Chapter Forty-Three: Fierce Assault

After a day of rest, Abel’s troops had gradually adapted to the effects of the bloodline serum. Yesterday afternoon, under the leadership of Kelly, Thomas, and David, they swept through several buildings near the port, clearing out roaming undead. The first reason was to eliminate any nearby threats that might break formation if disturbed during larger operations; the second was to let these newly enhanced soldiers gain some experience in real combat.

Ordinary civilians, including Laura, Mary, and Wick—who had all received the serum—remained inside the lighthouse. Only military personnel participated in the operation, aside from Guo Lang and Alice.

“So this is your so-called ace?” Abel looked at Alice, her mouth smeared with chocolate, his face a picture of disbelief, as if he were being mocked.

Thomas, however, was deadly serious. “Hey, I’m warning you—don’t even think about provoking her. That girl is dangerous. She only listens to Guo Lang; to her, everyone else is no different from the undead—just targets to be eliminated.”

“Don’t give me that!” Abel shot him a glare. “You think I scare easy?”

Thomas merely chuckled coldly, having set his trap, then shook his head and walked away, leaving Abel to stew. Kelly and David exchanged knowing smiles. After spending so much time with their new leader, they too had become cunning, a far cry from their once straightforward, sunny selves.

“All teams, attention!” Thomas faced the crowd and began outlining the plan. “We have 150 combatants. We’ll assign 120 with light machine guns to three positions at the base entrance, forming an angled line—forty at each point, arranged in two ranks for concentrated fire. David will lead ten snipers to high ground for support, focusing on those undead with claws and armored scales. Kelly, you’ll assign twenty to circle the three fire points, intercepting any undead that break through, using heavy-caliber handguns or knives if they get close. Is everyone clear?”

“Yes, sir!” Their morale soared.

“Alice, luring the undead is your task,” Thomas said gently, turning to her. His attitude was not only due to her strength; being a father himself, he felt a natural affection for little girls.

“Got it!” Alice popped the rest of her chocolate into her mouth, nodding seriously, her earnestness both adorable and deadly.

“L-luring the undead?” Abel stammered.

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At dawn, they assembled—eight o’clock in the morning. In ancient China, this hour was called the Dragon Hour, a time of peak energy and strength. While humans were at their best, the undead, now cold-blooded due to the parasitic worms that had altered them, preferred darkness and were at their weakest in the morning. In the art of war, this was an advantage of timing.

Their forces hid in an ambush formation at the base entrance. Should the undead charge through, they’d be caught in a deadly crossfire—these mindless creatures, incapable of using firearms, could only rush headlong into the trap. Thus, they held the advantage of terrain.

After receiving the serum, their attributes had skyrocketed—not only brute strength, but shooting accuracy had improved exponentially. Enhanced agility allowed for better weapon control, and sharper focus made them deadlier still. Even the world’s top special forces would be crushed by them. Watching the base gate, Guo Lang calculated every possibility, confident that this battle was theirs to win.

“Alice, begin luring,” Guo Lang’s voice came through the comms, audible to all, including Alice. She slipped inside, her movements fluid and graceful, almost artful to behold. Yet, despite their enhanced senses, if anyone lost focus for a moment, Alice would simply vanish from sight. Abel and his men exchanged uneasy glances—blink and she was gone.

“She’s something else,” Abel admitted to himself. The burly man hadn’t been exaggerating; entrusting her with such a dangerous mission proved she was more than capable.

“She’s coming!” Someone exclaimed. At the gate, Alice had drawn nearly thirty undead behind her. Abel was astonished—how did she manage that without alerting the entire horde?

Just as he wondered, Alice abruptly accelerated and disappeared from view, leaving both undead and soldiers momentarily stunned.

“Open fire!” Guo Lang’s order snapped them to attention. Their combined firepower, coupled with their newfound accuracy, meant that at least seventy percent of the bullets found their marks. In moments, all thirty undead lay motionless.

It was almost too easy. Their confidence soared.

Guo Lang could see their elation but cautioned them over the comms, “That was only the first wave at the entrance. The deeper Alice ventures, the more she’ll draw out, and as the commotion grows, they may all come pouring out. Stay calm and don’t break formation. With our current accuracy, few will get close enough to threaten us.”

“Understood!” Thomas responded first, echoed by the others, their morale undiminished.

Just as Guo Lang predicted, Alice’s second foray brought out over sixty undead, and by her third, she barely made it to cover before a cacophony of roars erupted from within.

“Everyone, be ready. This could be a major surge. Keep your cool and concentrate your fire. Whether thirty or three hundred come out, our position and firepower will make no difference!” Guo Lang encouraged them tirelessly.

A faint violet gleam flashed in their eyes as their focus reached unprecedented levels. At that moment, they felt invincible—even if ten thousand undead emerged, they believed they could destroy them all.

With a thunderous roar, hundreds of undead burst out—not dozens, but a tidal wave. Even with Guo Lang’s warnings, it was a shocking sight. Yet, with their heightened concentration, they maintained discipline and unleashed a storm of bullets.

Kelly and the elite guards remained vigilant on the flanks, ready to intercept any that slipped through. Fortunately, the soldiers’ overwhelming firepower and accuracy meant that the horde was mowed down in seconds. Any that managed to break through were picked off by David’s snipers.

Had they won? The pile of bodies at the entrance, and no more undead emerging, filled them with hope.

But no. Guo Lang’s sharp eyes, peering through the lingering smoke, saw nearly a hundred undead clustered at the gate, grinning menacingly. Something held them back; despite their bloodlust, they did not advance.

What was controlling them? Guo Lang focused, his eyes tinged with violet as he strained to see.

Finally, he spotted it—a tall figure behind the undead, claws half a meter long, its body armored in scales. It seemed to sense Guo Lang’s gaze and offered a cold, mocking smile.

That was no ordinary undead’s sneer—it was a taunt, an expression of intelligence. In just a few days, one had evolved to this level. Guo Lang’s eyes narrowed. This was a Level 3 undead—now things were about to get difficult.