Edge of the Apocalypse
Chapter 18 - 16: Drone

Chapter 18: Chapter 16: Drone

BANG!

Yu Dong slammed the fire door shut, severing three of the brute zombie’s fingers, skin and bone alike.

Three mangled, bloody fingers dropped to the floor.

ROAR!!!

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The brute zombie felt no pain and continued to frantically pound on the door, slamming its body against it.

Yu Dong retreated into his apartment, closed the door tight, and mentally tuned out the noise from outside.

’How did that brute zombie find me just now?’

’Was it my scent? Or sound?’

The fire door was secured with a chain, and constant corrosion from the sea breeze meant it creaked at the slightest movement. Yu Dong must have made some noise when he pushed it.

If the zombie was drawn by the sound, that wouldn’t be so bad.

’But if it was my scent... then I’m in big trouble.’

That would mean the zombies’ sense of smell was better than a dog’s, and no one would be able to hide.

After ten minutes of silence... the frantic pounding from outside stopped.

To test how the zombie had found him, Yu Dong went back to the fire door. This time, he gently opened a tiny crack, making sure not to make a sound.

He waited for a while. The zombie didn’t come. It was still pounding away on the third floor.

Yu Dong understood.

’Looks like zombies primarily rely on sound to hunt.’

’What is it doing on the third floor all this time?’

There was only one resident on the third floor—Liu Ye’ye.

’Hasn’t Liu Ye’ye turned? What is she doing to keep attracting that brute zombie to her door?’

Yu Dong didn’t get it. If zombies tracked people by noise, then after having her door pounded on all night, wouldn’t Liu Ye’ye have quieted down by now?

’Strange...’

Yu Dong went home, put on a pair of disposable transparent gloves, and picked up the three severed zombie fingers. After taking a few pictures with his phone, he sealed them in a disposable garbage bag and threw it out the hallway window.

He took off the gloves and threw them out as well.

Those fingers definitely contained the S virus. They would also rot, attract flies and bugs, breed germs, and contaminate the public space on the fourth floor.

Back in his apartment, he took a closer look at the photos. As far as he could tell, they looked pretty much like normal human flesh. He couldn’t see anything unusual for the time being.

Yu Dong opened his phone, wanting to see what others were saying, but discovered the internet was down.

’Just one night... and the internet is already out.’

Just last night, he had been looking at information online, at various scenes captured by other survivors.

It wasn’t just Hua Country; the entire world had fallen. Those lucky enough to be alive were being hunted by frenzied zombies.

The internet was full of despair, but there wasn’t much useful information.

Today the internet was down, but surprisingly, the water and electricity were still on.

This was a good thing. At least it meant that survivors who hadn’t prepared could still get some water to drink.

They wouldn’t die of thirst right away.

As Yu Dong was contemplating the situation after the apocalypse, his phone vibrated.

BZZT~

[National Emergency Alert!!!]

[Yesterday, for unknown reasons, a highly contagious S virus erupted on a global scale. The infected are completely uncontrollable and exhibit extreme aggression toward surviving humans. Survivors who are scratched or bitten will also be infected with the S virus. The time for a secondary outbreak is unknown... All surviving compatriots are urged to stay away from potentially infected individuals who have been scratched or bitten to prevent the secondary spread of the S virus;]

[The S virus has had a massive impact on our military and police forces. We are currently regrouping and will begin rescue operations in various regions as soon as possible. Survivors are advised to take shelter in the nearest safe location and not to go outside;]

[The national emergency power grid has been activated and can maintain electricity for a short time. Please charge your communication devices and switch them to power-saving mode to await the latest updates;]

[If you have a radio or a phone with radio functionality, you may tune to channel 11.1. A test broadcast will follow, and there will be a live online broadcast at 8 p.m.;]

[Reminder! Those infected with the S virus are highly sensitive to sound and blood. It is imperative to remain quiet and cover any traces of blood;]

[If possible, please gather all available food and water and await rescue by the state!]

[This notice is jointly issued by the Dragon Country Emergency Command/CDC/Armed Forces.]

The second emergency text alert was sent at 8 a.m. on the second day of the apocalypse.

Yu Dong focused on the key points.

He tuned the radio he’d bought to 11.1, and a broadcast came through.

"This is the dedicated notification channel of the National Emergency Armed Control Center. Yesterday, for unknown reasons, an outbreak occurred..."

It was re-broadcasting the notice that had been issued today.

’8 p.m. tonight... Let’s see what kind of plan the government has put together.’

An individual’s strength was ultimately limited. Everything he had done was just to keep himself alive as long as possible. To truly resolve this apocalyptic disaster, it would take a collective effort.

’The alert had another piece of information... Zombies are sensitive to sound and blood.’

At this point, Yu Dong had a rough idea why Liu Ye’ye was constantly attracting the attention of the roaming brute zombie in the hallway.

Sitting by the window, Yu Dong thought for a moment... and made a decision.

’I have to find a way to deal with this brute zombie. Otherwise, I can’t move around in Building 1. My space is completely restricted to the fourth floor. If something happens, there’s no way to escape.’

’And I can save Liu Ye’ye while I’m at it. Can’t let her become a zombie’s meal.’

As an orphan who had grown up with the help of countless people, Yu Dong always remembered the words of the orphanage director:

"Don’t think about repaying us. It was this country and this society that raised you. Pass this love on to society. If you see someone in trouble and you have the ability to help, you must lend a hand."

Yu Dong had a tragic start in life, but he was lifted up by the many warm hands of society, which allowed him to grow up healthy.

Therefore, he would lend a hand. He would save this girl.

Not for any other reason, but because it was the right thing to do.

Now that he had made his decision, things became simple.

Yu Dong planned to test the brute zombie again, to figure out its capabilities, and then wait for an opportunity to take it down using the advantage of his long weapon.

To ensure the coming hunt went smoothly, Yu Dong heated up a can of Spam and drank 500ml of milk to keep his physical strength at its peak.

He checked the situation below his building again. The blockade at the complex gate was intact, and there was nothing unusual at the base of Building 1.

’Alright, brute zombie, let’s see what you’re made of!’

Yu Dong geared up, grabbed his spear, and went back to the fourth-floor fire door. He quietly unlocked the chain, then loosened it by one link, about 7cm.

This would allow him to open the fire door a little wider, enough to thrust his spear through the gap.

With a gap this small, the zombie could at most stick one hand through.

If the brute zombie’s defenses were no better than a normal person’s, he could kill it through the door.

Just as Yu Dong had quietly finished his preparations, a piercing buzz came from up the stairwell.

A drone flew down from above and hovered opposite the fourth-floor fire door.

A long, white, wing-like object was attached underneath the drone.

In the middle was a smear of bright red.

’?’