Chapter 260: The Truth

On the training ground of the Western Hills Safe Zone, the sounds of shouting and killing shook the heavens and earth.

Lin Chen stood on the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the neatly arranged Starfire Group members below,

holding a thick training manual in his hand. The manual was densely packed with writing, from basic physical training to weapon usage techniques, and then to team combat coordination, with every item clearly marked.

"Everyone listen up!

" Lin Chen's voice, through the loudspeaker, spread across the entire training ground.

"In this doomsday, without sufficient strength, you can only be slaughtered. You joined the Starfire Group not to get a free meal, but to survive, to protect the people around you!"

The team members responded in unison, their voices loud and clear. Lin Chen nodded,

and waved to the instructor beside him. The instructor immediately ran forward, holding a timer, and shouted loudly: "Basic physical training, five-kilometer cross-country, start now!"

The team members immediately took action and ran toward the outskirts of the training ground.

Their footsteps were uniform, kicking up clouds of dust. Lin Chen watched their backs, his brows tightly furrowed. He knew these team members were mostly ordinary survivors,

without systematic training, and their physical fitness varied. To improve their overall strength, he had to start from the basics.

He turned and walked down the high platform, coming to the weapon training area. Several team members were practicing shooting, the sound of gunfire rising one after another. Lin Chen picked up a submachine gun, checked it carefully, and handed it to the team member beside him: "Shooting isn't about brute force; it's about technique. When aiming, stabilize your breathing, align the three points, and the moment you pull the trigger, your arm must not shake."

The team member took the submachine gun and tried it according to Lin Chen's method,

and indeed, it was much more accurate. He gave Lin Chen a grateful smile: "Thank you, Captain Lin!"

Lin Chen shook his head: "No need to thank me. You must know these techniques by heart.

Only then will you have a better chance of surviving when you encounter mutants next time."

He walked to another training area, where team combat drills were being conducted.

The team members were divided into groups, simulating scenarios of confronting mutants. Lin Chen watched their coordination and pointed out from time to time: "You are a team, not a pile of loose sand. When you encounter danger, you must cover and support each other. Remember, only through unity can you exert the greatest strength."

The atmosphere on the training ground became more and more heated, the team members' faces covered in sweat, yet not one person called out that they were tired. They knew

Lin Chen was right; in this doomsday, only by constantly improving one's strength could one survive.

Lin Chen looked at the scene before him and nodded inwardly. He knew

systematic training was the key to improving team strength. He wanted to make the Starfire Group an invincible team and the most solid barrier for the safe zone.

Meanwhile, on the snowfield of the Icefield Mountains, the gale was still whistling.

Lu Ran knelt beside Sister Chu Yao Yao, trembling as he reached out, wanting to pick her up. Just then, Sister Chu Yao Yao's fingers moved slightly, and her eyes slowly opened.

A wave of wild joy surged in Lu Ran's heart, and he hurriedly leaned closer.

"Sister Chu Yao Yao!

You're awake?

How do you feel?"

Sister Chu Yao Yao did not speak; her eyes were somewhat unfocused as she looked at Lu Ran,

her lips moving, but no sound came out. Only then did Lu Ran notice that on Sister Chu Yao Yao's exposed arms, those black patterns that had originally only crawled to her shoulders had spread to her chest, and were wriggling bit by bit toward her heart like living things.

The patterns were hideous and terrifying, glowing with an eerie black light under the sunlight. Lu Ran's pupils contracted sharply; he wanted to reach out and press down on those patterns, but he didn't dare, fearing he would hurt Sister Chu Yao Yao.

A trace of black blood suddenly spilled from the corner of Sister Chu Yao Yao's mouth. The black blood dripped onto the snow, making a sizzling sound and instantly corroding a small hole. Lu Ran's heart skipped a beat; he watched Sister Chu Yao Yao's face turn paler and paler, watched her breathing grow weaker and weaker, and his heart felt as if it were being cut by a knife.

"Sister Chu Yao Yao! Hold on!" Lu Ran roared, his voice filled with despair. "We'll go to the Human Alliance headquarters immediately; they must have a way to save you! They must!"

A trace of relief flashed in Sister Chu Yao Yao's eyes. She looked at Lu Ran and slowly shook her head. She knew her time was running out. The price of fully releasing the healing ability core was being backlashed by the virus. Those black patterns were devouring her life bit by bit.

Her fingers slowly lifted, wanting to touch Lu Ran's face. But just halfway up, they dropped powerlessly. The last trace of light in her eyes gradually dissipated.

Lu Ran watched Sister Chu Yao Yao's hand drop, watched her eyes slowly close, and his whole body froze. He knelt in the snow, motionless, letting the gale whip the snow particles against his face.

A Nian slowly sat up. She looked at Sister Chu Yao Yao lying in the snow, then at the stunned Lu Ran, and tears fell silently. She knew Sister Chu Yao Yao had paid the price of her life to save her.

The golden light in the snowfield had completely dissipated, leaving only the biting cold wind and a deathly silence. Lu Ran's heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, the pain making him unable to breathe. He looked at the hideous black patterns on Sister Chu Yao Yao's arm, watched them spread bit by bit to the position of her heart, and finally couldn't help but let out a heart-wrenching cry. ===== CHAPTER 261 =====