Chapter 422 mes, Quotas, and an Unexpected Roadblock
Chapter 422 mes, Quotas, and an Unexpected Roadblock
“How high are we talking?” Theresa asked without hesitation.
“Level 3, Tania answered, then shrugged. “Can’t say where the ceiling is.”
Theresa pressed, “Why’s that?”
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“We haven’t tested on anything stronger,” Tania said, her tone a little helpless. “Every zombie we’ve gotten so far is under Level 3. Not a single one past that mark.”
Her brows drew together. “The improved zombie–sensing spray got stuck at a bottleneck. Without higher- level zombies to work with, I can’t push it further. If I had a few, there might be another breakthrough.”
Theresa opened her mouth to respond when the system’s crisp chime cut straight into her thoughts.
Ding<i>! </i>Ultimate <i>Leader </i>System <i>activated</i><i>. </i>
<i>Complete </i><i>the </i><i>challenge </i><i>of </i><i>killing </i>10,000 <i>zombies </i>within 24 <i>hours </i><i>to </i><i>earn </i><i>ten </i><i>random </i><i>rewards</i><i>! </i>
Her lips twitched into a grin. <i>Well</i><i>, </i><i>if </i><i>that </i><i>isn’t </i>perfect timing<i>. </i>
“Aunt Tania, stay home. I’ll bring you all the high–level zombies you need,” she called over her shoulder.
Before Tania could process the words, Theresa was already halfway out the door.
“Hey!” Tania rushed after her, meaning to tell her to bring more people and watch herself. Mid–stride, something red warm in her palm. She froze, staring as a me danced to life on her skin.
<i>What </i>on earth…? She tried again, and another burst of fire leapt from her hand. <i>It’s </i><i>real</i><i>. </i>Am I <i>having </i><i>an </i><i>ability </i>now?
“Terry!” she shouted toward the shrinking figure. “I’ve got an ability now!”
Theresa waved without slowing down. “You’re amazing, Aunt Tania!”
Tania’s face broke into a smile. I’m <i>not </i><i>just </i>an <i>ordinary </i><i>human </i><i>anymore</i><i>. </i><i>I </i><i>can </i><i>finally </i><i>stand </i><i>alongside </i>Terry <i>in </i><i>a </i><i>fight</i><i>. </i>That thought alone made her heart feel lighter.
It was the third year, the second month of the apocalypse.
The Eastern climate had started to warm up this year–no more endless blizzards or the bone–deep cold of thest two winters. Theresa knew that once the year ended, things would only get milder while the zombies got nastier.
Full evolution was right around the corner. By spring, every zombie would begin at Level 1 with skin tough as armor. Many would have speed or strength mutant abilities, and elemental–type abilities would be almostmonce.
In herst life, that was when the real nightmare began. With production crippled after three harsh years, survival was already a struggle. Then the evolved hordes came, overwhelming camp after camp.
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10:39 Fri, 22 Aug
Chapter 422 mes, Quotas, and an Unexpected Roadblock
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This time was different.
Ansford was theirs. The city’s massive walls kept back the endless stream of zombies from the Branford and Crestmont. Inside, humans were getting stronger, and the zombies‘ advantage was slipping away.
High–level zombies, though, those would only be found beyond reimed zones. If she wanted high–level zombies, she’d have to head farther out.
Amassive zombie crusher rumbled out through the city gates. The iron scoop chewed through the crowd like a giant’s jaw, grinding bodies to pulp and painting a straight crimson trail. Gleamstones ttered into the modified catch–bin with every push forward.
Theresa lounged in the driver’s seat, one foot on the elerator, humming under her breath as her mental counter ticked up in satisfying little +1, +1, +1 increments.
Halfway to her quota already.
“Beautiful, this is way too much fun,” Quentin said with a grin.
“Of course it is,” Theresa replied, ncing at the onlypanion she’d brought along.
His eyebrow lifted. “So, besides mowing down zombies, what else puts that look on your
face?”
Theresa didn’t even need to think. “Plenty of things. Eating something amazing makes me happy. A good drink makes me happy. ying with dogs, hitting the shops with my aunt, watching the grain in my fields. turn golden–that’s happiness right there. Seeing my alliance grow stronger day by day, or smacking around some idiot who’s asking for it–pure joy. Honestly, I can find something to smile about in almost anything. I’m basically a walking ball of sunshine.”
Then <b>a </b>slow smirk spread across his face. “Want to know what makes you happy?”
She didn’t even look at him. “Save the cheesy lines for someone else.”
Quentin’s mouth snapped shut. When did <i>we </i>reach the <i>point </i>where she can guess exactly what I’m about to say?
Just then, the bulldozer jolted hard and came to a stop.
Theresa’s gaze dropped to the front scoop. A dirt man had copsed right in its path. The safety system had triggered–no movement allowed when a living human was detected inside its clearing range.
From her seat high above, she studied the figure.
Bundled in three thickyers from head to toe, his age was impossible to read Judging from the build, he
looked like a man.
10:39 Fri, 22 Aug
Chapter 423 A School of Zombies