41: Chapter 41 Steel Recruits

The air in the underground garage was filled with the smell of concrete dust and disinfectant.

Commander Lin Dong stood in front of the newly completed Barracks, the tablet in his hand displaying the final confirmation interface of the base system.

Li Na leaned against the hood of the hummer vehicle not far away, a bandage wrapped around her shoulder, her face still pale, but her eyes were fixed on that bizarre building.

The appearance of the Barracks exceeded all her understanding of the word "building."

It was not built of brick or steel, but rather seemed to have "grown" from the ground—a framework composed of interlaced silver-white metal bones, with deep blue energy conduits winding between them, and a pulse of light traveling from the base to the top every three seconds.

The overall design was simple and sharp, carrying a certain industrial aesthetic that transcended the era.

【 Barracks (Lv.1) 】

Status: Activated

Production Capacity: 1 unit / 4 hours (Currently summonable: 5/5)

Special: New recruit training speed +10%, light weapon accuracy +5%

Commander Lin Dong's finger swiped across the screen, his gaze landing on the 【 Summon Conscript 】 option.

Consumption: 100 energy points / unit

Summoning time: 30 seconds

Note: First summon enjoys system discount; 5 unit quota pre-set.

He looked up toward the entrance of the garage.

The Conscripts had built simple fortifications there with sandbags and abandoned vehicles, five men spread out in a defensive formation, their muzzles pointed into the depths of the darkness.

Those were the first batch of soldiers summoned—or rather, the first batch of humans "manufactured" by this bizarre Barracks.

Five minutes ago, when the first figure slowly rose from the summoning circle at the base of the Barracks, Li Na almost pulled the trigger.

It was a man wearing a gray-green combat uniform, with an ordinary face and medium build, carrying a weapon Commander Lin Dong was all too familiar with on his shoulder—an improved version of the ak-47 assault rifle.

He walked out of the light, and the first thing he did upon stepping on solid ground was to salute Commander Lin Dong in a standard military fashion.

" Conscript No. 001 reporting to the Commander. "

The voice was steady, without emotional fluctuation, but it wasn't mechanical like a robot.

It was just... the tone of an ordinary soldier reporting in.

Following closely were the second, third, fourth, and fifth.

The five men stood in a row, waiting for orders.

Li Na mouthed a sentence to Commander Lin Dong at the time, and he understood it: " Are they... human? "

Commander Lin Dong did not answer.

Because he didn't know the answer either.

The information provided by the system was very clear: 【 Conscript: Basic infantry unit of the Red Alert Corps, possessing full human cognitive abilities and an emotional simulation system, with loyalty locked at 100%. 】

Full human cognitive abilities.

Emotional simulation system.

What did these two terms combined mean?

" Commander. "

No. 001's voice interrupted Commander Lin Dong's thoughts.

He walked over and stood three meters away—the standard social distance between a soldier and a superior.

" The perimeter guard has completed the first round of reconnaissance, and no threats have been discovered.

However, there are abnormal sounds in the ventilation ducts on the east side of the garage.

It is recommended to dispatch a squad to investigate. "

Commander Lin Dong nodded: " Let No. 003 and No. 004 go.

Take this. "

He pulled a low-light night vision device from his backpack, which was stock found in the military armory.

No. 001 took it and turned to execute the order.

Li Na slid down from the hummer vehicle, walked to Commander Lin Dong's side, and asked in a low voice: " Do you really trust them?

I mean... they walked out of that thing, what if they are some kind of... "

She didn't finish, but her meaning was clear.

Commander Lin Dong was silent for a few seconds, then said: " Look at their eyes. "

Li Na was taken aback and looked at No. 001, who was deploying the mission.

The Conscript happened to turn his face, and the cold light of the garage's emergency lamp shone on his face.

They were ordinary eyes.

Black pupils, slightly narrowed, listening intently to No. 003's report.

The fine lines at the corners of his eyes suggested he was at least twenty-five years old.

His lips were pursed into a straight line, the typical expression of someone accustomed to long-term silence.

" Like a real person. " Li Na had to admit.

" Not like. " Commander Lin Dong said, " They are human.

At least at this stage, I need to treat them as humans. "

He paused, then added: " And look at this. "

He handed over the tablet.

The screen displayed the detailed data of the five Conscripts:

【 Conscript No. 001 】

Level: Lv.3

HP: 300 / 300

Equipment: Type 56-2 automatic rifle (7.62 mm) / 4 x 30-round magazines / Type 67 grenade × 2 / Type 85 multi-functional bayonet

Armor: Type 04 bulletproof vest (Level III protection) / Type 80 steel helmet

Skills: Precision Shooting (Lv.2), Tactical Coordination (Lv.2), Close Quarters Combat (Lv.1)

Comprehensive Evaluation: A qualified infantryman with over three years of service experience.

