I STACK ATTRIBUTES IN THE APOCALYPSE -MyOwnEdit-

The convoy trailed behind the zombie horde, maintaining a cautious distance. They believed their movements to be stealthy and inconspicuous, but in reality, they were under constant surveillance by the Blood Flesh Mother Tree.

The apocalypse had severed human communication networks and rendered city-wide surveillance impossible. However, the emergence of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree had created a new network, with the Mother Tree as its nucleus. All its subordinate creatures shared perception and vision, forming an interconnected web of awareness.

The exact number of monsters created by the Blood Flesh Mother Tree remained unknown. Dozens of Tier 5 creatures roamed the city, and countless lower-tier beings served its will.

Regardless of whether Lu Ming and the others were aware of this surveillance network, they couldn't escape its watchful eye.

In Linhai County, the Blood Flesh Mother Tree, sensing Lu Ming's approach, fell into deep contemplation.

After careful consideration, it decided not to alter the zombie horde's course. In a way, the Blood Flesh Mother Tree was an anomaly in Nanxiang City, an apex predator with unprecedented power.

Even though it had only recently gained intelligence, it had already recognized its position at the top of Nanxiang's food chain—the strongest entity in the city.

With this newfound power came a sense of pride and arrogance. The Mother Tree wasn't afraid of Lu Ming; instead, it felt a thrill of excitement at the prospect of him coming to its doorstep.

At the base of the Mother Tree, a grotesque assembly line was in full swing. Zombies, exotic beasts, and even captured humans were lined up, being absorbed into the fungal carpet.

They were transformed into nourishment, replenishing the Mother Tree's depleted energy and pushing its abilities to new heights.

Densely packed human heads adorned the Mother Tree's sprawling branches, their whispers filling the air with a chilling chorus.

"Come on... come on!"

"Don't keep me waiting!"

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Linhai County, four figures marched towards the Mother Tree's domain.

It was an unusual group.

Leading the way was a Tier 5 Vampire, Model Gris Klass.

Trailing behind were two Devourers, Simba and Lian Jie, and a human woman, Xu Rufang. Xu Rufang, held captive within Lian Jie's tentacles, dared not even breathe.

Simba and Lian Jie, like puppets on strings, followed the humanoid monster obediently, their movements jerky and unnatural.

Their story was simple. After their previous escape, Simba's group had once again fallen into the clutches of the humanoid monsters. The power dynamic was the same as when Gris Klass had dominated them.

In the presence of the Tier 5 Vampire Model Gris Klass, they were utterly powerless, their resistance futile.

As they walked, both Simba and Lian Jie shed silent tears. They couldn't fully comprehend their impending fate, but they could make a chillingly accurate guess.

In short, survival was no longer an option.

The realization filled Simba with profound sorrow.

"Who the hell did I offend?" it lamented silently. "It's not my fault I became a zombie, not my fault I'm intelligent, not my fault I'm fast! I've done everything I could to avoid these monstrous creatures. Why is this happening to me?!"

Throughout its existence as a zombie, Simba had always been shrewd and resourceful. Whenever faced with a life-or-death situation, it had managed to escape unscathed.

But this time, it seemed, fate had dealt a cruel hand.

Simba hadn't made any mistakes, hadn't provoked any monsters. Its current predicament could only be described as a stroke of terrible luck.

Lost in its grief, Simba suddenly felt the humanoid monster in front of it come to an abrupt halt.

With a long, guttural roar, the Vampire Model sprouted wings from its back and took flight, leaving Simba and Lian Jie behind.

It had received a command from the Mother Tree: "Assemble quickly!"

Abandoning its captive Devourers, the Vampire Model sped towards Linhai County.

The oppressive force from the high-tier zombie vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Simba and Lian Jie regained control of their bodies, staring at each other in stunned silence. They couldn't fathom the logic behind the humanoid monster's actions.

Suddenly, Simba spotted something peculiar in the distance. It squinted, trying to get a better look, and then froze in surprise.

"Look over there!" it hissed to Lian Jie.

Lian Jie turned its gaze and saw what Simba was pointing at. A horde of thousands of zombies, led by a Tank-headed monster, was marching towards Linhai County. Behind the horde, a convoy of vehicles followed closely.

In the morning light, Simba recognized a familiar face in the convoy. It rubbed its eyes in disbelief, then let out an exclamation.

"The lunatic! It's that lunatic!!"

Simba quickly clamped a hand over its mouth, fearful that Lu Ming might hear it. It exchanged a glance with Lian Jie, and their eyes lit up with a wicked gleam.

Freaks fighting freaks.

This was their favorite kind of spectacle!

Regardless of who emerged victorious, as long as these two monstrous forces clashed, it would be a battle of equals, a war between titans. This would create a window of opportunity for them, the pitiful creatures who simply sought to survive.

For the first time, Simba felt a flicker of hope.

It grabbed Lian Jie, who was already preparing for another hasty retreat, and said firmly, "Let's stay and watch this time!"

Lian Jie whined, "But Brother, it's too risky..."

Simba paused, then shook its head resolutely. "We've never taken risks before, and look where it's gotten us – constantly on the run like stray dogs! Brother, I've had enough of this! Just this once! Let's observe and see which of these freaks comes out on top!"

Lian Jie couldn't comprehend Simba's sudden change of heart.

Until its mother's voice echoed in its mind, carried by the tendrils that held it captive.

"If the human wins, our future might be a little brighter," Xu Rufang's voice whispered. "But if the monster wins, we're likely doomed."

Understanding dawned upon Lian Jie. As it watched the approaching convoy, it realized that the outcome of this clash between titans would determine the fate of all creatures in Nanxiang City.

8:00 AM

Lu Ming and his group arrived at their destination: Linhai County.

The zombie horde, guided by the human-headed monster, marched into the county one by one, disappearing without a trace.

But their disappearance was no longer a concern.

What mattered now was that Lu Ming and his team had finally located their target.

The towering tree that pierced the sky.

A memory of the Tier 5 Vampire, Model Gris Klass's words echoed in Huo Sheng's mind: "Mother Tree..."

Lu Ming, already equipped with his backpack, battle saber, and slingshot, strode purposefully towards the distant Linhai County.

Before the others could utter a word, Lu Ming turned and declared, "Wait outside. I'll handle this myself."

A moment of silence hung in the air. No one dared to protest.

It was the only viable option. Facing a factory capable of producing Level 5 creatures, anyone accompanying Lu Ming would only become a liability.

Everyone present understood this harsh reality.

All Huo Sheng and the others could do was watch as Lu Ming marched towards the battlefield.

Lu Ming, however, was not burdened by sentimentality. The situation was straightforward in his mind.

These creatures, spawned by the Mother Tree, had disrupted his life, robbing him of sleep and tranquility. Now, he sought retribution.

If they wouldn't offer an explanation, he would force one from them.

It was that simple.