Inside the Gymnasium, Lin Xuan sat in his office chair and opened the system panel. "If there were a few tanks in the base, perhaps the progress of campus order would increase faster," he muttered to himself.
With a gentle tap of Lin Xuan's fingertip on the system panel, 200 points of Biomass were instantly deducted, transforming into a steel torrent in reality capable of crushing all despair.
The early morning mist had not yet dissipated when a low, rhythmic vibration suddenly emanated from outside the campus's north gate, which had previously been silent. It wasn't the roar of zombies, nor the footsteps of humans, but the sound of some ancient behemoth's breath as it awakened. The two Marine Corps members guarding the main gate looked solemn; they skillfully pulled the heavy iron bolts and slowly pushed the school gate, reinforced with steel plates and barbs, open to both sides.
"Rumble—!"
The turret of the first main battle tank was the first to break through the mist, its long 120mm smoothbore gun barrel, filled with the aesthetics of death, pointing straight ahead as if announcing the arrival of a new master to these ruins. Immediately following were the second, third, fourth... four steel monsters draped in desert camouflage composite armor, dragging the piercing sound of metal friction and the thick smell of diesel exhaust, crushing the zombie remains piled at the school gate as they strode grandly onto the campus's main road.
The steel bodies, weighing dozens of tons, left deep tread marks on the asphalt road, and every roar of the engines made the glass of surrounding buildings buzz. The survivors, who were performing daily labor and digging defensive fortifications on the playground, all stopped their movements at this moment.
"That... is that a tank?!" A student who was struggling to carry a cement bag dropped it on the ground with a "thud." He stared wide-eyed, his gaze filled with unbelievable shock.
"Yes! It's a tank! No doubt about it!" An irrepressible exclamation erupted from the crowd.
The originally lifeless survivor camp instantly boiled over. People dropped their shovels and brooms, even ignoring the reprimands of the Marines, and spontaneously gathered on both sides of the road. They looked up at the towering turrets and the cold, indestructible armor; many people's eyes turned red in an instant.
In their understanding, since the apocalypse broke out, order had long since collapsed, and human civilization was like a candle in the wind that could go out at any time. But now, the appearance of these four tanks completely shattered their pessimism. These were not just weapons; they were symbols of the "State" and the "Army," the ultimate sense of security brought by the aesthetics of violence.
"We... we're really safe." A former female teacher knelt by the roadside trembling, her hands clasped in prayer and her face covered in tears. "The military hasn't given up on us. They're going to turn this place into a fortress... this is the final sanctuary!"
"Holy shit, those are main battle tanks! How could those monsters possibly break in?" A young man waved his fist excitedly and shouted to his companions. His previous cowardice and numbness were swept away, replaced by a near-fanatical worship.
In the eyes of these survivors, this "army" of unknown origin and cold conduct had now become the representatives of the authorities. They no longer doubted Lin Xuan's motives or questioned those strict rules. As long as they could live under the protection of the tanks' muzzles, they would be more than happy to even go out and mine for them.
Compared to the survivors' frenzy, the patrolling Marine Corps members appeared exceptionally calm. They merely stood aside coldly, using the butts of their rifles to push back a few fanatics trying to get close to the tanks. To them, tanks were perfectly normal support weapons, a part of their tactical system.
Under guidance, the four tanks slowly drove into the open-air parking lot next to the Gymnasium. As the sound of the engines cutting out echoed, a wave of white heat dissipated, and the surrounding air seemed to grow a bit heavier.
Lin Xuan stood on the second-floor balcony, overlooking it all. Watching those survivors who were now deeply grateful and high-spirited because of four piles of steel, a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Fear can make people obedient, but this "hope" generated from powerful force can make them surrender their souls completely.
[Ding! Due to the entry of heavy armored units, campus order stability has increased.]
[Current Campus Order Stability: 92%]
[Task 1: Achieve 90% order stability—Completed. Reward: 500 Biomass.]
[Host's Current Biomass: 872 (572 - 200 + 500)]
Feeling the aftershocks coming from beneath his feet, Lin Xuan couldn't help but smile. "Sure enough, the order has improved. It's time for the aerial units to enter as well."
Clicking on the system mall again, the string of cold numbers flickered in his consciousness. Without hesitation, he chose to expand his aerial strike force. 350 points of Biomass were instantly cleared, replaced by an absolute authority to control the skies.
The campus, which had been noisy due to the entry of the tanks, was suddenly suppressed again by a dull thunderous sound coming from the edge of the horizon. It wasn't natural thunder, but thousands of horsepower turboshaft engines frantically slicing through the air. The sound moved from far to near, low and violent, carrying a pressure capable of destroying eardrums.
"Look! Over there!" a survivor who was crouching on the roof of a dormitory building reinforcing sandbags screamed, pointing toward the reddish-brown sky.
Four black dots rapidly expanded against the backdrop of blood-colored clouds. At the front were three Viper attack helicopters in a V-formation, their streamlined bodies painted in the Marine Corps' low-visibility gray. The Hellfire missiles and rocket pods mounted under their short wings reflected a chilling metallic luster in the sunlight. Behind them, the massive main rotor of a camouflaged transport helicopter kicked up a wild wind that even pressed a visible wave through the distant woods.
"Holy crap, helicopters! Brother, look! It's helicopters!"
"Show some class, those are attack helicopters! The zombies have no air superiority; they're invincible! Hey, there's a transport plane in the middle too. Is that for supplies?"
The survivors fell into a complete frenzy. If the previous tanks were solid shields, then the current attack helicopters were the Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of all zombies. People pushed open windows, waving their arms recklessly and letting out near-insane cheers. In this apocalyptic environment, air superiority meant the absolute right to survive.
The three attack helicopters circled once over the campus, the massive airflow making the flags on the ground flap loudly, while scraps of paper and dust flew everywhere. They seemed to be patrolling their territory, the 20mm rotary cannons under their noses turning with the pilots' gaze, locking onto any shadows in the ruins outside the school that dared to show their heads.
Subsequently, the transport helicopter slowly landed in the open space, the wild wind stirred by its huge propellers making people nearby almost unable to stand. As the hatch opened, several fully armed Marines quickly jumped out and established a defensive line. (Consider it a system bonus.)
This scene completely shattered the final line of defense in the survivors' hearts.
The campus order stability jumped wildly at this moment, soaring directly to 96%.
Those who had been complaining in private about the high labor intensity and strict management all shut their mouths now. They looked at the eagles in the sky and the tigers on the ground, with only one thought left in their minds: This is the safest place in the world.
"Commander." Chu Wenhai walked up behind Lin Xuan, looking up at the slowly descending helicopters, a hint of battle intent flashing in his eyes. "Aerial support has arrived. Perhaps we can take over a nearby large supermarket called Daweifa to replenish our supplies."
"Then let's do that. Wenhai, I'll leave this matter to you."
"Mission will be accomplished, Commander."
[Ding! Due to the entry of aerial forces, Campus Order Stability: 96%]
[Campus Defensive Fortification Progress: 65% (Accelerating: Due to the arrival of the transport aircraft, progress has begun to increase significantly)]
[Host's Current Biomass: 522 (872 - 350)]