NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 29: The Hunter’s Gaze
Wang Xiong, seasoned by previous brushes with death, led the six remaining survivors in a frantic dash through the maze of buildings. He moved with purpose, navigating the labyrinthine streets, slipping through windows, and scrambling across rooftops with practiced ease. While Zhang Lixin, Dr. Meng Jie, and the others weren’t Awakened, Wang Xiong had drilled them extensively for this very moment. The grueling training sessions had pushed them to their limits but were now proving to be their lifeline. The fortunate fact that Zhang Ye was the primary target of the hunt was their only real advantage.
Twenty minutes into their escape, a blood-curdling scream sliced through the air from behind them. It was a sound no one wanted to hear. Zhang Chengcheng collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. The scream left no doubt – Zhang Ye was gone.
Wang Xiong felt a cold shiver race down his spine, but there was no time to mourn. The scream that marked Zhang Ye's end only hardened his resolve. He needed to stay focused, to guide the remaining survivors to safety.
"Village entrance, military vehicles, weapons, escape, downtown shelter!" The plan flashed through his mind like a map, each step a critical waypoint on their path to salvation. And then another thought broke through: Lu Ming.
"We need to get to Brother Lu’s house!" Wang Xiong declared, urgency lacing his voice. "Tier 2 zombies are roaming Good Hope Village. We can’t stay here any longer!"
There was no debate. The survivors all nodded in agreement. The journey to the Government shelter, thirteen kilometers away, would be perilous even with military vehicles. The roads would be crawling with the undead. If they could convince Lu Ming, an Awakened, to join them, their chances of survival would increase. Besides, leaving him behind now would be tantamount to a death sentence.
Yet, when they finally reached Lu Ming's door, reality struck with unexpected force.
“I’m not going.” Lu Ming’s cold response from behind the door made Wang Xiong’s eyes widen in disbelief.
"Brother, that’s a Tier 2 zombie! Tier 2!" Wang Xiong's voice trembled with urgency.
"I know. You just said that," came Lu Ming’s detached reply.
"Then why are you—"
Before Wang Xiong could finish, Lu Ming’s voice, dripping with scorn, cut him off. “Tier 2 zombies in a backwater like Good Hope Village? Imagine the chaos outside with even higher-level zombies. Here, in my fortified house, I have a fighting chance. Out there, exposed with no cover? I’d be a sitting duck.”
Wang Xiong froze. There was an uncomfortable truth to Lu Ming’s words. The world outside was unpredictable, filled with dangers lurking at every turn. Even the best-laid plans could unravel. Wang Xiong, never one for persuasive speeches, found himself at a loss. He had no counterargument. All he could see was the stubborn resolve in Lu Ming’s eyes, unyielding and resolute.
A tug on Wang Xiong’s sleeve snapped him out of his paralysis. He turned to see the other survivors, their faces pale with dread, staring off into the distance. Following their gaze, his stomach churned with nausea at the sight.
At the far end of the street, a grotesque, four-legged creature emerged from the shadows. It moved with a fluid, predatory grace, like some nightmarish hunting dog. In its mouth, it carried the half-eaten remains of Zhang Ye. His body dangled limply from the creature’s jaws, clothes in tatters, blood dripping from the wounds. Only Zhang Ye’s head remained intact, eyes vacant, staring lifelessly in Wang Xiong’s direction.
The monstrous creature dropped Zhang Ye's body unceremoniously onto the ground. It crouched low, resembling a hunting dog preparing to strike. Its head tilted at an odd angle as it stared at Wang Xiong and the others. Then, with terrifying clarity, the corners of its mouth curled into a sinister grin.
The air turned frigid with terror.
The creature – a Tier 2 zombie – exuded an intelligence that sent a ripple of fear through the group. Its eyes gleamed with a dark, mocking amusement. Wang Xiong could sense it too: the deadly awareness, the calculating mind behind those predatory eyes.
“It’s after us,” Dr. Meng Jie whispered, her voice trembling.
The truth was undeniable. Zhang Ye, a Level 2 Awakened, had been nothing more than a meal. Now, Wang Xiong and Zhang Chengcheng, as Level 1 Awakened, were the next course. The Tier 2 zombie had already feasted, and now it was playing with its prey, tracking them with the patience and tenacity of a bloodhound.
Yet, despite its hunger, the creature didn’t move. It seemed to toy with them, observing, perhaps savoring the fear it instilled. Then, as if to emphasize its dominance, it tore off one of Zhang Ye's arms with a sickening crunch and devoured it.
A scream tore through the night. Zhang Chengcheng, unable to bear the sight of her brother's body being desecrated, let out a wail of anguish. Wang Xiong grabbed her arm before she could act impulsively.
"Don’t," he murmured, his voice tight with fear. "It’ll only get us killed faster."
Zhang Chengcheng turned to him, her eyes filled with despair. "What’s the point of not being reckless?" she choked out. "We’re dead either way!"
Wang Xiong found no words to counter her. The arrival of the hunter had sealed their fate. Whether they acted rashly or stayed put, death seemed inevitable.
Suddenly, a creaking sound cut through the silence. Wang Xiong looked up to see a window on the second floor of Lu Ming’s house swinging open. There stood Lu Ming, staring down at the hunter below with a focused intensity.
Wang Xiong felt a wave of guilt wash over him. "Brother, it’s my fault," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret. He truly believed he had led this danger straight to Lu Ming’s doorstep. During the earlier attacks, Lu Ming had saved them all. Now, Wang Xiong had returned the favor by bringing a Tier 2 zombie to his home.
"I owe you a debt, brother," he added quietly. "I’ll repay it in the next life."
Lu Ming shot him a cold glare and raised his slingshot.
Wang Xiong felt his stomach drop. Of all the dramatic things to say at a time like this…
Lu Ming had no patience for theatrics. He had already rejected Wang Xiong’s earlier plan to leave the village, and now, here the man was again, dragging him into yet another reckless scheme. Every decision Wang Xiong made seemed to spiral into chaos. Lu Ming despised unnecessary drama and overblown speeches. And yet, here was Wang Xiong once more, acting with all the self-importance of a tragic hero straight out of a poorly written romance novel.
Ignoring him, Lu Ming fixed his gaze on the hunter. The Tier 2 zombie was undeniably dangerous, but it wasn’t as terrifying as the first time he had faced the giant zombies.
It must be the physique, Lu Ming mused. This creature’s strong, but lean. Its defense and power can’t be as overwhelming as it seems.
Still, it was a predator. It needed to be dealt with.
Without hesitation, Lu Ming raised his arm, his slingshot primed and ready. The elastic bands stretched taut, groaning under the strain. His muscles burned as he drew them back, pushing his limits. The weight of the projectile felt heavier than before, but Lu Ming knew he had to give it everything. As he reached the point of maximum tension, he let go.
Thwang!
The snap echoed through the air as the projectile hurtled towards the hunter.
End of Chapter 29