4: Clearing out zombies from the building

The Red Alert Team, as Jiang Xin's initial foundation, was destined to become his core strength in the future. These soldiers were not cold machines, but warriors with thoughts and emotions. Jiang Xin walked up to the soldiers standing at attention, his gaze sweeping over their resolute faces one by one.

"Introduce yourselves. From now on, you are brothers who share life and death," he said solemnly.

Besides the known Squad Leader Zhang Long (Conscript), Sniper Li Ang, and Heavy Infantry Chen Hao, the two Riot Troopers also reported their names: Li Wei and Yang Wen. The seven Conscripts stepped out in turn, their voices ringing out:

"Chen Xiao!"

"Lin Yufei!"

"Lieutenant Colonel, Green Giant ability!"

"Wood Element Ability!"

"Shen Nan!"

"Flame Fist!"

"Water Summoner!"

Their names were branded into Jiang Xin's mind like steel. After the introductions, the two of them searched through their respective homes. In the end, they only managed to gather loose gold and silver equivalent to 80 Funds—mainly some gold rings, thin necklaces, small earrings, and bracelets that their mothers had stored away. Jiang Xin looked at the pitiful amount of gold jewelry in his palm and gave a helpless, bitter smile: "It's just a drop in the bucket, not even enough to summon one Conscript." Zhang Lei was also frustrated; a working-class family's savings weren't likely to include large amounts of gold jewelry.

Jiang Xin quickly issued the order: "Zhang Long, you take Team One: you, Li Wei (Riot Trooper), Chen Xiao, Lin Yufei, Lieutenant Colonel, Green Giant ability, Lu Hang (four Conscripts), responsible for clearing floors 1-4. Li Ang, you take Team Two: you, Yang Wen (Riot Trooper), Chen Hao (Heavy Infantry), Shen Nan, Flame Fist, Water Summoner (three Conscripts), clear floors 5-8. Move out!"

Room 201.

Li Wei (Riot Trooper) turned sideways, his center of gravity extremely low, his entire body like a taut, drawn bow. He suddenly exerted force from his core, slamming into the security door like a cannonball! "Kuang—dang—!!!" A deafening crash exploded in the narrow stairwell! The metal door panel violently deformed, the lock cylinder instantly shattered, skewing inward and jamming in the door frame. The zombies, already alerted behind the door, roared. A rotting arm and a hideous head violently squeezed out through the gap, bringing with them a pungent corpse stench!

Li Wei's eyes were cold as iron, without the slightest hesitation. The Riot Shield on his left arm was like a thick city wall, slamming forward horizontally with immense force! "Bang!" Amidst the dull thud, the shield's hard edge smashed violently onto the zombie's face, splattering rotten flesh and black foul blood! Almost simultaneous with the shield's impact, his right hand lightning-fast drew the Extended Tactical Long Knife strapped to his waist! With a flick of his wrist, a cold arc of light swept across the zombie's neck with absolute precision! The head rolled off, and foul black blood splattered onto the dark anti-slip texture on the inner side of the shield.

A second zombie stumbled out, stepping over its companion's remains. Li Wei did not retreat but advanced, executing a swift spin, using the rotational force to swing the edge of the heavy shield like a war hammer, smashing violently onto the zombie's collarbone! "Crack!" The distinct sound of breaking bone made one's teeth ache! The zombie was knocked backward. Li Wei turned his wrist, and the long knife, reversed, struck out like a viper's tongue, piercing precisely into the vital point of the zombie's exposed back neck. With a twist of the blade, it was instantly killed. He withdrew the knife, smoothly taking half a step back and to the side, clearing a firing lane for the comrades behind him.

Just as the third zombie lunged toward the doorway, Conscript Chen Xiao had already raised his rifle and aimed. "Pffft!" With the low muffled sound of a suppressed gunshot, the bullet drilled precisely into the zombie's glabella, leaving a tiny black hole. The three corpses fell in a fan shape along the narrow corridor. Only a few vague bloodstains and impact dents remained on the surface of Li Wei's shield. He used his heavily-booted foot to kick away the twisted, deformed door panel, casually wiped the foul blood off his long knife onto his pants leg, and then activated the Red Alert Special Communicator built into his helmet, his voice steady: "Room 201, clearance complete."

Almost simultaneously, a similarly calm report came through the headset from Li Ang's Team: "Room 601, clearance complete."

