The night was deep, and the ruins of F City looked exceptionally hideous under the moonlight.
A well-equipped squad dressed in black special operations uniforms moved through the abandoned buildings like ghosts. They were the ace unit under the Umbrella Corporation—USS, D Squad, codenamed "Wolfpack."
Their original target was Omeros, the high-intelligence mutant gorilla that had escaped here from the island nation.
However, as they landed on the coast of F City in Gan Country and prepared to track their target based on intelligence, they discovered the situation was far more complex than imagined. The zombies of the entire city were converging in the same direction, as if drawn by some irresistible summons.
"Commander, signal interference here is severe; the satellite link is unstable."
Viktor, responsible for reconnaissance, spoke in a low voice. He wore his signature hooded cloak, and the electronic eye beneath his mask flickered with a faint blue light, his silenced submachine gun held in a constant state of alert.
The squad Commander known as "Mother Wolf," Ruper, came to a halt and raised her hand to signal the team to stop. Her sharp eyes scanned the surroundings as a tactical tablet in her hand displayed a blurry satellite image transmitted from USS headquarters.
"HQ, this is Wolfpack. We are approaching the target area. The sound of gunfire here is livelier than New Year's. If the intel is correct, only that gorilla should be here. But this noise... it sounds like an all-out war."
A surprised voice from headquarters came through the communicator:
"How is that possible? According to our monitoring data, the military forces of all major powers disappeared during the early stages of the virus outbreak. How could organized troops appear in the heart of Gan Country? Wolfpack, confirm the situation."
Ruper frowned; she could feel a dangerous aura permeating the air. That instinct had saved her life countless times on the battlefield.
"It looks like we need to maintain radio silence. The electromagnetic environment here is bizarre; I'm worried about being back-tracked by an unknown force. HQ, wish us luck. Wolfpack, disconnecting."
After cutting the communication, Ruper made a gesture: "Viktor, lead the way. Spectre, find a high point for cover. Four Eyes, get your scanner ready. We're going to see what exactly is happening up ahead."
The group of six moved like shadows in the night, silently creeping into an abandoned logistics center about two kilometers from the airport. This location offered a wide field of vision, enough to overlook the entire F City International Airport.
They reached the top-floor office and carefully set up their observation equipment.
The moment Ruper raised her binoculars to look toward the airport, her pupils constricted sharply.
What met her eyes was no longer the zombie playground she had expected, but a functioning war machine.
On the outer defensive line, about a thousand soldiers in camouflage were establishing a dense web of firepower, supported by dozens of armored vehicles.
Further away, several pitch-black Main Battle Tanks were slowly adjusting their turrets. That sense of oppression could be clearly felt even from two kilometers away.
"Are those... Main Battle Tanks? And those armored vehicles... this is practically a regular army!"
Bellwei, in charge of demolitions, couldn't help but curse, "Where the hell did these guys come from? Did they crawl out from underground?"
However, what truly made Ruper's heart race wasn't these conventional forces.
Her gaze moved past the outer defense line to the core area of the airport—the terminal building.
There, a group of soldiers in black uniforms were clearing the battlefield. Their movements were capable and efficient, even carrying a suffocating coldness.
The way these people executed zombies was as precise as a surgical procedure, without a single redundant movement.
"Every bone in my body is telling me we need to get out of here fast."
Ruper lowered her binoculars, her voice becoming exceptionally heavy. "They aren't ordinary combat troops... I've never seen any unit that can radiate this kind of chilling sensation."
Four Eyes, usually known for her composure, was currently staring at the virus scanner in her hand, her eyes flashing with a mix of fanaticism and fear:
"Commander, the virus readings here... are off the charts. However, those soldiers dressed in black like us aren't carrying the virus."
"No matter what they are, they aren't something we can handle," Ruper decisively issued the order. "Mission canceled. We are evacuating immediately."
Just as the Wolfpack Squad was packing their gear to leave.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh—*
A sudden, rapid, and low thrum of rotor blades cutting through the air came from directly above them.
Everyone dropped instantly, pressing tightly against the dust-covered floor.
Through the broken windows, they saw a pitch-black Attack Helicopter skimming past at low altitude. The helicopter didn't fly by quickly like a patrol craft; instead, it circled once above the logistics center. The electro-optical turret beneath its belly rotated slowly, its cold electronic eye locking onto the floor where they were located.
"Not good! Everyone evacuate immediately! We've been spotted!"
Ruper roared, grabbing Four Eyes, who was still packing her instruments. "Forget that junk! Run!!"
*Zzz—*
The loudspeaker on the helicopter suddenly crackled to life, emitting an emotionless, electronically synthesized voice:
"Unknown armed personnel, you have entered a Black Watch military exclusion zone. Drop your weapons, put your hands behind your heads, and surrender immediately."
Along with the warning, the triple-barreled 30mm autocannons under the helicopter's stub wings began to spin and pre-heat, emitting a deadly hum.
"Damn it! Spectre, take out that helicopter pilot! Viktor, activate your active camouflage and take Four Eyes out first! Bellwei, I want C4 all over the stairwell—leave these bastards a welcoming gift!"
As Ruper issued orders, she raised her assault rifle and fired a burst of suppressive fire out the window.
However, the bullets struck the Attack Helicopter's ballistic armor, only kicking up a few feeble sparks.
...
Meanwhile, at the F University Fortress Command Center.
Lin Xuan looked at the few red silhouettes clearly visible on the thermal imaging screen.
"Very interesting."
"To think armed forces from another faction have infiltrated."
Lin Xuan pressed the communicator.
"I want them alive. Especially their Commander."