2: Red Alert System

The chaotic darkness deep within Jiang Xin's consciousness was suddenly illuminated.

A humanoid mechanical creation made entirely of streamlined silver alloy floated quietly within his mental world. It stood about 1.7 meters tall, with a resolute and simple silhouette. Deep blue energy halos flowed through its joints, and at the center of its chest plate was a slowly rotating red diamond-shaped crystal, exuding a cold and powerful aura. This was a mecha intelligence that fused future technology with the aesthetics of war.

【Greetings, Commander!】 A clear, stable, and emotionless yet majestic synthesized electronic voice rang directly in his mind. 【I am Unit 1, your red alert system intelligent assistant. You can interact with me through mental commands and issue orders to construct Red Alert units.】

【Given that your current environment is judged to be in an extremely high-risk survival state, and your individual initial combat power assessment level is: Extremely Low, Unit 1 will gift you an elite Red Alert squad for free as a novice gift pack.】

As the cold electronic voice faded, Jiang Xin's consciousness felt as if it were being gently pushed back into reality by a force. He snapped his eyes open, squinting instinctively at the stinging light. The three bone-deep, pitch-black claw marks on his arm that had once driven him to despair were now nothing more than three pale pink scars of new flesh; the numbness and burning sensation were completely gone! An indescribable sense of power and the joy of rebirth instantly filled his entire body!

“Brother Lei! Brother Lei!” Jiang Xin writhed his body excitedly, his voice trembling slightly with exhilaration. “I... I’ve bound it! I’ve bound it! A system! The kind of system written about in novels! I might just be the chosen one!”

Zhang Lei, who was nervously checking Jiang Xin's condition, was startled by the sudden shouting. He was first pleasantly surprised to see the horrific wounds on his friend's arm miraculously healed, and the heart that had been in his throat dropped back down. But then, hearing the word "system" left him instantly dazed. While hurriedly untying the nylon ropes bound to Jiang Xin, he reached out to feel Jiang Xin's forehead, his face written with disbelief. “Jiang... Brother Jiang? Are you okay? Have you burned your brain out? What system? Did that thing scratch you stupid? This isn't a Tomato novel!” He truly couldn't connect such a fantastical concept with the brother who had just escaped death before his eyes.

“It’s real! The red alert system! Like the game! It can build soldiers! Tanks! Bases!” Jiang Xin broke free from the ropes and grabbed Zhang Lei’s shoulders, his eyes burning as hot as charcoal as he explained urgently, “A novice gift pack! It gave me a squad! A real Red Alert squad!”

Seeing the fervor and certainty in Jiang Xin's eyes that was definitely not faked, Zhang Lei's skepticism got stuck in his throat. The healing of his friend's arm was an ironclad fact, which in itself defied common sense. “A... Red Alert squad?” He swallowed hard, his voice dry. “Then... then quickly... summon them and let me see!”

“Okay! I'll do it right now!” Jiang Xin took a deep breath, sank his consciousness into his mind, and decisively clicked the glowing "Novice Gift Pack" icon.

In an instant!

The air in the center of the living room seemed to be violently torn apart by an invisible giant hand! A blinding, pure white light gate with tiny electric arcs dancing at its edges appeared out of thin air, accompanied by a low, continuous hum like a giant engine building power before starting! The space around the light gate produced ripples of distortion visible to the naked eye!

Twelve figures, standing as straight as javelins, were precisely projected as if from another dimension. Carrying the cold scent of metal and the lingering odor of gunpowder, they instantly formed two rows of heart-stoppingly neat ranks in front of the light gate! The white light suddenly contracted and vanished, leaving behind only the faint smell of ozone in the air and twelve pairs of eyes as sharp as hawks.

Leading them was a man over 1.85 meters tall, with a physique as burly as an iron tower. The staff Sergeant rank insignia on his shoulder reflected a cold metallic luster under the light coming through the window. Like a drawn sword, he took a step forward, the heel of his heavy combat boot striking the floor with a crisp "clack" that made the floorboards tremble slightly. His MOLLE tactical vest was covered with various equipment, and his walkie-talkie antenna vibrated slightly. He raised his right hand, clad in a tactical glove, and gave a textbook-precise military salute. The movement was clean and sharp, carrying the tempered character of a soldier, and his voice was as resonant as a bell:

“Reporting to the Commander! Red Alert Squad Staff Sergeant Squad Leader, Zhang Long! Leading the team to report to you! Please instruct!”

