Chapter 34: Go Ahead, Shoot Me Right Here

「Master, a large group of zombies is rapidly approaching from the rear, distance six hundred meters! Quantity: twenty!」

Tieqiong's urgent warning sounded.

Chen Yuan's heart tightened. He whipped his head around. Sure enough, on the icy path he had just traveled, a series of dark figures was surging toward him.

In the space of a few breaths, the distance between them had shrunk to just over five hundred meters. The grinding sound squeezed from the zombies' throats faintly reached his ears.

Hhhh... hhhh...

Chen Yuan's brow furrowed. He said in a deep voice, "Quick, to the river!"

The temperature on the river's surface was lower. The snow had fallen and fused with the ice, making it a much faster escape route than the road.

「Roger!」

The three robot dogs received the command and changed formation. Tieqiong took the lead, running ahead to clear a path. Tieniu followed close behind, picking up speed. As for Tiedan, it dropped back to a position about five meters behind Chen Yuan, extending both of its offensive mechanical arms, the sharp conical tips aimed threateningly behind them.

Chen Yuan, sitting on Tieniu's back, turned and drew his bow.

WHOOSH—

The high-explosive incendiary arrow was much faster than a normal one. A flash of deep orange light streaked across the five-hundred-meter distance in the blink of an eye.

The next second, a deafening roar echoed across the sky.

A circular fireball, the size of a bicycle wheel, blossomed, pushing back the darkness in a ten-meter radius. As his eyes focused, he saw that the zombie he had hit had been blown to smithereens. Its flesh and blood had sprayed out in a fan shape, corroding the icy road with irregular pits.

"Fuck, that's powerful..."

Chen Yuan swallowed hard. He hadn't expected the arrow to contain such immense energy.

「Report, Master. Nineteen zombies are rapidly closing in.」

Hearing Tiedan's voice, Chen Yuan made a bold decision. If the high-explosive arrows were this powerful, why was he running?

"Stop! Stop!"

The command was followed instantly. The three robot dogs dug their sharp claws into the ground, carving deep marks in the ice. Tieniu turned around, lowered its head slightly, and aimed its offensive horns at the approaching horde.

Chen Yuan's eyes narrowed. He nocked another arrow.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Arrow after arrow, trailing orange tail-flames, rained down on the zombies in a continuous stream. While not every shot was a direct hit, the explosive aftershocks were enough to damage and disrupt the horde.

The distance between them continued to shrink. Three hundred meters, two hundred, one hundred...

The fireballs from the explosions bloomed one after another, like fireworks during a festival. As the zombies fell one by one, Chen Yuan could feel his bow arm starting to ache and go numb.

Fortunately, as the last fireball erupted, all twenty zombies that had been surging toward him had been sent to meet their maker.

Phew...

Chen Yuan let out a long breath, a rare look of excitement on his face. This was the first time he had truly faced a group of zombies alone. The battle had been thrilling but safe, and it had greatly tempered his will.

He looked down at the compound bow in his hands and muttered to himself, "I can still get stronger..." Even if he couldn't reach the level of the heroines in Resident Evil, he believed that with long-term practice hunting zombies, he would gradually grow.

Clap, clap, clap...

"Nicely done."

Just as Chen Yuan was catching his breath, a voice sounded from not far behind him.

His heart tightened. In a single motion, he squeezed his legs against Tieniu's sides. Man and dog spun around instantly. His right hand had already drawn an arrow with practiced ease and nocked it on the bowstring.

Creeeak...

The bowstring was drawn taut, his left hand raised slightly. The red, high-explosive tip of the arrow moved back and forth, quickly aiming at the dark figure five meters away.

The searchlight on Tieniu's head shot forward, and Chen Yuan finally got a clear look at the person.

She was clad in a suit of black, armor-like combat gear that covered her from head to toe. It looked something like a female Iron Man, but the overall design was much heavier, not as sleek as in the movies. The two square chest plates, which were prominent due to the extra padding, had faint traces of corrosion. His eyes moved down. Her two armor-encased thighs looked powerful, and the protrusions at the knees were deeply scratched.

After a quick scan, the only skin he could see was through her narrow, light-blue visor. He didn't know if it was because of the visor, but her pupils seemed to have a faint blue tint.

Chen Yuan's brow furrowed. To be able to approach him so silently, and to be so calm in the face of so many zombies, she was clearly no ordinary person.

What is her objective?

Does she want my equipment?

Or is she here to rob me of my supplies?

He steadied himself and spoke in a cold, indifferent voice, "Who are you?!"

While he was sizing her up, she was observing him as well.

The dark figure nodded slightly, and a woman's slightly magnetic voice came from within the metal mask. "Lan Ya. Member of the Hunter Squad."

Chen Yuan frowned slightly. Hunter Squad? He had honestly never heard of it, but the name sounded impressive, as if they specialized in killing zombies.

"So? What do you want?" He remained on high alert. He absolutely could not relax now. In this dangerous environment, no one could be trusted. At least, not before he understood their intentions.

Seeing Chen Yuan's expression, Lan Ya seemed a little taken aback. What's with that look?! This person doesn't know about the Hunter Squad? Wait, do you not watch the news or go online?

"Let me see your bow and arrow," Lan Ya said, getting straight to the point.

Her thick arm extended. At her knuckles, the armor was layered like scales, and at her fingertips, blade-like claws were exposed.

Chen Yuan's eyes narrowed. She's trying to take my bow!

At this thought, the muscles in his right arm tensed, pulling the bowstring back until the nock of the arrow touched his chin. If he relaxed even slightly, the high-explosive arrow would shoot toward her chest. If it broke through her defense, then all would be well. But if it didn't, he would have to find a way to retreat.

In that moment, the atmosphere became incredibly tense.

Tieqiong and Tiedan both moved back to the front, baring their sharp, metallic fangs.

Lan Ya watched the man's actions, and the corner of her eye couldn't help but twitch. I just want to look at your bow, and you want to kill me?! Fine, fine, you want to kill me, is that it?

Lan Ya slightly retracted her outstretched hand, then pointed a single finger at her own chest.

"Go ahead. Shoot me right here. I don't believe you'd dare to shoot an offi—"

WHOOSH—BOOM!!!

Before the woman could finish her sentence, Chen Yuan let go of the bowstring.

She had made such an outrageous request. What reason did he have not to grant it?

The tail-flame of the high-explosive arrow vanished in a flash, followed by a deafening roar. The scorching heatwave from the fireball instantly melted the falling snowflakes.

Because he was so close, even Chen Yuan couldn't help but turn his head slightly to avoid the blast of high temperature.

The fireball lasted for less than three seconds. As his vision shifted from bright white to darkness, Chen Yuan blinked hard, quickly readjusting.

Then, a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.