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

The alloy doors of the top conference room slammed shut behind us.

The strategic meeting ended in discord.

Su Ran strode along the metal corridor of the Kunlun base, his military boots making a gust of wind as he stepped on the steel plates.

"Advisor Su! Wait a minute!"

Hurried footsteps sounded behind him, and Zhao Ming, the director of the intelligence department, quickly caught up, clutching a military tactical tablet tightly in his hand.

Su Ran stopped and turned to look at him.

"Director Zhao, the meeting is over. Is there anything else?"

"I just received an urgent telegram ten minutes ago: the communications at Resource Transfer Base No. 04 in the Africa Theater have been completely cut off."

Zhao Ming took a breath and handed the tablet over directly.

Su Ran opened the file and scanned it, her expression suddenly darkening.

That was the core ore transshipment hub that Daxia established in North Africa, where tens of thousands of tons of special crystal core ore were transported to Daxia's mainland every day.

"Another counterattack by the mutated beasts?"

"No, but it's worse than a counterattack."

Zhao Ming gritted his teeth, his tone extremely grave.

"A combined armored battalion is stationed there, equipped with a first-class crystal core radar and thermal imager."

After communications were lost, the frontline command immediately dispatched an armored reinforcement company to scout the area. However, the reinforcements were ambushed as soon as they entered the desert surrounding the mine.

Su Ran quickly swiped the screen, "Casualties?"

"The advance convoy was torn apart vehicle by vehicle."

Zhao Ming clenched his fists tightly.

"The scattered footage transmitted back shows that the attackers were a mutated 'desert chameleon' that was over six meters long."

Most deadly of all, this beast can perfectly evade thermal imaging and crystal core radar scanning!

How to avoid the crystal core radar?

Su Ran's eyes sharpened instantly.

The reason why the Great Xia's millions of expeditionary forces were able to sweep across the globe was because of the combination of crystal core radar early warning and beyond-visual-range firepower coverage.

Once monsters acquire the stealth talent, the survival rate of regular troops will plummet.

"Didn't the Awakeners headquarters send anyone?" Su Ran asked.

"It's been sent."

"And the result?"

"Returning empty-handed."

Zhao Ming's face turned ashen.

"A nearby Tier 3 peak hunting squad arrived less than half an hour ago, and all members were injured and forced to retreat."

The distress call has now reached the Awakeners headquarters.

That transit point is too critical; if it drags on for more than 24 hours, the special ammunition supply for the three corps at the front will be cut off.

We must mobilize stronger Awakened Ones to capture the stronghold.

Su Ran handed the tablet back to Zhao Ming.

"Leave this task to our Awakened Headquarters."

"Then I'll leave it to Consultant Su!"

Zhao Ming stood at attention and saluted.

Su Ran didn't waste any more words and turned to walk straight towards the elevator.

Half an hour later, at the Kunlun Base, in the core area of ​​the Awakened Headquarters.

The automatic doors slide open to both sides.

It's rare to have everyone here today; Bai Lu, Ye Xiao, Mo Yun, and Zhu Jingye are all here.

Mo Yun was holding a tablet, as if he were looking at a battle briefing.

Bai Lu sat on the sofa with her eyes closed, resting, her fingertips swirling with pale blue spiritual energy.

At the other end of the hall, Ye Xiao and Zhu Jingye were sprawled out on tactical recliners without any regard for appearances.

Ye Xiao was sleeping with a report covering his face, while Zhu Jingye was holding a half-empty can of iced cola in his hand.

Hearing footsteps, Mo Yun was the first to raise her head.

"Brother Su, are you done with the meeting?"

Su Ran nodded, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

"Yes, the situation at the front is not very optimistic."

The white deer opened its eyes, and the pale blue light in its eyes faded.

"Is there another development?"

"Um."

Su Ran tapped the table, her gaze sweeping over Ye Xiao and Zhu Jingye.

"Alright, stop pretending to be dead and get to work."

