Shuzhou Tianfu Safety Zone.
Intelligence Department Operations Command Center.
Zheng Shiyu, the current head of the Intelligence Department, nodded as the personnel were all present and turned on the projector.
"Comrades, thanks to the unremitting efforts of our maritime experimental platform and the academies of science in various provinces, the zombie treatment agent has completed mass production. It is effective against mutated fungus monsters, Alpha mutants, ordinary zombies, and pathogenic spore clouds, providing immunity and dissolution.
As there are still survivors in the city, and their numbers are not small, the higher authorities have decided to immediately commence comprehensive rescue operations in major metropolitan areas and large cities.
Do not worry about the task of eliminating zombie hordes; we have ample ammunition, enough to blow them sky-high.
As the anti-biochemical special forces of the safety zone, your mission is to infiltrate the Tianfu urban area while the zombie hordes are being attracted by the safety zone combat forces, and to conduct decapitation strikes against the high-level mutants and commander zombies remaining within.
Without revealing your positions, record and remind surviving personnel to prepare themselves. If conditions permit, you may carry out rescues.
The prerequisite is that your positions must not be exposed, and the decapitation operation must proceed smoothly.
Therefore, we do not recommend that you undertake rescues yourselves; the risk is too high. It would be better to search for survivors at ease after the zombie hordes have been eliminated.
Do you understand?"
"Understood!" Lin Yuan and the others responded in unison.
"Alright, now for the operational assignments. Lin Yuan, Jiang Ziqi, Ji Xuanyan, Andrea, Wang Xiaoxin, you five will form the vanguard squad and proceed to the locations marked on the map for elimination.
Comrade Lin Yuan will serve as captain, and Comrade Andrea will serve as deputy captain.
Your actions will have a high degree of autonomy, but remember, eliminating high-level mutants and commander zombies is your primary mission.
Do you understand?"
"Understood!!!" x5
After speaking, Zheng Shiyu looked at the remaining team members and continued.
"The remaining members of the original squads will have their deputy captains temporarily assume captain duties, proceeding to their designated areas for searches. Should you encounter any un-marked high-risk mutants, request support directly, and the vanguard squad will provide swift assistance!"
"Understood!!!"
"Alright, get ready immediately, select your weapons and equipment, and depart tomorrow morning!"
"Report, I have a question!"
"Comrade Lin Yuan, please proceed."
"Has the main force already engaged?"
"Yes, the main force is already in combat. If you walk out now, you will hear the sounds of gunfire."
"Anyone else with questions may raise them. Once you depart, the mission must be completed!"
It is normal to have questions. Answer what you can, and do not answer what you cannot.
"Report, no more!"
"Dismissed!"
The meeting was adjourned, and the captains led their teams to the armory to select equipment.
"Rumble… Rumble…"
As soon as they opened the door, they heard the faint sound of artillery fire from outside. This operation was not a defensive battle, but a combination of mobile warfare and positional warfare, relying on more efficient and superior information to carry out ambush operations against the zombies, time and time again.
Of course, this kind of large-scale troop operation had nothing to do with Lin Yuan and his team.
After selecting their equipment in the armory, they waited in the operations room for the mission order.
This time, apart from the new material full-coverage combat suits they were wearing, their equipment remained largely unchanged, making them appear very high-tech.
They did not have the robust physique of a master sergeant, but rather resembled the armor from Metal Gear Solid, dark gray, cool, and handsome.
Night fell quietly.
"…"
"All teams, report to the southern city gate immediately. Operation commences in 15 minutes."
The command crackled over the radio.
"Yes!"
…
Tianfu urban area, central urban zone, Sector Six, Garden Residential Area, Building 16.
"Roar, roar, roar…"
The residential area was lively, with zombies constantly running out.
Even the zombies in the buildings were jumping out of windows.
However, none of this concerned Building 16.
In this residential area, it appeared exceptionally quiet.
The 32-story building had windows on floors above the 12th floor sealed shut. From the outside, one could see the wooden planks nailed to each floor.
If one looked closely, they could detect light from some small gaps.
It was clear that there were still survivors here.
The sentries also noticed the unusual activity of the zombies in the residential area.
They quickly returned to report to their leader.
In this world, the living conditions in their survivor camp were considered quite good.
Moreover, the leader of the camp was a relatively good person; as long as they diligently maintained the camp's survival, everyone received respect.
