NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 74
Chapter 74: The Gathering of Kings
Lian Jie and Simba exchanged bewildered glances. Xu Rufang, still held captive by Lian Jie's tentacles, muttered, "Is he a charlatan? Son, I told you he's not a good person. Let's go."
Lian Jie was inclined to agree with his mother. However, a sudden outburst of applause interrupted their thoughts.
The four Tanks, their massive palms clapping together like thunder, erupted in a chorus of enthusiastic approval.
"Good!"
"Wonderful!"
"You're right!"
"We are the true evolution!"
Lian Jie and Simba stared in disbelief as the Tanks, their small eyes gleaming with fanaticism, rose to their full towering heights. They continued their rhythmic applause, their voices booming in unison, "Yes! True! Evolution! We are!"
Sima Xiao, basking in their adulation, gestured for them to calm down. "Yes, that's right!" he proclaimed, his voice echoing through the park. "We are the true Evolvers! We have shed our human forms, discarded our human emotions. We believe in evolution, embrace evolution. We are the children of the Holy Tower, and only we have the potential for everything!"
His voice grew more passionate with each word. "And now, those despicable humans have holed themselves up in the Holy Tower, daring to claim it as their own!"
"Can this be tolerated?" he roared, his eyes blazing with righteous fury.
The Tanks responded with a resounding chorus of "No!" Their voices reverberated through the air, a chilling symphony of rage and bloodlust.
Sima Xiao raised his hands, his words echoing with the fervor of a cult leader. "This is our era! Brothers, comrades, family members! Let us reclaim the Holy Tower and embrace our evolution! Fight, shout, and devour! Use our strength to shatter everything!"
His gaze shifted towards Simba and Lian Jie, his voice dripping with a veiled threat. "As long as you join me, you can share in the glory of the Holy Tower! But if you refuse, if you choose to hesitate and doubt, then you will be left defenseless!"
The Tanks, fueled by Sima Xiao's words, roared in agreement, their voices blending into a cacophony of violence and aggression.
Lian Jie and Simba exchanged uneasy glances, a sense of foreboding settling upon them. Had they made a grave mistake by coming here?
Just as they were contemplating their next move, Sima Xiao spoke again, his voice regaining its composure. "Of course, since I am leading this endeavor, I won’t let everyone work in vain. I previously devoured an Awakened with healing powers, and I have inherited that ability. If anyone needs healing in exchange for food, feel free to come to me. You have chives, and I have fertilizer."
Simba and Lian Jie were taken aback by Sima Xiao's offer. Not only was he articulate, but he also possessed a valuable ability—healing in exchange for food. This proposition was tempting, especially for Simba, who craved an endless supply of sustenance. Even Lian Jie was drawn to the prospect of acquiring diverse Awakened genes to further enhance his power.
The allure of Sima Xiao's offer proved irresistible. Amidst the Tanks' enthusiastic chants of "Break the defense!" and "Break the strong defense!", Simba and Lian Jie succumbed to the temptation.
"Count me in," Simba declared, his voice filled with anticipation.
"Count me in too," Lian Jie echoed.
A triumphant smile spread across Sima Xiao’s face. "Excellent!" he declared. "Then it's settled. Tomorrow, we launch a massive assault and reclaim the Holy Tower in one fell swoop!"
With that, the gathering of zombie kings concluded. But before dispersing, Simba proposed a preliminary target. "Why don’t we take down Good Hope Village first?"
Sima Xiao pondered the suggestion and nodded in agreement. "Sure," he replied. Good Hope Village, an outpost of the human safe zone, was a logical first target.
However, Sima Xiao was unaware of Simba's ulterior motive. Simba had previously been terrified by Lu Ming and had fled from Wangcun in fear. Even with his newfound Level 4 power, he still lacked the courage to confront Good Hope Village directly. Allowing Sima Xiao to test the waters was a shrewd move on Simba’s part.
"How should we attack?" Simba inquired, intending to warn Sima Xiao about the potential dangers lurking in Good Hope Village.
But before he could utter a word, Sima Xiao's sinister grin sent a chill down his spine. "Attack directly!" Sima Xiao declared. "Are we hunters, concerned with methods and tactics? Sneak attacks and clever maneuvers are beneath us! We must confront their defenses head-on, to prove our strength! Sneaking around is cowardly and unbecoming of our superiority!"
He turned to the Tanks, seeking their approval. "Brothers, am I right?!"
The Tanks roared in agreement, their voices a chorus of bloodthirsty affirmation.
Simba and Lian Jie’s eyes twitched in unison. They couldn’t help but question the sanity of this gathering and the reckless bravado of their leader.
As the grand feast commenced, the four Tanks, lacking the foresight to store food and driven by their insatiable hunger, began to devour their surroundings.
Simba and Lian Jie were aghast as Sima Xiao unveiled his gruesome "food reserves." Three Level 2 Awakened individuals, their faces etched with despair, were bound by Sima Xiao's tentacles.
"These are my prized possessions," Sima Xiao announced proudly, gesturing towards the bound humans. "Their superpowers are fire, ice, and strength. I consume them strategically, only eating a limb at a time and then healing them with my abilities. It’s like farming, you see."
He chuckled at their horrified expressions. "It seems everyone understands the concept of sustainable development. Besides, I’ve discovered that higher-level Awakened ones taste better and provide more evolutionary energy."
Sima Xiao’s gaze lingered on Lian Jie, a subtle hint in his voice. "So, if any of you want to try farming, you might as well raise the level of your crops. Just make sure they’re one or two levels below you."
He tore off the legs of one of the Awakened individuals and distributed them among the eager zombies. The air filled with the sickening sounds of chewing and screams, a grotesque symphony of horror.
That night, the seven zombie kings dispersed to gather their forces. The process would take several days, as even the arrogant Sima Xiao recognized the need for caution and preparation.
While his words were filled with bravado, Sima Xiao's actions were calculated. He knew that a successful assault required more than just mindless hordes of zombies. A direct confrontation with the human safe zone would be a devastating blow, but it demanded careful planning and execution.
Day 66 of the Apocalypse Calendar dawned, and Lu Ming awoke, unaware of the sinister gathering taking place miles away. The encounter with the tentacle monster had shaken him, revealing the terrifying potential for zombie evolution.
The monster, likely a Level 4 zombie, possessed a remarkable self-healing ability that had easily countered Lu Ming’s attacks. It was a chilling reminder of the ever-present threat lurking in the shadows.
After his morning exercise, Lu Ming reviewed his updated attributes:
Strength: 171.1 (173.9)
Physique: 172.4 (174.6)
Agility: 203.4 (205.6)
Free Attribute Points: 45
Skills:
- Fitness: Lvl7 (1500/1700)
As he helped Zhang Chengcheng prepare breakfast, Lu Ming pondered the implications of the tentacle monster encounter.
Meng Jie approached, calling out from a distance, "Little Lu? Are you busy?"
Lu Ming looked up and smiled. "Sister Meng, I just finished my workout. What’s up?"
"Officials from the official shelter came earlier," Meng Jie explained. "Huo Sheng and Bai Tianyu. Huo Sheng wants to meet with you. What do you think?"
Lu Ming considered for a moment before nodding. "Sure, let them come over. We can talk over breakfast."
End of Chapter 74