Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

Boom! 

At the edge of the massive crater created by the 750mm rocket, several missiles struck a machine gun emplacement hastily built by Jingyuan Refuge's security forces. 

One armor-piercing missile pierced the metal plating used as cover, hitting the machine gun directly and taking out the gunner along with the weapon. Moments later, incendiary rounds followed through the newly created breach, igniting into a blazing inferno that consumed the cramped interior of the emplacement. 

The entire position, manned by five soldiers, was neutralized in just three seconds. 

With the machine gun silenced, the threat posed by the Jingyuan security forces to the drone swarms decreased significantly. Most fighters couldn't even aim at the airborne drones. 

Anyone exposing even a single body part was instantly struck down—hands were shot off, heads taken out with precision. 

Hiding wasn't a viable solution either. The drones systematically expanded their patrol radius, ensuring all hiding spots would eventually come under fire. 

Within three minutes of engagement, nearly 200 Jingyuan security personnel around the crater had been eliminated. 

Their efforts yielded only minor results—three combat drones destroyed by stray RPG shots. 

The cost? A devastating loss of human lives. 

If not for the dense smoke and scattered debris obscuring the battlefield, the remaining Jingyuan fighters would likely have surrendered outright. 

"This isn't working. Deploy it!" 

A senior Jingyuan officer on the frontlines gritted his teeth and issued a desperate order. 

Two electromagnetic pulse (EMP) bombs, acquired through painstaking trades, were detonated at the center of the battlefield. 

A faint blue glow rippled outward, sweeping across the field. In its wake, the gunfire abruptly ceased, with the drone attacks falling silent. 

"Did it work?" 

Before the Jingyuan officer could fully celebrate, gunfire erupted again. 

This time, the drones' attack frequency remained steady, but their lethality increased significantly. 

The EMP bombs had also disrupted the Jingyuan forces' communication devices and electronic systems. 

With their final line of coordination severed, the remaining defenders were reduced to scattered, helpless individuals. 

From their concealed positions, all they could do was wait for death. 

"It's over…" 

--- 

In the underground control center of the farmhouse refuge, the main screen displayed a detailed map of Jingyuan Refuge's underground layout. 

Sections of the first and second underground levels were marked green, indicating areas fully occupied by the drones. 

The initial stalemate broke decisively after the EMP explosion. The drones, regaining their functions, pushed forward with accelerated momentum, rapidly dismantling resistance. 

"EMP interference caused a 3.2-second communication disruption for the combat drone swarms." 

Su Wu reviewed the combat logs with a slight frown. 

Despite the drones' protective anti-radiation coatings, which safeguarded internal operations from EMP effects, their external wireless communication systems were momentarily severed. 

During this interval, the drones could only perform basic flight and hover maneuvers, unable to execute attacks or evasive maneuvers. 

The outcome was fortunate: the Jingyuan forces had been too disorganized to capitalize on the disruption. 

"Had they seized that 3-second window for a counterattack, we would've suffered heavy losses. It might've even turned into a minor debacle." 

Su Wu realized that if the situation had been different, he could have lost both the first and second combat drone swarms deployed as vanguards. 

Despite identifying this weakness, Su Wu acknowledged that little could be done to fully mitigate it. 

This was an inherent limitation of the drone swarms, a trade-off for their cost-efficiency and numerical advantage. 

"Facing a regular military force in the future, avoiding such scenarios will be critical." 

Mentally noting this for future reference, Su Wu refocused on the battlefield. 

With the drones breaching the defenses, the robotic dog units began descending into the crater. 

Using ropes to rappel, they swiftly reached the depths of the tunnel, displaying agility rivaling that of elite special forces. 

Once inside, the robotic dogs immediately assumed the role of primary attackers, replacing the drones. 

Compared to the drones, which primarily carried lightweight weapons, the robotic dogs could be outfitted with heavier armaments such as machine guns and additional RPGs. 

Their firepower was a clear level above the drones. 

When over 20 robotic dogs entered Jingyuan Refuge, the remaining resistance near the entrance was wiped out entirely, leaving no survivors. 

Under maximum combat protocols, the AI prioritized the simplest and most effective strategy: eliminating all potential threats without hesitation. 

"The assault phase is over. Next is the battle for strategic points." 

At this juncture, Su Wu intervened directly. 

He added new directives to the AI's operational logic, mandating the acceptance of surrenders and minimizing civilian casualties. 

As the battle moved deeper into the refuge, civilian areas would inevitably be affected. Allowing the AI to operate unchecked risked turning the operation into a large-scale massacre. 

This wasn't the message Su Wu wanted to send. 

He sought deterrence—not the label of a bloodthirsty murderer. 

(End of Chapter)