10: Base expansion

Chapter 10: Survivor Tide, Base Expansion

The rhino tank's tracks crushed the gravel at the Hospital entrance as it slowly drove toward the base. Lin Zhou sat in the cockpit, taking stock of his haul—two full crates of medicine and a Fire Axe fused with bone blade fragments, its blade glinting piercingly in the sunlight. On the Radar screen, the base's outline grew clearer; green dots representing humans were densely packed, more than doubling since he had left.

"Over a dozen survivors..." Lin Zhou muttered to himself, his fingers tapping lightly on the control panel. "Housing, food, and water for the base all need to be prepared in advance."

Just then, Su Mei's voice came through the walkie-talkie, sounding slightly urgent: "Lin Zhou, a scattered group of survivors has been spotted on the base's perimeter. There are about twenty of them, mostly the elderly, women, and children. They say they were separated by a zombie horde and want to join us."

Lin Zhou frowned slightly. "Have Scarface take some men to verify their identities; don't let any zombies sneak in. Also, clear out the open space next to the warehouse and set up temporary tents."

"Understood."

The tank drove through the base's steel walls. The scene before him warmed Lin Zhou's heart. In the open space in front of the Main Base, Scarface was leading men to set up tents, while Su Mei stood to the side directing survivors to move supplies. A few children peeked out curiously from beside the tents, long-absent smiles finally appearing on their faces. The roar of the Ore Refinery and War Factory continued as usual, and the barrels of the anti-aircraft guns pointed straight at the sky—a scene full of vitality.

Lin Zhou jumped down from the vehicle. Just as he reached the entrance of the Main Base, a girl in a tattered school uniform ran over—the same one he had rescued at the gas station earlier. The wound on her leg had already scabbed over, and she wore a timid smile: "Big Brother Lin, thank you..."

Lin Zhou patted her head and said softly, "This will be your home from now on. Don't be afraid."

The girl nodded vigorously and ran back to the tents. Su Mei walked over and handed Lin Zhou a bottle of water. "Among the survivors from the Hardware Store, there are two electricians and three construction workers. They can help us expand the base. Also, the supplies we found in the basement are enough to sustain everyone for half a month."

"Very good." Lin Zhou took a sip of water and looked at the system panel. "metal points are now at 4535.5, power is at 130. The Main Base can be upgraded. After the upgrade, it should unlock more buildings to solve the housing and food problems."

He walked to the Main Base's control console, his gaze landing on the upgrade button.

[Do you wish to consume 1000 metal and 50 power to upgrade the Main Base to Level 2?]

"Upgrade!"

A pale blue light instantly enveloped the Main Base. Dense metal patterns emerged on the grey walls, and the Radar antenna at the top spun faster, its coverage expanding directly to three kilometers. A few minutes later, the light dissipated, and the silhouette of the Level 2 Main Base appeared. Its footprint had doubled in size, and it now featured two side wings labeled as the Living Area and the Resource Storage Area.

[Main Base upgrade complete! New buildings unlocked: Level 2 Barracks, Level 2 War Factory, Level 2 Ore Refinery, Farm (200 metal, 30 power), Water Purification Station (150 metal, 20 power)]

[Tip: The Farm can grow mutated crops to solve food issues; the Water Purification Station can purify rainwater to solve drinking water issues.]

Lin Zhou was overjoyed and immediately issued the command: "Build the Farm and Water Purification Station!"

[Consuming 350 metal and 50 power. Remaining metal: 3185.5, power: 80.]

[Farm and Water Purification Station under construction... Construction complete!]

Two beams of pale blue light lit up in the base's open space. Neat ridges automatically appeared in the Farm, with mutated crop seeds provided by the system buried in the soil. The machinery of the Water Purification Station began to hum, continuously purifying collected rainwater into potable water.

"It's solved! Food and water are both solved!" Scarface ran over excitedly, pointing at the Farm and Water Purification Station. "Boss, with these two things, we don't have to worry about going hungry anymore!"

Lin Zhou smiled and turned to Su Mei. "Bring the electricians and construction workers over. I have tasks to assign."

Su Mei nodded and soon brought the five survivors over. The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties named Old Zhou, an experienced construction worker. He rubbed his hands together, his face full of trepidation: "Commander Lin, what are your orders?"

"Expand the walls and triple the base's area." Lin Zhou pointed to the open space on the base's perimeter. "Also, build more housing in the Living Area, as well as a medical room and a training ground. If materials are insufficient, scavenge from the nearby ruins; the Ore Refinery will provide metal support."

