Chapter 1009

Thunder Spear Safe Zone, 7 kilometers away.

Thunder Spear Safe Zone, 7 kilometers away.

Come on, let's go check it out.

Translation: "\"Let's go, go down and have a look. \"" Keep quotes? The Chinese uses 「」 which are quotation marks. We'll keep English double quotes. So: "\"Let's go, go down and have a look. \""

After six hours of flight, the transport ship, which wasn't particularly fast, finally reached the nearest safe zone.

Translation: "After six hours of flight, the transport ship, which wasn't particularly fast, finally arrived at the nearest safe zone." Use Safe Zone. So: "After six hours of flight, the transport ship, which wasn't particularly fast, finally arrived at the nearest Safe Zone."

He lowered the transport aircraft behind a hill, Lin An directly took out a mechanical compass, created an illusion to conceal the transport aircraft.

Translation: "Lowering the transport aircraft behind a hillside, Lin An directly took out a mechanical compass, created an illusion, and concealed the transport aircraft." Need to keep Lin An. Use "mechanical compass". So: "Lowering the transport aircraft behind a hillside, Lin An directly took out a mechanical compass, created an illusion, and concealed the transport aircraft."

Although the blood corpse transport ship bore no markings under his arrangement, for safety Lin An still chose to land outside the safe zone's anti-air identification.

Translation: "Although the blood corpse transport ship had no markings under his arrangement, to be safe, Lin An still chose to land outside the safe zone's air‑identification perimeter." Use Safe Zone. So: "Although the blood corpse transport ship had no markings under his arrangement, to be safe, Lin An still chose to land outside the Safe Zone's air‑identification perimeter."

After all, he had dealt these transport ships to Tai'er; a transport ship with a strange route appearing here would make the other side realize that people from Long An had arrived.

Translation: "After all, he had traded these transport ships with Tel; if a transport ship with an odd route appeared here, anyone paying a little attention would realize that people from Long An had arrived." Use Faction: Long An. So: "After all, he had traded these transport ships with Tel; if a transport ship with an odd route appeared here, anyone paying a little attention would realize that people from the Faction: Long An had arrived."

Lin Dui, when will Mo Ling wake up?

"Lin Dui, when will Mo Ling wake up?"

Following Lin An onto the ship, Zhang Tie couldn't help but glance back at the deeply sleeping Mo Ling.

Translation: "Following Lin An onto the ship, Zhang Tie couldn't help but glance back at the sleeping Mo Ling." Use Zhang Tie, Mo Ling. So: "Following Lin An onto the ship, Zhang Tie couldn't help but glance back at the sleeping Mo Ling."

If it weren't for his steady breathing and rising chest, he would think Mo Ling had already gone cold.

Translation: "If it weren't for the steady rise and fall of his breathing from the chest, he would have thought Mo Ling was already cold." Use Mo Ling. So: "If it weren't for the steady rise and fall of his breathing from the chest, he would have thought Mo Ling was already cold."

"Not sure."

Translation: "\"Uncertain. \""

Lin An shook his head slightly, after tearing open a scroll near the transport aircraft, he let out a quiet sigh.

Translation: "Lin An shook his head slightly, tore open a scroll near the transport aircraft, and let out a quiet sigh." Use Lin An. So: "Lin An shook his head slightly, tore open a scroll near the transport aircraft, and let out a quiet sigh."

After some consideration, he still chose to bring Mo Ling along, hoping she would wake up before entering the dungeon.

Translation: "After some consideration, he still chose to bring Mo Ling along, hoping only that Mo Ling would wake up before entering the instance." Use Mo Ling. So: "After some consideration, he still chose to bring Mo Ling along, hoping only that Mo Ling would wake up before entering the instance."

After repeatedly reviewing the information sent by Tai'er, Lin An keenly realized that the humanoid cultists inside the dungeon were likely related to the special event.

Translation: "After repeatedly examining the data sent by Tel, Lin An keenly realized that the humanoid cultists inside that instance were likely related to the special event." Use Special Event. So: "After repeatedly examining the data sent by Tel, Lin An keenly realized that the humanoid cultists inside that instance were likely related to the Special Event."

