Chapter 146 - 107: Barrett and the Collaboration

Chapter 146: Chapter 107: Barrett and the Collaboration

In the following days, Xu Mo and the other fortress defenders paid extra close attention to the activity below their positions.

The zombies were no longer shambling about in complete disarray as they had before. Although their movements remained stiff, slow, and staggering, a closer look revealed a disturbing centripetal tendency. It was as if they were being drawn by an invisible force, slowly and steadily converging on the isolated fortresses from all directions.

Many of the zombies were even using their rotting bodies to unconsciously and continuously rub and scratch at the cold, solid concrete foundations of the fortresses.

"This isn’t right. It’s like they’ve singled us out," Old Liu from B-04 said over the radio, his voice tinged with irritation.

"Does Command know about this? Shouldn’t we report it?" someone suggested.

Soon, a consensus was reached. The Jiang City representative stationed in Sector A compiled and submitted a report on the abnormal zombie gatherings and changes in behavior patterns that were occurring simultaneously at multiple fortresses.

The wait for a reply wasn’t long. Command’s response came through on an encrypted channel, its tone as formal and steady as ever:

"Command has received reports from all fortresses. The phenomenon of zombie gatherings has been logged. There is no need for excessive alarm. All forward fortresses were constructed using high-strength, corrosion-resistant composite materials and reinforced concrete structures. The connection points between the base and the ground have been specially reinforced and sealed. Their defensive standard was, in theory, designed to withstand indirect fire from heavy artillery. Even if a Strength Type mutant were to continuously attack the same spot, it would take an extremely long time to potentially cause structural damage. The current scratching behavior of the zombies cannot pose a substantial threat to the main structure of the fortresses. Repeat: the main structure of the fortresses is secure. Please maintain observation and continue your mission."

The response was reasonable, and Xu Mo had already been confident this would be the case. When Jiang City planned and built these long-term observation posts, they must have considered all sorts of extreme scenarios, including zombie sieges and mutant attacks. The fortress’s inverted trapezoid structure—narrow at the base and wide at the top—was specifically designed to enhance stability and defend against frontal assaults. The strength of the foundation was beyond question. The zombies’ scratching sounded frightening, but in reality, it was like a gnat trying to bite an elephant—utterly futile.

Over the radio channel, after hearing the reply, everyone responded with things like "Roger," "Understood," and "That’s a relief." The tense atmosphere seemed to ease a little.

However, in the days that followed, Xu Mo keenly noticed a subtle shift in the atmosphere of the channel’s idle chatter. People still talked, but the topics now deliberately or unconsciously avoided the situation with the zombies gathering below. Instead, they talked more about the weather, reminisced about past culinary delights, or delved into deep discussions about a particular game level, as if the disturbing scene from before had never happened.

It was a subconscious avoidance, a sort of taboo against speaking of the potential threat. Everyone knew that discussing it wouldn’t change the situation and would only heighten their own anxiety.

Xu Mo understood this mentality. It was a normal human reaction when faced with a threat that couldn’t be immediately resolved—to temporarily shelve it and use other things as a distraction. He knew that with a little more time, once everyone confirmed that the zombies truly couldn’t cause any substantial damage to the fortresses, this invisible tension would naturally dissipate.

But Xu Mo himself couldn’t completely shift his focus. Command’s reply had soothed their concerns about the fortress’s security, but it couldn’t erase another layer of worry that had taken root in his mind from reading the official zombie data files.

Level 2 Zombies, Zombie Leaders, Mind Control...

Level 3 Zombies, rudimentary intelligence...

The higher-level zombies described in the official files weighed on his mind like a heavy stone. His current weapons—the reliable AK-47 for medium to close range and the AWM sniper rifle, which excelled at precisely eliminating Level 1 zombies—were effective for now. But what if he had to face Level 2 or even Level 3 Zombies, with their stronger defenses and potentially strange Superpowers? Would the AWM’s ammunition still be enough for a one-shot kill? He needed more firepower. A heavy sniper weapon capable of establishing absolute deterrence from a great distance and effectively destroying high-value targets.

This was something he could choose not to use, but he couldn’t be caught without it when he needed it.

Xu Mo’s thoughts quickly locked onto a target: a large-caliber anti-materiel sniper rifle. And within that category, one thunderous name instantly filled his mind: the Barrett M82A1.

In the world he came from, this heavy special-application sniper rifle, developed by the America Barrett Corporation, was practically synonymous with the term "heavy sniper." Its 12.7x99mm NATO large-caliber ammunition gave it unparalleled power. It wasn’t just used for precision kills against personnel; its primary design purpose was anti-materiel—destroying parked enemy aircraft, radar equipment, Ammunition Storage, light armored vehicles, and more.

Its effective range far exceeded 1,500 meters, and its high-magnification scope made ultra-long-range precision strikes possible. Its immense kinetic energy could even penetrate ordinary brick walls and concrete cover, making it a true "battlefield ripper."

’If I can just get my hands on a Barrett...’ A flicker of longing flashed in Xu Mo’s eyes. With it, he would have much more confidence, even if he were to encounter an advanced, thick-skinned Strength Zombie or need to destroy a key target from a distance.