Two Worlds in the Apocalypse: Each journey through the modern world lasts 60 seconds.

Chapter 151 Annihilation (7500 words)

After driving for more than ten minutes, Xu Mo slowly slowed down and parked the SUV behind the ruins of an abandoned farmhouse, which was half-hidden by dense weeds.

Further along from this point, the terrain gradually transitions from open wilderness to rolling hills, and the vegetation becomes denser.

Xu Mo turned off the engine but didn't get out of the car immediately. He sat in the driver's seat and quietly observed through the mottled windshield for about two minutes.

Although the young man claimed it took him over twenty minutes of running at full speed to catch up, Xu Mo wasn't naive enough to drive directly to the other man's camp entrance. Twenty minutes might only take seven or eight minutes, or even less, for an off-road vehicle traveling on complex terrain. But approaching without reconnaissance, especially if the other side might have sentries or early warning systems, could easily alert them and even lead to his own encirclement.

"The rest of the journey will have to be walked."

Xu Mo began to put on and organize his equipment: the machete was slung diagonally at his waist for easy draw; he checked the pistol in the holster to make sure it was loaded; the AK-47 was slung on his back with the muzzle pointing downwards, and four spare magazines were inserted into his tactical vest; when he saw the Barrett, Xu Mo hesitated for a moment, but still did not stay in the car.

The future is uncertain, and no one can guarantee that they won't need it.

With everything ready, Xu Mo took a deep breath and began to move quickly toward his destination.

Although he was carrying a considerable amount of weaponry and equipment, the burden was negligible for Xu Mo, who had reached the Iron Bone Realm and whose physique far surpassed that of ordinary people. His steps were light and steady as he traversed the weeds, pebbles, and dry gullies as if walking in his own backyard.

What's even more remarkable is that Xu Mo maintained excellent concealment while maintaining considerable speed—he didn't raise any noticeable dust, nor did he break any extra dead branches. His figure was partially hidden by sparse trees and waist-high grass, appearing and disappearing like a ghost wandering in the wilderness.

After running for about seven or eight minutes, Xu Mo passed through a patch of low bushes, and the terrain suddenly opened up before him. What appeared before him was a small, horseshoe-shaped valley surrounded on three sides by gentle slopes.

In the center of the valley, on a relatively flat clearing, a campsite was set up.

Xu Mo immediately stopped, turned sideways and hid behind a clump of dense weeds, raised his binoculars and began to observe carefully.

At the heart of the campsite are four motorhomes arranged in an arc, and these are not the small, towable type.

Parked right next to the RV was an off-road vehicle that made Xu Mo's pupils shrink slightly.

That was Jiangcheng's standard-issue vehicle, with the same dark green paint job as the one Xu Mo was driving, the same modified front bumper, and even traces of luggage racks for securing supplies on the roof.

"I wonder which messenger's car it was—" Xu Mo's heart sank slightly. In that car once sat someone who shared the same mission as him. Now, where was that person? Dead or alive? The answer was perhaps already self-evident.

Besides the vehicles, several tents of varying sizes, colors, and styles were pitched on the edge of the camp, clearly cobbled together from spoils of war. Scattered around the tents were various odds and ends: empty cans, water bottles, fuel cans, and makeshift clothes racks—indicating that the group had been there for some time.

The most crucial element is people.

Xu Mo's gaze swept across the campsite. Two figures were moving about at the edge of the tents. One was burly, shirtless, wiping a heavy-looking machete with a rag; the other, relatively thinner, was squatting in front of a portable stove, seemingly cooking something, wisps of smoke rising from it. Both were relaxed, clearly unaware of the impending danger.

Whether there are still people in the other RVs and tents is currently unknown. However, based on the young man's information—there are seven people in total including himself—there should still be six people in the campsite at this moment.

Two people are visible in front of us, and at least four more are hiding inside the car or deep inside the tent.

Xu Mo put down the binoculars and quickly assessed the situation in his mind.