In the scattered records, around the altar storing the Death God armor, several faint shadows resembled spiritual entities.

In the scattered records, around the altar storing the Death God armor, several faint shadows resembled spiritual entities.

Upon entering, Mo Ling's abilities might possibly produce remarkable effects.

Translation: "Upon entry, Mo Ling's abilities might possibly produce remarkable effects." Use Mo Ling. So: "Upon entry, Mo Ling's abilities might possibly produce remarkable effects."

Come on, let's go into the Safe Zone first.

Translation: "\"Let's go, enter the Safe Zone first. \"" Use Safe Zone. So: "\"Let's go, enter the Safe Zone first. \""

After not thinking further, the two quickly ran toward the direction of the Safe Zone.

Translation: "No longer thinking further, after suppressing the thought, the two hurriedly ran toward the direction of the Safe Zone." Use Safe Zone. So: "No longer thinking further, after suppressing the thought, the two hurriedly ran toward the direction of the Safe Zone."

"Request Awakened Ones to engage! Request Awakened Ones to engage!"

Translation: "\"Request Awakened Ones to sortie! Request Awakened Ones to sortie! \"" Use Awakened Ones. So: "\"Request Awakened Ones to sortie! Request Awakened Ones to sortie! \""

"Come quickly, reinforcements!"

"Quick, come support!!"

Outside the Thunder Spear Safe Zone, a burly man with chains on his upper body clung tightly to the walkie-talkie, shouting angrily into it.

Translation: "Outside Thunder Spear Safe Zone, a burly man with chains on his upper body clung tightly to the walkie‑talkie, shouting at it with a look of shock and anger." Use Thunder Spear Safe Zone. So: "Outside Thunder Spear Safe Zone, a burly man with chains on his upper body clung tightly to the walkie‑talkie, shouting at it with a look of shock and anger."

The wind howled as he, standing on the vehicle's roof, kept looking back.

Translation: "The wind howled; the man standing on the vehicle's roof kept looking back repeatedly." So: "The wind howled; the man standing on the vehicle's roof kept looking back repeatedly."

The nearest defensive line to the Safe Zone was still three kilometers away, but this short three kilometers felt infinitely long, as if, under the pursuit of mutants behind them, it stretched endlessly.

Translation: "The nearest defensive line to the Safe Zone was still three kilometers away, but this short three‑kilometer stretch felt infinitely long under the pursuit of mutants behind them, as if it had no end." Use Safe Zone, Mutant. So: "The nearest defensive line to the Safe Zone was still three kilometers away, but this short three‑kilometer stretch felt infinitely long under the pursuit of mutants behind them, as if it had no end."

"We've brought back gasoline and food! Request support!"

Translation: "\"We've brought back gasoline and food! Request support! \"" So: "\"We've brought back gasoline and food! Request support! \""

"Squeak!!"

"Squeak!!"

With a loud shout, the tires jerked sharply, a screech of friction followed, and the off‑road vehicle beneath the burly man lurched like a drunken horse, shifting half its body, violently veering, nearly throwing him off the roof.

Translation: "With a loud shout, the tires jerked sideways; a harsh scraping sound followed, and the off‑road vehicle beneath the burly man lurched like a drunken wild horse, shifting half its body violently, nearly throwing him off the roof." So: "With a loud shout, the tires jerked sideways; a harsh scraping sound followed, and the off‑road vehicle beneath the burly man lurched like a drunken wild horse, shifting half its body violently, nearly throwing him off the roof."

"Damn it, drive steady!"

"Damn it, drive steady!"

"Boom!!"

Translation: "\"Boom!! \""

At the same moment, a chain‑wielding giant axe, swift as lightning, smashed into the off‑road vehicle's former position just 0.1 seconds later.

