Chapter 442: Testing Abilities
Indeed, the missing people were kidnapped by survivors from another base.
From their demands, it seems they already know some of the situation here.
But asking for 500 guns?
It makes one wonder if they truly have 500 people.
Given the current circumstances, 500 people would be a significant burden.
"Did they mention which shelter they're from?" asked Qi Hancai sternly.
The radio operator shook her head. "No, they just stated their demands and the meeting location, then cut off contact."
"Where is the exchange supposed to happen?"
"Under a highway overpass on Anren Street," she replied.
Qi Hancai nodded. "Keep monitoring the radio. Notify me immediately if there's any new information."
"Understood, Sister Qi."
The two walked out of the room.
Qi Hancai's face was dark as she softly apologized, "I'm sorry. I didn't expect this to happen."
Wu Heng glanced at her and simply nodded. "Have the convoy prepared. Let's rescue our people first and deal with the rest later."
In the past, Qi Hancai had managed the base fairly well.
This time, it's just an accident.
Once the people are rescued, being more cautious in the future should suffice.
"Should we prepare the food and ammunition they requested?"
"No need, just have the convoy ready," Wu Heng instructed directly.
Qi Hancai nodded and picked up her walkie-talkie to issue instructions.
Soon, the convoy arrived at the gate.
Wu Heng also summoned a large skeleton army, heading to the specified location together.
...…
The route taken by the convoy.
Was through previously cleared areas.
According to the map, they drove about four minutes.
Gradually entering a branch road.
Qi Hancai said, "Turn this corner, and we'll be on Anren Street. Do you want the entire skeleton army to move closer?"
Wu Heng glanced at the map. "Have the other vehicles stop here. Let's go check out the situation ourselves."
"Could it be dangerous?" Qi Hancai asked, somewhat worried.
"Let's go take a look first. We'll be fine as long as we don't get out of the car," Wu Heng replied.
Two specters were scouting the area nearby.
Especially Xiaoxiao, whose Spirit Vision ability could easily distinguish between zombies and living beings.
If there was an ambush or any danger, they would detect it immediately.
"Alright!" Qi Hancai spoke into her walkie-talkie, relaying the instructions.
Wu Heng also commanded Big Head Skeleton to have the skeleton army stand by.
Once preparations were complete,
Qi Hancai drove the truck around the corner toward the exchange site.
After traveling some distance,
Qi Hancai said, "There's an overpass ahead. They're on top of it."
Through the windshield, they could see the overpass in the distance.
And figures standing on it, looking this way.
They weren't zombies but survivors peering down at them.
"They're clever, staying above while we're below," Wu Heng remarked. "Slow down and proceed cautiously."
...…
On the overpass.
More than thirty scavenger-like individuals, men and women, were gathered there.
Over a dozen of them wore bulletproof vests and carried rifles, while the others were armed with homemade armor, spears, and machetes, fully equipped.
One person looked into the distance and shouted, "They're here, just one vehicle, and no bone frames."
The rest immediately gathered around.
They stared into the distance.
Sure enough, they saw a truck, fortified like an iron tank, approaching.
"It's the car from that station group. They're such idiots, actually bringing food to exchange for hostages."
"If they're willing to trade, they must not lack supplies. We should've asked for more."
"Not too much. If it's excessive, they won't come."
The group's eyes gleamed as they whispered among themselves.
The man in the middle, smoking a cigarette, said, "Drop the hostages down."
Two people squatted down and pushed three men tied with ropes over the railing.
The ropes tightened, leaving them dangling halfway under the bridge.
Below the overpass,
Several zombies, attracted by the noise, gathered and looked up, clawing futilely at the suspended figures.
"Boss, if they give us the food and guns, are we letting them go?" someone asked.
The man addressed as the boss took a deep drag from his cigarette. "Let them go? If they return and report us, we're all dead."
He glanced to the side. "Have the gunmen hide. When the truck gets close, open fire and kill them."
The others' expressions hardened, and they nodded in agreement.
"Understood."
The group dispersed, crouching behind the overpass's railing.
Gradually,
the truck slowed and came to a stop in the distance.
It didn't approach as expected.
"Damn, why did they stop there?"
"Maybe they want us to come down."
The boss cursed, "Only an idiot would go down to talk. Who knows if the truck is full of those skeleton things? We'll just wait. They won't let their people freeze to death hanging there."
The others stayed hidden, taking no action.
...…
In the truck.
The scene ahead was clear to both of them.
Their three men were dangling under the overpass. Qi Hancai's face darkened further.
