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

In the sky?

These two words were like a thorn, stuck in the hearts of all the generals.

"Generals, we have reclaimed the land, but have we reclaimed the skies?"

Su Ran walked to the control panel and quickly operated her fingers to bring up the scene of her encounter with the mutated golden eagle.

Its wingspan is nearly six meters, and its feathers are like cast black iron.

It swooped down towards the plane.

Fast! Too fast!

This scene sent chills down everyone's spines.

This is almost indistinguishable from a small-scale suicide bombing.

"Before we solve the problem of air superiority, the Great Wall of Steel that we built was just an open-air lunchbox in their eyes."

Su Ran's voice turned cold and cruel.

These words sent a cold sweat down the foreheads of the "defenders" who had just been quite interested.

They were so focused on the threats on the ground that they ignored the deadly attacks from the sky.

If a huge amount of time and resources were indeed spent building a giant open-air lunchbox.

They even brought the people of Daxia to live on the ground, with unimaginable consequences.

General Wang's face also turned extremely ugly. He opened his mouth, but found himself unable to refute.

He is not a rigid person.

Su Ran said that he did lack consideration in his perspective.

"Sky……"

Wang Jianjun's eyes were gloomy as he pondered to himself.

General Zhang Xiao, a member of the "pro-war faction," did not press his advantage.

He was an expert in land warfare, accustomed to the mindset of planar combat, and subconsciously overlooked the aerial threat posed by the mutated beasts.

Humanity has lost the sky.

What does this mean?

Reconnaissance, transportation, fire support... all the cornerstones of modern warfare will crumble.

Humanity will be completely crushed to the ground and turned into cave-dwelling creatures.

"so,"

Su Ran's voice pulled everyone back from their shock, "What we need to do now is not to use our precious troops to build walls, but to send them to eliminate potential threats!"

Su Ran's eyes hardened. "We must continue the attack! Before the massive zombie horde forms in the sky, eliminate as many ground threats as possible. Use the attack to buy time, use the slaughter to buy space!"

I also suggest that the existing steel Great Wall be rebuilt underground, creating a more extensive underground transportation network. Our underground bases will be our last line of defense.

His words carried weight and authority.

"But the threat from the sky still exists. How do we deal with those mutated beasts from the sky?"

Li Guodong asked the question that was on everyone's mind in a hoarse voice.

"Luan bird".

Su Ran uttered two words, then looked at the commander with burning eyes: "And, the person who can truly make 'Luan Niao' take flight, Lu Yuan. The space carrier 'Luan Niao' must be prioritized immediately."

A commotion broke out in the conference room.

The argument just now clearly ignored the threat from the sky.

The generals pondered the matter, each seeking a strategy from their own perspective to ensure the continuation of the Great Xia Dynasty.

General Wang Jianjun, a staunch defender, couldn't help but say, "Advisor Su, I must also pour some cold water on this. There are over ten million frontline soldiers, and we simply can't distribute heavy weapons to them all. The predicted timeline for the future has already changed."

"We've discovered a Tier 2 mutated beast, and there are likely countless more behind it. Against Tier 2 creatures, infantry are simply committing suicide; the casualties are unbearable for us."

At present, there are more than ten million soldiers on the front line.

Compared to this number, even 500 people might not get a single tank.

Without the suppression of heavy weapons, the lethality of individual soldiers will drop sharply.

"We can shift from a full-scale offensive to a focused offensive, abandoning the original single front and advancing across the board."

Su Ran spoke up, "The second-tier mutant beast's defense is indeed astonishing, but it is still a carbon-based life form, and our firearms are still dominant."

"The reason we find it difficult is not because we can't win, but because the 'cost' has increased. But General Wang, when it comes to the survival of our race, cost is the last thing we need to consider."

"Our greatest advantage right now is this unique, complete modern military industrial system! If one 155mm howitzer shell isn't enough, then use a whole load of artillery shells. If one tank's main gun can't penetrate, then use a tank company firing in unison!"

These words were like a shot of high-concentration adrenaline, piercing the very arteries of every soldier present.

What is confidence?

That's the source of our confidence!

The entire conference room fell into a deathly silence once again.

Su Ran's voice rang out again, "The 'Great Cleanup' plan has never been about simply reclaiming lost territory. Its core strategic objective is to annihilate the new force of mutated beasts at all costs!"

We will use the industrial strength we have accumulated over the decades to secure the most precious window of opportunity for our subsequent advancement in crystal core technology and for the formation of the Awakened Forces!

