Boom!
In the darkness, a blue orb, about the size of an apple, trailed a long tail of light as it struck an armored vehicle that had been advancing on the group.
In an instant, the entire vehicle exploded into countless fragments. Then came a second shot, and a third. Renowned for their robust defenses, the armored vehicles were reduced to fragile debris under the might of the blue energy spheres.
Wang Ye, wielding his energy assault rifle in grenade launcher mode, fired repeatedly, cutting through the enemy like a grim reaper hidden in the shadows.
Finally, Wang Ye leapt onto the last remaining armored vehicle, eliminated the remaining special forces inside, and tossed them out one by one.
He then commandeered the vehicle, using its weaponry to obliterate the isolation chamber at the mansion's entrance, reducing it and the research personnel within to nothing but fragments.
After confirming that all the Umbrella operatives had been neutralized, Wang Ye drove the armored vehicle toward the group's hiding place.
In the forest, the group observed Wang Ye's triumphant return, awe written across their faces, as if they were witnessing the deeds of a war god.
From start to finish, the entire operation had taken less than a minute. Dozens of elite special forces had been annihilated with what seemed like minimal effort.
What had appeared to be a hopeless situation had been effortlessly resolved by Wang Ye. However, the group knew how dangerous it had truly been.
They had seen Wang Ye narrowly evade artillery fire multiple times—movements so precise they seemed straight out of an action movie. They'd held their breath in suspense, and now they exhaled in relief as he returned safely.
The armored vehicle, despite its bulky appearance, roared like a beast as it arrived at the edge of the forest.
Opening the door, Wang Ye called out, "Get in quickly! We need to leave this place immediately!"
The interior of the armored vehicle was spacious, seating up to twenty people, including the driver and co-driver. As a high-tech product of Umbrella Corporation, it boasted a 350mm caliber anti-aircraft cannon, numerous standard weapons, and ample ammunition. It also contained enough food and water to sustain the group for at least a week.
The group climbed inside, finally allowing themselves a moment to breathe.
Though they had only spent about three hours inside the Hive, their nerves had been stretched thin. Now, as they relaxed, exhaustion hit them like a wave. Kaplan and JD were soon fast asleep.
Rain, though physically fatigued, sat silently, overwhelmed by the loss of four teammates, including her captain. Grief pressed heavily on her.
Matt, still in shock from his sister's death, stared blankly at the floor.
Alice took the co-driver's seat and occasionally chatted with Wang Ye.
The armored vehicle rumbled toward the city. Along the way, the group saw scenes of devastation. The streets were eerily desolate, littered with wrecked vehicles.
Although the streets were packed with cars, there were no signs of life, only faint traces of blood—likely from injuries sustained in crashes.
"Where did everyone go?" Alice murmured, her brow furrowed.
"I have a bad feeling about this. It seems the virus has spread faster than we anticipated," Wang Ye muttered, his gaze sweeping across the lifeless streets.
Hearing his words, the others quickly opened observation windows. The unsettling silence and emptiness chilled them.
When they reached the city's bustling center, they finally saw people—but the scene was far from reassuring. Citizens were frantically looting supermarkets for food, water, and other essentials.
Gunshots rang out as people turned on one another, fighting for supplies.
The city center was in chaos, and there was no law enforcement in sight.
"We need to leave this area immediately," Wang Ye said, glancing at the fuel gauge. It was still more than half full. "Preferably somewhere with fewer people. If the virus spreads fully and the zombies form a horde, we won't stand a chance."
"What about the citizens?" Kaplan asked, his expression pained as he watched the chaos.
Wang Ye shot him a sharp look. "Do you have any idea how many people live in Raccoon City? This metropolis has hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors.
"The five hundred zombies we fought in the Hive already pushed us to our limits. Do you want to find out what it's like to be overwhelmed by a sea of them?"
Kaplan shuddered and fell silent.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream echoed from deep within the street, followed by the bone-chilling howls of zombies.
Wang Ye stepped on the accelerator, speeding through the chaos. He glanced at the wandering zombies but shook his head helplessly.
"There's one place I need to visit before we leave—if time allows. Until then, prepare for combat!"
The group nodded, checking their weapons and stocking up on ammunition and grenades.
A Secluded Street
Jill Valentine, dressed in a blue top and black shorts, supported Sergeant Peyton Wells as they walked through the darkened streets, followed by a female TV anchor. The trio entered an old church at the corner of the street.
Inside, the church was dimly lit by flickering candlelight.
Using the faint glow, Jill and Peyton cautiously inspected the area for potential dangers.
Suddenly, a panicked man emerged from the shadows, pointing a gun at them.
"Get out! This is my place! I was here first!" he shouted, his voice trembling.
"There's plenty of room. We can share," the TV anchor, Terri Morales, said in an oddly flippant tone.
"Shut up! All of you, leave!"
The man, unwilling to share his refuge, raised his gun again, his hands shaking.
"Calm down," Peyton said firmly, aiming his gun at the man. "Put the weapon down—now. You'll draw them here."
The man hesitated but finally lowered his gun, his expression wary.
Terri frowned at Peyton's stern tone. "That was unnecessary," she muttered.
Jill glanced at Terri, unimpressed by her naivety.
"The world has changed. If you want to survive, you'll need to adapt," Jill said, leaning back against a bench as she lit a cigarette.
"You're Jill Valentine, right? From the S.T.A.R.S. team?" Terri asked, extending a hand. "I'm Terri Morales, from Channel 7. Do you remember me?"
Jill ignored the outstretched hand, her expression unreadable.
Terri awkwardly retracted her hand, stepping back into the shadows.
(End of Chapter)
Want to read the chapters in Advance? Join my Patreon
https://patreon.com/Glimmer09