Chen Chao weaved through the streets, his gaze swiftly scanning the zombies around him for any signs of a special zombie.
To evolve from F-rank to E-rank, he needed to "consume" energy, but unlike the zombies who fed on human flesh, his food was evolutionary energy.
Despite his search, Chen Chao didn't spot any special zombies—or perhaps he had but failed to recognize them. Special zombies looked almost identical to regular ones, making it difficult to distinguish them by sight alone. If he were a sensory-based evolver, it would've been much easier; he could pinpoint the special zombie among the horde and gauge its speed, strength, and physical capabilities.
Thanks to his extraordinary speed, Chen Chao quickly arrived 30 miles to the north. His plan was to search one area at a time to ensure he missed nothing.
Whoosh!
With a powerful leap, he jumped onto the second-floor window of a building, smashing the glass with a kick and landing directly inside.
The room was an office, now in disarray. Papers were scattered like confetti across the floor, some computers lay smashed, while others were still powered on, displaying QQ chat windows with unsent pleas for help.
On the floor were dried pools of blackened blood and mutilated corpses—both male and female. Three zombies wandered aimlessly within the office.
As the sound of shattering glass echoed, the three zombies turned and spotted Chen Chao. They growled and lunged at him, their decayed faces twisted into grotesque snarls, their milky-white eyes empty and eerie.
Chen Chao's expression remained cold as he swiftly swung his iron bar.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The iron bar severed their spinal columns, sending their heads tumbling to the ground like balls. Even after decapitation, their mouths continued to snap at the air.
Chen Chao sidestepped the falling corpses and stepped over a dismembered head as he continued forward.
Just then—
Bang!
A sudden gunshot rang out from the distant street. Chen Chao's foot paused mid-step before he slowly lowered it back to the ground. Turning toward the source of the sound, he peered out through the shattered window.
"Survivors, huh? Probably looted a police station. I wonder how many guns they've got." Chen Chao's eyes flashed with interest as a thought of taking the weapons crossed his mind.
At his current rank, F-level evolver, even though his base stats matched those of an E-level special evolver due to his multi-evolution traits, firearms still held immense value. With guns, he could consider hunting golden mutant beasts.
For instance, the golden retriever from his neighborhood was a golden-class mutant beast. However, it was still low-level, having not undergone a second evolution, so it hadn't yet developed golden blood.
Golden blood was a precious resource later on, capable of permanently enhancing physical attributes. In certain special ruins, it was also an indispensable key for advancing.
Without hesitation, Chen Chao set off.
At a desolate street corner, a group of over a dozen zombies snarled and clawed as they surged forward.
Bang! Bang!
Chu Shanhe's Type 54 pistol spat fire, blowing off the heads of two zombies. He retreated quickly, drenched in sweat, his stamina nearly depleted.
"Brother Chu, what now? These monsters are too strong, and we have to hit their heads to kill them. I'm almost out of ammo," said a stocky young man with short hair, his face pale with fear.
Chu Shanhe stared grimly at the approaching zombies. "Xiao Song, take the others and get to the rendezvous point. I'll hold them off!"
Behind him stood three people in lab coats—two middle-aged doctors and a young female nurse. Upon hearing Chu Shanhe's words, a glimmer of hope appeared on their despairing faces as they turned anxiously to Xiao Song.
Xiao Song's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. "No way, Brother Chu. If I leave, you won't stand a chance alone. I swore loyalty to you, and I won't abandon you now!"
Hearing this, the two doctors and the nurse's expressions shifted. The older doctor hesitated before speaking, "Officer Song, Captain Chu is strong. He'll find a way to escape. We're only holding him back. Maybe we should—"
"Shut up! It's not your place to speak!" Xiao Song roared, his eyes red with anger. "If it weren't for saving you three, we wouldn't have drawn so many monsters in the first place!"
The doctor's face turned pale, but he dared not retort.
"Enough!" Chu Shanhe's face hardened. "Did you forget your oath? As soldiers, our first duty is to protect the people. No more arguing. Take them and leave—now! That's an order!"
