But at this moment, chaos is impending, and everyone loses all extraneous thoughts.

Only one idea remains: live, live to see the sun rise again tomorrow!

...

Upon reaching the main city, the bus began to slow down.

Checkpoint after checkpoint was set up, and Cheng Ye saw the so-called steel barriers.

Somewhat resembling the retractable fences at the entrance of a compound, but far more robust, each outer fence had a diameter of over forty centimeters, fixed at the bottom through special methods, deeply embedded two meters into the ground.

The middle stakes had not yet been driven in, leaving just enough space for a bus to enter.

"Papers?"

Armed guards walked up and stopped the bus.

Master Tian said nothing, turned to look at Cheng Ye, and then handed over a badge.

After verification, without a word, the guard allowed passage, simultaneously entering the bus's license plate number into the system via a terminal, directly syncing it to the defense communication devices of guards at other checkpoints.

What is called privilege?

It is not about respect, nor about unwritten rules.

But in such intensely critical moments, being able to disregard any rules, this is what qualifies as privilege!

Ding.

The defense communication system sounded again.

This time, it was not a message from the broadcast station, but a public message from the checkpoint.

[Happiness City Checkpoint - Ding Yishan]

[Esteemed Inspectors, this is a critical moment for the survival of Happiness City and the Buffer Zone. As the head, I understand everyone's fears, but please believe that we still have enough strength to resist this infection wave.]

[Now, in my capacity as the head, I issue the following orders to everyone]

[1. All inspectors are to return home immediately, and refrain from going outside without instructions from the checkpoint. Please ensure your absolute safety before considering aiding others (Inspectors in critical outbreak areas A1-A17, B1-B17, C1-C12 are strictly prohibited from leaving for any reason)]

[2. Immediately verify reserves, prioritizing the guarantee of 72-hour survival needs. If lacks are found, report to the checkpoint immediately. The checkpoint will initiate emergency allocation plans to supply protective gear and basic supplies first.]

[3. All communication devices are to remain on standby 24 hours a day. The checkpoint's internal communication system will open a dedicated channel to synchronize real-time infection wave dynamics and response strategies.]

[4. The following locations... have set up inspector-exclusive medical pods. If symptoms of infection or emergency medical needs arise, proceed there immediately.]

[5. Unauthorized departures from the zone are strictly forbidden. Before an alert is lifted, any exit from the Buffer Zone will be considered desertion, and Happiness City will issue an indefinite A-level manhunt.]

...

At the end of the message, two documents were attached.

The first was a more detailed infected body report, which Cheng Ye opened briefly, feeling his scalp go numb.

The value of what Brother B said was increasing.

The development methods of infected bodies' attack strategies indeed do not evolve according to human expectations.

As more sample data is gathered, Stand-In Starfish infected bodies have currently mutated into two new attack methods.

Spitting body fluids, extending tentacles.

The former can reach a spray radius of about six meters, with moderate corrosiveness.

The latter, reminiscent of Doctor Octopus, generates tentacles on the back for movement and attack.

"If infected bodies mutate, what about fusion bodies?"

Cheng Ye felt a sudden chill in his heart, once again glimpsing the great terror hidden beneath this wasteland.

No wonder the upper echelons of Happiness City would develop an independent Extraordinary Faction, as facing these monsters, humanity relies on its nearly stagnant technology of decades, struggling greatly.

Unless a new industrial revolution can erupt to propel a technological leap, the influence of the Extraordinary Faction will only grow!

Opening the second document, it was the latest prediction results from the Happiness Supercomputer based on the current situation.

It clearly listed the areas and buildings within the Buffer Zone where infected bodies might have a large outbreak.

Cheng Ye quickly pinpointed the B-7 Zone where the electronics factory neighborhood was located, discovering the nearest outbreak point was four hundred and fifty meters away in a straight line, at the five-story Celestial Essence Mall where Chu Yunfeng previously worked.

Its internal area is about 10,000 square meters, crammed with nearly 4,000 people.

It's easy to imagine how many infected bodies would rush out once an outbreak occurs.

He closed the defense communication device.

Cheng Ye worriedly glanced out the window, seeing the panicked faces forming long lines on the street to receive Starfish Antidote Powder.

The Powder's distribution in the Buffer Zone was bumpy and not smooth.

Due to the "fatality rate" being so high, at least nearly 2,000 people have been taken away in the past few days.

While many are indeed infected bodies with infection times exceeding 48 hours, where the source has deeply parasitized, killing the source with the powder also took the host out.

But its severe side effects can't be ignored. Anyone with low immunity or currently sick, taking it almost certainly means death.

With the outbreak time approaching, more and more people sense the coming storm, holding the mindset of "having is better than nothing," forming long lines at every distribution point.

Yet this unintentionally increases the chance of infection contact, with every meter of the queue laying a bed for Stand-In Starfish's spread.

"Inspector Cheng."

Noticing Cheng Ye was dazedly staring at the distribution stall on the roadside, Master Tian gently called him.

"Hmm?"

"Do you remember the infection wave of '13?"

"13 years ago?"

Cheng Ye paused for a moment, then shook his head.

His original self is only 19 now, merely a 6-year-old child thirteen years ago.

Fragments of memories persist, with everyone in the Inner City huddled in their rooms, receiving supplies placed in no-contact zones at regular intervals each day, waiting a full six hours before retrieving them.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.