Chapter 289: The Mutated Sheep

【System detects an unknown mutant signal on the perimeter of the safe zone. Suggest initiating Level 1 alert.】

When the cold, mechanical voice sounded in Lin Chen's mind, he was jogging along the perimeter wall.

Sweat beads on his forehead slid down his jawline, dripping onto his collar. The warning lights on the wall were still flashing, red and green light alternating to illuminate the path beneath his feet.

From the distant forest came several strange noises—not the roars of zombies, nor the growls of mutant beasts, but carrying a hint of sharp bleating.

Lin Chen stopped, raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and cast his gaze toward the direction the sound came from. The silhouette of the forest was hidden in the morning mist, indistinct; only that bleating sound repeated, each time more shrill, each time more hoarse. His mind stirred, and he pulled a standard-issue rifle from the Infinite Space, checking the magazine—the bullets were full.

【System prompt: Unknown mutant signal strength increasing. Preliminarily identified as a herbivorous mutant creature.】

Lin Chen did not respond to the system; he took a step and ran toward the forest.

The snow beneath his feet had mostly melted, revealing muddy ground; every step he took carried a heavy sound. The morning mist gradually dispersed, the forest's silhouette becoming clearer, and that strange bleating sound grew closer—so close it felt like it was exploding right beside his ears.

He hid behind a large tree, poked out half his head, and looked toward the source of the sound.

He saw a massive sheep standing in an open meadow. The sheep was three times the size of an ordinary mountain goat, its limbs thick and sturdy, its hooves glowing with a cyan-black light, the horns on its head twisted,

looking like two sharp scimitars growing toward the sky. Most of its fur had fallen off, revealing the festering skin and flesh beneath; black liquid dripped down its fur, landing on the grass and emitting a sizzling sound, the grass blades instantly turning yellow and withered.

【System detects specific attributes of the target mutant. Named: Rot-Hoof Mutant Sheep. Aggression rating: Level 3.】

The mutated sheep suddenly raised its head and looked toward the direction where Lin Chen was hiding.

Its eyes were turbid and white, devoid of any luster, yet it seemed capable of precisely capturing the aura of a living creature. It bared its mouth, revealing a set of sharp fangs,

emitted a shrill bleat, kicked the ground with its four limbs, and charged fiercely toward the tree.

Lin Chen gripped his gun, his finger on the trigger, but did not fire immediately.

He watched the mutant sheep draw closer, watched its twisted horns, watched its festering flesh, watched the black liquid dripping from it,

his heart devoid of the slightest fluctuation. He was waiting—waiting for the mutant sheep to enter the optimal shooting range, waiting for it to expose its most vulnerable spot.

The mutant sheep rushed to the tree, stopped abruptly, raised its front hooves,

and kicked the trunk fiercely. The trunk emitted a muffled thud and began to shake violently,

a few withered leaves falling with a rustle. It let out another bleat, the sound filled with thick malice, and turned to ram toward Lin Chen's direction.

【System prompt: Rot-Hoof Mutant Sheep's attack methods are ramming and biting. Suggest attacking its head weakness.】

Lin Chen finally moved; he sidestepped to avoid the mutant sheep's ram,

and simultaneously pulled the trigger. The gunshot was muffled; the bullet accurately hit the mutant sheep's skull. The mutant sheep's movements paused, but it did not fall. It shook its head, its horns stained with blood, and charged at Lin Chen again, its speed faster than before.

Lin Chen pulled the trigger continuously, bullets hitting the mutant sheep one by one, but they could only pierce its skin and flesh, unable to cause fatal damage. The mutant sheep's skin and flesh were too thick, the festering tissue acting like a layer of hard armor, blocking the impact of the bullets. It drew closer and closer, its sharp fangs almost touching the hem of Lin Chen's clothes.

Lin Chen did not retreat; he threw away the rifle in his hand and pulled a machete from the Infinite Space. He sidestepped the mutant sheep's horns and swung the machete at the mutant sheep's neck. The machete bit into the flesh with a dull thud, and black liquid splashed all over him. The mutant sheep let out a shrill scream and shook its head violently, throwing Lin Chen aside.

Lin Chen fell to the ground; ignoring the pain, he immediately flipped over and climbed up. A deep wound remained on the mutant sheep's neck, black liquid gushing out continuously. Its movements became sluggish, but it still glared with its eyes and charged toward Lin Chen.

【System detects Rot-Hoof Mutant Sheep's vital signs declining. Suggest a finishing blow.】

Lin Chen gripped the machete and charged toward the mutant sheep. He sidestepped the mutant sheep's ram and swung the machete at its neck again. This time, he used all his strength, and the machete completely severed the mutant sheep's neck. The mutant sheep's head rolled onto the ground with a muffled thud, its body swayed, and it collapsed with a crash.

Lin Chen stood in place, panting heavily, looking at the mutant sheep's carcass on the ground. Black liquid was still gushing out, corroding the surrounding grass and emitting a sizzling sound. He did not approach, just stood there, looking at the carcass, looking at its twisted horns, looking at its festering flesh.

Just then, footsteps came from afar. Lin Chen looked up and saw several team members running toward him, weapons in hand, their faces filled with vigilance. "Team Leader Lin, are you alright?" one member shouted, his voice tinged with nervousness.

Lin Chen shook his head and said nothing. He watched the team members surround him, watched them examine the mutant sheep's carcass, watched the surprise on their faces. He bent down to pick up the rifle, checked the magazine, and turned to walk toward the safe zone.

【System detects Rot-Hoof Mutant Sheep has been killed. Perimeter threat to safe zone cleared. Suggest recovering carcass samples.】

Lin Chen ignored the system's prompt; he just walked back along the original path, his steps steady, one by one. The morning mist had completely dispersed, and the sunlight shining on him carried a hint of warmth. His clothes were stained with black liquid, but he felt not the slightest discomfort, only the mutant sheep's shrill bleat echoing in his mind.

He walked to the wall, stopped, and looked back at the direction of the forest. It had returned to calm, with no more sounds, only the rustling of wind through the leaves. He turned and walked toward the gate of the safe zone. ===== CHAPTER 290 =====