Chapter 600 – The Hand Reaching Out from the Wall
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“There’s another one here.”
Li Ya Lin had discovered a mutated zombie as well, showing signs of partial mutation but at a very low level.
Ling Mo approached and noticed some differences.
This zombie’s body was more intact than the previous one, which naturally allowed for a more comprehensive observation.
Ling Mo, pulling Ye Lian along, crouched beside the body. Using Ye Lian’s perspective, he scanned from head to toe before drawing his dagger.
“Going to dissect it again?” Shana asked excitedly.
“Who has that kind of time.” Ling Mo rolled his eyes and carefully brought the tip of the blade to the zombie’s neck, gently sc.r.a.ping it.
“Look.” He held the blade up to Ye Lian’s eyes and said.
Shana and Li Ya Lin came closer while Ye Lian’s mouth formed an “o” in astonishment, exclaiming, “Wow… white… fluid.”
“Yeah, it’s not a watery corpse, but there’s a layer of this mucus on it. No wonder I couldn’t sense him when he was alive; it’s like a spiritual s.h.i.+elding film…” Ling Mo frowned and said.
“Do you remember the possibility I mentioned earlier?” Shana suddenly spoke with a hint of mystery.
Ling Mo nodded in sudden realization, “That’s right… the one you mentioned… these watery corpses, they were all ordinary zombies before?”
“Exactly!” Shana chuckled.
What she had mentioned was probably this idea, which was also the bet she had with Ling Mo.
Now that Ling Mo nodded, Shana was naturally pleased…
If Ling Mo agreed, didn’t she just win the bet?
And Ling Mo? Although he didn’t want to be tricked by Shana again… this theory actually seemed quite plausible to him.
The emergence of so many zombies that mutated in almost an identical manner was impossible according to his current understanding of zombie theory.
But if a large group of ordinary zombies was infected by the same mutated virus simultaneously, that would make sense.
After ordinary zombies were infected, their bodies underwent mutations and then stayed here, turning into these mucus-secreting machines…
There were at least several hundred watery corpses in this underground parking lot by conservative estimates. Considering this, the infection source that could accomplish such a large scale was extraordinary indeed.
But while the origin of the watery corpses was somewhat explainable, where did the mucus on these mutated zombies come from?
“Bang!”
Another sound echoed from the darkness, and Ling Mo immediately stood up: “Over there! Quick!”
The group hurried towards the source of the noise and saw several pairs of red eyes before even reaching the spot.
“Clang!”
A shadow silently appeared at Ling Mo’s side, but Shana blocked it with her keen reflexes.
“A sneak attack?” Ling Mo was startled; it had been a long time since he’d experienced this feeling of a zombie getting so close without any notice…
The danger level skyrocketed!
Fortunately, he was accompanied by three female zombie puppets, each with considerable strength. Otherwise, Ling Mo would have found himself in an embarra.s.sing predicament.
The shadow that had attempted a sneak attack on them was also a mutated zombie. It was unclear what kind of mutation it had undergone, but its mouth had become as large as that of a hippopotamus. Not only was it exceptionally big, but almost all of its teeth were protruding. When it opened its mouth, its face completely disappeared, leaving only a gaping maw of blood.
Shana swung her scythe, but astonis.h.i.+ngly, the mutated zombie caught it with its teeth, displaying a terrifying biting force. That crisp sound they heard was the result of this action.
“What kind of teeth are these!” Ling Mo’s scalp tingled at the thought; the hardness was such that no toothpaste could ever hope to clean.
As he thought this, he quickly moved back to avoid further danger.
Although he couldn’t sense them, the flickering red eyes in the darkness indicated that there were more than just one mutated zombie here.
Standing there as the only human, Ling Mo felt like a giant light bulb, attracting far too much unwanted attention.
To avoid another sneak attack, Ling Mo retreated directly to the wall.
While the revolting watery corpses were behind him, it was still better than being caught off guard by a zombie at close quarters.