Translation: "At the same moment, a chain‑wielding giant axe as fast as lightning fiercely struck the off‑road vehicle's former position 0.1 seconds later." So: "At the same moment, a chain‑wielding giant axe as fast as lightning fiercely struck the off‑road vehicle's former position 0.1 seconds later."

"Are you steady? If Laozi didn't drive like this, you'd be dead already, damn it!"

"Are you steady? Laozi wouldn't drive like this, you'd be dead already, damn it!"

"Almost got hit!"

Translation: "\"Almost got hit! \"" So: "\"Almost got hit! \""

Gripping the steering wheel, a tattooed man with a head full of tiny braids was so startled he almost jumped; sweat poured from his forehead, and after cursing and straightening the wheel, he again urged the burly man on the roof:

Translation: "With both hands on the steering wheel, a tattooed man with a head full of tiny braids was startled enough to almost jump; seeing his forehead drenched in cold sweat, he cursed while straightening the wheel and then urged the burly man on the roof again:" So: "With both hands on the steering wheel, a tattooed man with a head full of tiny braids was startled enough to almost jump; seeing his forehead drenched in cold sweat, he cursed while straightening the wheel and then urged the burly man on the roof again:"

"Hurry up! Those damn city guard idiots! Haven't they seen us being chased by mutants?!"

Translation: "\"Make them hurry! Those damn city‑defense idiots! Haven't they seen us being chased by mutants?! \"" Use Mutant. So: "\"Make them hurry! Those damn city‑defense idiots! Haven't they seen us being chased by mutants?! \""

"After paying so much in protection fees, they're truly a bunch of good-for-nothings who just eat and do nothing!"

Translation: "\"After paying so much protection money, they're really a bunch of good‑for‑nothings who just eat and do nothing! \"" So: "\"After paying so much protection money, they're really a bunch of good‑for‑nothings who just eat and do nothing! \""

"Fuck!"

"Fuck!"

The curses came one after another, as if only by shouting could they ease their inner fear.

Translation: "Curses came one after another, as if only by swearing could they ease their inner fear." So: "Curses came one after another, as if only by swearing could they ease their inner fear."

Clinging to the roof, the burly man with black‑gold chains wrapped around his upper body turned his head angrily, his eyes fixed on the obese monster relentlessly pursuing them from behind.

Translation: "Clinging to the vehicle's roof, the burly man whose upper body was wrapped in black‑gold chains turned his head angrily, his eyes fixed on the obese monster doggedly pursuing them from behind." So: "Clinging to the vehicle's roof, the burly man whose upper body was wrapped in black‑gold chains turned his head angrily, his eyes fixed on the obese monster doggedly pursuing them from behind."

At the rear of the convoy, a red‑eyed butcher about five to six meters tall roared angrily, striding forward in pursuit.

Translation: "At the rear of the convoy, a red‑eyed butcher about five to six meters tall roared angrily, striding forward in pursuit of them." So: "At the rear of the convoy, a red‑eyed butcher about five to six meters tall roared angrily, striding forward in pursuit of them."

Each step left a deep pit, the ground trembled, and chains swung.

Translation: "Each step left a deep pit, the earth trembled, and iron chains swung." So: "Each step left a deep pit, the earth trembled, and iron chains swung."

Unlike the chains on the burly man, this second‑tier elite monster's chains drag a massive cleaver, like a thrown throwing knife, the dark red chains soaked in blood water, swiftly being reeled back into its grip as the butcher monster moves.

Translation: "Unlike the chains on the burly man, this second‑level elite monster's chain ends drag a huge cleaver, like a thrown flying knife; the dark‑red chain soaked in blood water is being swiftly retracted into its hand as the butcher monster moves." Use Second Level. So: "Unlike the chains on the burly man, this Second Level elite monster's chain ends drag a huge cleaver, like a thrown flying knife; the dark‑red chain soaked in blood water is being swiftly retracted into its hand as the butcher monster moves."

Layers of flab like a washboard piled on its belly; despite its huge size, this second‑tier mutant's speed is far from slow.

