Chapter 83: Setting Out

The next day, Xie Han only returned to the command center after seeing off Qi Feiwu and the others. When he arrived, Yang Xingjun was already waiting for him. The soldiers selected for this mission truly were the elite of the base, now fully armed and assembled in the underground garage.

Yang Xingjun had ordered Xie Han’s micro battle armor to be brought out ahead of time. As soon as Xie Han arrived, after a brief exchange of courtesies, they began to don their armor. Putting on the micro battle armor was as simple as putting on clothes, though it was one integrated suit. The only exposed area, the face, was also protected by reinforced bulletproof glass. Once fully equipped, the armor weighed a full 110 kilograms, and although Xie Han could still move, he didn’t feel as nimble as usual.

If the fifteen elite soldiers had initially looked down on the frail Xie Han, their attitude changed the moment he donned the full set of micro battle armor and moved about with ease, even jumping as a test. Their expressions now held more than just respect. They were all familiar with the technical specifications of the armor: at 110 kilograms, any one of them could wear it and last maybe ten minutes. But none could move as lightly as Xie Han, let alone jump. What surprised them even more was that it looked like he planned to wear this gear while leading them on the mission.

Ignoring the astonishment of his teammates, Xie Han began to inspect the full set of gear. As Yang Xingjun had said, nearly every part was equipped with ammunition and weapons. Most notable was the medical supply case on his back, which no doubt contained the GGT bio-agents he’d seen the day before.

This time, Xie Han brought along the combat knife gifted by Chen Liuge, a blade he had already named: Tiger Fang.

Compared to the 20-centimeter hybrid metal bayonet that came with the battle armor—which would be devastating against humans but less effective against zombies—the Tiger Fang’s 70-centimeter length better suited their needs. Zombies weren’t human; their attack patterns were no joke. Even a minor scratch meant death, as no medicine yet existed to suppress the XR virus. The Tiger Fang filled this critical gap.

Including Xie Han, the squad numbered sixteen. They were transported by a heavy truck to the highway, fifteen kilometers from the base. Xie Han served as squad captain, with the vice-captain being Chen Tiaoyuan, a burly man with a special forces background, much like Xu Qiang. The rest of the squad were designated by code: Xie Han as 01, Chen Tiaoyuan as 02, and so forth up to 16.

After disembarking from the highway, Xie Han used the squad’s comm system to address them: “You all understand the gravity and peril of this mission. By accepting, you also accept the consequences.”

The other fifteen were also fully armed, but their gear, while impressive, was a far cry from the protection offered by the micro battle armor. It might suffice against ordinary zombies, but against R2s, there was a real risk their bulletproof vests would be shredded. An R3 could probably tear them apart with a single swipe.

Before departure, Yang Xingjun had already explained the mission’s nature to them, so when Xie Han reiterated it, he was met with a chorus of resolute affirmations.

Yang Xingjun had also equipped the squad with the base’s only portable communications device, capable of maintaining contact within a thirty-kilometer range. Once they left the highway, Xie Han reported their status back to Yang Xingjun at the base. After cutting the link, he parted the tall grass beside the road and led the way into the boundless wilderness.

After about a kilometer, Xie Han listened carefully, then motioned to the team to halt. “About a hundred meters ahead, there are roaming zombies. We can't alert them. We’ll have to go around.” There was no other choice. While their laser rifles could silently take out the zombies, the mission was not to exterminate them but to find the mastermind hidden within the endless sea of the dead.

The squad had set out at a right angle from the highway. Everywhere they looked, scattered zombies roamed. Even two kilometers from the highway, they still saw traces. Xie Han’s earlier assumption proved correct: the zombies were indeed following the highway toward the base, their numbers so vast that they spilled across several kilometers to either side.

Confronted with such a colossal horde, Xie Han finally realized this mission was a grave mistake. To find the source driving the zombies, they’d have to penetrate deep into their midst. But with such density, how could they possibly get through? Given the current situation, the throng would only grow thicker. Sixteen men, even with a hunting convoy, would stand no chance against such an endless tide; their only option would be to flee.

After climbing a hill roughly three hundred meters high, Xie Han took the binoculars Chen Tiaoyuan handed him and surveyed the distance. The first sight was a loose gathering of zombies, wandering aimlessly like headless flies, sometimes even attacking and eating each other. But behind these, there was a massed horde, packed as tightly as sardines. Even through high-powered binoculars, there was no end in sight.

How vast was a horde of millions? Xie Han could not fathom it. He felt a chill seize his entire body, dread gripping his heart. Lowering the binoculars, he activated the comms and spoke gravely, “I trust you’ve all seen this tide of zombies. There’s no way we can break through, let alone complete our mission.”

Truth be told, he didn’t need to say it; everyone already understood. Xie Han signaled for number 11 to set down the portable comms unit and activate its recording function, capturing the scene below.

Once the recording was complete, Xie Han said, “Send this footage back to the base—they’ll know what to do with this situation.”

No more than three minutes after the footage was sent, the small screen on the comms device displayed Yang Xingjun’s ashen face. “Is it really this bad?” he asked, unable to believe it, as if searching for some reassurance. He looked toward Chen Tiaoyuan.

Chen Tiaoyuan simply nodded forcefully, saying nothing more. The confirmation struck Yang Xingjun hard, dashing his last hope.

Xie Han offered a bitter smile. “You’ve seen the footage yourself. Do you think it isn’t as bad as it looks? As I said before, it’s already too late. If I were you, I’d order an immediate evacuation of the base. Where you relocate to is another matter, but your only priority now is to leave at once. The zombies move slowly—even if we evacuate now, there’s nothing else we can do.”

Yang Xingjun was silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth. “Very well. I’ll mobilize everyone for an emergency evacuation. Your squad must return at once—do not under any circumstances alert the zombies.”

Xie Han nodded. He already knew what needed to be done. Yet many things in life are easier said than done. Was it truly possible to avoid alerting the zombies? At that moment, he doubted it, for the zombies that had been wandering below the ridge suddenly began to change…