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"Alright, everyone, get in formation!" Sparrow commanded, knocking on the side of the truck to get everyone’s attention.

He urged the team to line up so he could give a quick pep talk before the mission.

Meanwhile, around the base, the soldiers were working hard, pushing crate after crate of firearms into position, ready for deployment.

Vulture was directing his warriors to fortify the defenses, summoning more earth spikes to reinforce the walls.

Even Rose was busy on her end, conjuring additional Ice Crystal Spikes along sections of the wall she hadn’t had time to address earlier.

As Sparrow’s team assembled in front of him, standing straight and lined up with military precision, he scanned each of them carefully.

Though he didn’t say it aloud, the tension in his demeanor was evident—everyone could sense that their City Lord was anxious about this something.

It was clear that she expected them to complete it as quickly as possible and return by the following morning, no matter what.

Fortunately, Sparrow’s team consisted entirely of the seasoned Winters men and five members of STAU, a combination that inspired confidence.

Their primary challenge was maintaining their cover for the mission, but the blood rain that had recently occurred posed a serious complication.

The outside world was now far more perilous—zombies were in the midst of their evolution, making them hungrier, more aggressive, and even more unpredictable than usual.

The stakes had never been higher.

This pep talk was meant to mentally and emotionally prepare the team for the challenges ahead.

Thankfully, the past two days had provided an unexpected advantage: all the Winters’ men had successfully awakened their abilities.

This remarkable progress was likely due to the concentrated spiritual energy within Kisha’s territory, combined with the potent effects of the Scarlet Honey, which seemed to guarantee an almost 100% success rate for awakening.

Because of this, the team no longer needed to fear dying or turning into zombies while outside.

Their time spent in the territory space over the past 3 days which was equivalent to 30 days had been invaluable—most of them had already reached level one, thanks to their nonstop cultivation and sparring, which not only strengthened their foundations but also stabilized their progress.

Even the warriors at the base were stunned to learn that in just three days of seclusion, the team had not only awakened their abilities but had also advanced to level one.

It was a feat no one could fully comprehend.

Although many were eager to gossip about the team’s astonishing progress, they quickly held their tongues.

Sparrow looked like he was in a rush, and Kisha’s restless demeanor only added to the urgency in the air.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, everyone turned their attention back to their tasks.

Sparrow, with a steely expression, addressed his team.

"I know many of you have already seen the state of things outside, but after the storm, it’s absolute chaos."

"The evolving zombies are more formidable than ever—stronger, faster, and deadlier."

"I need each one of you to stay sharp, keep your eyes wide open, and never get complacent."

He paced back and forth in front of his team, his tone firm and commanding, driving home the seriousness of their mission.

More than anyone else, Sparrow had the most experience navigating the outside world during the blood rain.

He had even survived a near-fatal encounter with an evolved zombie—a harrowing experience that left a deep impression on him.

With that in mind, he stressed the importance of vigilance.

"Stay alert at all times," he warned, his voice firm. "Do not abandon your position under any circumstances unless ordered. The stakes are too high, and one mistake could cost us everything."

Having worked alongside Sparrow for so long, the Winters’ men were well-acquainted with his no-nonsense temperament.

They understood that when Sparrow spoke in this tone, he meant business.

His warning wasn’t just a precaution—it was a clear directive: stay grounded, follow orders, and resist the urge to play the hero.

Acting impulsively could spell disaster, not just for the individual but for the entire team.

The weight of his words settled heavily on them, and many unconsciously swallowed the lump in their throats as they exchanged glances, feeling the palpable tension in the air.

"Also, even though you’ve all awakened and reached level one, remember this: after the blood rain, many of the zombies will have likely reached level one as well," Sparrow reminded them, his tone grave.

"This makes them stronger, faster, and far more dangerous than before. Don’t be caught off guard if you find yourself pushed back by their newfound strength."

The repeated warning brought a renewed focus to the group, as Sparrow’s words reminded them of Kisha’s earlier insights.

She had explained that the blood rain was a catalyst for evolution, not just for humans but for zombies as well.

This was why Kisha had instructed the Winters’ men, the warriors, and soldiers to venture out occasionally during the Geostorm, encouraging them to use the opportunity to benefit from the rain’s effects.

