A renowned scientist once stated: "The end of the universe is metaphysics."
In other words, the scientific knowledge currently possessed by humanity is insufficient to truly comprehend the vast expanse of the universe, not even one-thousandth of it.
In the boundless cosmos, there are countless possibilities.
Who can truly guarantee that those zombies, affected by cosmic radiation, were not deliberately created by someone?
"We found them!"
A startled cry echoed from within the factory, followed by the flicker of a faint light on the right.
Then, a yellow flare shot out from the building.
"It's Nathan!"
Miles glanced to the right, and Ryan immediately aimed his rifle at a window.
Inside the factory, Nathan was facing two powerful mutant zombies.
These mutated beasts were exceptionally fierce. One punch sent Nathan stumbling backward, while the other zombie attempted to flank him from behind, aiming for a pincer attack.
"Damn it!"
Nathan wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes seething with fury. "These things have evolved! They're using tactics now!"
At that moment, Isaac, who had been searching on the left, rushed over.
"Get out of the way! I don't need your help!"
Nathan shot a cold glance at Isaac and lunged at the zombies, engaging in a fierce struggle.
Isaac, with a stoic expression, dodged another zombie's charge and coolly replied, "I'm doing this for Master Miles."
"Hmph!"
The two fell into an uneasy silence.
The zombies were incredibly strong. Even martial artists like Isaac and Nathan could barely hold their ground. Capturing them would require considerable effort.
Thud!
One of the zombies made a swift charge at Nathan, knocking him backward with such force that he crashed into a machine.
It felt as if he'd been hit by a speeding car, his internal organs wrenching in agony.
Isaac wasn't faring any better—he was swept by the zombie's leg, instantly causing his face to swell.
The two warriors leaped and dodged, narrowly avoiding the relentless attacks of the zombies, each exchange a dance of life and death.
Just when Nathan was about to subdue one of the zombies, a terrifying, mournful wail sounded nearby.
Suddenly, seven or eight more zombies appeared behind the machines.
"Shit! An ambush!"
Having witnessed the zombies' cunning before, Nathan immediately abandoned his attempt to capture them and, realizing the danger, tried to flee.
One zombie had already exhausted him—several more would surely be the end of him.
But he had chased too aggressively, and now, surrounded by shelves and machines, he couldn't gather enough speed to escape.
It was clear the zombie had deliberately led him into this trap, planning to encircle him.
On the rooftop of the opposite factory building.
Ryan, watching through the sniper scope, shuddered. "Damn! These beasts even know tactics! They're more cunning than humans!"
He raised his rifle, ready to shoot, intending to break Nathan out of the encirclement.
"Don't shoot yet."
"What's wrong?"
Miles, his eyes fixed on the binoculars, said quietly, "Isaac's going over."
"But Isaac can't handle so many zombies," Ryan replied, clearly frustrated.
"Just watch…"
Through the binoculars, Miles observed Isaac sprinting toward Nathan at full speed. With a powerful kick, Isaac knocked the zombie attempting a rear ambush away.
"What are you doing here? Get lost, I don't need you acting all noble!"
Nathan, still wary, glanced behind him before coldly shooting Isaac a look.
"Less talk, hurry up and withdraw. If we don't leave now, we'll both die here!"
Realizing the danger, Nathan stopped arguing. He dodged another zombie's strike and hurriedly retreated.
"Aww!"
As they neared the factory exit, a chilling wail echoed from both sides.
Isaac and Nathan didn't have time to analyze; they were forced to retreat in the opposite direction, using the machines and shelves as cover while engaging the zombies in a deadly dance.
"More ambushes!"
Ryan, sweating with anxiety as he watched through the scope, silently thanked his decision not to go in.
Though his skills were decent, they were nowhere near Isaac's or Nathan's. If they were struggling, he'd have lasted all of five minutes.
"Fire!"
Finally, Miles gave the order.
Bang!
Ryan's aim was precise, and with a single shot from the AW50, the zombie's head exploded, its body spasming but refusing to fall.
Miles sighed. "Who knows, without its head, does it still have any use?"
He remembered the zombie energy he had absorbed earlier—it was stored in the brain. With the brain destroyed, that energy might well be lost.
"I got it…"
Ryan chuckled, lowering his sights slightly.
Bang!
One shot pierced the zombie's heart, and it collapsed to the ground, though it didn't die. Instead, it writhed on the floor.
"Seems like we can't kill them without destroying the head."
Miles was beginning to understand the anatomy of these zombies. The so-called energy was stored in the brain, which controlled the body.
With Ryan's support, Isaac and Nathan finally broke free from the encirclement and reached the factory's entrance.
"Watch out!"
Miles, observing from the other side, saw a zombie leap from the shelves directly at Nathan's throat.
Ryan instinctively fired, but the zombie moved too quickly, and the shot missed.
"Duck!"
Isaac, a few steps behind Nathan, saw the danger and reacted instantly, diving forward and knocking Nathan to the ground. In that split second, the zombie landed on Isaac with a crushing force.
Thud!
Isaac coughed up blood and collapsed, unconscious.
"Master!"
Nathan struggled to his feet, his eyes burning with fury as he stared at Isaac.
Tears welled in his eyes, and with a primal roar, he kicked the zombie off him, hoisted Isaac onto his shoulder, and ran.
Miles, seeing the danger, spotted a nearby forklift. He raised his hand, and the forklift shot toward the zombies behind them.
Crash!
With a deafening impact, the forklift crushed two zombies.
Nathan seized the moment, rushing toward a safe tunnel while carrying Isaac. He gently set Isaac down, his face filled with deep sorrow and regret.
"Why… why save me?"
"You ruined my future, but then you saved my life. Should I hate you or thank you?"
Nathan knelt in anguish, his hands clutching his head in torment.
Miles, standing in front of him, coldly barked, "This isn't the time for sentimentality. Go and stop those zombies. Don't let a single one escape!"
The forklift had already taken out two zombies, and the remaining ones, sensing the threat, began to scatter.
Nathan snapped to attention, rising and blocking the path of two zombies attempting to flee.
Miles didn't hesitate. Another forklift crashed into two more zombies, while Ryan, still perched above, kept firing, swiftly taking down two more.
Without weapons or Miles's terrifying abilities, Nathan could only act as a roadblock, stopping any zombies trying to escape.