Zhu Xiong directly called on Guo Gang, Zhao Yimin, and the others. A group of thirty people set out in four trucks and two Jeeps.
The hospital had already been cleared once before, and this time they were just moving stuff, so as usual, Su Han didn't follow.
Zhu Xiong's task was to transport all the metals that Su Han had melted into metallic cubes along the way, as well as any usable supplies from the hospital, back to base.
This time, leading the way was the Bone Armor Giant Pig that Zhu Xiong had just contracted.
Although it was only First Order Upper Grade, its huge stature was nearly comparable to the trucks, and its formidable defense and strength meant it had a unique talent for paving the way.
Upon nearing the hospital, crawlers that had gathered from God knows where spotted the convoy and launched an attack on the Bone Armor Giant Pig.
More than a dozen creatures charged at once, but the gigantic Bone Armor Giant Pig stood unshaken, stepping forward with heavy strides. Its ferocious fangs swept through, overturning many of the creatures.
With its bloody maw opening wide, it could crush the hard skeletons of its prey as easily as if they were crisp snacks, offering no resistance at all.
In just a moment of confrontation, the hordes of monsters were slaughtered.
"Roar!"
The creature let out a low growl, and those monsters lucky enough to survive scattered like birds and beasts.
"Heh, they really do run fast—crawlers and Giant Macrophage Dogs alike. It's just the flesh corpses that can't move fast, right?"
Zhu Xiong chuckled as he watched the monsters vanish into the fog, then continued towards South City First Hospital.
-----------------
"Brother Zhou, they're here."
Inside South City First Hospital, a lackey hustled over, looking grave. "My Giant Macrophage Dog ran back from East Street. There's a powerful creature at that intersection."
Scouting wasn't solely the job of humans; Angel Envoys also partook, and it was less suspicious when monsters appeared in the fog.
Although, the information garnered was not as precise as that from a human, enough judgment could be made to discern between human or beast.
"Get ready, everyone hide."
Zhou Ji sneered coldly. They really are quick on their feet, he thought, wondering how long had they been guarding the place. It seemed their base was nearby.
He had rushed back as soon as Wan Yuzhou gave the order, not spending much time either way.
He had expected a long surveillance, but to his surprise, they arrived so quickly. Explore stories on мѵʟ
The quicker their arrival, the closer their base, which was good news for him.
Zhou Ji's smile grew colder as the forty people he brought with him hid throughout the hospital, especially within the main building.
Out of the forty people, twenty-five were armed with rifles, and the remaining fifteen with handguns.
Having the means to run a shooting club, procuring these items was natural for them. Their only limitation might be the quantity of ammunition at hand.
But this would certainly suffice against ordinary survivors.
"They've arrived."
The fog at the entrance of the hospital gradually dissipated as light poured in, signaling the arrival of newcomers.
In this post-apocalyptic world, only humans walked with the light of Lamp Tree Crystals.
However, when he saw the figure emerging from the fog, his pupils narrowed sharply.
The oncoming figure turned out to be the colossal Bone Armor Giant Pig—its vast body akin to a truck, every step causing the ground to tremble slightly.
Compared to a truck, such a behemoth was undeniably more intimidating.
Close behind the Bone Armor Giant Pig were the heavily modified trucks, their robust front shovels almost entwined with mesh, making them look like metal fortresses.
Zhou Ji's expression turned solemn; his deputy, Yu Shaokui, hesitated, "Brother Zhou, they look formidable by the looks of it."
Four trucks and two Jeeps, all heavily welded and armored, were beyond what ordinary survivor enclaves—usually holed up in residential blocks, convenience stores, or markets—could manage to gather and modify.
Not to mention the front's creature was probably a First Order Upper Grade, and their Contractor wasn't weak either.
"They will get out of their cars eventually. A First Order Upper Grade creature may stop bullets, but Contractors cannot," Zhou Ji's eyes turned frosty as he hardened his resolve, speaking quietly. "How come? Were you frightened even after raiding the police station?"
Leading the way, more than twenty other members' flesh corposes, Giant Macrophage Dogs, and other Angel Envoys charged down with incredible speed.
"People in the vehicle, surrender immediately or think about the consequences."
The threatening words continued alongside uninterrupted gunfire, their usual tactic: comply and pay 'tax,' resist and kill the troublemakers until others learned to obey.
Clearly, Zhu Xiong with his First Order Upper Grade Angel Envoy was seen as a natural troublemaker in their eyes.
"Go to hell."
Zhu Xiong's face twitched with a cold smirk.
Thinking they were tough with their guns? He summoned the Glutton with a flash from the Book of Blood Spirit, appearing instantly before him.
The Glutton charged towards Zhou Ji's direction, its right arm stretching out enormously and reaching the second-floor height in an instant.
Zhou Ji was stunned as bullets rained upon the arm, leaving only white specks and failing to break the skin.
Not only was the skin of the right arm thick, but it also possessed a Hardening skill.
The wide mouth on the right arm bit onto the railing, and with a leap, leveraging the force, the Glutton landed heavily on the second floor.
The sweeping arm flung a row of armed underlings through the air, the sound of breaking bones ringing out nonstop.
As the gunfire waned, the people on the ground hastily summoned their Angel Envoys, clad in iron armor which clanged at the impact of bullets.
The group opened the vehicle doors and, wielding hand-held crossbows, joined the fight, aiming and shooting upwards without hesitation.
The sound of bolts piercing flesh echoed; some couldn't react in time and were impaled by crossbow arrows.
The distance to the second floor was well within the crossbows' range.
The Bone Armor Giant Pig was even more ferocious; it had difficulty ascending to the second floor, but the Angel Envoys on the ground floor were perfect prey.
With the Bone Armor Skill activated, armor equipped, it charged through most of the gunfire straight at Zhou Ji's Angel Envoys.
A single swipe sent four or five Angel Envoys flying, their tendons and bones snapping.
Zhou Ji's flesh corpse tried to wrestle the moment it approached, grabbing the Bone Armor Giant Pig's tusks, but was thrown away with a single heave.
"Spurt"
As it tried to get up, an enraged Zhu Xiong arrived and shot an arrow through its knee.
The struggling Angel Envoy flesh corpse received another arrow to its other knee, and the Bone Armor Giant Pig stomped on its body, breaking its bones outright.
Zhu Xiong sneered, retracting his crossbow, not delivering the killing blow since he wanted to capture someone alive to dig into the opposition's roots.
"Capture them alive!"
The tide of the battle had turned, and Zhou Ji had never imagined that despite lacking handguns, the enemy would suddenly pull out so many hand crossbows.
Knowing these were contraband, how could ordinary people have such a number of them?
Run!
Zhou Ji knew he had to escape, not just due to the hand crossbows but also the Angel Envoy monster rampaging on the second floor, which was far beyond First Order Upper Grade.
He turned around, ready to flee, seizing the only chance to escape while his brothers were entangled in the melee.
If he could just get out and reach the car, he'd be able to report back, regroup, and seek revenge.
He spun on his heel, rushing to escape in the direction of the distant exit, but as soon as he dashed down the stairs, he realized Zhu Xiong was already there waiting, crossbow in hand, wearing a cold smirk.
"Kid, you think you can shoot from the shadows and run? Wishful thinking."
"Let me go, and we..."
"Spurt"
A crossbow bolt pierced Zhou Ji's knee.
"Distraction won't work. Come clean, understand?"
Before he could draw his pistol, he was met with Zhu Xiong's contemptuously sneering face.