It was unclear if they were alive or dead.
But leaving them hanging there would surely result in their death by freezing.
Moreover, the group's stance made it evident they had no intention of completing the exchange.
The positions alone were disadvantageous.
They were above, with a clear advantage for attacking, making retaliation difficult.
Unless they relied on the skeleton wyvern.
The skeleton army would need to take a long detour to find an entry point onto the overpass.
"What do we do? They came prepared," Qi Hancai asked.
"No rush, let's wait a bit," Wu Heng replied.
Qi Hancai said no more, focusing on the front, ready to notify Wu Heng of any movements.
After a while.
Two scouting specters returned.
Merging into Wu Heng, they shared the images of the overpass and snippets of the plan to shoot them upon approach.
Their opponents had guns, which was surprising.
Twelve gunmen in total, with the rest wielding melee weapons.
Twelve vehicles, all modified to some degree.
After taking everything in,
he released the specters again.
Wu Heng said, "Time to test their abilities. Kill them all."
Glenda flew out immediately, followed by Xiaoxiao heading toward the overpass.
Qi Hancai, still watching, thought Wu Heng was addressing her. "What? You want me to go kill them?"
"Not you. You'll see soon enough," Wu Heng replied.
"Should I call in the skeletons?" Qi Hancai asked.
"Not yet."
Qi Hancai fell silent, waiting.
...…
On the overpass.
The truck remained motionless, unsettling the people above.
Hiding in the cold wind, many began shivering.
They muttered quietly, wondering what the truck's occupants were doing.
They neither approached nor retreated.
Not even someone to negotiate or confirm identities.
Even if someone stepped out to communicate and confirm each other's identity, it would have been better.
But just parking there, what does that mean?
At this moment.
A man with dyed yellow hair suddenly stood up from behind the cover.
His abrupt movement startled his nearby companions.
"Damn, what are you standing up for?"
Yellow Hair stiffly took two steps forward, his face showing terror, "I... it's not me, my body's not under my control."
Bang~!
After finishing his sentence, he slammed his head into the railing. Blood splattered everywhere, and his entire body collapsed to the ground.
The sudden scene left everyone frozen in place.
Immediately afterward, the rifle on Yellow Hair's body floated into the air.
The barrel aimed at someone.
In the horrified gaze of the target, a click was heard, the safety was disengaged, and the trigger was pulled.
Bang~!
The gunshot echoed loudly, and the target's head exploded instantly, his body falling backward.
The remaining people quickly reacted, their faces filled with even more terror.
The leader, with a cigarette in his mouth, immediately shouted, "It's an invisible ability user! Shoot towards the gun's position. Don't hit our own people!"
Bang bang bang~!
A barrage of bullets was fired chaotically.
However, the bullets aimed at the 'invisible ability user' seemed to hit nothing but air. There was no response, nor the expected blood splatter.
Instead, the stray bullets ended up hitting quite a few of their own.
Meanwhile, the floating rifle resumed shooting, killing the surrounding enemies.
The aim wasn't precise, but it didn't matter since the rifle floated close and fired point-blank.
"Damn it, what the hell is this?" the leader cursed, crouching and dashing towards a nearby pickup truck.
He slammed the car door shut and started the engine.
"What kind of people have I provoked?"
They even have the ability to control guns out of thin air.
How is this even possible to fight?
As the vehicle started moving and was about to drive away.
Suddenly, he felt a chilling sensation seep into his body, and then his limbs lost all control.
His neck began to twist, and with a cracking sound, it turned completely backward.
The elevated bridge fell silent.
Two semi-transparent ghosts appeared in mid-air.
Xiaoxiao exclaimed in awe, "Wow, Auntie, you're so powerful now!"
Glenda smiled and said, "It's just the new ability from yesterday. It improved the psychokinesis effect."
"So cool! Like a superhero. Next time, I want this ability too."
"Sure! We'll ask Wu Heng to get one for you then."
"Okay," Xiaoxiao nodded.
Glenda glanced around and said, "Xiaoxiao, go get Wu Heng. It's all done here."
"Got it," Xiaoxiao replied and flew downward.
...…
In the truck.
From the lower angle, they could faintly see the scene on the bridge above.
When they witnessed the rifle floating and killing everyone around, Qi Hancai couldn't believe her eyes.
She had considered how this battle would be resolved.
After all, given the current strength of the base, taking down these people wasn't a challenge at all.
But she never expected the method to be letting a gun kill people by itself.
"Wh-what's going on?"
Qi Hancai's eyes widened as she turned to ask.