In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

"Infancy?"

The lieutenant general frowned. "Advisor Su, some of the monsters outside are now the size of tanks. You call that infancy?"

"That's right, it's a baby."

Su Ran braced herself on the edge of the sand table with both hands, leaning forward aggressively.

"The zombies these days are just scary to look at. Their bone density isn't strong enough to withstand rifle bullets, and their muscle strength isn't great enough to overturn a tank. They can only roar and run on instinct."

Su Ran held up one finger, her voice icy: "One more week, at most one week."

"Those zombies that survive will undergo their first large-scale evolution. Their skin will become keratinized, their hardness will increase significantly, and there may even be 'Zombie Kings' who possess intelligence and command hordes of zombies."

"By then, the lethality of our firearms will be greatly reduced."

The meeting room erupted in chaos, and several staff officers turned deathly pale instantly.

"Professor Chen." Su Ran turned her head.

"Comrade Su Ran is right."

Academician Chen, who had been waiting nearby, adjusted his glasses and immediately pulled up a set of holographic simulation data.

"Based on our scientific research samples, the Omega-9 virus is modifying the host's genes at an exponential rate. In seven days, the biological strength will undergo a qualitative change."

The data is glaringly red.

Ironclad evidence.

Su Ran looked at the group of military leaders again, slammed his fist on the table with a loud thud.

"My advice is simple: attack."

He abruptly raised his head, his eyes blazing with murderous intent: "At daybreak tomorrow, all armored units and heavy firepower from the twelve major bases will be deployed across the board! Of course, the construction of defensive fortifications must not be halted!"

"Whether they're in mountain ravines or in city ruins, if they're moving in groups, smash them all!"

"Spare no expense! Regardless of cost!"

Su Ran took a deep breath, her tone becoming incredibly heavy, "We're racing against the speed at which monsters evolve. If we don't nip them in the bud while they're still babies, what will happen when they grow up..."

"We're the ones who will die."

The entire conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned by Su Ran's "baby theory".

The strategic shift from a defensive counter-offensive to a full-scale offensive was too great, so great that these veteran generals, who were used to planning carefully before acting, found it difficult to digest.

"Isn't this... a bit too radical?"

The high-ranking logistics officer wiped the sweat from his brow. "With this kind of saturation attack, our ammunition depots can't sustain a protracted war..."

"We can make more ammunition if we run out!"

The leader, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

He put down his teacup, the porcelain bottom tapping softly on the wooden table.

The old man slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping across the sand table before finally settling on Su Ran's young yet resolute face.

"Xiao Su is right."

The leader's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable iron will.

"Born in hardship, die in comfort. We cannot forget that this is the end times just because we have won a battle."

"Strike while the iron is hot and kill him! This is a military strategy passed down from our ancestors."

The commander suddenly waved his hand, as if wielding a sword that cut through hesitation.

"I approve!"

"Order the entire army to initiate Operation Level One at dawn tomorrow—'Great Cleanup'!"

"With the twelve major bases as the center, advance outwards without any blind spots! Armored formations clear the way, artillery bombard the ground! Accelerate the construction of outer airports! All able-bodied men of eligible age within the safe zone who dare to take up arms will be incorporated into the reserves and follow the main force to clean up the battlefield!"

"Tell the soldiers, don't hold back on ammo these next few days. Empty the stockpile! Smash those monsters' heads!"

The commander's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his aura in that instant seemed capable of crushing the entire Kunlun Mountain.

"Did you understand?!"

"yes!!!"

Inside the meeting room, all the generals stood up in unison, saluting in unison, their shouts deafening.

The pent-up spirit of the Great Xia army, which had been suppressed for so long, was completely ignited at this moment.

Fear of insufficient firepower?

Healed!

Seeing this scene, Su Ran's tense shoulders finally relaxed a little, and a cold smile appeared on her lips.

The state apparatus has been warmed up.

Next comes the one-sided meat grinder moment.

The smell of gunpowder seemed to be stronger in the war room.

Once the order to "press on all fronts" is issued, it means that the strategic reserves originally intended as a last resort will be poured out like water in the next few days.

But none of the generals present felt sorry for him.

When poor, use tactical infiltration; when rich, use firepower coverage.

Problems that can be solved with artillery shells should never be solved by sacrificing soldiers' lives; this is a creed ingrained in the bones of the soldiers of the Great Xia Dynasty.

"We have armored formations to fight tough battles, but I have an even more important question."

Su Ran did not sit down. His shadow was stretched extremely long by the light from the projector, like a sharp knife, looming over everyone's hearts.