Li Na finished reading and was silent for a long time.

" Data doesn't lie. " Commander Lin Dong took back the tablet, " This is the level that requires three months of training to achieve.

And now, we spent four hours and five hundred energy points to get five such soldiers. "

He looked at the Conscripts executing their tasks: " In this world, this is the capital to survive. "

The inspection of the ventilation ducts was completed fifteen minutes later.

When No. 003 returned to report, he was holding a black lump in his hand.

He threw the thing on the ground, and Commander Lin Dong saw it clearly—it was a dead rat, but it was shockingly large, nearly half a meter from head to tail.

" There is a rat nest in the ventilation shaft. " No. 003 said, his voice steady, " This one is already dead; the cause of death is starvation.

The others that are alive ran deeper inside after hearing the noise.

Based on the amount of droppings, the population is about twenty. "

Li Na looked at the giant rat, her face turning pale: " Is... is this also infected by the virus? "

Commander Lin Dong squatted down and used his bayonet to poke at the rat's corpse.

The panel automatically popped up information:

【 Mutant Brown Rat (Lv.1) 】

Status: Dead (Starvation)

HP: 0 / 45

Threat Rating: F

Note: Low-dose virus-infected individual, body size has increased but no aggression has developed, feeds on carrion.

" F-level, no aggression. " Commander Lin Dong stood up, " But we must be careful; they eat zombie corpses and might bring the virus to us. "

He turned to No. 003: " How many exits from the ventilation shaft lead into the garage? "

" Three.

Two on the B2 level, one on the B1 level. " No. 003 replied, " It is recommended to seal them.

Building materials are required. "

Commander Lin Dong calculated quickly in his mind: to seal three ventilation openings, he would need bricks or metal plates, plus cement or welding.

In the current resources...

" There is a maintenance room on the west side of the garage. " No. 001 suddenly spoke, " I saw it while on guard duty just now; there are angle irons and an electric welding machine inside. "

Commander Lin Dong glanced at him.

From the time this Conscript was summoned until now, less than an hour had passed, and he had already completed a series of tasks including perimeter guarding, terrain reconnaissance, and resource point marking.

And every task was done just right—no need for instructions, no need to ask for details, just like a veteran with years of experience executing a mission.

This was what 100 energy points bought.

" Take two people to move it. " Commander Lin Dong said, " No. 003, No. 004, you go with No. 001.

Be careful. "

The three saluted and turned, disappearing into the shadows of the garage.

Li Na watched their backs and suddenly asked: " Will they... feel fear? "

Commander Lin Dong didn't answer, because he didn't know either.

But five minutes later, he had the answer.

When No. 001 returned, the expression on his face had changed—not fear, but gravity.

He walked quickly to Commander Lin Dong and said in a low voice: " Commander, there are people in the maintenance room. "

" Alive? "

" Alive.

Three of them.

Two men and one woman. " No. 001 paused, " The woman is injured, a gunshot wound. "

Commander Lin Dong's eyebrows moved.

A gunshot wound at this stage meant encountering other humans, and not a friendly contact.

" What was their reaction? "

" When we entered, that man was pointing a fire axe at us. " No. 001 said, " I stated our identity, saying we were nearby survivors looking for building materials to reinforce fortifications.

He didn't believe it, but he didn't attack either.

The woman's wound is bleeding; if it's not treated... "

He didn't finish, but Commander Lin Dong understood.

In this underground garage, they held the only medical resources—Li Na's first aid kit contained antibiotics and hemostatics, which were brought out from the military camp infirmary.

" Take me there. " Commander Lin Dong said.

The maintenance room was in the northwest corner of the underground garage; it was originally the place where the property management stored tools and equipment.

The rolling shutter door was half-open, revealing the dim light inside—it was a solar emergency lamp hanging on an iron rack.

No. 001 took the lead, with Commander Lin Dong following behind, his right hand resting on his holster.

" Don't be nervous. " He lowered his voice to say to No. 001, " Let's check the situation first. "

No. 001 nodded and stepped aside from the direct angle of the rolling shutter door—a standard tactical maneuver to avoid becoming a silhouette in the doorway.

" People inside, listen. " Commander Lin Dong raised his voice, " We are soldiers and will not harm you.

But we need to confirm your safety status.

