Chapter Eleven: The Zombies’ Alarm Clock

As soon as Liu Mengchao spoke, everyone's gaze instinctively turned to the school nurse, Shizuka Juikawa. The naturally air-headed nurse still showed no reaction, maintaining her innocent, silly smile.

At this moment, Saya seemed particularly aware of the situation and took the initiative to step forward, explaining Liu Mengchao's purpose.

"The school nurse's backpack is filled with essential medicines. Considering the current chaos in the world, these medicines have become vital necessities."

"That's right!"

Xu Zhengdong, who had stood by Shizuka Juikawa's side all this time, also began to speak.

Adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses, Xu Zhengdong addressed them with a grave, earnest expression. "What awaits us now will be difficult times. All of us here are ordinary people. Without antibiotics and some basic medicines, we may not survive the journey to our destination."

When he mentioned "ordinary people," Liu Mengchao noticed that Xu Zhengdong's gaze unconsciously avoided him. It seemed that, in Xu's heart, Liu Mengchao had already risen to a higher level.

But that wasn't Liu Mengchao's main objective.

Red phosphorus, potassium permanganate, potassium nitrate, sulfur, charcoal powder.

The bottles containing these substances in the science lab had all been moved. Though not an expert in chemistry, Liu Mengchao still knew what could happen if all these substances were placed together in a small, sealed container.

Explosion.

Clearly, Mr. Xu couldn't wait to prove his own worth—perhaps by eliminating a fellow player who had already angered him.

"These medicines are precious," Xu Zhengdong continued, his face still serious, as if addressing his familiar students rather than the reincarnators before him. "If we lose these medicines, we will be in a dire situation. We should choose someone capable of fighting to safeguard them."

"No!!" Shizuka Juikawa suddenly protested, "I absolutely will not leave my lovely medicines!"

"It's all right. Once we reach a safe place, every single medicine will be returned to you," Xu Zhengdong assured her.

Liu Mengchao noticed that, as Xu Zhengdong spoke, he unconsciously touched his own hand—a classic sign of self-comfort, usually seen in people who don't really believe what they're saying.

In other words... A sly smile gradually curled on Liu Mengchao's lips. This chemistry teacher had no intention of returning the medicine-filled bag to the naive school nurse.

"I'll do it."

Saeko Busujima exuded confidence as she stepped forward.

Saya, however, shook her head. "Saeko, your fighting style relies on close combat. If the medicine is spilled during a fight, our situation would be even more awkward."

"What about me? During my time in the military, I often did five-kilometer cross-country runs with a backpack. Carrying one is no problem for me."

Chen Mo?

Xu Zhengdong tried hard to suppress his excitement—or at least, not to show it in front of anyone but Liu Mengchao.

"Are you really up to it?" Xu Zhengdong knew that sometimes a taunt worked better than a command for muscle-bound men like this; dealing with them was no different than handling stubborn students.

By deliberately questioning his ability, Xu made Chen Mo even more eager to prove himself.

"I can," Chen Mo replied, his face expressionless as he took the bag from the air-headed nurse.

Xu Zhengdong smiled. So did Liu Mengchao. Indeed, reincarnators, ever scheming and at odds, were the Lord God's favorites.

Pot value: 105,000

"Let's go, then," Liu Mengchao said, waving once more to those inside before heading out of the classroom. He had provided the esteemed chemistry teacher with a perfect stage, and the teacher had fulfilled Liu Mengchao's hint flawlessly.

Now, all that remained was to wait quietly for the results to unfold.

Liu Mengchao led the way as always, with Saeko Busujima and Qi Xiaoxiao flanking him like twin wings, one on each side.

Hirano Kouta, holding a nail gun, stayed close to Takagi Saya, palms sweaty as he occasionally fired at distant zombies.

As for Chen Mo, the special forces soldier, he walked at the rear, carrying the emergency medical bag. Saya had suggested he be extra cautious for the sake of the supplies, but Chen Mo saw it as another chance to prove his strength.

In the army, he had always been looked down upon. Whether it was in the 81 tactical drill or the 95 tactical drill, he always ranked near the top. Yet no one ever gave him any respect for it.

All he ever got was the label of "arrogant maniac," stuck to him like an unshakable piece of snot.

Liu Mengchao's group advanced in silence, not making a single sound as they slipped past the zombies. These zombies had lost both sight and smell; only their hearing remained.

In Liu Mengchao's view, Apocalypse Academy was practically designed as a training ground for newcomers. Compared to Resident Evil or the far more terrifying The Walking Dead, Apocalypse Academy was like a high school senior taking an elementary school exam—anything less than a perfect score would be an insult to China's exam-oriented education.

As long as you made no noise, even if you performed a striptease in front of the zombies, it wouldn't matter.

Yet, in this silence, Chen Mo, bringing up the rear, couldn't help but drift into his thoughts.

He remembered an afternoon when he broke the arm of a military cadet during field training. Hand-to-hand combat was always his strength.

"Kid, you're still too weak. Better head back to the academy and hit the books a few more years. Special ops command isn't for you. Maybe radar or surveying would suit you better."

Chen Mo dimly recalled beating that same kid a few more times afterward.

In the army, the strong ruled. Why should he, who had tried so many times but never got into the academy, let a mere high school student who'd studied a few extra years lord it over him?

But...

Chen Mo's gaze turned icy, his eyes gliding like knives across the necks of those walking ahead. Every one of them had their backs to him. Give him thirty seconds, and he was confident he could kill those three useless newbie reincarnators—along with that arrogant, gold-rimmed-glasses-wearing Xu Zhengdong.

So far, the Lord God had issued no prompt for teaming up with plot characters. That could only mean one thing.

There was an extra person! Someone who should have died was still alive!

At this thought, Chen Mo couldn't help but sneer. He might have crossed an experienced player, but with his special forces skills, he was sure he'd thrive in this world of infinite horror.

"Power—as long as I have power, when I return to the real world, those upper commanders who made me retire... that will be their doomsday!"

The image of the cadet whose arms he had broken appeared again in Chen Mo's mind, that pitiful, pleading look making him laugh even more delightedly.

Just as Chen Mo was smiling, a glass vial slipped out of Xu Zhengdong's pocket.

Clink.

The crisp sound rang out like an alarm. And then...

The zombies of Fujimi Academy awoke.

Ahead, the school bus waited—400 meters away.

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If the scheduled update function is behaving itself, this chapter should be released at 2 p.m... If not, I’ll post it at 10 p.m. when I get home...