Translation: "Layers of fat like a washboard piled on its belly; despite its huge size, this second‑level mutant's speed is actually not slow at all." Use Second Level, Mutant. So: "Layers of fat like a washboard piled on its belly; despite its huge size, this Second Level mutant's speed is actually not slow at all."

Its thighs, covered by the belly, stubby as thick carrots, thrust forward as it sprinted at full speed.

Translation: "Its thighs, covered by the belly, thumped like short, thick radishes as it sprinted at full force." So: "Its thighs, covered by the belly, thumped like short, thick radishes as it sprinted at full force."

Second‑tier elite mutant, the bloody butcher.

Translation: "Second Level elite mutant, the Bloody Butcher." Use Second Level. So: "Second Level elite mutant, the Bloody Butcher."

As a notorious mutant near the Safe Zone, ordinary survivors venturing out for supplies deliberately avoid its territory.

Translation: "As a notorious mutant near the Safe Zone, ordinary survivors usually steer clear of its territory when going out for supplies." Use Safe Zone, Survivors. So: "As a notorious mutant near the Safe Zone, ordinary Survivors usually steer clear of its territory when going out for supplies."

But this time, the convoy's leader, Tolvovski, couldn't resist the urge to pull a big job; the squad outright stole the fuel tanker while the butcher was busy chasing another unlucky team.

But this time, the convoy's leader, Tolvovski, couldn't resist the urge to pull a big job; the squad outright stole the fuel tanker while the butcher was busy chasing another unlucky team.

Never expecting it, the bloody butcher acted as if its beloved had been stolen, pursuing them all the way from the city's outskirts.

Translation: "Who would have thought? The Bloody Butcher acted as if its beloved had been stolen, chasing them all the way from the city's outskirts here." So: "Who would have thought? The Bloody Butcher acted as if its beloved had been stolen, chasing them all the way from the city's outskirts here."

"Squad 76, Squad 76, this is the Thunder Spear Safe Zone."

Translation: "\"Squad 76, Squad 76, this is Thunder Spear Safe Zone. \"" Use Thunder Spear Safe Zone. So: "\"Squad 76, Squad 76, this is Thunder Spear Safe Zone. \""

"Sorry, please hold on for three more minutes; the nearest Awakened One is returning, and there are currently no high‑level Awakened Ones inside the

Translation: "\"Sorry, please hold on for three more minutes; the nearest Awakened Ones are on their way back, and there are currently no high‑level Awakened Ones in the city. \"" Use Awakened Ones. So: "\"Sorry, please hold on for three more minutes; the nearest Awakened Ones are on their way back, and there are currently no high‑level Awakened Ones in the city. \""

From the other end of the line, you could barely hear that the city guards were also a bit panicked; every moment felt like agony.

Translation: "On the other end of the comms, one could faintly hear the city defense forces also flustered, each minute and second feeling like agony." So: "On the other end of the comms, one could faintly hear the city defense forces also flustered, each minute and second feeling like agony."

The burly man clutching the iron chain on the truck's roof heard the walkie‑talkie message, his face went white with rage, and in his panic he accidentally crushed the device.

Translation: "The chain‑wrapped burly man on the vehicle's roof, upon hearing the news over the walkie‑talkie, instantly turned pale with rage; in his panic and anger he actually crushed the walkie‑talkie in his grip." So: "The chain‑wrapped burly man on the vehicle's roof, upon hearing the news over the walkie‑talkie, instantly turned pale with rage; in his panic and anger he actually crushed the walkie‑talkie in his grip."

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

Translation: "\"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! \"" So: "\"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! \""

No high‑level Awakened Ones are left in the city!? This isn't trying to get me killed!?

No high‑level Awakened Ones are left in the city!? This isn't trying to get Laozi killed!?

No high‑level Awakened Ones left in the city!? This isn't trying to get Laozi killed!?

In the cab, the braided driver trembled with rage upon hearing those words, even without the burly man repeating them.

Translation: "Inside the cab, the driver, the braided man, even without the burly man's retelling, trembled all over upon hearing those words." So: "Inside the cab, the driver, the braided man, even without the burly man's retelling, trembled all over upon hearing those words."

