Chapter 141: The Mutant Animal Attack

Early the next morning, Qin Yu was awakened by Xue Qi’s loud voice.

“Boss! There are many mutated animals outside the base! They’re preparing to attack!” Xue Qi pounded on the door, shouting.

Qin Yu opened her eyes but found that Qing Li was no longer in the room. She reached out beside her and felt only cold emptiness. Qin Yu realized Qing Li must have gotten up early or perhaps hadn’t slept all night.

She rose and opened the door. Seeing Xue Qi’s anxious expression, she said, “Brother Li has already gotten up. Go check the basement to see if he’s there.”

Xue Qi acknowledged her with a “Yes” and hurried off. Qin Yu understood this was no trivial matter. She quickly tidied herself, grabbed a bite to eat, and headed to the base’s entrance.

By then, Qing Li was already standing atop the tall building at the base’s gate. Seeing Qin Yu arrive, he beckoned her over with a wave.

Qin Yu walked briskly to his side and whispered, “Brother Li, what’s going on with these mutated animals?”

Before them stretched a vast clearing where the mutated animals stood in orderly ranks. Smaller birds perched atop larger mammals, reptiles positioned themselves ahead of the mammals, the smaller ones stood in front, the bigger ones behind—a sea of creatures as far as the eye could see.

The sight sent chills through everyone. Mutated animals were supposed to be mindless, like zombies, driven only by the instinct of hunger. Yet now, they stood orderly, defying their nature, and made no move to attack. This unnerved the people in the base, planting seeds of dread.

Qing Li looked at the overwhelming horde and, hearing Qin Yu’s question, said quietly, “I fear a powerful mutated beast is controlling them.”

Qin Yu nodded inwardly. “So what now? Should we strike?”

“No, let’s observe first. I’m curious why that mutated beast isn’t launching a surprise attack but is instead waiting,” Qing Li replied in a low voice.

If the fourth-tier lion were here, Tao would surely have said, “I’m giving you time! A fair fight! Unlike you humans who only know how to launch sneak attacks!”

But sadly, the lion was absent, and Qing Li remained unaware of the truth. He speculated whether someone controlled the mutated beast king, holding back the attack to negotiate or to obtain something within the base.

Putting aside Qing Li’s conspiratorial thoughts, others in the base gazed at the creatures outside with varied emotions—fear, determination, ambition—each reacting differently to the same crisis.

Time slowly passed as the sun rose from the east to directly overhead, scorching the earth. It was summer, and though humanity’s physical strength had greatly increased after the apocalypse, so had the harshness of the environment.

Xue Qi wiped sweat from his brow and muttered to Feng Ke beside him, “What’s with those mutated animals? They’re not moving. Are they going to attack or not? I’m itching to fight!”

Feng Ke glanced at Qing Li, who stood motionless, then replied, “Hold on! The boss hasn’t said anything yet!”

Xue Qi rolled his eyes at Feng Ke, glanced again at Qing Li, grumbled a few more words, then fell silent.

Meanwhile, inside the base, the atmosphere was lively. Groups of three or five whispered among themselves.

“What do you think is going on with those mutated animals?”

“I think a powerful mutated beast is controlling them, keeping them in check.”

“But why hold back? Wouldn’t a sneak attack be better?”

“Maybe that beast wants to wear down our patience.”

“Could be. Or perhaps that mutated beast’s lover is inside our base, and it’s waiting for its beloved to come find it!”

“Come on! What lover? You really said that? I think you’re the one with a lover, not that beast.”

“Heh, do you guys know who my lover is?”

“Spill it! Who?”

“It’s—”

And so their conversation veered off into playful banter.

Qin Yu glanced at the blazing sun, feeling a prick of irritation from the heat.

Qing Li wiped the thin sweat from her forehead and said, “You should go back to the villa and rest. It’s cooler there. I’ll stay here.”

Qin Yu shook her head. “I’ll stay with you.”

Seeing her pursed lips, Qing Li knew no words would persuade her otherwise. So he led her to a shaded spot, though its vantage point was less than ideal. Still, for her sake, it would have to do.

As the stifling heat stirred unrest within the base, the mutated animals outside remained steadfast, unmoving.

Finally, a burly man lost patience. He shouted and, before anyone could react, hurled a large fireball toward the creatures beyond the gate.

The fireball scorched some of the smaller mutated animals near the base entrance.

At once, the creatures stirred! They began their assault on the base.

Inside, the people snapped to attention and launched their counterattack.

It all happened in an instant. Qing Li sensed the mutated animals’ fury, grabbed Qin Yu, and returned to their spot. To Xue Qi, who stood guard nearby, he ordered, “Battle!”

Xue Qi’s eyes lit up. He grabbed Feng Ke, and the two plunged into the fray.

At first, everyone was exhilarated. The military had announced that those who killed the most mutated animals would be rewarded. Though the specifics were unstated, a military promise was never empty.

Yet, with each slain mutated animal, new ones appeared to take their place, gradually eroding their enthusiasm.

Despite their combined efforts, the mutated beasts pressed forward relentlessly. Most terrifyingly, the dead—except for those burnt or frozen—vanished without a trace.

This baffled everyone.

Only when someone spotted a corpse of a mutated animal they had killed among the newcomers was the mystery solved.

But this revelation only deepened their dread—those creatures were not truly dying. Like monsters in a game with infinite respawns, they were fighting an enemy that could never be permanently defeated.