Fan Xui's attack took out all the zombies in that area. Somehow, the population of zombies in this place had reduced drastically compared to the time he came by after retrieving Tian from H city.
'Must be because of the growing mutant animal's population,'
This happened in his past life as well.
After the second meteor, the zombie population decreased drastically. Everyone rejoiced, but soon the zombies also start to evolve and got stronger. The mutant animals also became the targets.
Yue sighed softly as they were walking over to the river bed. 'Nature tries to balance it out, but it failed.'
The river was flowing slowly and calmly, hiding the danger that was lurking underneath its depth.
"Stop," he made sure everyone stopped a few feet away. Rummaging through his pockets, he took out a small muffin. Trexa immediately jumped out and tried to get it from him. "Baba just needs a little okay. The rest is yours,"
He pinched off the top of the muffin and tossed it into the water.
The piece of muffin floated innocently, but in seconds five orange fishes swam up and ate it. They were each about an arm's length and round like a football.
Yue peered at them intently. 'if this is their mutated size, it's not a problem swimming down,'
The mutated fish he met in his last life was enormous. They were like fucking whales. Every time they spotted a prey they try their best to pull them underwater and suck them up like a vacuum.
One good this was the goldfishes did not have teeth, so getting infected by their bite was impossible. But drowning and getting eaten alive were the major dangers when it comes to them.
Yue waited for a bit to see if any other goldfish swam up. Twenty or so did. They were all the same size.
This gave him a slight reassurance.
In his past life, he passed by this bridge after many years of the meteor crash. There is a possibility the goldfishes grew to that size because they were undisturbed.
Looking at them now, they did not look that terrifying.
Yue stood up, patting the sand off his hand. "I think it's safe now. I'll go swim down and see what's stuck in the pipe shaft...." he glanced at the grenade in his hand. "Tian can I blow up the muck with this grenade? Will it damage the pipes?"
Tian gave him a dull look. "Of course, it will damage the pipes."
"Fuck, do I have to manually clean it out," he pouted.
Tian lowered the heavy bag off her shoulders and took out two long ropes. "All you have to do is tie it around the pipe. We'll pull it up and after getting it to the shore we will clean it up together."
She tied one end of the rope tightly around his waist. "if there is any problem, tug at this rope, okay? We'll pull you out instantly." She handed another rope to his hand. "Tie this rope around the pipe. Remember, your life is much more important, okay? Don't take unnecessary risks,"
Yue nodded. He removed his coat and handed it to Tian. "Trexa's in the pocket. Take care of her."
Tian carefully pulled out Trexa, who was hugging a green bean in her palm, and shoved her into her own coat pocket. "Take precaution. If you see any dangerous mutant fishes. Anything out of ordinary tug at the rope!" she insistently said this.
"Okay, I will,"
Yue removed his shirt, tied his thick woolen socks up and finally tied his short hair up in a messy bun.
Fan Xui gently touched his back with a worried look on his face.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"I'll be fine," without another word he jumped into the reservoir.
The water was ice cold but very refreshing. Warm sunlight streamed down into the depths, casting strings of light.
Yue swiftly swam down to the pipeline. His vision was partially impaired but even so, he could see the huge pipeline submerged there.
Suddenly there was a cold splash of water behind his back. a few bubbles floated about.
He could feel it... something was close by. He slowed down and took a careful look around.
A few curious goldfish swam close by.
They did not attack him, but just nibbled at his feet.
It tickled.
Yue let out an accidental giggle. Air bubbles escaped out of his mouth.
He swiftly closed his mouth, retaining the air as best as he could.
Yue swam down to the pipe and started to tie the rope around it.
Something rubbed against his feet.
Thinking that those annoying fishes had returned, he kicked it and continued to tie the rope up. He was at his last breath. He could last for only a few more seconds he did not want to waste it on the fish.
Something grabbed his ankle.
In complete shock, he glanced back. A dark figure dragged him down forcefully.
Swiftly, Yue took out his sword and sliced at it.
Underwater, the force of his attack was minimized. The zombie easily dodged it and grabbed a hold of his hand.
