In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

Command Center, Operations Staff Department.

Compared to Ye Xiao's boisterousness, Mo Yun appeared exceptionally quiet.

He stood before a colonel carrying two three-star bars on his shoulders.

That was Zhao Rui, the chief tactical officer under General Zhang Xiao.

"You want to borrow my staff?"

Zhao Rui put down his teacup and looked at the refined young man before him with great interest.

"And the team that excels at asymmetric warfare?"

"Yes," Mo Yun replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"reason."

"Because we don't understand cooperation, and we don't know how to fight."

Mo Yun answered decisively, "We are strong individuals, but when it comes to commanding campaigns, we are novices."

Leave professional matters to professionals.

The admiration in Zhao Rui's eyes flashed by in an instant.

It takes more courage to admit you're not good enough than to boast about how good you are.

Do you know who leads "Sharp Sword"?

Zhao Rui stood up and walked to the sand table. "Lin Feng has over twenty years of special operations experience. He won't have any weaknesses in special operations."

"Every human being has flaws."

Mo Yun pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting light.

"Not willing to admit defeat? That's interesting."

Zhao Rui stared at Mo Yun for a full three seconds, then suddenly laughed.

"However, in principle, this is a competition between you Awakened Ones and Special Forces, and our General Staff should not interfere."

"This isn't interference; it's the rational use of resources. And the resources aren't being used for internal friction."

Mo Yun refused to budge an inch, saying, "I have the authority granted by Advisor Su to mobilize all non-heavy firepower resources."

"Alright, since it was specially approved by Consultant Su, we will naturally cooperate fully."

Zhao Rui picked up the phone on the table and dialed a number.

"Have the people in Group Three stop what they're doing. Yes, stop everything. Help those Awakened brats plot against Lin Feng."

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Rui patted Mo Yun on the shoulder.

"I've given you the man. But let me make this clear: I don't think you have any chance of winning. Once the industrialized war machine is in motion, the crushing effect is utterly devastating."

"We can't lose."

Mo Yun turned around, her back straight.

……

Kunlun Base, Awakened Ones' War Room.

Over the next forty-eight hours, the atmosphere completely changed.

The whiteboard was covered with tactical lines.

"It's still the same problem: efficiency."

Mo Yun threw the pen on the table and rubbed his burning head with his hand.

"Our biggest disadvantage is our small number of players. Although Brother Su gave us a two-day head start, we are still far behind."

"Compared to a group of cyborgs, our firepower is simply not in the same league."

Ye Xiao held the knife, his brows furrowed.

"Perhaps there is only one way."

Mo Yun pushed up his glasses, a cold glint flashing on the lenses. "If we try to out-fire them, we're bound to lose."

Bai Lu raised an eyebrow. "What method?"

"Play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses. We can only take the elite route. To put it bluntly, it's a decapitation strike."

Mo Yun's finger tapped heavily on several red skull markers on the map.

"Our target is solely second-tier mutated creatures!"

"Killing a Tier 2 creature is worth 100 points. A regular zombie is only worth 10 points. In other words, killing one Tier 2 creature is equivalent to killing ten zombies."

Mo Yun surveyed the crowd, his tone chilling.

"Using our two-day head start advantage, we'll 'decapitate' the high-level mutated beasts! We'll conquer all the high-scoring areas on the map!"

"You mean, we should use quality to counter their quantity!" Ye Xiao said.

"That's right."

"Could they be thinking the same thing as us?"

Bai Lu was somewhat worried, "After all, once they put on the crystal core exoskeleton, they will be able to fight against second-tier mutated creatures one-on-one."

"Therefore, we must act quickly and take down all the gathering points of the second-tier mutated creatures in advance."

Mo Yun took a deep breath. "We'll split into multiple assault teams. A multi-pronged attack!"

"Bai Lu, let's pair up from now on."

His gaze first shifted to Bai Lu, then to Ye Xiao.

"Old Ye, you and Jingye are in the same group. We're in charge of the entire second-tier mutated creature cluster around the Kunlun base."

……

Supreme Operations Command Center.

Su Ran was looking at the information node on the holographic sand table that represented the headquarters of the Awakeners; the data throughput had soared to a terrifying level.

