Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 204 A Clear Path, The Path of a Leader!
Repeated dehydration is not difficult; just collect some unburnt vines as fuel and build a simple sauna using the building's structural panels.

The area around the camp is now filled with tinder dried by the fire, enough to burn for more than three days.

But the problem is that after going through this process of 'repeated dehydration and rehydration to replace body fluids', how many breaths will a living person have left?
This isn't something you can just do in a steam room for half an hour to sweat it out and then take a shower to sleep comfortably.

According to the instructions on the Xinhuotong app, you must complete "two removals and two changes" from the very beginning, and you can only stop when the gray substance in your sweat has completely stopped seeping out.

Roughly calculated, this step alone will take at least two and a half hours.

Difficult to handle!

If only a few dozen people are infected, we can simply let them rest in their residential units after the assessment is over, and then make further plans.

However, if hundreds or even two hundred people test positive for the parasite, most of the workforce will be forced to "go off work," and all subsequent defense and infrastructure construction will have to come to a standstill.

Before leaving the city, Cheng Ye never expected that the assessment would take such an unexpected turn.

After thinking for a while, he even absurdly prayed that there were more infected people on Rokuk's side than on his side. But then he thought that this idea was a bit far-fetched. Thousands of residents followed the inspector to reclaim the land because they trusted Happy City, supported the inspector's work, and had expectations for a better future.

Everyone's primary goal is to survive. In this situation, it's good if even one less person gets infected. How can anyone have the idea of ​​winning the assessment by any means necessary?

Moreover, including the two who were ambushed and killed by water leeches during the day and the two who went missing during the patrol, five people have already died before the first day is even over.

No matter how tough Rocco's methods are, the morale of the Red Zone should waver.

Even if he has fewer people on his side, as long as everyone still trusts him and is willing to work with him, this morale might be able to make up for the shortage of manpower.

Suppressing his distracting thoughts, Cheng Ye turned his gaze downwards to look at the specific details of the infected.

The first few illustrations were ones that Rococo had shown him, and they were not much different from the alienated state of that middle-aged man.

But the fusion that followed made Cheng Ye's heart skip a beat.

The fusion in the picture is 3.5 meters tall, with four ferocious crab claws dragging behind it. Combined with its original hands, it looks exactly like a six-armed demon god.

Even more terrifying is that its entire body is covered with a layer of blackish-green carapace, which gleams with a metallic sheen and looks incredibly hard.

Compared to Zhang Can, who focused on battery recovery, this monster, just by looking at its appearance, exudes a pure, head-on, reckless vibe.

The following text description also confirms his judgment.

【Decomposed Water Claw (Special Infected Form; Environmentally Polluting Type)】

[Stage 2 Infected Body Strength: Influenced by the parasitic host, physical constitution increases by 45%, strength increases by 105%, speed decreases by 57%, and defense increases by 350%]

[Level 3 Fusion Body Strength: Affected by the parasitic host, physique increased by 270%, strength increased by 1550%, speed increased by 47%, and defense increased by 2850%]

[Response to Infected Individuals:]

1. The only visible weakness of the Corrupted Water Claw Infected is its eyes. Destroying its eyes with a weapon will cause the infected to lose its ability to see, retaining only basic environmental awareness. This can reduce its accuracy and create opportunities for subsequent elimination.

2. Phase II infected have no special resistance mechanisms; their only fatal weakness is their heart in human form (the core of their parasitic infection). Destroying this area with a weapon will trigger an "instant death" effect, allowing for an immediate kill.
3. Strength of the three-phase fusion: B-
Detailed data on the three-phase fusion organisms are not yet fully available. The actual strength should be based on the host's pre-mortem physical condition, degree of parasitism, and degree of fusion.

The third-phase fusion's fatal weakness remains its heart region, but this area is heavily protected by the carapace generated by the fusion. Tests have shown that the carapace thickness in the heart region is no less than 18.5 cm, making it impenetrable by conventional weapons.

1. Specially designed armor-piercing rounds can be used to accurately target the armor plate in the heart region, penetrating the armor and destroying the core weak point.
2. Prioritize attacking the soft connecting parts between the fusion body's shells (this part is unprotected and has weak defenses). By disrupting the connecting structure, the shells will detach, exposing the core. Then, attack the core's weak points.

After the Phase III fusion entity is destroyed, the infection source (the core of the fusion entity's remains) must be contained within 30 seconds. If this time limit is exceeded, the infection source will automatically seep into the ground, severely disrupting the balance of the groundwater system and posing a risk of secondary environmental pollution.

】

Compared to the strength of the Stand Starfish, the infected creature parasitized by the Darkwater Cave Crab has an explosive increase in individual combat power.

