly turned its head, letting out a roar to avoid it, but the triangular spike containing Xu Mo's full-force attack was too fast.
"Snap!"
With a sickeningly sharp sound, the specially made three-edged blade of the dagger pierced through the relatively vulnerable eye socket of the agile zombie as easily as a hot knife through butter. The powerful kinetic energy even caused its head to snap back, and the entire dagger was almost completely submerged, with only a small section of the handle sticking out.
The agile zombie's roar abruptly ceased, its body convulsed violently twice, and then it fell straight backward.
In the blink of an eye, two agile zombies known for their speed were killed instantly.
At this moment, only two agile zombies and two strength-type zombies remained in the battle. They seemed to be stunned by the sudden slaughter, and their attack movements faltered for a moment.
But this delay was enough for Xu Mo.
He didn't even have time to retrieve the triangular bayonet; with a sudden shrug and swing of his right shoulder, the Barrett anti-materiel sniper rifle slung behind him slipped down as if it had a life of its own, and was steadily held up by his right arm.
With the target so close at hand, Xu Mo didn't even need to aim.
"boom!!!"
Deafening gunfire erupted again, shattering the brief silence.
Xu Mo aimed at the thick thigh of the powerful zombie, which was a little further away and raising its mutated bone hammer to smash down. The .50 BMG armor-piercing round, carrying devastating force, blasted the top of its thigh to pieces. The powerful zombie's massive body lost its support and crashed to the ground, letting out a painful roar, temporarily losing its threat.
After firing the first shot, the immense recoil traveled along the gun. For an ordinary person, firing such a shot with one arm would cause excruciating pain, even if the shoulder didn't dislocate. But Xu Mo only paused slightly, his feet seemingly rooted to the spot, forcefully withstanding the impact. His blood surged, and his muscle fibers vibrated and neutralized the shock in an efficient manner.
With almost no pause, Xu Mo, relying on his powerful body control, pulled the bolt of the gun with lightning speed with his right hand.
"boom!"
With his second shot, Xu Mo shifted his target to another agile zombie that was trying to pounce. This time, the bullet struck it directly in the chest. Agile zombies are far less defensive than strength-type zombies; its entire upper body was blasted open with a terrifying hole almost instantly upon impact, and the mangled corpse was thrown backward before slid softly to the ground.
"boom!"
This time, Xu Mo's target was the head of the power-type zombie whose leg had been blasted off and which was struggling and roaring on the ground. The huge head exploded like a watermelon, splattering red and white matter all over the ground, and the roaring stopped abruptly.
"boom!
""
The Barrett roared again, delivering the armor-piercing round to the last agile zombie. The bullet entered from its back and exited through its chest, leaving a hole the size of a bowl. It twitched twice before collapsing limply to the ground.
"boom!"
After reloading, Xu Mo finished off the last strength-type mutated zombie with a single shot. The battle was over; the entire process took only a few seconds. The expressions on the faces of Lu Chuan and the other four still held the astonishment of Xu Mo killing the first mutated zombie with his triangular dagger.
From the moment Xu Mo threw the triangular dagger to the moment Barrett fired a series of loud shots, the whole process was as fast as lightning.
In just a few seconds, the six Level 1 mutated zombies that had been keeping the five members of the "Sharp Sword" team in a precarious situation were all turned into mutilated corpses on the ground.
The group of superhumans fell into a deathly silence, as if they had lost the ability to speak.
All that remained at the scene was the wisp of smoke rising from the muzzle of the Barrett rifle, the thick, unyielding smell of blood and gunpowder in the air, and the stunned, ghost-like expressions of Lu Chuan and his four companions.
Their mouths were agape, their eyes filled with utter shock and disbelief. Staring at the masked figure standing amidst the smoke and fire, wielding a menacing spear in one arm, their minds nearly stopped.
What kind of monster is this?! Withstanding the recoil head-on? Is that even possible for a human?! That inhuman strength... they even suspected that this humanoid creature might be some kind of more advanced zombie they'd never seen before.
Xu Mo was completely unconcerned about the shock effect he caused. He put Barrett back on his back, then walked towards the agile zombie corpse whose head was pierced by a triangular spike. He expressionlessly stepped on its head, grabbed the exposed handle with his right hand, and pulled hard!
With a soft "pop," the three-edged dagger was cleanly and neatly pulled out.
