Chapter 17 Hive Expansion Protocol
Inside the CDC complex, the lights stayed on long after sunset.
The generator hummed like a tired beast, echoing through the sterile corridors that now felt less like a research facility and more like a fortress.
Wu Fan stood in the central command room, staring at the system interface projected only in his mind.
[Current Points: 4210]
[Next Hive Upgrade Requirement: 5000]
[Remaining: 790]
"Still too slow," he muttered.
Behind him, Dr. Jenner was reviewing Rick's condition report on a clipboard while Gail organized incoming supplies. Sandra stood near the doorway, cleaning her rifle out of habit more than necessity.
The base was growing—but so were its problems.
More mouths. More risk. More instability.
And outside, the world was only getting worse.
Morning Briefing
Wu Fan turned toward the room.
"New directive."
Everyone looked up.
"We expand resource collection radius. Hospital run was good, but not enough. We need fuel, medicine, and food warehouses."
Sandra raised an eyebrow. "You planning another sweep?"
"Yes," Wu Fan replied. "But not random scavenging. Targeted extraction."
He tapped the table.
A map of Georgia lit up on the screen.
Three locations were highlighted.
Highway supply depot
National pharmacy warehouse
Abandoned National Guard checkpoint
"This is enough to push us over 5000 points," he said.
Dr. Jenner frowned. "That distance is dangerous. Roads are unstable. And we still don't know the full walker density outside Atlanta."
Wu Fan didn't argue.
"I know."
A pause.
Then he added calmly:
"That's why we're not going with a large team."
New Team Selection
Sandra immediately stepped forward. "I'm in."
Marcus followed. "Me too, boss."
Gail hesitated slightly. "I should stay for Rick's treatment and quarantine supervision."
Wu Fan nodded. "You stay."
Then his eyes shifted.
"Glenn."
The young Korean scout, who had been quietly listening near the storage racks, looked up.
"Me?"
"Yes," Wu Fan said. "You're coming."
Glenn swallowed. "I'm not a fighter."
"You don't need to be," Wu Fan replied. "You're eyes. That's more valuable than bullets."
A silence followed.
Then Glenn nodded.
"Okay."
Unexpected Volunteer
As the meeting ended, a voice came from the hallway.
"Hey."
Everyone turned.
Merle Dixon was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, grinning like he owned the place.
"I heard there's a trip."
Wu Fan looked at him. "You weren't invited."
Merle shrugged. "That's fine. I'm volunteering anyway."
Sandra narrowed her eyes. "We don't trust you."
"That hurts," Merle said, touching his chest dramatically. "But I don't trust you either, sweetheart."
He pointed at Wu Fan.
"But I trust him more than that camp of starving idiots in the mine."
Glenn whispered, "He's unstable…"
Wu Fan raised a hand.
"Why do you want to come?"
Merle's grin faded slightly.
"Because I know how to survive outside. And because sitting around waiting for rabbit stew isn't my style."
A beat.
Then he added:
"And because you've got guns, armor, and a damn hospital base. That's worth seeing up close."
Wu Fan studied him for a moment.
Then nodded once.
"Fine. But you follow orders."
Merle smirked. "Wouldn't dream of anything else."
Sandra sighed. "This is going to end badly."
Wu Fan ignored her.
"It ends how we control it."
Departure
Two hours later, the armored vehicle rolled out of the CDC gates.
The world outside was gray and broken.
Empty highways stretched like scars across the land. Burned cars lined the roadside. Occasional walkers wandered aimlessly, drawn by the sound of the engine.
Sandra was on the roof again, scoped rifle scanning ahead.
Marcus drove carefully, still learning the weight and handling of the armored unit.
Glenn sat inside, map in hand, marking routes with a trembling pencil.
Merle sat in the back, humming to himself.
Wu Fan sat in front, watching the system counter tick in his vision.
First Encounter
"Stop."
Sandra's voice cut through the comms.
"Two hundred meters ahead. Roadblock."
Marcus slowed the vehicle.
Through the windshield, they saw it.
An overturned fuel truck.
And dozens of walkers scattered around it like ants around rotten meat.
Glenn's voice tightened. "That's more than expected…"
Merle laughed softly. "That's a snack."
Sandra snapped, "Shut up."
Wu Fan raised a hand.
"Marcus, hold position."
He stepped out.
The walkers noticed immediately.
Groaning. Turning. Lurching forward.
Sandra aimed.
Wu Fan raised his pistol.
Then paused.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"Perfect density."
He fired.
Bang.
The first head exploded.
Then another.
And another.
Sandra joined in from above, precise shots dropping targets one after another.
Merle jumped down with a knife in hand before anyone could stop him.
"Now we're talking!"
He plunged into the crowd.
Chaos erupted.
Glenn stayed behind cover, watching the coordinated slaughter, breathing heavily but not moving.
Marcus whispered, "They're insane…"
Glenn corrected him quietly.
"No."
He swallowed.
"They're efficient."
Points Surge
Wu Fan watched the system interface.
[Kill Walker +10]
[Kill Walker +10]
[Kill Walker +10]
[Kill Walker +10]
The counter climbed rapidly.
800… 1200… 1800…
His eyes sharpened.
"Keep going," he muttered.
The hive edge was close.
Very close.
Aftermath
Ten minutes later, the road was silent again.
The truck burned quietly in the distance.
Bodies lay scattered across asphalt.
Sandra reloaded calmly.
Merle wiped blood from his knife with a grin. "See? That wasn't so bad."
Glenn looked pale but steady.
Marcus avoided eye contact with everything.
Wu Fan checked the system.
[Current Points: 5080]
[Hive Level 2 Unlock Available]
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Return to base," he said.
Sandra blinked. "We're done already?"
"We're not hunting anymore," Wu Fan replied.
He looked toward the horizon.
"We're evolving."
The armored vehicle turned back toward the CDC.
Behind them, the burning roadblock slowly disappeared into the gray wasteland.
And somewhere far away, in the direction of the mine, more people were still starving… still waiting… still deciding whether to survive or collapse.
But for Wu Fan—
The next phase had already begun.