Can you come out and talk? "

After a few seconds of silence, a man's voice came out: " Are you really soldiers? "

" Former Army Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Reconnaissance Company Commander. " Commander Lin Dong said, " My identification is in my pocket; I can show it to you. "

Another silence followed.

Then the rolling shutter door was pushed up a bit, and a man in his thirties poked half his body out.

He was wearing work clothes, his face had black ash on it, and he was clutching a fire axe, but his grip wasn't very tight.

He saw Commander Lin Dong and No. 001's attire clearly—Commander Lin Dong's combat uniform had rank insignia, and No. 001's attire, though strange, was clearly military equipment—the axe was lowered a little.

" Which... unit are you from? " He asked.

Commander Lin Dong didn't answer but looked behind him.

Through the gap in the rolling shutter door, he saw a woman lying on a pile of tools, with a large patch of blood on her abdomen.

Another person was squatting next to her, a young girl, about eighteen or nineteen years old, who was pressing a cloth against the wound.

" Let her move aside. " Commander Lin Dong said, " My person has first aid experience.

Your girlfriend's wound needs to be re-treated. "

" How did you know she is my girlfriend? " The man asked vigilantly.

" Because she is clutching your work ID. " Commander Lin Dong pointed to his waist.

The man looked down and saw the work ID clipped to his belt still exposed, with his photo and name on it—Commander Wang Jianguo, Property Maintenance Supervisor.

He gave a bitter smile and completely put down the axe.

" You... come in. "

The maintenance room was bigger than it looked from the outside, piled with various tools and equipment.

The injured woman was lying on a workbench, her face terrifyingly pale.

When the young girl saw Commander Lin Dong and the others enter, she subconsciously blocked the front of the woman.

" Xiaoyu, move aside. " Commander Wang Jianguo said, " They are soldiers; they have medicine. "

Commander Lin Dong signaled Li Na to step forward.

Li Na walked to the workbench, uncovered the cloth that had been soaked through with blood, and gasped.

The wound was in the lower right abdomen, a penetrating wound.

The bullet went in from the front and came out from the back, leaving two blood holes.

The good news was that there was no shrapnel/debris left behind; the bad news was that the bleeding was heavy, and it had clearly damaged the intestines.

" When was she injured? " Li Na asked.

" Early this morning. " Commander Wang Jianguo said, " We ran out from home, wanting to go to the police station, but on the way, we encountered... encountered those things.

When we were running, someone fired a potshot, and she... "

" Who fired the gun? "

" I don't know.

It was pitch black, and I just saw muzzle flashes from the building opposite. " Commander Wang Jianguo's voice carried anger, " Those people were shooting wildly at the street, not aiming at anyone at all, just... just shooting like crazy. "

Commander Lin Dong was silent.

Less than two days after the apocalypse descended, some people had already gone mad.

Li Na opened the first aid kit and took out iodine and gauze.

Her movements were very professional—Commander Lin Dong later learned that she had graduated from a nursing school before joining the army.

"She needs a blood transfusion." Li Na finished treating the wound, looked up, and said, "She has lost too much blood, and simple bandaging won't help. She is type AB. Do we have anyone with type AB here?"

Commander Lin Dong was stunned for a moment, then remembered something and looked at 001.

"The blood types of Conscripts are random," 001 said. "We need to test them."

"You have test strips?" Commander Wang Jianguo asked, pleasantly surprised.

Li Na nodded and took a small box of test strips out of the first aid kit—this was one of the few useful supplies she had brought out from the health center.

Ten minutes later, the results were out.

001 was type A, 003 was type O, and 004 was type B.

There was no type AB.

Commander Wang Jianguo's eyes dimmed.

"I am type AB." A voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone looked at the person who spoke—the young girl named Xiao Yu.

"You?" Li Na frowned. "Are you an adult?"

"I'm nineteen," the girl said. "A sophomore in college. I've donated blood before, it's no problem."

"Do you know what donating blood means right now?" Commander Lin Dong suddenly spoke up. "There's no testing equipment, so we don't know if you have any diseases. Plus, if we draw too much at once, you might not be able to hold up."

The girl looked at him, her gaze surprisingly calm: "That sister is dying. If I don't donate, she will definitely die. If I do, I still have a chance to live. I can do the math."

Commander Lin Dong fell silent.

Then he said: "Li Na, what is the maximum safe dosage?"

"Four hundred milliliters, no more than that."

"Draw it."

The blood transfusion proceeded very slowly.

Li Na used the most primitive method—inserting one end of an IV tube into the girl's vein and the other into the injured person's vein, letting it flow naturally by gravity.

