Volume One: Mutation Chapter Fifty-Six: Eradication

Upon hearing his explanation, Liu Qingqing’s face flushed with shame. She fell silent and obediently followed the two men into the command post.

“What’s the situation?” Zhang Chu asked the moment he stepped into the command room.

“Commander, this time the number of mutated creatures isn’t large. It seems only a few nearby ones sensed our location.”

“Send out a recon drone. Have it make a sweep and return immediately,” Zhang Chu ordered.

The previous incident, when that T4 creature evaded radar and approached the coastal perimeter undetected, had left a deep shadow in his mind. In future battles, he must exercise utmost caution and never again place his full trust in radar alone.

The compact drone swiftly took to the sky, flying toward the mutated horde. Everyone in the command room watched its live feed intently.

On the screen, a dark mass of zombies were scrambling on all fours in a crazed dash, mingled with various mutated creatures that had once been common pets in the old world. They were no longer the endearing animals of the past—each was now enormous, hideous, and moved with a wild, frenzied energy.

Once the reconnaissance was complete, the drone began its return journey. Only then did Zhang Chu breathe a sigh of relief and smile. “Such a small number—if they weren’t so dispersed, a few rounds of rapid fire from our artillery company would be more than enough.” He found a seat and looked at Liu Cong. “Brother, you can sit this one out. Let our soldiers handle the show.”

With the situation clarified, the tense atmosphere in the command room relaxed. At Zhang Chu’s words, laughter erupted among the group.

Liu Cong could only nod with a wry smile.

Everyone was laughing, including Zhang Chu. Then, turning to the communicator, he said, “All units, attention! The current wave of mutated creatures is very small—not even enough to fill the gap in our G15’s teeth. But that’s no reason for complacency. I want everyone sharp and alert—not a single one is to escape!”

The way Zhang Chu phrased it was telling: “not a single one is to escape” was his way of assuring the troops the battle would be easy. Those who understood his meaning laughed; those who didn’t quickly caught on with a little help from their comrades, and everyone’s spirits soared.

“Qingqing, would you like to go out and see?” Liu Cong asked with a grin.

“Of course!” Liu Qingqing agreed eagerly. Having faced even T4-level creatures, these T1 and T2 grunts no longer frightened her.

Liu Cong greeted the others in the command room and took Liu Qingqing up onto the G15 city wall.

The ramparts were already crowded with people. When they saw Liu Cong approaching, they called out “Commander!” with friendly smiles. Liu Cong had established ties with G15 early on; everyone here knew him well, and though he was reserved, he never put on airs.

Liu Cong returned their smiles. “Carry on, everyone. I’m just taking her out for a look.”

Liu Qingqing was smiling too, but her gaze was fixed on the weapons and gear stationed along the wall, her eyes full of curiosity.

“Would you like to give it a try?” Liu Cong noticed her interest.

“May I?” Liu Qingqing looked at a nearby soldier.

The young soldier bent down and took a heavy machine gun, fully loaded, from the weapons crate. Liu Cong could tell he wanted to impress Liu Qingqing, hence his choice of such a formidable weapon.

Liu Qingqing reached out to take it, but the soldier pulled back with a grin. “Miss Liu, it’s enough just to have a look. This gun is really heavy—you won’t be able to lift it.”

Liu Cong chuckled. “Go ahead and let her try. She’s stronger than she looks.”

Liu Qingqing blushed, shooting Liu Cong a reproachful glance. “It’s fine, just give it to me.”

The young soldier shook his head repeatedly. He remembered struggling with the gun at first himself and couldn’t believe that a seemingly delicate woman like Liu Qingqing could manage it.

“Oh, come on! Just let me try—I really can handle it.”

Seeing her insist, and with Liu Cong offering no objection, the young soldier reluctantly handed her the weapon. He was fully prepared to catch it if she lost her grip.

As Liu Qingqing reached out, her hand brushed the soldier’s—soft and smooth, making his face flush red. He didn’t come to his senses until the weight in his hands vanished and the gun was already in Liu Qingqing’s grasp.

The surrounding soldiers were astonished to see her lift the heavy gun so effortlessly. Even they, seasoned as they were, found it tiring after a while—let alone a woman. What’s more, she held the gun one-handed, using her free hand to caress it gently. The sight left the men utterly dumbfounded.

Liu Qingqing, oblivious to their astonished stares, ran her hand lovingly over the gun, tears welling in her eyes without her even realizing it.

“What’s wrong?” Liu Cong asked in surprise, gently wiping away her tears.

Liu Qingqing’s eyes shimmered with tears, yet she smiled and shook her head. “It’s nothing. I just thought of my father. He was a military enthusiast, loved these things more than anything. It’s a pity he’ll never see them again.”

Seeing her laugh and cry at once, Liu Cong drew her into a protective embrace, gently stroking her back—paying no heed to the envious glances all around.

“They’re coming!” a soldier suddenly shouted.

As the first shell landed, the defense battle began in earnest.

Shell after shell rained down, lighting up the distant horizon with bursts of fire and sending waves of dust billowing into the air. From the smoke, mutated beasts emerged—filthy and battered—only to be torn apart by fresh explosions moments later.

Artillery from G15 soared skyward like fireworks, arcing down to the earth with thunderous detonations. It was almost beautiful—flaring briefly, then vanishing in a heartbeat, leaving behind the acrid tang of gunpowder, as if the very air celebrated the accomplishment.

Against these T1 and T2 mutants, the shells’ power was fully unleashed, delivering a devastating lesson to the advancing horde.

The monsters never even reached the walls before being blasted to pieces. The soldiers atop the ramparts cheered and shouted encouragement, their voices so loud that Liu Cong and Liu Qingqing’s ears rang.

“All units, stay alert! Shoot down any mutated creature that comes near!”

Once the bombardment ended, most of the mutated beasts lay dead. The few that remained were easily dispatched by the soldiers with their rifles and machine guns. Amid the rattle of gunfire, Liu Qingqing was visibly excited. The spectacle of explosions had given her a profound appreciation for the might of human industry. What she saw overturned all her previous notions of bombs—no longer like in dramas where a shell landing at one’s feet could be survived simply by diving to the ground.

A single shell here could blow even powerful mutants to pieces—so what hope did a human body have?

“Brother Liu, real war is so much more dangerous than I ever imagined. Those TV dramas are so misleading—I’m never watching that kind again,” Liu Qingqing exclaimed, her cheeks flushed as she clung more tightly to Liu Cong’s arm.

A few scattered mutants managed to approach the city wall, but a hail of bullets tore them apart in an instant. Up close, Liu Cong realized that warfare was far more than just being able to fire a gun. The soldiers on the wall worked in perfect harmony—mounting guns, changing magazines, alternating between rifles and machine guns. The whole operation ran smoothly, each step a pleasure to observe.

When the last shots faded, not a single living creature remained on the plain below—only heaps of corpses and splattered blood.

“Battle over! All mutated creatures have been eliminated.”

The communicator crackled again, officially marking the end of this one-sided slaughter.

Watching the soldiers embrace joyfully, their excitement palpable, Liu Cong sighed, “If only all mutated creatures were this easy to handle!”

At his words, the young soldier from before laughed. “Commander, for you, there’s nothing too difficult, is there? You took down that giant beast like it was nothing—more impressive than any movie superhero!”

Liu Cong laughed as well. “I only wish things could always be this way—but I wonder if those monsters would agree.”

Ha!—

Laughter echoed all around. Two consecutive victories were like an overdose of sweetness, filling everyone with optimism and rekindling hope for the future.