50: Regiment-level promotions grant new weapons; military expansion and preparations for war forge a mighty army.

Chapter Fifty-Two: Regimental Promotion and New Weapons, Expanding the Army to Build a Mighty Force

On the seventh day of the county-wide clearing operation, reports of victory flooded back to the Dawn City command center like snowflakes.

The five-way army swept away the remaining zombie gathering points in the county with overwhelming force. Total rescued survivors exceeded 8,000, and over 20 million tons of various building materials were recovered; the values of energy points and resource points on the system panel soared wildly. As the zombies in the last township stronghold were cleared, a crisp system notification suddenly rang out in Lin Zhou's communication channel.

System Prompt: County-wide zombie clearing rate 100%, 8,327 survivors rescued, active force size reached 2,800, meeting the regimental standard! Lin Zhou promoted to regimental commander! Rewards: 2 New Weapons [Crystal Energy Railgun], 50 sets of [Bone Armor Power Armor]! Regimental tactical command authority unlocked!

"Regimental commander! Regimental commander!"

The communicator instantly erupted into chaos as cheers from various unit commanders rang out. Lin Zhou, who was checking the progress of crystal core experiments in the Dawn City Scientific Research Zone, tightened his grip on the communicator, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

He walked quickly to the tactical sand table and pulled up the detailed blueprints for the new weapons. The Crystal Energy Railgun was made entirely of Dark Energy Alloy, used level one crystal cores as an energy source, had an effective range of three kilometers, and possessed armor-piercing capabilities sufficient to penetrate the reinforced bone armor of a level three Mutant. It could automatically lock onto targets and was the ultimate weapon of Dawn City's defense system. The Bone Armor Power Armor was individual equipment that fused Power Colonist bone armor materials with red alert system technology. Once worn, it could increase human strength fivefold, provide defense against shrapnel from grenades, and came equipped with a built-in flamethrower—truly a lethal tool for close-quarters combat against Mutants.

"Convene a full military meeting immediately!" Lin Zhou ordered in a deep voice.

Half an hour later, in the command center's meeting room, commanders of all levels gathered. Lin Zhou stood before the sand table, his finger tracing across the county map, his voice steady and powerful: "From today onwards, the entire army will be reorganized according to regimental standards, with total troop strength expanded to 3,000!"

He raised his hand and pointed to the defense layout of Dawn City on the sand table: "1,000 men will be organized into a Defense Regiment, divided into four Defense Battalions, to guard the four walls of Dawn City. Two Crystal Energy Railguns will be deployed at the high points of the east and west walls, forming a multi-dimensional fire network with the existing Machine Gun Turrets and anti-aircraft guns. We must achieve defense without any blind spots!"

Then, his tone shifted as his gaze swept over the commanders present: "The remaining 2,000 men will be organized into an Assault Regiment, consisting of five Assault Battalions, each equipped with 10 sets of Bone Armor Power Armor. The core missions of the Assault Regiment are: first, to clear zombies in the surrounding counties; second, to escort Engineering Corps detachments to establish new Dawn City outposts at a standard of one every hundred kilometers!"

"Regimental commander, is the operational threshold for the Bone Armor Power Armor high?" an Assault Battalion commander stood up and asked.

"The Scientific Research Zone has already worked through the night to develop a training manual," Lin Zhou replied. "Screen soldiers in the units whose strength and reaction speed meet the standards, and complete basic operational training within three days. Additionally, the crystal core awakening experiments have yielded preliminary results. The first batch of Awakened Ones will be prioritized for power armor to form a Spearhead Squad!"

Just as he finished speaking, the head of the Scientific Research Zone pushed the door open in a hurry, holding an experimental report with a face full of excitement: "Regimental commander! The first batch of three Awakened Ones has been born! One has strength awakening, able to lift five hundred kilograms of steel with one hand; one has speed awakening, completing a hundred-meter sprint in just seven seconds; and another has perception awakening, able to detect zombie movements within five hundred meters!"

An uproar broke out in the meeting room, and the eyes of the commanders were filled with excitement.

Lin Zhou took the experimental report, scanned it quickly, and made an immediate decision: "Incorporate these three Awakened Ones into the Assault Regiment and form an Awakened Vanguard Squad! From today on, the Scientific Research Zone will intensify the crystal core awakening experiments, striving to cultivate fifty Awakened Ones within a month!"

He paused and said solemnly: "In addition, I will clarify the core conditions for promotion to Division Commander. Let the entire army strive toward this goal: First, troop strength must exceed ten thousand, including 8,000 combat troops and 2,000 logistics troops, consisting of 3 main regiments + 1 independent Awakened battalion, with over 500 Awakened Ones and 10 level three or higher Awakened Ones. Second, build 3 or more Dawn Cities to form a triangular joint defense, with each city equipped with railguns, crystal core laboratories, and Self-sufficient Grain Zones. Third, clear 100 level two Mutated Zombies, kill 1 level three Mutated Zombie Commander Type, and clear zombies from 3 counties. Fourth, stockpile 5,000 level one crystal cores and 1,000 level two crystal cores, and unlock mass production of crystal energy weapons, improved level three bone armor armor, and virus antibody research technology!"

"After promoting to Division Commander, you will unlock Army Group-level command authority and receive major rewards such as level four Crystal Energy Orbital Guns and exclusive battle armor for Awakened Ones!"

These words were powerful and resonant. The commanders stood up and saluted one after another, their eyes burning with a fierce will to fight.

The logistics officer followed up by standing and reporting: "Regimental commander, the Engineering Corps detachment has integrated and recovered over 2,000 tons of materials, enough to support the initial construction of the next Dawn City!"

Lin Zhou nodded and said loudly: "Order the Assault Regiment to set out in three days! Target: the neighboring county! At the same time, the Scientific Research Zone will push forward all technological research at full speed, and the logistics department will step up preparations for infrastructure materials. We will take over the entire region step by step, advancing at full speed toward the rank of Division Commander and toward a global network of Dawn Cities!"

Orders were passed down through the ranks, and Dawn City instantly entered a state of high-speed operation.

Soldiers of the Defense Regiment were busy deploying Crystal Energy Railguns on the city walls. The heavy barrels slowly rose, pointing toward the sky and emitting a cold deterrent force. In the training grounds of the Assault Regiment, the roar of Bone Armor Power Armor rose and fell as soldiers wearing the armor engaged in combat training, every punch accompanied by the sound of breaking wind. The laboratories in the Scientific Research Zone were brightly lit as scientists gathered around crystal cores and power armor, working through the night to perform adjustments and improvements.

On the streets of Dawn City, survivors spontaneously joined the construction teams. Some helped carry materials, while others farmed in greenhouses. The sound of children reading and the training slogans of soldiers intertwined, forming a song of vitality in the post-apocalyptic world.

Lin Zhou stood on the roof of the command center, looking at the busy and orderly scene below, a surge of pride rising in his heart. His gaze moved past the walls of Dawn City toward the rolling mountain range in the distance—that was the next battlefield to be conquered.

"Order the Assault Regiment to set out in three days! Target: the neighboring county!"