C13 The Supermarket Was Occupied!

"Boss, is it really appropriate for us to be doing this?" a subordinate cautiously inquired of Zou Feiyun.

Zou Feiyun shot him a look and responded, "It's the end of the world. Cast aside your pointless compassion, or you won't make it out alive!"

"Cheng, looks like we've got about twenty coming from the east," Lang Zhe reported.

"There's around forty on this side," Huang Qiu added, as she surveyed the north.

"Taking into account both sides, that's over a hundred!" Yan Cheng declared.

"But the phone's alarm is still going off nonstop. It could keep drawing more zombies," Huang Qiu pointed out.

Yan Cheng nodded, "Then we'll just have to wait." Internally, he mused, "If this is the number of zombies we're dealing with, we could take them down. We'd just have to show our hand. We'll wait and see."

The zombies had amassed, but Yan Cheng and his companions were tucked away in a corner on the second floor, out of the zombies' olfactory reach.

With just the three of them, their human scent wasn't particularly strong. The zombies were merely attracted to the ringing phone, aimlessly roaming around the supermarket.

As time went on, the number of zombies swelled. Unable to get inside, they believed food awaited them, causing those on the outskirts to scramble frantically to get in.

Inevitably, the zombies began to stack up. The ones on top were now much closer to Yan Cheng and his group. They could now catch the scent of the living, which sent them into a frenzy.

The excitement of the zombies at the top cascaded down to those below, all of them straining to climb higher.

"What do we do?" Huang Qiu asked urgently, noticing the zombies might have spotted them.

Yan Cheng replied calmly, "Don't panic. There are security bars on the windows. They shouldn't be able to break in."

Yet, Yan Cheng had underestimated the allure of living humans to the zombies. Despite their lack of agility, their strength was formidable. The zombies at the second-floor windows began to violently rattle the security bars.

"Surely the zombies can't force these security bars open, can they?" Yan Cheng had barely finished his thought when the bars in front of them began to give way.

"Cheng, you really are the kiss of death!" Lang Zhe exclaimed, watching the unfolding chaos with disbelief.

"Let's figure something out fast. This is no time for jokes!" Huang Qiu urged. After two days of battling, they were relatively composed in the face of such adversity.

Nearby, Zou Feiyun watched the zombies frenziedly tearing at the security windows and sneered, "Now you see the consequences. Opposing me is a death wish!"

"Boss, will the stuff in the supermarket get trashed by them?" one of Zou Feiyun's henchmen inquired.

Zou Feiyun shook his head, explaining, "Zombies only crave living flesh. To them, the food might as well be rocks. Once the zombies are done feasting, they'll scatter. That's when we'll seize our chance to go in and take the food."

"Boss, your insight is unparalleled!"

Yan Cheng noticed the security window giving way and quickly commanded, "Into the break room, everyone. Madman, guard the door. We make our stand here!" The break room was a small, windowless space on the second floor, meant for staff to rest.

They dashed inside just as the security window was wrenched open, sending the clinging zombies crashing down with it.

"Brace yourselves, they're about to break in!" Yan Cheng warned. Lang Zhe positioned a newly crafted shield at the doorway, crouching behind it for support.

The zombies poured in through the breach. Luckily, the door was narrow, allowing only one zombie through at a time. Despite their numbers, only two could reach the shield at once.

"Huang Qiu, help him with the shield. I'll handle the zombies!" Yan Cheng declared, drawing the machete he'd exchanged for the day before and aiming for the nearest zombie's head.

The leading zombie's head was cleaved in two instantly.

"Cheng, where did you get that sword? I need one too!" Lang Zhe called out, impressed by the weapon's sharpness.

"Stay strong, or we're all done for!" Yan Cheng shot back, internally praising, "The system's gear never disappoints!"

Yan Cheng continued to fend off the zombies outside. After dispatching six or seven, he quickly noticed a problem.

The fallen zombies created a pile that allowed the others to climb higher. Lang Zhe had to adjust his shield upward to prevent the zombies from grabbing them from above.

But this left a vulnerable gap at the bottom. Zombies could now reach through and grab at them from below.

"Cheng, what's our next move?" Lang Zhe, spotting a hand snaking in from underneath, stamped on it and asked urgently.

"Do I need to resort to my last resort?" Yan Cheng wondered, his hand already on the pistol at his waist.

Just then, a burst of gunfire erupted outside. The zombie assault hesitated, and those on the perimeter seemed drawn away by the noise. Most of the zombies dispersed, leaving only nine.

"Someone's finally come to the rescue!" Yan Cheng exclaimed with relief, grateful that he could hold onto his ace in the hole a bit longer.

"Save the relief for later. Let's finish off these zombies; I'm exhausted," Lang Zhe urged.