Chapter 949

Pingchuan War Zone, Blackstone Safe Zone.

Translate: Pingchuan War Zone, Black Stone Safe Zone.

We need to keep punctuation? The Chinese line ends with a full stop (。). We'll translate to English with a period. Keep same punctuation? Usually we translate to English punctuation. We'll output: Pingchuan War Zone, Black Stone Safe Zone.

The Awakened perched on the watchtower, wrapped head to toe in a camouflage coat, irritably firing his hand‑held crossbow, picking off small groups of wandering corpses.

Translate: Lying on the watchtower, the Awakened One wrapped in a camouflage coat, irritably using the crossbow in hand, picking off the small groups of wandering corpses.

Lying on the watchtower, the Awakened One, wrapped head to toe in a camouflage coat, irritably using the crossbow in hand, picking off the small groups of wandering corpses.

Although it is already summer, the hot, humid night weather makes people sweat profusely; to avoid the countless mosquitoes, the soldiers on duty must bundle themselves up tightly.

Translate: Although it is already summer, the hot, humid night weather is enough to make people sweat profusely, but in order to "avoid" the mosquitoes as numerous as cow hair, the soldiers on duty have no choice but to wrap themselves up tightly.

Although it is already summer, the hot, humid night weather is enough to make people sweat profusely, but in order to avoid the mosquitoes as numerous as cow hair, the soldiers on duty have no choice but to wrap themselves up tightly.

Ammunition is precious; compared to noisy firearms, they prefer to use recoverable crossbow bolts in normal times.

Translate: Bullets are precious; compared to noisy firearms, in normal times they prefer to use recoverable crossbow bolts.

Covered in sticky, foul‑smelling sweat, he feels light‑headed.

Translate: The sticky, rancid sweat all over makes one dizzy.

With chapped, dehydrated lips, the tower guards all wish their relief would arrive sooner.

Translate: Chapped, dehydrated lips; the soldiers on the tower all wish their shift‑relieving companions could take over sooner.

Compared to before the apocalypse, the insects are now terrifyingly large; many survivors report having even seen mosquitoes as big as a palm.

Translate: Compared to before the apocalypse, the insects now are horrifyingly large; many survivors report having even seen mosquito‑sized as big as a palm.

mosquitoes as big as a palm

Rotting corpses litter the streets; under the heat, it's said that inside the city, the worms crawling out of the corpses are so numerous they fill entire streets like a sea of insects, capable of biting people to death.

Translate: Everywhere are rotting corpses; under the high‑temperature incubation, it is said that inside the city, the worms crawling out of the corpses are so numerous they fill the whole streets like a sea of insects, able to bite people to death.

The stench from rotting corpses even spreads as a toxic miasma, full of deadly poison.

Translate: The stench produced by rotting corpses even spreads as miasma, full of deadly poison.

At night.

Translate: At night.

Inside the rudimentary safe zone, a diesel generator roars.

Translate: In the rudimentary safe zone, the diesel generator roars.

Under the dim light, flying insects swirl about like snowflakes.

Translate: Under the faint light, the flying insects swirl about like snowflakes.

Apart from a few newly built structures resembling civilian homes, the 'military factory' still glows, and there is hardly any light to be seen elsewhere in the safe zone.

Translate: Apart from a few newly built structures that resemble ordinary houses and the "military factory" still glowing, there is hardly any light to be seen in the safe zone.

At the very center of the safe zone stand several cement and color‑steel flat‑roofed buildings, bearing steel signs that distinguish them from the other structures.

Translate: At the very center of the safe zone stand several cement‑and‑color‑steel flat‑roofed buildings, proudly bearing steel signs that set them apart from other structures.

Blackstone Safe Zone

Translate: "【Black Stone Safe Zone】"

This is the core where the psionic node is located, and also the residence of the leader of Blackstone Safe Zone.

Translate: This is the core where the spiritual energy node is located, and also the residence of the leader of Black Stone Safe Zone.

Get lost!

Translate: "Get lost!"

He shouted loudly.

Translate: A loud shout.

The Awakened on guard at the entrance, shouting while his bare torso was exposed, shambled toward nearby survivors like a walking corpse.

Translate: The Awakened One on guard at the entrance, while shouting, bares his upper body and approaches nearby survivors like a walking corpse.

The summer after the apocalypse is truly scorching; under the extreme climate, the safe zone at night feels like a furnace, roasting people to the brink of dehydration.

Translate: The post‑apocalypse summer is truly scorching; under the extreme climate, the safe zone at night is like a furnace, roasting people to the point of dehydration.

