106: Chapter 106 Rat Swarm

The sports car quickly reached its destination, driving into a long-abandoned small town.

To Song Yang's surprise, this town, located at the point where the pillar of light had vanished, was exceptionally "prosperous" at this moment.

On both sides of the streets, all sorts of modified vehicles were parked wherever they could fit.

Bonfires were lit beside many of the vehicles; some people were roasting unknown chunks of meat, while others were playing drinking games loudly, with the crisp sound of clinking bottles drifting over from time to time.

The entire town was like a massive, temporary survivor camp.

What Song Yang found even more bizarre was that with so many people gathered here, those terrifying monsters hadn't been attracted; it was simply inconceivable.

Just as he came to a stop, a short, stocky man wearing a worn-out leather jacket jumped down from a heavy truck nearby that looked like a modified armored cash transport.

"Brother, you're a new face. Just arrived?" the man greeted with a smile.

Song Yang glanced at him and didn't get out of the car, merely giving a faint "Mm."

The man didn't seem to mind Song Yang's coldness; instead, he leaned in closer and lowered his voice.

"Brother, you alone? This car of yours isn't very safe."

"It's fine," Song Yang replied.

"Brother, I can see you're a capable one. This town is a mixed bag right now. Although that pillar of light up ahead disappeared, it's definitely right here. We at Blackstone don't have many people, but we're brothers who've faced death together, and our gear is decent enough.

If you don't mind, Brother, you can team up with us so we can look out for each other. If we find anything good, we'll split it by contribution. What do you say?"

In the apocalypse, while lone wolves were certainly formidable, the survival capability of an organized team was clearly stronger.

"Blackstone?"

Song Yang turned his gaze to the man. "Are you very familiar with this place?"

The man grinned.

"Not bad. We arrived earlier than most and know some inside info."

He pointed toward the center of town. "That was originally the government building; the pillar of light came from near there.

Though the light is gone now, the ones guarding it are from the 'Axe Gang' and the 'Blood Wolf Society.' These two gangs have strength in numbers and aren't easy to deal with."

"So, Brother,"

The man continued his pitch, "another person means more strength. No matter how strong you are alone, two fists can't fight four hands. Collaborating with us provides at least a bit more safety."

Song Yang fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking,

"Why are there no monsters in this town?"

This question seemed to startle the man for a moment, and a trace of solemnity flashed in his eyes.

"We can't say for sure either. From the time we entered until now, we haven't seen a single monster.

Some say that previous pillar of light purified all the monsters; others say this town makes them afraid to approach. There are all sorts of theories, and no one is certain."

"However, this has only made everyone else more frantic; they all feel this is a god-given treasure land."

The absence of monster harassment was undoubtedly a massive temptation for people struggling to survive in the apocalypse.

Song Yang nodded, having made up his mind.

He looked at the man and said,

"Temporary cooperation is fine, but I'm not joining any team."

The smile on Tiger Zhao's face stiffened for a second before recovering.

"Brother, you're a straight shooter. Fine, as long as we can act together, having a friend is better than an enemy. I'm Tiger Zhao. How should I address you, Brother?"

"Song Yang."

"Alright, Brother Song!"

Tiger Zhao slapped his thigh. "Then let's rest up a bit and go scout the way over there together in a while?"

Song Yang gave an "Mm" and found a room to rest in temporarily with the members of the Blackstone team.

As soon as they sat down, the Blackstone members fished out food from their respective backpacks.

Canned beef, vacuum-sealed chicken legs, and several bottles of mineral water.

Seeing Song Yang empty-handed, Tiger Zhao handed over an untouched chicken leg.

"Brother Song, have something to line your stomach."

Just then, a burst of sharp screaming erupted outside the house without warning, followed by chaotic footsteps.

"Damn it!"

Tiger Zhao's expression changed drastically. He ignored the chicken leg he'd just offered, grabbed the machete leaning against the wall, and kicked open the already rickety wooden door.

Outside, the street that had been somewhat orderly was now in total chaos. The survivors who had been gathered in small groups drinking, bragging, and roasting meat were now like ants from a disturbed nest, their faces pale as they fled frantically in no particular direction.

Some had lost their shoes and were stumbling barefoot over the rubble-strewn ground.

Some, in their blind panic, even knocked over roadside bonfires, setting themselves on fire.

The direction they were fleeing was away from the town center, back toward the way they had come.

It was as if some invisible, terrifying existence was chasing them from behind.

"What's going on?"

Tiger Zhao was somewhat confused.

"There are at least three hundred people gathered in this town, including some Evolvers. What on earth could scare these desperadoes like this?"

One had to know that few who could survive until now in this apocalypse and dared to venture deep into such unknown areas were true cowards.

Yet the scene before them clearly showed they had encountered something terrifying enough to crush all their courage and methods.

Tiger Zhao took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

He glanced at Song Yang. "Brother Song, what do you think? In this situation, should we run with them, or..."

Before Tiger Zhao could finish, a burst of "Squeak, squeak, squeak" sounds suddenly erupted from the town center and spread with alarming speed.

Then, at the end of the street, within the darkness shrouded by the night, one, then two crimson lights lit up.

Immediately, those lights were like sparks starting a prairie fire; in the blink of an eye, they connected into a vast expanse, converging into two rivers of red light that made one's scalp tingle with fear.

"What is that?" a Blackstone team member asked.

No one answered him.

Because in the next moment, the answer was revealed.

A "wave" composed of countless black rats, each the size of a Tricolor Cat with glossy fur, was surging out of the darkness!

They gathered together, forming a black carpet that continuously rolled and expanded forward, leaving not a single blade of grass where they passed.

Their target was clear: all living creatures.

"Agh—!"

A survivor who was running a bit slower was overtaken and submerged by the black Rat Tide.

In less than a second, only a white skeleton remained on the ground!

Even the thick clothing he wore had been gnawed completely clean.

A burly man who looked like an Evolver roared as he swung a steel pipe, trying to smash a path through.

Every time the steel pipe swung down, it crushed dozens of rats into pulp.

However, for a Rat Tide so massive it was almost bottomless, this was merely a drop in the bucket.

More rats lunged forward without fear of death, clinging to the burly man's body and biting frantically.

The man's roar quickly turned into a shrill scream; he slapped frantically at the rats on his body, but could only pull off large chunks of flesh.

In just over ten seconds, the burly man collapsed and was consumed by the swarm.

Two more Evolvers who were too close to the Rat Tide met the same fate almost simultaneously.

This hellish scene completely shattered everyone's psychological defenses.

"Run! Run now!"

Tiger Zhao watched with his own eyes as that Evolver was gnawed into bone, a chill rushing from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

He immediately dropped his backpack, turned, and scrambled away toward the path they came from—away from the town center.

His reason told him that any resistance before such a terrifying Rat Tide was futile; the only way to live was to run!

Run faster than anyone else!

Seeing this, the others from the Blackstone team also fled toward the outskirts of town, each wishing their parents had given them two extra legs.

Song Yang was no exception.

The scale and ferocity of this Rat Tide far exceeded his expectations.

No wonder there were no other monsters in this town.

Even he would die just the same if he were caught!