Ye Xiao ripped the magazine off his face, sat up straight, and frowned deeply.

"Brother Su, really?"

He pointed to his windproof coat, which he hadn't had time to change out of.

"Old Zhu and I just flew back from Africa, we barely had time to sit down, and now we have work to do again?"

Zhu Jingye also echoed with a bitter face.

"Yeah, Brother Su, even the donkeys in the production team need a break. We're working non-stop."

"The situation is urgent this time, and a mutated beast with special abilities has appeared."

Africa's No. 04 transit point has been raided.

Su Ran leaned forward, her voice steady.

"The attackers were mutated 'desert chameleons' that have the ability to shield themselves from thermal imaging and crystal core radar."

A hunting team at the peak of the third tier went there, but they couldn't handle it and even lost members.

Upon hearing the words "can't handle it," the weariness in Ye Xiao's eyes instantly vanished.

He stood up, stretched his neck, and grinned.

"Even a peak Tier 3 hunting team couldn't handle it? Interesting."

"Don't be careless."

Su Ran walked to the central tactical sand table, swiped her fingertips, and pushed a holographic map into the air.

Bai Lu also stood up and looked at it carefully, then said confidently,

"Should I make a move? My mental power can ignore physical disguises."

"Need not."

Su Ran waved her hand.

"You are currently on the verge of breaking through to the fourth level, and your Qi is unstable. Focus on staying at the base to calm down."

Once you cross that, your strategic value is far greater than capturing a few mining areas.

He turned to look at Ye Xiao and Zhu Jingye.

"Ye Xiao, Lao Zhu, you two need to make a trip."

Your abilities are all geared towards physical enhancement and close-quarters combat.

Dealing with these mutated beasts possessing special abilities is also a rare opportunity for real combat.

Mo Yun stroked his chin, his mind racing.

"Chameleons are creatures that have always lived in groups."

According to the records of mutated organisms at headquarters, they did not possess the absurd ability to shield themselves from the Crystal Core Radar.

It is estimated that the mutation was induced by the environment and occurred a second or even third time.

The abilities of mutated beasts are becoming increasingly diverse, making technological means less effective than before.

At this point, Mo Yun became unusually serious, looked at the two of them earnestly, and gave them a word of advice.

"Old Ye, Jingye, you two better watch out, don't let something unexpected happen."

"If you really can't handle it, ask headquarters for help, and I'll cover for you."

Bai Lu crossed her arms and added with a smile.

"What a joke! A few lizards can't possibly cause any trouble!"

Ye Xiao chuckled, grabbed the two Tang swords on the table, and snapped them onto his waist.

"Old Zhu, let's go. Let's twist its head off and use it as a ball!"

Zhu Jingye tilted his head back, downed the rest of his cola in one gulp, and then resignedly stood up.

He crushed the empty Coke can and threw it precisely into the trash can.

"Well, I'm just born to be a workaholic."

……

Several hours later.

The sonic boom exploded over the African continent.

A military stealth transport plane, like a black sword, forcefully tore through the hot, dry airflow.

The rear hatch slowly descended.

The raging wind whipped up scorching yellow sand, which poured directly into the cabin.

Ye Xiao stood at the cabin door, looking down.

Mining area No. 04 has been completely reduced to ruins.

The massive reinforced concrete defensive wall was torn open with several huge gaps, and several heavy armored vehicles were overturned in the sand pit.

"Jump!"

Ye Xiao shouted, and the two figures plummeted down like meteorites.

"boom!"

"boom!"

Two craters appeared in the ground.

Zhu Jingye patted the sand off his body and looked around.

"The smell of blood is really strong."

Behind them, an armed helicopter slowly landed.

Ten fully armed logistics reconnaissance soldiers jumped off the plane and quickly dispersed to their tactical positions.

The second lieutenant leading the group, gun in hand, ran up to Ye Xiao.

"Sir! The 3rd Tactical Reconnaissance Platoon is here to assist you in your operation!"

