Chapter 36 Return to the Armory Department
In the apocalypse, teamwork was crucial.
Take a simple example. In the apocalypse, hunting monsters or mutated life forms was a common task. If a Three-Star Evolver accepted such a task alone, at most, they could only deal with third-category mutant creatures. Individuals with powerful equipment or professions might attempt to hunt fourth-category mutant creatures. However, this required selecting individual targets. Once targets gathered in groups, let alone third-category mutant creatures, they might not even be able to handle second-category mutant creatures.
But a team was different. For the same task mentioned above, if a team of three Three-Star Evolvers was formed, they could fully challenge fourth-category mutant creatures. Even with proper tactics, they could attempt to hunt fifth-category mutant creatures! The rewards obtained in the end were incomparable to what one person could achieve. Even when averaged among three people, it far exceeded what one person could accomplish.
This was the power of teamwork—safer, more profitable, and leads to rapid empowerment.
In the apocalypse, strength was the only guarantee of safety.
Before, William was a member of a combat team. The relationships within the team were good, like brothers. However, most of them were now whereabouts unknown. For those he knew the addresses of, William couldn't go to them for now as he had some things to take care of here.
Honestly, before this, William never thought about forming a team, at least not until he found his previous teammates.
But Candice's appearance made him reconsider.
This woman was truly a great team member in the making. She was skilled, professionally trained, and likely had some family martial arts skills. There were not many such outstanding talents. Once she evolved, she would surpass others of the same level by far.
Most importantly, she had a sense of justice, a kind nature, a cooperative mindset, and a willingness to help.
A team could unleash powerful abilities, but the teammate must be trustworthy. Otherwise, being betrayed at a critical moment rendered strength and profits mere fantasies.
Previously, William wasn't responsible for recruiting members; that was the captain's concern. But now, it was different, and he needed to plan for his future.
Keeping this thought in mind, William decided to continue observing this woman.
The tongue of the Blood Tongue Lizard emitted a tempting fragrance, arousing appetite. The Pill already drooled with anticipation, eagerly waiting for William to give it a share. On the other hand, Candice looked reluctant, sprinkling seasoning while holding her nose, as if even the smell made her nauseous.
William first gave a piece of the divided tongue to the Pill, which devoured it eagerly. Soon, it finished and licked its tongue, looking at William, wanting more.
William cut a few pieces and put them on a plate, offering them to Candice. However, she stepped back, indicating she adamantly refused to eat.
Shrugging, William didn't insist and saved enough for himself, giving the rest to the Pill.
The Pill was currently in a mutation phase, and consuming more was beneficial.
Grabbing a fork from the kitchen, he ate all the meat. William felt a warm sensation throughout his body, recognizing it as genetic power. This power not only enhanced his physique but also aided in his mental recovery to some extent.
As he was digesting the meat, William sensed a noticeable acceleration in his mental recovery. Although his mental power was still low, it no longer hindered his physical abilities.
Standing up and performing a few movements, he knew he should be fine to continue fighting as long as he didn't rely on professional skills.
"Let's go."
After a quick tidy-up, William picked up his backpack, ready to depart.
"Where to?" Candice asked, feeling somewhat fatigued. Despite the nauseating odored around, this place was relatively safe. Resting here for the night would be ideal.
"I'm going to retrieve some of my belongings and prepare for tomorrow," William glanced at the visibly tired Candice. "I know you're tired, but if everything goes well, you should have gained that powerful strength by this time tomorrow."
Candice perks up at this thought. She grabs a fruit knife and follows William out. As for the white chopping knife, William had already taken it back.
William planned to return to the campus, heading to the Armory Department to meet Natalie. She still had a mutated willow branch, and with his craftsman profession, he could turn it into a decent weapon.
The tennis court area was still crowded with many zombies, almost hundreds. William sighed inwardly; with a team, even if they were non-evolvers, he could confidently eliminate all these zombies within two hours.
This would mean several hundred First-level Magic Crystals, which could translate to several bottles of One-Star Evolution Potion when spun on the roulette—a substantial fortune.
However, with just him and Candice, he didn't have the confidence to deal with so many zombies and decided to abandon the idea.
With restored energy, William, along with the daring and skilled Candice, encountered minimal danger along the way. They killed several zombies easily, contributing to several first-level magic crystals.
During their journey, Candice finally couldn't help but ask William about the purpose of these magic crystals. William didn't hide much and explained about the roulette. Candice's expression was a mix of surprise and intrigue.
Nearly ten hours had passed since the beginning of the apocalypse. The city's electricity, natural gas, and communication systems had all shut down. The only system still operational was the water supply. However, it's common knowledge that the water was contaminated and unfit for consumption. The surviving humans were now grappling with hunger and thirst.
William and Candice witnessed thousands of zombies gathered around the supermarket on campus, more than ever at the tennis court. The scene was chilling, indicating that many surviving students were seeking food here but were discovered by the zombies. The situation inside the supermarket is likely even more gruesome.
Avoiding the horde of zombies, they arrived at the small building of the Armory Department, which was relatively quiet with few zombies around.
Candice initially intended to enter through the main entrance but was stopped by William. Puzzled, she followed his gaze to the second floor, where faint lights shone through several windows, casting shadows of people engaged in what seemed like a standoff.
William gestured to Candice and moved to a large tree beside the building. He planted the knife at a height reachable for her and pointed to the windows on the second floor.
Understanding his signal, Candice climbed up using the knife handle. With some effort, she managed to reach the window ledge and hoisted herself up.
William's ascent was even simpler. He pulled out the knife, gave a push against the wall, and effortlessly propelled himself up. With a single hand on the window ledge, he gracefully entered the room. Even without any assistance, he jumped in effortlessly, exceeding the capabilities of a normal dog, leaving Candice in awe.
The room they entered was at the end of the second floor, likely an office that now served as a storage room filled with various items.
The door of the room was open, the lock lying on the ground, suggesting a violent intrusion occurred here, likely by the current occupants.
Exchanging a glance, they signaled for the Pill to remain quiet and cautiously approached the door, where they heard voices arguing.
