Chapter 362, Ordinary Evolved Zombies
Wu Heng looked at the two skeletons that stood up, frowning slightly.
Even the servant reached level 12.
This inspector envoy had quite a high status.
Normally, in a more remote and stable governed area, the local steward would be around level 12.
But here, it was just a servant.
After briefly glancing at them, Wu Heng's attention shifted to the skeleton mage.
[Skeleton Mage (Level 15)]
[Level: 15]
[Attributes: Constitution 27, Strength 15, Agility 17, Intelligence 37, Perception 28, Charisma 20.]
[Traits: Hollow Skeleton, Advanced Soul, Magical Sensory, Thaumaturgy Scholar, Master Caster, Source Theorem.]
[Proficiencies: Cloth Armor Proficiency (Advanced), Staff Proficiency (Advanced), Dagger Proficiency (Intermediate), Arcane Echo, Soul Studies, Haunting Knowledge, Tireless Focus, Spell Artisan.]
[Skill: Vitality Art.]
Wu Heng frowned as he looked at the mage's attributes panel.
The attributes were typical for a mage: high intelligence, followed by high perception and constitution, while strength and agility were weaknesses.
Of course, the role of a mage wasn't one that relied on physical strength.
Carriage for outings, a servant escort—clearly the configuration of a nobleman.
Among the traits, there was Thaumaturgy Scholar, indicating he belonged to the school of thaumaturgy.
Wu Heng focused mainly on [Source Theorem].
[Source Theorem]: You understand the essence of magic and the commonalities in its fundamental theories, enabling you to comprehend everything through an arcane perspective (all learned skills and spell levels increase by one tier, significantly reducing the cost for this specialization's spells).
All learned skills and spells gained an increase by one tier.
It seemed this Kalema was indeed no ordinary person.
Continuing to look further down.
The skills section was rather sparse.
There was only one—'Vitality Art.'
When mages were converted into necromancers, all skills from other schools would vanish.
Only necromancy spells would remain, and Vitality Art was one of those.
All other skills had disappeared.
"From now on, you'll be called Wooden Basin Servant, and you'll still be Kalema." Wu Heng named the two skeletons, then instructed them to put on their armor.
...
Wu Heng then took out the two spatial rings and began examining them.
Not only Kalema had one, but the Wooden Basin Servant did as well.
He first checked the ring of the Wooden Basin Servant.
Various everyday items, water, food, extra weapons and armor, as well as a pouch filled with coins.
Then, Wu Heng moved on to Kalema's spatial ring.
Aside from some missing living supplies, there were quite a few magical items inside.
[Soundproof Jar][Thaumaturgy Staff][Channeling Robe][Sincere Clay Doll (Artifact)][Spatial Ring (5 cubic meters)].
He looked at the [Soundproof Jar] first.
[Soundproof Jar]
(Description: An item engraved with soundproof runes, capable of blocking sound from spreading.)
The jar resembled a spiral-shaped vase.
It was covered in complex runes.
Regardless of its appearance, a soundproof item like this was rare in the market.
[Thaumaturgy Staff]
(Description: A magical tool made from special roots, engraved with Arcane Reflux and Light of Thaumaturgy, increases thaumaturgy spell effects by +17%.)
A thaumaturgy-type staff.
The effect seemed not particularly impressive.
His own Spinal Staff increased necromancy spell effects by +23% and even provided two spells.
The Thaumaturgy Staff, despite being engraved with two amplification runes, only increased spell effects by 17%.
After all, his staff was exchanged for third-tier merits, close to an artifact level.
Next was the [Channeling Robe], which reduced mental energy consumption during spellcasting.
It seemed like a spare robe; he already had one on him.
Then there was the [Sincere Clay Doll], which would make someone tell the truth if they looked directly into its eyes.
Lastly, there was another spatial ring. Wu Heng mentally probed it.
It contained nothing much—a pouch of gold coins and a golden ring with an eye symbol.
Secret Cult?
This wasn't the first time Wu Heng had seen such a ring.
Members of the Secret Cult would typically carry one to prove their identity.
Was Kalema a member of the Secret Cult?
Impossible; why would the Guild allow a Secret Cult member to be an inspector envoy?
Then Wu Heng thought of someone else.
The captain Ewald had killed.
"This ring must be his!"
In other words, the entire matter this time was once again orchestrated by the Secret Cult.
Like an annoying leech, they kept coming after him, endlessly.
And he still couldn't locate the headquarters of the Secret Cult.
"Should I write to Lilith? Ask her to increase pressure on the Secret Cult?"
"But on what grounds? If it's just made up and found out, it could ruin the trust we've built."
