Free Web NovelChapter 231: Chapter 219: The Changes in Area 005
"You know what’s good for you!" Flora Bloom still remembered the tiny wound the Golden Crow had inflicted on her fingertip when they were under the sea. If not for her spiritual water, she would have probably been burned to a pile of ashes.
Flora Bloom picked the Golden Crow back up in her hand. "Don’t be alarmed, everyone. This is indeed the Divine Beast, the Golden Crow. But whether it’s the same one from the myths, I have no idea."
"You. You’re not allowed to hurt anyone around me, you hear? Or I’ll throw you back into the sea, understand?"
The Golden Crow, knowing what was good for it, whimpered and shrank back into the ends of Flora Bloom’s hair behind her ear. Its black feathers blended in perfectly with her hair, leaving only its pair of golden eyes visible.
Juggernaut carried the six of them, sprinting madly, while a little white tiger named Xiao Bai ran alongside them. Its speed was even faster than Juggernaut’s.
The six people on Juggernaut’s back felt nothing but a strong wind rushing past their ears; surprisingly, the ride was stable with very little shaking.
Saul Sterling, The Crown Prince, and Li Mao had known about the Golden Crow’s existence for a while. And even if they hadn’t, they were long past being surprised by a high-level creature that could talk.
Meanwhile, Sherman Lynch, Neal Wallace, and Shauna Wallace quickly accepted the presence of another strange creature at Flora Bloom’s side. Besides, it seemed quite powerful. Sherman Lynch was a Second Level Gold Ability User; even without activating his superpower, his skin and muscles were tougher than those of an average superpower user.
And a moment ago, the Golden Crow had pecked a bloody hole in his hand with a single, light tap. Clearly, this bird was far from ordinary.
The group of six arrived in Zone 005. Unlike the previous night, there wasn’t a single zombie in sight. Even when Saul Sterling scanned the entire area with his superpower, he couldn’t find a single living zombie.
Even the bodies of the zombies they had killed last night were all gone.
"Saul Sterling, are you sure? Not a single one? Not even in the sewers?" Flora Bloom confirmed with him again and received an affirmative answer.
"Flora, there are really none. But the number of zombies in Zone 006 is even greater than last night. I guess they must have retreated there."
Flora Bloom lowered her gaze in thought. ’Normally, I could have Vert and Jin Chan fly over Zone 006 to scout. But those two are deep in slumber inside my space, undergoing an evolution.’
"Since there’s nothing here, let’s go. Straight to Zone 006."
"Flora, I have a bad feeling about this. There were so many zombies last night. Even though we killed a portion of them, there’s no way they would all have retreated to Zone 006 by today."
"Saul Sterling, tell me the layout of the zones around here," Sherman Lynch suddenly asked, his tone serious.
Saul Sterling described the layout of Zones 005 through 011 to Sherman Lynch, tracing it on his palm.
Sherman Lynch thought for a long moment, then looked at Flora Bloom with a deep frown.
"Flora, something is very strange here!"
Flora Bloom asked, "Old Lynch, just get to the point."
"Think of it like this. From Zone 006, you have two paths to get to the central Zone 009: Zone 007 on the left, and Zone 008 on the right. That makes Zone 005, where we are now, the only way into Zone 006. In other words, our current position is the key to unlocking Zone 006."
Sherman Lynch opened his palm and drew a circle, then pointed to one end of it with his other hand. freёwebnoѵel.com
"This is where we are now, and it’s the only entrance to Zone 006. If we start from Zone 006, we can rescue your father in Zone 009 by going through either Zone 007 on the left or Zone 008 on the right. Both paths work. But there is one very important point."
At that moment, everyone—Flora Bloom, Neal Wallace, Shauna Wallace, and Lex Cross’s subordinates, Saul Sterling, The Crown Prince, and Li Mao—gathered around, leaning in to listen intently.
"A great taboo in military strategy is not about fearing death, but about always leaving yourself an escape route. If we enter Zone 006 now, can we guarantee that Zone 005 will remain this empty?"
Flora Bloom’s eyes flickered. "You’re worried this is a trap? That once we go in, we’ll be completely surrounded by zombies?"
Sherman Lynch’s expression was grave. "In warfare, this kind of terrain is a tactical taboo; a commander wouldn’t advance rashly. But I’m thinking... we’re talking about zombies. They shouldn’t have that level of intelligence, right?"
Flora Bloom’s expression was equally grave. "Middle Level zombies, if they’re Level 3, have intelligence rivaling humans. The Middle Level zombie we found here last night was probably only a Level 1 Middle Level zombie, not capable of such advanced thinking. However, we can’t rule out the possibility of more powerful Middle Level zombies in the other zones."
"Flora, no Middle Level zombies were detected in Zone 006 either! But there are two Middle Level zombies in Zone 007. Zone 008 is also clear of them."
"Flora, my analysis is just to give you my opinion. I know you’re going to rescue your father no matter what. You decide which path we take." Sherman Lynch had an expression that said he was ready to face death.
"Yeah, Flora, you decide. We’ll go in with you," The Crown Prince and Li Mao said in unison. Flora Bloom had saved their lives back in Varden Village. Compared to Five, they were more willing to trust in Flora Bloom’s strength. Even without orders from Lex Cross, they would willingly risk their lives to protect her.
Saul Sterling then spoke up. "Flora, I’d recommend Route 008, the path with no Middle Level zombies. With no Middle Level zombies, Juggernaut can advance quickly into Zone 009 to rescue Mr. Bloom."
"Saul Sterling, is there anything special about Zone 008? Why are there two Middle Level zombies guarding Zone 007, while Zone 008 has none at all?"
Saul Sterling was also extremely puzzled. "I don’t know why the Middle Level zombies are avoiding Zone 008 on the right and piling up in Zone 007 on the left. But there is one thing that’s different. The flowers, grass, and trees in Zone 008 seem especially lush."
"’Lush vegetation?’" Hearing this, Flora Bloom was suddenly reminded of the two lawns inside the isolation gate of the villa area. Their root systems ran deep underground and had been constantly expanding outward, but she was never quite sure just how far they had spread.
All she knew was that these plant spirits, which had acknowledged her as their master, were growing vigorously with extensive root systems. They brought fresh, sweet air to the villa area inside the isolation gate.
"Let’s go. We’ll take the path to the right, through Zone 008."
’A place with lush vegetation is either home to plant spirits or evolved plant life. Either way, it has to be better than facing two Middle Level zombies!’ Flora Bloom decided.
For some reason, without a powerhouse like Lex Cross by her side, she felt uncharacteristically insecure. ’I know dependence is a death sentence in the apocalypse,’ she thought, ’but this feeling has taken root, and I can’t stop thinking of his name.’ freewebnovel.cσ๓
According to Saul Sterling’s scans, Zone 006 also had no Middle Level zombies. With Juggernaut, they could remain safe on its back. Neal Wallace’s Fire Element superpower could effectively increase the speed at which they hunted zombies.
"Mr. Wallace, be ready to burn the zombies at any time!"
"Yeah, don’t worry!"
Although Zone 006 had no Middle Level zombies, it was still crawling with common ones! For Juggernaut, ordinary First and Second Level zombies were as easy to deal with as slicing melons. It was also a simple matter for Neal Wallace. On top of that, Xiao Bai, the little Thunder Element tiger, leaped into the air, its four paws stirring up a gale, and unleashed a massive wave of lightning behind the zombie horde, instantly wiping out a large section of it.