"Who will handle the tasks of cleaning up the battlefield, eliminating any remaining enemies, and retrieving strategic materials from high-risk areas?"

General Zhang Xiao frowned, then subconsciously replied, "Of course it's the subsequent infantry regiments and reserves. What's the problem?"

"There's a problem, and a big problem."

Su Ran turned around and tapped her fingers lightly on the table, making a crisp "tap-tap" sound.

"The infantry regiment consists of ordinary, fully armed civilians who can hold their own against first-tier zombies. But what about later? What if they encounter higher-tier mutated beasts?"

"Are we going to use human lives to fill the gaps?"

Su Ran's voice suddenly turned cold, and his gaze swept over every general present.

"Friends, times have changed. Future wars will be wars of the extraordinary."

He took a deep breath and dropped a bombshell he had already planned:

"I propose the establishment of the 'Great Xia Awakened Headquarters,' which would be directly managed by the state."

"First, recall all potential awakened ones. In the apocalypse, uncontrolled power is the source of unrest."

"Secondly, all potential candidates are to be incorporated into the combat formation. In tomorrow's 'clean-up' operation, they must advance with the first echelon. They don't need to engage in hand-to-hand combat, but they must stand at the forefront of the artillery fire and experience the apocalypse!"

These words caused a stir in the meeting room.

"Advisor Su, I have no objection to reorganizing those awakened warriors."

An elderly general with gray hair pushed up his glasses and couldn't help but speak up: "But... those four hundred and ninety 'seeds' haven't awakened yet. Many of them are still clerical staff, or even students who haven't graduated yet."

The old general's tone was somewhat anxious: "According to Academician Chen's theory, the air after the red rain is already filled with Omega-9. Given enough time, they all have a very high probability of awakening in the future. If anything goes wrong, it will be a loss for the country!"

"Yeah, that's way too radical."

"They are all exceptional talents, one in a million. It would be such a pity if they were lost."

A chorus of agreement rose and fell.

In traditional thinking, since it is a "seed", it should be protected in a greenhouse until it sprouts and grows before being transplanted.

The leader remained silent, weighing his options.

They had to weigh the safety of these people against the possibility of an "extraordinary legion."

Despite the opposition around her, Su Ran did not choose to compromise.

"Take care of?"

Su Ran shook her head, her voice suddenly rising: "Gentlemen, what do you think awakening is? Is it a dinner party? Is it a step-by-step entrance exam?"

"wrong!"

"Awakening is a breakthrough at the genetic level! Only when they are thrown into a pile of corpses, watching their comrades being torn apart, at the moment when their adrenaline surges to its limit... will true awakening be born."

The crowd whispered amongst themselves, their eyes darting around.

Su Ran didn't give them any time to process what was happening; her voice was icy cold.

"The Omega-9 virus is essentially a selection mechanism. The weak die, the strong live. This is the way of nature, and no one can change it."

He surveyed his surroundings, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Send out these five hundred men. Even if only fifty survive, if those fifty become true powerhouses, their value will far surpass that group of potential stars!"

A deathly silence.

This is called "raising Gu".

Does it sound cruel, bloody, and inhumane?

Sorry, in the apocalypse, this is the correct version.

Su Ran pressed his advantage, dropping a bombshell: "After the Awakener Headquarters is established, a points system will be implemented. Points will be exchanged for crystal cores, and crystal cores will be the only currency."

Want better weapons? Exchange them with points.

Want an exoskeleton armor? Exchange it for points.

"You even want your family to live in the premium tier of the dungeon? You'll have to trade all your battle merits and points for that!"

"We don't care about seniority or rank; we only care about how many zombies you can kill and how much supplies you can bring back."

"Even if you're a criminal, as long as you can kill the Corpse King, you're the boss here."

As soon as these rules were announced, everyone's breathing became heavy.

This isn't a rule; it's igniting the most primal wildness and desires in the human heart!

Li Guodong swallowed hard, looking at the excessively young consultant beside him, and felt a chill run down his spine.

This kid...

He was born to be a warlord in troubled times.

The leader gently put down the teacup in his hand.

"Hesitation leads to trouble."

The old man's voice broke the silence, delivering the final blow.

"Do as Xiao Su says."

The leader slowly stood up and made the final decision: "Establish the 'Awakener Headquarters' immediately, with Su Ran as the chief instructor, possessing all personnel appointment and dismissal powers as well as the power of life and death."

"Tell those kids, if you want to live like a human being, go and work for it yourself!"

……

One hour later.

Kunlun Base, Virtual Conference Hall.