Xiao Song clenched his fists, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Understood. I'll get them to safety and come back for you. Promise me you'll hold on!" He handed Chu Shanhe a spare magazine from his pocket, then turned to the group. "Let's move! Quickly!"
The three civilians, elated, hurried to follow Xiao Song.
Just as they were about to leave, Chu Shanhe suddenly said, "Wait."
The group froze, fear flashing in their eyes as they turned back.
Xiao Song, however, looked at Chu Shanhe with surprise. "Brother Chu, are you—"
"Look," Chu Shanhe murmured, pointing ahead.
The four of them followed his gaze, their eyes widening in shock.
"What is that...?"
"Impossible!"
Before them, amid the horde of zombies, stood a young man who looked to be in his early twenties. He wore a black tracksuit and held an iron bar in his hand. He dove into the horde like a wolf among sheep.
The terrifying zombies crumbled before him as if they were nothing but brittle puppets. Each swing of the iron bar shattered a skull, the grotesque creatures collapsing one after another.
Fast. Strong.
Before the stunned group could react, the young man had wiped out all the zombies. He walked toward them, leaving bloody footprints in his wake. Behind him lay a scene of carnage, bodies strewn across the ground.
Chen Chao glanced at the survivors. Only two of them carried guns, and their ammunition seemed limited. Disappointment flickered in his eyes as he asked casually, "Are you two soldiers?"
Chu Shanhe snapped out of his daze, his eyes shining with awe. "Yes, I'm Captain Chu Shanhe, and this is my brother, Song Guicheng. May I ask your name?"
Hearing his voice, Chen Chao's thoughts stirred. Chu Shanhe?
Chen Chao's initial disinterest shifted as he took a closer look at the man. "How many Chu Shanhes are there in your military?"
"Uh..." Chu Shanhe hesitated. "As far as I know, just me."
Chen Chao's eyes gleamed. "Then it's you."
"What do you mean?" Chu Shanhe asked curiously. "Do you know me?"
Chen Chao's mind raced. Not only did he know him, but Chu Shanhe was a legendary figure in the future—a name etched into the annals of history.
Like most heroes, Chu Shanhe's life was tragically short. Yet, within that brief span, he achieved countless feats and amassed a legacy adorned with glory.
He was one of the first pioneers, the first to rescue over ten base cities, the first to kill an S-class monster, the first to reclaim human cities from the clutches of zombies and beasts, and the first to venture into [Abyss Zone One] alone.
His contributions to humanity were immeasurable. A general once remarked, "Without Chu Shanhe, the overall combat strength of the Huaxia region would have been reduced by thirty percent."
His short life became a legend.
His death, however, left a profound sadness. Despite his many accolades, Chu Shanhe disdained holding power. The base city he established was entrusted to his closest brother, while he chose to remain on the frontlines, fighting, exploring, and expanding humanity's foothold. Tragically, that very brother, who had also made significant contributions to humanity, succumbed to the corruption of power and betrayed him with a well-orchestrated scheme.
Disheartened, Chu Shanhe refrained from retaliation. Instead, in his final moments, he carried his fury, sorrow, and regret into [Abyss Zone One], unleashing them upon the terrifying entities within. He never returned.
Years later, when someone ventured into the abyss again, they found his battle blade and brought it back to be placed at his grave.
As for his brother, overwhelmed with remorse, he relinquished control of the base city and followed Chu Shanhe's path, entering the abyss to meet his end in battle.
It was once said that if Chu Shanhe had chosen revenge, the conflict between him and his brother would have led to massive losses among their followers. Such losses would have weakened humanity's forces by half during critical later battles.
But Chu Shanhe chose otherwise. Even in his final moments, he channeled his rage and pain into fighting for humanity, striving to kill as many monsters as possible before his death.
Such selflessness seems almost impossible to fathom. But that's why he became a legend, a figure revered and mourned, remembered with deep admiration.
Chen Chao, who had lived in a later era, once struggled day after day for survival. Though he rarely had time to mourn legendary figures, he had heard of Chu Shanhe's extraordinary story. Now, seeing the living Chu Shanhe standing before him stirred something unfamiliar in his heart.