Otherwise, while we're busy fighting the monsters on the ground, the monsters in the sky will arrive, leaving us caught in a pincer movement!

His words were a wake-up call.

Wang Jianjun opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't utter a single word.

He slumped down, and his gaze toward Su Ran shifted from initial skepticism to deep approval.

"I agree with Comrade Su Ran's judgment."

I agree.

"I second that!"

This time, opinions were more unified than ever before.

The leader had been listening in silence, but at this moment, he slowly began to applaud.

His eyes were full of approval.

"Slap. Slap. Slap."

The applause was solitary yet powerful.

He stood up and his gaze swept over every general and official present.

"Well said."

The commander's voice wasn't loud, but it carried the weight of a stabilizing force: "The sword has been drawn; there's no reason to sheathe it."

"In the dictionary of the Great Xia people, there has never been 'surrender without a fight,' nor 'sit and wait for death'!"

Let's reach a consensus.

The leader walked to the sand table and issued a series of clear and specific instructions.

"The 'Great Cleanup' plan has been upgraded, and tactical adjustments are being made simultaneously! Each war zone is reorganizing its 'heavy firepower clusters'—use artillery to bombard the ground, conduct focused assaults, and prohibit individual advances! Air forces will conduct targeted hunting of any potential Tier 2 or higher targets!"

The ground defense line will move underground, relying on our existing twelve main bases to radiate outwards and construct an underground Great Wall!

Meanwhile, the above-ground defensive fortifications must continue to be built; these will become our counter-offensive bases. We humans cannot live as underground rats forever!

"yes!"

The "pro-war" generals, led by Zhang Xiao, suddenly stood up and roared.

Although General Wang and other members of the "defense faction" had their doubts, they could only stand tall and obey the highest orders.

"besides,"

The commander then changed the subject, saying, "Addressing aerial threats must also be put on the agenda immediately. We cannot win on the ground but lose in the air. The aerospace carrier 'Luan Niao' can only serve as an air combat platform; we also need a future urban defense system."

He looked at Chen Changfeng, the Air Force Commander-in-Chief, who was standing next to him.

"Old Chen, you take the lead, and in conjunction with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Aviation Industry, immediately establish another special research group, codenamed 'Sky Shield'!"

"I want you to spare no expense and use all resources to come up with weapons and solutions that can effectively deal with flying mutated creatures in the shortest possible time!"

Whether it's new anti-aircraft missiles, high-energy laser weapons, or drone swarms, all I care about is the result!

"Mission accomplished!"

The Air Force Commander-in-Chief roared until the veins on his neck bulged.

"at last,"

The commander looked at Su Ran with unprecedented trust and expectation in his eyes, "Regarding the appearance of second-tier creatures, our existing combat units must immediately upgrade their tactics."

"Comrade Su Ran, I grant you the highest authority over the tactical planning of all frontline troops and the training and deployment of all Awakened!"

Su Ran's heart pounded, and a surge of heat rushed to her head.

He straightened up abruptly and gave a perfectly standard military salute.

"Mission accomplished!"

……

End of the meeting.

After a brief period of wavering, the massive state apparatus has resumed its roaring operation with a more resolute stance.

As everyone left the conference room, Li Guodong walked up to Su Ran and patted him hard on the shoulder.

"Comrade Xiao Su, are you under a lot of pressure?"

"big."

Su Ran nodded, making no attempt to hide her feelings.

"Big is the right size."

Li Guodong grinned. "The greater the pressure, the stronger the motivation. Let's go, Chief Advisor."

Less than half an hour after the meeting ended, a series of red orders bearing the highest-level seals flew to the twelve war zones across the country like snowflakes.

The atmosphere in the central command hall of the Kunlun base was even more somber and efficient than before.

"Received from the Jizhou Military Region, order the 'Wolf Fang' Special Operations Brigade to immediately re-equip itself with tungsten-core armor-piercing rounds!"

"Notify the logistics department to release all thermobaric and thermobaric weapons in the war reserve warehouses ahead of schedule and prioritize their distribution to the heavy-armored troops responsible for urban assaults!"

"Order the 'Sky Shield' project team to move into Institute 01 Physics within 24 hours. Academician Wei Jianguo will serve as the chief technical advisor!"

Commands are issued from here and instantly reach every combat unit thousands of kilometers away via the communication network.

……

Day six of the spring cleaning plan, noon.

The rare day of rest allowed Su Ran's almost completely depleted mental energy to return to its peak.

The war against the mutated creatures continues, but the changes in the frontline troops are visible to the naked eye.

