Hunting Zombies

Chapter 108: Hunting Zombies

While the exact numbers were unclear, it seemed most of the survivors had been infected and turned into zombies. This was a massive problem. Before, despite the food shortage and the extreme cold, they could still move around freely. Now, they faced the added danger of being hunted by zombies!

And it was all thanks to Su Chen!

If he could, Ah Biao would have stabbed Su Chen to death right then and there. But ever since he'd known Su Chen, he'd always been outmaneuvered, never gaining the upper hand!

Watching the zombies shambling outside, Xiao Mei hugged Ah Biao tighter, fear evident in her voice. "Biao Ge... maybe this isn't entirely bad?"

"How is this not bad?" Ah Biao couldn't grasp her meaning.

"Think about it," Xiao Mei reasoned, trying to soothe him. "Once the survivors on the mountain turn into zombies, they stop consuming food. That means... all their supplies become ours, right?"

"Well, yeah, that's true," Ah Biao conceded grudgingly. "But how do we get out there with so many zombies?"

"If these zombies are like the ones in the movies," Xiao Mei analyzed, "their weakness is probably the head. The number of zombies on the mountain is finite. We just need to find opportunities to pick off the stragglers. Eventually, we can eliminate them all!"

Her plan was crude, but it was the only feasible option they had. Ah Biao sighed heavily and nodded. "Guess that's the only way..."

...

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of the Eulton Hotel.

He Wang, Sun Yuan, and the others watched the horrific scene unfold below – the near-total annihilation of the survivor groups, transformed into a shambling horde. They swallowed hard, a chill running down their spines. Their fear stemmed partly from the sheer terror of the zombies themselves, and partly from the chilling realization of who was responsible: Su Chen.

Sure, Su Chen had used rifles before, mowing down hundreds. But that was direct killing. This... turning people into zombies? That was a whole different level of monstrous!

Never betray Su Chen, He Wang and Sun Yuan swore silently to themselves. The fate of those outside would be a mercy compared to what he'd do.

Unaware of their internal vows, Su Chen observed the slow-moving figures in the snow. An involuntary smile touched his lips. There had been five to six hundred survivors on the mountain. After this wave of infection, there were easily three hundred zombies! If even one in ten zombies had an energy crystal in its head, that meant thirty crystals. More than enough to upgrade the RV's Doomsday Fortress System to Level 2.

The problem now was: how to hunt these zombies? They wouldn't be like Song Shuai or Old Xu, passively waiting to be killed. Using the QBU or QBZ rifles was out – the gunfire would be deafening, attracting every zombie within earshot. Rushing in was foolish. He needed a careful plan.

After a moment's thought, Su Chen turned to He Wang and Sun Yuan. "The outside is crawling with zombies. Tell everyone in the team: maintain high vigilance at night. No unnecessary excursions. Anyone who does go out must strip naked for inspection upon return. Anyone who disobeys gets thrown out of the hotel immediately!"

They had no objections. This was for the safety of the entire group. If someone sneaked out, got infected, and hid it... the whole hotel could be overrun.

...

For Su Chen's team, the conversion of the other survivors into zombies was, ironically, a positive development. At least they didn't have to worry about coordinated attacks anymore.

For his own ultimate safety, Su Chen decided to spend as much time as possible inside the Nomadison RV. Better safe than sorry. If the hotel's defenses failed and zombies got inside, his life would be on the line.

"...and that's the situation outside," Su Chen finished briefing Liu Ling'er and Lin Yingying. "If there's no urgent reason, stay inside as much as possible from now on."

Hearing what had happened, the two women paled. They thought the heat waves, floods, and extreme cold were horrific enough. Now, a zombie virus? They shuddered with relief, grateful to have Su Chen and the sanctuary of the Nomadison. Without him, they'd likely share the fate of the others – zombie food. Exchanging a determined glance, they silently vowed to obey Su Chen unquestioningly. Being thrown out was unthinkable.

After a satisfying meal, Su Chen headed to the RV's second level to gear up. Originally Lin Yingying's space, it was now vacant since all three lived on the first floor. Su Chen had converted it into his workshop. Thankfully, the Nomadison featured a king-size bed, easily accommodating three, preventing any sense of crowding.

Su Chen started by pulling on a grey long-sleeved shirt over his base layer. It was a stab-proof vest woven from Kevlar fiber. Worth nearly 100,000 yuan when he bought it, it was useless against bullets but perfect for stopping zombie bites and claw strikes. He layered it under his heavy winter coat, then added tactical gloves and a tactical cap. Only when he was certain every inch of skin was covered did he feel ready.

That's right. Su Chen was kitting up for a zombie hunt – to gather energy crystals and upgrade the RV.

He gave the women a few final instructions and left the Nomadison. He deliberately left the QBZ and QBU rifles behind. Their loud reports would be a dinner bell for every zombie nearby. Plus, they were bulky and cumbersome. Instead, he carried the short-barreled shotgun for emergencies. His primary weapons were cold steel: military hatchets and a compound crossbow.

Heavy snowfall had nearly buried the hotel's front wall. Fortunately, the rear wall, built taller to deter mountain wildlife, still stood above the drifts. Su Chen moved with feline grace, crouching low as he traversed the top of the wall. He leaped onto the roof of a building adjacent to the hotel.

Darkness was settling in. Without city lights or moonlight, the world was plunged into deep shadow, broken only by the faint glow reflecting off the snow. Su Chen pulled on a prepped night vision monocular. When activated, the world bloomed into a landscape of phosphorescent green.

The area immediately around the Eulton Hotel was deserted – no survivor camps meant no zombies either. Su Chen scanned for a while, confirming no stragglers were nearby. Satisfied, he began moving cautiously, silently, towards the mountain's central areas, where the shambling figures were concentrated. The hunt had begun.