The twelve light screens lit up again, and all five hundred seeded players from various locations went online.

Su Ran changed into a jet-black special operations uniform, without any military rank, yet exuded a chilling aura that seemed to freeze the air.

"Did you enjoy the video just now?"

Su Ran's voice echoed throughout every underground city via holographic projection.

On the screen is a montage of today's Dawn Operation.

The roar of cannons filled the air, zombies were reduced to dust, and there were also scenes of warriors fighting against mutated beasts.

The scenes are bloody, violent, and even nauseating.

"Are you scared?" Su Ran asked coldly.

In the light screen, some people bowed their heads, some trembled, but most people had a flame called "ambition" burning in their eyes.

"I have good news for you."

Su Ran slowly walked towards the camera; her face appeared exceptionally deep under the holographic lighting.

"Just now, the commander approved the establishment of the 'Awakened Headquarters.' I will serve as the chief instructor! Congratulations everyone, you have officially transitioned from civilians to military personnel. Awakened individuals will become full members, while potential candidates will be assigned to the reserves."

He opened his palm, and a crystal-clear nucleus spun under the light.

"This is the key to superpowers. Mastering it will grant you supernatural abilities that defy common sense."

Su Ran's voice suddenly rose, carrying a strong inflammatory tone: "Do you want it? Do you want to control that power that can burn mountains and boil seas?"

"think!"

At the Kunlun base, Wang Meng, that simpleton, was the first to shout, his voice as loud as thunder.

Immediately afterwards, the roars of the twelve bases rose and fell, converging into an astonishing wave.

fear?

Fear is nothing compared to the temptation of absolute power!

"Very well. Then let's do it my way."

Su Ran smiled coldly and drew a striking staircase diagram on the big screen.

"The Awakened Headquarters operates on a tiered points system. Crystal cores are directly linked to points. Want better combat mechs, stronger weapons, and crystal cores with the most compatible attributes? Then go kill zombies and exchange them for points!"

"The first advance team will depart early tomorrow morning. Your mission is to clear out the shadowy areas that are not covered by heavy firepower."

Su Ran's gaze swept over several awakened seeds, including Ye Xiao and Bai Lu.

"Don't think you can just lie low after you've awakened. At headquarters, there are no official positions, only the strong and the dead."

"Every week, the bottom 5% of those ranked by points will be forcibly disqualified and relegated to the ranks of ordinary citizens. But those who have distinguished themselves in battle will have the nation spare no resources to use crystal cores to elevate them to godhood among humanity!"

These words sent chills down the spines of the previously proud "geniuses".

This is going to drive them to their doom!

However, this blatant class division only ignited the wolfish nature of this group.

In peacetime, upward mobility may have been blocked.

But in the apocalypse, if you're ruthless enough, you might become the one who sets the rules!

"Meeting adjourned! Prepare for tomorrow's operation."

The light curtain suddenly went out.

Su Ran let out a long sigh and slumped into her chair, feeling that her mental energy was somewhat overdrawn.

Setting up this headquarters was something he had dreamed of in his previous life.

Unfortunately, in that lifetime, humanity was filled with ulterior motives, and by the time they realized they needed to work together, it was already too late.

"Instructor Su, your 'raising poison' tactic is truly ingenious."

A clear, cool voice with a hint of magnetism rang out.

Su Ran turned his head and saw Bai Lu leaning against the door, quietly watching him.

Wearing a black bodysuit, her long legs crossed, she looked both cool and alluring.

"This isn't raising poisonous insects; this is forging a sword."

Su Ran said calmly, her eyes serene, "How are you feeling the pressure?"

"pressure?"

Bai Lu's lips curled up, revealing an extremely confident smile.

The air around her distorted slightly, rippling like water, clearly a sign that her spiritual power was about to materialize.

"I'm just thinking about how many crystal cores I need to bring back from tomorrow's first battle to solidify my position as the 'Headquarters Big Sister'."

Su Ran chuckled: "You're not the 'big sister,' you're my soldier."

"Oh, that's not necessarily true."

Bai Lu walked up to Su Ran, stood on tiptoe, and whispered in his ear, "What if one day I become stronger than you, Advisor Su..."

"I'll lock you in my fantasy world and make you tell me apocalyptic stories every day."

Su Ran's heart skipped a beat.

Good guy.

Bai Lu, you seem to have always been better than me, right?

The feeling of being flirted with by the "Empress" from a past life is indeed a bit subtle.

But this slight flutter was quickly suppressed by reason.

Su Ran walked past them and pushed open the door to go out.

"We'll talk about it when you're really that strong."