"Uncle Feng, the zombies outside are causing a commotion. Do you think people from above have come to rescue us?"
As he spoke, someone next to him nudged him with their elbow, signaling him to speak less rashly.
After so long, the people in the camp regarded Uncle Feng and the others as their leaders. To speak so carelessly now would be disheartening.
Of course, some people did not think so; they were equally excited because the news on the radio was not false, and it was about to become a reality.
Uncle Feng was not a bureaucratic person and also greatly anticipated the rescue. If it were not for this, the current situation in the camp would not be so harmonious.
"It should be. Notify everyone to get ready. Also, tell everyone not to act rashly when they see military personnel, and not to disrupt the rescue forces' plans."
"Understood, Uncle Feng. Everyone knows their place!"
The survivors could faintly hear the sounds of gunfire and shelling from outside the city. The safety zone's firepower was continuously pouring into the designated ambush zones, day and night.
This was the background noise for Lin Yuan and his team's operation, and it was gradually fading.
"Everyone check your weapons and equipment, prepare to enter the city."
This was a hidden point on the outskirts of the Tianfu urban area. From here, one could see zombies constantly rushing out of the city, falling for the gun and artillery feast prepared by the safety zone.
"Equipment check complete, no issues." x4
"Good, let me repeat the mission. Before revealing your positions, kill the commander zombies and high-level mutants. Prioritize killing commander zombies. Do you all understand?"
"Understood." x4
"Although killing zombies will be detected by commander zombies, as long as we retreat quickly enough, we can make them run in circles.
Operation commence!!"
With the order, Lin Yuan and his team rushed out from the hidden point.
Heading directly into the city.
Fifteen minutes later, after Lin Yuan and his team had further stirred the waters, it would be time for the other teams to perform.
Following the pre-planned route, the zombies encountered along the way were extremely scarce. Even if there were any, Lin Yuan and his team eliminated them immediately.
The minimal damage from ordinary mutated fungus would not attract the attention of commander zombies.
But just because you don't pay attention to others doesn't mean others aren't looking at you.
"Have you got a clear view of the building ahead? I'll use high-explosive grenades to blast an opening, aiming to kill all the zombies inside in the shortest possible time!"
"Understood!"
Ahead of them was a coffee shop, now occupied by a commander zombie, hidden in the darkness and spore clouds. However, these were clearly visible through thermal imaging goggles, not to mention that Lin Yuan was the only one in the team who could not see in the dark.
"Jiang Ziqi, Ji Xuanyan, lure the enemies away. Wang Xiaoxin and I will attack."
These zombies were indeed more intelligent, even understanding to call other zombies to protect them, including two second-tier Night Terrors and one third-tier Ghoul.
Jiang Ziqi's strength had also advanced by leaps and bounds. Together with Ji Xuanyan, they could handle it.
However, they did not lure away all the enemies; one Ghoul remained at the original spot and had entered a state of alert.
The combat suits on Lin Yuan's team interfered with the zombies' senses, combined with the gunfire and shelling from outside, making it impossible for the Ghoul to determine their exact location.
"Attack!" Time waits for no one. The moment Jiang Ziqi left their sight, they charged out.
Lin Yuan was at the forefront, drawing the greatsword from his back, intending to split the Ghoul in half.
The Ghoul had not expected this enemy to be so fast, only managing to raise its arm to block.
The blade met its keratinous armor, emitting a clang like metal striking metal.
Lin Yuan's powerful strike only managed to smash its arm.
"So hard??"
Fortunately, Wang Xiaoxin and Andrea arrived at the same time.
They took something out of their mouths and threw it over. Upon contact with the Ghoul's body, it drilled in from its mouth.
????
Is this considered…
Better not to say, or they'll be beaten to death.
The infested Ghoul struggled for a moment before becoming still.
Its entire body withered, leaving only two egg-shaped objects.
"These are useful to keep. The nutrients within the zombie's body are all here," Andrea stopped Lin Yuan from wanting to cleave them with his sword.
"Fine," Lin Yuan was efficient. He slung his greatsword onto his back and threw three consecutive high-explosive grenades.
The only drawback of commander zombies is their immobility, although they are well-hidden. Therefore, the safety zone had only marked approximate areas.
They did not carry out bombing to avoid accelerating their evolution.
"It's preparing to escape into the sewers."
"Don't worry, it won't get away."