The clearing process was efficient and ruthless. Unfortunately, most of the former neighbors in this unit building had turned into walking corpses... Time passed, and the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky a depressing dark red. Inside Jiang Xin's home, Squad Leader Zhang Long stood at attention and saluted, his body covered in sporadic bloodstains and dust, but his eyes remained sharp: "Commander, all zombies in the unit building have been cleared. No survivors were found. These are all the supplies collected: food, drinking water, five zombie crystal cores, and scattered gold and silver jewelry." He pointed to several backpacks stacked in the corner. "The total conversion is approximately 740 Funds." He paused, then added, "Most residents had limited gold and silver. The real 'big spenders' are likely in the Villa Area on the other side of the community." The five murky crystal cores, found inside the zombie skulls and stained with foul brain matter, confirmed one point: not every killed zombie yielded this precious Energy Crystal. The few they had easily obtained earlier might truly have been a sliver of faint favor granted by fate at the dawn of the apocalypse.

Jiang Xin stepped forward and vigorously patted Zhang Long's strong shoulder, his gaze sweeping over the tired but resolute faces of the other team members: "You worked hard! What is the ammunition expenditure like? Were any warriors injured?" His voice carried genuine concern.

Zhang Long straightened his back, his voice ringing out: "Reporting, Commander! It was not hard work, it is my duty! Ammunition expenditure was extremely low. The individual zombies encountered posed little threat, and the number per household was limited (3-6). The warriors were entirely capable of resolving the combat using Close-Quarters Combat, saving ammunition." He turned to look at the two Riot Troopers in the team, who resembled mobile fortresses, his eyes showing undisguised admiration, "This operation was completed efficiently, and the two Riot Troopers, Li Wei and Yang Wen, deserve the greatest credit! Their shields and close-quarters kills paved the way for us to quickly clear the unit building."

Jiang Xin immediately turned to Li Wei and Yang Wen, his eyes full of approval and gratitude: "Excellent work! Thank you for your hard work!" As the Commander, he knew deeply that timely recognition and care, beyond cold orders, were indispensable bonds for strengthening troop morale.

Jiang Xin closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the red alert system interface in his mind. The number in the Funds Bar was flashing: 820! Without hesitation, his thought flickered, and he instantly summoned eight new Conscripts! Eight flashes of white light appeared in the small living room, and eight warriors, dressed in standard Conscript uniforms and holding assault rifles, materialized out of thin air, forming a neat line. Jiang Xin immediately adjusted the deployment: "Li Ang, the Sniper from the original Team One, will temporarily serve as Squad Leader of Squad Two! Riot Warrior Yang Wen, transfer to Squad Two! Squad Leader Zhang Long of Squad One, Li Wei remains under your command."

"Brother Lei," Jiang Xin pushed all five collected crystal cores toward Zhang Lei, his gaze sincere and firm, "Take these crystal cores and absorb them! Your Superpower is the key to our future cutting-edge combat strength! The stronger you are, the more assured our overall combat power will be! This is crucial!" Zhang Lei looked at the unreserved trust in Jiang Xin's eyes, did not refuse at all, nodded heavily, picked up the crystal cores, held them in his palm, and began to concentrate on absorbing the chilling yet strange energy contained within.

A moment later, Zhang Lei opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance seeming to pass through them. He stretched his limbs, his body emitting faint cracking sounds like popping beans. His face was filled with surprise and the exhilaration of surging power: "I feel... completely different! My overall strength, including power, speed, reflexes, and the intensity and control of my Superpower... has more than doubled!" He spread his palm; the flame he condensed this time was no longer a weak flicker, but a stable, pulsating, orange-red ball of fire radiating scorching heat, and its volume was noticeably much larger.

Jiang Xin looked at the aura of noticeable strength radiating from his good brother. There was no jealousy in his eyes, only heartfelt joy and deeper anticipation. He was the Red Alert Commander; his strength lay in his vast army! In the future, he would command a Steel Torrent to sweep across this apocalypse!

Jiang Xin's gaze swept over the twenty Red Alert Soldiers standing at attention in the living room and entryway, like a silent forest of steel. "It's late now," his voice was steady, carrying a hint of imperceptible fatigue, "Find a place to rest and recuperate. Zhang Long, Li Wei, and Yang Wen, the three of you stay with us in Room 401. Everyone else, find safe, empty rooms within this unit building to rest. Be assembled here promptly at six o'clock tomorrow morning!" His eyes suddenly sharpened like blades, and his voice carried an unstoppable resolve, "Target—Attack the Villa Area! Collect Funds!"

The order was given, and the soldiers saluted silently, dispersing quickly and orderly. Only Jiang Xin, Zhang Lei, and the three core warriors remained in the living room. The night outside the window completely enveloped the earth. In the dead city, only sporadic, chilling roars drifted from afar. The darkness before dawn was the deepest, and they were accumulating the power to tear that darkness apart.