While ordinary infected individuals have doubled strength and defense, their speed is greatly reduced, allowing humans to maneuver around them with agility.

The ability to fuse is clearly beyond the capabilities of ordinary people.

It has only one fatal wound on its entire body, which is firmly protected by a hard armor shell that can only be penetrated by a special armor-piercing bullet.

This single point alone determines that even if firepower is suppressed, the ordinary pistols in the hands of the guards will hardly be able to cause any damage.

Can Thunderbolt 1 break through defenses?

It's hard to say. The defense has increased twentyfold, which is really frightening. Not to mention that the fusion's speed has not only not decreased, but has increased by nearly half. It's difficult to aim at that fatal wound.

What bothered Cheng Ye even more was that the evolutionary path of the Darkwater Cave Crab was somewhat similar to the path he had chosen.

Unlike the Stand Starfish, which has a special "carnivorous recovery" mechanism, this one is purely about stacking stats and overwhelming opponents with brute force and defense.

This can be seen from their attack methods, which are extremely brutal. Whether it's the two crab claws of an ordinary infected person or the four crab claws of a fusion, they only use the most primitive moves of slamming, smashing, grabbing, and bumping.

"If we really encounter it, we must blind it immediately, and then use kite tactics."

"But with nearly 15 times the force, even a slight glancing or bumping into it would feel like a serious injury."

Cheng Ye pondered to himself, then picked up the enamel mug next to him and gulped down two large cups of water.

Since the panel clearly stated that "ingesting small amounts of toxic crystal fragments will not lead to parasitism," and that there are ways to remove parasites even if they do occur, he stopped being paranoid and scaring himself.

In contrast, the eerie footsteps that had sounded behind him earlier still sent chills down his spine when he thought about them.

So much so that the kick he gave to the middle-aged parasite was somewhat driven by a venting of personal grudges.

"With the superhuman state superimposed and the power limit of the iron body unleashed, just how powerful was my kick?"

Cheng Ye couldn't help but recall how he felt at that time.

Ordinary people can sense the magnitude of force through reaction force, but after activating his Iron Body, he lost the sensation of pain and the feedback, making it impossible for him to accurately assess his current strength level.

Unfortunately, Happiness City lacked testing equipment and sparring partners who would allow him to unleash his full potential without restraint, making it impossible to directly test his lethality.

In addition, Cheng Ye tried to summon a flame.

The little one was still sleeping, but the connection that allowed them to merge and coexist at any time remained unbroken.

This shows that the two mid-air jumps just now did not reach the current maximum capacity of the Flame.

"When you push off the ground and dash forward, you use the momentum to stay airborne and then kick out from the air. The power is at least one-third stronger than a kick from the ground, and the angle of attack is also more tricky. Most people have never seen this move before, so they don't have time to defend against it. If they get hit by it, they will lose half their life."

Thinking of this, Cheng Ye put away the torch and took off his helmet.

I wore this thing all day, and from the initial stuffiness and discomfort to getting used to it, I suddenly felt a refreshing sense of clarity in my lungs when I could breathe freely again.

The smell in the air became clearer. No wonder those sources of infection targeted human settlers. The scent of hay from burning vines in the afternoon hadn't dissipated yet, but there was an even stronger "smell of living people".

The mingled scents of hundreds of people dispelled the lingering decay of the abandoned buildings in Dabo Town, revealing a vibrant and lively atmosphere.

He stared at the camp not far away, his gaze momentarily lost in thought.

At this point, after a whole day of work, the residents were still tirelessly hammering and banging.

Surrounding the parking lot, steel plates were nailed to wooden stakes, and clumps of wire mesh were wrapped around the outside, with even the gaps sealed with gravel.

None of this was in his original plan; it was all done spontaneously by Sun Dazheng and everyone else.

This group of people, who came from a small settlement in the wilderness, may not have a big-picture view or understand complex tactical planning, but they possess the purest wisdom when it comes to "how to survive".

There was no need for him to urge them or for anyone to teach them; they knew to strengthen the defenses and hide the supplies. This instinct for survival, ingrained in their very being, was more reassuring than any meticulous plan.

At some point, Wang Kang walked over, also taking off his helmet and holding the same enamel mug in his hands.

Seeing him sitting on the ground looking "deflated," Wang Kang was clearly taken aback and stopped in his tracks.

"Sit down, what are you standing there for?"

Cheng Ye turned his head and patted the clean spot next to him.

While he was leading people to clear the surrounding wilderness, Wang Kang was not idle either, as can be seen from his current state.

The armor showed signs of gray stone everywhere, and the mask was covered with two layers of gray.

His complexion looked somewhat sallow, and his lips were pale, clearly indicating that he had participated in the residents' construction efforts.

