Chapter 1832: Mummified Xenomorphs
The funeral was attended not only by locals from the Polar Safe Zone, but also by players like Xu Huo from other districts. However, they only watched from the periphery and could not empathize with the indignation of the safe zone residents.
Separated by a few meters of sand-covered rubble, they seemed to be from two different worlds.
After the funeral, Xu Huo was ready to leave. Fei Xian had arranged for four players to accompany them, all C-rank players. Their main purpose was not to protect them, but to guide the way.
"They clearly want to send us to CK22. There's nothing left there," Deng Xiahei said, not understanding why he agreed to this trip.
Many safe zones in District 010 had been buried under yellow sand. Although the numbers on the chip obtained from District 019 might have originated from here, if they couldn't even find the place, there would be no further clues.
District 010 could now be considered a district abandoned by the outside world. The data on the xenomorph chip that hadn't been completely overwritten could only have come from safe zones established in the early days—the numbered safe zones built by various countries during the period of extreme hardship.
So, he had to make this trip to CK22.
Xu Huo took a moment to release Fan Yunhong. He had been in the staff dormitory long enough.
"If you want to stay, you can talk to Fei Xian," he said, looking at the people approaching from a distance.
The safe zone was free, but Fan Yunhong was an ordinary person and needed to be accepted by a player.
Fei Xian hadn't expected him to bring someone along, but seeing the black thorn pattern on Fan Yunhong's hand, he knew he was also from District 010. He nodded and had a player take him to register.
"Thank you. Goodbye." Fan Yunhong bowed to Xu Huo before following them.
Xu Huo's group of three, plus the four players from the Polar Safe Zone, and Wu Ge, Juan Er, and the other two, formed an eleven-person team heading for CK22.
Xu Huo, Deng Xiahei, and Wu Ge's group were all equipped with long-distance teleportation items. Some were convenient for carrying people, so they simply took the Polar Safe Zone players along toward CK22. However, the teleportation distance was limited, so they couldn't arrive directly.
When they stopped to rest, Ye Xiaoshan, the leader of the Polar Safe Zone players, briefed them on the poisonous insects that frequently appeared nearby and the possible xenomorphs in the area.
For a time, the CK22 safe zone had become a nest for xenomorph groups. Even though the xenomorphs eventually left due to lack of food, many still remained. Because the city was large, they could hide in any unexpected place, so understanding the types and habits of xenomorphs was necessary, since players' defense items weren't activated twenty-four hours a day.
"There are a lot of poisonous xenomorphs in CK22," Deng Xiahei said after listening.
"Except for the few he specifically mentioned, the others aren't very toxic. Taking an antidote in time will be fine," Ye Xiaoshan said, distributing the roasted poisonous insects to his companions. He said to Deng Xiahei, "We're used to eating this stuff. We won't get diarrhea."
"It's not like we're short on food." Deng Xiahei handed his jerky and water to them.
Ye Xiaoshan declined, "We can eat good food when we do instances. But Brother Fei said that since we're home, we should share the hardships with our family. It's not right for only players to feast."
Deng Xiahei looked at the "feast" in his hand, didn't insist, and took it back to eat himself.
"The safe zone was destroyed, so most of the xenomorphs should have died as well," Xu Huo said at this point. "There aren't many cities left along the way. Are there still places in District 010 where xenomorphs live in groups?"
"There are, but they're a bit far from here," Ye Xiaoshan said. "Further north, it's not as hot as it is here. There are still many mutant animals alive, and they also serve as food for the xenomorphs."
"But the flesh, skin, and blood of many of those mutant animals are highly toxic. Humans can't eat them, only some xenomorphs can digest them."
Animals have survival instincts, so they naturally follow the food source.
"I've heard that District 010 used to be full of xenomorphs. Even if many died, with such a huge number, would a few mutant animals be enough to eat?" Gao Dawei asked.
"There are still some mutant animals with strong vitality and reproductive abilities that have survived," Ye Xiaoshan said. "But it's also possible that because they are highly toxic, they have survived in larger numbers."
Given the conditions in District 010, even the most prolific mutant animals could be eaten clean.
During the break, Xu Huo asked Ye Xiaoshan in detail about the xenomorphs they had encountered and their characteristics. The Polar Safe Zone was a relatively well-equipped city. Players regularly went out to search for resources or make early warning arrangements. They paid more attention to the appearance of xenomorph groups than small towns or camps, and their exploration range was also larger.
When he felt he had enough information, the group set off again.
The next morning, they arrived at CK22. From a distance, the city looked like any other they had seen before—gray and dusty, like a dried-up tree, without moisture or vitality.
The group entered the city on foot. Wu Ge and Juan Er, having been paid by Xu Huo, dutifully acted as bodyguards, walking on the outermost perimeter. Ye Xiaoshan and his group led the way, while Xu Huo's three walked in the middle.
The city was full of collapsed ruins. In many places, cars were piled up, and there were no intact roads for walking, so they had to climb over collapsed buildings from time to time.
This wasn't a problem for players, and by not going through the interiors, they could avoid xenomorphs as much as possible.
However, unexpectedly, some xenomorphs that looked almost completely desiccated were still alive. Just ten minutes after they entered the city, a mummified xenomorph hanging on a collapsed iron door suddenly leaped up and attacked Wu Ge.
Having encountered such desiccated corpses a few times before, the group hadn't thought anything was wrong and weren't particularly on guard. But this one suddenly jumped up. Although the distance wasn't great, Wu Ge was wearing a defense item. After blocking the attack, he kicked the xenomorph away.
But the next second, an even more physically disturbing scene unfolded. The kicked xenomorph rolled several times on the ground before quickly stabilizing itself, then lunged at the other players. Its abnormally shriveled body possessed incredible speed.
This sudden attack by a single xenomorph seemed to activate the entire city. The desiccated corpses scattered in various twisted poses everywhere came to life one after another—from underground, from the ruins, from the high buildings—all charging with a single target toward the crowd in the middle!
"Rebound!" Juan Er activated a large-scale defense item. A defense barrier instantly enveloped everyone. Ye Xiaoshan, who had already dealt with the first xenomorph up ahead, looked at the things emerging from all directions—things that were neither truly alive nor truly dead—and said with some shock, "Have these xenomorphs evolved again?!"