Facing six opponents alone, Xu Mo had the advantage of terrain and was far more familiar with the surroundings than his own. If he were to engage in a direct assault, even if he ultimately won, he would likely pay an unnecessary price, and some of his opponents might even escape – an outcome Xu Mo desired.

"We must weaken the enemy's manpower first." Xu Mo's eyes turned slightly cold.

After observing the layout of the camp and the surrounding terrain, Xu Mo chose a side-rear direction that was neither in the sight of the two active personnel nor in a way that would allow him to get closer to the core of the camp, and began to make a silent, roundabout advance.

Fifty meters...not detected. Thirty meters...still not detected. Xu Mo had stealthily moved to the outskirts of the camp, to the side and rear of the nearest RV. His right hand was already in his pocket, gripping a high-explosive grenade. There were originally two smoke grenades there, but after Xu Mo used them, he replaced them with two high-explosive grenades and put them in his pocket.

The cold, metallic touch made him even calmer.

The distance was close enough that, with his arm strength, it wouldn't be difficult for him to accurately throw a grenade into any tent from here, or even throw it into the RV through a half-open car window.

Xu Mo pricked up his ears and maximized the enhanced perception brought by the Iron Bone Realm.

At a distance of thirty meters, the sound of the wind and the chirping of insects in the distance would be enough to mask any other noises in the camp for an ordinary person. But for Xu Mo, those distractions were filtered out, and he could vaguely make out intermittent human voices.

The voices were very soft, but Xu Mo could tell that they were the two men outside the tent talking.

Xu Mo tiptoed closer, hoping to get within twenty meters to ensure the suddenness and devastation of the first strike.

Xu Mo gently lifted his left foot, stepping over a clump of dry weeds, searching for his next foothold—

"Who?!"

A sudden shout rang out from inside the tent! The voice was completely different from the casual tone of their conversation, filled with a sharp, alert alertness!

Xu Mo felt a chill run down his spine. He was certain that his movements had been extremely quiet, making almost no detectable sound. How had the other party discovered him? Was there some kind of early warning trap set up in the camp? Or did someone among them possess extraordinary sensory abilities?

These thoughts only flashed through Xu Mo's mind. Since he had been exposed, there was no need to hide it anymore.

"It's me! I'm back—!"

Xu Mo responded loudly. At the same time, he exerted force with his right hand and threw the high-explosive grenade that he had been holding in his palm with the safety pin removed and the grip pin pressed down precisely towards the center of the tent entrance and the source of the voices!

The grenade traced a low, swift parabola through the air, passing over the heads of the two people outside the tent who had just become alert from the shout, and disappeared into the gap of the tent's half-open curtain!

"Who are you-

"7

The alert voice inside the tent only managed to utter those two words before the second one was cut off: "BOOM—!!!"

The earth-shattering explosion, like a thunderclap rolling across the ground, instantly shattered the afternoon's dullness in the mountain valley!

A blazing fireball expanded violently from inside the tent, tearing the heavy canvas curtain into countless burning fragments from the inside! The shockwave, carrying high temperatures, shrapnel, and torn fabric, swept in all directions like an invisible giant hammer, twisting and throwing several clothes racks into the air like toys.

At the edge of the tent, the two burly men and the skinny man who were originally moving around were thrown to the ground by the shockwave. Blood was instantly gushing from their bodies, and they let out a terrified and painful scream!

"Ah—!! My eyes!!"

Everything happened too fast. From Xu Mo's exposure and response to the grenade explosion, it only took three or four seconds. The camp instantly went from the lazy tranquility of the afternoon to a hell of flames and smoke.

Xu Mo didn't waste a single second.

Before the shockwave from the explosion had completely subsided, he burst forth from his concealed position, his figure like an arrow released from a bow, piercing straight into the heart of the camp! At the same time, he already had an AK-47 in his hand, the butt against his shoulder, the muzzle lowered, ready to fire at any moment!

However, the expected retaliation did not occur.

From the direction of the tent, apart from the two figures rolling on the ground, groaning and howling, there was no other movement. The doors and windows of the other RVs remained tightly shut, with no sign of anyone rushing out to help.

Xu Mo quickly approached the two people who had fallen to the ground.

