"Boom..."

  Several zombies that had been struggling to break through the blockade were suddenly flung high into the air, as if they had been hit by a speeding freight train. They crashed down heavily, writhing in agony, unable to rise. The scene was as shocking as it was inexplicable.

  "Boom..."

  Another muffled impact followed, sending even more zombies flying. They tumbled down, nding with sickening crunches—some with broken limbs, others with twisted necks that rendered them lifeless on the spot.

  "Roar..."

  A wild, earth-shaking roar pierced the night, reminiscent of a lion asserting dominance over its territory on the African savanna. It carried an overwhelming presence that demanded submission from all who heard it. Then, emerging suddenly in front of the armored truck was a towering figure, illuminated by the pale moonlight. It stood so conspicuously among the sea of the undead that it seemed almost unnatural—a being that should not exist in this world.

  At the sound of the roar, the horde of zombies trembled with unease. They, who had moments ago been relentless in their attack, now shrank back like mischievous children caught in the act. Those already cmbering onto the truck tumbled down in a panic, whimpering in fear before scurrying back into the mass of undead.

  The horde parted like a receding tide, retreating to the sides of the road. Though it seemed impossible, the people inside the truck could discern an unmistakable expression of fear on the zombies' grotesque faces. They gazed longingly at the armored vehicle but dared not advance. Instead, they bowed their heads in submission, as if mere foot soldiers before a commanding general, making way for the towering figure in the center.

  "They... They're retreating? Does this mean we're saved? Lin Tao, hurry! Start the truck!" Hu Laoda shouted excitedly, spping Lin Tao’s shoulder. But Lin Tao ignored him, gripping the steering wheel tightly as his gaze remained locked on the colossal figure now only a hundred meters ahead.

  "Out of the frying pan and into the fire," Lin Tao muttered grimly. "We might have escaped the horde, but now we're facing something far worse. Still... this might be our chance. Everyone, hold on tight! Our survival depends on this!"

  The roar of the armored truck's engine revved like an F1 race car as Lin Tao floored the accelerator, his eyes never leaving the approaching behemoth. He was searching for an opening—a chance to break through.

  The monstrous figure advanced with an air of regal arrogance, every step heavy with authority. The zombies scattered before it, their mournful cries filling the air as they scrambled to avoid its path. Occasionally, an unfortunate one failed to retreat in time, only to be swatted aside by a massive arm as thick as a human waist. Without even a scream, the poor creature was reduced to a pile of mangled flesh.

  Each step the creature took sent a deep, resounding thud through the air. Within moments, it had closed the distance to a mere fifty or sixty meters. Only then did the people in the truck truly see the monstrosity for what it was.

  It stood at least three to four meters tall, completely devoid of hair. Its bald head was covered in a grotesque cluster of eyes, staring in all directions. Its enormous arms bore an uncanny resembnce to those of a goril, but its grotesque appearance was far worse than any beast in nature. Its body was riddled with bulbous, festering tumors, some of which oozed a viscous bck pus. Even from a distance, the stench it emitted was worse than that of rotting corpses.

  "What the hell is that thing?!" Hu Laoda’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He had no doubt that the monster’s thick arms could easily crush the armored truck beneath them. The brief hope of survival he had felt just moments ago was now utterly shattered.

  "Hold on!" Lin Tao roared, releasing the clutch. In an instant, the three-ton armored truck surged forward like an enraged bull, its deafening roar echoing through the night as it charged at the creature.

  A thick cloud of bck smoke trailed behind the truck as its engine roared to full power. The monstrous figure seemed momentarily surprised by its prey's audacity. With a furious bellow, it pounded its own chest before dropping to all fours and charging headlong toward the vehicle.

  If the armored truck was a raging bull, then this creature was an unstoppable rhino. Not only did its momentum far surpass that of the truck, but its movements were also far more agile. As the truck barreled toward it, the creature swung its massive left arm downward with terrifying force. If the blow connected, the vehicle would surely be crushed like a tin can.

  In the split second before impact, Lin Tao jerked the steering wheel sharply to the left, tilting the armored truck onto two wheels. The vehicle slid beneath the monster’s outstretched arm and smashed directly into its right leg.

  The force of the collision sent a violent tremor through the monster’s massive body. Though its left arm missed its mark, the sheer impact against its leg was enough to break its bance. The beast staggered like an out-of-control truck, tipping sideways. It crashed onto the surrounding zombies with earth-shaking force, sending bodies and bckened flesh flying in all directions.

  The armored truck, however, had not escaped unscathed. Its front end crumpled, the bumper was nowhere to be seen, and the windshield had shattered into a web of cracks, obscuring all visibility.

  "Crash!"

  Completely out of control, the truck plowed through a cluster of zombies before smming into the side of an abandoned building. The impact tore a gaping hole into what was once a sauna parlor, but miraculously, the truck remained upright.

  The once-screaming women were now too hoarse to make a sound, reduced to silent gasps. Lin Tao shook off his dizziness, quickly scanning their surroundings. Though zombies still filled the streets, they no longer swarmed the vehicle. Instead, they fled in all directions, terrified by the furious roars of the fallen beast.

  "Damn it! That thing’s getting up! We need to go—now!" Hu Laoda clutched his bleeding forehead, his voice shrill with panic as he gnced at the rearview mirror.

  Lin Tao followed his gaze and saw the creature already struggling to its feet. He knew that if it reached them again, none of them would make it out alive. But as he twisted the key, the engine sputtered weakly, refusing to start.

  The monster let out another deafening roar and began charging once more. Just as despair threatened to take hold, the engine finally roared to life.

  Lin Tao stomped on the accelerator. The truck lurched backward, swerving onto the road once more.

  Watching the enraged creature fade into the distance, all of them let out a long, relieved sigh. Only now did they realize how utterly drained they were from sheer terror. Several of the more fragile girls fainted outright.

  "Lin Ye, what the hell was that thing? Even the zombies were afraid of it!" Cao Mei’s hands trembled as she struggled to light a cigarette. Taking a deep drag, she shakily passed it to Lin Tao.

  "That... was an evolved form of the undead—an alpha among them. They’re incredibly rare, appearing only once in tens of thousands. You can call it... the Corpse King." Lin Tao took a drag, his expression dark as he squinted through the shattered windshield.

  "How do they evolve? Do they... eat each other?" Bai Ru asked in shock.

  "Something like that," Lin Tao nodded.

  "Like raising Gu? Only the strongest survives?" Bai Ru mused.

  "Yes. But far more complex... and infinitely more terrifying." Lin Tao exhaled a stream of smoke. "And if more of them appear... humanity may truly have no future left."