My Sniper System in a Zombie Apocalypse World-Chapter 46: Not Mindless

The vans roared to life and sped off, but the jumpers kept pace, springing from building to building, keeping up with the vehicles.

"Brother, the drone’s not even halfway charged yet!" Cindy said, panic in her voice.

"We won’t need it," Jaxon said, gripping his rifle and leaning out the window. "We can’t outrun these things with cars."

From the other van, Burgors trembled, his voice shaking. "What... what are those things?"

The group watched in horror as the Jumpers vaulted across rooftops with ease, and letting out eerie, piercing cries that echoed through the streets.

"Watch out from the side!" Hannah screamed.

One of the Jumpers leapt from the side of a building, aiming straight for their van. Its grotesque body slammed against the side, rattling the metal.

Jannah and Hiromi shrank together, eyes wide with terror. This creature was just on another level of grotesqueness.

"Crush it into the side!" Elena yelled.

Burgors slammed the van against a street post. The Jumper hit the metal with a sickening crunch, screeching as it tumbled away, left behind in a crumpled heap.

In the front van, Jaxon leaned out the window. Bullets flew, but the car bounced over uneven roads, throwing off his aim. The creatures moved faster than he expected, leaping and twisting as if they could anticipate his shots.

’I need to make my shots faster.’

He focused on his status window.

(71 coins spent. Ammo Lv.1 → Lv.3)

(Intelligence +1)

Suddenly, something clicked. He could see their movements more clearly, almost like he could predict where they would leap next.

Bang. One Jumper’s head exploded, tumbling from the building to the street below.

(20 EXP, 25 coins, 0.20 Speed obtained)

The other jumpers roared in rage, charging even more fiercely. But Jaxon remained calm, finger on the trigger, and eyes locked on his targets.

Bang. Another fell, crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

A slightly larger Jumper screeched, faster and more aggressive than the rest, bounding down the street with terrifying speed.

"It’s coming!" Cindy shouted, her voice tight with fear.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Concrete and metal splintered as Jaxon fired relentlessly. The slightly larger Jumper in front moved faster than any of the others, dodging most of his bullets with inhuman speed.

"Hold on tight!" Natasha yelled, pressing the accelerator as she maneuvered the van through the narrow street. The creature’s reflection grew larger in her side mirror.

Even with her skillful driving, the creature was relentless. It leapt from one building to the next, until it landed on the roof of their van, its sharp claws piercing downward.

The roof bent under the pressure. Inside, Cindy and Isabel fired upward, their bullets striking the creature, but barely slowing it. The Jumper roared, louder and more furious, then swung its claws again, tearing a massive hole in the van’s top.

"Get down!" Jaxon shouted, already aiming his rifle upward.

Bang. The bullet tore through its shoulder, but the creature didn’t falter. It clawed harder, forcing the metal inward.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Jaxon fired again and again, each shot finding its mark. Finally, the Jumper’s head exploded, sending a spray of black blood across the roof. Its body hung for a moment before crashing onto the road below.

(25 EXP, 30 coins, 0.25 Vitality obtained from the Jumper)

Cindy and Isabel slumped back, breathing hard. Natasha’s hands trembled slightly on the wheel. Jaxon exhaled slowly, rifle still raised, scanning the rooftops.

When Jaxon turned back to continue shooting the remaining jumpers, he noticed something strange. The creatures had frozen in place as they let out low, guttural roars toward them.

Then, without warning, they turned and fled in the opposite direction, disappearing into the shadows.

"They’re... retreating?" Jaxon muttered to himself, frowning. This went against everything he knew about infected.

The only time he had seen something like this was during his encounter with the zombie Alpha. But back then, they were hidden, not exposed like now. He had always believed that infected would charge the living, no matter what.

Cindy and the others were equally stunned. "Wh-what just happened?"

From the other van, the same questions and confusion echoed.

"No one knows for sure," Natasha said, her tone grim. "But one thing’s clear... they’re not completely mindless."

Everyone stared at her, shocked. Natasha, however, let her gaze drift slightly to the side, flicking toward Jaxon. ’They weren’t retreating at random... they backed off because of you.’

The two battered vans continued moving forward. Cindy resumed piloting the drone, guiding them carefully. There might be hidden infected she might miss, like the jumpers they had just faced, but at least they wouldn’t lead themselves straight to the horde.

Natasha scanned the car, worry etched on her face. "The roof’s burst open now, the windshields are shattered, and the doors... they’re almost coming off."

Jaxon and the others exchanged tense looks. The thought of encountering another horde like before made everyone uneasy. They were nearly defenseless if something struck them now.

"Oh, the signal’s back," Isabel said suddenly, holding up her phone. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Can you see where we are now?" Jaxon asked, leaning closer.

"We’re out. We made it out of Dunlow City," Isabel replied, a smile spreading across her face. "We just entered Hudson City."

"How much farther to the Blackridge Facility?" Jaxon pressed.

"Based on the route... we still have to pass Milton City, then one small town after that."

Jaxon let out a slow sigh. "Still a long way, huh."

For a moment, silence fell over the group. The city around them was eerily quiet. No movement, no sound, just an unnatural stillness that made every small noise in the car feel loud.

"Stop the car," Jaxon whispered. Natasha nodded immediately and pulled over near an abandoned house. Burgors followed suit, stopping just behind them.

Jaxon climbed out slowly, scanning the area. "Mom, please message the others. We’ll rest here for a while after I check the house."

"I’ll come with you," Natasha said, drawing her pistol and walking beside him.

They moved cautiously, checking the building for any signs of danger. Once satisfied it was clear, they returned to the car, signaling the others. One by one, the group slipped inside the house, keeping quiet as they settled in. The tension slowly easing as they settled in for a brief rest.