Chapter 37: Clearing the library
Inside the library, there aren't many mutant bats left. There are only three third-level mutant bats and one fourth-level mutant bat.
Shaun continues to control Four and enters the library. He intends to lure the third-level mutant bats out first. A direct assault wouldn't have a high chance of success. Besides, Shaun doesn't want to lose Four and Shan.
Previously, he commanded ordinary zombies, which he could replace at will. However, things are completely different now. Both zombies have their roles, and losing either of them would weaken Shaun's combat power.
Four has the talent of camouflage and can avoid attracting the attention of the fourth-level mutant bat. Moreover, he's just a second-level elite zombie, and the virus in his body isn't that powerful.
Using his camouflage talent, he cautiously enters the third floor of the library. However, the third-level bats in his field of vision pay him no mind. They're hanging upside down on the ceiling light fixtures. They see Four but barely open their eyes before pretending to be asleep. Are they still pretending at a time like this?
Shaun directly controls Four and walks to the stairs while drawing his handgun. Bang! As the gunshot rings out, Four immediately activates his Swift ability and rushes outside at breakneck speed. As expected, the shot misses once again.
However, this provokes the three bats. They all take flight and head straight for Four. Shaun has been waiting outside the library for a long time. Mountain, with his tenacious life force, has fully recovered from his injuries. Shaun has activated his Battle Fury and Hardened Skin abilities for Mountain.
Together with the "Rapid Recovery" skill, he positions himself at the forefront. Facing three third-level mutant creatures, Mountain is undaunted, at least within the timeframe of Rapid Recovery.
Shaun has targeted one of the bats. He's activated his Heavy Strike and Battle Fury abilities. A surge of immense power courses through his body. At this moment, Shaun feels his own strength.
Seizing the opportunity, Shaun wields a huge frying pan and strikes one of the bats. Bang! The bat's head feels heavy, and maintaining flight becomes difficult.
Surprisingly ambushed! The mutant bat is furious. As a third-level mutant creature, its resistance to attacks isn't weak. It's about to recover.
But before it can fully regain its senses, Shaun's frying pan strikes again. Bang! The bat feels dazed again, teetering in the air.
Shaun smirks, pan strike after pan strike. With Battle Fury active, all his abilities have significantly improved. Bang! Bang! The sounds of heavy objects colliding continue.
In a short period, the bat falls to the ground. Blood flows, and it's completely lifeless. A third-level mutant bat has been slapped to death!
The other two bats continue attacking Mountain. As third-level mutants, their venomous fangs can easily pierce Mountain's skin. But with the talents of Tenacious Life and Swift Recovery, coupled with Hardened Skin and Battle Fury, each wound heals almost instantly. For now, Mountain can hold his ground without any injuries.
Four's attacks are equally fierce. With his green machete in hand, coupled with Heavy Strike and Battle Fury, each blow sends blood spattering, severely injuring one of the bats.
And whenever the bats attack, Four retreats behind Mountain directly. For a while, the two bats are growing increasingly furious in their attacks. But it's all in vain.
Shaun didn't expect Four to be so crafty, truly inheriting his essence. He didn't use Mind Manipulation this time, only issuing a vague command. But Four's intelligence has improved and is now noticeably different from other ordinary zombies.
Just looking at Mountain, it's clear his counterattacks consist of biting, and he can't break their defenses. But he seems to be enjoying it, completely futile.
However, Mountain's role is simply to endure, and Shaun doesn't expect him to hurt the mutant bats.
With the joint attack of Shaun, Four, and Mountain, the two mutant bats are eventually brought down despite their efforts to resist. Shaun gains 3600 evolution points once again.
At the same time, Four successfully completes an advancement and becomes a third-level elite zombie, standing at the pinnacle of zombie evolution.
Unfortunately, he hasn't gained new skills but has enhanced his Swift ability. After two enhancements, Swift's speed has quadrupled, and the probability of evading attacks is higher.
Only one fourth-level mutant bat remains in the library. Shaun isn't afraid at all, as he himself is a fourth-level elite zombie. He doesn't control Four and Mountain anymore.
With confidence, he strides in and heads straight to the fourth floor.
Roar! Shaun roars arrogantly. "I'm going to take on ten of them!"
The zombie virus inside him instantly awakens the bats of the same level. Their crimson eyes blaze with extreme excitement. The fourth-level mutant bat is massive, nearly as tall as a human. Hanging upside down from the light fixtures, it appears terrifying.
