(2) My Combat Power is 3, His is Definitely 10 (2)

He looked at the fire truck speeding over from the distance, knew those were also survivors, and behind it still followed a group of zombies. One foot stomped the accelerator, violently turned the steering wheel, speeding towards the distance.

Inside the fire truck.

"Look! It's burning over there! The flames are quite intense!" Lam Pham pointed to the burning building not far away.

Ha Vinh truly hadn't expected that in the apocalypse, he could still continue doing firefighter work. Thinking about it, it seemed not bad.

"See it. This kind of fire situation isn't too serious. Looks like it started burning from the outer wall. Very likely intentional."

Ha Vinh analyzed; specializing in this line of work, he was relatively familiar with fire situations.

Lam Pham said, "Intentional, huh? Then this is illegal behavior, needs to pay a heavy price."

"Mm, indeed like that." Ha Vinh nodded. But unfortunately, what about this law-breaking? In this current era, law-breaking, for many survivors, is as normal as eating.

Rooftop.

A Hai and Mieu Lap endured the corrosion of the thick smoke, looking towards the fire truck coming from the distance. Before, filled with hope. But when seeing the fire truck followed by zombies, each one fell into despair.

So many zombies chasing, how could the fire truck care about them?

"A Hai, we might have thought too much," Mieu Lap said regretfully.

A Hai shook his head, "Why is it like this? I hate this damn apocalypse! It wasn't like this before! Why did it suddenly become like this? Ah... so uncomfortable!"

He grabbed his head, even thought of directly jumping down from upstairs, being burned to death by the raging flames, also didn't want to live on like this. In his mind appeared the image of that mysterious strong person he saw at the shopfront over there.

Carrying a sword, like a God of War, swept through the zombies until none were left.

"If only that strong person could appear, how good would that be. As if stepping on seven-colored auspicious clouds, appearing before me, telling me, Don't be afraid, I am Hoang city's Guardian God. I think if really like that, I would never forget for my entire life. He is everything in my heart."

A Hai murmured to himself.

Mieu Lap looked at A Hai's expression, smiled despite impending death, "There's no mysterious strong person, no Guardian God. These are possibly fantasies in the apocalypse. I still want to say, this might really be your judgment. After all, the pressure of the apocalypse is too great; having hallucinations is very normal."

Strong? How strong can one be? As for A Hai talking about a great battle with a zombie horde, he fundamentally didn't believe it. Who could do that?

"No! That wasn't an illusion! That was real!" A Hai said firmly. Towards the authenticity of that figure, not a shred of doubt.

Mieu Lap said nothing. This was their beautiful hope before dying. No need to dwell on this matter, must distinguish true from false. If really distinguished, perhaps it's a kind of blow; why bother?

But just then.

A voice came.

Hearing this voice, A Hai suddenly looked up. Mieu Lap similarly stared wide-eyed, as if hearing some unbelievable words.

Hearing it normally perhaps wouldn't cause many ripples.

But hearing it now...

Truly shocked them.

"Hold on! Firefighters are here! Soon we will put out the flames! Must have hope for the future!"

Immediately after.

Water descended from the sky, drenching their bodies.

They looked up at the sky. The water in their eyes was like the pitch-black sky being torn open, a ray of sunlight piercing through the darkness, sprinkling all over the ground. Cold water sprinkled on them, yet made them feel a kind of warmth.

A Hai scrambled and rolled to the edge, looking downwards.

Saw the sword-carrying back.

"He came! He really came! It's him! It's him..." A Hai, agitated, trembled all over, his voice raised, continuously pointing downwards at that sound, "Mieu Lap! Look! He is the sword-carrying strong person I told you about! He really appeared!"

Mieu Lap looked in the direction A Hai pointed. First glance saw the scene of the opponent holding a sword, slaying zombies. Every time the sword swung out, it flashed with silvery-white light.

"See it?" A Hai grabbed Mieu Lap's shoulder; he just wanted to prove what he said wasn't a lie.

Mieu Lap's mouth opened wide, said in shock, "I saw it."

A Hai said, "I told you! We have hope! We have a future!"

Suddenly.

