Chapter 142 - 141: To Trick, To Sneak Attack

Chapter 142: Chapter 141: To Trick, To Sneak Attack

Equip Invisibility Crystal.

At Lin Fan’s thought, the energy curtain appeared again. This time, it met no resistance and closed successfully, cloaking him completely.

’Looks like that monster’s influence has a time limit...’

Lin Fan was overjoyed. This increased the success rate of his sneak attack by another twenty percent.

「An hour had passed.」

His injuries had fully healed, and both his Life Value and energy were back to full.

The dark clouds outside had scattered somewhat. Although the moonlight was still faint, it was now possible to make out some of the shadows within the room.

Spear in hand, Lin Fan felt his way to the opposite window and cautiously peeked out...

The once densely packed horde of corpses had scattered significantly and was no longer shoulder-to-shoulder.

The bright red health bars were no longer jammed together so densely, but the view from the street below to the distant park still resembled a glowing red carpet strewn with fallen leaves, seemingly rolled out to welcome someone.

Ten thousand...

Lin Fan had already given up on counting. Judging by the concentration and distribution of the health bars, at least several thousand zombies were gathered here.

’If Chu Zhaozhao and the others could kill them all, imagine how much Life Value they’d get.’

’But that was just wishful thinking. Tossing his small group down there wouldn’t even make a ripple.’

’No wonder those zombies never came back after I led them away last time. Turns out they were all here for a team-building event.’

Moreover, Lin Fan noticed that the zombies with [300] Life Value and [500] Life Value had separated into distinct groups.

The zombies with [500] Life Value were all gathering in the direction of the park, while the regular zombies roamed the perimeter. The reason was unclear.

He couldn’t see any more details...

Lin Fan stared into the distant darkness. The trees and weeds set ablaze by the explosion had long since died out; at this distance, he wouldn’t see so much as a spark.

The park itself was pitch-black. The deep pit was completely swallowed by the darkness; all he could see were the zombies’ health bars.

Using Invisibility Potion...

With a thought, the world was once again washed in that withered-yellow hue, and the deep pit reemerged from the darkness...

The two thick branches were no longer searching for him. They had retracted to a position above the pit and were simply raised high, their purpose unclear.

From hundreds of meters away, the bucket-thick branches looked like two thin threads arcing high into the sky, their tips drooping naturally to the sides...

It looked exactly like a southern cockroach lying on its back in the pit.

Except this cockroach was absurdly large. It must have come from somewhere even *further* south.

Lin Fan stood at the window, holding his breath and observing closely. The two "antennae" weren’t completely still.

Their upper halves trembled slowly and rhythmically against the sky. Occasionally, a faint phosphorescence seemed to glide from their base toward their tips, suffusing them with an unsettling "vitality."

’Perfect...’

Seeing the branches weren’t waiting for him right outside, Lin Fan carefully checked the status of his Invisibility Crystal. After confirming it was active, he crept downstairs and blended back into the horde on the street.

The combined effects of the Invisibility Potion and the Invisibility Crystal rendered him completely invisible to the ordinary zombies. Building on his earlier experience, Lin Fan moved like a fish in water. He put away his spear and weaved nimbly through the horde, crossing the wide road in no time and arriving back in front of the armored vehicle.

The steel behemoth had been completely destroyed by a vicious blow from the branch. The rear hatch was blasted wide open and hung crookedly off the back.

Lin Fan peered inside through the hatch. In his withered-yellow vision, every bloodstain appeared pitch-black. Just as he’d expected, the entire cabin was bathed in that same dark color.

There were four bodies inside: two slumped over in their seats, one draped across the driver’s seat, and one lying on the floor with a bloody hole in his forehead.

A handgun lay beside him.

Seeing the gun, Lin Fan squeezed through the gap in the hatch and picked it up.

It was cold and heavy in his hand. To someone like Lin Fan, who had never held a real gun, the solid, metallic feel of this hunk of iron felt exceptionally real.

He wasn’t a gun enthusiast and didn’t know the specific model, but he’d played with toy guns before. He pressed a button, and the magazine slid out.

He saw there were three rounds left in the magazine and pushed it back in. Then, he picked up a blood-soaked nylon belt with a holster from the floor near the hatch and slid the handgun into its rightful place.

There were two rifles on the floor, but both were out of ammunition. A thorough search revealed no grenades or anything of the sort, so he returned to the hatch and looked down at the pool of blood on the floor.

From the belt’s location, it clearly belonged to the "old man." Perhaps he wasn’t actually old, but he was a soldier, nonetheless.

"Watch over me. I’m going to go hit that thing for you..."

He muttered this to himself, one hand resting on the holster, his fingers touching the sticky flesh and blood as if it still held the dead soldier’s warmth.

Then, without a backward glance, he slipped out of the armored vehicle and continued his stealthy approach toward the park’s perimeter wall.

’It was no surprise he hadn’t found any explosives. After all, if there had been a single grenade left in the vehicle, he probably would never have had the chance to see that old man.’

Still, finding a handgun was a definite score.

’After all, the old man had said that last gunshot was for an "old buddy." Lin Fan had assumed the gun would be empty, but to his surprise, it still had three rounds.’

’Counting the one that had been fired and the one that was in the chamber, that made five rounds in total.’

’One for each of the five people in the vehicle, including himself.’

Lin Fan’s gaze swept over the stiff corpses. In his withered-yellow vision, he couldn’t make out their expressions.

But he could imagine the scene of their final moments.

No chaos, no struggle—just a calm, deliberate end.

’He sent his comrades off first, saving the final, most painful act for himself.’

’What a fearsome and respectable man.’

Bypassing one 500-Life Value zombie after another, Lin Fan crossed the collapsed perimeter wall and entered the park.

This time, Lin Fan observed the 500-Life Value zombies more carefully. He got the distinct impression they were more perceptive.

Their movements were more purposeful. They would occasionally snap their heads around, their vacant eyes "sweeping" their surroundings. At first, their sudden movements nearly startled him into drawing his spear.

Eventually, however, he grew accustomed to it. He suppressed his breathing and heartbeat to the barest minimum, planting each footstep with deliberate care. He was like a shadow, melting silently into this land of death.

’Lin Fan understood the saying "curiosity killed the cat." But this wasn’t just about curiosity. These questions were directly tied to the rules of this new world—to the daily survival and every decision made by him and the people who depended on him.’

Even though he couldn’t see the monster’s health bar, he had never forgotten the feeling from before—that sharp sensation, like a steel awl piercing the back of his skull.

’Compared to that moment, the creature seemed much weaker now. So weak, in fact, that an idea began to form in Lin Fan’s mind: could he kick it while it was down and finish it off?’

’The Art of War taught to attack the enemy’s strategy. Lin Fan’s interpretation was more direct: if the enemy is trying to do something, just screw them over. Distract them. Don’t let them finish.’

This had always been his strategic philosophy.

Whatever this giant cockroach was up to down there, he had an opportunity. It was just as the old man had said: Find a way to hit it hard!

Lin Fan’s hand went to the gun at his waist, his heart pounding faster and faster.

’I’m here to carry out your last wish. You’d better be watching over me!’