116: Base people

Jiang Xin's lips curled into a cold sneer. "Smart? It's nothing more than a deathbed struggle." His tone was filled with absolute confidence. "Even if they split into four paths, or even eight! Relying on our city wall defense system, the automatic locking fire net of the sentry guns, and the interlocking fire of the Machine Gun Bunkers, what kind of waves can they possibly make? Besides..." He turned his gaze to Zhang Lei, who stood as straight as a javelin. "Our Special Operations Brigade, with over a hundred First-Tier and Second-Tier Evolvers, has long been sharpening their blades!"

Hearing this, Zhang Lei's mouth also pulled into a cruel arc. He clenched his fists slightly, his knuckles making a popping sound. "Brother Jiang, don't worry. The brothers have been waiting for a long time! It's perfect to use these scumbags for some combat training!"

Just then, an inconspicuous communicator on Jiang Xin's wrist vibrated slightly. He immediately answered, and a cold female voice, like a freezing spring, came through. It was Natasha, the ace Sniper lurking in the Old City District.

As a hunter with the Shadow Traverse ability, after being promoted to Second-Tier, she was sent to the Old City District by Jiang Xin to search for the Corpse King's tracks. With her special ability, even if Natasha couldn't kill the Corpse King alone, she could retreat unharmed.

"Commander, four high-probability points have been locked in the target area." Natasha's voice was devoid of emotion, as if she were stating something unrelated to herself. "Coordinates have been transmitted. Each point is guarded by over twenty Second-Tier Zombies and a large number of First-Tier Zombies. They are heavily guarded and are suspected to be Corpse King nests or command nodes. The target is extremely cunning, and the main body's tracks are hard to find."

A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Xin's eyes. "Very good! Continue monitoring and maintain the highest level of concealment. Report immediately once the exact location of the Corpse King's main body is confirmed! You are strictly forbidden from acting without my orders! Your safety is the priority!"

"Understood." Natasha's reply was extremely concise, and the communication was immediately cut. Like a true shadow, she merged back into the peril-filled ruins of the urban area.

As the zombie swarm dispersed and the pace of the attack slowed significantly, the tense atmosphere within the base receded like the tide. The defending soldiers began to take turns resting in an orderly fashion, replenishing food and water. Based on the latest Radar warnings, the officers predicted that the next large-scale attack would be launched first from the east (facing 800,000 to 900,000 pressure) in two hours, while the other three sides (300,000 to 400,000 each) would engage the enemy half an hour later. The eastern wall was destined to become today's main battlefield.

Lujiang Base Cafeteria

Inside the base cafeteria, it was bustling with noise, even more lively than the battlefield at dawn. The aroma of food mixed with heated discussions, creating a unique post-apocalyptic atmosphere of daily life.

"Hey! Old Zhang! You damn well slept like a dead pig last night! You actually missed such a brilliant live broadcast!" A young man slapped the table, complaining to his regretful roommate across from him, his tone half-blaming and half-showing off.

The roommate scratched his hair in frustration. "How was I supposed to know there would be a Zombie Tide attacking the base yesterday? I was so tired I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow... Quick! Tell me! What was the scene like?" He leaned in eagerly.

Several others nearby who had also missed the live broadcast gathered around, urging him all at once. "Yeah! Tell us! Just hearing the noise was enough to scare someone to death!"

"Are the Mecha Units really that powerful?"

The young man in the center suddenly perked up. He cleared his throat and began to gesture excitedly. "Let me tell you! That scene! It's the first time I've seen anything like it in my life! Our troops really don't treat ammunition as money! First, let's talk about the Mecha Units of Officer Blaze Ash and Officer Yang Yi! My goodness! Those two big ones—the yellow one was like the God of Fire descended to earth, and the blue one was like the God of Thunder! They charged into the zombie crowd, and it was like cutting melons and vegetables! Officer Blaze's High-Temperature Cutting Blade—one swing, and dozens of zombies were sliced in half and charred to coal! Officer Yang's electric spear—zzzt!—it charred a whole bunch like candied haws! And those destroyer mechas—swish, swish, swish! The way they swung their laser swords was so cool! Zombies were like paper in front of them!"

He took a sip of water, his voice getting even louder. "The most shocking thing was the thermobaric bombs at the end! You didn't see it! Over twenty streaks of fire soared into the sky and exploded with a 'boom'! That fireball! My god! It was brighter than the sun! It lit up the whole sky like it was daytime! Even from dozens of kilometers away, we could feel the ground shaking here at the base! When the light faded... tsk tsk, there was a huge crater right on the highway! Over a hundred thousand zombies! Not even a trace left! Evaporated! Do you understand? Evaporated!"

The surrounding people listened dumbstruck, their breathing quickening as if they were there, their eyes filled with longing and shock.

In another corner of the cafeteria, the topic revolved around the tank shelling in the early morning.

"Did you hear that cannon fire in the early morning? Rumbly, like thunder! I couldn't even sleep peacefully!" A middle-aged man took a bite of a steamed bun and said to the people at his table.

"More than just heard it! I got up and watched the broadcast!" A tall, thin man next to him spoke up excitedly. "Forty tanks! Lined up like a Great Wall of Steel! At the command—'Boom!' A volley! The trajectory of those shells flying out—whoosh! They turned the landing spot into a sea of fire! One volley, and tens of thousands of zombies were gone! Like mowing grass! Our troops fighting those stupid things... it's really like child's play!" He waved his arms excitedly.

"I watched it! I haven't closed my eyes once since early morning!" Another young man chimed in, a fanatical look in his eyes. "It got my blood pumping! I even want to sign up for the Militia! Even if it's just carrying ammunition for the soldiers!"

An older worker at the same table patted his shoulder and laughed. "With your small frame? Carrying shells? You'll throw out your back before you even move one! Just stay here and tighten screws with me at the Base Factory! Not causing trouble for the front line is helping!"

"Hahaha!" The people around all laughed good-naturedly.

The entire cafeteria was immersed in a post-survival excitement and pride, with discussions, exclamations, and laughter intertwined.

Just then, the person in charge of the cafeteria took a megaphone and stood on a high spot. "Everyone, quiet down! Quiet down! Look over here!"

The noisy cafeteria gradually quieted down, and all eyes focused on him.

The person in charge had a smile on his face and announced loudly, "Per notice from headquarters! To boost the morale of the military and civilians! The base has decided—everyone gets the day off today!"

The crowd instantly stirred, and a burst of suppressed cheering erupted!

"Everyone can go to places with large broadcast screens—the stadium, the central square, the mission hall! Continue watching our heroic troops fight! Cheer for the soldiers!"

" Yay!——!" The cheers exploded instantly, hitting the cafeteria ceiling!

"Quick, quick, quick! Go to the stadium to grab a good spot!"

"Let's go! What are you still eating for! Take it and eat on the way!"

"Hey! Xiao Wang! What's the rush! Put down the base's bowl! You dummy! You can't take the bowl away!"

"Hahaha!" Seeing the young man who was in such a fluster trying to pour porridge into a plastic bag that he spilled it all over himself, yet was still reluctant to put down the bowl, the cafeteria erupted in even louder laughter.

The fear of last night had completely dissipated. The zombies, once spoken of with terror, seemed to have truly become trapped beasts in a cage for people to watch in the face of the Red Alert Legion's absolute power. A kind of unprecedented confidence and cohesion quietly grew during this breakfast filled with the atmosphere of daily life.