NOVEL NEXT Chapter 888: Traps
Shane paused mid-swing as Cloud relayed Anna's urgent request.
[ Anna requests that you capture the converted Super Soldier alive. ]
He hesitated as he stopped his blade from cutting the Super Solder.
"Alive?" he muttered.
[ She believes there's a chance. Super Soldiers have enhanced genetics. If anyone can resist the full conversion, it's them. ]
Shane glanced at the twitching figure in front of him. The third Super Soldier's movements were erratic, but not mindless. Its eyes weren't fully glazed over. There was hesitation in its stance, like something inside was still fighting.
"…Fine," Shane said. "We'll try it your way."
Although the chance was low, it was still worth a try.
"Cloud. Have the Warden Units restrain this one…"
[ Yes. ]
Two Warden Units moved in, flanking the converted soldier. Shane pulled a set of Epic-Grade Robes from his inventory. They were upgraded ropes from the Survival Gift Pack. He wrapped the soldier's limbs tightly, binding them with practiced speed.
"Take it to Containment Bay 3. No one goes near it except Anna's team."
[ Understood. Escorting the target now. ]
The Warden Units lifted the restrained soldier and vanished into the smoke as the others covered for them.
Shane turned back toward the Zombies behind.
The ground trembled and a familiar shriek echoed through the battlefield.
He didn't need Cloud to tell him what it was.
The Infested Licker King had already recovered after retreating with a few Infested Lickers.
It burst from the far side of the battlefield, and its body was even more bloated than before. The sacs on its back had regrown with large black fluid, too.
Its tongues also lashed wildly, and its remaining Infested Lickers surged forward in a final, desperate charge.
"Let's finish this." Shane muttered.
He activated Shadow Hunt as he wanted to take the initiative…
The first Licker stumbled after realizing that its target vanished.
However, Shane just appeared behind it and cleaved it in half. Another tried to flank him, but with his great control, he easily spun and drove his blade through its skull.
The Licker King roared and leapt.
Shane met it head on…
He ducked under a tongue strike and countered with Double Thrust, piercing the creature's side. Black fluid sprayed, but he didn't stop. He followed with Force Breaker, slamming his blade into the King's chest and driving it back.
Black fluid sprayed in every direction.
The King tried to retreat again.
This time, Shane didn't let it.
He activated Titan's Roar, unleashing a shockwave that pinned the creature in place. Then, with a final surge of power, he drove his blade into the base of its skull…
This happened quickly thanks to his Five-Meter Jump ability and his leg strength…
The Licker King convulsed once and then went still.
[ You have eliminated an Infested Licker King Zombie. ]
Shane didn't get the first kill since, as it turns out, the first one was actually eliminated by the Super Soldiers!
Shane stood over the corpse as he swiftly looted it…
[ Do you want to retrieve the loot? ]
"Yes."
[ You have earned 1000 Experience Points. ]
[ You have earned 300 Reputation Points. ]
[ Loots obtained:
- Zombie Cores x180
- Hardened Tongue Spike x25
- Viral Sac x15
- Strength Enhancement Bottle x20
- Vitality Enhancement Bottle x20
- Lurker's Pounce Skill Scroll x1
- 150mL of Infested Licker King Blood
- Licker-Type Mutation Sample x1 ]
Shane frowned at this sight.
Without hesitation, Shane retrieved the Viral Sacs, the blood of the King Zombie, and the Mutation Sample and gave it to a nearby Warden Unit.
"Give this to Anna… I might be helpful in finding a cure or something." Shane said as Cloud controlled the Warden Unit.
After that, Shane confirmed that the wave of Zombie had stopped for now. He then checked the event progress.
[ Time Elapsed: 10 hours, 3 minutes.
Estimated time remaining in Red Night Event: 14 hours, 57 minutes. ]
Shane exhaled. Only ten hours had passed, and they still had nearly fifteen to go.
He looked toward the horizon. The sky was still blood-red even if it should be morning by now…
***
The battlefield was littered with corpses.
Infested Lickers. A few Brutes… and some Bone-armored zombies.
But none of them vanished yet…
They remained, bloated, twisted, and motionless,until someone triggered the system.
[ Do you want to retrieve the loot? ]
That prompt only appeared to the Foreign Survivors…
Within seconds of the wave ending, the outer gates opened. A dozen survivors sprinted out, each one moved hastily to loot the Zombies killed by the turrets, Super Soldiers, Warden Units, and others…
They moved from corpse to corpse, triggering the loot prompt one by one. As for those who could trigger multiple at once, they were faster…
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
The group of recruits behind heard the Foreign Survivors whisper the word "Yes."
Each time, the Zombie Corpse shimmered faintly, then collapsed into dust…
They were fast and efficient.
But even so, it would take time…
And while they worked, another team emerged from the inner gate.
Harper led them.
He was Shane's first-ever recruit with his Talent.
He wore his usual comfortable gear, allowing him to move quickly… Of course, he also had his belt packed with tools that he needed for work
He then looked at his team as he noticed that the Foreign Survivors were half-done with their looting process.
"We need to reset the blade traps, rewire the trigger lines, and others... The Lickers tore through half the setup. Let's go"
Fifteen survivors followed Harper, each carrying bundles of metal stakes, pressure coils, and upgraded wire.
Soon, everyone moved forward as they started repairing the traps…
Harper crouched beside a collapsed trigger housing and began inspecting the damage.
They didn't waste time.
The eastern battlefield was littered with broken wires, shattered trigger plates, and bent metal housing. The Lickers had certainly torn through the trap lines like animals, ripping, smashing, and shorting out half the perimeter.
"Start with the outer line," he muttered. "We'll work our way in."
Two of his teammates nodded and got to work. One began stripping damaged wire, the other pried loose a crushed sensor plate.
No one complained. No one asked questions as they immediately got to work to repair the Shelter's Outer Traps.