Chapter 99: The Licker

The Licker!

Zhao Kuo recalled the information shared by Luo Ping'an in the subway world.

Unlike in shopping malls, ordinary zombies in the subway world do not drop [M Virus Fragments]. Only evolved species produce [M Virus Essence], allowing ordinary players to undergo mutation and evolution.

Currently, there are five known evolved species.

They are the [Screamer], the [Berserker], the [Lurker], the [Suicide Zombie], and the [Licker].

Previously, Gu Shan encountered the [Screamer] and suffered a loss at its hands.

The other four evolved species are no less formidable.

The [Berserker] can enter a frenzied state, increasing its attack power, attack frequency, and speed.

The [Lurker] can become invisible, similar to Tang Yingying's stuffed bunny, but with a longer duration of invisibility.

The [Suicide Zombie] can be considered the most terrifying evolved species. These zombies look no different from ordinary zombies, but once they get close to a player, they self-destruct, dealing significant damage over a wide area.

Players who encounter [Suicide Zombies] are usually blown to pieces, with only a few professionals surviving the explosions, which is how Luo Ping'an learned about this type of zombie.

As for the [Licker], although it doesn't have the devastating killing power of the [Suicide Zombie], it is known as the most troublesome evolved species.

The Licker has feet resembling clawed flippers, and the mucus they secrete allows them to easily climb and cling to surfaces.

Their long, regenerative tongues enable them to launch sudden attacks from highly concealed locations, making them hard to defend against. Even Zhao Kuo almost fell victim to one.

After recalling the information about the Licker, Zhao Kuo quickly carried the injured Tang Yingying towards the kitchen.

Seeing this, Bai Qi's eyes flashed with a strange light.

People attacked by zombies turn into zombies shortly after. Sister-in-law, she...

But Bai Qi gritted his teeth and still stood in front of the two, holding a machete in each hand, his nerves taut, ready to deal with the Licker's next attack.

Fortunately, after Zhao Kuo cut off the Licker's tongue, although it regenerated, it sensed something special about the humans in front of it and didn't dare to attack rashly.

Bai Qi didn't stubbornly hold his ground either, quickly retreating and closing the kitchen's steel door.

"Is Sister-in-law okay?" Bai Qi asked nervously, thinking what if something happened to her, what if she turned into a zombie? If Brother Zhao couldn't bring himself to act, would he become enemies if he had to do it?

Last night they were still intimate in the bathroom, Brother Zhao definitely wouldn't be able to bring himself to act, right...

But to Bai Qi's surprise, although Tang Yingying, being carried by Zhao Kuo, was bleeding heavily, she showed no signs of mutation.

"What are you standing there for? Get the first aid kit," Zhao Kuo said sternly.

Only then did Bai Qi snap out of it, quickly running to fetch the first aid kit.

Tang Yingying lay in Zhao Kuo's arms, whispering, "Damn, if we weren't players, this scene should be more tragically beautiful and heartwarming, right?"

Zhao Kuo gave her a sidelong glance, "If we weren't players, it would be even more tragically beautiful when I blow your head off myself."

"Described as the head of his beloved blooming like a cherry blossom? Cough, tell that kid to hurry up, I'm still bleeding here," Tang Yingying squirmed restlessly.

Unlike ordinary people, players are not infected by the M virus, they just lose health.

But the Licker's tongue is covered in barbs, causing continuous bleeding damage. If she kept bleeding, Tang Yingying might really be over.

Fortunately, Bai Qi quickly brought over the first aid kit, and Zhao Kuo efficiently cleaned Tang Yingying's wound, applied medicine, and bandaged it, finally stopping the bleeding.

Only then did Bai Qi timidly ask, "Sister-in-law, do you have virus antibodies in your body?"

Yes, after thinking for so long, he felt he had figured it out.

Like Alice in Resident Evil, who has antibodies to the T virus, that's why she doesn't mutate after being injured by zombies. Sister-in-law must be in a similar situation, right.

Zhao Kuo, who hadn't yet come up with an explanation, nodded, then used a long table to make a bed and placed Tang Yingying on it.

Tang Yingying's face turned slightly red, and she whispered, "This reminds me of a body feast..."

What kind of stuff is in this girl's head? Zhao Kuo suppressed the urge to give her a hard knock on the head and said, "This is not the time for nonsense. The zombies are starting to evolve, we need to figure out how to deal with them."

Tang Yingying pouted and said, "Zombies are afraid of fire, and evolved species are no exception. Using fire should work well."

At this, Bai Qi slapped his forehead, "I remember now, there are two small gas cylinders in the cabinet, we can use those."

Zhao Kuo also nodded, this was indeed a good idea.

Gas cylinders have pressure relief valves, and as long as the valve is not damaged, the cylinder is almost impossible to backfire or explode, making it a natural flamethrower.

Without hesitation, Bai Qi took out the two small gas cylinders from the cabinet.

They were about twenty to thirty centimeters tall, very lightweight and compact, and the gas inside was full, apparently unused.

"Later, I'll open the door to lure that thing to attack, and you take the chance to get close and burn it, understand?" Zhao Kuo laid out the tactical plan.

Like Tang Yingying, he was also a player, so even if he was accidentally attacked by the Licker, he would at most lose some health.

Moreover, as a third-tier professional, Zhao Kuo's constitution was a terrifying 48, more than double that of Tang Yingying's fragile build. If Tang Yingying could withstand it, it's clear that the Licker's damage isn't that high.

So Zhao Kuo naturally positioned himself as the tank.

But this act, in Bai Qi's eyes, was clearly his dear Brother Zhao taking on the danger to protect him.

Brother Zhao and Sister-in-law are such great people, it's a tremendous blessing for me, Bai Qi, to know them!

Bai Qi picked up the gas cylinder and nodded heavily.

Zhao Kuo also nodded, then quickly opened the kitchen's steel door, and the flashlight's beam immediately illuminated a small area of the dining room.

Fortunately, the zombies on the fourth floor had been cleared earlier, otherwise, being surrounded by ordinary zombies would be troublesome.

But in the light, Zhao Kuo didn't find the Licker's position. Clearly, the thing had moved.

Zhao Kuo knew that evolved species are smarter than ordinary zombies.

Sure enough, the sound of something cutting through the air came from another direction.

Zhao Kuo's eyes focused, and with ample preparation, he simply dodged the Licker's attack, and the boning knife in his hand slashed down in response.

But it was still a bit late; the thing had gotten smarter, and after missing its attack, it immediately retracted its tongue.

The boning knife only cut off a small part of the tongue's tip.

But Zhao Kuo was no ordinary person either; he directly threw the boning knife in his hand towards the direction the tongue retracted.

With the boost from his 40-point strength attribute, the boning knife flew like a cannonball into the darkness.

A shrill scream was heard.

Hit! Zhao Kuo's eyes lit up, not bothering with Bai Qi, who was sneaking out, but instead pulled out another boning knife and pressed the advantage.

...