I started with a portal, then turned around and handed it over to the nation.

The old man walked up to Zhao Zhenguo and reached out to straighten his slightly crooked collar.

"Zhenguo."

"These first children to go in are the seeds of our nation's progress."

"You'd better keep an eye on things for me."

Zhao Zhenguo's eyes welled up with tears. He suddenly gave a military salute, the sound of his heels clicking echoing in the conference room.

"Yes, sir! Mission accomplished!"

The meeting room door was pushed open, and a cold draft rushed into the corridor.

The old man left, his footsteps fading at the end of the stairs.

Zhao Zhenguo stood there, clutching the military cap in his hand. He didn't cheer, nor did he breathe a sigh of relief; instead, he felt the burden on his shoulders grow even heavier.

"Smack."

The lighter flame shot up.

Wu Qian's hand trembled slightly before he lit the cigarette. He took a deep drag and coughed violently from the choking.

"It's approved..." Wu Qian muttered to himself in a hoarse voice.

"Stop talking nonsense."

Zhao Zhenguo pulled the hat down over his head, and the weariness in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a fierce look.

He turned to Sun Dehai: "Old Sun, where's your list?"

Sun Dehai was trembling as he pulled a crumpled notebook from his pocket, flipping through it and muttering to himself:

"I want that mass spectrometer... and Professor Li, who specializes in soil science. He's been farming all his life, he'll definitely be able to do it..."

"Give me."

Zhao Zhenguo snatched the notebook and shoved it directly into the hands of the guard behind him.

"Arrest people according to this list. Whether they're in the lab or in bed, I need people and equipment assembled at the airport within two hours."

"Yes, sir!" The guard saluted, turned, and ran out.

Zhao Zhenguo strode out, his leather shoes making a crisp, jarring sound as they stepped on the marble floor.

"Wu Qian, go to the military region."

"Sir, it's four in the morning..."

"I don't care what time it is!"

Zhao Zhenguo turned around abruptly, his eyes bloodshot.

"Tell Lao Zhang and Lao Li to hand over all their hidden gems. Mechanical repair, field fortifications, demolition, sniping... I want all the top-notch experts."

He paused, his voice lowering, carrying a chill:

"Also, prepare a confidentiality agreement and a will."

"Tell those soldiers that they might not come back this time. Those who don't want to go won't be forced. Those who do want to go should make their final arrangements first."

"It must be voluntary."

……

A month later.

Inside the Northwest Great Wall base, a 20-meter-high steel structure tower has been completed.

The top of the tower is equipped with a huge industrial winch, with several wrist-thick steel cables hanging in the air, rustling in the wind.

"Check the hydraulic lines!"

"Battery pack self-test complete! 100% remaining power!"

"Drone swarm ready!"

The roars and the hum of machinery mingled together.

Lin Mo stood under the tower. For the past month, Long Fei had subjected him to almost brutal training.

He only slept six hours a day, spending the rest of his time rolling around in the mud, running with weights, or shooting at virtual goblins in the simulator until his fingers cramped.

Long Fei walked up to Lin Mo and instructed him:

"Remember what I taught you. No matter what happens, find cover first, then fire."

Lin Mo nodded and took a deep breath of the cold, circulating air.

He looked around.

Forty-eight fully armed special forces soldiers stood silently in three square formations.

Snow wolf, fierce tiger, eagle.

Everyone was wearing full-face tactical helmets, obscuring their faces; only the cold light reflected from their goggles was visible.

The scene was deathly silent. There was no mobilization meeting or rousing speech; only the faint clicking sound of equipment colliding.

"Time's up."

Zhao Zhenguo's voice came over the radio, calm and undisturbed.

"All personnel, prepare for contact."

Om-!

That tooth-grinding low-frequency vibration reappeared.

The air in the center of the training field began to distort, a black dot appeared, and quickly spread outwards in irregular ripples.

A pitch-black entrance took shape amidst the twisting.

A gust of wind carrying the scent of rotting leaves and damp earth blew out, dispelling the smell of engine oil from the base.

"action!"

Long Fei let out a loud shout.

"Woof! Woof!"

Four mechanical dogs painted with matte camouflage were the first to rush out. Their special alloy limbs had extremely strong grip and they quickly burrowed into the black hole.

Next up is the Snow Wolf Squad.

Sixteen assault men, armed with short-barreled assault rifles, charged in one after another without hesitation.

Lin Mo's heart pounded as he stared intently at the black hole.

A crackling sound came through the headset, followed by the Snow Wolf Captain's voice:

"Safe! Fan-shaped defense established! Small biological reaction detected at nine o'clock, not goblins! Zero risk!"

"Tiger, charge!"

The second group rushed in.

The team carried huge backpacks containing foldable signal base stations and drone pods.

Lin Mo saw the technician named Wang Hao, who was moving with unusual agility, carrying dozens of kilograms of equipment, and stepping into the teleportation portal.

A few seconds later.

"Base station deployed! Drone launched! Airspace safe! Ground thermal imaging scan complete, safe!"

"Stretch the cables!"

Two burly engineers, carrying the other end of a steel cable, roared as they rushed into the portal.

Through the shimmering light barrier, Lin Mo could vaguely see the scene on the other side.

It was a huge ancient tree. Two sappers quickly secured steel cables to the trunk with pneumatic nail guns, the gunshots making muffled "bang bang" sounds.

"Tense!"

On this tower, the huge winch began to roar.

The steel cable taut instantly, connecting the two worlds.

"put!"

One by one, huge metal boxes hanging on steel cables slid down the pulleys with a "whoosh".

Inside were compressed rations, medicine, ammunition, and a disassembled and packaged exoskeleton.

What used to take half an hour to move can now be delivered in seconds, with several large boxes being transported.

"Azure Eagle, escort the core!"

Long Fei grabbed Lin Mo's shoulder with astonishing strength.

"Walk!"

Lin Mo felt himself being pushed by a tremendous force, his legs moving mechanically.

With one step, the world spins, and the sensation underfoot changes.

The roar of the winch was no longer in my ears, but the chirping of unknown insects and the low growls of wild beasts in the distance.

"Supplies received! Steel cables retrieved!"

At a command, the person on the other side unlocked the latch.

The steel cable was quickly pulled back into the real world.

The light screen flickered a few times and began to shrink.

Lin Mo turned around and glanced back.

Through the door that was about to close, he saw Zhao Zhenguo and Ye Qing standing under the tower.

The old general stood ramrod straight, raised his hand, and gave a standard military salute.

Ye Qing and the others also saluted.

hum.

The light curtain disappeared.

The door to the real world has been completely closed.

Lin Mo stood in the dark forest, surrounded by fifty fully armed soldiers and mountains of supply crates.

Long Fei's voice broke the silence. He held his gun, warily scanning the surrounding shadows.

"Everyone is wearing exoskeletons!"

"Tiger Team, inventory supplies! Snow Wolf Team, advance to scout! Eagle Team, protect Lin Mo!"