61: New troop type

Jiang Xin had already claimed the Air Force Gift Pack. As for the Tank Gift Pack—5 rhino tanks and 10 grizzly tanks—Jiang Xin had a more shrewd calculation. He rubbed his chin, his eyes flashing. "Save them, wait until we reach the Lujiang City Economic Development Zone Industrial Park to claim them!" he whispered to the Lujiang marker flashing on the virtual sand table. "Receiving them directly there will save a lot of trouble with land transport."

Jiang Xin also planned the adjustment of the troops. Most of the elite backbone company-level officers of the original 1st Battalion would be transferred to Lujiang Base. The Red Alert soldiers of the original 1st Battalion would serve as the foundation, firmly rooted in Yongjiang County. Their mission was to take control of the surrounding six counties with Yongjiang as the center! To this end, all land vehicles in the battalion were left behind: 18 armored personnel carriers, 2 rhino tanks, and 4 grizzly tanks. For air power, 6 powerful hind attack helicopters were left, along with 2 massive chinook transport helicopters with amazing carrying capacity, responsible for mobility and supply. As for the remaining helicopters—10 hinds and another 2 chinooks—Jiang Xin intended to take them all.

"Taking the industrial park is the first step, and the most critical step!" Jiang Xin pondered over the staff map. His plan was to send an elite team straight to the Economic Development Zone Industrial Park! Supported by 10 hinds and 2 chinooks. 3 squads of 3-star Conscripts and more than half of the Evolver warriors. Once they landed at the industrial park, they would immediately claim the 'Tank Gift Pack'! Thinking of this, a cold smile tugged at the corner of Jiang Xin's mouth: "10 hind attack helicopters, 2 chinook armed transport helicopters, 5 rhinos, 10 grizzlies... This force is more than enough to not just clear out the zombies, but to plow the entire industrial park's soil over!"

Considering that the subsequent attack on the main urban area of Lujiang City would inevitably require placing the main forces at Lujiang Base, Jiang Xin was in no hurry to spam troops to fill the ranks. Waiting to produce them after the large-scale base was deployed would save a lot of trouble.

"No. 1, produce units."

"War Bears, two!" Jiang Xin confirmed without hesitation. The image on the icon of a giant bear clad in alloy armor filled him with anticipation.

"Tesla Trooper, one!"

"Flametrooper, one!"

"Understood, Commander."

The command was issued, and No. 1's voice rang out.

A total of 3,000 Gold was spent, leaving a balance of 282,000 Gold. He expected this investment to be worth more than its cost.

The first to step out of the Barracks' production light beam was the Flametrooper.

"Sergeant Flametrooper Blaze Ash, reporting to the Commander!" An exceptionally tall and robust figure stepped out of the white light with clanging footsteps. He wore pale yellow exoskeleton armor with sharp lines, and the striking flame symbols on his shoulder and chest plates seemed to burn silently. Most eye-catching was the sci-fi-looking flamethrower in his hand; the thick nozzle glinted with metallic cold light, and most strangely—there was no bulky fuel tank on his back like traditional flamethrowers!

"Introduce your equipment." Jiang Xin looked him over with interest, his gaze lingering especially on that 'tankless' sprayer.

Blaze Ash straightened his back and spoke in a booming voice: "Reporting to the Commander! I am equipped with the latest Red Alert technology—the 'Fire Rain' high-energy fuel block flamethrower! It discards liquid fuel and uses high-efficiency compressed solid fuel blocks for energy. The maximum lethal range can reach 60 to 100 meters, and both the flame projection distance and intensity can be precisely adjusted. A standard high-energy fuel block can sustain full-power spraying for 2 minutes. I carry 3 spare fuel blocks, which are automatically refreshed and replenished every day at midnight." He paused and patted his sturdy armor: "As for protection, this exoskeleton armor uses top-tier heat-insulating and high-temperature resistant composite materials. While providing powerful power assistance, it can effectively isolate my own flames and the enemy's high-temperature attacks. Its protection level is sufficient to withstand direct hits from 7.62mm rifle rounds, ensuring my safety on the front lines!"

Listening to Blaze Ash's clear explanation and looking at that armor that combined strength and protection, a light flashed in Jiang Xin's eyes. He thought to himself: 600 Gold is such a steal! This is practically a mobile humanoid flame fortress!

Immediately following, the silhouette of the Tesla Trooper condensed into form amidst the blue and white electric arcs.

"Commander, Sergeant Tesla Trooper Yang Yi, reporting to you!" a deep and powerful voice rang out.

The visual impact of Yang Yi's equipment was even more shocking! His entire body was covered in a deep blue armor with a cold luster. The material looked neither like metal nor stone, heavy and full of technological feel. In the center of the chest plate, a striking lightning emblem seemed to contain violent energy. Faint electric arcs, seemingly ready to explode at any moment, flowed across the surface of the armor, and a grim aura rushed toward him.

"Commander," Yang Yi's voice came through the faceplate with a metallic texture, "the outermost layer of my exoskeleton armor is high-strength E-Actinium Alloy, and the lining is multi-layered composite insulating polymer material. Its overall defensive performance can theoretically withstand a direct hit from a 50mm infantry gun! It also has an energy-absorbing effect; 90% of the impact force will be absorbed." This data made Jiang Xin's pupils shrink slightly. Yang Yi raised the strangely shaped weapon in his hand, which had a flared, trumpet-like muzzle: "The primary weapon is a high-energy current projection gun. It has a built-in ultra-high-density power core, and the maximum output power can instantly release a peak ultra-high voltage current of 100,000 volts! The power is adjustable, and full-power mode can output continuously for 25 seconds. It is equipped with two replaceable high-energy batteries, which refresh every day at midnight. The effective attack range is 50 meters. Within 20 meters, the concentrated high-energy electric arc beam is enough to penetrate the main armor of a heavy tank; within 40 meters, it has a devastating lethal effect on most armored vehicles!"

"Hiss..." Jiang Xin sucked in a breath of cold air, feeling his scalp tingle. "Infantry anti-tank? And with such a simple and crude 'electrotherapy' method?!"

Images instantly flashed through his mind: within 50 meters, flesh and blood would probably turn to charcoal and ash before they could even scream in the face of this violent current. Although modern tanks had a huge range advantage and it would be difficult for a Tesla Trooper to get close, this did not affect its terrifying deterrent power as a close-quarters 'room clearer' and 'vehicle killer' at all. This 800 Gold was well spent!

Finally, the two giant beasts appeared—the War Bears!

A low roar, seemingly from ancient times, rang out, and the Barracks' floor seemed to vibrate slightly. Two giant bears nearly four meters tall stepped out of the light pillars. They were covered in thick dark-gray alloy armor, with sophisticated auxiliary power devices extending from their thick limb joints, and supply belts flashing with energy light wrapped around their waists. Their claws were like scimitars forged from fine steel, glinting with a chilling light under the lamps. Just standing there, their mountain-like physiques and the bulging muscles under the armor coverage emitted a suffocating sense of pressure.

"Good grief!" Jiang Xin couldn't help but praise. Looking at their wild and powerful eyes and feeling the fierce aura rushing toward him, he had no doubt that even an ordinary War Bear without star-level enhancement would be enough to tear a first-tier strength-type Evolver to pieces. "From now on, you'll be called Bear One," he pointed to the slightly more burly giant bear on the left with calmer eyes, then looked at the more active and restless one on the right whose nostrils kept twitching, "and you, you'll be Bear Two!"

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