Slap! Only saw Mieu Lap angrily slap his own mouth.

A Hai looked at Mieu Lap, not knowing what exactly he wanted to do, why suddenly hit himself.

Then only heard Mieu Lap regretfully murmur to himself.

"It's all my fault! Why did he appear at our place that day? Clearly thought of helping us, but I was afraid he was a bad person, so didn't accept. If..."

A Hai, in his excitement, saw Mieu Lap's self-reproachful appearance, grabbed his shoulders, "Bro Mieu! This isn't your fault! Anyone would be suspicious!"

Just as he prepared to continue speaking.

Knock knock!

"Hello, I'm Lam Pham. Can you open the door?"

A knock on the door.

A Hai and Mieu Lap heard the sound, quickly looked downwards. That sword-carrying figure had already disappeared, replaced by zombie corpses littered on the ground.

Finished... Finished?

For Mieu Lap, how could it be so fast?

A Hai hurriedly opened the door. As the door was pushed open, a figure stood at the dark top of the stairs. A Hai retreated backward, stood beside Mieu Lap, staring intently at the entrance without blinking.

Darkness retreated, figure clear. Appearing in their line of sight was that smiling face. In their eyes, the opponent's entire body radiated brilliant light.

That was the light of hope.

Lam Pham looked at the three survivors, "It's okay, all over now. Sometimes trust is very important, but I can understand. After all, now in the apocalypse, human hearts are hard to fathom. But luckily, not too late. Living people must bravely face the future."

"Are you right?"

He very quickly resolved all the zombies, and had already stood before the door long ago. Originally thought of knocking, but heard the survivor inside regretting, self-blaming. Hearing that, he understood when the opponent first saw him, didn't choose to trust, but suspected. If trusted earlier, perhaps such a thing wouldn't have happened.

Therefore, pondered. After thinking through his words, then proactively pushed open the door, spoke very directly, precisely to make the opponent not always self-blame. What happened has happened; why dwell on it? Only by raising one's head, striving forward, is it a new beginning.

A Hai slowly walked before Lam Pham.

Thump.

A Hai kneeled, hugged Lam Pham's thigh,呜呜 (wūwū - sound of crying/sobbing) cried, "Finally! Finally see you! You are the god in my heart!"

When sunk deep in despairing darkness, unable to see any hope, often need faith to support. A Hai was precisely in despair, unable to see hope. But at the shopfront over there, after seeing Lam Pham's figure, hope began to radiate.

He regarded that sword-carrying back as the faith in his heart.

Always trusting, until truly seeing, Lam Pham stepping on seven-colored auspicious clouds appearing before him. His budding faith thoroughly sublimated.

Lam Pham could feel A Hai's situation.

"Alright, it's okay. Life always has to go on. Let me see you guys," Lam Pham said softly.

Looked at the three of them.

Observed from their eyes, just wanted to see into their souls.

"Want to rent a room?"

Lam Pham asked with a smile. Brokerage openings often are not fixed. Sometimes meet firefighting heroes, sometimes meet lonely people, also sometimes meet those penniless.

A Hai: "I'll rent!"

Mieu Lap: "Huh?"

Lam Pham said, "Self-introduction. My name is Lam Pham, Tan Phong Brokerage part-time employee. Duong Quang Apartments has quite a few housing sources, cheap and good quality, super value for money..."

A Hai looked at Lam Pham with worship. No matter what was said, this feeling of worship never changed.

Brought them back to Duong Quang Apartments.

For A Hai, seeing Duong Quang Apartments' environment, he felt like he had entered heaven, entered a true paradise in the apocalypse.

Mieu Lap thought, if he could have trusted the opponent before, wouldn't he have come here much earlier, also wouldn't need to experience those things.

Lam Pham knew their names, asked about the situation. That fire indeed was intentional. Didn't expect Hoang city still had such survivors.

He also knew Mieu Lap still had some regrets, namely letting Tao Diem go. Regarding this, he also strongly agreed. This Mieu Lap's behavior then was a bit foolish. Originally thought could use such action to reform the opponent, but Mieu Lap still couldn't see through the opponent's true heart.

