15: Chapter 15 Underground Garage

The B2 level of the underground garage was filled with a thick, bloody stench.

Commander Lin Dong leaned against a load-bearing pillar. The wound on his left shoulder had been simply bandaged, and the gauze beneath the bandage was slowly soaking through with blood. He ignored it, focusing instead on the data panel in his hand.

【Current Threat Assessment】

Enemy: Criminal Gang, 36 remaining, 11 armed personnel

Supernatural Ability Leader: Lv.5, Strength 18, Constitution 15, Agility 9, Spirit 6

Supernatural Ability Characteristic: Strength Burst, Cooldown 2.3 seconds, Duration 1.5 seconds

Friendly Forces: 6 people (including 2 with minor injuries), base vehicle not yet deployed

base vehicle Status: Deployment progress 32%, armor intact, energy system offline

2.3 seconds.

Commander Lin Dong etched this number into his mind. On the battlefield, 2.3 seconds was enough for a well-trained soldier to aim and fire, and enough for a brute to throw a second punch.

"Company Commander Lin, they're calling out again." Li Na crawled to his side, her face deathly pale from blood loss. Her left shoulder had been grazed by a stray bullet, but she was gritting her teeth and holding on. Her instinct as a Communications Soldier kept the walkie-talkie firmly against her ear.

The shouting from outside came through the garage entrance, carrying the distortion characteristic of a megaphone:

"Listen up, people inside! We only want that truck! Hand over that truck, and we'll let you leave alive! I'm counting to three. If you don't hand it over, we're coming in! One—"

Commander Lin Dong ignored the voice and looked at his five-person squad.

The three soldiers were veterans he had brought out from the military camp: Wang Lei, former deputy squad leader of the 2nd squad of the Reconnaissance Company, thirty years old, steady and experienced, his left arm scratched by shrapnel; Zhang Qiang, twenty-three years old, four years in the service, machine gunner, sturdy build; Zhao Hai, twenty-one years old, a scout who had just become regular a year ago, currently shielding two college students rescued from nearby—a boy and a girl, eighteen or nineteen years old, their eyes still filled with lingering terror.

Including Li Na, this was his entire team.

Six people.

Across from them were thirty-six desperate outlaws.

"Company Commander," Wang Lei lowered his voice, "Should I take Zhang Qiang and circle out through the ventilation ducts to flank them?"

"No time." Commander Lin Dong shook his head, his eyes scanning the base vehicle data on the panel. "Besides, the ventilation ducts don't lead to the surface; the exit is on the east side of the B1 level, which is exactly where they're gathering right now."

"Two—"

The megaphone voice rang out again.

The male college student suddenly trembled and spoke up: "Co-Company Commander Lin, maybe we should just give them the truck... There are so many of them, we can't win..."

"Shut up!" Zhang Qiang growled, making the student shrink back.

Commander Lin Dong raised a hand to stop Zhang Qiang, looking at the two students. The girl was Chen Xi, the boy was Zhou Jie, freshmen at Beiling Normal University. They had been pulling an all-nighter at an internet cafe near the military camp when the apocalypse broke out and had blindly followed the crowd to the camp for help. When Commander Lin Dong brought them out, both kids' legs were like jelly.

"It's normal to be afraid." Commander Lin Dong's voice was calm, as if he were talking about the weather. "But you have to understand one thing—if they get the truck, the next step is to kill all of us. That vehicle isn't just a truck; it's our hope for survival. Hand it over, we die. Don't hand it over, we still have a chance to live."

"Three—"

"Time's up!" The voice outside suddenly became ferocious. "If you won't take a hint, then don't blame us! Brothers, charge in! Kill the men, keep the women!"

Gunshots erupted suddenly.

The criminal gang's attack strategy was simple and crude—firepower suppression, frontal assault.

They rushed down the ramp at the garage entrance, more than a dozen guns firing simultaneously. Bullets splattered stone chips off the load-bearing pillars and sent sparks flying from the abandoned cars in the parking spots. The trajectory wove a web of death in the dim underground garage.

"Keep your heads down!" Commander Lin Dong barked, pressing himself against the pillar, listening to the whistle of bullets flying past.

His brain was working at high speed.

【Trajectory Analysis】

Shooting Direction: Entrance ramp, 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock direction

Firepower Density: Approximately 12 guns, including 3 automatic rifles, the rest are shotguns and pistols

Rate of Fire: Rifles approx. 600 rounds/minute, short bursts; pistols and shotguns irregular

Hit Probability Estimate: Suppression hit rate behind our cover is approx. 3%, but can reach 40% against exposed targets

"They're wasting ammunition." Commander Lin Dong spoke. "Wang Lei, did you hear the interval of the rifle bursts?"