They fled here with great effort, using every ounce of strength, and lost two companions along the way.

Translation: "After a grueling escape, expending every ounce of strength and losing two comrades, they finally made it here." So: "After a grueling escape, expending every ounce of strength and losing two comrades, they finally made it here."

I thought we were safe, but the high‑level Awakened Ones in the safe zone have all vanished!

Translation: "I had thought things were safe, but unexpectedly the high‑level Awakened Ones inside the Safe Zone had all vanished!" Use Safe Zone, Awakened Ones. So: "I had thought things were safe, but unexpectedly the high‑level Awakened Ones inside the Safe Zone had all vanished!"

Is this just playing with them!?

Is this just playing with them!?

We'll translate: "\"Is this not playing with them!? \" So: "\"Is this not playing with them!? \""

In three minutes, I could be dancing on Laozi's grave!

Translation: "\"Three minutes, and even in front of Laozi's grave I could be dancing! \"" Use Laozi. So: "\"Three minutes, and even in front of Laozi's grave I could be dancing! \""

His eyes were lifeless, despair filled his heart; the braided man suddenly recalled something, thrust his head out the window, and shouted hoarsely at the fuel tanker behind:

Translation: "Eyes dead‑gray, heart filled with despair, the braided man seemed to suddenly recall something, thrusting his head out the window and shouting hoarsely at the fuel tanker behind:" So: "Eyes dead‑gray, heart filled with despair, the braided man seemed to suddenly recall something, thrusting his head out the window and shouting hoarsely at the fuel tanker behind:"

Boss, why don't we blow up the fuel tanker and just run!

Translation: "\"Boss! Why not blow up the fuel tanker? We'll just run! \"" So: "\"Boss! Why not blow up the fuel tanker? We'll just run! \""

That's the only way.

Translation: "\"The only way. \"" So: "\"The only way. \""

Sitting in the oil tanker he valued most, the hawk‑nosed man named Tovsky's face darkened; looking closely, beneath his composed expression his hands were also trembling slightly.

He heard the teammates' words; support now was hopeless.

Should we abandon the oil tanker?

I don't know if it's because the oil tanker and the butcher share a special bond, but that monster has never attacked this vehicle.

Detonate it now; using the explosion as a barrier, they might still manage to escape back.

Any further delay means death.

But... I can't bear to give it up, I really can't bear to give it up!

The oil tanker beneath me, if hauled back to base, could net two pieces of white equipment! Eighty crates of top‑grade vodka!

You know, in the frozen Soviet theater, oil is fuel—it's the fire that sustains survival! Generators, tanks—none can do without this stuff!

Just as the man hesitated whether to detonate it, a miserable cry suddenly came from the off‑road vehicle beside him.

All that could be seen was the butcher, having retracted his chain, still maintaining the throwing motion.

At the chain's end, that huge cleaver directly sliced the vehicles of three other companions in half.

Like being tossed into a slicer, the vehicle split in half; inside, two of the three Awakened Ones were instantly crushed to death, their blood spraying like tomato juice, staining the snowy ice with a vivid red; the remaining one, face pale with fear, was flung outright from the disintegrating off‑road vehicle.

Can't... drag it out any longer!

Filled with fear and indignation, Tuōfūsījī gritted his teeth, just about to jump from the vehicle to blow up the fuel tank, when suddenly two black dots shot forward at high speed, heading straight for the convoy.

One second later, they appeared as if casually standing, silently stationed before the convoy, watching them.

Someone's here!?

The hook‑nosed man's gaze froze, and an uncontrollable look of wild joy appeared on his face.

But as soon as he saw that the newcomer was somewhat unfamiliar, the joy on his face froze.

"Lin Dui, should we intervene?"

Arms crossed, Zhang Tie tilted his head boredly, gazing at the pursued convoy and the last bloody butcher.

He had already heard the shouts and communications from the convoy.

The vast Safe Zone was actually unable to cope with a single second‑level high‑grade beast...

These people are really weak...