175 Expressway Chase (1/2)

Day 6 – 8:30 PM – E3 Expressway, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Tremors after tremors echoed as the two heavy large monsters continued to battle each other destroying everything around them. Buildings crumbled along with trees uprooted and even things that should be out of their reach were impacted by the thrown stones and debris. Yet, no matter how intense the battle between the two, their bodies remained almost unscathed as their attacks did little to damage the other.

At that moment, a small vehicle drove out in the middle of the expressway pointing the rays of its head lights towards the two giants. The stone clad woman was startled to the sudden change of lighting but did not manage to stop and look due to the frog headed infected ignoring the light and continuing its barrage of attacks.

That was when the two suddenly felt an undulation of energy coming from the vehicle. The two froze and both looked at the vehicle at the same time. At that moment, the vehicle moved forward and made a sharp turn driving away towards the south. The stone clad woman was frozen as she felt the energy that felt both attractive and dangerous at the same time. She was like a predator animal that suddenly found something unknown and curiously wanted approach with all cautiousness.

The behavior the stone clad woman displayed however did not last long. It was due to seeing the frog headed infected running after the vehicle without hesitation. Unlike the stone clad woman who was a Failed Mutator and having her own consciousness comparable to a predatory animal, the frog headed infected relied purely on impulses and instincts. The moment it felt something that attracted it more than what was in front of it, the only thing it would do was to chase after that thing. Not wanting to lose against enemy, the stone clad woman immediately followed.

The previous fight to death of the two monsters became a competition on which one of the two would catch the source of that energy. However, the stone clad woman was obviously slower than the frog headed infected. Due to that, the Failed Mutator started attacking the mutated infected trying to stop it from reaching her prey.

Despite that situation however, the stone clad woman still had the thought to turn her head back checking on the movements of the humans hiding behind the large group of vehicles until the vehicles were out of its sight.

***

Seeing the two behemoths become shadows in the veil of the night being led away by the vehicle driven by Mark, the people left behind finally sighed with relief. Even though they were still far from truly escaping, it was already a huge step towards survival.

Actually, most people had no confidence about what Mark said. After all, there was truly no basis for what he said. It was just fear of annihilation and hope for survival that they complied. However, with the two monsters chasing after Mark just like how he assumed, their doubts towards him turned into belief. Due to that, none of them really thought of escaping even though the monsters were already far away. They feared that what Mark said would become true and the monsters would return to kill them all the moment they tried to leave. In the least, they should wait for the reinforcements from Bay City as they planned.

CLAP! CLAP!

Major Lopez clapped to get everyone's attention.

”Alright, all of you incompetents! It's time to work! We can't rely on that person for everything of it will prove how incompetent all of you are!”

He bellowed to the soldiers. Being called incompetents really ticked them off especially when it was their superior who was calling them that. They could not help but stare at Major Lopez with complain in their eyes. Their superior however sneered at their expressions.

”What is with all that looks? If you are not incompetent, then prove it with effort! We are called incompetent because he had both skill and guts to do what we can't! If you don't want to be called that again, then do what you can do! I don't want to be called incompetent by that person again once he returned! What about you people?”

A chorus of agreement not only among the soldiers but also other people echoed across the place.

”Good! Then move! Others check on which vehicles can still run! Those who are able to, hurry up and remove the vehicles blocking the maintenance road! We just can't wait here doing nothing!”

Not only the soldiers but also some of the refugees helped with the instructions given by Major Lopez. One good quality a leader should have was to turn a setback into a drive to keep the team on moving forward. It was what Major Lopez had just displayed as he used Mark's contempt for their incompetence as a fuel to raise their determination. But of course, there were two who were quite unhappy with what he said.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

”Major Lopez right? Do you think my master will fail in luring those monsters away?”

Odelina asked with a stern face. Even Mei was glaring at him.

The wrinkled face of the major suddenly looked troubled. That woman who questioned him was just as scary as those two monsters in terms of capability. Letting out a single cough to clear his throat, he replied.

”Ladies, we are soldiers, we don't rely on a single plan and expect it to succeed. There are always backup plans to be prepared. Besides, it's not only those two Unknowns are the threat here. With all the noise that they made, it's likely that the infected will come here sooner or later. At that time, we should at least have a way to escape.”

The two did not pursue the issue anymore. It was just the way the Major said it sounded like he was sentencing that Mark would fail.

Among the people around, there were people who were still grumbling however. Those people were members of Mark's group who knew nothing about Mark's plans while the other one was Emika who slipped out again even dragging her little brother out. Looking at Mark's vehicle driving further away as they hid behind a truck, she pouted.

”That scary uncle did not even say goodbye.”

***

Driving down the expressway dodging the vehicles abandoned in the middle of the road, Mark continued to observe the two large monsters following behind him through the side mirrors the Multi-cab. The loud tremors behind the vehicle were even louder than the engine. Mark was also amazed how fast the frog headed infected on chasing after him. If not for the stone clad woman who kept on attacking the mutated infected, things would be harder in more than one reason.

Mark sniffed the air around him and smelled the smell of gas. It seemed that the gas leaked inside the sealed carrier was already thick enough that it started to leak out from the carrier.