Apocalypse: My Items Can Upgrade Infinitely

Returning to the troop transports a kilometer away, Lin Feng watched the Black Spine Zerg Swarm gathering behind him and gave the order to retreat.

While they were harvesting the Tiger Spine Zergs, the bolder soldiers had followed Shen Jie and a few others deep into enemy territory to hunt Black Spine Zergs. By now, many had already upgraded to the Tier One Late Stage.

Meanwhile, those who remained by the troop transports could only use Heavy Machine Guns to kill the small number of heavily wounded Black Spine Zergs in the vicinity.

As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold. The daring feast while the timid starve...

When he had a solid foundation to stand on, Lin Feng always chose the former—to take the risk.

For instance, by turning back this time, he had successfully harvested two Tiger Spine Zergs and even gathered the orange materials needed to Upgrade the Tank.

The Black Spine Zerg army was now gathering. If they lingered any longer, they would risk being pursued by the massive force again.

After Lin Feng gave the order to leave, some soldiers clutched their machine guns and looked back reluctantly. Most, however, heaved a long sigh of relief. ’We can finally get out of this hellhole,’ they thought.

At three in the morning, the five-vehicle convoy traveled west, a lone presence on the highway.

They drove on for twenty kilometers until they reached the Great Lake Service Area. There was still a weak cell signal and a rest stop building, so Lin Feng decided to make camp there.

The temporary camp was only fifteen kilometers from the Zerg Race’s front line, a distance that both ensured their safety and provided a convenient point for launching sorties.

The soldiers clambered out of the troop transports. Even though the Flying Wing Tank had cleared the road ahead, the bumpy ride had left everyone feeling dizzy and sick.

The transports, converted from old cargo trucks, had terrible suspension systems—practically nonexistent. For those unaccustomed to such a ride, it was naturally difficult to adapt.

’Looks like I need to get them new equipment as soon as possible.’

’Riding in these trucks is diminishing their combat effectiveness.’

’I’ll need to have Hu Fei and Han Yuxin send over large quantities of gasoline and Fine Steel Plate.’

With these thoughts in mind, Lin Feng stepped out of his Tank. He saw Li Ran directing the soldiers, assigning them to set up defenses and arranging patrol schedules.

They were securing the high ground on the main building’s roof while simultaneously clearing the interior, checking for any survivors or signs of the Zerg Race.

’This is the value of having Li Ran around.’

’He makes the whole group more professional, allowing them to go further.’

Lin Feng turned his attention back to his Tank and initiated the Upgrade.

He also fused two entire pairs of Tiger Spine Zerg Giant Mandibles into it.

’Upgrading the Tank is more important than the Flying Tiger Armor. The future core team will be built around it.’

’It can run and fly, take a beating and dish one out—it’s the perfect post-apocalyptic Divine Artifact!’

Once the Upgrade command was given, an Orange Light flashed and enveloped the Tank’s exterior. The two pairs of Tiger Spine Zerg Giant Mandibles in the storage compartment were wrapped in the light, melted down, and absorbed into the Tank.

Only then did Lin Feng let out a sigh of relief. He prepared to head back inside the vehicle, remove his Flying Tiger Armor, and get some rest.

He entered the main cabin through a side hatch and converted his Full Body Armor into an Arm Guard, intending to take a shower. Just then, Chen Yanyan approached, her expression a little grave as she held a black device.

She was holding a signal receiver, the very one Ding Chenghai had given him. It contained the research institute’s analysis reports on the different types of Zerg.

In the Early Stage, it had filled a crucial information gap for Lin Feng.

After he handed it over to Chen Yanyan, he had hardly looked at it since.

Now, she was handing it to him, saying:

"That guy, Ding Chenghai, sent a warning message two hours ago. He said the Federation’s decapitation strike—the missile launch—would threaten the service area outpost and that we should evacuate immediately."

"Looking at the time, it was sent more than ten minutes before we even detected the Tiger Spine Zergs gathering..."

"Unfortunately, this thing doesn’t make any noise. Only the indicator light on top pulses. I was so focused on driving that I didn’t notice."

Lin Feng took it and had a look.

Sure enough, Ding Chenghai had gotten the intel and sent him a warning ahead of time.

Unfortunately, the power was out across the front line, which meant there was no cell signal. A phone call would have been much more convenient.

"It’s fine. Just be more careful next time and keep it somewhere visible. I’ll give him a call back now."

After saying that, Lin Feng took out his phone and called Ding Fatty. Unfortunately, after ringing a few times, the call went to a message saying the phone was off.

He tried three times in a row with the same result. Lin Feng then switched numbers and called Han Yuxin instead.