The ground forces have been reorganized, with heavy armored groups leading the charge, followed by mechanized infantry. The previous small-team, dispersed advance model has been completely abolished.

Kunlun Base, Central Command Hall.

The atmosphere was tense, and everyone was in a hurry.

Only the sounds of keyboard typing and commands echoed in the vast space.

Su Ran stood in front of the huge holographic sand table, holding a command terminal in her hand.

What he sees now is no longer blurry red and blue dots, but the real-time dynamics of each unit, ammunition reserves, personnel numbers... down to the level of each squad.

A female military officer in charge of data analysis quickly walked up to him, saluted,

"Reporting to Advisor Su! All high-risk coordinates of suspected second-order biological activity detected in the past 24 hours across all war zones have been marked!"

"How many?"

Su Ran asked without turning her head.

"Three hundred and twenty-seven."

Su Ran showed no surprise.

The predicted timeline has changed, but the appearance of second-tier mutant beasts still follows the process of advancement.

It is impossible for countless ones to appear without a reason.

He pointed to the markers on the sand table that were flashing with a blinding red light, his voice as cold as ice.

"Package the coordinates and send them to the Air Force's 'Sharp Sword' squadron. Authorize the use of 'bunker bombs' and 'thermal explosive bombs' for surgical precision strikes."

"yes!"

The female officer snapped to attention, turned, and strode away.

Li Guodong watched Su Ran's series of swift and decisive actions with a complex expression.

There was a time when he had to worry about every "crazy" thing Su Ran did and write tens of thousands of words of reports to his superiors to explain it.

And now, this young man is standing on the command platform, mobilizing thousands of troops.

"You're really starting to look like a general who can strategize and plan."

Li Guodong couldn't help but make a joke.

"There's no other way but to bite the bullet and go for it."

Su Ran gave a self-deprecating laugh, but there was no hint of jest in her eyes. "We are racing against time now. Every step we take slower could cost the lives of hundreds of thousands, or even millions."

"By the way, Lao Li,"

Su Ran spoke up, "Distribute the edited video of Ye Xiao killing the Tier 2 Grizzly Bear, along with the 'Tier 2 Mutant Creature Response Manual Version 1.0' that I just created, to all units at the company level and above, as well as all members of the Awakened Headquarters. All members are required to complete the study within one hour."

"clear."

……

front.

Ye Xiao was leaning against the tracks of a Type 99A tank, wiping his two dark red Tang swords with an oilcloth.

Not far away, a "heavy firepower formation" consisting of twelve tanks and twenty-four infantry fighting vehicles was ruthlessly dismantling a building that had been mutated by a horde of zombies.

"boom!"

A 155mm high-explosive shell accurately hit the horde of corpses, and countless severed limbs spewed out along with thick smoke and flames.

"That was awesome!"

Ye Xiao shouted loudly.

Just then, the tactical terminal on his wrist vibrated.

"Beep beep beep".

A soft beep came from the tactical terminal on my wrist.

He clicked on it and saw a document directly issued by the Great Xia Awakeners Headquarters: "Second-Order Alienated Creature Response Manual Version 1.0".

From: Su Ran.

Ye Xiao raised an eyebrow and clicked on it.

The manual is concise and clear, with only two core points.

The attack and defense capabilities of the first and second-tier mutated creatures have been dramatically enhanced. Non-awakened individuals are strictly prohibited from using melee weapons in combat and must be eliminated with coordinated heavy firepower.

Second, at this stage, awakened individuals should avoid direct conflict when encountering second-tier mutated creatures.

Ye Xiao skimmed through the document, and when he turned to the video footage in the appendix, his lips twitched involuntarily.

The video's cover image shows him holding two swords, covered in blood, confronting a mutated giant bear the size of a small mountain.

The camera angle was tricky, capturing his fearless and crazy spirit to the fullest.

Ye Xiao's cheeks felt a little hot.

"Brother Su...you're a real talent." He muttered to himself.

This video was clearly the combat recording he had uploaded before.

However, Su Ran "thoughtfully" cut out the scenes of his disheveled escape and being slapped away by a grizzly bear, leaving only the most glorious and pretentious parts.

The video ends with a freeze-frame of him cutting open the bear's head and taking out the second-order crystal core.

A line of large characters appeared next to it: "The first Tier 2 Hunter of Great Xia: Ye Xiao".

At the same time, more than 30 awakened individuals distributed across various fronts across the country saw this document.

Each person had a different expression and a variety of thoughts.