There were no anticoagulants, no blood bags, and no temperature-control equipment.

Commander Wang Jianguo had been crouching on the side, watching his girlfriend's complexion slowly recover a hint of color from its ghastly pale state.

His lips were trembling, but he didn't speak.

Commander Lin Dong stood at the doorway, watching all of this.

001 walked to his side and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Commander, their identities need further verification."

"I know."

"The way that girl speaks doesn't sound like an ordinary college student."

"I noticed that too."

001 didn't speak again.

Commander Lin Dong looked at the girl named Xiao Yu.

She was leaning against the wall, her face having turned somewhat pale due to the blood loss, but her eyes were very bright.

Her gaze swept across the maintenance room, lingering on 001 the longest before moving away.

Nineteen years old.

A sophomore in college.

Commander Lin Dong had seen many college students; his company had college student soldiers enlist every year.

The way they spoke, the way they looked at people, their subconscious body language—it wasn't exactly the same as this girl.

This girl was too calm.

From the moment they entered, she hadn't shown any panic, fear, or the bewilderment that ordinary people should have in such an environment.

Her action of shielding the injured person was natural, but her positioning was very deliberate—back against the corner, facing the door, clutching a screwdriver with the tip pointing outward.

That was an instinctive reaction that only someone who had received training would have.

Commander Lin Dong didn't speak, just noted this detail in his heart.

Forty minutes later, the blood transfusion ended.

Li Na pulled out the needles and used gauze to press down on both of their puncture wounds.

The injured person's breathing had stabilized significantly, and her complexion had improved.

"Her life is saved," Li Na said. "But she needs rest and cannot move for at least three days. Also, you must ensure she has nutrition and clean water."

Upon hearing this, Commander Wang Jianguo knelt down with a thud.

"Thank you, thank you all..." His voice choked up. "We ran out last night, and everywhere was... When my wife was shot, I thought she... I..."

He couldn't continue.

Commander Lin Dong helped him up: "Don't thank me yet. There's a problem now—what do you plan to do next?"

Commander Wang Jianguo was stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter smile: "What can we do? The outside is full of those things. We originally wanted to go to the police station, but now it seems..."

"The police station is gone," 001 suddenly spoke up. "On our way here, we saw that it was full of zombies, and the building had collapsed."

Commander Wang Jianguo's face turned pale.

"We have a place," Commander Lin Dong said. "Right here in this garage, we've cleared out a safe zone. There are walls, electricity, and weapons. You can come over."

"Really?" Commander Wang Jianguo could hardly believe it.

"But there are conditions." Commander Lin Dong looked at the girl. "Everyone must register their information and accept unified management. This is currently under military control, not a free zone. If you can do that, you can stay. If you can't, I'll give you some supplies, and you can leave on your own."

Commander Wang Jianguo didn't hesitate: "We can do it, we definitely can."

He looked at the girl: "Xiao Yu, what about you?"

The girl was silent for two seconds, then nodded.

"I'll stay too."

Commander Lin Dong looked into her eyes and suddenly asked: "Which university are you from?"

The girl met his gaze without flinching: "Beiling Normal University, Department of Chinese Literature."

"What year are you in?"

"Sophomore."

"Did you do target practice during military training?"

The girl was stunned for a moment, then smiled—a faint smile, but it was indeed a smile.

"I did. Five bullets, forty-one rings," she said. "The instructor said I was a genius."

Commander Lin Dong also smiled.

"Not bad," he said. "I can teach you to shoot the real thing later."

At three in the morning, the temporary camp in the garage quieted down.

Commander Wang Jianguo stood guard by his wife's side and fell asleep leaning against the wall.

Xiao Yu curled up in a corner, her breathing even.

Li Na was on duty in the hummer vehicle, reporting safety to Commander Lin Dong via walkie-talkie every half hour.

Commander Lin Dong sat on the steps of the Barracks, with a system panel floating in front of him that only he could see.

【Current Resources】

Energy Points: 320

Ore: 0

Power: +20/hour

Population: 11/20 (Survivors 6 + Conscripts 5)

【Pending Items】

Iron Ore Detection (Distance 9km, need to clear zombies along the way)

Flare in the East (Military frequency, reconnaissance needed)

Ventilation Duct Sealing (Need 50 units of building materials)

New Personnel Placement (2 people, need basic supplies)

His fingers swiped through the void, calculating one item after another.

The iron ore must be mined as soon as possible, otherwise, once the Energy Points are exhausted, the entire base will come to a halt.

The flare in the east also needs a response; if it really is a remnant of the military, that would be an important alliance of forces.