"Set up a monitoring array and see if we can find that beast."

Ye Xiao didn't waste any words and gave the order directly.

"yes!"

The scouts quickly dispersed, several small phased array radars were set up on high points of the sand dunes, and drones took off and hovered with a buzzing sound.

A minute passed.

Two minutes passed.

"Sir! Thermal imaging has not detected any source of life-giving heat!"

"Radar detects energy reactions in amorphous nuclei!"

The lieutenant stared at the blank screen on his terminal, his heart pounding.

Even though they knew the monster was in these ruins, the high-tech equipment was completely unresponsive, like a blind man.

"Sometimes Old Mo is right. Technology is becoming less and less effective against high-level monsters."

Ye Xiao gripped the hilt of the knife with his other hand and glanced around.

He closed his eyes, completely relinquishing his sight.

The supernatural power within him began to be activated, and the beastly instincts of an awakened being spread wildly outward.

The air was filled with the subtle sounds of airflow and rolling sand, and in addition to the smell of blood, there was also a very faint stench of reptiles.

"Gotcha!"

"Right front, three o'clock position, two meters underground."

Ye Xiao suddenly opened his eyes and sprang up.

His leg muscles swelled instantly, crushing the sand beneath his feet, and he shot out like a cannonball.

"Clang!"

The twin swords were drawn, their blades flashing and drawing a deadly cross in the blazing sun.

"Get the hell out here!"

Ye Xiao first stepped on the surface sand and gravel, then slashed fiercely into it with his blade.

"hiss!"

A piercing shriek erupted from underground.

Immediately afterwards, the sand dune exploded open, and a colossal creature six meters long burst forth from the earth amidst the swirling yellow sand.

Its body is covered in dark yellow scales, blending perfectly with the surrounding desert environment.

Chameleon!

Instead of dodging, it swung its thick tail and lashed out at Ye Xiao.

"You dare to go head-to-head with me? You're asking for death!"

Instead of retreating, Ye Xiao advanced, blocking with his right sword while simultaneously slashing upwards with his left sword.

"tear!"

The Tang sword clashed with the lizard's tail.

Ye Xiao used the momentum to perform a somersault in mid-air and landed steadily. A half-meter-long gash appeared on the chameleon's tail, from which thick black blood flowed, and it roared in pain.

However, before everyone could even breathe a sigh of relief...

Just then, the surrounding sand exploded one after another.

The three identical chameleons leaped out simultaneously, forming a triangular shape, and pounced on the group of logistics reconnaissance soldiers not far away with lightning speed.

"Damn it! Fire! Fire now!"

The lieutenant roared and pulled the trigger with all his might.

"Da da da da!"

The dense barrage of crystal bullets struck the lizard's scales, but failed to inflict any fatal damage.

The monster was incredibly fast, rushing towards them in the blink of an eye, its gaping maw emitting a foul stench.

"It's over..."

A young soldier on the flank of the formation had closed his eyes in despair.

With nowhere to retreat, they could only wait to die.

"What's the panic! Why are you closing your eyes!"

A rough voice boomed in my ears, and Zhu Jingye stood at the forefront like an iron tower.

He took out an energy shield and placed it in front of him.

Then he let out a sudden low growl.

"open!"

A light blue energy ripple emanated from him and instantly enveloped the ten scouts.

But the claws of one of the chameleons in the middle were already aimed straight at his face, slamming hard into the chest of the lieutenant at the very front of the formation.

But the next second, a flash of blue light appeared on the lieutenant's body, and he only took two steps back, completely unharmed.

"This... I'm not dead? I'm all alright?"

The lieutenant stared wide-eyed at his hands as if he had seen a ghost.

Damage transfer!

On the other hand, Zhu Jingye's military uniform was instantly torn open, leaving three deep, bloody gashes.

He groaned softly.

"Damn it! What bad luck! I got wounded as soon as I got to the battlefield!"