His voice was like a physical shockwave, instantly making the entire space solemn. Zhang Lei was so startled by this sudden display and the overwhelming aura of iron and blood that he stumbled back two steps, his back hitting the wall hard. His mouth was wide enough to fit an egg, and his mind was a complete blank!

Jiang Xin was equally deeply shocked, his heart pounding like a drum! These twelve well-equipped, intimidating soldiers were no longer pixelated characters from a game, but living, breathing war machines exuding a lethal aura! He suppressed the excitement that was nearly bursting from his chest and looked intently at every resolute face and every gleaming weapon, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling: “Squad Leader Zhang! Quick! Give me a detailed introduction of the squad's equipment configuration!”

“Yes, Commander!” Zhang Long stepped to the side like a general receiving an inspection. He swung his right arm sharply in a standard tactical gesture!

"Yes!" Zhang Long gestured to the side, and seven Conscripts stepped forward half a pace in sync. The Conscripts wore FAST tactical helmets with titanium alloy plates embedded between Kevlar layers; when their goggles were flipped up, tactical rails were revealed beneath, with laser sights projecting faint red dots. On their LBT6094 tactical vests, three magazine pouches were arranged in a fan shape, each opening pulled tight with elastic cords. "The Conscripts are equipped with QBZ-191 Assault Rifles fitted with Picatinny rails. The muzzle brakes are trident-shaped, and the bayonet lugs can mount serrated combat blades. Level 3 body armor can withstand 7.62mm rifle rounds; two RGD-5 High-Explosive Grenades use impact fuzes with a kill radius of five meters."

As the Heavy Infantry Chen Hao stepped forward, his titanium alloy exoskeleton light armor made the "hissing" sound of a hydraulic system. On his back, he carried a DZJ-08 80mm Rocket Launcher. It used a Davis recoilless gun structure with a plastic counterweight ejected backwards to reduce recoil, launch shockwaves, and flames, making it suitable for urban combat from within buildings, trenches, or vehicles. It was equipped with a DRU-181 fire control system and two DNS-181 airburst munitions, which could destroy targets behind cover by detonating at the optimal position via programmable fuzes. Performance: with anti-fortification munitions, it could penetrate 500mm of concrete. A shoulder-mounted M249 Light Machine Gun was connected to an ammo box, the tactical grip under the barrel was wrapped in non-slip tape, and the Red Alert emblem was engraved on the buttstock. The serrated blade of the short military knife at his waist gleamed with a faint blue light, and the whetstone on the side of the scabbard clicked softly with his movements: "The heavy armor features a kinetic energy buffering system and can carry a 150kg load; the 5.56mm ammunition reserve is 500 rounds."

Sniper Li Ang knelt on one knee, his Barrett M82A1 Sniper Rifle resting on a tripod. A cylindrical silencer was screwed onto the front of the 12.7mm barrel, and the crosshairs of the PSO-1 scope were locked onto a crack in the ceiling. The ballistic computer screen at the buttstock glowed green: "My Barrett Sniper rifle is equipped with 36 armor-piercing rounds and has an effective range of 1800 meters; the tactical backpack has a built-in laser rangefinder."

Two Riot Troopers fanned out. They wore black light polymer protective armor, and the AR500 armored steel surface of their transparent riot shields reflected distorted light and shadows. LED tactical lights on the edge of the shields flashed red and blue alternately, and the handles on the back of the shields were wrapped in shock-absorbing sponge. The Desert Eagle pistols at their waists were .50 AE caliber with non-slip diamond patterns engraved on the frames. The long-handled military knives in their thigh holsters were crescent-shaped, with tactical lights embedded in the pommels: "The riot shields can withstand close-range shots from 12-gauge shotguns; the concussion grenades use pneumatic fuzes, producing 180 decibels of noise and intense light upon detonation."

Zhang Long unclipped the quick-release buckles of his tactical vest, revealing a tactical panel inside: "I am equipped with an MP5K Submachine Gun with a suppressed barrel. The 1911 Pistol has a 40-round reserve; the military knife is made of high-carbon steel and can double as a crowbar; four M67 Grenades use a fragmentation design." He raised his hand to signal the formation, and all soldiers snapped to attention and saluted in unison. "All weapons, ammunition, and the three individual field rations carried will be automatically replenished at exactly 0:00 every day."

