26: Chapter 26 The Moment of Mighty Troops! The Birth of the Death Legion

One month.

For ordinary people, this might just be the mediocre, day-to-day grind. But for Zhang Cheng, and for the newly renamed "Dawn Base," this was a month of complete transformation.

Inside the base, the bloodstains and bullet holes from the past had long been cleaned away, replaced by sturdier bunkers, more logical firing positions, and rows upon rows of uniform barracks.

Zhang Cheng stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of the Commander-in-Chief's headquarters, overlooking this territory that belonged entirely to him.

In his mind, the system panel was emitting a charming golden light.

[Host: Zhang Cheng] [Current Points: 31,900]

Thirty-one thousand nine hundred points!

This was the fortune he had "diligently" saved up over the past month. In addition to the unwavering daily allowance of 1,000 points, he had also earned quite a bit bit by bit by sweeping away small bands of bandits in the surrounding areas and rescuing scattered trapped personnel.

Looking at that string of numbers, Zhang Cheng felt his blood burning. These were not just numbers; this was power, authority, and the capital he needed to establish himself and perhaps even rule in these chaotic times!

"After being stifled for so long, it's time to let this world see what true 'mass recruitment' looks like."

Zhang Cheng took a deep breath, his focus sharp as a knife, and ruthlessly cut into the exchange interface.

"System! Exchange for me!"

[Receiving command...]

"Exchange: 1,700 Junior Death Soldiers! Cost: 17,000 points!"

"Identity settings: Refugees scattered across Northern Myanmar, landless farmers, and young people whose families were destroyed by warlord persecution. Bearing hatred for the old order and hearing the name 'Dawn,' they have come to defect voluntarily!"

Boom!

As the command was issued, although there was no sound in reality, Zhang Cheng felt as if he heard the vibration of countless souls resonating in the air.

On his real-time map, the light screen, which originally only had a few hundred green dots, was instantly covered as if someone had sprinkled a handful of fluorescent powder onto it.

In the forests, paths, and abandoned villages on the outskirts of the base, figures wearing tattered clothes but with firm gazes appeared out of thin air. Although they were dressed in rags, their straight spines and orderly steps all indicated that they were no ordinary people.

One thousand seven hundred people! In this sparsely populated border mountainous region, this was already a force capable of changing the strategic balance!

But Zhang Cheng did not stop.

"Numbers alone make a mob; what I want are elites! I want officers!"

"Exchange: 200 Intermediate Death Soldiers! Cost: 10,000 points!"

"Identity settings: Elite deserters from the former government army, international mercenaries, and battle-hardened guerrilla veterans. Conquered by the 'Dominator's' personal charisma (system forced explanation), they have come to pledge their loyalty!"

"Command: Deploy directly to the base parade ground to serve as junior officers and special operations team backbones, and take command of the troops immediately!"

As the ten thousand points vanished, the air above the parade ground in the center of the base seemed to be twisted by some force.

Two hundred men wearing tactical vests, with knotted muscles and gazes as cold and sharp as knives, appeared there silently. The murderous aura emanating from them, tempered by blood and fire, caused the surrounding air temperature to drop by several degrees.

"Still not enough... I still need a true commander, a 'brain' that can share my burdens."

Zhang Cheng's gaze landed on Old K, who was standing behind him. This Death Soldier, who had followed him earliest, was loyal, but when handling complex battlefield situations, his mechanical nature was still slightly lacking.

"System, upgrade Old K! Target: Special Command-type Death Soldier!"

[Consumed 3,000 points. Confirming upgrade of codename 'Old K' to Special Command-type Death Soldier.]

A golden light, invisible to the naked eye, merged into Old K's body.

Old K's body shuddered violently. In his eyes, which had previously been like stagnant water, countless data streams suddenly surged. Immediately after, his gaze became profound, agile, and even gained a hint of... human-like wisdom and fanaticism.

He slowly knelt on one knee, his voice no longer the mechanical tone from before, but carrying a magnetic stability: "Thank you, Dominator, for granting me a new life. Old K is willing to conquer everything for you."

"Very good." Zhang Cheng nodded with satisfaction.

He didn't save the remaining few thousand points either.

"Upgrade! Select the 50 best-performing individuals from the Intermediate Death Soldiers and enhance them further to serve as the vanguard of the entire army!"

With this, Zhang Cheng was left with only a little over two thousand points. But he now possessed a real army!

[Death God Legion] Total Force: 2,401 personnel. Legion Commander: Old K (Special Death Soldier, Brigadier-level command capability). Backbone: 250 Intermediate Death Soldiers (Special Forces level). Foundation: 2,150 Junior Death Soldiers (Excellent regular army level).

Zhang Cheng pushed open the window and looked at the sea of black heads on the parade ground below.

Two thousand four hundred men, in this Northern Myanmar where warlords were everywhere and fighting for their own interests, were an invincible iron fist!

"Old K."

"Present."

"Pass the order down. Reorganize the entire army! I want to organize them into a truly modern force!"

"Three battalions, nine companies. I want them to learn coordination, learn how to infiltrate, and learn... how to peel the enemy like an onion, layer by layer, and then crush them!"

"Additionally, distribute all the AKs, RPGs, and mortars in the inventory! If that's not enough, use the captured miscellaneous equipment to make do for now! I want to see a howling wolf pack within three days!"

"Yes! For the glory of the Dominator!" Old K stood up and turned to leave.

Watching Old K's retreating figure, the corners of Zhang Cheng's mouth curled into a cruel arc.

"Yang Maoliang, Bai Yingneng... aren't you looking for helpers? Aren't you holding back a big move?"

"You don't need to come find me. I will bring my Death God Legion, go to your doorstep personally, and send you to your graves!"

That night, Dawn Base was brightly lit; the sounds of sharpening blades and shouted orders rang through the sky. A sharp sword named "Death" had been forged, waiting only to be unsheathed and taste blood!