Apocalypse: The Primordial Pearl Recognizes Its Master, Starting with Infinite Space

"Staff Officer Chen? Is there an emergency?" Commander Peng looked up in surprise at the usually composed staff officer.

"Commander!" Chen Jianhua stood at attention, saluted, and handed over the document with both hands. "Kyoto Headquarters—Top Secret Urgent Telegram!"

Commander Peng took the thin fax paper, glanced up at the top of his head, and then looked down.

silence.

The only sounds in the command room were the faint rustling of paper being gripped by fingers and the faint, increasingly heavy breathing.

Commander Peng's face drained of color at a visible speed, turning deathly pale. His fingers, gripping the paper, began to tremble uncontrollably, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged out.

The fax content is as follows:

General Military Intelligence Bureau - Top Secret - Seed-Level Order

Product Code: HSP-2035-Ω

Based on the last valid meteorological data transmitted back by the remaining orbiting satellites, and after cross-verification by the National Climate Emergency Center and the Joint Academy of Sciences, the following facts have been confirmed:

The Earth's climate system has undergone an irreversible phase change.

A global extreme cold wave is expected to fully erupt within 72 hours, with average surface temperatures plummeting to below -50°C, and potentially exceeding -70°C in some inland areas. This cold wave is not a periodic fluctuation but a "persistent climate collapse," and is expected to last at least 180 days.

At the same time, human civilization has slipped below the threshold for survival:

The registered survivor population nationwide is less than 20% of its pre-disaster level, and military forces have suffered losses exceeding 90%. Under extreme cold conditions, the effectiveness of conventional weapons has decreased by more than 70%, and individual soldier combat capability is close to zero. Faced with a zombie horde that continues to spread exponentially (currently estimated at 1.2 × 10^9), humanity has lost its strategic counterattack capability.

Based on the above, and in accordance with Article 17, "Spark Clause," of the National Civilization Continuation Act, the following final directive is hereby issued:

The "National Spark Program" will be launched immediately.

Each theater command is granted full autonomy to execute the orders without needing to request instructions or delay.

The priority containment sequence is as follows:

- Researchers in basic science and cutting-edge technologies

Engineers in aerospace, nuclear energy, bioengineering, and artificial intelligence

- Clinical medicine and public health experts

- Key personnel in higher education and preservers of cultural heritage

The sole criterion for containment is whether the knowledge structure of the inhabitants is sufficient to support the restart of civilization.

All actions must be guided by the highest ethical principle of "continuation of civilization".

Individual life, geographical affiliation, and political identity are all secondary variables for this goal.

This order was the last organizational directive issued by human civilization within the territory of China.

Whether or not this is implemented will determine whether five thousand years of civilization will be reduced to nothing.

—Signed by the General Staff Office at dusk

The paper slipped from Commander Peng's fingers and fluttered to the table.

"Five thousand years..." The old general's voice was hoarse and broken, as if it had been ground by sand and gravel, "My great nation of China...five thousand years of civilization...is it about to... perish?"

He swayed, and murky tears welled up in his eyes, streaming down the deep wrinkles on his face.

This veteran, who had always stood tall, now seemed as if all the bones in his body had been removed.

"Commander!" Chen Jianhua and Song Jiangtao rushed forward at the same time, supporting his almost limp body on either side.

a long time.

Commander Peng took a deep, deep breath, the sound as heavy as a bellows being pulled. He raised his hand and fiercely wiped away the tears on his face with the cuff of his uniform sleeve.

When he looked up again, the despair and grief in his aged eyes were forcibly suppressed deep within, replaced by the steely resolve of a soldier and a kind of almost tragic clarity.

"For the nation... for civilization to have a future..." His voice was still hoarse, but each word was firm and resolute. "Immediately activate the 'National Spark Program'! Mobilize all flyable helicopters at the base, and compile a list of all key research institutes, universities, and cutting-edge enterprises in the city, province, and even South China! Prioritize the rescue of researchers, technical personnel, and medical experts within the designated area! The operation begins now—hurry! Hurry!!"

The order, like a thunderclap, exploded over the silent base.

The entire military fortress instantly awoke from its heavy oppression and entered a state of high alert.

The alarm didn't sound, but everyone could hear the ticking of the doomsday clock accelerating its countdown from the sound of running footsteps, urgent shouts, and the roar of engines.

Outside the massive bulletproof window of the command center, lead-gray clouds were gathering and pressing down at a silent yet terrifying speed, heavily covering the sky.

Like a colossal beast, it crouched low, preparing to unleash its deadly breath, freezing everything, upon this ravaged land.

---------------------------------------

Tianshui Garden Community.

Night fell, and the cold wind was biting like a knife.

The temperature was approaching zero degrees Celsius, the air was stagnant and frosty, and each breath left a small wisp of white mist that quickly dissipated into the dark night.

The streets were deserted and desolate, with no new survivors in sight—those who arrived before nightfall had already been taken to shelters; those who failed to appear had probably perished along the way or retreated back to some dark corner.

Li Ya and her group finally finished their day's work.

Despite the exhaustion, the rewards were gratifying: they were fortunate to recruit five new members with solid culinary skills.

At this moment, the five people were busy running around in the kitchen of the underground cafeteria.

"Aren't the vegetables chopped yet? The pan's going to boil dry!"

"Sister Lan's soup...it smells so good, I'm almost moved to tears!"

"Sister Juan's stir-fried beef is absolutely amazing! After taking a bite, I feel like I've come back to life!"

The girls helping out chattered around them, some setting tables and serving bowls, others handing out dishes and spoons.

In the kitchen, spatulas flew, steam billowed, and laughter mingled with the sizzling of oil, creating a lively symphony.

These five "cooks" are all quite young, around twenty-five years old, and all have pretty and pleasing appearances—they are basically people who have figured out how to cook on their own because they genuinely love cooking.

Although none of them had ever cooked for thousands of people before, and their movements were still a bit clumsy and chaotic, it was still much better than the previous situation where only Su Yun and the other two managed to hold things together.

Su Yun stood aside and finally breathed a long sigh of relief: "At least I don't have to sit by the stove every day anymore..." She rubbed her sore shoulders while checking the placement list of today's new team members with Li Ya.

"Xiaoya, how many people came today?"

"Seven thousand three hundred and twenty-six." Li Ya looked down and swiped the tablet in her hand. "But only eighty-five of them meet the criteria for joining the team."

Su Yun nodded: "That's normal. Most of the people who came today are survivors from the three nearby universities. We already screened them when we cleaned up the campuses. Those who are still willing to risk coming here are mostly men with some skills."

Not far away, the property management building was brightly lit.

Zhou Tiannian specially arranged for several elderly professors with white hair to stay there, and even sent someone to deliver their meals.

"Special talents should be treated well." He smiled at his underlings, a cigarette dangling from his lips. "Who knows when things will get better—these people are true national treasures."

Meanwhile, at the outer campsite, the loud-voiced woman who had followed from the school cafeteria was wielding a spatula with incredible speed in front of a huge iron wok: "Line up! Line up! One bowl of rice and two pieces of meat per person, no more! Anyone who cuts in line will be starving tonight!"

More than an hour later, the first real "collective hot meal" was finally served.