Chapter 433: Taking the Initiative

The sudden appearance of the grotesque, pale face on the screen startled everyone.

The more timid among them screamed instinctively, while Zhou Ke’er and Yang Siyah clung to Zhang Yi, pressing against him as if seeking shelter from their fear.

This wasn’t a horror movie—it was a living nightmare.

The video abruptly cut out, leaving the screen filled with static.

Even Zhang Yi flinched momentarily. Not out of fear, but because the face had appeared so unexpectedly.

“We’ve been discovered,” he said calmly.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, a smile spread across his face. “But this also proves we were right. There is an intelligent entity down there!”

“That face… it has to be the Zombie King.”

“If we don’t kill it, the threat to the Shelter will never end.”

“How do we kill the Zombie King?” Fatty Xu asked nervously.

“The subway is swarming with zombies. Even if we go in fully armed, it’ll take forever to clear them out!”

Yang Xinxin added, “And with the subway tunnels connecting to all parts of Tianhai City, the Zombie King could escape the moment it senses danger.”

Zhang Yi folded his arms, his expression turning serious. “If we act, we need to ensure it’s decisive and thorough. The zombies may be numerous, but their combat strength is limited. If we commit, we can take them down.”

“But we must prevent the Zombie King from escaping. That’s the priority.”

Liang Yue suggested, “We could start by targeting Songzhuang’s subway tunnel. If we blow it up, it would block their retreat.”

“Our goal is to kill the Zombie King. As long as it can’t flee, the other zombies are manageable.”

Uncle You chuckled, arms crossed. “Zhang Yi, you decide the plan. This fight is unavoidable anyway.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Avoiding this battle wasn’t an option.

If they didn’t act now, the zombies would only grow smarter, learning their weaknesses and mounting relentless attacks.

No matter how sturdy their Shelter was, it couldn’t withstand endless assaults.

Zhang Yi took a deep breath and leaned back on the sofa, contemplating the feasibility of their options.

After a while, he made his decision. “Get ready. We move tomorrow.”

Delaying even one day could allow the Zombie King to evolve further. It was better to strike while it was still growing.

This mission would involve the usual core team of five.

They prepared their gear—ammo, gas masks, and the energy-enhanced food Yang Siyah had been diligently crafting.

These resources would sustain them through prolonged combat in the tunnels, potentially lasting up to a week.

Everyone agreed without hesitation. None wanted to spend every day defending against zombie waves.

Still, Fatty Xu voiced his concern. “Boss, isn’t this a bit rushed? It doesn’t seem like your usual style.”

Zhang Yi was known for his meticulous planning, and this sudden urgency felt uncharacteristic.

“Are we really ready for what’s down there? What if we’ve underestimated the zombies’ strength?”

Fatty Xu, cautious to a fault, often worried more than Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi smiled reassuringly, patting Fatty Xu on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t gamble with everyone’s lives.”

“I’ve prepared thoroughly. You’ll see soon enough.”

Seeing the confidence in Zhang Yi’s eyes—calm and unwavering—Fatty Xu relaxed a little. “Alright, Boss, but don’t keep us in suspense. What’s the big plan?”

“You just need to trust me,” Zhang Yi replied, still smiling. “Even if things go south, I’ll get us out safely.”

His cryptic assurance puzzled the group, but Liang Yue seemed to catch on.

She tilted her head and studied Zhang Yi before nodding. “Got it. If that’s the case, we’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Yang Siyah stood up from the sofa. “I’ll go make more food for the trip.”

“Perfect,” Zhang Yi said. “The more, the better.”

Thanks to Yang Siyah’s ability to imbue food with energy-restoring properties, they had an ample supply. Stored in Zhang Yi’s Spatial Storage, the food retained its potency indefinitely.

This was one of the reasons Zhang Yi felt confident leading a team deep into the subway tunnels.

While Zhang Yi’s group prepared for their offensive, the situation for other factions worsened.

The Zombie King’s influence allowed the hordes to learn and evolve at an alarming rate.

Each successive attack became more precise and strategic, tailored to exploit the weaknesses of their targets.

Unlike Zhang Yi’s elite, small-scale team, the Western Alliance had vast numbers to defend—soldiers, workers, and slaves—and sprawling above-ground infrastructure to protect.

Their reliance on factories, refineries, and port facilities made retreating to underground shelters impractical.

Abandoning those resources would mean losing their standing in Tianhai City’s power struggle.

Thus, they fought desperately, refusing to yield.

But as the zombies adapted, their defenses became increasingly ineffective.

Barriers that initially held the hordes back now failed as the zombies learned to climb walls and circumvent obstacles.

Frost-hardened bodies rendered wire fences and bullets ineffective, forcing them to rely on blunt weapons and heavy artillery to fend off the attacks.

Yet even heavy weaponry and Superhumans could only do so much against the seemingly endless tide.

After barely repelling another wave, Xiao Honglian, Xing Tian, and Wei Dinghai convened, their exhaustion evident.

They couldn’t afford to lose their vital facilities, yet they were clearly losing ground.

“These zombies aren’t just mindless corpses,” Xiao Honglian said, her fiery temperament flaring. “They’re coordinated—like an army or a swarm.”

Xing Tian nodded grimly. “We need a new strategy. If this keeps up, we’ll be bled dry.”

“They’re learning and adapting. It’s not normal.”

“They’re evolving,” Wei Dinghai said, his expression dark. “We may not have much time before they completely overwhelm us.”

Their situation had grown dire, and they all realized one chilling truth:

The zombies weren’t just a mindless plague. They were becoming something far more dangerous.

Author's Note