113: Allied forces assemble to invade Australia, but remnants secretly harbor treacherous intentions.

Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen: Allied Forces Assemble to Conquer Australia, Remnants Secretly Plot Treachery

At the East Sea Military Port, flags fluttered in the wind, and warships stood as thick as a forest.

The assembly ceremony for the Global United Expeditionary Force was underway. On the sea, thirty capital ships equipped with modified Dual-Effect Anti-Core Bombs were lined up, the main guns on their bows gleaming with a cold metal luster. In the sky, twelve kirov airships resembled mobile steel fortresses, escorted by circling Falcon Fighter Jet Squadrons and Bear Country's strategic bomber groups. Along the coastline, five hundred apocalypse tanks fitted with Railguns were neatly arrayed, their tracks letting out a heavy rumble as they crushed the ground. Fifty winter war god mechas were half-crouched on the ground, their heavy energy cannons pointed straight at the sky, while their thrusters emitted faint blue flames.

Lin Zhou, dressed in a crisp military uniform, stood on the deck of the flagship dawn, flanked by the commander of the Bear Country's Far East Military District and representatives of the American survivor scientists. He raised his right hand and gave a solemn salute to the assembled troops: "Soldiers! The God Devourer legion on the continent of Australia is the greatest threat to human survival! They are evolving rapidly; once they reach a certain scale, they will devour the entire world! Today, we gather here to travel far to Australia, not for conquest, but for survival! To protect our homes and to honor our fallen comrades, we must be victorious!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!"

The soldiers' shouts were deafening, echoing through the military port like thunder and resonating over the surface of the East Sea. The sound was filled with unyielding will and firm conviction, dispelling the gloom of the apocalypse.

"Set off!"

At Lin Zhou's command, the flagship dawn was the first to set sail, followed closely by thirty capital ships heading into the depths of the Pacific Ocean. The apocalypse tank and mecha units were transported via landing craft, assembling southward along the coastline, preparing to depart from the Indochina Peninsula and bypass Australia through the Malay Archipelago. The kirov airships and fighter squadrons provided aerial escort, while skynet satellites monitored the entire process, providing precise intelligence support for the expeditionary force.

The Global United Expeditionary Force officially embarked on its journey to Australia.

Meanwhile, in the underground detention cell of the East Sea Barrier Base, Zhu Long leaned against the wall with apparent calm, but his eyes were secretly observing his surroundings. His fingers mindlessly tapped the floor in a seemingly disorganized manner, but he was actually transmitting Morse code—the emergency communication method agreed upon with the remnants of the Skeleton Serpent.

Long before cultivating the God Devourers, Zhu Long had prepared a backup plan. In the core area of the undersea base, he had hidden a "Shadow Blade Squad" composed of Genetic-enhanced Soldiers and established a secret stronghold beneath the Australian continent. These remnant forces had been waiting for Zhu Long's instructions through a special communication channel.

"The God Devourer legion's evolution is accelerating; keep the main expeditionary force occupied. Shadow Blade Squad, execute 'Project Core-Breaker': infiltrate the East Sea Barrier Base, seize the God Devourer larva specimens and the formula for the modified Dual-Effect Anti-Core Bomb, and destroy the Research Center."

Zhu Long's fingertips tapped rapidly. After transmitting the instructions, he slowly closed his eyes, a sinister smile curling at the corners of his mouth. He knew very well that with the expeditionary force heading to Australia, the defenses of the East Sea Barrier Base would inevitably be thin, making it the perfect time for the Shadow Blade Squad to act. As long as they could destroy the Research Center and seize the core technology and specimens, he could re-cultivate even more powerful God Devourers or even control the existing God Devourer legion to complete his world-ending plan.

What he didn't know was that all of this was being captured clearly by the red alert system's miniature monitors.

Before departing, Lin Zhou had anticipated that Zhu Long would not be well-behaved and had specifically strengthened the surveillance on him, deploying not only energy monitors but also sound and motion capture systems. Zhu Long's Morse code transmissions and the instructions hidden within the tapping sounds were transmitted in real-time to Chen Hao, who remained at the base.

"Staff Officer Chen, Zhu Long indeed has a backup plan!" The Intelligence Staff Officer looked at the decoded instructions on the screen with a grave expression. "He ordered the Skeleton Serpent's Shadow Blade Squad to infiltrate the base, seize core technology and specimens, and destroy the Research Center!"

Chen Hao's eyes instantly became sharp. "Immediately initiate the base's highest-level defense plan! Strengthen the guards at the Research Center and the detention cell, and activate the Magnetic Storm Power Grids and Automated Defense Robots! Also, notify the reconnaissance team lurking in the Indochina Peninsula to closely monitor the movements of the Shadow Blade Squad and report immediately if they are spotted!"

"Yes!" The Intelligence Staff Officer immediately executed the order.

Inside the East Sea Barrier Base, alarms blared once again as the guard units quickly sprang into action. Around the Research Center, the Magnetic Storm Power Grids were instantly activated, blue electric arcs jumping and flashing to form an indestructible barrier. Automated Defense Robots emerged from underground tunnels, patrolling the base with Magnetic Storm Rifles in hand. The guard force at the detention cell was tripled, and Genetic-enhanced Soldiers stood ready, prepared to handle any sudden situations.

A silent contest quietly unfolded within the East Sea Barrier Base.

On the fleet heading to Australia, Lin Zhou received the news from Chen Hao. Looking at the surveillance footage of Zhu Long on the screen, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Zhu Long, you think these little tricks can turn the tide? How naive."

He issued an order into the communicator: "Chen Hao, hold the base and pin down the Shadow Blade Squad! I will deal with the God Devourer legion in Australia as quickly as possible and return in triumph! When that time comes, we will settle this score properly!"

"Don't worry, commander! The East Sea Barrier Base is as solid as a rock! If the Shadow Blade Squad dares to come, we'll make sure they never return!" Chen Hao's voice came through, filled with firm confidence.

The fleet continued to race toward Australia as the wind and waves picked up on the Pacific Ocean. On the distant Australian continent, the dark purple energy beams were becoming increasingly dense, and the evolution speed of the God Devourer legion far exceeded expectations. Meanwhile, at the East Sea Barrier Base, the Shadow Blade Squad had already quietly infiltrated, and a raid targeting the core of human hope was about to erupt.

The pressure of a two-front war weighed heavily on humanity's shoulders. Could the expeditionary force reach Australia smoothly and annihilate the God Devourer legion? Could the East Sea Barrier Base hold out and thwart the Shadow Blade Squad's conspiracy? Would Zhu Long's final gamble succeed?