"I heard it, about a short burst every three to five seconds." Wang Lei replied immediately. "Reload time?"

"Shotguns and pistols reload faster, but the rifles are the threat. Zhang Qiang, gather all the remaining grenades and bring them to me."

Zhang Qiang hesitated: "Company Commander, we only have two left."

"That's enough."

Commander Lin Dong took the two Type 67 grenades and weighed them in his hand. The delay on this type of grenade was 3-3.8 seconds, shorter than the 4-5 seconds of the American M67, and slightly less powerful, but it was enough for now.

He looked at the layout of the garage.

The B2 level was the lowest parking level, about 4 meters high, with load-bearing pillars 8 meters apart, and about forty abandoned private cars parked there. After the criminals rushed down the entrance ramp, their only path was a 15-meter-wide main aisle, lined with cars on both sides.

15 meters.

This width was exactly at the edge of the effective kill radius (7 meters) of the Type 67 grenade.

"Wang Lei, Zhang Qiang, when my grenades go off, you push forward ten meters from the left and right flanks and take cover behind those two SUVs." Commander Lin Dong pointed to two Toyota Highlanders about fifteen meters ahead. "Zhao Hai, you stay here and protect the three of them. Li Na, give me that thing you took off the vehicle earlier."

Li Na was stunned, then reacted, pulling a palm-sized black disc from her backpack—it was a high-decibel alarm she had removed from a military communications vehicle, originally used for perimeter security at field camps.

"How much battery is left?"

"Full, I just charged it yesterday."

Commander Lin Dong stuck the alarm to the side of the load-bearing pillar and pressed the switch.

A piercing alarm sound erupted, creating a harsh echo in the underground garage.

"Over there! Someone's over there!"

The criminals' attention was instantly drawn by the sound, and a dozen guns turned toward the direction of the alarm simultaneously. Bullets poured out like a rainstorm.

At that very moment, Commander Lin Dong leaned half his body out from the other side of the load-bearing pillar and swung his right arm with all his might.

Two grenades flew one after the other, tracing two parabolas, crossing the 15-meter-wide main aisle, and landing precisely in the center of the criminal group on the opposite side.

The Type 67 grenade had no pull ring; it required pulling the safety pin and releasing the lever. Commander Lin Dong had already counted silently for a second before throwing them.

The first grenade exploded in the air, one and a half meters off the ground.

The pre-formed shrapnel covered the area in a downward fan shape. Three criminals fell on the spot, their screams drowned out by the explosion. The second grenade exploded at their feet, the shockwave overturning two sedans, and shattered glass swept out like blades.

"Charge!"

Commander Lin Dong was the first to rush out, his type 95 rifle shouldered, his sights locking onto the first enemy still standing.

That criminal was staggering to his feet, clutching his ears, his face covered in blood. Before he could even raise his shotgun, he was hit in the chest by a shot and fell backward.

Wang Lei and Zhang Qiang killed their way out from the left and right flanks almost simultaneously, their rifle bursts precise and cold. Their shooting movements were identical—short burst, move, short burst—this was muscle memory formed by thousands of repetitions.

"Don't let them run! There are only a few of them!"

The criminal leader's roar came from behind.

Commander Lin Dong saw him—a burly man with a ferocious scar on his face, holding a machete, rushing up from behind the crowd. His speed was unnaturally fast, each step covering half again as much distance as a normal person.

【Target Data Updated】

Supernatural Ability Leader: Lv.5, Strength-type

Current Speed: 7.8 m/s, exceeding normal human limits

Estimated Contact Time: 4 seconds

"Wang Lei, Zhang Qiang, cover each other and retreat!"

Just as Commander Lin Dong gave the order, the scarred man had already charged within twenty meters. He grabbed an abandoned electric scooter with one hand and hurled it at Commander Lin Dong like a brick.

Commander Lin Dong rolled to the side. The electric scooter smashed into the load-bearing pillar behind him, the battery pack bursting and spraying acid everywhere.

Before he could get up, the scarred man was already upon him, the machete swinging down with a whistling sound.

Commander Lin Dong raised his rifle to block.

"Clang—"

In the deafening sound of metal colliding, the handguard of the type 95 rifle was split in two, and the barrel deformed. The immense force cracked the webbing between Commander Lin Dong's thumb and forefinger, and he staggered back three steps, his back hitting a van.

The scarred man grinned and raised the machete again: "I told you, hand over that vehicle!"

1 second.

Commander Lin Dong watched the opponent's movements, the number counting down in his brain.

The scarred man swung down again. Commander Lin Dong rolled to the left, and the machete hacked into the door of the van, getting stuck.

0.5 seconds.

The scarred man tried to pull the knife out with force.