As the only place in the safe zone with air conditioning, the on‑duty soldier leans silently against the door, trying to catch a bit of cool air.

Translate: As the only place in the safe zone with air‑conditioning, the on‑duty soldier leans silently against the door, trying to catch a bit of cool air.

Meanwhile, everyone else obviously does not enjoy such comfort.

Translate: Meanwhile, others obviously do not enjoy such treatment.

The number of survivors in the city is not large—only about seventy to eighty thousand; on nights lacking entertainment, the hungry crowds listlessly set up stalls, trading goods that are hardly better than trash.

Translate: The survivors in the city are not many, only about seventy or eighty thousand; in the boredom of night, the hungry crowds listlessly set up stalls, trading goods that are practically trash.

Most people go shirtless, constantly fanning themselves; occasionally you see women with vacant stares, either bare‑chested or loosely wrapped in a cloth around the chest, wearily trailing behind their men to hawk their wares.

Translate: Most people go shirtless, constantly fanning themselves; occasionally one sees women with vacant eyes, bare‑chested or merely wrapping a cloth around their chests, wearily following their men to hawk their wares.

There's no other reason—it's just too hot.

Translate: There's no other reason—it's just too hot.

After the apocalypse, everything is scarce; once sweat soaks their clothes, they become unbearable to wear.

Translate: After the apocalypse everything is scarce; once sweat soaks the clothes, they become intolerable to wear.

After nearly half a year of the apocalypse, people have grown accustomed to making do with less, using whatever they can.

Translate: After nearly half a year of the apocalypse's baptism, people have grown accustomed to making do with clothes and food, using anything usable.

In the haggling between vendors and the Awakened, no one pays attention to the women who are equally bare‑chested.

Translate: In the haggling between vendors and Awakened Ones, no one pays attention to the similarly shirtless women.

Their bodies, so emaciated they could be kneaded into mud, are far less eye‑catching than a handful of ammunition.

Translate: That flesh that can be rolled into mud balls is far less eye‑catching than a bundle of ammunition.

Meanwhile, inside the building bearing the sign...

Translate: Meanwhile, inside the building bearing the sign.

A third‑tier Awakened, face full of suspicion, props his legs up and reclines on the sofa.

Translate: A Third‑Level Awakened One, full of suspicion, props his legs up and reclines on the sofa.

Behind him are several attractive maids who gently massage his back with great care.

Translate: Behind him are several attractive maids who carefully massage his back.

The floor is carpeted, and the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling clashes with the room's style.

Translate: The floor is carpeted, and the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling clashes with the style here.

It looks as if it were haphazardly taken apart from some villa and shoved in here.

Translate: It seems as if it were forcibly taken from some villa and slapped together.

The room is well‑air‑conditioned; as the leader of Blackstone Safe Zone, only he can afford to waste fuel on the generator and live like before the apocalypse.

Translate: The room is amply cool; as the leader of Black Stone Safe Zone, only he has the privilege to waste fuel on the generator and live like before the apocalypse.

"My lord, what's wrong with you?"

Translate: "My lord, what's wrong?"

It's rare to see the leader like this; a voluptuous young woman behind him coquettishly asks what's the matter.

Translate: It is rare to see the lord in such a mood; the voluptuous young woman behind him asks coquettishly.

After a moment, the third‑tier Awakened impatiently raises a hand, signaling the other not to disturb him.

Translate: A moment later, this Third‑Level Awakened One, somewhat impatient, raises a hand to signal the other not to disturb him.

He watches the nearly explosive discussion on the trade channel, his eyes flickering.

Translate: He watches the nearly explosive discussion in the trading channel, his eyes flickering.

"Is a battle between a third‑tier Awakened and a third‑tier mutant still a one‑shot kill...?"

Translate: "Is the battle between a Third‑Level Awakened One and a Third‑Level Mutant still an instant kill…?"

At first glance at the headline, his eyes were full of contempt and scorn; he didn't take it seriously at all.

Translate: At first glance at the title, his eyes were full of indifference and contempt; he didn't take it seriously at all.

This kind of fake news, deliberately claimed to be of super high value, has happened far too many times.

Translate: Such false information, deliberately claimed to be of super‑high value, has happened far too many times.

He's no fool—where hasn't he encountered a third‑tier mutant?

Translate: He's no fool—where hasn't he come into contact with a Third‑Level Mutant?

You should know that almost every Awakened who reaches third tier, upon returning, first tries to seek out a third‑tier mutant to test himself.