Wu Heng pondered while collecting the various items.
After putting everything away.
He took the two skeletons and began walking back.
...
He brought Kalema back to the dorm.
Wu Heng took out all his necromancy books and said, "You don't need to do anything else, just stay here and study these spells as soon as you can."
Skeleton Kalema sat at the desk and took out a book on Ray of Enfeeblement.
Wu Heng closed it again and took out [Raise Skeleton], "Start with this one!"
Kalema accepted [Raise Skeleton] and began reading it earnestly.
With Kalema's intelligence and his level 15 status, learning these spells shouldn't be too difficult.
It was only a matter of time.
After arranging things here.
Wu Heng checked the time.
It was still early, so he took out the walkie-talkie and called Qi Hancai.
He walked out of the dorm, just reaching the door.
Qi Hancai came rushing over from outside.
"What are your orders?" Qi Hancai stood to the side.
Wu Heng asked directly, "How are the preparations for clearing the central plaza going?"
"Everything's ready. We've accumulated a lot of solid iron rounds these past few days. Each wyvern can carry around two thousand, so we can make over twenty trips," Qi Hancai responded.
The main roads had mostly been cleared.
Only the area around the central plaza remained; once it was cleared, the route to the bus terminal would be open.
The plan had long been set, but his suspension had delayed it for days.
Now that everything was settled, it was time to clear that route.
Wu Heng said, "Tomorrow, we'll go clear the central roundabout. Prepare everything we need!"
"Understood!" Qi Hancai nodded.
They stood at the door, chatting about recent events.
They also discussed the future construction of the old factory area.
After talking for a while.
Wu Heng returned to the dorm and saw Kalema still diligently reading, then opened the gate to Gold-Silver Island.
...
Dining room.
The three of them sat at the table having dinner.
Wu Heng took a piece of fish, put it in his mouth, and glanced at Andviel, "Andviel, nothing new at the Guild, right?"
"Nothing much. The biggest news is that the bounty orders have been updated. I've already taken the pictures," Andviel replied.
Information transfer in this world was still relatively slow.
Even if that cargo ship reported Kalema missing or dead, it would be at the next port, then passed to the Guild—that could take months.
It would be hard to trace, as long as he didn't expose those items.
"Alright, if nothing's going on, come back earlier," Wu Heng said.
"This is already quite early; any earlier would be noon," Andviel whispered.
"Uh, is that so? Well, coming back at noon occasionally is fine too."
Andviel smiled, "Got it, Master."
Minnie, who was beside them, picked up a piece of sea fish and offered it, "Master, eat this. I heard it's very nourishing. Eat more so you'll have energy tonight."
Wu Heng, with his mouth stuffed, mumbled, "The way you say it makes it sound like you're not very satisfied."
"Not at all, it's just to have more energy for punishing the little fox tonight." Minnie said, then stuffed another piece into his mouth.
Andviel, on the side, gave her a glance, "You're the one always clinging to the master, yet you always bring me into it."
After dinner, they chatted for a while in the living room.
Then they went back to their rooms to rest.
...
The next day.
Wu Heng first made a trip to the Guild.
He didn't expect any news about Kalema's death to come through, but he still checked.
He found that nothing had come through.
He retrieved the bug from the Guild dormitory and headed straight home.
Opening the portal, he went to the zombie world.
Skeleton Kalema was still sitting at the desk reading, and Wu Heng glanced over, then took out the walkie-talkie, "Qi Hancai, are you ready?"
Shortly after, the walkie-talkie crackled to life, "Ready, we can set out anytime."
"Alright, I'll be down, and then we'll set off."
"Got it!"
Wu Heng went downstairs, and the convoy was already parked at the entrance.
Two military trucks and an off-road vehicle.
The top of the passenger seat of the off-road vehicle had an open circular window, with a skeleton poking its upper body out and operating a heavy machine gun.
In the old factory area, firearms were still operated by skeletons with shooting proficiency.
The regular survivor patrols were equipped with crossbows.
Wu Heng rearranged the skeleton army.
Then he opened the car door and directly got into the passenger seat of a truck.
The convoy started, leaving the factory area, escorted by the skeleton army, heading towards the target location.
...
Central city roundabout.
Connected to the main roads in four directions, and also the busiest area of the city.
Surrounding it were malls, large supermarkets, the Workers' Cultural Palace, and a street dedicated to mobile phones.
Near the auto repair factory, there was a small pedestrian street, already packed with zombies. The number of zombies here was definitely higher.
The skeleton army escorted the convoy.
Clearing two waves of small zombie groups along the way.
At the end of their line of sight, the roundabout and densely packed zombies came into view.
