Sylas and Dylan dealt with several other mutated birds and a few mutated bats until the break of dawn. After switching with other patrol soldiers, Sylas and Dylan went to have breakfast and headed straight towards the training hall.
After a few hours, Serena, along with Doctor Farlo and Major Kyle, entered the training hall.
Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to Serena. After all, she had absorbed the stone, and now everyone was curious about the results.
Doctor Farlo explained the results of Serena's test to them.
"The test results are all normal. We just need to determine how long she can use the ability and the recovery time now," Doctor Farlo said.
Hearing Doctor Farlo's words, all of them breathed a sigh of relief.
After a few hours, Major Kyle said, "The ability can be used continuously for forty-five minutes, which is almost double. Last time, it was only twenty-five minutes. The recovery time has been reduced from fifty-eight minutes to thirty minutes."
"That stone is impressive," Dylan said with a whistle.
Everyone looked at Serena enviously.
Sylas was also surprised to hear the results. To think that one stone could elevate strength two-fold was impressive. But it also meant that the fight for this stone among fellow ability users would be fierce.
"We can call this stone an energy stone, as it contains energy," Doctor Farlo said.
"Let's continue with the training. After two days, we will head out again to collect supplies," Major Kyle said.
Two days later, the group was once again on the road.
"This time, apart from zombies, we have to be careful of mutated plants and animals. Everyone should be careful," Major Kyle said.
This time, they were heading towards another convenience store.
On the way, they dealt with zombies blocking the roads.
"We are about to reach the destination," Major Kyle said.
Sylas scanned the surroundings from the car window, looking for any possible threats.
As they were reaching the destination, they suddenly heard the sound of dogs barking, and the car immediately braked.
Bark, bark, bark!
Screech!
"WHAT THE…!!!" Shaun cursed as he suddenly braked the car.
Those inside the car were immediately thrown forward due to inertia but quickly stabilized with quick reflexes. They didn't even get the time to curse because, through the windshield, they saw a group of dogs blocking the road and barking at the cars.
What caught their attention the most was the size of the dogs. The dogs were a meter tall, with muscles bulging out. They barked at the cars with sharp teeth, saliva dripping from their mouths, and their eyes glowing red.
"Mutated dogs," Major Kyle uttered in a low and hoarse voice.
"Stray dogs…They mutated," Sylas said as he got out of the car.
Everyone got out of the car, ready to fight.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!!
The soldiers started shooting down the dogs.
The dogs were strong and fast. They barked furiously and charged toward them, baring their teeth.
Green vines shot out from Serena's hand, and the vines quickly wove together into a net.
Some dogs were caught in the net, and the vines coiled around their necks, strangling them.
With a wave of his hand, Sylas sent out spatial blades, severing the heads of the mutated dogs.
Wave after wave of mutated dogs started to arrive, attacking them. The number was overwhelming.
"The sounds of our fighting are attracting nearby zombies. We have to be quick," Major Kyle said as he sent out fireballs from his palms, attacking the mutated dogs.
The mutated dogs bared their sharp fangs as they attacked them.
Sylas sent out another wave of spatial attacks and immediately pivoted, raising his hands to block another attack. The mutated dog was just about to bite Sylas's arm when it felt an invisible barrier around him. Sylas could utilize his spatial ability to form a barrier around himself. He immediately severed its neck, somersaulted away, and continued to fight the mutated dogs while also dealing with zombies.
The mutated dogs started howling when they saw many of their kind falling.
"It's calling for help," Dylan said, punching away a mutated dog with his fist.
"Let's finish them off quickly before their help arrives," Major Kyle said.
As soon as Major Kyle's words fell, everyone moved more decisively. The soldiers stood in formation and fired the bullets relentlessly at the mutated dogs' heads. Blood splattered onto the road, mixing with the corpses of zombies dying it red.
More and more zombies staggered out from nearby alleys, drawn by the sounds of gunfire and the howls of the mutated dogs. Their movements were slow, but their numbers were steadily increasing.
"There are zombies coming from the left!" one of the soldiers shouted in an urgent tone.
"I'll handle them," Serena said calmly. She narrowed her eyes, and more green vines shot out from her hands. The vines wrapped tightly around the zombies' legs and torsos. With a sharp pull, the vines snapped their necks or crushed their bodies against the pavement.
Sylas did not stop moving. His figure nimbly weaved across the battlefield as spatial blades flashed through the air. Heads, limbs, and bodies fell one after another wherever he passed.
Dylan charged straight into the fray, his fists smashing into the mutated dogs with explosive force. Each punch landed like a hammer, sending dogs flying and crashing into abandoned cars or walls. Bones cracked, and blood sprayed across the surroundings.
The howling of the mutated dogs became louder and more desperate.
"They're getting more agitated," Major Kyle said with a grim expression. Flames erupted from his hands, engulfing the mutated dogs and zombies.
Despite their strength, the mutated dogs began to thin in number. One by one, they fell under the combined assault of abilities, bullets, and brute force.
However, just as they thought the situation was under control, a deep and ferocious growl echoed from behind the buildings ahead.
Everyone's expression changed.
"That doesn't sound like an ordinary dog," Dylan said, wiping blood off his face.
Sylas narrowed his eyes.