Translate: You should know that almost every Awakened One, upon reaching Third Level, first tries to go test himself against a Third‑Level Mutant.

After all, it's a matter of life and death.

Translate: After all, it's a matter of life and death.

But it's disappointing that, up to now, no Awakened has stepped forward claiming he can single‑handedly kill a same‑tier monster.

Translate: But the pessimistic thing is that, up to now, no Awakened One has stepped forward claiming he can single‑handedly kill a monster of the same rank.

Although both are third tier, the power gap between humans and monsters is huge—even several times larger than it was at second tier!

Translate: Even though both are Third Level, the power gap between humans and monsters is too great—indeed several times larger than it was at Second Level.

It's like back at second tier, where a single second‑tier mutant required a small team to struggle together just to have a hope of killing it.

Translate: It's like back at Second Level, when a single Second‑Level Mutant required a small team to struggle together just to have a hope of killing it.

Compared to monsters, the Awakened's bodies are far too fragile.

Translate: Compared to monsters, the Awakened Ones' bodies are far too fragile.

A slight mistake can lead to the annihilation of the entire force.

Translate: A little carelessness, and the whole force is wiped out.

Of course, someone might have killed one, but it went unannounced.

Translate: Of course, it's also possible someone did kill one, but never made it known.

After all, being able to slay a third‑tier creature means one could obtain a large amount of supplies, even acquire third‑tier guardian gear and items!

Translate: After all, being able to slay a Third Level means one can obtain a huge amount of supplies, and even acquire the equipment and props guarded by Third Level!

But this piece of news seems somewhat different from what we've encountered before...

Translate: But this piece of news seems somewhat different from the usual ones we've run into...

The man looks at the trade information claiming a trade contract can be signed, and at the image the other party posted, and he can't help but wonder.

Translate: The man looked at the trading information claiming that a trading contract could be signed, and at the picture the other side had posted, and couldn't help wondering.

In that picture, a huge skull is violently smashed and lies on the ground.

Translate: In that picture, a huge skull was violently smashed and lay on the ground.

Being familiar with monsters, he can tell at a glance that this is definitely the physique of a third‑tier mutant.

Translate: To him, familiar with monsters, a single glance was enough to tell that this was definitely the physique of a Third‑Level Mutant.

Should we buy it?

Translate: Should I buy it?

He feels somewhat tempted, even impulsive.

Translate: I'm somewhat moved, even impulsive.

Leaving that aside, if the video is genuine, he could also watch how other Awakened managed to kill a third‑tier mutant.

Translate: Leaving aside other talk, if the video is genuine, I could also watch how other Awakened Ones managed to kill a Third Level.

At worst, gaining a bit of experience against the enemy is good.

If the title weren't so shocking as to be hard to believe, he would have bought it already.

Single-handedly... slaughter...

What a joke—if anyone could actually pull that off, he'd eat the sofa right under him on the spot!

He believes it can kill, even wear down a mutant to death, but an instant kill...

Too exaggerated...

He would rather believe that it was indeed a Third Rank who killed the mutant, but that several Third Ranks acted together.

At the critical moment, they let a single Third Rank kill the opponent alone, then took the opportunity to record it.

This way, it doesn't actually violate the title.

And the price of one spiritual energy fruit, or an equivalent exchange item, happened to be right at the limit of his mental tolerance.

To be honest, for a piece of news, this price is really a bit too high.

If converted to food, it would be enough for an ordinary person to eat for over half a year.

If exchanged for people, etc., it could even buy a van-full of campus belles.

After a few seconds, the man watched the trading channel flash with some wealthy Awakened Ones making purchases, then after their brief ID messages turned out genuine, he was torn.

Finally, he heartbreakingly traded away two pieces of White Equipment to initiate the purchase.

0.1 seconds later, a video was instantly sent through the system trading channel.

Although he was a Third Rank, his strength was among the weakest of Third Ranks; seeing his hard-earned supplies dwindle, the man took a deep breath and quickly opened the video.

If the content is fake, he would really lose big!

He wanted to see whether, in that hype‑filled video, the Awakened One really was that strong!

"Play the video!"

His eyes locked onto the playing screen.

In an instant, a light curtain formed, and in the center of the screen appeared a Third‑rank mutant, right before the recorder's eyes.

Sure enough, it was a Third‑rank mutant!

The man's eyes widened—he recognized it; this monster was clearly the one smashed to pieces in the screenshot!

He swallowed dryly, and an incredulous thought arose.

This video... could it actually be real!?