Chapter 106: The Dark Shadow on the Lake

After leaving the Apocalypse Corporation, Xie Han set his sights on the lake not far from the military experimental base. According to the data, this lake not only served as the base's primary water source but also functioned as a testing ground for small-scale aquatic weaponry. In Xie Han's mind, it would become the most vital water source for the entire moat system.

To him, the lake played a crucial role—it was not just for the moat, but also for irrigating the farmland planned for the future. Beyond that, the potential uses for the lake were vast. In Xie Han's vision, stocking it with fish to produce a steady supply of meat would be an incredibly heartening development in this post-apocalyptic world. Everyone knew that meat was far more precious than rice or other staples.

Those who knew of this plan might have called him insane. After all, the entire planet was still permeated by the relentless XR virus, leaving little room for biological survival. Furthermore, where would one even find fish fry? Following the outbreak of the XR virus, fish had nearly gone extinct; those that survived were few and far between, forced to evade the attacks of zombie-fish, making them almost impossible to spot.

As for these concerns, Xie Han alone knew they were solvable. Take the first issue, for example: Level Three data indicated that the XR virus's ability to spread through the air had weakened significantly over time. Except for areas near meteorite fragments, it was now difficult to contract the virus through the air elsewhere. This provided favorable conditions for his plan; as long as the zombie-fish in the lake were eliminated, space would naturally open up for the surviving fish to thrive.

As for the issue of fish fry, Xie Han was not worried at all. He believed that within the thirty-five-square-kilometer lake, there were bound to be some survivors. With space and time, he was confident that before long, the entire lake would be teeming with fish and shrimp.

Xie Han traveled to inspect the lake accompanied by Xu Qiang and five guards in two Humvee Kings. The lake was less than five kilometers from the military base, a distance covered in mere minutes by the rugged vehicles.

Gazing out at the seemingly endless expanse of water, especially as the breeze stirred up wave after wave, Xie Han felt his fighting spirit surge. Pointing toward the vast surface, he said to Xu Qiang, "Qiangzi, imagine if this whole lake were full of fish. We wouldn't have to struggle like we do now, where even a single meal of meat is a luxury."

Since becoming the head of the temporary camp and now the commander of the military base, Xu Qiang had matured significantly. He knew that what Xie Han described was not impossible, but the process would be arduous and might cost many lives to achieve. Still, he nodded and said, "I hear you. Maybe by then, the world will be at peace, and we can gather here to fish and enjoy a quiet life."

Xie Han asked, "Qiangzi, have you ever seen aquatic zombies?" Xu Qiang shook his head. "No, but I've heard stories. Back when there were survival outposts along the coast or near rivers and reservoirs, many tales were passed down from those places."

"Tell me about them..."

Xie Han had never seen such creatures himself; he had only heard rumors. But just because he hadn't seen them didn't mean he doubted their existence. In this apocalypse, anything was possible. Maintaining vigilance was the most basic rule for survival.

Xu Qiang recalled, "Generally speaking, the carrying capacity of aquatic creatures is weaker than that of land animals, so most small aquatic lifeforms were killed outright by the XR virus. Only a few survived. A base along the coast once reported a giant shark; its destructive power was even more terrifying than an R3 zombie. It tore a frigate apart, compartment by compartment, and dragged the entire ship to the bottom of the ocean."

"Then there are the rivers, home to fish weighing dozens of pounds. Their attacks are equally shocking. Many people fetching water were caught off guard as these fish leaped from the water and dragged them under. You know as well as I do that the water is the domain of aquatic creatures; humans are no match for them. Often, in just a few seconds, both the person and the fish vanish without a trace."

Xu Qiang shrugged. "And that's not even the most terrifying part. The most frightening are the snakes. Have you heard of 'Bone Snakes'? They are so heavily infected by the XR virus that only their skeletons remain. Don't let that fool you—they are incredibly fast. They use their elasticity to launch their entire bodies dozens of meters to strike. They usually lie in wait, only attacking when a target appears, making them impossible to guard against. They retain their venomous fangs, and the combination of venom and the XR virus in their saliva can dissolve a person or animal in minutes. That liquefied remains is their favorite food."

Hearing this, Xie Han felt a chill run down his spine. He looked around nervously, licking his lips. "There are such terrifying zombies? Damn it, this world is truly insane."

Seeing Xie Han's expression, Xu Qiang laughed out loud. "Although I heard a story about a single Bone Snake destroying a small survival outpost, do you really think they are everywhere? They are incredibly rare. If you happen to encounter one, I don't know if that means you're lucky or cursed. The odds of that happening are astronomical."

As the two chatted, the group of seven reached the lakeshore and began walking along the edge, observing the water to find a suitable location for an intake pipe to channel water into the moat.

Just as Xie Han was still struggling to shake off the unease caused by the talk of Bone Snakes, one of the accompanying guards suddenly shouted, pointing at the lake. "Look! There's movement over there..."

At his cry, everyone tensed instantly, training their weapons on the water.

On the previously calm surface, massive bubbles began to rise from the depths. Upon reaching the surface, they burst, sending ripples spreading outward. As more bubbles emerged, the water began to churn as if it were boiling, surging violently as if something were about to break through.

The churning continued for what felt like an eternity, yet happened in an instant. With a thunderous splash, a massive black shape leaped from the water, soared into the air, tumbled, and then crashed back down, sending a spray of water high into the sky.

"Did you see what that was?" Xu Qiang asked nervously. The shadow had moved too fast; he hadn't had a chance to get a clear look before it vanished back into the depths.

Xie Han, with his heightened abilities, had seen it clearly. He was so stunned he couldn't speak, for the sheer shock of what he had witnessed was overwhelming.