His heart started to pound loudly in his ear. His lungs started to burn without oxygen.
Hurriedly kicked the zombie away, and he tugged at the rope around his waist.
He was pulled up.
Yue was almost close to the surface when all of a sudden, the zombie swam close and gripped his ankles again.
The zombie did not let go, though. He pulled him down forcefully.
He was being tugged at both sides, stuck underwater with no air...
'Fuck....' he tried to kick that zombie away again, but it did not let go. He slowly swam up close to his face. Exposing its grey eyes. It's whole body was swollen and rotting..
Its eyes... they weirdly seemed human.
It curiously tugged at the rope that was pulling him. The zombie took out a yellow dagger like thing and cut the rope instantly.
'Oh fuck. I'm so doomed. ...'
The zombie swam back down, held onto his ankle tightly, and dragged him down into the dark depths.
Yue struggled. With all his might, he kicked and punched at the zombie's arms. but it was very strong....
It was stronger than him.
The burning feeling in his chest became intense. He could barely stay conscious anymore. His body started to twitch uncontrollably.
'Is... is this going to be my last... moment... i... I don't want to die.... I want to live... someone.... save me....'
Through his blurry eyes, he saw the zombie swimming close to his face. it caressed his neck with its rough hands.
'Fan or Tian will jump in.... this thing will kill them... I... I have to kill it....'
Yue grabbed onto its face in a desperate attempt to crush its skull.
Weirdly so… his fingertips was glowing slightly.
Right as he touched it, he felt a warm breath enter his body. He gasped out loud, taking in a deep breath. His vision cleared up.
In total shock, he glanced around.
He.... he was breathing... underwater.....
'i.... what sorcery is this!!!.... what the hell is this?'
A hand gingerly touched his neck.
He flinched back and swam away from the zombie.
It innocently blinked at him.
Yue touched the part of his neck that was burning slightly. He felt small slit-like openings. It was flapping with each breath he took.
'gills!!! Oh, my mother Mary! What is this thing!!!'
The zombie swam close... "goo....goooo...." its throaty voice came as an echo in his ear.
It was very weird.... it was not a sound but a vibration...
Yue tried to keep a safe distance away from it. 'Stay away!' he held up his dagger.
The zombie also held up a white knife-like thing. It curiously looked at this dagger and then at its weapon..."goo....." it tilted its head slightly.
Its grey eyes looked at him with peculiar interest.
Yue had seen that weapon before.
The corpse in the control room had that same dagger-like thing stuck to his neck.
Most likely this creature was the one that was creeping into the treatment facility now and then.
'Fuck I was careless.'
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe only considered the presence of mutant fishes but he did not count on aquatic zombies because he had never seen one. Its strength was par with his and its attack was also very accurate when it sliced off his rope.
It was dangerous.....
Yue did not want to spend even a second longer there. He swiftly swam up.
"GOOOOOO" he swam faster and caught up with him. It grabbed onto his legs and dragged him down.
'Let go! Fucking let go!' he kicked its face.
"goooo.... goo..." it cried, pulling him back down to the river bed.
Yue was perplexed. This zombie did not seem like it wanted to attack him.... it was very weird...
Once again, the zombie got close and touched the gills on his neck.
"gooooo....." its voice sounded happy, almost.
Yue peered at it. That zombie had gills too. Its hands were completely pruned up and in between its fingers; there was a thin film of the skin acting like its flippers.
'Aquatic zombie... it sounds really weird...'
He kept a keen look at the zombie. It seemed harmless.
Yue sighed and went over to the pipeline. He swiftly tied the rope.
But suddenly the zombie came close and cut the line with its knife.
"yah!"
His own voice sounded like a loud echo.
The zombie flinched back.
Even he was surprised. 'I can talk underwater!! Mommy, I've become a monster...'
A sudden bright red light dropped onto the pipe.
It was a flare.
He glanced up.
Fan Xui was swimming down swiftly.
"Fan!" he happily swam to him.
The zombie clung to his foot.
"Let go!"
It let go as if it understood his words.
Yue swam up to Fan and held his hand.
The instant his skin touched his fingertips, he could not breathe.
The gills disappeared......