Ye Lian and the others moved forward to meet the threat, and soon “thump thump thump” sounds could be heard from the darkness, indicating a fierce battle.
“This really takes some getting used to…” Ling Mo muttered.
This sudden need to stand aside was just like old times!
In terms of physical strength, he was no match for zombies, especially mutated ones.
Without his mental power, he was just slightly better than an average person.
But with Ye Lian and the others, Ling Mo found his role as an ordinary person quite comfortable…
After moving to the side, Ling Mo didn’t want to just stand idly by; he still wanted to try and sense the area using his mental power.
In such a chaotic place, it was possible that Yu s.h.i.+ran and the others were here…
However, just then, Ling Mo’s body stiffened, and he stood frozen in place.
“d.a.m.n it…”
Cold sweat broke out on Ling Mo’s forehead. He maintained his standing posture without moving, but his eyes glanced towards his left shoulder.
Above his shoulder, a hand that looked emaciated yet powerful had appeared out of nowhere!
And those hook-like nails were inching closer and closer, less than five centimeters away from his body now!
If those claws touched him, he would surely lose a chunk of flesh, not to mention the risk of being infected.
Ling Mo had no idea how potent the virus contained in the mucus was or what strain it was; he couldn’t guarantee his own immunity.
But the real reason he didn’t dare to make any sudden movements wasn’t the hand itself; it was the intermittent cold breath blowing on the back of his neck…
That was the breathing of a zombie!
“I’ve been careless!”
The hair on Ling Mo’s body stood on end. His mental sensing was severely suppressed, but the feeling of a zombie being so close without him noticing sent chills down his spine.
“No… no, not close!”
Ling Mo suddenly realized something was off. Although he had moved to the wall based on instinct, he was certain that the area was filled with the bodies of watery corpses!
When he first got there, he even used Ye Lian’s perspective to briefly confirm it!
How could a living zombie suddenly appear out of nowhere?
Could it be… Ling Mo had a sudden realization and took another glance at the claw.
A drop of semi-solid white liquid was slowly sliding down the long pointed nails…
“Exactly!”
Ling Mo had an epiphany!
The zombie wasn’t running over to sneak up on him; it was… burrowing out from the wall!
“Stay calm, I need to stay calm.”
Ling Mo took a deep breath, while still keeping an eye on the hand from the corner of his vision.
The nail was a bit closer to his shoulder now. If Ling Mo hadn’t noticed in time, in a few more seconds, he probably would have been the one screaming in pain.
Considering the zombie’s persistent effort, it would likely be soon…
“Whew! Get ready…”
Ling Mo psyched himself up silently, not even sure if his mental Tentacles could still be effective.
After all, the opponent seemed to have an anti-Mental power s.h.i.+eld!
Call for help? Ye Lian and the others were too busy to spare a hand!
Besides, how could a grown man easily admit defeat in such a situation?!
“Now!”
Ling Mo held his breath and suddenly lunged forward.
A gust of wind blew down his back, and it was clear that if he’d been even a bit slower, his shoulder would have been completely ruined.
“Argh argh argh!”
The frustrated howls of the zombies came from behind, and Ling Mo, still shaken, turned around on the ground.
He took the flashlight off his wrist, covered it with one hand, and pushed it open with the other.
Using the dim light, Ling Mo quickly glanced at the wall.
Most of it was as he had previously thought…
The wall was “embedded” with watery corpses twisted in contorted positions, each seeming to be struggling to burrow out from the wall.
But they were actually unable to come out. What was truly horrifying was the live corpse amongst these watery corpses, vigorously trying to burrow out of the mucus layer!
Its upper body was already protruding out, one hand reaching out towards Ling Mo, and on its deformed face, those blood-red eyes seemed as if they wanted to swallow Ling Mo whole.
“This…” Ling Mo was stunned.
He finally understood what was going on with those mutated zombies that came with their own mucus…
In reality, they… were also watery corpses!
“If this place is indeed the production factory for mutated zombies, could it be… that all these watery corpses are the raw materials?”