Chapter 211: A Plan

Chapter 211: Chapter 211: A Plan

Lord Xun slowly shook his head as he studied the large map spread out before him. "That won’t work," he said firmly, his voice deep and calm. "This region is too far from the cities. The first and second waves of undead were already wiped out in these outskirts before the second rain ever came."

He stood beside a large, scarred table where several commanders and soldiers gathered. The flickering light of a lantern danced across their serious faces. On the map were drawn small symbols and marks, noting bases, forests, and danger zones. His finger tapped near the southern corner—near where the Dawn Base stood.

"These places," Lord Xun continued, "were never part of any city. The land around Dawn Base and East River Base was always quiet—even before the fall of civilization."

He looked up at the others, his eyes sharp.

"There were no large towns here. No factories, no crowded homes. Just forgotten valleys, scattered farmlands, and silent mountains. When the first rain came and turned the dead into zombies, this place remained untouched for a while. Too far. Too isolated."

Everyone listened closely as he spoke, because every word held the weight of truth—and of plans that had yet to unfold.

"By the time the zombies finally reached this area, there were only small groups. A few infected stragglers. And those were easily wiped out."

That was how the East River Base had been able to grow strong. It had been given a gift that few other places received in those dark days—time. Time to prepare. Time to build walls. Time to train soldiers and enforce order, even if that order came through cruelty and iron-fisted control.

Now, with its strength and power established, the East River Base had begun to look south... toward a new base that had recently started rising from the earth.

The Dawn Base.

It was a different kind of place—built on hope, kindness, and community. But hope, Lord Xun believed, could not stand for long without power. And now, he planned to test just how strong that base really was.



"I want it broken," he said in his mind. "And I will make sure it happens."

Lang Yao, who had been standing quietly beside him, finally spoke. His voice was calm, almost soft, but there was a sharpness in his words. "The only real danger left in this land... is the mutated beasts."

For a moment, no one replied. The hall fell completely silent.

Everyone there knew exactly what those beasts were. They were not simple animals anymore. After the second rain fell—changing the very laws of nature—these creatures had become something entirely different. No longer just monsters, but something far more terrifying. They moved with unnatural speed. Some had grown massive and were too strong to take down easily. Others crept like shadows, so quiet that even trained scouts were killed before they had a chance to scream.

Lord Xun allowed himself a faint, cold smile.

"Exactly," he said, nodding.

He turned back to the map and pointed at a place beyond the dense trees of the northern forest. Just past a ravine, near Deep Pine Ridge, there was a marked zone. "Here. Our scouts found signs of high-level mutated beasts in this area. A horned dire bear, a pack of blood-furred wolves, and maybe even a feathered lizard."

One of the commanders raised an eyebrow in surprise. "But those beasts don’t come this far south. They guard their territory too fiercely."

Lord Xun nodded in agreement. "That’s true. Which is why... we will drive them out."

A small gasp came from someone in the room. Lang Yao stepped forward a little, his eyes narrowed.

"If we can force those beasts to leave their territory and push them toward Dawn Base... they will destroy its defenses. The guards won’t be able to handle it. The walls will be tested like never before."

Another man frowned. "But how do we do that? These creatures are wild. They don’t follow commands."

Lord Xun remained quiet for a moment. Then, in a low voice, he said, "We use sound. We use scent. And we use bait."



The words hung in the air like smoke.

Lang Yao spoke again, explaining the plan in detail. "We gather meat—some rotten, some fresh—from the hunting zones near the frozen cliffs. Then we coat the trees and weapons along a path with that scent. It will guide them like a trail. We also set up sound triggers. Old speakers scavenged from the ruined cities. We hide them in the trees."

"When the sounds begin—growls, prey calls, maybe even human voices—they will follow the trail," Lang Yao said. "Their instincts will take over. And they will chase what they believe is food."

Another officer crossed his arms. "They will know. They will realize it’s a trap."

"Only if the path ends too soon," Lord Xun replied without missing a beat. "But if it ends at the Dawn Base... where there is warmth, fire, cooking smells, and human blood... they won’t want to leave. The base itself will become their hunting ground."

Lang Yao’s voice lowered. "We won’t need to make them stay. The base will hold them there."

Lord Xun stepped back from the map, the corner of his mouth curling slightly in satisfaction.

"And once the beasts have torn through the walls and filled the civilians with fear, we strike. Not before."

His eyes glinted like ice. There was no hatred in his voice. No cruelty. Just cold, sharp calculation. Like someone listing ingredients for a recipe.

"They will be too busy saving the weak. Their guards will fall out of formation. Their so-called leader will be running around, trying to protect civilians instead of planning defense. That is when we attack. That is when we take everything."

Lang Yao stood still, his thoughts silent. There was no joy in his chest. No thrill at the idea of victory. But there was also no guilt. He had already chosen his path. There was no going back.

Lord Xun lifted his hand.

"Gather the bait," he ordered. "Send word to our scavenger teams. Prepare the path by nightfall. I want those beasts charging toward the Dawn Base in three days."



"Yes, my lord," came the firm reply from the commanders and soldiers.

As the meeting ended, Lang Yao remained where he stood. His eyes returned to the small circle on the map that marked the Dawn Base. It was a tiny shape—no larger than a coin—but he knew what it represented.

Warm beds.

Clean water.

Electricity.

Hot meals.

The very things he had once wished for, long ago, when he had been just another survivor lost in the wilds.

He blinked slowly and turned away. A strange feeling twisted in his chest. It wasn’t quite regret, but it wasn’t peace either. He didn’t like the idea of those beasts destroying the buildings. He didn’t like thinking about the rations being torn apart, the warm homes ruined.

But he also knew this was war. And in war, no one wins without losses.

He clenched his jaw and walked away from the table.

The plan was in motion.

And the beasts of the forest... would soon be on the move.