Chapter 77: Trap

Harper's question hung in the air, his eyes wide with curiosity and awe.

The transformation of Cassius and Mara into beings of such formidable power was a sight to behold, and it sparked a desire within him for that same strength.

If he had the same strength, perhaps he would no longer be afraid of mining alone and would be capable enough to protect himself!

However, Shane's eyes also widened, but for a different reason. He didn't expect Harper to make such a request at all.

With a sigh, Shane explained what had happened.

"Harper," he began, his voice firm yet gentle, "You don't want this—what we gave them, it's not just a potion for strength. It's a leash for the mind."

Harper's brow furrowed, confusion etched on his face. The others were also curious.

Although they had some idea about what truly happened, it was better to hear everything from Shane...

Shane took a deep breath before he continued.

"These ampules, they're a double-edged sword. Yes, they create Super Soldiers—beings of immense physical prowess, but at the cost of their free will..."

"I knew it..." Anna muttered as she also noticed how weird it was for Shane to administer those precious-looking ampules to them.

"So it's really like that..." Gene then nodded as he realized it as much. After all, there was no way that Shane would want the two to get stronger when they hated the idea of being part of their group. He could only guess that the ampules injected into them had some sort of mystical power that would bind their will.

"I'll show it to you..." Shane muttered as he saw Harper's disbelief...

Turning to Cassius and Mara, who now stood with an eerie stillness, Shane issued a command.

"Cassius, Mara, demonstrate ten push-ups."

Without hesitation, the two complied, their movements synchronized and precise, a testament to their enhanced abilities.

The onlookers watched as they confirmed the "severity" of this mind control!

These were no longer the fierce Scavengers they had captured; they were something else entirely—weapons forged from flesh and will, bound to the commands of their leader!

Shane's voice broke the silence that followed.

"You see, Harper, they've gained the world in strength but lost the essence of who they are. Their experiences, their choices, and their very selves are now under control. They are powerful, yes, but they are not free."

Harper stepped back as everything started to sink in. The allure of power was now tainted with the truth of its cost.

The Shelter's inhabitants exchanged glances, a silent consensus forming. They had witnessed the birth of Super Soldiers, beings who would follow Shane's words without question or pause!

This may sound like a bad thing for the Scavengers, but it was surely a good thing for their Shelter!

As the reality settled in, they all felt the weight of Shane's decision. No wonder Shane's reaction wasn't too happy after gaining two Super Soldiers.

He had crossed into uncharted territory, wielding a power that could protect or destroy their enemies... The future of the Shelter—and perhaps humanity itself—rested in the balance of how he chose to use these ampules that could control other people.

"Yes."

[ You have earned 30 Experience Points. ]

[ You have earned 1 Reputation Point. ]

[ Loots obtained: 2 Item Upgrade Crystal, 2 Zombie Cores, 500mL Water, Bread x5, Trap Disarming Skill, Martial Arts Talent ]

[ You have reached the limit of Survivor Talents. Martial Arts ( Rare ) was not added. ]

[ Do you want to remove one of your current Survivor Talents to accommodate Martial Arts? ]

[ Hint: You can only have 4 Survivor Talents, but you can check the Reputation Store occasionally, and perhaps you'll find a Talent Expansion Pack! ]

Shane happily accepted the Crafting Skill and Trap Disarming Skill!

He didn't care about Martial Arts Talent, although it seemed quite good since his Traceless Breath Talent was already perfect with his current equipment. Since he planned to do some explorations alone, he knew that he had to keep this Talent with him.

The night passed quickly as aside from three Crawler Zombies, that were easily eliminated, no one had disturbed them...

However, in the morning after their peaceful breakfast, the tranquility was shattered by Cloud's urgent warning, a synthetic voice cutting through Shane's head.

[ Scanning the surroundings... ] [ Scan complete. ] [ Twelve Jumper Zombies detected. ]

Almost simultaneously, Lucky's barks echoed. It was a primal alarm that sent a jolt to the others.

Shane sprang into action as he led the fighters outside.

Twelve Jumper Zombies were indeed coming to their shelter and they were moving fast!

Nonetheless, none of them are worried as the shelter's defenses were not for show!

Clank! Clank! Clank!

Clank! Clank! Clank!

One after another, the Jumpers, propelled by their powerful leg muscles, leaped towards the fence of the estate, only to find themselves ensnared!

The traps, hidden beneath layers of dirt and debris, were masterfully crafted: pits lined with spikes, net traps that sprung upwards, and snare wires that whipped around the creatures' legs, yanking them from their attempted pounce.

"Hahaha! Eat that!" Leo couldn't help but laugh after seeing the traps he made in action.

"That worked well! We should quickly kill them before they recover!" Harper suggested as he held his pickaxe tightly.

The Jumpers, known for their agility and terrifying leaps, were rendered helpless as the traps caught them!

One of them misjudged its leap and plummeted into a pit, its thick muscles impaled on the spikes below. Another found its legs entangled in a net, the more it struggled, the tighter the net constricted. Then, another triggered a snare wire, which wrapped around its legs with such force that it was flipped mid-air, crashing down with a bone-jarring thud.

"Ho~ Those are impressive traps..." Shane's eyes lit up as he saw what happened. He didn't expect that the traps they'd made were already this advanced!

The clever design of the traps ensured that the zombies' own momentum was their downfall! As they thrashed and writhed, trying to free themselves, it became clear that the shelter's defenses were not merely for show--they were a testament to their determination to protect their haven at all costs.