80: Expeditions to the islands build fortifications, the maritime defense line locks the Eastern Sea.

Chapter 83: Expeditions to the Isles to Build Barriers, Maritime Frontiers Locking the Eastern Sea

The mushroom cloud in the distant sea had not yet dispersed, and the smoke along the coastline was still curling upward. Standing on the wall of Shuguang New City, Lin Zhou’s gaze crossed the turbulent waters, looking toward the even more distant east.

Although the self-destruction of the mobile platform had resolved the immediate crisis, it also made him realize a fatal problem—the barrier of the East Sea was too thin. The fact that the Serpent Skeleton Research Institute could silently establish a base in the far sea meant the enemy could launch a surprise attack from the ocean at any time. If they didn't hold the strategic chokepoints, Dawn City and even the entire inland would remain forever exposed to threats.

“The First Island Chain.” Lin Zhou lightly traced a line in the air with his fingertip, his voice low but carrying an unquestionable determination. “We must establish an indestructible maritime defense line there.”

Hearing this, Chen Hao and Wang Hu, who were beside him, were both stunned.

“Division Commander, the waters of the First Island Chain are complex, with islands scattered like stars. Moreover, a large number of marine Mutants must have occupied them after the apocalypse. Building a base there would be incredibly difficult!” Chen Hao’s brow furrowed, his tone filled with worry.

Wang Hu also nodded. “Yeah, our naval strength is still weak. Patrol vessels can only operate near the shore at most. We might be out of our depth for deep-sea operations.”

Lin Zhou turned to look at the two of them, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. “The more difficult it is, the more we must do it. Now that the main force of the Skeleton Serpent has been destroyed, it is the perfect time for us to expand our maritime defenses. Furthermore, there is a high probability that pre-apocalypse military facilities are still hidden on the islands of the First Island Chain. As long as we can reclaim and repair them, they will become our natural fortresses.”

He raised his hand to summon a signalman and said in a deep voice, “Pass on my orders!”

“First, form the East Sea Expeditionary Fleet, expanded from the naval detachment. It will be equipped with ten modified frigates and five landing ships, carrying phantom tanks and magnetic storm infantry armor. We depart in three days!”

“Second, the Research Team is to immediately develop marine sonic weapons and deep-sea detection radar, focusing on underwater Mutants. They must be calibrated and completed before the fleet departs!”

“Third, the Eastern Army Group will detach an armored regiment to serve as the main force for the landing operations, coordinating with the fleet to clear the Mutants on the islands and establish defense bases!”

Military orders were as absolute as mountains, and the entire Dawn City once again entered a state of high-speed operation.

In the shipyard’s docks, sparks flew as workers worked day and night to equip the frigates with heavy artillery and anti-aircraft missiles. The cabins were converted into temporary quarters for the armored units. In the laboratories of the Scientific Research Zone, engineers raced against time around blueprints, adjusting the frequency of the sonic weapons to a band suitable for underwater propagation. The antennas for the deep-sea detection radar were also finalized, capable of capturing underwater movements over a thousand meters deep.

Three days later, on the shores of the East Sea, banners fluttered in the wind.

Ten frigates were lined up on both sides with their cannons raised high. Five landing ships sat in the center with phantom tanks parked on their decks. Soldiers wearing magnetic storm infantry armor stood in neat ranks, their gazes resolute. Standing on the bridge of the flagship, Lin Zhou looked at the steel torrent before him and shouted in a deep voice, “Depart!”

The sirens wailed as the fleet slowly left the port, breaking through the waves toward the First Island Chain.

The wind and waves in the deep sea were far more turbulent than near the shore. On the second day of the voyage, the fleet encountered its first group of 'enemies'—a pack of Sawtooth Mad Sharks several meters long. These marine Mutants were attracted by the sound of the fleet's engines and frantically rammed the hulls, their sharp teeth even leaving scratches on the steel plates.

“Activate the marine sonic weapons!” the fleet commander ordered.

Dozens of silver-white sonic emitters extended from the sides of the frigates. With a low hum, special-frequency sound waves instantly spread out. The mad sharks in the sea writhed frantically as if struck by lightning, and soon floated to the surface on their bellies, lifeless.

“Beautiful!” the soldiers on the bridge erupted into cheers.

Lin Zhou watched the calmed sea but did not dare to relax in the slightest. He knew this was just an appetizer; the real challenge lay on the islands ahead.

Five days later, the fleet arrived at the core island of the First Island Chain—Canglang Island.

This island wasn't large, but its terrain was strategic. A pre-apocalypse air defense radar station stood on the island, and there was a sturdy fortress at the mountaintop. However, at this moment, the island's coastline was occupied by a dense mass of marine Mutants. Some had octopus-like tentacles, while others were hybrids of crocodiles and sharks, staring greedily at the approaching fleet.

“Begin the landing operation!”

The hatches of the landing ships slowly opened, and amphibious armored vehicles roared into the sea, speeding toward the beach. The phantom tanks activated their stealth mode, following behind the armored vehicles and silently approaching the shore.

“Fire!”

The frigates' main guns were the first to strike, shells falling like rain into the Mutant swarms, sending water and flesh flying into the air. The machine guns on the amphibious armored vehicles fired frantically, and soldiers in magnetic storm infantry armor leaped down. Blue electrical currents surged through the seawater, charring swaths of Mutants.

The battle on the beach was exceptionally brutal. The Mutants were fearless, throwing themselves at the landing forces one after another. But in the face of modern firepower, these former overlords of the sea were now defenseless.

Three hours later, the Mutants on the beach were completely cleared.

The landing forces quickly advanced deep into the island. Hidden in the mountaintop fortress was a group of even more dangerous creatures—Pterosaur Lizards. These Mutants had the bodies of lizards and the wings of bats, and they could spit acid from the air, posing a great threat to the ground troops.

“Falcon Fighter Jet Squadron, take flight!”

The fighter jets that had been waiting above the fleet roared in, their missiles accurately hitting the entrance of the fortress, blowing the Pterosaur Lizards' nest to pieces. The remaining lizards tried to flee but were shot down one by one by the jets' autocannons.

By sunset, the battle for Canglang Island finally ended.

Soldiers cheered as they rushed to the mountaintop. When the rust-covered air defense radar station reappeared in their sight, everyone was moved to tears. Standing at the top of the radar station, Lin Zhou looked down at the island beneath his feet and the vast sea in the distance, then gave a deep-voiced command: “Immediately repair the radar station and the fortress, and deploy anti-aircraft missiles and magnetic storm coils! Additionally, dispatch a Reconnaissance Squad to explore the surrounding islands and establish outposts!”

Over the next half month, the expeditionary fleet took Canglang Island as its center and successively reclaimed five surrounding islands. Defense bases rose one after another, with radars rotating and naval guns standing tall. The blue arcs of the magnetic storm coils glinted coldly in the sunlight.

When the military flag of the first base was planted on the summit of Canglang Island, Lin Zhou stood on the bridge and looked at the continuous maritime defense line, finally letting a smile touch his lips.

This steel barrier spanning the East Sea would not only defend against threats from the far sea but would also serve as a springboard for Dawn City's outward expansion.

What he didn't know was that deep in the Pacific Ocean, in a hidden undersea base, a man in a white lab coat was watching the footage of Canglang Island on a screen, a sinister glint in his eyes.

“Lin Zhou... do you really think the Serpent Skeleton Research Institute only had that one mobile platform?”

The man sneered and pressed a button on the console.

Deep beneath the sea, colossal creatures with sizes far exceeding Level Six Mutants slowly opened their crimson eyes.