Old Zhou's eyes lit up. "Rest assured, Commander Lin! With the five of us working together, we can get it done in three days!"

Lin Zhou patted his shoulder. "Thank you for your hard work. The base will not mistreat anyone."

Just then, a dense cluster of red dots suddenly appeared on the Radar screen, moving rapidly toward the base. Lin Zhou's expression changed, and he immediately leaned in to check the screen.

[Radar Scan Results: Zombie horde size 500+, including 30+ Speed Types and 2+ Elite Types. Moving toward the base, estimated arrival in ten minutes.]

"Zombie tide!" Lin Zhou growled, his voice tinged with gravity. "Su Mei, immediately organize all combat personnel to their posts! Scarface, take the construction workers to reinforce the walls! Conscripts, man the anti-aircraft guns and prepare to fire at any time!"

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison. The once lively base instantly turned somber and battle-ready.

The survivors were evacuated to the Main Base's basement. Old Zhou and the construction workers carried steel bars and iron sheets, frantically reinforcing the walls. Su Mei, Scarface, and several others mounted machine guns on the walls. Lin Zhou climbed into the rhino tank's cockpit, positioning the tank at the base's main gate, its turret aimed in the direction of the approaching horde.

Ten minutes later, a dark mass appeared on the horizon. The roars of the zombies rolled in like thunder, making the ground tremble slightly. Two Elite Type zombies led the horde; one was covered in bone armor, while the other had massive wings—it was actually a flying Elite Type zombie!

"A flying type!" Su Mei's voice held a hint of surprise. "This kind of zombie can fly. The anti-aircraft guns will finally be put to use!"

Lin Zhou's eyes sharpened as he shouted into the walkie-talkie, "anti-aircraft guns ready! Prioritize the flying type!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Five anti-aircraft guns fired simultaneously, their dense barrage weaving a net of fire that closed in on the flying type. The flying type let out a sharp screech and flapped its wings violently to dodge, but it was still hit by several shells. Its wings were instantly blown into a bloody mess, and it screamed as it plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground.

"Nicely done!" Lin Zhou roared, firing the rhino tank. A 120mm shell whistled through the air, directly hitting the bone-armored Elite Type on the ground. The violent explosion shattered its bone armor into pieces.

The zombie horde fell into a total frenzy. They snarled and lunged at the walls, their claws scraping against the steel with an ear-piercing screech. Su Mei, Scarface, and the others fired frantically, bullets falling like rain into the crowd. The fallen zombies soon piled up into a small hill.

But there were simply too many zombies. One corner of the wall finally buckled under the pressure, giving way with a loud crash and creating a gap. Several Speed Type zombies screeched as they rushed in, lunging toward the nearest construction workers.

"Hold the gap!" Lin Zhou steered the tank over, its tracks crushing the bodies of the Speed Types into meat paste. He opened the hatch, jumped out, and gripped the Fire Axe fused with bone blade fragments, charging toward the zombies at the gap.

The axe blade possessed an armor-piercing effect; every swing split the skulls of several zombies. Dark green ichor splashed all over him, but he didn't care. Su Mei, Scarface, and the others also rushed over, fighting side-by-side with Lin Zhou, forcefully pushing the zombies back from the gap.

The construction workers took the opportunity to block the gap with steel bars and iron sheets. Old Zhou wiped the sweat from his face and shouted, "The gap is blocked! Hold on!"

The battle lasted for a full hour before the zombies outside the base were finally wiped clean. Lin Zhou leaned on his Fire Axe, panting heavily. Looking at the wreckage strewn across the ground, a strong sense of achievement welled up in his heart.

[Ding! Wiped out Tier 1 Zombie x521, Speed Type x34, Elite Type x2. Gained 5000 experience points. Current Level 5 (8040/5000) → Level 7.]

[Free Attribute Points +20, Constitution +10, Strength +10, Spirit +0.]

[Devoured zombie bones and metal fragments. metal points +1000. Current metal points: 4185.5.]

[Tip: Successfully repelled the zombie tide. Base reputation increased. Nearby survivors will actively seek to join you.]

Lin Zhou looked up at the setting sun. The sunlight spilled over the steel walls, reflecting a dazzling light. The Main Base's Radar antenna continued to spin, the mutated crops in the Farm had already sprouted, and the machinery of the Water Purification Station was still running.

He turned to look at Su Mei, then at the survivors behind him, and said in a deep voice, "From today on, this is our home! We will build a steel fortress here in the apocalypse!"

Everyone cheered in unison, their voices echoing through the clouds.

Under the setting sun, the base's silhouette grew clearer. That single spark of steel had finally ignited into a raging flame.