26: Chapter 26 Radiation Soldier's Debut

Before heading to the Backup Laboratory, Wang Jie decided to deal with a hidden threat first.

The Radar Station showed a large zombie gathering point five kilometers east of the base—at least eight hundred zombies entrenched in an abandoned residential area. It was originally a large housing complex that had become a zombie nest after the apocalypse.

These zombies usually wouldn't attack on their own initiative, but if provoked, they could swarm over at any moment.

Wang Jie didn't want his home base to be raided while he was away at the Backup Laboratory.

He had to eliminate this hidden threat.

But eight hundred zombies, even if pushed through with tanks, would take a lot of effort. Moreover, if there were Mutants hidden inside, there might be casualties.

He needed a more efficient method.

In the Battle Lab, a Researcher provided him with a plan:

"Radiation Engineer."

Wang Jie was stunned for a moment. "Radiation Engineer?"

The Researcher nodded. "This is a new unit that was just unlocked. Their weapon is the Radiation Cannon. It can fire high-energy radiation beams, causing continuous damage to biological units. It has a large area of effect and strong penetration, making it especially suitable for clearing large-scale zombie swarms."

Wang Jie's eyes lit up. "How much does it cost to train one?"

"1,200 credits, with a training time of six minutes."

Wang Jie thought about it and ordered three to be trained.

Eighteen minutes later, three soldiers wearing heavy protective suits and carrying massive Radiation Cannons walked out of the Barracks. Their faces were covered by gas masks, making their features indistinguishable, but every step they took was steady, like mobile bunkers.

"Radiation Engineer 01, reporting for duty!"

"02, reporting for duty!"

"03, reporting for duty!"

Wang Jie nodded and set out with them and a cover force—two tanks, ten Heavy Soldiers, and two Snipers.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the residential area.

It was a place of deathly silence. Dozens of buildings stood there, their windows dark and walls covered in vines. Abandoned vehicles were scattered everywhere on the streets, some overturned. The air was thick with a foul stench of rot, strong enough to make one gag.

The zombie swarm was right there.

They were crowded in the streets, in the hallways, and in every corner. Some stood, some crouched, and some wandered aimlessly. Pale gray skin, clouded eyes, and occasional low growls—it all formed a terrifying scene of the apocalypse.

Wang Jie raised his binoculars and did a rough count.

At least a thousand.

More than the radar had shown.

"Radiation Engineers, prepare yourselves," he said.

The three Radiation Engineers stepped forward, unslung the Radiation Cannons from their backs, and set them on the ground. It was a massive weapon, like a small cannon, with a muzzle as wide as a bowl and covered in complex coils and pipes.

"Charging..." one Radiation Engineer reported. "Charging complete. Ready to fire."

"Fire."

Three pale green beams shot out from the muzzles and landed in the zombie swarm.

There was no explosion, no firelight—only an eerie silence.

Then, the zombies hit by the beams began to change.

Their skin began to fester, their bodies twisted, and their movements slowed. A few seconds later, they collapsed to the ground, motionless.

But this was not the end.

The pale green light continued to spread, rippling outward like waves. Any zombie that came into contact with the light began to show the same symptoms—festering, twisting, and dying.

After thirty seconds, at least two hundred zombies had fallen.

After one minute, five hundred.

After three minutes, the entire swarm—over a thousand zombies—had all collapsed on the ground, turning into piles of rotting flesh.

Wang Jie stood in the distance, watching this scene, speechless for a long time.

The Radiation Engineers packed up their weapons and stood up.

"Mission accomplished, Commander."

Wang Jie nodded, but a strange sense of unease welled up in his heart.

This thing was too powerful.

So powerful it made him a little afraid.

If one day, someone used this kind of thing against humans—

He didn't dare think further.

"Withdraw," he said. "Return to base."

The convoy turned around and drove back the way they had come.

Behind them, that residential area had turned into a deathly silent graveyard.