Dark red blood dripped down the specially designed blood groove of the triangular thorn, and soon it was no longer stained with any dirt.
After doing all this, Xu Mo turned his head, his exposed eyes calmly sweeping over the five still-shaken Lu Chuan and his companions. His gaze lingered for a moment on the bluish-black wounds on their bodies, his expression unchanged, but he subtly took two steps back, creating a relatively safe distance.
He didn't speak, but just stood there quietly, as if waiting for something or as if he might disappear into the shadows of the ruins behind him at any moment.
Standing still, Xu Mo quietly watched as Lu Chuan and the other four looked at him with shocked expressions, as if they were appraising some extraterrestrial visitors.
Even Xu Mo himself was somewhat surprised. When he fully activated the "Thirteen Protectors Horizontal Training" just now, his blood and qi surged like a river, and an unprecedented sense of immense power filled his entire body. It felt as if he could shatter the ground with a light stomp or smash through a wall with a single punch. This feeling of being filled with power and in complete control was far stronger than during his usual cultivation.
Xu Mo then realized that, without realizing it, his strength had grown to such a level. However, due to his usual caution, he rarely had the opportunity to unleash his full power without reservation like he had just done.
Two or three seconds passed before Lu Chuan recovered from his extreme shock. He forced himself to endure the pain from his wounds, stepped forward, and, his face filled with relief at surviving the ordeal and deep gratitude, said, "Brother..."
He had barely uttered two words when Xu Mo raised his hand, making a clear gesture to stop him from approaching. The cold sunlight swept over their still-bleeding wounds, and he uttered four words: "Keep your distance."
Upon hearing Xu Mo say to keep your distance, Lu Chuan was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized what he meant. He looked at the blackened wound on his arm, then looked back at the similar marks on his teammates, and quickly explained, "This... brother, don't worry, we're... fine." After saying that, he immediately turned to his teammates who were still in a daze and urged them, "Don't just stand there, quickly treat your wounds."
"Yes, Captain!"
Upon hearing the order, the remaining four team members finally regained full consciousness. Enduring excruciating pain, they brutally but swiftly treated their wounds. They drew daggers or military short knives and, without hesitation, sliced away the visibly blackened and rotting flesh around the wounds until fresh, red flesh was exposed. They then quickly sprinkled styptic powder and tightly bandaged the wounds. Throughout the entire process, not a single person uttered a sound; they were clearly accustomed to this cruel method of self-preservation.
Seeing this scene, coupled with Lu Chuan's words, stirred something within Xu Mo.
Jiangcheng Shelter does indeed possess the means to suppress or even eliminate the zombie virus infection, which explains the actions of these superhumans. This is undoubtedly a precious resource, comparable to a second life in the apocalypse. The question remains: how effective are these mutation prevention methods? How difficult are they to obtain? Are the effects the same for everyone? If some could be acquired for unforeseen circumstances, that would be ideal.
However, Xu Mo's attention was quickly drawn back to reality by a more pressing crisis. He frowned and looked at the distance. The dark mass of ordinary zombies, completely attracted by the continuous gunfire and the presence of living people, was roaring and surging towards him like a tide, getting closer and closer.
Fortunately, Lu Chuan and his team were experienced superhumans and were able to treat the wounds very quickly, completing the emergency treatment in just a few breaths.
Seeing that they had temporarily brought their injuries under control, Xu Mo asked directly, "What are your plans?" His voice sounded somewhat muffled through his face mask.
Lu Chuan immediately replied, "We want to go to a nearby fortress to rest and replenish our supplies, and then return to Jiangcheng as soon as possible to report the situation. The nearest one... should be Fort D-10." His gaze turned to Xu Mo with a questioning look, subconsciously already regarding this mysterious and powerful masked man as his temporary pillar of support.
Xu Mo nodded; this choice was within his expectations. But then he glanced at the six level-one mutated zombies on the ground and the corpse of the level-two venomous zombie in the distance, his brow furrowing slightly. The zombie horde was approaching; if these corpses weren't dealt with, once the zombie tide engulfed this place, it was hard to guarantee that new zombies wouldn't be spawned, leading to endless trouble.
Lu Chuan naturally noticed Xu Mo's gaze and immediately understood his concerns. He turned to the cold-faced young woman and said, "Xiao Wu, handle this."