A shirtless, burly man lay in a pool of blood, his eyes closed and his face a bloody mess, clearly wounded in vital areas by shrapnel from the explosion; another thin man clutched his leg, letting out inhuman screams, his lower leg twisted at an unnatural angle, bone fragments exposed, blood gushing out.

Xu Mo did not hesitate, nor did he slow down.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two short, precise shots rang out, and the two convulsing bodies on the ground came to a complete stop.

Smoke curled from the gun barrels as Xu Mo stepped over the corpses and arrived at the tent, now blown to pieces. The once sturdy military green canvas was now like ripped rags, hanging in pieces from the twisted frame. Through a larger tear, Xu Mo saw the scene inside—or rather, a bloody scene of a man and a woman entangled together.

The two were clearly engaged in deep physical contact inside the tent; they didn't even have time to get up, let alone dress or resist, when the explosion occurred.

Shrapnel and shockwaves from the high-explosive grenade left countless horrific wounds on their naked bodies, especially the man, whose back was almost blown apart, and the woman's abdomen was ripped open.

And they hadn't died immediately; they were making indistinct sounds that were somewhere between groans and screams.

Xu Mo stood outside the tear in the tent, helplessly watching the scene unfold. He was too lazy to even bend down and lift the completely deformed tent flap.

"Bang bang bang bang——!"

A burst of bullets swept across the two still-writhing bodies, sending them flying into the sky.

"This is actually what you've been pursuing, except you want to ascend to heaven happily. I've just changed the way I've helped you ascend to heaven," Xu Mo explained as he changed the magazine.

From the moment the grenade exploded to the moment the four men were shot and killed, only seven or eight seconds had passed.

After doing all this, Xu Mo quickly dodged and used the side wall of the RV as cover, cautiously scanning his surroundings while moving his gun barrel rapidly.

Intelligence indicated there should be six people in this camp. He just killed four people—two inside a tent, plus two outside—meaning two more are missing.

Where did they go?

If they were hiding in one of the vehicles, and there had just been a grenade explosion and gunfire, why didn't they come out to support their comrades?

Xu Mo remained highly vigilant and quickly and carefully searched the entire camp.

He searched each of the four RVs. The first three were empty, only showing signs of disarray. Deep inside the fourth RV, several neatly folded field uniforms bearing the Jiangcheng Logistics logo and an empty, pried-open supply crate lay quietly—the belongings of an unnamed messenger. Xu Mo remained silent for a few seconds, did not touch them, and then withdrew.

The remaining tents were searched, but the two men were nowhere to be found.

"It seems they've left for now," Xu Mo concluded.

If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they will grow back in spring.

This is a principle that Xu Mo learned when he was very young: when facing an enemy group that has clearly harbored malice towards him and has attacked his own people, there is no room for mercy or forgiveness.

He must wait here and completely resolve all potential problems.

Xu Mo acted swiftly.

He dragged the four bodies to a low-lying ditch at the edge of the camp, and stuffed the wrecked tent frames and canvas debris into the bottom of a motorhome.

The camp has largely returned to calm, and there is not much difference from before.

After doing all this, Xu Mo chose a motorhome that was centrally located, had a good view, and was easy to observe the direction of the campsite entrance, and got in. He then left the door slightly ajar, with only a very thin gap.

Waiting is a lesson that every hunter must learn.

Time ticked by, and outside the camp, only the cries of unidentified creatures could be heard.

About half an hour later, the faint rumble of a car engine could be heard from the end of the dirt road in the distance.

Soon, a dusty civilian SUV emerged from around the corner of the dirt road and drove slowly toward the camp. The vehicle was covered in scratches, but its speed was steady, clearly indicating that the driver was very familiar with the road.

That's them!

Xu Mo didn't rush into action. He slowly lowered the AK-47 from his lap and then took the Barrett rifle off his back, placing it on the edge of the half-open car door. The gap in the door was large enough to allow the thick barrel to protrude, and also enough for him to clearly lock onto his target through the scope.

The crosshairs of the scope were firmly fixed on the driver's cab of the SUV.

