Chapter 148 The Apocalypse Is No Exception
If you haven't gone toe-to-toe with zombies yourself, you can't really grasp how terrifying they are.
Sure, zombies are slow, stiff, and have obvious weak spots. If you're not scared, you could mess with a lone zombie and easily stab it in the eye.
But when there's a horde of them, that's when things get real. You never know when a rotting hand will grab you, a pus-filled foot will step on you, or a foul-smelling mouth will take a bite out of you.
And don't forget the zombie virus hanging over you like a dark cloud, always ready to strike.
In the apocalypse, the scariest things aren't the creepy, still creatures in the Land of Death or the monsters that make your skin crawl. It's the zombie hordes and beast swarms.
Doesn't matter if you're human or monster, against a horde, you're as helpless as a toddler.
Especially now that most of the zombies have evolved, getting stronger and turning into Grim Reapers with black scythes, threatening every living thing on the planet.
William knew this horror all too well from his past life. He'd had some close calls and still had a healthy fear of zombie hordes. But now, he knew that to get rich and powerful, he had to face these monsters head-on.
Taking a deep breath, he looked at the horde just a few dozen feet away and yelled, "Open fire!"
Marcus's guys, along with some volunteers and reluctant base guards, started shooting from the ruins.
Gunfire filled the air above the base.
The bloody scene made a lot of newbies feel sick. Even Lucy and Natalie, who had fought with William before, turned pale at the sight of zombies getting blown apart, body parts flying everywhere.
But they knew that to survive the apocalypse, they had to get used to it. So, despite feeling queasy, they kept their eyes on the battlefield, waiting for their moment.
If it hadn't been for the chaos last night, the base's organized guards could've held out for half an hour, maybe even longer.
After the chaos, with Simon and Brady killed by William, the base was in disarray and lacked leadership.
Not many people could be gathered, and only a little over a hundred people from Marcus's crew were present. Everyone had guns, but there was little ammunition, so they couldn't sustain their fire for long.
"Stop!" William shouted, waving his arms to make sure everyone saw and heard him.
These fighters, who'd only been surviving the apocalypse for a couple of weeks, couldn't keep their cool. Their shooting accuracy dropped.
When the zombies were close, they could hit them, but at a distance, bullets went wild. So after taking down a wave, William told them to stop, save ammunition, and catch their breath.
Pulling the trigger might seem easy, but in intense combat, the tension drains you physically and mentally.
Anthony, gripping Jack's gun, watched William's every move, soaking in the lessons of battle.
In a small area beneath the ruins, the zombie horde was mowed down by the relentless gunfire, leaving behind a gruesome mess of severed limbs, heads, and blood. Any normal person would feel queasy at the sight.
But that didn't stop the low-level zombies. They had no consciousness, no fear. They didn't care about their fallen comrades; they only cared about fresh meat.
So, after a few hundred of them were killed, the remaining zombies charged again.
Anyone watching would feel a crushing sense of despair.
The feeling that you could never kill them all was maddening.
"Fire!"William's command echoed, and gunfire erupted again. Bullets rained down on the zombie horde below.
Zombies dropped like harvested wheat.
But it only lasted a few seconds before the gunfire became sporadic and then stopped altogether.
They were out of bullets.
In peacetime, ammunition was already limited. Even with the base conserving it, a lot had been used up. These fighters had gathered here on short notice, carrying only what they had. Once the bullets were gone, that was it.
William informed, "Anyone who doesn't want to fight the zombies hand-to-hand can leave now. Those who choose stay, I promise you'll get Evolution Elixir if you survive."
William's eyes scanned the faces of the hundred or so people on the ruins as he made his promise.
Many faces showed signs of inner conflict.
Everyone wanted to become an Evolving person. Faced with a bottle of Evolution Elixir, many were willing to risk everything except their lives. But if they died, what good was the Elixir to them?
Still, this was the closest many had ever been to Evolution Elixir.
After all, they had a promise.
Time seemed to freeze as everyone made their choice.
Many left, not wanting to die here. But some stayed, willing to gamble with their lives.
Half a minute later, fewer than thirty people remained.
William drew the Edge of the Moon, his eyes on the zombie horde below. His expression was calm. After a deep breath, he swung his blade, cutting a path through the zombies.
William roared, "Let's go, and see if our luck holds!"
Seeing William charge into the horde, his fearless momentum inspired those left on the ruins. Many shouted and followed him, charging at the filthy monsters.
When humans are cornered, some accept their fate and wait for death. While some become dazed, shutting down and leaving it to fate.
But others, filled with defiance, anger, and hope, chose to fight back. This resistance might end in failure, which would seem foolish to those who prioritize self-preservation.
But it was this very quality that had allowed humans to survive the apocalypse, amidst powerful and seemingly insurmountable dangers.
At any time, courage was humanity's hope.
The apocalypse was no exception.