Activated Insightful Gaze, information about the enormous bat floods in:
Name: Mutant Bat
Tier: Fourth Tier
Talents: Tenacious Life, Flight, Precise Targeting
Skills: Pounce Kill, Venomous Bite, Sonic Shockwave
Completely incomparable to ordinary mutant bats. The Mutant Bat King's attributes are much more luxurious, and its power and speed far surpass those of regular bats.
Shaun directly activates his Hardened Skin, Heavy Strike, and Battle Fury. With these three significant buffs, his strength soars considerably. He wields a black frying pan, its speed not matching the Bat King's, but its power surpasses it by a large margin.
Shaun remains composed, awaiting the Bat King's initiative. The Bat King, with lower intelligence due to the virus inside, is bound to make the first move. As expected, the Bat King screeches, wings outspread like a black curtain as it launches an assault.
Shaun's expression remains unchanged as he swiftly strikes with the frying pan.
Bang!
The Bat King didn't expect Shaun's strength to be so great; its head is knocked askew, its mind buzzing. But as a powerful fourth-tier creature, it quickly regains its senses, retreating from Shaun in the process.
The Bat King abruptly turns around and pounces on Four behind Shaun. Four intends to use his camouflage for a surprise attack, but the Bat King's Precise Targeting talent exposes his plan. Fortunately, Four activates Swift just in time, quadrupling his speed. This makes it difficult even for a fourth-tier creature to catch up.
Mountain tries to entangle the Bat King, but it's in vain. Being capable of flight, the Bat King is impossible to catch. The three zombies find themselves momentarily helpless against the Bat King.
The mutant bat hovers in the air, its crimson eyes fixated on the three zombies. It emits an eerie and strange screeching sound. Although Shaun can't feel pain, he realizes he's been injured. Almost instantly, blood oozes from his mouth, nose, and ears.
Sonic Shockwave!
The Bat King recognizes that the three zombies aren't easy opponents and unleashes its ultimate move. Shaun attempts to counterattack but finds himself immobilized and stumbling as he tries to walk.
Area control and massive damage!
The Bat King's move is somewhat outrageous! Shaun's response is swift. If this continues, he can handle it, but Four might fall first. From his system backpack, Shaun retrieves a rifle. Even if he can't move, it doesn't hinder his ability to use firearms.
The drawback of the Bat King's ultimate move also becomes apparent. It can't move itself and hovers in the air by flapping its wings. Bang! Bang! Shaun immediately raises the rifle and starts shooting.
Fourth-tier creatures boast formidable defense. Handguns might struggle to inflict damage, but rifles possess significant firepower. While the Bat King isn't injured, the impact of the bullets makes it move.
Sonic Shockwave is interrupted!
At the same time, the Bat King plummets to the ground, seemingly affected by the skill interruption recoil.
Shaun's will returns, witnessing the scene before him. He realizes it's a prime opportunity. The three zombies converge on the Bat King, launching a group assault during its immobilization.
The machetes and frying pans strike one after another, and the Bat King struggles to withstand the assault. The chance of triggering Heavy Strike with increased damage adds to the onslaught.
In a short period, before the Bat King regains its senses, it meets its end.
"Ding! Successful extraction! Obtained Mutant Bat's Venomous Fangs!"
"Ding! Successful extraction! Obtained Mutant Bat's Crystal Core!"
"Ding! Failed to extract anomaly powers!"
...
"Ding! Host is devouring the flesh of a fourth-tier mutant creature, Evolution Points +80!"
...
"Ding! The zombies under your command are devouring the flesh of a fourth-tier mutant creature, Evolution Points +20!"
...
"Ding! The Evolution Points of zombies under your command are 4000/4000, meeting the advancement condition!"
"Host's strength, speed, vision, and hearing are all enhanced... Talent 'Strong Body' is strengthened!"
"Ding! The zombies under your command have randomly acquired the skill 'Resilience'!"
"Resilience: Increased resistance to abnormal states like poison and bleeding!"
After devouring the flesh, Shaun's Evolution Points surge by 2400. What surprises him is that Mountain advances again, acquiring another passive skill. Looking at Mountain's robust figure, it turns out that this seemingly simple zombie's talent surpasses even Four's. Furthermore, both of Mountain's skills are tank-related.
Seems like in the future, any unknown situations can be explored by Mountain.
Shaun searches the entire library for treasures but ultimately finds nothing. The three zombies have significantly grown in strength through this library eradication. They have also collected a large number of venomous fangs and crystal cores.
The three sunglass-wearing zombies swagger through the city center. They have become the apex predators of Gray Bear City. Fourth-tier creatures are no longer their opponents.
Shaun begins searching for mutant creatures to complete his daily tasks. He plans to go to the cinema first. However, just before he approaches, a cat's meow suddenly rings out.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone