Extraterrestrial demons invaded; I laid the groundwork eight years in advance.

After leaving the research institute, the car drove onto the elevated road.

Shen Bai leaned back in the seat. The equipment shortcomings were being addressed, but there was still one problem on his mind—monster intelligence.

The Dawn team knew almost nothing about the monsters.

If a ninth-level peak being can shoot energy arrows, what abilities do other demonic creatures possess? What are their weaknesses?

"Xiao Cheng, retrieve all monster combat logs and autopsy data."

Data unfolds in consciousness.

The five from the logistics park, the sixteen from the chemical plant, plus the nine from the previous two rifts—the size, scale thickness, attack methods, and energy fluctuations of each monster are all in the database.

But data is just data and cannot be quickly accessed during combat.

"The monsters in the previous two encounters weren't high-level, but their attack patterns were already predictable," Xiao Cheng added.

Shen Bai nodded.

If this information could be displayed in real time during battle, the survival rate of the Dawnbreaker team would be greatly improved.

He closed his eyes and began to construct a mental image.

The monster data in the database is categorized and organized, and identification logic is designed—matching based on physical characteristics, energy fluctuations, and behavioral patterns.

A combat suggestion template has been added, recommending attack points and tactics based on the monster's weaknesses.

The framework was complete. He opened the system function extension interface.

"Add to."

[Evolution Points Required: 100]

【Name: Monster Encyclopedia (Green - Excellent)】

[Ability: Automatically scans and identifies monsters of Tier 2 and below, displaying their name, level, characteristics, and weaknesses; the more samples in the database, the higher the accuracy of identification, and combat suggestions are updated in real time.]

Shen Bai opened his eyes.

There are only a little over one hundred evolution points left.

"It really doesn't last long."

He said something in a low voice.

However, as the number of rifts and monsters increases, the records in the encyclopedia will become more comprehensive and the identification more accurate—this is a fair trade-off.

"Sir, we've arrived," Liu Feng said softly. What came into Shen Bai's view was a mountain tunnel.

The Dawn headquarters is located in the mountains of the suburbs, not far from the research institute.

Six years ago, Shen Bai chose this place—a converted abandoned civil defense project, with thick mountain cover that radar could not detect.

  

After six years of expansion, it has become a fully functional underground fortress: a three-story structure with a total area of ​​tens of thousands of square meters, including training grounds, equipment depots, communications centers, medical areas, rest areas, and command rooms.

The Dawn Organization, relying on the Dawn Group, has more than ten similar bases around the world. Of its 2,026 official members, most are stationed at this headquarters, while the rest are distributed among other bases.

---

Headquarters Base & Training Ground

On a training field the size of a football field, members of Dawn are training in groups.

The melee group conducted combat drills on the left side, with each punch landing hard and muffled groans filling the air.

The ranged team used composite bows and crossbows on the right to shoot at the moving target, the "thud" of arrows hitting the bullseye sounding like a dense rain.

The physical training team did weighted cross-country running around the track, their sweat constantly hitting the ground.

The sounds of slogans, the clanging of equipment, and the instructors' commands mingled together, and the air was thick with the smell of sweat.

Dawn's weaponry primarily consists of melee weapons—high-carbon steel tactical knives, composite bows, crossbows, and custom-made combat uniforms.

The tactical knife is similar in shape to the Gurkha kukri, but it is heavier and longer, making it suitable for chopping.

It wasn't that Shen Bai didn't want to use modern weapons, but after numerous tests, he found that ordinary firearms had extremely poor penetration against the scales of monsters.

A monster at the third level of apprenticeship has scales that are like a layer of iron; bullets can only leave white marks on them.

While heavy firepower is effective, it is extremely difficult to transport into the country and can easily cause large-scale collateral damage in urban environments.

In contrast, crossbow bolts soaked in high concentrations of anesthetic and specially made blades, combined with the strength of the Dawn members, can kill more accurately.

Shen Bai entered the training ground through a side door, with Liu Feng following behind. No one stopped—this wasn't the first time the Prophet had come to inspect; maintaining their training regimen was the greatest respect they could show the Prophet.