Li Guodong walked in carrying two cups of hot tea.

"Xiao Su, your 'using one tiger to devour another' tactic was truly brilliant."

He handed a cup of tea to Su Ran, his eyes full of admiration.

"This is the first time I've ever seen them so united. In the past, these chosen ones were all arrogant and conceited."

Now, things are much better; they've united as one for a common goal.

Li Guodong remarked with emotion, "These privileged young people are actually starting to understand what a big picture perspective and teamwork are."

"It's not that they don't understand, it's that they didn't need to understand before."

Su Ran took a sip of tea and spoke softly.

"If we don't give them a hypothetical enemy, they'll really think they're saviors."

Now that a knife is at their throats, they know better than anyone what to do.

"That's what you say, but are you really that at ease?"

Li Guodong's expression turned serious.

"The 'sharp sword' that Lin Feng brought is no joke. Two hundred special forces elites equipped with 'Xingtian' weapons, once the three-day training period is over, their clearing efficiency will probably be astonishing."

I watched their training video; a standard five-man combat team could tear apart a Tier 2 armored rhinoceros in three minutes.

He paused, then added,

"According to the initial assessment from the General Staff, the 'Sharp Sword' unit may be able to collect twice as many points as the Awakened Headquarters within five days, or even more."

Su Ran's face remained completely expressionless.

"Although the Awakened Ones have great potential, they are ultimately used to fighting alone."

Li Guodong looked at Su Ran, a hint of worry in his eyes.

"If we lose too badly, the Awakened Headquarters will likely face considerable criticism."

"Old Li, who do you think our real enemy is?"

Su Ran suddenly asked an unrelated question.

Li Guodong was taken aback. "Of course, it's zombies and mutated beasts."

"No."

Su Ran shook her head, her gaze terrifyingly deep.

"Our real enemy is time, and its unreasonable speed of evolution."

"If the current number of zombies and mutated beasts can remain unchanged for ten years, we are fully confident that we can overwhelm them with an armored torrent."

He turned around and looked directly at Li Guodong. "These days, second-tier monsters can be easily dealt with by wearing a crystal core exoskeleton."

Once the "Cheng Ying" mech is discontinued, it will be able to contend with third and fourth tiers. However, the development of technology always has its limits.

In the future, when the iteration speed of our steel army can't keep up with the evolution speed of these monsters, what will we rely on to win?

Li Guodong fell silent.

This question is too heavy, and too distant.

"Aren't you afraid of going too far?"

Li Guodong looked at him and said, "Many frontline generals know about this competition, and even the commander-in-chief is paying attention to it. He asked me to follow up on the whole process and report the results to him in a timely manner."

"It's better if we lose." Su Ran smiled.

"Huh?" Li Guodong was taken aback.

"Only when you lose do you realize the pain. Only then do you know you're not invincible, and that gives you even greater motivation to become stronger."

Su Ran stood up and looked at the brightly lit training ground in the distance.

"The outcome of this battle is not important. What's important is to teach them a lesson."

"What's the reasoning behind that?"

"This world won't indulge you just because you're special."

Su Ran's voice was soft, but it sent a jolt through Li Guodong's heart.

Looking at Su Ran's back, he suddenly realized that the young man was carrying a much heavier burden on his shoulders than he had imagined.

"Alright, I won't argue with you anymore."

Li Guodong stood up and straightened his military uniform.

"The Awakened will start at midnight tomorrow. You better take it easy, don't really crush these precious kids."

"Don't worry, Lao Li."

Su Ran turned around. "They're not that fragile."

Li Guodong nodded and turned to leave.

Su Ran pulled up two surveillance videos.

On the left is the maintenance area for the "Sharp Sword" special forces.

Two hundred soldiers are undergoing equipment adjustments and exoskeleton adaptation training, and the air is filled with the atmosphere of steel and discipline.

To the right is the command center of the Awakened Headquarters.

Mo Yun and the others are making final tactical arrangements.

Su Ran stared at the screen and muttered to herself.

"Let me see whether the torrent of industry is more powerful, or the power of the individual can create more miracles."

He glanced at the huge electronic countdown timer on the wall.

【04:01:15】