Kisha hadn’t told the survivors the full significance of the blood rain to avoid unnecessary panic.

To ensure the base remained safe from any potential zombie transformations during this time, Kisha assigned Vulture and his team to patrol the area more frequently.

They kept a close watch on residents bathing in the rain or using the collected rainwater from the blood rain.

While the rainwater could aid in awakening abilities, leveling up, or increasing strength, it also carried a significant risk of triggering zombie transformations, making vigilance crucial.

This is why Vulture and his team were too preoccupied with patrolling the base to join Sparrow on his mission outside.

After finalizing preparations, Sparrow’s team boarded the trucks, including two modified vehicles designed specifically for transporting livestock.

"Let’s roll out!" Sparrow called from the driver’s seat of the lead truck, his voice firm and resolute.

"Roger!"

"Okay!"

"Yes sir!"

As soon as the trucks’ engines roared to life, a frantic shout echoed from the top of the wall.

"Zombies incoming!"

The alarm sent shockwaves through the base.

Soldiers who had been busy hauling crates of firearms immediately dropped their tasks and sprinted to their stations atop the wall.

They began firing at the incoming horde of evolving zombies, whose appearance was far more terrifying than before.

These zombies no longer staggered aimlessly.

They ran with unnerving speed and ferocity, their emaciated faces twisted in hunger, and their roars had turned guttural, animalistic.

The sight alone was enough to send a chill down the spines of the soldiers.

For those who had survived the horrors of the second blood rain, the scene brought back haunting memories.

Fear prickled at their skin as they recalled that night of chaos and carnage, but they steadied their aim, determined not to let history repeat itself.

Vulture immediately climbed to the top of the wall, leaving the internal patrol duties to Bald Eagle.

Taking command of the situation, he shouted over the chaos, "Don’t let them get too close to the wall! Aim and fire!"

Without wasting a second, he raised his hands and began conjuring earth spikes.

With precision, the sharp formations erupted from the ground meters ahead of the advancing zombies.

However, this horde was unlike any they had faced before—faster, more agile, and disturbingly evasive.

Many of the zombies dodged the spikes with unnatural reflexes, closing the distance toward the wall.

Frustration flickered across Vulture’s face as he gritted his teeth, pushing himself to conjure spikes faster and in rapid succession.

Sweat formed on his brow as he adjusted his tactics, aiming for clusters of zombies to maximize the impact of his attacks.

"Stay sharp and keep them away!" he roared, his determination unwavering despite the mounting pressure.

Bang...

Bang...

Rahhhh!

Roar!!!

The deafening sound of gunfire mingled with the guttural roars of the evolving zombies, creating a chaotic symphony in the air.

From every corner of the wall, the battle raged on. Kisha and Duke quickly took their positions, coordinating with the soldiers to manage the escalating situation.

Though the horde of evolving zombies was relentless, it still fell short of a full-scale zombie raid.

The primary challenge, however, was their speed—faster and more agile than ever, making them harder to target.

On Kisha’s side, she opted for a broader, more devastating approach.

With calculated precision, she wielded larger objects, sweeping swathes of zombies off the ground and pulverizing them into unrecognizable heaps.

Meanwhile, Duke unleashed raw, overwhelming power.

His attacks rained down indiscriminately, ensuring that even the most evasive of zombies couldn’t escape the sheer force of his onslaught.

Together, they provided a formidable defense, buying the soldiers precious time to regroup and adjust to this terrifying new threat.

On Vulture’s side, where Sparrow and his team were exiting through the north gate, the combined efforts of the awakened ability users and the soldiers created a strong defense.

While the awakened ability user’s attacks often missed, the soldiers quickly adapted, using the missed shots as cues to predict the zombies’ movements.

With their keen aim, they targeted the zombies as they evaded the blows, managing to land shots on their moving targets.

This tactical advantage helped maintain control, easing the pressure on Vulture and his team.

Though the evolving zombies were still a significant threat, the coordinated effort of both groups allowed them to manage the onslaught more effectively, buying them crucial time to hold their ground.

However, the zombies’ defense seemed to have improved as well.

A single bullet no longer sufficed to penetrate their skulls and kill them, forcing the soldiers to expend more ammunition to take down each zombie.