Physical strength 92, the yellow capsule adds 15 points to the body attribute.

"It seems like the system is about to increase its own physical strength."

After taking a sip of water, Lucas gained a rough understanding of the yellow capsule.

The bus finally started and silently moved forward in the darkness, catching up with the crowd ahead in no time.

Cobra was driving his off-road vehicle, followed by a commercial van, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far from the bus.

Their vehicles couldn't compare to the bus; the sound of their engines was a bit harsh in the darkness.

The fully charged drone took off again, surveying the surroundings.

Everything was normal within a few kilometers, except for some scattered zombies and mushrooms, which posed no danger to the crowd.

At this moment, Lucas only wanted to complete the mission and find a place to hide and not get involved in anything.

Phoenix Mountain was large, and it wasn't necessary for Lucas to stay with the crowd.

What he didn't want now was for the system to give him another task that he couldn't refuse after completing this one.

Surviving was still Lucas's only thought.

Despite feeling powerful with the system, he was just an infected individual; the insects and zombies had not yet evolved.

Moreover, after a month, when evolved humans began to appear, the struggle for resources, the struggle for power, and the release of human nature would make the apocalypse truly cruel.

"Report, the mushrooms three kilometers ahead have been cleared."

Beside Henry's military vehicle, a soldier was reporting the situation to him.

"Continue clearing ahead, instruct the scouting team to avoid zombie groups as much as possible to save ammunition."

"And if you spot any insects, report immediately."

As Henry spoke, he glanced at the bus moving slowly at the back of the crowd.

After Lucas joined the crowd, nearly eight hours had passed without any incidents.

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It had been nearly two days since the apocalypse arrived.

Henry pondered for a moment and instructed the driver to bring the vehicle next to the bus.

The bus also came to a stop, and Lucas got off, ready to stretch his muscles.

"Sir, we've been walking for several hours continuously, and most people are exhausted. Should we stop and rest for a while?"

As he spoke, Henry adopted a humble posture, as if he were seeking approval from higher-ups.

"Hmm."

Lucas looked at Henry and nodded.

The place they stopped now was already on the outskirts of the coastal city, and they were less than a kilometer away from leaving the city.

It seemed that a fierce battle had taken place here not long ago, with scattered, beaten-up zombies everywhere.

After surveying the area with the drone, no signs of insects were found.

Conventional weapons used by human military forces were indeed ineffective against insects at this stage.

During this period since the onset of the apocalypse, Lucas hadn't seen powerful weapons like missiles appear more than a few times.

It was unclear whether the military was building up its strength or if something went wrong.

Seeing LucasAs Lucas nodded, Henry immediately ordered the crowd to stop and rest on the spot, estimating a duration of six hours for the break.

After giving the command, Henry once again extended an invitation to Lucas, on behalf of his superiors, to sit and chat.

However, once again, Lucas declined.

Having experienced so much, Lucas always felt that everyone had ulterior motives.

The infected individuals were ferocious, and humans were indifferent and merciless.

Lucas summarized the apocalypse as being simple and straightforward in this way.

Less than half an hour passed, and the crowd fell completely silent.

Only the patrolling soldiers remained active in the vicinity.

Lucas didn't get on the vehicle either. This was the time to be alert; who knew when a bug might emerge from some corner.

It wasn't yet the time for a food crisis.

Those fleeing carried some food with them to some extent, so there shouldn't be any situations of looting supplies in the next few days.

Lucas sat on the steps of the bus door, extinguished the lights inside the vehicle, held a cigarette in his hand, and had a cup of freshly brewed coffee beside his feet, boiled with an electric kettle.

Having a portable power source was great, allowing Lucas to boil water and enjoy a hot cup of coffee anytime.

Now, with the fertile soil, Lucas had no worries about not being able to drink coffee in the future.

If worse came to worst, he could grow some coffee himself.

Before finishing his cup of coffee, Lucas noticed a figure approaching from not far away.

The bright light from the flashlight instantly shone on the person's face.

"Ah—"

The person let out a cry, shielding their eyes with their hand.

"A woman?"

Lucas was taken aback for a moment and quickly moved the flashlight's beam.

"Nice figure, well-proportioned."

He made a mental comment and casually turned off the flashlight.

The woman rubbed her eyes in place, stopping about two meters away from Lucas.

Lucas didn't speak first, trying to guess the woman's purpose for coming over.

In the beginning of the apocalypse, it was rare for things to happen where someone would sleep with you for just a can of food.

Wait until a time when food becomes scarce, and not only would she sleep with you for a can of food, she wouldn't hesitate to kill the people around her!

So, what is her purpose in coming to find me now?

"It must be my previous actions of killing so many that have piqued this woman's interest."

Lucas believed his guess was correct.

In chaotic times, finding a backer is the best way for a woman to survive.

"Stop right there!"

Just as Lucas was still contemplating the woman's intentions, a voice suddenly sounded from beside him.

Lucas shone his flashlight directly at the source of the voice.

Standing at the rear of the bus was a man in his twenties, whom Lucas recognized as one of the people who had been following the fugitives.

"You were not invited. If you take another step forward, I will shoot!"

Seeing the flashlight shining on him, the man smiled at Lucas and then turned to the woman, speaking in a serious tone.

Lucas was speechless.

This guy's actions were a bit unexpected to him.

"So, he's become my bodyguard?"

He muttered to himself, wanting to laugh because he saw Cobras appearing behind the man, looking displeased.

Smack—

Before Cobras let the man speak again, he slapped him directly on the head.

"Shoot!"

"Shoot your fucking gun!"

"How did I end up with such an idiot?"

"Come back with me!"

Ignoring the man's cries of pain, Cobras hooked his hand around the man's head and dragged him away.

After walking a few steps, Cobras turned back and said something to Lucas.

"Sir, enjoy yourself."

In an instant, Lucas understood what Cobras meant by his words.

"Hey handsome, can you buy me a cup of coffee?"

As Lucas stared at Cobras' departing figure, he suddenly caught a strong scent of perfume.

Turning his head, he discovered that the woman had already walked up to him, her long legs strikingly visible in the darkness.