I'd like to thank our new Patreon Diamond member, "melonpan," for recommending this novel for translation. I've read up to chapter 50, and it's a truly engaging read. It boasts a 4.4 rating on NovelUpdates. So you know it's going to be good.
Thank you again, Melonpan, for the sponsorship
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Fu Shiwu, in the eyes of the former commander, was an ace shooter. During these tough times, firearm and ammunition control wasn't as strict. Hence, the captain allocated Tang Xuhai 50 rounds of ammo.
Though their ammo was somewhat scarce now, it was manageable for the entire camp, and 50 rounds were still affordable.
Fu Shiwu saw a handful of bright orange bullets and instinctively reached out, blocking Tang Xuhai's palm with both hands.
He nervously glanced around.
Having not yet shed his civilian identity, Fu Shiwu was startled seeing Tang Xuhai holding two clips and a bunch of bullets, feeling an illegal sense of unease.
Seeing Fu Shiwu's expression, Tang Xuhai turned inexplicably, then seemed to understand, saying, "Indeed, shouldn't flaunt these. You take these, keep them for backup. If anyone acts up while I'm away, don't hesitate, use the gun."
Fu Shiwu's throat seemed to tighten. How could he use a gun? He wasn't a cop or a soldier. He might be mistaken for a gang member.
But having bullets was still a relief.
Fu Shiwu hid in a corner, meticulously loading the loose bullets one by one into the empty clip, carefully stashing the clips and extra bullets into his backpack.
Tang Xuhai observed his earnestness, a smirk forming on his lips.
Inspired by the first day, every time Tang Xuhai went out, he didn't return empty-handed. Occasionally, he gathered items he deemed useful. Gradually, the back of the military SUV parked in the camp became filled.
Without dry rations, emergency food was kept for any unforeseen circumstances.
The government regulated food supplies: five steamed buns and some pickled vegetables per person per day. Initially, the mess trucks provided hot meals, but as food and fuel dwindled, even hot porridge ceased.
Luckily, the reclaimed large water purifier was installed, allowing people to consume steamed buns and pickled vegetables with water, barely meeting sustenance needs.
But for these three men, this meager diet—especially for Tang Xuhai—was unacceptable. Later, Tang Xuhai learned to scavenge roadside shops, sometimes finding cheap rice, noodles, and oil.
On this day, Tang Xuhai continued with the special operations team to search for supplies.
A heavy machine gun was mounted on the military vehicle's roof, a soldier lying nearby.
In recent days, as the number of anomalies increased and urban food sources depleted, these anomalies converged and assaulted the storage centers.
Their team, tasked with scavenging vital supplies, faced an increasing onslaught of anomalies, necessitating the deployment of a heavy machine gun.
The situation at the storage center was even graver. Protecting tens of thousands with fewer than four hundred soldiers was impractical. Thanks to the abundant use of antibiotics, the first batch of feverish patients recovered, all of whom had developed abilities. Under the army's cover, these recruits joined the defense.
However, their abilities varied greatly. Some possessed potent attack capabilities—electricity, fire, metal, wind, and strength. Others, like wood and water abilities, were ineffective against anomalies. Some still hadn't figured out how to use their unique powers and were in the learning phase.
Yet, the wood and water abilities were not entirely useless. Wood abilities could grow plant seeds, providing the storage center with vegetables, temporarily relieving the food crisis. Water ability users provided clean drinking water, allowing people to bathe and launder, thanks to their contributions.
Where there's helpful assistance, there's also cunning deception. Those aiming to exploit their abilities found themselves facing a hail of bullets from the military, curbing any ambitions of dominance.
Ultimately, these individuals were mortal and stood no chance against bullets.
Tang Xuhai didn't sit inside the vehicle; instead, he leaned against the door, keeping watch alongside the soldier on the roof.
Their aim today was to reach the garment factory on the outskirts of Cloud City. Not for clothes, but because rumors suggested the factory had its own small diesel generator installed during an expansion phase.
The apocalypse had gradually destroyed urban infrastructure. While water remained unaffected underground, electricity and communication suffered. Cell phones were defunct, and the storage center had lost power due to damaged lines.
Without electricity, many military devices were unusable, and satellite connections were severed, cutting off real-time information.
Encountering a relentless pursuit from anomalies along the way, their arrival at the garment factory was an arduous journey.
Once a prominent enterprise in Cloud City, the garment factory was extensive, accompanied by residential compounds and schools. Due to their self-sufficiency, the factory suffered significant casualties in this disaster.
