The appearance of higher-level zombies and mutated creatures had almost become an indisputable truth among all survivors. However, none of them expected this day to arrive so abruptly, leaving them unprepared.
Not long ago, Sheriff's team released an announcement on the public chat channel.
ID 12315: "Dear survivors, greetings from Sheriff. I am overwhelmed with excitement and cannot contain my joy—I must share this triumph with you immediately. Our team has just successfully hunted a mutated zombie boar. This marks the first time survivors have taken down such a creature, a feat worthy of being etched into history. It is imperative that I share it with everyone."
ID 352525: "Mutated creatures already? Are they really appearing this soon?! Even small groups of zombies force me to detour; how am I supposed to keep up with their evolution? This is going to kill me!"
ID 465435: "Good heavens, I believe I've encountered one of these mutations myself… Is that still a dog? It's nearly the size of a cow! These mutations are beyond belief. Thankfully, I was perched high enough that it couldn't reach me—though I admit, I nearly lost control of my bladder."
ID 353436: "It's hopeless. We stand no chance against them, and our supplies are dwindling. Might as well dig my own grave now and wait for death."
Chen Du scanned the messages with a furrowed brow. Up until now, he had yet to encounter any mutated zombie creatures, leaving him uncertain about their true capabilities. Still, the fact that Sheriff's team had managed to slay the first mutated beast spoke volumes about their prowess.
With a thoughtful expression, Chen Du speculated that Sheriff would undoubtedly leverage this monumental achievement to attract new recruits. If this trend continued, sooner or later, Sheriff would turn his attention toward him. Chen Du harbored no illusions that Sheriff was the type to coexist peacefully. After all, his own unfathomable strength posed too significant a threat to ignore.
Once Sheriff deemed his forces sufficiently formidable, Chen Du was certain he would move to confront him directly. Yet, rather than dread, Chen Du found himself anticipating that day. He yearned to witness what made Sheriff so exceptional.
Shortly thereafter, Sheriff posted another message in the chat channel—this time accompanied by a brief video. The footage revealed a colossal boar displayed before all survivors. Its abdomen bore a gaping wound, exposing bone, while its body was riddled with bullet holes. Had it not been infected with the zombie virus, rendering its meat inedible, this massive creature could have sustained them for days.
ID 436745: "Is that… a pig or an elephant?"
ID 78567: "Can we even call that a pig anymore? I assumed it was merely a larger variant of a zombie boar, but this is absurd—it might as well belong to an entirely different species!"
ID 457346: "Unbelievable. Not only does Sheriff's team possess immense strength, but they also wield firearms. Truly impressive."
Then came another message from Sheriff:
"Survivors, why hesitate? Join us now! Witness our undeniable strength. In this apocalyptic era, survival hinges upon unity. I extend my sincerest invitation to those who remain unaffiliated—to join us and secure your future!"
As Chen Du had anticipated, Sheriff seized this opportunity to amplify his recruitment efforts. By showcasing the first-ever slain mutated zombie boar, he flaunted his team's dominance and lured desperate survivors. That said, defeating such a monstrous creature did indeed warrant some bragging rights.
Silently observing from the shadows of the chat channel, Chen Du scrutinized the image of the mutated boar. The deep gash across its abdomen instantly caught his eye—it bore the unmistakable mark of an Enhanced Arming Sword. He wasn't surprised that Sheriff possessed such weaponry; after all, ten arming swords were listed on the trading platform, and Sheriff's team certainly had the means to acquire them. In fact, Chen Du suspected they might have purchased more than one.
What truly concerned him, however, were the bullet wounds peppering the creature's body. Though Chen Du had half-expected Sheriff to possess firearms, confirmation of his suspicions still sent a chill down his spine. With ranged weapons at their disposal, Sheriff's team held a distinct advantage over those relying solely on melee combat.
Nevertheless, Chen Du exhaled in relief. Ammunition on the trading platform was scarce, and Sheriff's team undoubtedly expended a considerable amount during the battle. Unlike Chen Du, whose mastery of the M9 pistol allowed him to unleash endless firepower, they lacked such ingenuity. Moreover, Chen Du retained his ultimate trump card—invisibility.
Even if Sheriff's arsenal proved overwhelmingly superior, Chen Du remained confident in his ability to strike from the shadows. Should the need arise, assassination tactics would serve him well.
Of course, these scenarios hinged on Sheriff eventually taking aggressive action against him. Only then would Chen Du unleash every tool at his disposal to defend himself.
By now, the chat channel buzzed with survivors eager to pledge allegiance to Sheriff's team. Prior advertisements had emphasized food and shelter, which many dismissed as irrelevant. Some even preferred smaller teams for their freedom. But witnessing the mutated boar forced them to reconsider whether they truly stood a chance against the escalating tide of zombies.
ID 356547: "Our group has decided to seek refuge under Sheriff or another major faction. Otherwise, we won't last much longer. As zombies grow stronger and mutations emerge, we must act swiftly."
ID 867896: "Honestly, it's not a bad idea. Larger factions offer security. My teammates and I plan to join Sheriff's ranks once we finalize our decision."
ID 457543: "While smaller teams may distribute resources more generously, unless you're on par with someone like 1945, joining a bigger group is the safer bet."
ID 958333: "In this post-apocalyptic world, abandon any notions of grandeur. Survival alone is the greatest fortune…"
Though Sheriff's police station gained considerable traction by publicly eliminating the first mutated creature, the event cast a shadow of unease over many survivors. Would the station hold its ground against increasingly powerful mutants and advanced zombies? No one could say for sure.
But Chen Du viewed matters differently. Beside him stood Xie Li. Though he didn't know how long he'd live—tomorrow could bring death at the hands of an elite zombie, or perhaps he'd endure till the very end—he refused to succumb to despair. For her sake, he vowed to persevere.