Jiang Xin gazed at the elite soldiers before him, his heart surging with emotion. At this moment, he was no longer an ordinary high school graduate. With the system in his possession, he was destined to reach the pinnacle of this world.

Jiang Xin called up the red alert system once more and inquired, "Unit 1, give me a detailed introduction of your other abilities and status."

The system's voice immediately resonated deep within his consciousness: "Reporting, Commander."

Core Functions of the red alert system: Resource Conversion and Troop Production. The red alert system can provide construction for all Red Alert units; all of this only requires payment of the corresponding funds."

Resource Conversion: Mineral resources can be used to exchange for system funds. Current exchange rate: 1g Gold = 1 Fund; 10g Silver = 1 Fund; 1g Diamond = 10 Funds. Other rare minerals and metals can be scanned to provide specific exchange rates."

Troop Production: Based on cutting-edge biological cloning technology and space-time soul anchoring technology. The system will filter the souls of deceased individuals who meet the criteria and inject them into biological clones, forming a soldier with self-awareness and complete military skills. Once production is complete, the soldiers will execute all your orders unconditionally."

Commander, your currently held funds are: 0."

List of units producible at current clearance:"

Conscript (Private First Class): Basic infantry unit, equipped with a standard assault rifle, 100 funds per person."

Heavy Infantry (Sergeant): Fire support unit, equipped with a machine gun, individual rocket launcher, and exoskeleton armor, 500 funds per person."

Sniper (Sergeant): Long-range precision strike unit, equipped with a high-precision Barrett Sniper rifle, 500 funds per person."

Riot Trooper (Corporal): Melee and defense unit, equipped with a riot shield, long-handled war blade, pistol, and throwing flashbangs, 300 funds per person."

Military Dog: Biochemical reconnaissance/attack dog, keen sense of smell, swift movement, equipped with light armor. 200 funds per dog."

Note: Red Alert units can be promoted. Killing 30 zombies grants 1 star, 100 zombies grants 2 stars, and 180 zombies grants 3 stars. Each promotion refreshes the magazine and enhances the soldier's physical fitness and various military capabilities by 50%."

Given the Commander's current harsh survival environment and the assessment of weak individual strength, Unit 1 is gifting you a second lieutenant Officer's Basic Set (one set). Please check it, Commander."

The space in front of Jiang Xin distorted for a moment, and a black briefcase emitting a faint metallic luster appeared out of thin air, falling heavily onto the ground at his feet with a muffled 'thud'.

Jiang Xin's heart pounded wildly as he suppressed his excitement and squatted down. The case was cold to the touch, its surface made of wear-resistant engineering plastic and an alloy frame. He took a deep breath, his fingers trembling slightly as he pressed the latch. The moment the lid popped open, a scent mixed with gun oil, leather, and new fabric wafted out.

Neatly arranged inside were:

1. Bulletproof Military Uniform: Deep olive green digital camouflage, the fabric thick and tough, cool to the touch, with a lining of dark gray Kevlar fiber bulletproof layer. There were hard black epaulette straps on the shoulders, clearly meant for wearing rank insignia. The collar was crisp, and the chest featured multiple tactical pockets and Velcro areas.

2. second lieutenant Helmet: A streamlined modular helmet, primarily dark gray and covered with a matte coating. The interior featured comfortable cushioning and an adjustable headband. The chin guard was detachable, and the sides had pre-reserved ports for communication headsets and night vision goggles rails.

3. Submachine Gun: It was remarkably a black submachine gun with smooth lines and a futuristic feel—the HK MP7A2. It had a compact body, a foldable stock, and the slender 40-round transparent magazine was already loaded with gleaming 4.6mm bullets. Beside it lay three spare magazines and a silencer.

4. Pistol: A classic Glock 17 Gen5 with a black polymer frame; the metal barrel and slide glinted with a cold light. It came with two standard 17-round magazines. The holster was a quick-draw leg-mounted holster.

5. Combat Knife: A fierce-looking Strider D9 tactical fixed-blade knife. It had a thick spine, a sharp Tanto tip, and a black-coated blade. The handle was wrapped in non-slip G10 material, and the sheath was made of sturdy Kydex, equipped with various mounting straps.