The driver was a bearded man with a cigarette dangling from his lips, one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on the window, looking relaxed. In the passenger seat, a lean and wiry man in a grass-green combat suit was looking down and searching for something; his face was obscured.

Xu Mo's breathing and heartbeat dropped to freezing point, and his index finger pre-pressed the trigger.

"Bang--!!!"

Barrett's deep roar echoed once again across the wilderness!

The bullet left the barrel, tearing an invisible trail of death in mid-air before striking the windshield of the civilian SUV with pinpoint accuracy!

The entire windshield shattered instantly, like ice being struck by a giant hammer, into countless fine cracks before collapsing and crumbling inwards.

The bearded man in the driver's seat felt as if he had been struck head-on by an invisible heavy object, and a large spurt of thick, almost black blood gushed from his chest and back. He didn't even have time to scream before his body slumped limply into the seat.

The out-of-control SUV veered off course as if it were drunk.

However, the matter did not end there.

Just as the vehicle was out of control and had not yet come to a complete stop, the passenger side door was suddenly forced open from the inside!

A grass-green figure, like a spring suddenly released from its compressed limit, darted out of the car with incredible agility!

Upon landing, he executed a smooth forward roll, dissipating the impact of the high-speed movement. At the same time, his body rolled into a shallow depression next to the car, gaining temporary cover!

This series of movements was fluid and lightning fast.

Moreover, while the body was still moving after the roll to dissipate the force, the figure had already drawn the pistol from its waist and, relying on the approximate location of the gunfire in its memory, began to fire extremely rapidly and continuously towards the RV where Xu Mo was hiding!

"Bang bang bang bang bang bang—!"

The sound of the pistols firing was almost a continuous burst of explosions, and the speed of fire was so fast that Xu Mo subconsciously had the illusion that they were submachine guns rather than pistols.

Bullets rained down, striking the RV's exterior with a clanging sound and sending sparks flying.

CQB! Close-quarters combat!

The technical term instantly popped into Xu Mo's mind.

Moreover, this is not something that ordinary people possess; this person must be a superhuman with enhanced physical abilities!

The opponent's unbelievable on-the-spot reaction, their ghostly high-speed movement and fire suppression, and their ability to maintain an extremely high level of shooting even in haste—these are qualities that ordinary people cannot possess.

A series of thoughts flashed through his mind, but Xu Mo didn't have time to delve into them.

He quickly ducked, avoiding the enemy's suppressive fire, and picked up his AK-47 again.

Although the enemy's first volley of fire was fierce, it was a rough aiming attempt made in a hasty roll, resulting in a wide bullet spread. Apart from adding dozens of bullet holes to the RV's exterior, it did not cause any substantial damage to Xu Mo.

But the situation will be completely different from now on.

Xu Mo silently slid out of the RV from the other side, using the vehicle as temporary cover while listening intently to detect the other party's movements.

With his Iron Bone Realm fully unleashed, Xu Mo pushed his strength, speed, perception, and even defense to their limits.

The whole world seemed to slow down and become clearer in Xu Mo's senses: the flow of the wind, the swaying of the grass, and—

To the right front, behind a low earthen slope, came the extremely faint rustling sound of boot soles rubbing against sand.

The other party is moving, trying to maneuver around.

A glint flashed in Xu Mo's eyes. He suddenly leaned out from behind cover, pointed his AK-47 at the source of the sound, and decisively pulled the trigger without any hesitation.

"Bang bang bang bang!"

A short burst of fire sent bullets whistling as they hurtled toward the edge of the earthen slope.

Almost simultaneously, a grass-green figure flashed out from the other side of the earthen slope. The opponent moved just as fast as a ghost. Xu Mo's first burst of fire grazed the hem of his clothes and hit the ground behind him, kicking up a cloud of dust.

But Xu Mo's second round of shooting has already followed!

"Bang! Bang!"

This time it was two precise single shots!

