Chapter 30: The Extraordinary Ability

With the threat of the high-level zombies removed, the mercenaries erupted into a full-scale offensive.

The first to transition from defense to attack was the Second Team Captain, Wu Yan, who had been holding the front line. He wielded a massive shield that had served strictly as a defensive tool until now. However, once he activated the power unit behind it, the shield functioned like a heavy-duty battering ram, slamming forward with devastating force. Any zombie in its path had their bones shattered and limbs snapped instantly. Naturally, the temporary release of the shield left Wu Yan vulnerable, and zombies seized the chance to strike. But suddenly, a layer of earthy yellow light shimmered over Wu Yan’s body, and his bulging muscles turned as hard as rock, allowing him to shrug off the attacks. It was clearly a defensive ability, and a potent one at that. Wu Yan didn't just take the hits; he retracted his massive shield to let the power unit recharge for the next strike.

If Wu Yan’s combat style—both offensive and defensive—was broad and powerful, then Third Team Captain Xu Haishui’s approach was quite unique. To be precise, his ability was peculiar. Upon activating it, Xu Haishui not only grew taller and more muscular, but black fur sprouted across his body. Even his facial features shifted, making him look remarkably like a giant, bipedal wolf. Lin Xinghai finally understood why the man’s eyes had possessed such a lupine quality; his ability was, in fact, lycanthropy.

Transformed into a werewolf, Xu Haishui’s physical attributes were vastly enhanced. His weapons were equally formidable: a pair of razor-sharp claws imbued with an electric shock function. Any zombie touched by them would convulse uncontrollably, and in the next heartbeat, a swipe would send their heads flying.

"Abilities really are something else!" Lin Xinghai couldn't help but remark, feeling a surge of anticipation regarding what his own ability might be.

Qin Yang, currently in the driver's seat, chimed in, "Indeed! If you awaken an ability, you can become a captain."

"Wait! Awakening an ability is enough to become a captain? Are there no other requirements, like reaching a certain level of strength?" Lin Xinghai asked with curiosity.

"None needed. Once you awaken an ability, your strength increases significantly, and the mercenary group tends to allocate more resources to you, so your strength will rise eventually. Take Xu Haishui, for instance. His genetic optimization level is only 50%, and many elite members are stronger than him. But he’s lucky; he awakened an ability, and a very rare transformation-type one at that: werewolf form. Once transformed, his combat power rivals that of experts with 80% genetic optimization," Qin Yang said, his face full of envy.

Lin Xinghai was slightly surprised, but that was all. In truth, he didn't have a concrete concept of what constituted a "rare" ability.

"What about Wu Yan? What’s his ability?" Lin Xinghai pressed.

"Captain Wu Yan’s ability is 'Rock Skin.' After activation, his skin becomes as hard as stone, and even mid-level zombies can’t break through his defense. However, the commander once said that this ability provides a fixed amount of defense. It’s effective in the early stages, but it doesn't grow with one's strength. If the ability itself cannot be upgraded, it might become a bit of a liability later on," Qin Yang explained.

"Abilities can be upgraded?" Lin Xinghai was surprised.

"Yes," Qin Yang nodded. "At genetic optimization levels of 30%, 60%, 90%, and 100%, there is a chance to awaken an ability. Those who have already awakened one have a certain probability of upgrading it. That’s why the earlier you awaken, the better."

Lin Xinghai’s heart stirred. Since he could choose to awaken at the 30% genetic optimization mark via his system, surely he could also choose to upgrade it at 60%, rather than relying on luck and probability like everyone else. The thought excited him, though he felt a pang of melancholy—knowing the nature of his system, the cost in Blood Qi would surely be substantial.

After their brief exchange, the two turned their attention back to the battlefield, firing their weapons to assist. The front line was now quite stable. Without the threat of high-level zombies, and with the mercenaries going all out, the tide of battle was nearly reversed. It was worth noting that while the other mercenaries lacked the sheer power of the two captains, they were by no means weak, especially with the advantage of their equipment. In this era, cold weapons were not merely forged from steel; they almost always incorporated technological elements, most commonly high-frequency vibration or electric shock functions, which greatly enhanced their lethality. Even though they were outnumbered, their overall combat effectiveness allowed them to fight the zombie horde to a standstill.

With Lin Xinghai and the others providing cover fire from the rear—or rather, helping to cull the zombies—the front line was not only stabilized but acted like a meat grinder, harvesting lives from the horde continuously. By now, the zombies had no chance of a comeback. If they didn't retreat, they would likely be annihilated.

Consequently, Lin Xinghai shifted his focus to the distant battlefield. The situation there could only be described as world-shattering. Where the battle raged, streets fractured and buildings collapsed. Fang Tianhe, piloting the "Sky-Splitting" mech, brandished a massive vibrating blade, engaging in a brutal, head-on clash with the Armored Zombie. Meanwhile, Shen Han, in the "Heavenly Frost" mech, held an electromagnetic railgun, constantly searching for opportunities to fire and suppress the beast.

The steel-like keratin layer on the Armored Zombie’s body already showed numerous cracks, and several deep, penetrating wounds had appeared across its frame. Its aura had withered significantly; the bloodthirsty cruelty of the beginning was gone, and even its movements had become timid.

"Tch! Things are going much smoother over there than here. I reckon it’ll be over in a minute at most," Lin Xinghai remarked.

If that was the case, even if he hadn't found a way to deal with the high-level zombie, the mercenaries could hold out until the two commanders returned to reinforce them.

"It shouldn't even take a minute to finish off the Armored Zombie. Look at the Heavenly Frost mech; Vice Commander Shen Han is about to use his ability," Qin Yang said.

Lin Xinghai looked over. The Heavenly Frost mech had once again raised its railgun to aim. But unlike before, the gun was not only wreathed in electrical arcs but also shrouded in a layer of frost, with ice crystals forming along the barrel.

"What is that?" Lin Xinghai asked.

"Vice Commander Shen Han’s ability, 'Heavenly Frost.' It can freeze enemies from a distance. Now that it’s been amplified by the mech, the power of the ability has reached a new level," Qin Yang answered.

As Qin Yang finished speaking, the Heavenly Frost mech fired. Under normal circumstances, the trajectory of a railgun bullet was impossible to track with the naked eye, but this time, a white streak trailed through the air wherever the bullet passed. Lin Xinghai stared intently and realized with shock that this white streak was caused by the bullet instantly freezing the moisture in the air as it tore through.