Chapter 189: Chapter 188: Source of the Epidemic
(Author’s Note: Got back late from overtime, so only one update today, but it’s a long one.)
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The metal "head" encasing this brain was made from a Nanomechanical Cluster a full ten centimeters thick. It also had several hollow insulating layers supported by a metal skeleton to provide maximum isolation from the virus.
This thing was, after all, far too dangerous. Shen Feng had no desire to go through all the trouble of creating a disguise only to end up getting infected for real.
If that happened, the billions of people in the world wouldn’t be enough for him to chew on.
After placing the device on his head like a hat, the Nanomechanical Cluster on the surface of Shen Feng’s body rippled and began to change his form.
Soon, he had transformed into the shape of a tall, thin East Asian man, a full head taller than before.
Jingwei’s voice suddenly cut in. "Tsk, tsk. Why must you limit yourself to a human form? That’s just blatant human supremacism! Why not a giraffe?"
Shen Feng rolled his eyes. "Jeez, could you not pop up and scare me like that? Weren’t you supposed to be researching the components of the Antiviral Serum? How do you have time to chat nonsense with me?"
"Don’t forget, my main body is still imprisoned inside you. The part in the virus lab is just one of my Consciousness Antennae," Jingwei retorted testily. "Besides, I’m already using ninety-nine percent of my processing power to analyze the components. What’s wrong with using the last bit to chat? What do you think this connection is for, anyway?"
"Oh, right. The world’s health departments just made a simultaneous announcement. They’re officially naming the infected ’zombies.’ If you ask me, it’s a completely pointless exercise. What’s wrong with just calling them ’the infected’? They just had to dig something up from pop subculture..."
Shen Feng couldn’t help but smack his lips. ’So we’re bowing to tradition in the end... I thought Corpse Ghost was a pretty good name, too...’
"On another note, I have some good news for you. The defensive forces, composed of East Japan’s Self-defense Force and police units, have held back the tide of the infected before two defense lines... The infected launched five charges, even using tanks and armored vehicles, but they were all repelled." As Jingwei spoke, she transmitted a video feed to Shen Feng’s consciousness.
Shen Feng immediately "saw" hordes of zombies in the wilderness and cities near East Japan’s northern and southern provisional defense lines, charging toward the heavily guarded positions.
The soldiers on the defense lines were all wearing protective suits or several layers of masks and goggles as makeshift biosecurity measures.
When they saw the zombies charging at them with radiant smiles, many of the soldiers were stunned, some even finding themselves unable to pull the trigger.
But then they saw other civilians, also running frantically, being tackled to the ground by the zombies, who tore off strips of flesh and blood, eliciting piercing screams.
Only then did the soldiers snap back to reality and begin to fire wildly at the zombies.
At the same time, some former Self-defense Force and Eagle Army soldiers stationed in East Japan, now turned into zombies, drove tanks and armored vehicles to assault the lines. They were met with anti-tank missiles and guided bombs dropped from aircraft, making it look like a modern battlefield.
What’s more, there were even zombified fighter pilots who tried to fly their jets over the defense lines. However, while these zombies could masquerade as normal people, their brain damage clearly made them incapable of handling a complex operation like flying a fighter jet. Most of them simply crashed and exploded.
After the initial panic and fear, the defense lines led by East Japan’s provisional cabinet had managed to halt the spread of the plague.
Globally, epidemic control efforts had made huge strides. The Evil Spirit Virus’s spread had been temporarily halted.
And by the looks of it, if they could eliminate all the zombies within the quarantine zones, they might be able to gradually extinguish the plague completely, perhaps without even needing a vaccine.
Although Shen Feng knew it wouldn’t be that simple, he still breathed a sigh of relief.
’At least I can catch my breath.’
He didn’t have to be wound as tight as a steel wire all the time.
He walked back to the bound infected and waved his hand.
The infected looked at Shen Feng, its face contorting into a ferocious snarl before going slack-jawed again. It seemed to sense Shen Feng’s own brainwaves, only to then be confused by the brainwaves emitted by the disguised brain. Its expression shifted constantly, as if it had a tic disorder.
Shen Feng nodded with satisfaction. ’This disguise is pretty good. At the very least, it can leave these infected... no, these zombies, in a state of constant confusion, like a guy discovering his crush is actually a man in drag.’
’But I can’t drive anymore.’
He had only gone one block and had already run into so many infected, including a deeply infected one that could release an electromagnetic pulse. Driving would definitely attract their attention and invite unnecessary attacks.
Relying solely on the Nanomechanical Cluster to travel would also be troublesome. It would cause the cluster’s energy to deplete, the speed wasn’t great, and its strange shape would also easily attract the infected’s attention. Even if he wasn’t attacked, it would still be a hassle.
While trying his best to convince himself, Shen Feng stopped the electrical stimulation to the infected brain on his head. He then released the restraints on the zombie behind him and took off running toward the end of the street.
No longer sensing the brainwave signals of its own kind, the zombie immediately started drooling and pursued Shen Feng, letting out a wild roar.
In the blink of an eye, Shen Feng had reached another street. There, he saw dozens of zombies kneeling on the ground, frantically devouring several very fresh corpses. One of the bodies was still twitching reflexively, clearly having just died.