Chapter 261: The Final Conversation

On the training ground of the Western Hills Safe Zone, the sounds of shouting and killing were still deafening.

Lin Chen stood beside the target in the weapon training area, holding a calibrated pistol in his hand,

his gaze sweeping over the team members lined up in a row. In the shooting training just now, three people missed the target, and five people's trajectories deviated from the preset range; such results were far from meeting his requirements.

"Those who missed, step out." Lin Chen's voice was not loud, but carried an unquestionable majesty.

Three team members lowered their heads and walked out of the team, their faces full of shame.

Lin Chen did not reprimand them, but handed over the pistol in his hand: "Take it, try again. Remember, before pulling the trigger, stabilize your breathing, feel the recoil of the gun, and cooperate with it, not fight it."

The three team members took the pistol and, according to Lin Chen's guidance, re-aimed at the bullseye.

Gunshots rang out one after another. This time, all of them hit the ten-ring. The surrounding team members let out a cheer, and the three team members' faces revealed expressions of surprise.

Lin Chen nodded and said to everyone: "Strength comes in two forms:

one is physical strength, and the other is the strength of technique. Your enhancement abilities can improve physical strength, but the strength of technique

needs to be accumulated through training. Only by combining the two can you exert the strongest combat power."

He turned and walked to the tactical sand table, on which miniature building models and soldier models were placed, simulating the terrain of the Black Scorpion organization's stronghold in the Eastern Ruins. Several squad leaders were gathered around the sand table, discussing combat plans.

"The Black Scorpion organization's stronghold is surrounded by water on three sides, with only one path in the front,

making it easy to defend and hard to attack." Lin Chen pointed to the river channel on the sand table. "They have deployed heavy firepower on both sides of the path; if we attack head-on, we will suffer heavy losses."

"Then we can infiltrate from underwater," one leader said.

"No.

" Lin Chen shook his head. "There are mutant water beasts in the river channel, which are extremely fast and highly aggressive; it's very difficult for infiltrating team members to reach the opposite bank alive."

"Then what should we do?" another leader asked with a frown.

Lin Chen's finger landed on a small hill behind the stronghold: "This is their defensive blind spot,

with dense vegetation, suitable for concealment. We can send an elite squad to climb over from here, infiltrate the interior of the stronghold, and destroy their communication system and heavy firepower points."

"Then the frontal troops launch an attack, attacking from inside and outside, and take the stronghold in one fell swoop." A leader reacted immediately, his eyes lighting up.

Lin Chen nodded: "That's right. This elite squad will be led by Lin Hao.

He is familiar with the terrain of the Eastern Ruins and is suitable for this mission."

Several leaders looked at each other and raised no objections. Although Lin Hao had made mistakes, his strength and experience were top-notch in the Starfire Group.

"Double the training intensity." Lin Chen looked at everyone. "Starting from today,

all team members will have their rest time canceled and train around the clock. We only have three days; we must raise our combat power to its peak before setting out."

Everyone responded in unison and turned to run toward their respective training areas. Lin Chen watched their backs and calculated inwardly. The strength of the Black Scorpion organization could not be underestimated; this battle could only be won, not lost.

In the corner of the training ground, in the newly built physical training area, team members were conducting weighted cross-country.

They carried fifty-kilogram sandbags on their backs, their footsteps heavy, yet not one person fell behind. Lin Chen watched them, his eyes becoming firm.

He wanted every team member of the Starfire Group to understand where the boundaries of strength lay, and also to know how to break through those boundaries.

Meanwhile, on the snowfield of the Icefield Mountains, the gale gradually subsided.

On A Nian's right lower leg, the last trace of black pattern completely disappeared,

and the wound healed cleanly, leaving only a shallow scar. She looked at her leg, then at Sister Chu Yao Yao lying in Lu Ran's arms, and tears fell like broken beads, continuously dropping down.

Sister Chu Yao Yao's eyes were tightly closed, her lips purple, and black blood still remained at the corner of her mouth. Her body leaned softly in Lu Ran's arms, and her originally warm skin was rapidly losing body temperature, becoming ice-cold.

Lu Ran held Sister Chu Yao Yao tightly, his body unable to stop trembling. He could feel

Sister Chu Yao Yao's life breath dissipating bit by bit, like heat blown away by the wind and snow, impossible to grasp, impossible to keep.

"Sister Chu Yao Yao, wake up, look at me." Lu Ran's voice was hoarse beyond recognition. He reached out and gently wiped the black blood from the corner of Sister Chu Yao Yao's mouth.

"You said we would find the Human Alliance headquarters together and live together; you cannot break your promise."

Sister Chu Yao Yao had no reaction; her chest rose and fell slightly, her breathing so weak it was almost imperceptible. Lu Ran's heart felt as if it had been hollowed out, the pain making even breathing feel difficult.

A Nian slowly stood up, walked to Lu Ran's side, crouched down, and looked at Sister Chu Yao Yao's pale face. She reached out, wanting to touch Sister Chu Yao Yao's cheek,

but pulled back. She knew Sister Chu Yao Yao had become like this to save her.

If she hadn't been bitten by a zombie, Sister Chu Yao Yao wouldn't have released the healing ability core and wouldn't have been backlashed by the virus.

"Captain Lu,

I'm sorry.

" A Nian's voice carried a crying tone. "It's all my fault; I harmed Captain Chu."

Lu Ran did not speak, merely shaking his head. He knew this was not A Nian's fault;

the blame lay only with this damn doomsday, and with those damn zombies and mutant viruses.

Sister Chu Yao Yao's fingers suddenly moved slightly.

Lu Ran's heart jumped violently, and he hurriedly leaned close to Sister Chu Yao Yao's face, shouting loudly: "Sister Chu Yao Yao! Sister Chu Yao Yao, are you awake?"

Sister Chu Yao Yao's eyelids trembled lightly, and she slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes were still unfocused,

but when she saw Lu Ran's face, they focused slightly. Her lips moved, making a faint sound, like the humming of a mosquito.

Lu Ran immediately leaned his ear close to Sister Chu Yao Yao's mouth, listening carefully.

"A Nian... is safe..." Sister Chu Yao Yao's voice was very light, yet it clearly reached Lu Ran's ears.

Lu Ran's tears surged out instantly, and he nodded forcefully: "Yes, she's safe, A Nian is safe."

A curve appeared at the corner of Sister Chu Yao Yao's mouth. Her fingers slowly lifted,

grabbed Lu Ran's sleeve, and with her last bit of strength, said: "Take care... of yourself..."

After saying this, Sister Chu Yao Yao's fingers dropped powerlessly, her eyes slowly closed, and she never opened them again.

Lu Ran held Sister Chu Yao Yao, feeling the last bit of warmth in her body dissipate completely,

his whole person as if all his strength had been drained away. He looked at Sister Chu Yao Yao's serene face, a suppressed sob coming from his throat, and then, he cried out loud.

A Nian stood to one side, looking at the weeping Lu Ran, looking at Sister Chu Yao Yao lying in his arms, and her tears flowed even more fiercely. The wind and snow picked up again, whipping snow particles onto the three of them, as if covering Sister Chu Yao Yao with a thin snow quilt. ===== CHAPTER 262 =====