If it were him, wouldn't have such a thing. Hard-to-pin-down characters, just send to Officer Hoang's side is enough; Officer Hoang will very justly perceive.

...

Afternoon.

"Bro Lam, this is a zombie crystal?" Vuong Khai looked at the crystal, held it in his hand, felt truly beautiful, like crystal material, inside seemed to have galaxy-like substance.

"Mm, this is something from inside a zombie's head. Didn't discover before, only found out later. When I swung my sword down, perhaps conveniently also shattered the crystal," Lam Pham said.

A Hai said with worship, "Big Brother is formidable! Big Brother truly is the Guardian God in my heart! Apocalyptic darkness, yet have Big Brother this bright lamp illuminating! I believe, the future also isn't scary, because have Big Brother shining!"

Vuong Khai looked at A Hai, could only say, truly strong bootlicker! This bootlicking skill absolutely not ordinary! If my, Vuong Khai's, combat power is 3, this guy's combat power absolutely reaches 10!

Lam Pham smiled, felt A Hai spoke very pleasantly.

Co Hang said, "Little Pham, your Frostmourne evolved to this state through crystals. Then can other things also evolve? Wait, I'll go get something."

Soon, Co Hang returned holding an iron rod.

"Just use this."

Lam Pham took the iron rod, "Crystal hardness is very considerable. With your strength, wanting to smash a crystal with an iron rod might be a bit difficult. Let me try first."

Finished speaking.

Lam Pham threw the crystal into the air. The crystal rose to a certain height, slowly fell. He swung the iron rod, stabbing towards the crystal. Speed fast, afterimages layered. Tip impacted. Crack! Directly shattered the crystal. Energy within fused into the iron rod.

The crowd watched without blinking.

Faint light flowed on the iron rod's surface, vanished in an instant.

"Good! Crystal shattered, energy fused into iron rod! Bro Hang, try and see, any changes?" Lam Pham said.

"Can I move it?" Co Hang thought of the previous situation. Frostmourne placed on the ground, he used all his strength, yet it didn't move at all, not even a slight sound. Thinking about it was a very terrifying thing.

Lam Pham smiled, "Possible. My Frostmourne was also held by others before. Perhaps I chopped too many crystals, finally strengthening Frostmourne until too heavy."

Co Hang took the iron rod, held it in his hand, weighed it. Weight unchanged, always same as before. He fiercely threw it towards a fallen iron block in the corner.

Only saw when iron rod and iron block impacted, the iron block actually dented.

"What?"

"So strong?"

The crowd, shocked by the current situation, speechless, a kind of dazed feeling, as if seeing a ghost. This is an iron block; how could human strength hammer a dent into an iron block?

If this one strike hit a zombie's head, wouldn't that mean the zombie's head instantly exploded?

Co Hang looked at the iron rod in his hand, "This isn't caused by my strength being too great, but this iron rod truly achieved evolution."

Vuong Khai said, "Isn't this just like game enchanting? Can erupt with extraordinary destructive power, for example, critical hit, dealing tons of damage."

Smiles appeared on everyone's faces.

The crystal's secret discovered by them.

Co Hang said, "Little Pham, do you remember after your Frostmourne shattered how many crystals, it evolved to the point others couldn't lift?"

This was a very important point.

Lam Pham thought, shook his head, "Don't remember. I killed very, very many zombies."

A Hai looked at Lam Pham with worship. One "Don't remember," and an image appeared in his mind: that was the true Guardian God walking within Hoang city, unscrupulously slaughtering zombies others feared. That group of seemingly terrifying zombies before Big Brother, collapsed, not worth mentioning.

Co Hang still gently waved the iron rod in his hand, "Crystal energy has many uses, range very wide. If used to enhance bullets, destructive power might become very strong, dealing fatal blows to evolved-form zombies. But perhaps can only kill evolved-form zombies. If used on ordinary zombies, then truly too wasteful."

Lam Pham said, "Mm, indeed this principle. But if can kill evolved-form zombies, then that wasted crystal is also worth it. After all, evolved-form zombies truly very formidable; I sometimes also have to take them seriously."

Co Hang: ...

Crowd: ???