The first bullet hit the target's left shoulder, exploding into a small cloud of blood mist! But the opponent was incredibly strong; the hit body only paused slightly, without even losing balance, and continued to return fire while moving at high speed!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The sound of pistol fire rang out again! This time it wasn't a hasty blind shot, but a real threat based on precise aiming while on the move!

Xu Mo dodged to the side while continuing to fire.

"Bang!"

A pistol bullet struck Xu Mo squarely in the left rib.

Xu Mo felt as if he had been struck by an invisible hammer, his whole body swaying slightly! His combat suit was pierced, the edges charred and curled, but a burning, dull pain shot through his skin underneath. Xu Mo felt as if a strong boxer had punched him hard in the ribs; the dull pain was so clear that his normally smooth blood circulation momentarily slowed down, and his chest felt tight. But that was all.

The bullet didn't penetrate, he didn't break any bones, and he wasn't even "injured" in any real sense.

This is the defense of the Iron Bone Realm!

However, Xu Mo's counterattack was too much for his opponent to withstand physically.

Just as the figure in grass green was stunned and froze in shock at Xu Mo's nonchalant attitude after being shot, "Bang!"

The third bullet from the AK-47 precisely pierced the right shoulder of the person holding the gun!

The pistol slipped from his hand and spun into the grass.

The figure finally lost his balance and staggered to the ground. After falling, he stared at Xu Mo with an incredulous gaze, or rather, at the spot where Xu Mo had been hit by the bullet.

In those eyes, there was horror, confusion, and bewilderment.

Xu Mo stepped forward steadily, gun in hand, pointing it down at the grass-green figure lying in a pool of blood, still breathing heavily, trying to support his body with his only movable arm.

Only now did he see the other person's face clearly.

He was a man around thirty years old. Even though he was seriously injured and covered in blood, his eyes were still sharp as an eagle's, without the weakness or pleading that an ordinary person would show when facing death.

Perhaps he had already foreseen his fate and knew that pleading would be useless.

After dealing with the six people in the camp, Xu Mo gathered their bodies together and set them on fire. As the flames rose, Xu Mo stood a few meters away from the fire, watching everything with a blank expression.

He wasn't a judge, just an avenger. As for what stories these people had, what struggles they had, what they had suffered, Xu Mo didn't care, nor did he want to know.

In the apocalypse, if you choose to be the hunter, you must be prepared to become the prey.

The flames grew stronger and stronger, crackling and popping. The grease hissed in the high temperature, and the bones cracked and brittle as they charred. Xu Mo watched quietly for about two minutes, making sure the fire wouldn't spread to the surrounding RV and weeds, before turning and leaving.

He still has a lot to do.

Xu Mo walked towards the SUV that belonged to Messenger No. 027. This was the vehicle number that Xu Mo saw abandoned on the side after dealing with the six people.

This car was almost identical to the one he was driving—the same paint job, the same front bumper, the same roof rack—except that it was now sitting there quietly.

Xu Mo opened the car door and saw that the food rations, drinking water, medicine and other supplies distributed by Jiangcheng were still placed on the passenger seat and the back seats.

It's clear that this group disposed of the vehicle before they could even move the supplies.

Opening the trunk, two 50-liter military fuel cans filled with gasoline lay quietly, perfectly sealed and substantial.

Xu Mo remained silent for a moment.

"Thank you," Xu Mo said softly, unsure whether he was speaking to Number 027 or to himself.

He took out two oil drums, and then took out some food he needed to replenish after using it up, and put it aside.

As for the other supplies in the camp—the four well-equipped RVs, the supplies piled inside, and the tents outside—Xu Mo didn't even glance at them a second time.

Taking enough fuel and food by myself is sufficient.

Of course, there's one last thing.

Xu Mo returned to the 027 SUV and took out a lighter from his pocket.

"Click."

This time, the flames landed on the driver's seat of the off-road vehicle.

Xu Mo lit the fire and stepped back a few paces, watching the flames spread from the seat to the dashboard, licking the steering wheel, and climbing up the roof. Thick smoke rose again, black ash flying everywhere, like incense burning at a funeral.

