Chapter 2732 - 1847: New Strain (It’s Getting Hotter and Hotter)

Chapter 2732: Chapter 1847: New Strain (It’s Getting Hotter and Hotter)

After this, the Floating Island continued forward, leaving the original city behind and flying ahead. Duanmu Huai didn’t know where the old nest of the Corrupted Foil was, but he was sure that if he headed towards the worst of the plague, he would definitely find that dead fat otaku.

Of course, apart from that, what Duanmu Huai did the most was to gather survivors and refugees from various cities. Lumiaire had already taken control of the world’s communication satellite network, sending emergency signals indiscriminately to the cities ahead. Whether it was mobile phones, radios, or televisions, they could receive uninterrupted communication 24/7, simply telling survivors to light bonfires and send up thick smoke, so that Duanmu Huai and others could send troops to search for and rescue these survivors.

Although among these survivors, there were all sorts of people, and those who survived in such an apocalypse were often tough, the grand buildings of the Floating Island and the Tribunal, enough to give one megalophobia, would calm them down and clear their heads.

Of course, there were also those who still sought trouble under such circumstances. Some survivors once gathered to protest the Tribunal’s autocracy, completely ignoring their demands and attempting to organize people to leave.

Then Duanmu Huai turned them all into Mecha Servants, proving that the Tribunal was indeed a tyrannical autocracy.

But what could be done about it?

Duanmu Huai knew that when survivors gathered, there would be all sorts of chaos. If Ann were here, she might use some political means to mediate, but Duanmu Huai couldn’t be bothered. He directly imposed strict control. Fortunately, the survivors who initially followed the Tribunal had now completely become its most fanatic believers. Letting them manage these survivors was the best choice.

In the end, might makes right.

But anyway, during this time, everyone was mostly inclined towards order. In terms of food, every city the Tribunal reached, they would raid warehouses, hoarding food and various materials as much as possible. Medea and Alice Phil used magic and alchemy to create a method of collecting and condensing atmospheric moisture, continuously providing water for the entire Floating Island.

Even with the Floating Island, Duanmu Huai still ordered those troops to purify zombie groups on the ground, increasing their combat experience as much as possible.

Everything was going smoothly.

Until Lumiaire walked into the Combat Command Room with a flustered expression.

"Great Judge, I just received images from the reconnaissance servo skull sent to scout the city ahead."

"What’s the matter?"

Seeing Lumiaire’s complicated expression, Duanmu Huai frowned.

"Demons appearing?"

So far, Duanmu Huai has traversed five cities, though they were smaller cities with populations of a few hundred thousand. Ahead, according to local residents, was the first major city with over a million people. So, Duanmu Huai was extremely cautious. Perhaps due to the smaller populations, or some other reasons, no demons appeared in the previous cities. But it was different in this million-people city.

Of course, if there was a shelter here, more people would definitely gather. Yet conversely, there would also be more zombies.

"Uh........."

However, Lumiaire didn’t immediately answer, instead looking hesitantly at Mary and others nearby.

"Great Judge, should you maybe watch it alone?"

"What’s so good about it? Satori wants to see too!"

Lumiaire’s words stirred up Satori instantly, surprising the others.

"Is the situation that dangerous this time? Why should the teacher watch it alone?"

Naruse Mio also expressed her confusion. Previously, they all watched together and discussed countermeasures together, so why should Duanmu Huai watch it alone this time?

"Come, show it, I must see what’s so interesting, can’t hide good stuff, can we?"

"Uh...... alright........."

Since Duanmu Huai said so, Lumiaire couldn’t say much, silently handing over the data pad, which Duanmu Huai accepted and opened.

Soon, the screen flashed with an image, showing blue skies and white clouds, along with vast areas of skyscrapers.

Although the reconnaissance servo skull was still in the air, a series of shouts from the city could vaguely be heard.

"Looks like there are many zombies here."

Upon hearing the shouts, Naruse Mio instantly became serious, while the others nodded, except for Lumiaire who quietly closed her eyes without saying anything.

Then the servo skull’s lens gradually lowered, and the street unfolded before everyone’s eyes. Similar to other places, the street was covered in blood, corpses, and wrecked vehicles. In several areas, there were traces of fire, making everyone tense and solemn upon seeing the scene.

The servo skull flew into the street, heading towards the source of the shouts, the sound becoming clearer.

"Hmm?"

Naruse Mio tilted her head in confusion.

"Why do these zombie cries sound weird? Not quite like those in other places?"

"Uh........."