Old Mao said expectantly, "Then can our car absorb crystal energy? If my Steel Behemoth can be indestructible, then no matter what kind of zombie encountered, I can ram recklessly."

Co Hang said, "Based on current situation, must collide with crystal to absorb. Car definitely can be enhanced. Just don't know if one evolved-form zombie crystal enhances an entire vehicle, or enhances a fixed range. Do different evolved-form zombie crystals also contain different amounts of energy?"

At this time, everyone was pondering.

This was, since the apocalypse until now, the biggest secret they discovered. If long, long ago, before meeting Lam Pham, could discover the crystal's function, absolutely would jump up in excitement, directly shouting, Hope arrived! We can fight zombies in the apocalypse!

But now meeting Lam Pham.

Expectation wasn't that great.

Han Suong said, "I think it should be related to surface area."

Co Hang asked, "Surface area?"

Han Suong said, "Crystal energy contained is fixed. As the enhanced object's surface area gets larger, that effect naturally weaker. After all, it's comprehensive enhancement; energy will be dispersed. Of course, this is my thought. Specifics how, still need to experiment."

Co Hang pondered, thought Han Suong made a lot of sense. As for whether exactly like this, he dared not confirm. "Little Pham, during this period, can you find evolved-form zombies in Hoang city? I want to do some crystal experiments."

"Good, can," Lam Pham, without hesitation, would agree.

Everyone continuously strives, precisely to fight against the apocalypse. When material hope appears, that hope will become even more indestructible. A single spark can start a prairie fire, eventually becoming a sky-reaching blaze, illuminating the entire world.

...

...

Long Cung Base.

Training room.

Hung Ung and Diep Hong practiced. They were ace special forces soldiers, physical ability superior to others. Now, a total of only two sets of powered exoskeleton equipment, also the current 1.0 system. (Diệp Hồng -> Diep Hong)

They wore the equipment, holding ordinary staffs in hand, sparring with each other. Clang clang collisions, sparks flying. Seemingly fierce, but actually still within normal human range situations.

Movement speed increased, could make both people's actions more agile.

Professor Ha watched the two fight in the observation room, revealed a satisfied smile. But the more important matter next was crystal demand.

Without crystals, powered exoskeleton equipment is just ordinary equipment. Impacted by evolved-form zombies, could cause fatal damage.

Then, Professor Ha connected video with the other two bases.

Matters discussed also very simple. Firstly, must have sufficient crystals. Evolved-form zombies also not easy to find. At least near their base, appearing evolved forms even fewer to pitiful. Must search further outside. This mission is dangerous, also difficult.

Also must have powered exoskeleton equipment production line.

Production line and materials within the base cannot produce much.

Quy Thu Nguyet said, "Grandpa Ha, evolved-form zombies, we are currently out searching. This aspect shouldn't be too problematic. As for production line, that definitely requires clearing zombies, only then can have a complete production line."

Professor Ha said, "Mm. When our side is sufficiently prepared, then must start clearing zombies from some important places, transport the production line. Only then can we humans have hope."

Ngan Ha Base person in charge said, "Ai! Our side again not working! Until now only killed one evolved-form zombie! That crystal also used up by our experiments!"

Professor Ha said, "No rush, take it slow."

Actually, they all knew the dangers outside. But even if dangerous, still had to risk doing. From beginning to end, they never mentioned one thing: that is, knowing crystal function indeed a good thing, can enhance combat capability. But zombies truly also evolving. This kind of evolution not slower than human development.

But can it be said?

Cannot say.

Otherwise, like a basin of cold water poured down, making people's hearts freeze.

Early morning.

Two armored vehicles left Long Cung Base.

Hung Ung and Diep Hong, armed, began to go out searching for evolved-form zombies, coordinating with sniper support, hoping for a harvest.

Near the base, very hard to see zombies. Even if appearing, also cleared away.

Can only search further afield.

Hoang city.

A tall building.

A figure stood on the rooftop, foot on the edge, looking down at the street below, searching for evolved-form zombie figures.

Time to start work.

Suddenly.

His eyes lit up.

Saw it.

Far away on the street, an evolved-form zombie was wandering.

He jumped down, leaped towards that evolved-form zombie side.