Wang Kang sat down where the man had patted, took a sip of water, and said in a hoarse voice, "Brother Cheng, I just heard a gunshot. Has something serious happened again?"

Although the volume was deliberately lowered, the tremor in the last syllable was made more obvious.

"Don't overthink it, it's not a big deal, there's a way to solve it."

Cheng Ye shook his head. Even if someone is found to be infected tonight, we'll have to wait until tomorrow morning to deal with it.

Moreover, right now is precisely the time when manpower is needed to prevent night raids, so there's no need to bring it up now and cause chaos.

He glanced at the enamel mug in Wang Kang's hand and swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

Wang Kang might also have been infected by the water crab, but the parasite can be removed, so there's no need to rush to tell him now. If the test results are negative tomorrow, he can be the first to be put in for dehydration.

But this hesitant look only made Wang Kang more uneasy. After a few seconds of hesitation, he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Cheng, are you scared?"

"Me? Afraid?"

Cheng Ye subconsciously asked a question, almost wanting to laugh.

But the moment he spoke, he paused, then fell silent, unsure of what to say next.

Fear is a complex emotion, and he knew that Wang Kang was not referring to danger or monsters.

Instead, the constant unexpected changes caused them to waver in their previously established pioneering plans and become somewhat confused about how to proceed.

After a while.

Cheng Ye nodded slowly and said frankly, "I'm not as brave as you think. That uncontrollable fear is probably because my body hasn't fully adapted to the rhythm of the wilderness yet."

After saying that, he suddenly paused, and felt a sense of relief wash over him.

Yes, being afraid or fearful is nothing to be ashamed of.

In a wilderness fraught with danger, in a deserted town, who could remain completely calm?
Moreover, what he fears is not the infected individuals, the sources of infection, or any tangible enemy.

It's memory, it's ingrained cognition!

Some of the elements come from modern times, and in this dark and eerie environment, it's hard not to associate them with ghosts and monsters.

Another part comes from manuals, books, and impressions of the wilderness passed down orally.

It scares people to death.

Too many people associate the wilderness with danger and rampant infection, and the more they hear about it, the more fear they naturally develop.

Just like the footsteps following behind him before, if a powerful fusion entity were to suddenly appear, he could actually draw his sword and fight it.

But the other party never showed up, and the threat always loomed around him. The more he kept quiet, the more afraid he became.

Now that I've said it, I feel much better, as if I've shed a layer of armor.

"Yes, fear, anxiety, even breakdown—it's normal to experience these negative emotions once you leave your comfort zone."

Wang Kang took a sip of cold water and continued, "Director Miao told me before that the Blood Dragon Legion's new recruits cannot be taken out of the city directly. They have to be trained step by step. Today, let them stay outside the city for three hours, and tomorrow extend it to five hours. Only by gradually adapting to the atmosphere of the wilderness can they withstand the pressure."

"If we were to set up camp outside the city right away, even the elite recruits would be so scared that they would wet their pants, and some might even be left with psychological trauma. Moreover, not everyone can adapt. Many legion soldiers have fought tough battles for two or three years, stopped waves of infection, and killed hundreds of infected, but they still don't have the courage to go on night duty alone."

It must be said that Miao Yang is indeed a competent teacher.

Perhaps because he usually appeared too experienced, Miao Yang never gave him any pointers on these things, treating him entirely as a seasoned prosecutor.

But when faced with the simple-minded Wang Kang, he even considered such details and gave him instructions on all the details that should have been explained by him.

Wang Kang swallowed hard and added, "Actually, I'm scared too, but as long as I'm standing in a crowd with other people around me, I don't panic. The prosecutor's manual also says that the power of the group is used to help us deal with these emotions."

“Brother Cheng, if you’re scared, let’s switch. I’ll keep watch tonight, and you can get some rest.”

"What?"

Seeing the genuinely serious expression on Wang Kang's face, Cheng Ye was stunned, and his heart was instantly stirred.

Putting yourself in his shoes, if he only had the strength to forge his martial body, he would never dare to say such a thing.

This is not just a matter of fear, but also a matter of taking responsibility for "the mistake on watch that put hundreds of people in danger."

But he could clearly sense that Wang Kang wasn't just recklessly bold; rather, a certain conviction was driving him, burning within him, compelling him to say those words.

Cheng Ye paused, and their eyes met. A surge of intense emotion welled up between them.

That is an emotion called 'courage'.

"courage."

Cheng Ye remained silent, and he began to understand why he was afraid.

In terms of personality, he is a typical "strategist" who plans things out before acting and hates unpredictable accidents that get out of control.

When it comes to getting things done, he always tries to avoid all risks in his plans and make everything proceed smoothly.

