Chapter 11: The Polar Night Beast Tide-Apocalypse Counterattack(Three Old Cats)

Xiao Liu worked efficiently, spending half an hour dividing the meat of the three mutated beasts, packing up the bones, and burying the unwanted organs and remains in a shallow pit to avoid attracting more trouble with the scent of blood. Wang Ji stood guard nearby, answering Mouse’s endless questions from atop the tree in a low voice. Ever since Wang Ji had started bringing in a steady stream of equipment and ammunition from outside, Mouse’s curiosity had only grown. Yet Wang Ji kept his greatest bargaining chips and secrets to himself; even Mouse was not privy to the details, only told that he had a warehouse and resource points outside.

“Brother Wang, how did you practice your marksmanship?”

“Practice more, think harder, and waste less breath.”

“Uh…”

Hearing their conversation, Xiao Liu chuckled to himself, finished packing the supplies, and was about to shoulder them back to the pickup when suddenly darkness fell before his eyes.

Startled, he cried out.

But it wasn’t just him—everyone suddenly found themselves unable to see anything ahead.

Bright daylight turned to night in an instant. Pitch-black night, as dark as ink.

Wang Ji shuddered, instinctively activating the pistol’s flashlight and uttering a low command to calm Mouse.

Xiao Liu and Mouse settled down a little after seeing the light.

In the distance, other teams shouted in terror, and even gunshots rang out.

Three seconds later, a dazzling white streak crossed the sky with a thunderous rumble—a flaming, orb-shaped object flew toward them, descending lower and lower.

Everyone stared in horror at the anomaly overhead, as if the world’s end was truly about to descend upon them.

As darkness engulfed the world, far away in Kyoto, within a vast secret underground facility, a shadowy figure sat in the center of a dim chamber.

Before the shadow was a screen, displaying several small windows—each showing similar rooms and shadowy figures.

“The polar night… descends…”

“The plan must begin.”

Wang Ji focused intently on the orb as it swept over their heads, continuing toward the horizon. Seconds later, he sensed a faint tremor in the ground.

Then, light returned as suddenly as it had vanished. When Wang Ji’s vision came back, he saw Mouse and Xiao Liu’s faces twisted in fright.

“Everyone, gather up. I suspect things are about to get worse,” Wang Ji called, grabbing Mouse and Xiao Liu, leaving their excess spoils behind in haste as they hurried toward the parked vehicles at the gas station.

Because just now, the X System had transmitted an urgent alert:

[Emergency! High-level mutant incursion detected! Commander, take heed!]

Three consecutive warnings made Wang Ji’s heart sink. He asked the X System what kind of high-level mutant, but received only an answer—insufficient clearance to explain.

At the gas station, everyone gradually gathered, discussing the strange celestial event.

“Quiet down, everyone, listen up!” Zhao Gang quickly intervened to restore order.

“It’s just a strange phenomenon, and it’s far from us. We can continue the mission…”

Wang Ji arrived right then, rushing up to Zhao Gang and speaking loudly, “Captain Zhao! I sense something is wrong. We should abort the mission and return to camp.”

“But… Brother Wang, you…”

Before Zhao Gang could finish, Wang Ji’s expression changed suddenly. He raised his hand, then crouched and pressed his palm to the ground.

---

“Silence!” Wang Ji shouted, sensing the vibrations beneath him with a grim face. He stood, ran across the station, and climbed to the roof, retrieving binoculars from his backpack.

Through the binoculars, Wang Ji saw distant forest trees shaking violently. With his sharp hearing, he caught the faint sound of beastly roars.

Puzzled, Wang Ji focused again. From the woods burst a giant gorilla, towering two or three times taller than a man, its fur flying as it pounded its chest and called out majestically to the sky.

At that, not only Wang Ji but Zhao Gang and the others turned pale.

“Go! Beast tide!” Wang Ji leapt down from the roof, sprinting toward his pickup.

Zhao Gang’s face changed, but he steadied himself quickly and followed Wang Ji’s lead, shouting for everyone to board the vehicles, grab supplies, and retreat immediately.

The crowd scattered like a hive disturbed, each scrambling into their vehicles and turning toward the camp.

“Oooo~~~ Oooo!”

The gorilla’s roar grew closer, swift as the wind, followed by a horde of mutated beasts of every kind, sweeping toward them in a mighty wave.

Bang, bang, bang…

Wang Ji leaned halfway out the window, shooting down a rampaging beast that crashed toward them, then sat back in the cab with a grim face.

“It looks bad—these mutants are utterly crazed.”

“Yeah, Brother Wang, look at their eyes. Wild, like true beasts!” Mouse’s voice betrayed his fear, watching the stampede ahead.