The ventilation duct is a security risk and must be sealed off tomorrow.

The two new people...

His gaze stopped on the fourth item.

Xiao Yu.

Nineteen years old. Beiling Normal University. Department of Chinese Literature.

He called up a hidden function of the system—【Data Analysis · Character Profile】.

This function required consuming Energy Points and the accuracy rate wasn't one hundred percent, but it could provide some reference.

Consumed 10 Energy Points.

The system began to calculate, and lines of data appeared:

【Target: Self-identified as "Xiao Yu", female, 19-22 years old】

Language Pattern Analysis: Vocabulary exceeds the average of peers by 37%, sentence structure tends towards written, but conversational conversion is natural, no obvious signs of memorization.

Behavioral Pattern Analysis: Stress response level A (highly trained), prioritizes finding cover (consistent with military training characteristics), observation sequence is "entrance/exit - personnel/weapons - escape route" (consistent with reconnaissance/intelligence personnel characteristics).

Logical Contradictions: Claims to be a Chinese Literature student, but is sensitive to military terminology (slight facial expression changes when hearing "Type A, Type O" during the blood transfusion, muscle tension when hearing "military control").

Comprehensive Assessment: Identity is questionable, threat level pending, recommend maintaining observation.

Commander Lin Dong finished reading and closed the panel.

He didn't intend to question Xiao Yu.

In this world, everyone has secrets.

His own biggest secret was this base and these Conscripts; if anyone told others, he would be burned to death as a monster.

As long as she didn't endanger the safety of the camp, who she was didn't matter.

001 walked out of the darkness and stood by his side.

"Commander, the early morning sentry posts have been deployed," he said. "003 is at the garage entrance, 004 is by the ventilation shaft, and I am mobile."

"Good work," Commander Lin Dong said. "Sit."

001 hesitated for a moment, then sat down next to Commander Lin Dong.

Commander Lin Dong looked at him: "Do you have any memories from before? I mean, before you were summoned."

001 was silent for a long time, then said: "Yes. But also not entirely."

"What do you mean?"

"I remember who I am, how to use a gun, tactical movements, and the discipline of the troops," 001 said. "But I don't remember specific experiences. For example, I don't remember if I have parents, I don't remember where I grew up, I don't remember... anything about 'before becoming a soldier'."

Commander Lin Dong looked at him, unable to see the Conscript's expression in the night.

"Does it bother you?"

001 fell silent again.

Then he said: "I think, perhaps this is the price. Trading memories for abilities, trading the past for the future."

He turned his head and looked at Commander Lin Dong: "Besides, don't I have new memories now?"

Commander Lin Dong was stunned.

"I will remember today's events," 001 said. "003, 004, 005, and the others, I will remember them too. There will be more people and more events in the future. These memories are real."

He stood up and brushed the dust off his body.

"Commander, I'm going to change shifts."

Commander Lin Dong watched his back disappear into the darkness, saying nothing.

The eastern horizon began to shimmer with a faint light.

That was the dawn of the third day after the apocalypse descended.

And right in that faint light, Commander Lin Dong's eyes caught something—in the direction of the garage entrance, 003's figure was moving, but it wasn't a normal shift change movement, it was...

He was retreating.

While retreating, he was raising his gun.

Commander Lin Dong stood up abruptly, and at the same time, 003's urgent voice came through the walkie-talkie:

"Commander! East... something is coming from the east! A lot!"

The next second, a roar came from outside the garage.

The sound was low and huge, like some kind of giant beast that had been sleeping for a long time had finally awakened.

The panel data was jumping frantically before Commander Lin Dong's eyes:

【Warning! Large-scale zombie horde movement detected! Quantity: 3000+!】

【Warning! Mutant reaction detected! Level: Lv.8! Quantity: 3!】

【Warning! Detected...】

The data stream suddenly stopped at the last line.

It was an identifier that had never appeared before.

【???: Level unrecognizable, threat rating: A, distance: 1200m, direction: 15° East by South】

15° East by South.

That was the direction where the flare had risen.

It was also the direction where the iron ore was located.

Commander Lin Dong's hand pressed onto his holster, feeling the cold touch of the gun grip.

He knew that what happened next would decide whether this newly established camp would be able to see the sun of the fourth day.

And what made him even more uneasy was not those 3000 zombies, nor those 3 Lv.8 Mutants.

It was that "level unrecognizable" existence.

What on earth was that thing?

The night had not yet completely faded, and in the faint light of dawn, the silhouette of the distant city was like the spine of a giant beast.

Something was moving on that spine.

【End of Chapter】