I am the Zombie King of the Apocalyptic World
Chapter 1622 - 1616: Heroes and Deserters

Chapter 1622: Chapter 1616: Heroes and Deserters

The bandit leader approached the vehicle, narrowing his eyes slightly as the distance closed. He raised the laser weapon in his hand, aiming it at the people inside the car. But the next second, the car door opened, and upon seeing the people stepping out, the leader immediately turned around and bolted without hesitation!

Three people emerged from the car in total—not particularly powerful evolved humans. However, each of them was clad in exoskeleton suits, and from their design, anyone with a decent eye for gear could tell that these were no ordinary items. Especially the weapons in their hands—anyone living in the Dangerous Sanctuary City who wasn’t blind could immediately recognize them as Tianguang weapons!

In an instant, not only did the bandits turn tail and run, but even those watching nearby quickly abandoned whatever thoughts they’d harbored. Still, many people’s gazes lingered on the trio from the car, as their appearance was far more startling than the functional sedan itself. The sight of their exoskeleton suits sparked curiosity about their identities.

"They look like they’re from the Cold Army—what are they doing here? Where’s the rest of their group?"

"No, they must have just come from the battlefield. Could they be the survivors from the Second District?"

"They really are survivors from the Second District! There are still people alive!"

"Just the three of them?"

"There’s one more in the car."

"..."

The surrounding crowd murmured as someone worked up the courage to step closer, scrutinizing them carefully. Yet, the trio remained fully encased in exoskeleton suits, leaving their faces hidden from view.

More and more people gathered around—not to console the so-called survivors—but rather to expose their own faces to the soldiers. Too many had died in the Second District, including local kin and soldiers from this city. The civilians desperately hoped that one of these three might turn out to be a long-lost relative.

Unfortunately, the three armored soldiers didn’t acknowledge anyone in the crowd. This left many disappointed, their expressions growing somber.

The three individuals were Ghost Head, Brother Shi, and Yong. Paying no heed to their surroundings, they walked steadily toward the Dangerous Sanctuary City District.

It seemed as though the locals had already begun to view them as heroes. On the Second District Battlefield, tens of thousands had been swallowed by the tide of corpses. The skies teemed with lost souls, enveloping the city below in an air of heavy grief. No one realized that these three were actually deserters.

Inside the vehicle, Crooked Neck fingered the Level 7 Evolution Crystal in his hand, a grin spreading across his face. His exoskeleton suit now adorned Yong, as he had swapped it out for civilian attire before their arrival. No one would suspect him of being a deserter as long as no one investigated further. Regardless, he no longer cared—his only thought was the limitless hope for life that the high-level Evolution Crystal in his hand promised.

His smile didn’t last long. When he glanced again at the trio—Ghost Head, Brother Shi, and Yong—his grin slowly vanished, giving way to an inexplicable wave of sadness. He couldn’t find the words, and instead murmured softly toward their retreating backs: "Good luck to you all."

Having said this, he slammed the Tianguang weapon beside him heavily onto the seat, the sound startling the onlookers. He then drove off, waiting for the moment no one paid him attention to sneak into the city and search for his wife and children.

Meanwhile, the trio proceeded directly into the city. Just as anticipated, no one blocked their way. They attracted only curious glances from passersby as they moved through the streets.

Sanctuary City was no longer the bustling, thriving place it once had been when they left. The streets were starkly deserted, with only a rare few rushing about. The shops were all in disarray—cabinets toppled, goods strewn, and debris covering the floor. Only useless items remained, presenting an apocalyptic scene of chaos frozen in time.

Corpses lay scattered across the streets, mingling with blood and sewage. The air reeked of a nauseating metallic stench, overlaid with the acrid tang of scorched material.

The three ignored the carnage entirely. Ghost Head occasionally glanced at Brother Shi, who led the way with resolute steps. He seemed firmly devoid of regret, his clenched fists speaking to the burdens he was suppressing. Perhaps he was seeking an outlet for release?

In stark contrast, Ghost Head’s body trembled. This might have been the greatest choice he’d ever made in his life—akin to spending years scrimping and saving to amass millions, only to suddenly decide to donate it all to those in need. In that moment, he felt both grandly noble and deeply shaken. He couldn’t tell whether his trembling stemmed from exhilaration or fear.

Regardless, the image hovering in his mind solidified his resolve. Even if he could never witness the outcome himself, the thought of contributing to its construction made him feel his life wasn’t being wasted.

He let out a soft sigh. A week from now—he wondered if he’d still be alive.

He committed this fleeting moment to memory, much like how as a child, he would lie in bed gazing out the window at the night sky, trying to remember everything about that time. Somehow, he still remembered it vividly to this day. That clarity brought him a sense of peace, as though life was tranquil and good. He imagined that if he survived and looked back on this scene, he’d only shake his head and smile wistfully. Everyone experiences the hardest period of their lives, and those memories make the rest of life feel vast and beautiful.

To live... perhaps...

As the trio delved deeper into Sanctuary City, they approached the military district, where soldiers in uniform began to appear. The sight of the damaged exoskeleton suits on the three soldiers puzzled the troops. Misunderstanding the situation, the soldiers took them for heroes surviving the Second District’s catastrophe.

The soldiers’ respectful gestures left the trio deeply uneasy—they lacked the courage to accept such honors. Seeing countless gazes fixed on them, Ghost Head and the others quickly lowered their heads, avoiding all eye contact.

"Stop."

Finally, someone blocked their path, prompting the trio to raise their heads to look.

The man blocking their way wore a military officer’s uniform. He extended a hand to bar their advance, his face devoid of expression but his demeanor firm and professional.

"Deactivate your exoskeleton suits."

As the trio halted, the officer continued, prompting them to act swiftly. Within moments, Brother Shi and Yong retracted their exoskeleton suits entirely into their compact storage units. Ghost Head, however, was unable to deactivate his suit due to its severe damage, leaving it intact. The officer seemed to have anticipated this and didn’t make an issue of it, merely inspecting them before asking: "Where did you come from?"