In the wasteland wilderness where infection sources roam freely, what can be "absolutely controlled"?
He instinctively avoids the unexpected and is unwilling to face the loss of control, so he naturally lacks the courage to confront difficulties head-on.

"Xiao Kang, what do you think I'm afraid of?" Cheng Ye frowned, picked up his enamel mug, took a sip of cold water, and suppressed his turbulent thoughts.

"Brother Cheng, I don't know, but I can sense that sometimes you might be overthinking things."

Wang Kang remained serious. "You are so much stronger than us. If we are afraid of even you and dare not face you, then what hope do we have of surviving?"

He paused, then lowered his voice: "My dad once told me that what Prosecutor Cheng Long was most powerful about wasn't his ability, but his charisma. No matter how dangerous the situation, he would always be the first to stand in front of others, which is why people were willing to follow him through thick and thin. Brother Cheng, you're actually the same now, taking on all the risks yourself and protecting us behind you. But the difference is that you're protecting us alone, not treating us as a force that can help you get through things together."

"But in reality, this world is independent, and everyone is independent. If you want to survive, what you should do is not take care of all of us, but point out a way for us to survive and take us with you. If you just drag us along, you will be afraid, and we will be afraid too, because as long as you let go and leave, we are doomed. But on the contrary, when things get really difficult, even if you fall, we can stand up and protect you."

"etc."

Cheng Ye waved his hand, pulled a notebook out of his backpack, and couldn't help but laugh, "Prosecutor Wang's words are too profound. I haven't fully grasped them yet. I need to write them down and think about them slowly."

puff.

Wang Kang's tense expression suddenly twitched, and he couldn't help but laugh.

But a glance revealed that Cheng Ye's notebook contained no record of his words, only a single word:

road?
What is a "road"?
Just as Wang Kang was about to ask further, he saw Cheng Ye add another line at the end:
A road open to everyone!

Before he could figure out the meaning of those words, the street outside suddenly became noisy, as if residents from the red zone had gathered together, and their shouts drifted over on the wind.

The people who were still setting up the defensive line immediately stopped, grabbed wrenches and iron bars from their side, and nervously gathered together.

Seeing this, the two exchanged a glance and stood up at the same time.

After fastening his helmet, Cheng Ye raised his hand and gestured for everyone to calm down.

Walking along the alleyway of the supermarket to the main street, the intersection was indeed brightly lit, with dozens of torches gathered around.

Residents of the red zone crowded around, and three corpses were prominently displayed in the center of the circle.

"What happens in the red zone has nothing to do with us. If you want to see, follow me. Don't push. Those on duty, please stay put and don't leave your posts."

Cheng Ye thought for a moment and then called out to someone behind him.

The tense residents immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and in addition to the necessary patrol team members, many curious children also gathered around.

Birth, aging, illness, and death are all part of the cycle of life.

In the wasteland, death is not a terrifying thing. Even in the safest super sanctuary, large-scale casualties often occur.

A large group of people walked out, and Rococo and Garcia at the border were not surprised.

Tonight, everyone will spend the night in one place.

These threats are not only faced by people in the red zone, but also by all residents of the blue zone.

As he approached and saw the pitiful state of the three people on the ground, Wang Kang's legs visibly trembled.

The skin of the two corpses on the left was covered with intricate spiral patterns, and each had a bloody hole between its eyebrows, clearly indicating that they had been shot in the head.

The person on the right was much more terrifying, with two huge, eerie green crab claws extending from his back. His neck was empty, with only two lonely stalks remaining. From the side, one could clearly see the churning flesh and internal organs inside his neck.

vomit.

Wang Kang endured it for a long time, but finally took off his mask and started retching while leaning against the wall.

He had seen many bloody scenes while on duty, but this was the first time he had ever witnessed such brutality.

The residents of the Blue Zone who arrived later were also terrified and turned pale. Some of them even gagged after just one glance. As soon as a few children peeked out, their eyes were covered tightly by the adults.

If I saw this, I'd definitely have nightmares for the next few days.

"Have the two missing people been found?" Cheng Ye's gaze swept past the crab-man, focusing on the two corpses on the left, his tone as calm as possible.

Such intricate patterns are unforgettable once you've seen them.

As expected, these are local specialties from the wilderness. Who knows what other surprises are around Dabo Town!
"Yes, I've already found and killed him."

Rokuk nodded, his face so dark it could drip water. "But they aren't my men. If no one on your side has gone missing, then they're extras!"

　P.S.: I've already updated 20 words in 19 days this month. I've had a bit of a cold and headache these past couple of days, so I'll just update steadily for one day and then get back to work tomorrow!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)