0 seconds.

"You're out of strength." Commander Lin Dong said calmly.

The scarred man paused, and then his expression changed drastically—the heat flow that had been supporting his extraordinary strength vanished in that instant, replaced by the familiar, muscle soreness of an ordinary person.

2.3 seconds of cooldown.

Commander Lin Dong didn't give him a chance to react; his right hand drew the type 92 pistol from his waist and pressed it against the opponent's chin.

"Don't move."

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

The cold touch of the muzzle made the scarred man freeze.

The sounds of fighting around them gradually ceased. Seeing their leader subdued, the prisoners slowed their movements.

Wang Lei and Zhang Qiang's muzzles remained steadily pointed at them.

The entire underground garage fell into a brief, deathly silence.

“Tell them to put their guns down.” Commander Lin Dong's voice was calm, his muzzle pressed firmly against the scarred man's chin without a hint of a tremor.

The scarred man's Adam's apple bobbed, sweat trickling down his scar. “Put your fucking guns down, all of you!”

The prisoners glanced at each other and began dropping their guns on the ground one by one.

“Kick them over.”

A dozen or so guns were kicked to Commander Lin Dong's feet. Wang Lei and Zhang Qiang immediately stepped forward to gather them all while keeping a wary eye on the prisoners.

“Have your men back off too, and squat against the wall,” Commander Lin Dong continued.

The scarred man complied. Over thirty prisoners crowded against the garage wall in a row; some clutched their wounds, groaning softly.

Only then did Commander Lin Dong slightly relax his muzzle, though he didn't pull it away. “What's your name?”

“Ma, Ma Kui.”

“Ma Kui, listen. I could blow your jaw off right now, and then my men would take out every single one of you. Do you believe me?”

Ma Kui's lips trembled, but he said nothing.

Commander Lin Dong's hand was steady. Blood still seeped from his left shoulder, and the webbing of his right hand was split, blood dripping down the gun's frame, yet his grip remained motionless.

“But I don't intend to do that,” Commander Lin Dong continued. “Killing you does me no good. I need people, labor, hands to work. If you and your men want to live, you have to work. Understand?”

Ma Kui's eyes flickered, seemingly surprised by this outcome.

“U-understand.”

“Good.” Commander Lin Dong finally pulled the muzzle away. “Now, have your men bring out all your supplies. Food, water, medicine, ammo—don't hide a single thing. Then, stay right here in this corner. If anyone dares to move—”

He paused.

“I guarantee the next bullet won't miss.”

Ma Kui nodded repeatedly and shouted at the group of prisoners, “Did you hear that! Get everything out, damn it! Hurry up!”

The prisoners moved, bringing supplies from their persons and the cars at the entrance. Instant noodles, bottled water, canned food, cigarettes, a few boxes of antibiotics, a roll of bandages, and several hundred loose rounds of ammunition.

Commander Lin Dong glanced over them, getting a rough idea of the tally.

[Seized Supplies Tally]

Food: Enough for approximately 15 people for 3 days

Medicine: Basic trauma medication, limited quantity

Ammunition: Over 200 rifle rounds, over 300 pistol rounds, 50 shotgun shells

Others: Cigarettes (useful, can be used for trade), lighters, several knives

“Li Na, come over and take inventory,” Commander Lin Dong said.

Li Na responded and stepped out from behind the cover. Her face was even paler, and her steps were unsteady, but she persisted in coming over to begin the inventory.

Commander Lin Dong turned to Wang Lei: “Watch them. If there's any suspicious movement, fire immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

Having arranged these matters, Commander Lin Dong finally had time to look at the most important thing—the base vehicle.

He crossed the messy battlefield, bypassed the car wreckage twisted by grenades, and stood before the silver-gray heavy truck.

It sat silently in the deepest part of the underground garage. The vehicle was over twenty meters long, weighing eighty tons, with eight massive tires taller than a person. The front design was sleek yet oppressive, resembling the head of some ancient behemoth.

Commander Lin Dong reached out and touched the vehicle's body.

The metal felt cold and solid.

At that moment, a line of green text suddenly popped up on his retina:

[Commander contact with main body detected]

[Current base vehicle Status]

Deployment Progress: 32% (Interrupted by external force)

Armor Integrity: 97% (Minor scratches, no structural damage)

Energy System: Offline (Power connection required)

Core Reactor: Pending Activation (100 Energy Points required)

Intelligence Core: Pending Awakening (Commander DNA confirmation required)

[Perform DNA confirmation?]

[Yes/No]

Commander Lin Dong took a deep breath and selected [Yes].

