The Ambush

"Mm, understood. Leave five people behind to stand guard. If anything unusual happens, report it to me immediately by communicator. Everyone else, get your gear in order and follow us into the building. Also, send two people to remove the searchlight from the tank and bring it along."

Gilbert calmly and methodically issued his orders. Everyone was already geared up and ready to go, prepared to venture into the Trade Tower, whose dark depths concealed countless dangers.

The weapon Xia Leng had chosen was a sharp, heavy titanium-alloy longsword. Under the light, its blade gleamed with a keen metallic sheen. It was the finest weapon he had used in years.

"Are you sure the Corpse King commanding the horde is in this building? I don't want my men coming back empty-handed, and you know what Parick is like."

Gilbert turned to Xia Leng to confirm once more, because the building before them was far too quiet.

"Why not go up and see? Don't worry, I'll go with you. If you find out I've been lying, you can execute me on the spot in Parick's place."

Gilbert couldn't read the man's thoughts from Xia Leng's ever-calm gaze.

"Damn it, what's there to hem and haw about? If we don't butcher that damned Living Corpse King up there, I'll butcher this guy instead and avenge my fallen teammates!"

Hot-tempered Captain Philip grabbed his massive double-bladed axe. He'd been simmering with rage all the way here and had been itching to let it out. He glared fiercely at the "culprit" responsible for everything...

Then, led by Philip, everyone started toward the Trade Tower's open entrance.

Behind them, the living corpses were held back by the "absolute barrier" formed by the searchlight. They roared wildly, as if warning the group not to venture any farther into the building.

"Damn it! What do these things even eat? They're so loud!"

As an Apocalypse Warrior, Captain Philip walked at the front of the group. His burly build and massive double-bladed axe were intimidating even at a glance.

Behind him were dozens of mercenaries, divided into three squads.

The Tiger Squad members, skilled in close combat and defense, split into two groups, sandwiching the Falcon Squad, which provided ranged fire support.

Scouts were also sent ahead to survey the terrain and check for enemies.

All the Trade Tower's facilities had long since stopped working. The building was even darker inside than the streets; once they entered, they couldn't see a thing.

Two mercenaries carried the searchlight they'd removed from the tank to the lobby entrance. Its enormous opening, nearly a meter across, faced into the lobby.

Click!

The light switched on. In an instant, its powerful beam flooded the gloomy lobby, revealing everything inside.

The Trade Tower, once the city's grand showcase, was now a complete wreck inside.

A luxurious crystal chandelier had crashed onto the floor, its crystal beads scattered around it and shining in a riot of colors under the light.

The precious sofas, exquisite sculptures, marble tables, giant display screens, and everything else had been wrecked beyond recognition. Not a single item remained intact.

The scattered scraps of paper and faintly visible dried bloodstains made it easy to imagine how chaotic, bloody, and desperate things had been here when the Black Rain first erupted five years ago.

But aside from the ruin, there was no nest of living corpses hiding inside, ready to ambush them as they'd expected.

Two scouts cautiously entered the lobby first. The night-vision goggles attached to their helmets let them just barely make out the shadowy corners beyond the searchlight's reach.

Yet they found no sign of life in any corner. The entire lobby was gloomy and lifeless, making it the perfect setting for a horror movie back in the old days...

The two scouts had finished searching the area and, having found nothing unusual, were about to tell their captain it was safe to advance.

Gurgle~

Suddenly, a sound like someone swallowing echoed from above them, accompanied by a rumbling in the throat!

The scouts instinctively looked up. The high ceiling was covered in countless crimson specks that flickered randomly like stars in the night sky.

"What is..."

Whoosh!

Before they could make out what the red specks were, a piercing shriek rang out. A tentacle like a vine plunged from above, coiled around one scout's neck, lifted him off the ground, and dragged him straight up to the ceiling!

The other scout reacted quickly, switching on his portable flashlight and shining it upward. His eyes widened until they looked ready to burst!

Hundreds of mutated zombies hung from the ceiling like bats!

Their dangling tongues were packed together like vines in a rainforest. One look was enough to make anyone break out in goosebumps!

The scout who had been dragged up was instantly torn to pieces by the many mutated zombies and devoured...

"Up..."

The remaining scout knew he had no chance of escaping, so he tried to warn his companions about the trap on the ceiling before he died. But he'd barely gotten one word out before several barbed tongues coiled around him and dragged him up too...

Everyone outside had seen what happened. The two scouts had given their lives to prove just how dangerous it was inside...

"Damn it... Adjust the searchlight! Point it at the ceiling!"

Seeing two more members of his squad die, Captain Gilbert immediately roared the order in fury!

Then, as the powerful beam swept across the ceiling, a string of shrill howls echoed through the lobby!

Aooo!!!

Hundreds of mutated zombies were suddenly caught in the intense light. They scurried frantically across the walls and ceiling!

Some lost their grip and crashed to the floor. As they struggled to get back up, the furious squad members at the entrance immediately riddled them with bullets!

The monsters' howls and the crack of gunfire filled the lobby. Whenever a mutated living corpse tried to break through the deadly beam and charge out to attack them, Tiger Squad members lying in wait beside the entrance hacked it into a pulp!

"You vermin! Let me crush you!"

Seeing the carnage, Philip, an Apocalypse Warrior, was swept up in a bloodthirsty frenzy. He gripped his double-bladed axe and strode straight into the dangerous lobby.

Aooo!!!

As soon as he stepped inside, two mutated living corpses sprang from the corners of the room as if they'd been lying in wait, pouncing on the burly man!

"Hmph!"

But Captain Philip only snorted. He didn't panic in the slightest. Just as they were about to reach him—

Bam!!

Philip struck in an instant, swinging his massive left fist into the face of the living corpse lunging from the left. He sent it flying dozens of meters into the wall, where its skull and brains shattered into a mangled mess. It never got up again!

The mutated living corpse on the right was about to bite him too. Filite raised his huge titanium-alloy double-bladed axe and casually spun it through a flourish.

Crack~~

The mutated living corpse was chopped into several pieces that fell to the floor. Its still-living head rolled to his feet, letting out an unwilling growl...