The third squad is conducting coordinated combat training. Chen Fan is leading the team, and the five members are moving quickly and coordinating to eliminate moving targets in a simulated training area.

Their movements were fluid and their teamwork was excellent.

Shen Bai stood on the sidelines, monitoring the team members' vital signs in real time through the Apostle Panel. Their heart rates were stable, and their reaction speed had improved by about ten percent compared to the last training session.

"Switch places!" Chen Fan shouted in a low voice.

Five people changed direction simultaneously, and the target was hit repeatedly. The whole process took less than ten seconds.

After training, Chen Fan led the team to run over and line up.

"Prophet!" the five men shouted in unison.

Their combat uniforms were soaked with sweat, but their backs were ramrod straight.

Shen Bai's gaze swept over them: "I've reviewed the records from the past five days of training. There has been progress, but it's not enough."

No one speaks.

"There might be a large-scale invasion coming," Shen Bai said. "On that day, you might face monsters stronger than before. Equipment will help you, but ultimately, you'll have to rely on yourselves."

"yes!"

Shen Bai turned around and walked towards the command room, with Liu Feng following behind.

Inside the command center, a large screen on the wall displays a map of Shanghai and its surrounding areas.

Xiao Cheng's data scrolls in real time: rift markers, spiritual energy concentration curves, the locations of each squad, the status of reserve contact points... everything is at her fingertips.

Shen Bai stood in front of the screen and asked Liu Feng, "What's the shift schedule for each team?"

Liu Feng opened his tablet and spoke quickly and clearly: "The headquarters base currently has nearly two thousand main force members, all of whom are on duty. They are divided into three shifts, each shift lasting eight hours, and at least six hundred people on each shift are in a state of first-level combat readiness—fully equipped and ready to be deployed at any time. The emergency response plan has been distributed to each squad, and the Apostle panel covers all main force members."

"What about the reserves?"

"There are 1,200 reservists around Shanghai, stationed at eight contact points, equipped with backup walkie-talkies and encrypted channels. Upon receiving orders, they can reach any point in the city in as little as fifteen minutes." Liu Feng paused. "The total number of reservists at other bases around the world is about 8,000, currently maintaining a level-two combat readiness and not yet recalled."

Shen Bai nodded.

The Apostle template can only cover official members, which is a shortcoming, but evolution points are limited and cannot be solved for the time being.

"Increase training in real combat and combat awareness," Shen Bai said.

"clear"

Shen Bai shifted his gaze back to the large screen.

On the map, seven or eight yellow dots are marked around Shanghai – these are high-risk areas where the rifts are most likely to appear. Near each dot, at least one squad is in a standby position.

---

2 PM, Qingfengyuan Residential Area.

Shen Bai pushed open the door. In the living room, Shen Tian was curled up on the sofa watching TV, holding a bag of potato chips.

"You're back?"

The younger sister asked without looking up.

"Okay." Shen Bai changed his shoes.

Shen Tian looked up at him and said, "Shen Bai, what's wrong with you lately? I rarely see you, you're acting all mysterious."

"I have to go out."

"What is it?" she asked, pursing her lips.

Shen Bai didn't answer, but instead asked, "You didn't go out today?"

"We'll go out in a bit."

Shen Tian jumped up from the sofa, picked up her small backpack that she had prepared beforehand, and said, "I've made plans with my classmates to go shopping downtown. Don't wait for me for dinner; I'll eat out."

"be safe."

"Okay." Shen Tian walked to the door to change her shoes, glanced back at him, and said, "Don't always talk like that, like Dad. I'm leaving."

The door closed.

Shen Bai stood there, silent for a moment.

He contacted Liu Feng in his mind: "Send two people to secretly protect my sister. Don't let her find out, and don't interfere with her normal life."

Liu Feng's response came quickly: "Understood."

Shen Bai went into the bedroom and pulled up a personnel file.

The frequency of cracks will increase over time.

it's time.