She was currently in Jin City, gathering the remaining security personnel and collecting important supplies that were being left behind.

With the Battle of Wu City now raging, the situation at the front was unclear, and chaos was beginning to brew in the rear at the State Capital, Jin City.

Many of the civilians who had stayed behind were now either frantically looting supplies or clogging the highways, trying to flee with their families and whatever belongings they could carry.

They had all been waiting and watching—some were too attached to their homes to leave, while others gambled that the Battle of Wu City would be a victory, which would mean a city ripe with opportunity for those who stayed.

But then the train stations closed, the airports ceased operations, and the constant boom of heavy artillery echoed from the distance...

...and these people finally panicked.

Unfortunately, while the wealthy could buy boat tickets for a smooth and safe journey to the rear, these people could only cram themselves onto the highways, desperately searching for a way out.

The city proper was now a chaotic mess. Black smoke from fires billowed into the sky, but no one was there to put them out.

Screams and gunshots rang out sporadically.

Han Yuxin stood in a high-rise office of the security bureau, listening as Lin Feng briefed her on the Battle of Wu City over the phone.

When she heard that the Zerg Race had broken through the most heavily fortified first line of defense in less than three days, Han Yuxin’s heart tightened.

"Understood. I will report the situation to the State Guard immediately."

"Regarding your official status, I’ve already negotiated with the higher-ups. All they need is a batch of live Black Spine Zergs, and they will commission you as an officer with a field-grade rank."

"They will also recognize your position within the State Guard and grant you operational independence."

Lin Feng nodded.

"You handle it. As long as it shuts up the Thirteenth Division, a few Black Spine Zergs are a small price to pay."

"The Battle of Wu City is about to end in failure. When the retreat begins, they’ll be the ones coming to me for help!"

"Get the supplies I asked for ready—at least ten tons of Fine Steel, plus food and gasoline. Coordinate with Hu Fei on that."

"I want to see them at the Taihu Lake Service Area by tomorrow."

Han Yuxin thought for a few seconds before agreeing.

"No problem."

After he finished dealing with these logistical matters, the eastern sky began to brighten...

And the farcical outcome of the decapitation strike slowly came to light with the dawn.

The Thirteenth Division lost a total of eighty-five companies...

Twelve thousand troops in all.

Only fifteen mixed companies, less than two thousand troops, managed to escape. It was a disastrous defeat, a textbook case of feeding the enemy.

They had lost a third of their fighting force in one fell swoop.

Thousands of Awakeners and countless enhanced recruits... The Thirteenth Division was utterly devastated.

By the time Lin Feng heard this news from Li Ran, it was already nine in the morning.

Having slept for only four hours, he had long anticipated the Thirteenth Division’s crushing defeat. What he hadn’t expected was the pleasant surprise brought by several battered military vehicles that had appeared at the service area.

It turned out that the old comrades who had sent Li Ran the initial warning had acted on Lin Feng’s subsequent advice and broken through the encirclement ahead of time.

They made a desperate, life-or-death sprint and successfully escaped before the main Zerg army could fully encircle them.

Along with their group of twenty, a team of thirty recruits had also made it out.

After their narrow escape, they were directionless. They could only drive south in the darkness until they hit the highway. Following the directions Li Ran had given them, they successfully reached the Great Lake Service Area and rendezvoused with the 201st Company just before their fuel ran out.

Now, after hearing Li Ran’s shocking theory, the group temporarily abandoned any thought of returning to report to their superiors.

After all, with Qin Hu gone, they had no one to back them up.

They had no proof, only their word, so they could do nothing against the mole, Cheng Zhan. Worse, they’d be suspected by others of trying to shift the blame.

After all, since the first line of defense had fallen, the primary responsibility would fall on them, the junior commanders at the front.

Lin Feng naturally gave them a warm welcome. As for these demoralized remnants of a defeated army, they couldn’t help but be envious after seeing the condition of Lin Feng’s own recruits.

Every single one was clad in Red Armor and carried a Heavy Machine Gun.

Furthermore, they were all Awakeners, with most having already reached the Tier One Middle Stage...

...and there were even over twenty at the Late Stage.

’We’re both companies of new recruits, so how can the difference be this huge?’

Lin Feng, of course, had no intention of personally answering the questions brewing in their minds.

’Quality is all relative.’

He believed that after some private interaction, these soldiers would soon ask to join his ranks.

But before that...

...there was something else Lin Feng needed to do first.

’Since the situation at the front has been reported, I have to make my move...’

’...before that bastard Cheng Zhan escapes back to the Zerg Race.’