Wang Ji’s vehicle led the convoy, bearing the brunt of the pressure as beasts surged from both sides. His accuracy and reflexes kept the truck from being smashed.

Suddenly, a loud blast erupted behind the convoy. Wang Ji felt the shockwave from the rear, looked out, and saw that the fuel truck had been hit and overturned, burning in a fiery explosion.

The towering flames blocked the road for the mutants behind and engulfed the team’s vehicle right behind the fuel truck, likely spelling doom for those inside.

“Don’t look—drive!” Wang Ji urged Xiao Liu not to be distracted by the rear, pressing onward.

A journey that had taken over an hour on the way in was now made in under thirty minutes at maximum speed.

Only a handful of vehicles remained, thirty or so people, with fewer than twenty surviving the return.

The convoy stormed into camp. Xiao Liu jumped out and shouted, “Brother Wang, I have to check on my mother!”

Wang Ji grabbed Xiao Liu, who was about to run off. “I’m faster. You and Mouse drive to get her; meet at my place!”

“Thank you, Brother Wang!” Xiao Liu spun into the driver’s seat.

“Be careful!” Wang Ji said before dashing home.

“Got it, Brother Wang!” Mouse smiled and waved.

The camp was in chaos. Gunfire echoed from the wall towers, proof that the crazed mutants were attacking the perimeter.

Zhao Gang, upon returning, immediately ordered his deputy to reinforce the walls, stabilizing the defenses.

He then led a group to the camp’s tallest rooftop to observe the beast tide.

The gorilla’s army arrived half an hour after Wang Ji’s group returned, thousands of beasts encircling the camp.

Under the gorilla’s command, the horde ceased attacking the camp, merely surrounding it tightly.

On the plaza, people wailed and ran in panic—some lost children, some robbed, others sat hopelessly in corners, crying in silence.

Most crowded at the gate, desperate to escape, almost overwhelming the armed troops trying to maintain order.

---

Zhao Gang strode heavily onto the plaza stage, surveying the anxious crowd below.

Those still gathered here were his trusted backbone and elite hunters from various squads, along with their families—over two hundred in all.

Before he could speak, a man ran up, face pale with terror.

“Captain Zhao!! That gorilla… huff… huff… the gorilla wants to negotiate with our leader!”

“What?” Zhao Gang’s first thought was disbelief—was this some movie, Rise of the Planet of the Apes? A gorilla speaking?

“Are you sure the gorilla wants to negotiate?”

Just then, Wang Ji arrived, setting down his large case. “Yes, the gorilla can speak,” the man replied nervously.

Wang Ji pondered aloud, “Looks like we’re doomed.”

Zhao Gang stepped forward, speaking softly, “Whatever happens, we must prepare for evacuation. Let me go and see.”

Wang Ji quickly followed, “Let me go with you, Captain Zhao!”

Zhao Gang looked deeply at Wang Ji and smiled. “Alright, Brother Wang, let’s go together and see what this gorilla is about.”

The two walked side by side, heading to the gate, opening it to face the beast horde without flinching.

At the front of the horde, the towering gorilla saw Zhao Gang and Wang Ji approach, wore a haughty expression, and strode over.

“So… have you decided to surrender to my tribe?” The gorilla’s voice boomed, strangely accented, addressing Zhao Gang and Wang Ji, who stood before it like children.

The two exchanged a look, stepping forward, “Your tribe?”

“Hmph! You are an uncivilized race. To surrender to the glorious Xirong tribe is your highest honor!” The gorilla raised its voice, roaring at Zhao Gang and Wang Ji.

But Wang Ji and Zhao Gang stood their ground.

“You call us uncivilized? Do you think your fur and raw meat make you superior?” Wang Ji sneered, retorting loudly.

The gorilla’s fur bristled, baring its blood-red maw at Wang Ji. “You! Insect-like creature, what do you know?!”

Zhao Gang stepped in front of Wang Ji, facing the gorilla’s fangs with upright resolve, steady as a rock in the wind. “Speak—what do you want to negotiate?”

“Hmph! Now that you’re surrounded, you have two choices: die or become slaves!”

“Slaves? I would rather die standing than kneel in shame!” Wang Ji’s anger flared—human dignity could not be defiled.

Zhao Gang waved Wang Ji back, restraining his impulse.

He addressed the gorilla, “This is a grave matter. I must consult others before deciding. Give us one hour.”

The gorilla raised itself slowly, turned to the horde, and left with a parting remark:

“You have only half an hour!”

Zhao Gang exhaled lightly, pulled Wang Ji’s arm, and headed back.

He whispered, “We’ll discuss this inside.”