As soon as he finished speaking, the high-explosive grenades detonated, blasting half the coffee shop to smithereens.
They could see a fat zombie in the center struggling to dig its way down.
It was surrounded by disgusting slime, radiating outwards, and the "mushrooms" that grew were peculiar, like signal transmitters.
Is this the secret to controlling zombies?
However, Lin Yuan and his team were not here to investigate, but to destroy.
He raised his hand and fired three high-explosive incendiary grenades, leaving nothing but ashes.
"Ziqi, how are things on your end?!" Lin Yuan asked via radio.
"Don't worry, it's all resolved."
It made sense. Jiang Ziqi could imitate Albert Wesker's countless tentacles, while Ji Xuanyan had eight leg-like appendages on her back that were like steel blades. Either of them could turn a Night Terror into a sieve.
"Retreat! Don't let other commander zombies react!"
"Understood!"
…
The battle continued until dawn. Without the cover and enhancement of the night, the zombies were even less able to resist. Lin Yuan and his five-person team went on a rampage in the zombie stronghold.
Zombies below Tier 4 could not even touch them, and their speed was too fast. By the time the zombie hordes surrounded them, they had already slipped away.
Assassin's Creed: Infiltrating Tianfu.
The only two high-level mutants encountered were a Tier 4 and a Tier 4.5.
Lin Yuan and his team directly used electronic-guided rockets. Andrea and Wang Xiaoxin easily attached the targeting beacons by throwing bugs.
Each attack consisted of five 400mm rockets, and they were all put to rest. However, to be fair, Tier 4 was indeed different; some residue remained.
…
"Report to the command center, all targets have been cleared. You can proceed."
Lin Yuan and his four teammates sat in their chairs, drinking emergency water from their suits and eating energy bars. They were exhausted.
"Good job, you guys, faster than us!! No wonder the zombies coming out of the city are so disorganized. Really something! Wait for us at the safety zone and keep a close watch for any remaining high-risk units."
"Understood!"
After the communication ended, Lin Yuan looked at the group of people gathered in front of him and smiled, "Comrades, please rest assured, rescue should arrive this afternoon. The main force is still eliminating the zombie hordes, and our other teams are still marking targets, so please be patient."
"Yes, yes, yes, these comrades, please have something to eat, although it's not very good," said a middle-aged man enthusiastically.
However, Lin Yuan and his team did not accept this kindness. They raised their energy bars and said, "Thank you, but we are still on duty and cannot break the rules."
"Okay, then you rest well. We will go pack our belongings."
"Go ahead. By the way, body tissues and gels from Alpha mutants, Night Terrors, and higher-level mutants can be exchanged for work points. Please remember to take note."
"Okay, we'll go organize them now."
With such a large survivor camp within the city, if they had no strength, they would have been eaten by zombies long ago.
Outside the door.
"Uncle Feng, are they really rescuers? How come their…," the person behind him didn't finish.
But everyone else understood.
"Don't provoke them. We just need to pack our things and prepare."
Uncle Feng was quite flustered internally. After all, if one of his subordinates were to act rashly, a few people from the other side could kill them all.
"Alright!" Uncle Feng's attitude was firm, and they dared not say more, merely casting a few more glances at the closed door before leaving.
"The people outside are no problem." All of this was overheard by Jiang Ziqi.
"That's good then. We can just wait with peace of mind."
"Woohoo, the Tianfu metropolitan area will be captured soon! I heard that the barrels of the cannons on the front lines have been replaced many times. The scene must have been very exciting. I'll ask Brother Zeng Yilong what exactly happened then."
"Yes, yes…"
Jiang Ziqi and the others couldn't stay idle. Once they confirmed their safety, they began to chat.
The song of guns and fire concluded at dawn.
As the rescue forces entered the city and began a comprehensive search for survivors, the Tianfu metropolitan area was completely returned to human hands.
8:00 PM.
"All survivors…"
The voice of the broadcast carried a hint of joy.
In the Tianfu Safety Zone, joyful songs and stage plays were already being performed.
Lin Yuan sat on the balcony of his room, looking at the people dancing and singing below.
Listening to the laughter from the room.
He took a bite of a fragrant spicy grilled chicken leg.
"This is so good…"
"Hey, where's my chicken leg?"
"Jiang Ziqi!!! You stop right there!!!!!!!"
…
(End of Epilogue)