"Yes," the woman called Xiao Wu replied, quickly taking out a palm-sized, can-like metal container from inside her combat suit. She found the pull tab, pulled hard, and precisely threw the container onto the pile of mutated zombie corpses.
"Bang!"
With a soft pop, the can shattered instantly, splattering a large amount of viscous, pale yellow liquid that covered the corpse. Immediately afterward, with a whoosh, pale blue flames shot up and burned fiercely, filling the air with the pungent smell of burning protein, mixed with a peculiar chemical odor. The flames were clearly extremely hot, and the mutated zombie's body rapidly carbonized and shrank in the flames.
"Go!" Xu Mo didn't waste any more time, uttering just two words. He moved swiftly, taking the lead and heading towards D-10.
They rushed towards the location of the fortress.
Lu Chuan and his group of five exchanged glances, then perked up and followed closely behind Xu Mo.
Holding his triangular dagger, Xu Mo abandoned the retreat route and instead planned the shortest straight path to Fort D-10. This meant they would have to face more scattered zombies head-on.
On the road, Xu Mo moved like an efficient cleaner, his figure flashing rapidly ahead. Facing the zombies that kept rushing towards him, the triangular dagger in his hand transformed into streaks of deadly black lightning. Each thrust and slash pierced the zombie's head with perfect precision. His movements were concise, efficient, and without any waste.
Often, just as the zombies roared and pounced close, a flash of cold light would suffocate them, and they would collapse to the ground.
This seemingly effortless slaughter appeared strangely coordinated to Lu Chuan and his group of five behind them. They felt as if the zombies weren't being attacked, but rather actively offering their heads to the eerie three-edged dagger, completing a precise "connection."
Xu Mo's advance was almost unimpeded. His pace and rhythm were not even noticeably disrupted by the killing, as if he were not fighting a life-or-death battle, but rather conducting a leisurely cleanup.
Xu Mo knew very well that this wasn't some profound technique, but rather the result of overwhelming strength. With the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training at full power, his dynamic vision, nerve reaction speed, and control over his body had all reached a new level. In his perception, the movements of these ordinary victims were full of flaws, as slow as a film in slow motion. He only needed to move his arm with minimal effort, based on the trajectory of the victims' attack, to deliver the triangular dagger into their vital points in the most effortless and direct way.
However, this seemingly effortless, almost artistic display of killing sent shockwaves through the hearts of Lu Chuan and the others behind him. They exchanged frequent glances, each seeing undisguised shock and horror in the other's eyes.
This is not something that can be achieved simply by having great strength and speed; it requires an almost instinctive and terrifying control over timing, distance, and angle. Just who is this masked man? His strength is probably far beyond their imagination.
"We're almost there." Xu Mo reminded them without turning his head as they ran, his voice still calm. "Aren't you going to say hello to the D-10 personnel?"
"Oh? Oh! Right, right, right!" Lu Chuan slapped his forehead, finally snapping out of his shock at Xu Mo's skills, and cursed himself for being so foolish. He hurriedly grabbed the walkie-talkie and reported urgently but clearly: "A-02, D-10, this is Lu Chuan from the Sharp Sword Squad! We are out of danger and are heading to D-10 fortress for temporary repairs with the assistance of one...one friendly personnel. We expect to arrive within three minutes. Requesting D-10 to provide backup! Repeat, requesting backup!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a reply mixed with surprise and relief came through the walkie-talkie.
First came the excited voice of D-10 observer Wang Meng: "Sharp Sword" team, D-10 received, we have spotted you!
Immediately afterward, A-02's steady voice rang out again, with a hint of barely perceptible relaxation: "Sword Squad, A-02 received. Your safety confirmed. You are permitted to enter D-10 for rest. Please treat your injuries and replenish your strength as soon as possible. Further arrangements will be provided later."
The other observers who had been intently listening on the channel also offered brief congratulations and exclamations.
Hearing the voice coming from the channel, Lu Chuan and his group of five, whose nerves had been on edge, finally relaxed a little, overwhelmed by a sense of relief at surviving the ordeal. They all turned their gaze once more to the silent yet powerful black figure running ahead, their hearts filled with indescribable gratitude and curiosity.
Xu Mo continued running silently, the triangular dagger in his hand flashing coldly as he precisely cleared away the last remaining obstacles in his path. The familiar steel outline of the D-10 fortress was now clearly visible.
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