In contrast, Medea and Alice Phil seemed to have thought of something, their faces blushing deeply, while Mianmu Zuoniao widened her eyes, letting out a light laugh with an "Aha." Ogis, as usual, showed no expression, merely sitting on Duanmu Huai’s shoulder, staring at the screen.

The servo skull turned a corner and arrived on the other side of the street.

Then everyone saw.........

"Wh-what is this!"

Naruse Mio was flabbergasted, her face flushing with embarrassment, unable to speak. Even Medea and Alice Phil were taken aback, while Duanmu Huai himself was speechless.

On the screen, there were people everywhere on the street, but these people weren’t quite like ordinary zombies. At least from the outside, they didn’t seem rotten or injured, appearing almost like normal humans.

Well, almost.

If not for the intense [FBI WARNING] level of restricted scenes all over the street, they indeed resembled ordinary zombies.

"What’s... going on?"

Not only did Naruse Mio go wide-eyed, but even Medea and her group were speechless for a moment, looking out at the scene. Men and women alike seemed to have spiraled into madness, intertwining crazily with each other, like beasts in spring, letting out wild roars, performing all kinds of amateur MP4-level movies.

"Is this... a plague?"

"Obsessive Sin."

Duanmu Huai quickly replied. In fact, as soon as he scanned the streets overflowing with a pink mist-like presence, he swiftly found an answer.

"I figured the other two wouldn’t collaborate without a cost... looks like this is an epidemic virus variant concocted by Obsessed Sin and Corrupted Foil."

"This is a plague?"

"Indeed it is."

At this point, Lumiaire also spoke quietly.

"Actually, most of the city’s facilities are still operational. I’ve gathered some intel from inside..."

As she spoke, Lumiaire raised a hand, and the screen flickered, turning into a news footage with a visibly tense female reporter standing in front of a camera, behind her police cars blocking the streets.

"Viewers, the riots currently sweeping the entire city continue! Police have been deployed and have cordoned off the riot center. But as you can see, on the other side of the barricade behind me, the rioters persistently attempt to breach the line..."

"Bang!"

Just then, a gunshot suddenly rang out, prompting the reporter to hurriedly shift the camera.

"The police have opened fire! But this does not halt the rioters; they continue pushing forward, they’re coming over...!"

With the reporter’s words, the screen showed the "rioters" scrambling over the police. Among them, women shrieked with laughter and pounced directly onto the officers, tearing at their clothes. The officers desperately struggled, yet they were quickly overwhelmed and pinned down. The men also rushed like a pack of wolves, grabbing the reporter.

"No, don’t, let me go, help—!"

However, the reporter’s cries clearly could not stop her plight. Soon, the camera was tossed aside, and the reporter was pinned to the ground, reenacting a live R-1X level scenario.

Seeing this scene, the girls felt somewhat uncomfortable at heart. After all, they were females too; seeing other women treated so roughly made them feel bad inside. Yet Duanmu Huai remained indifferent, merely staring at the camera, watching the reporter being toyed with like a plastic doll by the rioters.

However, after a round, the situation changed.

The reporter who had been crying and pleading for help suddenly went against her usual behavior, starting to actively cater to the rioters, even reversing roles and getting onto them.

"Stop."

With Duanmu Huai’s command, the footage froze.

"Zoom in on that woman’s face."

The frame enlarged, soon showing the reporter’s face covered in a cloudy liquid on screen.

"What’s the matter, Mr. Duanmu, is there a problem?"

Mary stared at the screen and inquired.

"Her eyes have changed color."

Duanmu Huai pointed at the reporter’s eyes, which had turned red, appearing crazed as if she had lost her senses.

"Rewind the footage to earlier, let us see those infected again."

Lumiaire switched back to the footage, and soon everyone saw that on the street, regardless of men, women, or even dogs wagging tails nearby, the eyes were red.

"...This city’s plague appears different from other places?"

"This place seems to be Obsessed Sin’s personal reserve. So that’s it, using this method, huh...?"

Duanmu Huai nodded; for Obsessed Sin, this seemed somewhat crude.

But from Corrupted Foil’s perspective, perhaps it wasn’t wrong.

"What do we do next?"

The girls exchanged glances; if it was merely ordinary zombies, they wouldn’t even bat an eye.

But these bizarre circumstances...

"Should we just destroy the city from afar?"

Facing Lorena’s suggestion, Duanmu Huai shook his head.

"No, like before. Gather the other team members, inform them of the situation, have them go into the city to cleanse the zombies."

"Eh? Seriously?"

"Of course."

At this point, Duanmu Huai revealed a peculiar smile.

"That makes it interesting, doesn’t it? I genuinely want to see how those folks will react to this scenario."