Weak attempts to flee by the locals resulted in tragic outcomes. When they sought escape, there was no one to lead the anomalies away, resulting in few survivors and many consumed by the anomalies.
Upon the special operations team's arrival, the garment factory was strewn with corpses, the stench of death pervasive.
Tang Xuhai's expression changed involuntarily.
"Stay alert, swift movements. Let's minimize our time here to avoid contamination!" The captain cautioned the fifty or sixty members of the special operations team seriously.
Then, turning to Tang Xuhai, he added, "Xuhai, no solo moves today. It's too risky here."
"Okay, Captain Xing," Tang Xuhai nodded.
Without heavy weaponry, Tang Xuhai had only a pair of dragonbone swords and a dagger.
He stood near the vehicle, watching soldiers dismounting from trucks, jogging towards the power station.
The garment factory was eerily quiet, the soldiers' synchronized footsteps the only sound.
Tang Xuhai proceeded forward with a grave expression, the hairs on his neck standing on end, a foreboding sense creeping in.
Forged through multiple life-and-death situations, this instinct honed in battles rarely erred. Tang Xuhai trusted it; something was amiss, danger loomed in the garment factory!
Tang Xuhai dashed ahead, joining the team.
"Captain Xing!"
The soldiers moved swiftly, entering the power station, dismantling the diesel generator using various tools.
Captain Xing heard Tang Xuhai's call, turning to inquire. At that moment, an anomaly leaped fiercely from the roof.
"Ssss!!!" The distinctive tearing sound of the anomaly's cry echoed around them.
"An anomaly!"
Soldiers rushed to grab their weapons and shoot at the anomaly, but it swiftly overpowered three of them.
The anomaly's agility was unbelievable, simultaneously attacking several soldiers, catching them off guard.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!" One soldier screamed as his face was ripped open, leaving only hollow sockets where his nose should be.
Another was dragged down by the anomaly, while the last met a bizarre fate. The anomaly's mouthpiece opened, and its feeding straw shot out, piercing the soldier's skull.
"Don't shoot your own damn team!" Captain Xing roared angrily, "Steady! Don't panic!"
Amidst Captain Xing's repeated shouts, the soldiers finally stabilized and aimed their shots at the anomaly.
However, this anomaly didn't linger after toppling three soldiers. It jumped high like a spring and pounced in another direction.
Its figure traced an arc in the air, dodging every bullet.
Facing it, a soldier raised his gun but before he
could fire, the anomaly's tentacle wrapped around the barrel. With a forceful jerk, the soldier, along with the gun, was flung away.
"Is this still an anomaly?!" A soldier yelled in shock. "It's evolved!"
Compared to other anomalies, this one was visibly faster, stronger, and now had added straw attacks, leaving the soldiers sprawling.
"Move aside!" Tang Xuhai rushed in, leaping with both dragonbone swords towards the anomaly.
The blades glinted, but the anomaly swiftly altered its movement, striking back against the swords' backs.
The force nearly made Tang Xuhai lose his grip. Seizing the chance, the anomaly lunged its feeding straw towards his head.
"Curses!" Tang Xuhai cursed, quickly tilting his head. The straw whizzed past his hair.
As the anomaly retracted the straw, another tentacle swung toward Tang Xuhai. He lifted a leg, kicking at the anomaly's upper arm, causing the tentacle to recoil.
"Ssss!" The anomaly howled in pain, its eyes filled with malice. The mouthpiece extended once more, aiming at Tang Xuhai's head.
"Darn it!" Tang Xuhai cursed, unable to set his foot down. He kicked with his other foot, flipping backward!
The anomaly's straw grazed Tang Xuhai's body, missing its target.
"Hiss! Hiss!" The anomaly seethed in anger, its two tentacles relentlessly attacking Tang Xuhai.
If Tang Xuhai stopped, the anomaly could easily catch him, given its strength. Forced into continuous backflips, honed through numerous battles, Tang Xuhai was like a circus performer, somersaulting repeatedly, over ten times.
"Tang Xuhai!" Captain Xing raised his semi-automatic rifle, firing at the anomaly's back.
A series of gunshots echoed, but the anomaly, with eyes on its back, sprung away in an instant.
Tang Xuhai found a moment to catch his breath, landing steadily with one hand supporting the ground, both feet together.
"Darn it!" Tang Xuhai's eyes glinted fiercely. His combat boots scraped the ground as he rushed to retrieve the dragonbone sword he'd dropped during the flips.
The anomaly returned to attack the soldiers, leaving Tang Xuhai behind, clearly dismissing him. This irked Tang Xuhai immensely.
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