Steel steam and flame

The surrounding environment told Delya that the test-like adaptation was the most difficult from the beginning, far exceeding the two or three years when Cassia fell asleep.

However, she knew that she was prepared, and there would be no more time to prepare. The small countries in the Red Star era were the best environment for examinations. At present, the number of people gathered in the seven coordinating countries will definitely become a target in the eyes of the enemy.

It's a bit like an open-book exam, Delya had this idea. Not only does he know the enemy's purpose, but he can also bring the corresponding books and materials to the examination venue. The next thing you need to do is to answer the questions seriously.

Information gathered here from various taverns and steel security branches. After Delya accepted and analyzed it, she immediately knew the difficulty of this exam. The bad news is that the questions on the exam paper are not found in the books and materials. But the good news is that although she has never done similar problems, she still has a lot of ideas and has already begun to implement them.

Secret population surveys are being carried out in the seven coordinating countries and the surrounding small countries. As for the more remote places, Delya is currently thinking of ways. The various basic substances that were hoarded a few years ago began to come into play one after another. After food, materials, medicines, etc. gradually gained considerable purchasing power, there was no longer a shortage of people who were willing to do some work for this purpose.

While the various response preparations of the small countries were being carried out nervously and orderly, within the empire, near a small city near an extreme area, a team composed entirely of surgeons stopped and used the surrounding trees as materials to build a Build a simple outdoor rest camp.

The heavy rain intertwined with the rain curtain, dyeing the pale color of the small town ahead into gray.

This time, it was no longer the members of the reconnaissance team who went to investigate. The long-term fighting and movement had accumulated physical and mental fatigue for all members of the team. The more inevitable the deaths of team members, the more it destroys the entire team's psychological defense.

There are more and more difficult situations to deal with, and it is no longer the simple situation that the team encountered when they set out - the time when you can set up a heavy firepower point, move your finger, and press the trigger to complete the mission no longer exists. From platinum bullets that could dispatch all enemies, to acid platinum bullets that could be defended against, until recently, the dangers encountered required the use of pneumatic weapons for close combat.

The increase in combat intensity allows the team to see its own limitations.

"We should consider returning." Among the team, the captain who was still alive was thinking, and as the captain, No. 0 was also thinking.

After receiving intelligence from the Alliance, he had the idea of ​​returning. In the heavy rain, this team that was setting up camping tents had reached its limit. The dangers they will encounter in the future have the potential to devour them all.

The small town in front seemed silent, and the sound of rain completely covered it. Zero maintained a constant speed and quickly approached. The appearance of the city he saw was exactly the same as what he had observed in his mental perception. There was no difference.

"The second dead city, maybe." Zero said to himself as he walked on a field of white flowers. Something invisible was released from his body, a toxic substance, or a suppressive substance. energy. Along the path he walked, all the white flowers within a few dozen meters on both sides withered and turned into rotten gray and black. Eventually, they lost their shape and returned to becoming rich pollution and spreading mold.

There is no smell of humans or surgeons in the small town, but there are many reactions belonging to life. In the building covered with white flowers, more and more life is awakening. They all smell of pollution, a smell of decay.

When the first gaze came over, in just one breath, the gazes from all around began to rush in, hitting Zero's body hard. In those pairs of eyes with penetrating gray-white color, the figure of No. 0 became clearer and clearer. They can feel the pressure and life-threatening danger brought by Zero, but in Zero's eyes, even if they have the breath of life, they are just a pile of dead things like buildings at the moment.

"A breeding ground for infections on the ground?" Zero asked himself as he walked aimlessly, thinking of the information he had received. The withered white flowers allow the infestations in the building to reveal their form. They are already gathering, standing by the windows, in front of the door, or in the alleys full of shadows.

The pollution of darkness and corruption allowed them to hide, but their glowing eyes could not be hidden at all. They were double-folded, staring straight at No. Zero.

All the actions of the infested body in the small town seemed to be limited to staring at Zero. Other than that, they do nothing else.

Zero passed through half of the small town and felt that this was enough to explore. He immediately lost all desire to explore the small town and turned around to return along the original route. Like the leader here, he left without any interruption under the gaze of piles of infected bodies.

After walking out of the small town, No. 0 turned around and looked behind him, "I don't know how many similar cities exist in various parts of the empire. The further time goes by, the more powerful the infected bodies will be. Let's go there then. For cleaning, the price paid will increase exponentially.”

"I already have good intelligence, can sense danger, and have not taken the initiative to attack me. This can be used as evidence."

"Will there be similar cities in the Far Sea Commonwealth and the Flame Alliance? Artificially brewing infestations and then using transportation vehicles to deliver them over long distances? If these infestations go to the front, they may influence the situation there. Balance. This is an action that the enemy can do. After all, ordinary humans and consumables are not considered. 'Natural disaster' can sum up everything and become the reason not to be questioned."

While muttering, Zero took out his communicator, pressed the answer button, and waited until the other side connected. After a few short words, the communication was immediately disconnected.

He looked at the team in front of him who were still setting up camping tents, and sighed: "Mr. Cassia and I may only be suitable to act alone. I shouldn't stay in this team anymore. They have become a burden."

"Where should we go? There is Mr. Cassia in the southern forest, and the Flame Alliance does not need much help. The small countries are the battlefield for Miss Ovelia, Miss Ye Jielin and others..."

"Let's go and see the battle lines."

Number Zero's figure was gradually swallowed up by the rain curtain. But less than an hour later, the sky above this small city suddenly turned dark red. Amidst the hoarse roar of the infected body, nearly a hundred anti-ground aerial bombs penetrated the rain clouds and fell down.