6. second lieutenant Backpack: A medium-capacity MOLLE system tactical backpack in camouflage. Upon opening it, the items inside were organized into categories:

Two vials of Anti-Virus Serum: Contained in silver metal tubes marked with biohazard symbols. The tubes were cold, and inside was a viscous liquid glowing with a faint blue light.

*Three individual combat rations: Vacuum-compressed packaging, printed with unintelligible English, complex nutrition tables, and calorie values. They felt rock-hard to the touch.

* A basic first-aid kit.

* A multi-functional canteen.

* A compass.

* A bundle of paracord... Looking at this set of elite equipment he had only ever seen in movies, Jiang Xin's breathing quickened. He no longer hesitated and immediately began to put it on.

He stripped off his T-shirt, revealing a somewhat toned upper body. He first put on the Bulletproof Military Uniform; the fabric was tough yet slightly elastic, and the bulletproof lining provided a heavy sense of security. He clumsily fastened the tactical belt, attached the quick-draw holster, and slid the heavy Glock 17 inside with a soft 'click'—it felt cold and reliable. Next, he picked up the MP7, checked the safety as he had seen in movies, and carefully slung it across his chest; the feeling of the strap digging into his shoulder was exceptionally real. Finally, he donned the helmet, tightened the chin strap, and his field of vision seemed to become more focused and clear because of the helmet. He picked up the Strider knife, weighed its heavy mass, and slid it into the sheath at his waist. He shouldered the tactical backpack and adjusted the straps. Finally, he solemnly took the silver metal rank insignia representing 'second lieutenant' (also in the case) and attached it to the epaulette strap.

As the final piece of equipment was donned, Jiang Xin's aura underwent a world-shaking transformation. His originally somewhat naive student air was replaced by a resolute and sharp soldierly demeanor. The dark camouflage combat fatigues perfectly outlined his upright physique, and the gaze visible beneath the helmet became sharp and steady. The firearms and knife at his waist emitted a lethal aura that warned others to stay away. Sunlight filtered through the broken window onto his brand-new uniform, reflecting a rugged luster as if draping him in invisible armor. He subconsciously straightened his back, a never-before-felt sense of power and responsibility surging in his chest.

"So... so cool! Brother Jiang!" Zhang Lei, who had been watching all this in wide-eyed amazement, finally couldn't help but exclaim. He had also been shocked by the twelve soldiers who had suddenly appeared and the equipment case that had materialized out of thin air.

Zhang Lei's hand holding the crystal core trembled slightly.

Seeing the brand-new Jiang Xin, he abruptly raised his hand and swallowed the zombie crystal core. After swallowing it, Zhang Lei's body rapidly turned red like glowing charcoal, and after a moment, it turned as pale as an ice sculpture.

Watching Zhang Lei fluctuate between hot and cold, Jiang Xin grew anxious and opened the system to ask, "Unit 1, what's happening to Brother Lei?"

"Zhang Lei is completing an Evolution."

"What?" Jiang Xin exclaimed. Evolution? What did that mean? Superpowers?

After a long while, Zhang Lei's body gradually returned to normal.

Zhang Lei shouted excitedly, "Brother Jiang, I... I feel... I seem different! Look!"

Before his voice could fade, an astonishing scene occurred!

Above Zhang Lei's open left palm, a ball of blazing orange-red flame 'whooshed' up without warning! That flame was no illusion; it was truly leaping and burning, emitting scorching heat waves that cast flickering light on his young face, while dust in the air swirled in the heat currents. Almost at the same time, above his right palm, a clear and transparent water sphere about the size of a fist condensed out of thin air! The water sphere flowed and rotated slowly as if it had a life of its own, its surface smooth as a mirror, reflecting the dancing firelight and emitting a hint of cool, moist air.

Fire in one hand! A water sphere in the other! Two completely opposite elemental powers had actually manifested in Zhang Lei simultaneously!

"Water and Fire... Elemental Superpower?!" Jiang Xin's pupils suddenly constricted, followed by a burst of immense joy. He stepped over to Zhang Lei's side in a single bound and slapped Zhang Lei's shoulder hard with excitement. A fierce fire burned in Jiang Xin's eyes, and his voice trembled slightly with emotion: "Excellent! We two brothers are destined to make a name for ourselves in this apocalypse!"