C10 On the Way

Chapter Ten: On the Road

"Puppy, don't run away!"

Joyful shouts echoed down the highway. From above, one could see a clutter of vehicles strewn across the straight stretch of road, with a massive car in the center. Around it, three large humans and a small child played with a big dog, showing no signs of the apocalyptic times.

Gu Ming witnessed this scene upon his return. Thankfully, it wasn't in the city or at night, or else no number of lives would have been enough to risk.

"Daddy!"

Nannan's keen eyes quickly spotted her father returning, and she ran over to him.

Gu Ming had no choice but to park the electric bike and scoop up his beloved daughter.

"Daddy, did you finish work?"

Nannan remembered Gu Ming's excuse for leaving was work, so she associated his return with the end of a workday.

"Yes, Daddy's done with work."

Gu Ming felt a bit awkward. He had just eliminated over twenty villains, and here his daughter was, equating it to a day's work. What else could he say? He simply agreed.

"Everything okay?"

His wife approached, full of concern.

"All good!" Gu Ming replied with a smile and a nod.

Zhang Tine stepped forward to help push the electric scooter. She had been exceptionally proactive these last few days; a team has no use for someone who doesn't contribute. She eagerly took on any task, and Gu Ming and his wife noticed but said nothing. They couldn't very well discourage her willingness to help.

"Thanks for that," Gu Ming said to Zhang Tine.

"It's what I should do, Brother Ming," Zhang Tine replied modestly, then pushed the scooter up the rear door of the armored vehicle and into the workshop.

Everyone gathered in the armored vehicle's living room, a cozy space of about ten square meters, perfect for dining, chatting, and for Nannan and Lucky to play. The floor was carpeted with blankets, and indoor shoes were a must inside the vehicle, keeping it clean. Gu Ming wouldn't have it any other way, especially not with his precious daughter playing on the floor.

The armored vehicle soon resumed its journey, traveling northward on the desolate highway.

......

"This is the Northern River Survivor Base. We offer food, shelter, and military protection. All survivors are welcome to join us."

"Hello? Is anyone out there? This is Taihe Middle School. Can someone come to rescue us? Please, we're out of food."

"I'm the owner of XX Corporation in Yuanqing City. Can anyone save me? I'll reward you with a house and ten million yuan. If you're interested, come quickly."

"Oh God, is the world ending?"

"Is anyone able to reach XX Town? We've eradicated all the zombies here. It's a haven, a perfect place to thrive in the apocalypse."

Inside the war chariot, there was an onboard broadcast system. Gu Ming had Zeus tweak the frequency, picking up a mix of private and official broadcasts—some true, some false. It was tough to tell them apart. Notably absent was any information about the origin of the apocalypse. Of course, it's possible the authorities knew but hadn't shared anything.

"Brother Ming, do you think that's for real?"

Zhang Tine's voice reached Gu Ming from behind.

"Think what's real?"

Gu Ming turned to ask, though he had been aware of her presence all along; he just hadn't acknowledged her.

"That so-called paradise."

Zhang Tine had felt a stir of interest when she heard the broadcast about the small town claiming to be a paradise, but she wasn't sure if it was genuine and sought Gu Ming's opinion.

"What's your take?"

Gu Ming didn't give a direct answer but responded with his own question. After all, it didn't matter what others said; one had to make up their own mind. Even without the Zhang sisters joining them, it wouldn't make a difference. In truth, the sisters' main contribution was simply to provide company for his wife and daughter.

"You're right. There's no such thing as a paradise in this world. It's all deception."

Reflecting on the books and films she'd encountered, Zhang Tine realized the idea of a paradise was too good to be true, leaving her feeling somewhat let down as she turned and walked away.

...

Ruamont, the capital of Dweania, served as the nation's political and cultural heart. The city's garrison was fortified with three highly equipped and elite armies.

At the onset of the apocalypse, the central government swiftly deployed troops into the city. At great expense, they cleared the zombies within the third ring and rallied millions of survivors. Working tirelessly through the night, they constructed a formidable wall ten meters high and three meters thick around the third ring.

Life within the Third Ring carried on with a semblance of order, reminiscent of the days before the apocalypse. Yet, if one could overlook the pedestrians adorned with an array of weapons, the beggars in tattered clothing, and those lying indolently in the nooks of walls as if awaiting their demise, the illusion of normalcy might hold.

Deep within the capital's heart, two hundred meters underground, lay a biological research facility. There, renowned biologist Zhong Beishan was intently scrutinizing the experimental data on zombies. Each zombie specimen was securely contained within its own bulletproof isolation chamber.

This facility's primary focus was to unravel the mysteries of zombie traits. However, it was not alone in its endeavors; Zhong Beishan was aware of other bases dedicated to studying terrestrial and marine mutated creatures, as well as those delving into human mutations.

The military had made a startling discovery: certain elite soldiers, once at the pinnacle of physical prowess, were now experiencing gradual enhancements in their fitness. In a world where reaching the peak, the status of a soldier king, meant no further improvement was thought possible, the post-apocalyptic landscape had rewritten the rules. Initially, it was believed that mutations were exclusive to animals, but humans were not exempt—though their changes were less conspicuous.

Zhong Beishan understood that the mysterious X substance was the catalyst for these transformations. Its origins were unknown; it had seemingly materialized out of nowhere, catching every nation off guard. In a fleeting moment, the apocalypse had struck, turning half of humanity into zombies and spawning a host of mutated creatures on land and sea. With avian mutations less prevalent, the skies remained the world's last bastion of relative safety, with only the major powers retaining their aerial capabilities.

Dweania sustained its governance through air transport and the watchful eyes of satellites. Survivor Bases, joint ventures of the government and military, dotted the landscape, with the central authority providing up-to-date intelligence on zombies and mutated creatures. Despite the semblance of unity, local governments harbored no separatist ambitions, largely due to the nation's arsenal of killing machines deterring any would-be usurpers. Thus, life within the official Survivor Bases maintained a certain level of security. However, numerous smaller, self-established bases lacked any semblance of order. Here, might made right, and some leaders ruled like despots, exploiting the central government's weakened control to carve out their own domains. The living conditions within these bases left much to the imagination.

Zhong Beishan didn't dwell on the complexities. His primary focus was to investigate the effects of Substance X on zombies. Given the apocalypse had only recently begun, no significant impacts were yet discernible.

Nonetheless, researchers had uncovered numerous zombie traits. Zombies, for instance, gravitate toward darkness. It's less about a fear of light and more that high temperatures impede their mobility. Heat can slow their movements, and blood acts as an addictive stimulant to them, a primal instinct. They also possess reproductive capabilities. These findings suggest that zombies represent a new biological entity.

As a result, the most up-to-date findings on zombie research have been submitted to the central authorities. From there, the information is broadcast nationwide to every Survivor Base, keeping all outposts informed.