In less than five minutes, the group returned to the heavy truck. Bob quickly drove it back toward the X High School campus.
"I'll go notify the remaining survivors inside. You handle turning the truck around. No one gets out. If anything unusual happens, HK416, notify me immediately."
Lux instructed.
"Let me go with you. Without armor-piercing rounds, those mutant zombies are hard to kill."
HK416 requested.
"Based on your earlier assessment, this area should be safe now. MDR can stay in the truck alone."
HK416 insisted.
"Alright. I'll leave it to you."
Lux nodded.
After the heavy truck drove into the campus, Lux and HK416 quickly got out. Lux drew his katana, now broken in half, and took the lead.
From time to time, mottled bloodstains and mashed flesh could be seen on the stairwell, but fortunately, there didn't seem to be any zombies left inside the teaching building.
Relying on his memory, Lux took the stairs two at a time and rushed toward the classroom that had sent out the distress signal earlier.
"Everyone inside, open the door immediately. We must leave this school within ten minutes."
Lux banged on the door and shouted. Cheers instantly erupted inside the classroom.
"That's great! The cute soldier brothers are here to save us! Hurry, open the door!"
The dull sounds of clutter being thrown aside followed. In less than two minutes, the door—previously barricaded with desks—was cleared.
A wave of urine stench mixed with an indescribable foul odor rushed out. Lux almost vomited on the spot.
"Soldier! You finally came to save us. We're so hungry we can barely walk."
A flamboyant male student excitedly tried to rush over, but Lux pointed the katana in his left hand slightly forward, instantly stopping him.
"Cut the crap. Run to the truck and climb into the cargo bed yourselves. Anyone who isn't up there within ten minutes, I won't care about."
Lux said coldly.
"Why are you so rude? Our parents pay taxes. You're supposed to protect us."
A boy named Roy said smugly after seeing the rescuers.
"I'm not a soldier. I came here only because I was entrusted to find your student council president, Anna. Does anyone know where she is?"
Hearing Lux's icy tone, Roy felt irritated, but seeing the gleaming katana in Lux's hand, he didn't dare say more.
"I'm here. You said you were entrusted? By whom?"
A delicate-looking girl pushed through the crowd and asked in confusion.
"Your father, Old Bob. Move, now."
"But what if there are zombies left in the hallway?"
A timid-looking girl nearby asked fearfully.
"We checked the stairs on the way up. There are no zombies there. If you're not even willing to take this risk, then stay here and wait to die."
Lux said flatly.
The students exchanged looks. They had been hiding here for three days, with food and water long exhausted. Some of the weaker ones were barely able to stand. If they didn't leave now, they really would die here.
The group surged out toward the stairwell.
"Don't… don't leave me."
A weak, terrified voice came from inside the classroom.
Anna hesitated, then turned back and ran inside, stopping beside a short-haired girl leaning against the wall and slowly moving forward.
"Sorry, Catherine is too hungry to walk. Can you help?"
Anna pleaded.
"You run. I'll carry her."
Lux sheathed the broken katana, walked over, and hoisted the short-haired girl onto his shoulder.
Although his movements were rough, Catherine clung tightly to his back. His solid frame gave her a strong sense of security.
Seeing that Lux didn't abandon Catherine, Anna felt relieved and ran toward the stairs.
As soon as they exited the teaching building, Lux heard a crisp gunshot. At the same time, MDR's voice came through the tactical headset.
"Lux, hurry up. Nearby zombies have been attracted. There aren't many, so I've started clearing them."
The first few students who ran out immediately tried to rush for the driver's seat. There were steps there, unlike the raised cargo bed that Lux could climb easily.
But just as Roy, the first to arrive, climbed the ladder to the cab, he saw a dark gun barrel pointed straight at him.
"Yo, kid. This seat isn't for you. Be good and climb into the back."
A silver-haired girl said with a smile.
"I don't believe you'd dare shoot. Just let me get in. There are zombies coming, I don't want to die!"
Seeing a zombie appear near the school gate, fear drove Roy to try forcing his way into the cab.
"Get down."
MDR kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him flying two meters. Roy collapsed on the ground like a dog, crying out in pain.
In the gelatinous mass of blood and flesh, a white bone fragment sliced open Roy's hand.
Fear and resentment flashed across his face. He hadn't expected to get hurt here.
"I won't get infected. I won't die. I definitely won't die."
Muttering to himself, Roy scrambled toward the cargo bed and clambered over the rear barrier with both hands and feet.
Seeing him kicked down so brutally, the others didn't dare cause trouble. One by one, they used all their strength to climb into the cargo bed.
"HK416, you and Anna get into the cab. Tell Bob to start the engine and get ready to leave. I'll get into the cargo bed and ask them some questions."
Lux still needed to confirm whether anyone had been bitten. If someone was infected, then everyone in the cargo bed would have been rescued for nothing.
Worse still, the truck would turn into a vehicle carrying dozens of zombies—a rolling death trap.
He wasn't about to risk his own life just to save people.
HK416 didn't hesitate and immediately pushed Anna into the cab.
"Hey, pull her up."
Lux lifted Catherine by the legs. She immediately grabbed onto the barrier, but after three days without food, she had no strength left.
Fortunately, a boy who had climbed up earlier quickly pulled her in. Lux then pushed off the ground and leapt easily into the cargo bed.