"If we go further, we might alert the horde." Qi Hancai said.
Wu Heng nodded, "Stop here and let everyone prepare."
"Understood!" Qi Hancai picked up the walkie-talkie to relay instructions.
Wu Heng, meanwhile, summoned Xiaoxiao and Glenda, sending them ahead to scout the situation.
Soon, the two spirits flew back from afar and entered his body, sharing the scene they had just seen.
Zombies roamed the roads around the roundabout and extended into the other three directions.
At the zombies' feet were scrapped vehicles that packed the roads.
It looked like there had been a severe traffic jam at the time of the outbreak, with cars crashing into one another, forming a car graveyard.
In the horde, there were several mutated zombies.
Big Guys and Crawlers.
There were no Big-Head zombies, but considering their cowardly nature, they were likely hiding in nearby buildings.
After reviewing the shared scene, Wu Heng's attention was drawn to some strange zombies.
They had the same physique as ordinary zombies, but their skin was still shriveled, not rotten or tattered.
It looked more like mummified flesh, devoid of fat.
These zombies were scattered throughout the horde.
Unlike other zombies, which wandered aimlessly, these turned their heads to search for targets and even pushed away nearby zombies.
It seemed they had some intelligence.
A new type of zombie? Or perhaps an evolution of the ordinary ones.
Qi Hancai noticed his expression, "What's wrong?"
"Any updates from the radio station about new zombies?"
"Yes." Qi Hancai recalled, "They updated a few types of zombies. One called the Spitter, which shoots acid; another called Plague Wraith, which emits virus dust. A third-tier zombie called the Myriad Centipede, said to be made up of numerous limbs."
"What about ordinary zombies?"
"The station said that in some places, ordinary zombies are starting to show signs of intelligence, but they didn't give more details."
Wu Heng nodded; it seemed that the zombies mixed in the horde were likely those evolved ones mentioned by the station.
If all zombies evolved intelligence.
That would be an even greater disaster for the survivors.
"Stay in the car. There are more zombies today, so make sure everyone is careful." Wu Heng instructed.
"Alright." Qi Hancai nodded, then picked up the walkie-talkie to give further orders.
...
After getting out of the vehicle.
Wu Heng had the skeleton army form a formation.
He patted two mutated hounds, "Go draw those zombies over."
The two mutated hounds wagged their bony tails vigorously.
Hearing Wu Heng's command, they dashed out.
When they got within a hundred meters of the zombies, the nearby zombies all turned to look at them.
There was a moment of confusion, then an earsplitting roar.
Almost simultaneously, the surrounding zombies also roared, one after another, wave upon wave.
The skeletal hounds turned and ran, and the horde quickly pursued.
The masses squeezed into the central road, jostling and shoving like a surging black tide, desperately chasing after the fleeing skeletal hounds.
The ground began to quake, and the roars of the zombies were thunderous.
The skeletal hounds tucked their raised tails and ran desperately.
...
The tide of corpses surged.
The ground trembled, the deafening roars mixed with a foul stench spread, resembling a scene from hell.
Qi Hancai, Wang Chengang, and others, watching the dark mass in the distance, couldn't help but have their expressions change drastically, filled with shock and fear.
The sheer numbers were indeed beyond their expectations.
Any refuge would be instantly overwhelmed by this—whether it was iron fences, walls, machine guns, or cannons.
Nothing could hold back such a vast number of zombies.
There were just too many of them.
Could these skeletons withstand this?
Everyone suddenly felt uncertain.
Wu Heng looked at the approaching horde, his eyes narrowing slightly.
He spoke to the Big-Head Skeleton behind him, "Skeleton Wyverns, take off and drop the iron rounds."
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~!
Five Skeleton Wyverns shot into the sky.
They quickly reached above the horde, their bomb bays opened, and dense iron rounds rained down like a black shower.
Boom, boom, boom~!
In an instant, explosions roared, thick smoke billowing up.
The iron rounds dropped by the five wyverns instantly cleared the entire road.
The ground was covered in severed limbs and flesh, blood flowing everywhere.
More zombies trampled over the blood and flesh, continuing their charge forward.
Once again, filling the entire road.
Screaming, charging.
...
In the rear, Wang Chengang and the others kept scanning the distance while changing magazines.
Wishing they had more hands to replace the magazines faster.
Meanwhile, the two scouting spirits flew back again. Glenda said, "There's a horde flanking from the right, a large number."
"Uncle, there's also a group coming from the left," Xiaoxiao reported.
Wu Heng's eyes narrowed instantly, quickly scanning both sides.
Tall buildings blocked his view, but the sound of running could still be faintly heard.
"There really are Big-Head Zombies."