Cannon fodder in the Interstellar

Despite the zombies’ slow pace, the elite team unanimously decided to leave the area. However, even with just a two-minute delay, by the time they exited the supermarket, nearly a hundred zombies had already gathered near the entrance.

For an average mercenary team, this would have been a grueling battle. But for the elite squad, it was a simple task. With swift, clean movements, they easily fought their way to the vehicles and boarded one by one.

After the skirmish with the human survivors, everyone was left in a subdued mood. Erring on the side of caution, Ruo Manni decided to prevent any potential retaliation from the escaped members of the Blue Wolf Mercenary Group. She ordered the team to leave the city entirely, skipping any further stops to gather supplies.

Since Ruo Manni had declared she would serve as the team’s chef in the future, Wang Miaomiao had picked up a considerable number of kitchen utensils during their supply runs.

Although they hadn’t found any gas for cooking, Ruo Manni assured her that the RV had enough electrical power to support their needs.

Wang Miaomiao transformed the three-square-meter kitchen area inside the RV into a highly modernized cooking space, equipping it with all-electric appliances.

With plenty of ingredients on hand, Wang Miaomiao excitedly showcased her cooking skills. With Liu Yang assisting her, she quickly prepared a large pot of hot soup made with mutant animal meat and steamed six trays of fluffy buns, just in time for lunch.

For the elite team members, apart from Ruo Manni, it was their first time tasting food from this world. As they ate, subtle changes appeared on their faces—changes that Wang Miaomiao and Liu Yang couldn’t decipher but were evident to the team themselves.

Dean Atchison asked Ruo Manni in surprise, “Is this beast meat from the animals we hunted this morning?”

Ruo Manni nodded.

“With such mutated animals to eat, how is the physical condition of humans in this world still so weak?” Dean Atchison was genuinely puzzled.

The meat of these animals contained a trace of energy. While the amount wasn’t significant, it clearly had the potential to strengthen the body and improve physical fitness. Even without cultivation techniques, consuming this meat daily would result in improved strength and resilience.

“These mutations only started a little over three months ago,” Ruo Manni explained. “Given the current capabilities of humans in this world, very few can hunt these mutant animals. And with their fragile physical condition, they likely wouldn’t dare eat the meat even if they managed to acquire it.”

In a certain doomsday prediction thread, it was mentioned that only those with special abilities could safely consume mutant meat. Ordinary people might not dare to try it because their bodies might be unable to handle the energy within.

“We should hunt more of these mutated animals whenever we have the chance,” someone suggested. “They’re a perfect food source and a way to replenish our strength. Besides, we don’t have access to this kind of beast meat back in our world.”

Now that the elite team members realized the benefits of mutant meat, they were eager to hunt. Despite the low energy content in the meat, it was delicious, and they would be in this world for fifty years. Eating it daily over such a long period could result in significant cumulative benefits.

By diligently practicing, they believed they could reach Level 8 cultivation much faster than anticipated. Achieving Level 9 within fifty years would no longer seem like an unattainable dream.

Ruo Manni tasted one of the mutant animal jerky strips Wang Miaomiao had prepared. She noticed it also contained faint traces of energy. Without hesitation, she handed one to Hebrew Adam to try.

“The effect is weaker, but it’s still evident. Plus, it’s convenient to carry and consume. Stored in a spatial ring, this kind of food can be preserved for hundreds of years,” Hebrew Adam remarked.

The elite team unanimously decided to hunt more mutated animals. That evening, they deliberately chose to camp in the wild to facilitate their plan.

Wang Miaomiao and Liu Yang were dumbfounded as they watched the group set up a table and chairs on the rooftop platform of the RV. The team ate their meals under the bright lights that illuminated dozens of meters around them, enjoying the cool evening breeze. Their expressions were relaxed and carefree.

“This is basically turning themselves into a target,” Wang Miaomiao muttered.

“Skilled and fearless,” Liu Yang finally managed to squeeze out a single phrase.

“After eating, you two should head inside the RV and rest. Don’t worry, the vehicle is completely safe. These mutated animals won’t even have a chance to get close,” Ruo Manni assured them confidently.

Sitting inside the RV, Wang Miaomiao and Liu Yang observed through the windows as numerous mutated animals charged toward the group. Yet, no matter how many came, they all met their end under the blades of these elite fighters. Often, only two or three people from the team needed to jump down from the RV to deal with them.

After watching for over an hour, the initial tension and fear Wang Miaomiao and Liu Yang felt turned into numb acceptance.

“What’s there to worry about? No matter how many come, they’re no match for this group,” Wang Miaomiao commented.

“Let’s go to sleep,” she added.

After a day filled with fighting and kitchen work, exhaustion had set in. Knowing she’d likely spend most of tomorrow back in the kitchen, she decided to rest early. After all, safety wasn’t their responsibility—it was the elite team’s.

“I’d say the bases along our route won’t have to worry about mutant animal attacks for a while,” Liu Yang speculated.

“As long as we stick with them, we won’t have to worry about running out of meat,” Wang Miaomiao joked, a hint of dry humor in her voice.

Being able to eat her fill had been Wang Miaomiao’s greatest wish since the apocalypse began. However, the problem now was that these people were incredibly efficient. Just thinking about the sheer amount of mutated animal meat waiting for her to process left Wang Miaomiao feeling both happy and overwhelmed.

Ruo Manni had her own plans in mind, so every time they encountered a city, she insisted the group enter to gather supplies.

It wasn’t just Wang Miaomiao and Liu Yang who were puzzled—even her own teammates couldn’t understand why she was collecting so much. Apart from food and essentials, most of the items they gathered weren’t things they could use.

That said, each trip into a city yielded plenty of crystal cores for the elite team. This made the combat-heavy outings enjoyable for them. Even Wang Miaomiao and Liu Yang received a generous share of crystal cores.

The pair had now become the team’s designated chefs in the eyes of the elite squad. Ever since joining the group, as long as they could find edible ingredients, they ensured everyone could enjoy delicious meals.

The elite team was adept at cutting through hordes of zombies with ease. Even when entering cities, they typically needed no more than two hours to finish their sweep and return.

After passing through three cities, as Liu Yang had predicted, the group reached City A on the third day. They were only half a day behind schedule.

City A was no different from other cities they had encountered. It had become a zombie haven, with no human survivors remaining. The city’s supplies had already been thoroughly scavenged, and wild vegetation grew unchecked everywhere.

“For the supplies to be picked this clean, it’s almost certain the military was involved. Before the apocalypse, there was a military base near City B,” Liu Yang said, his mood low.

As the convoy drove in the direction he indicated, Liu Yang’s face lacked the joy one might expect from returning home. Instead, it was filled with apprehension—a deep sense of unease at being so close to familiar territory.

The others didn’t say anything, but Liu Yang understood in his heart. The apocalypse had lasted for so long, and his elderly parents, if they hadn’t left the city with other survivors, couldn’t possibly have survived by hiding at home all this time.

He simply refused to give up hope and insisted on going back to check, to give himself some closure.

Liu Yang’s home was a small building, and from a distance, he could see that the gate to the courtyard was wide open.

As they entered, two zombies emerged from the open doorway of the living room to greet them.