This vehicle carries the supplies and hopes of Jiangcheng, and the life of Messenger No. 027. It should not become a trophy, nor should it be used for any purpose contrary to the mission of "Dandelion".

Physical destruction is the most thorough and dignified way to say goodbye.

Flames engulfed the windshield. Mo stood a few meters away, watching everything with the same expressionless face he had when he had looked at the corpses.

Xu Mo gently pressed his knuckles against his chest.

The flames gradually died down, and the No. 027 SUV was reduced to a charred wreck, a stark contrast to the vehicle he was driving, still waiting in the wings. One was dead, the other was about to depart.

Xu Mo picked up the oil drum and supplies, turned and left without looking back.

Back in his off-road vehicle, Xu Mo secured the two fuel cans, stuffed the replenished supplies into the remaining space inside the vehicle, and then started the engine, the familiar deep roar resounding once again.

The wheels rolled over the weeds, heading back the way they had come.

The RV remained quietly there, its doors and windows still closed, waiting for some "destined person" to arrive sometime in the future. Xu Mo had originally considered burning the RV as well, but after thinking about it, he decided against it, leaving it for some destined person in the future.

Xu Mo had a pretty good idea of ​​the cause of death for Messenger No. 027.

Judging from the relatively intact appearance of the off-road vehicle, No. 027 was likely not killed after being surrounded and engaged in fierce firefight.

He probably found a spot he thought was secluded enough to park and rest at dusk or dawn, and then he was discovered.

Having tasted success, these raiders, upon seeing Xu Mo arrive in the vicinity in the same vehicle, carrying the same abundant supplies, did not hesitate to extend their claws once again.

This time, however, they chose the wrong prey.

There was one thing Xu Mo couldn't figure out: No. 027 was taking roughly the same route as him, so why had he never seen the car along the way?

Xu Mo didn't know the answer.

The young man he left in the pit will probably never have an answer. As for the other six people in the camp, they are now all charred and ashes, and they are even less likely to offer any explanation.

These questions are destined to remain just another unsolved mystery on this journey.

Xu Mo stopped thinking about it.

The off-road vehicle continued to speed along.

Because the afternoon was a little longer, Xu Mo was still more than 40 kilometers away from the edge of Luochuan City when the sun was about to set.

"We won't be able to reach our destination tonight." Xu Mo calmly accepted this fact and then prepared to find a place to rest.

Soon, Xu Mo found the target location, a clearing about 200 meters from the road, backed by a hill, with a relatively open view on all sides.

After getting off the bus, Xu Mo began setting up a temporary campsite.

By the time the tents were set up and the warning lines were in place, it was already dark.

Xu Mo didn't light a fire. He ate two compressed biscuits and a cold can of food with the cold water from the kettle. The food tasted as bland as ever, but it was calorie-rich enough.

After dinner, Xu Mo slung his gun over his shoulder, climbed onto the roof of the car, and gazed in the direction of Luochuan City.

He didn't think about what he would see or encounter after entering the outskirts of Luochuan City tomorrow. The plan was already set; all that remained was to execute it. If a detour was needed, he would take it; if battle was required, he would fight.

Whether it's a level one zombie, a level two zombie, a mutated beast, or anything else, it's something we'll have to face eventually.

the next day.

Perhaps it was because summer nights were short, or perhaps it was because Xu Mo was used to waking up at the first light of dawn. As the first rays of light spread across the horizon, his eyes were already open.

Cultivation, washing, and eating.

After finishing his meal, Xu Mo drove his SUV slowly onto the highway again.

Xu Mo's plan for today is clear: continue advancing towards the outskirts of Luochuan City, conduct reconnaissance from a safe distance, and assess the zombie density, mutant activity frequency, and feasibility of detour routes on the city's edge.

If the situation is manageable, find a relatively safe passage to cross; if the situation is dire, decisively choose to detour through mountain roads or hills.

Xu Mo stepped on the gas, and the SUV began to accelerate.

Ahead of Xu Mo, the shadow of Luochuan City grew ever larger and more somber in the morning light, like an ancient behemoth crouching on the horizon, awaiting every intruder who dared to approach.