crushing defeat

As Xu Changtian attempted to rise, Chu Xiang swiftly pressed him back down. "Captain Xu, your leg is injured. You cannot leave the vehicle."

Xu Changtian, in a state of urgency, replied, "I cannot stay here. Miss Su is alone in the Honda. I must ensure her safety—this is my duty!"

At that moment, Zhang Debing woke up and interjected, "Captain, let me go. I saw that the cow is covered in blood—something is wrong."

"Be careful," Xu Changtian reluctantly agreed. Zhang Debing silently crawled out from the bus window and slithered toward the Honda. As he reached for the car door, a loud shout from He Er rang out, "Who's there! Stay still or I'll shoot!"

Startled, Chu Xiang couldn't believe He Er had awakened at this critical moment. His shout frightened the cow, which had been leisurely wandering, causing it to charge at the Honda with a thunderous crash. Before Zhang Debing could open the door, the car was struck with such force that it tipped over, trapping his legs underneath.

With a scream from Su Yulian, He Er opened fire. The gunshots echoed, but the bullets seemed ineffective against the mutated cow. Despite being hit multiple times in the head, the creature seemed impervious, continuing its assault. Enraged, it abandoned He Er and charged toward the bus.

He Er, seeing the mutated cow's horrifying appearance—its skin rotten and falling off in chunks—screamed and ran back toward the bus. Chu Xiang shouted, "Fire!" They had no choice but to fight back with all their might.

The guns fired, but their power proved futile. The mutated cow's aggression grew, and it rammed the bus with such force that the ground trembled beneath it. The vehicle swayed dangerously and almost toppled over. Despite the severity of the situation, the team managed to hold their ground.

Meanwhile, Zhang Debing, trapped under the overturned car, tried to reassure Su Yulian, "Miss Su, don't worry. Stay inside and wait for us to deal with these monsters."

The situation worsened when a second mutated cow appeared, and soon a third one followed. The mutated cows, driven by wild instincts, attacked relentlessly. As the bus swayed under the assault, the group's firepower seemed insufficient.

Xu Changtian, who had been trying to crawl out of the bus, was pulled back by Chu Xiang. "Captain Xu, get back in! You're heading to your death!"

"I don't care! I must complete my mission!" Xu Changtian shouted in defiance. "Six of our comrades have already sacrificed their lives for this mission. What's one more?"

Chu Xiang, unable to dissuade him, sighed and tossed all the remaining bullets from his pack. "We can't stop them with bullets alone. We need something stronger."

Then, in a moment of desperation, Xu Changtian pulled a grenade from his pocket. "I'll go. I can lead them away and blow them up!"

Chu Xiang grabbed the grenade. "Let me do it. Cover me!" 

With the explosion of gunfire and broken glass, Chu Xiang dashed toward the fuel truck, grabbing the car keys from He Er's vehicle. Without hesitation, he started the engine and sped off toward the mutated cows. The cows, enraged, pursued him with reckless abandon. In the chaos, Chu Xiang aimed the truck toward one of the cows, running it over in an attempt to draw the others away from the bus.

With a deafening crash, the cow was flattened, its body torn apart under the weight of the truck. The other mutated cows, in fury, continued their relentless chase.

Chu Xiang, using the opportunity, veered off-road, steering the truck for miles before slowing down. As the cows closed in, he leaped from the truck, clutching a grenade. He hurled it toward the fuel tank.

The explosion was massive, engulfing the creatures in flames. The intense heat and force of the blast tore the mutated cows apart, leaving nothing but smoldering remains. Chu Xiang, battered and bruised, barely escaped the fiery chaos. He hid behind a car, breathing a sigh of relief.

After the explosion, Zhang Debing and Xu Changtian rushed toward the wrecked Honda. They managed to free Su Yulian, who had been trapped inside, though she had suffered injuries. The horror was far from over, as the threat of further explosions lingered. 

Chu Xiang, ever the selfless soldier, had once again put everything on the line for his team. His actions saved them all, but at what cost? The true dangers of this mutated apocalypse had only just begun.