Countless blue light patterns suddenly lit up on the surface of the vehicle, like some circuit activation. Starting from the front, they spread along the body toward the rear, eventually converging at a point at the back. Those light patterns flowed across the metal surface, weaving into a complex design—a soaring eagle with a shattered Earth beneath its talons.

[DNA confirmation complete]

[Commander Permissions Activated: Commander Lin Dong, former Captain of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, Reconnaissance Company Commander]

[Welcome home, Commander]

[Red Alert Outpost Base System, at your service]

The system's voice didn't come from outside but rang directly in Commander Lin Dong's mind. It was a cold, synthesized electronic voice, yet it felt strangely reassuring.

[Current base vehicle Status Assessment]

Conditions for deployment:

Flat ground ≥ 100㎡ (Currently met)

No hostile units within 50m radius (Current threat level: Medium; 36 prisoners are suppressed, judged as [Potential Threat] rather than [Direct Threat]; condition partially met)

Power connection (Requires resolution)

[Recommendation: Establish temporary power supply first, complete deployment, then handle other matters]

Commander Lin Dong withdrew his hand, looking at the prisoners squatting in the corner and then at the massive vehicle shimmering with blue light patterns.

2.3 seconds.

Grenade.

DNA confirmation.

Everything that happened today felt like some strange rehearsal.

He turned toward Li Na, intending to treat his wounds first before thinking about the power issue.

Just then, he heard a faint sound coming from the garage entrance—

It was the sound of an engine.

More than one.

“Someone's coming.”

Wang Lei's voice was very low, but Commander Lin Dong immediately caught the alertness in it.

Everyone's gaze turned toward the garage entrance simultaneously.

The engine sounds grew closer—not just one, but at least three or more. Beams from headlights shone down from the entrance ramp, swaying and soon illuminating an area of the B2 level.

“Take cover, everyone,” Commander Lin Dong ordered, lunging behind the nearest support pillar while drawing the type 92 pistol from his waist—his rifle was already ruined.

Wang Lei and Zhang Qiang quickly moved into position, pointing their muzzles at the entrance.

The prisoners squatting in the corner stirred; someone tried to take the opportunity to stand up but was slammed in the shoulder with Zhang Qiang's gun butt, squatting back down with a scream.

“Stay the fuck still!”

Three vehicles sped down the ramp.

Leading them was a military humvee, its body still marked with bullet holes and dried blood. Behind it were two civilian SUVs with luggage and fuel drums tied to their roofs.

The humvee braked sharply the moment it entered the B2 level, its tires screeching harshly against the ground.

The door opened, and a person jumped out, pointing a rifle toward Commander Lin Dong's direction.

But in the next instant, the person froze.

He saw the floor littered with shell casings, the destroyed cars, the thirty-odd prisoners squatting in the corner, Li Na taking inventory, and—

That massive truck shimmering with blue light patterns.

“Holy shit...” the man muttered. “What the hell is this...”

Commander Lin Dong stepped out from behind the support pillar, his muzzle lowered but not put away. “Who are you?”

The man turned his head, saw Commander Lin Dong and the wound on his shoulder, and his expression grew complex. He was wearing an Armed Police training uniform with a “Beiling Detachment” patch on his arm, his face showing the exhaustion of long travel and traces of gunpowder smoke.

“Armed Police Beiling Detachment, 3rd Squadron, Squadron Leader Department Chief Zhou Jianguo.” the man said in a deep voice. “Are you... soldiers?”

Commander Lin Dong nodded. “Formerly of the Reconnaissance Company, Army Aviation Brigade, Commander Lin Dong.”

Department Chief Zhou Jianguo stared at him for a few seconds before suddenly asking, “The Zombie Tide outside—how did you get through?”

“Fought our way out of the barracks,” Commander Lin Dong replied simply. “And you?”

“Us...” Department Chief Zhou Jianguo gave a bitter smile. “We retreated with a survivor convoy, over two hundred people. Now only these three vehicles are left. The Safe Zone is gone, all of it.”

Behind him, the doors of the two SUVs opened, and a dozen or so people stepped out—some in police uniforms, some in plain clothes, and a few children. Everyone's eyes were filled with exhaustion and terror.

Commander Lin Dong looked at them, then back at the base vehicle still shimmering with blue light patterns.

He suddenly realized a problem—

This underground garage now held fifty or sixty people.

Half were Armed Police and survivors who had just escaped the brink of death.

The other half were the desperados who had just tried to kill them.

And he only had five soldiers.

[System Notification]

[Large gathering of survivors detected]

[Recommendation: Establish temporary order, screen available personnel]

[base vehicle Deployment Progress: 32%, can resume at any time]

[Warning: Current personnel composition is complex; internal threat probability: 73%]

Commander Lin Dong took a deep breath.

He knew the real trouble was only just beginning.

[End of Chapter]