Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

Two minutes later.

A large number of combat drones entered the residential area of Jingyuan Refuge's first underground level.

"All civilians must stay off the streets. Violators will be executed on the spot. Repeat, all civilians must leave the streets immediately."

The drones did not open fire immediately. Instead, they spent a minute broadcasting the warning throughout the area.

Afterward, they selectively targeted and eliminated a few adults still lingering in the streets who appeared to pose potential threats based on their physique.

Faced with such an aggressive deterrent, the residential area was cleared of people within minutes. No one dared to remain in the open.

Meanwhile, armed Jingyuan personnel hiding in residential buildings began taking potshots at the drones. Unlike the drones' measured approach, these attackers employed brutal and indiscriminate tactics.

Hiding beneath windows, they fired recklessly into the streets, with no regard for stray bullets potentially hitting innocent civilians in adjacent buildings.

Some even launched single-use rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), whose powerful blasts did little to harm the hovering drones but caused substantial destruction to ceilings and nearby residences.

Explosions rippled through the area, burying civilians under the resulting debris and shockwaves.

"Target identification complete."

"Hostile entities confirmed."

"Executing elimination protocol."

In the chaos, the AI-controlled drones used sensors and cameras to pinpoint the location of every attacker.

The drones responded swiftly and precisely, leaving no room for repeated attacks. Anyone failing to relocate within seconds after firing was met with a hail of bullets.

Even those hiding behind walls near windows found no safe haven.

Under the AI's meticulous calculations, bullets fired into rooms ricocheted once or twice to strike attackers from unexpected angles.

Although ricochet shots were less accurate and often required multiple attempts, the outcome was the same. It merely took a few extra rounds.

As the drones passed through the residential district, resistance intensified.

Some areas featured heavily fortified safe houses transformed into bunkers.

The machine dog units, now stepping in to relieve the drones, took on the role of assault forces.

They began with rocket barrages to neutralize the bunkers' firepower. Then, machine dogs equipped with flamethrowers advanced to "roast" the interiors.

High-temperature flames, capable of extending dozens of meters, were directed through the bunkers' firing ports. In mere seconds, the enclosed spaces became infernos, leaving no survivors.

For larger concentrations of armed personnel, the machine dogs deployed rockets first, followed by heavy machine guns for suppressive fire and sniper rifles for eliminating high-priority targets.

This relentless barrage left defenders no time to regroup. Within a few volleys, opposition forces were either annihilated or disbanded, with survivors abandoning their weapons and fleeing.

By the 17th minute of the battle, the first wave of drones had expended their ammunition and began returning to the surface to rearm from dedicated transport vehicles.

After reloading, the drones immediately re-entered the underground conflict.

The continuous shuttle of drones between the surface and underground created a scene of orderly yet bustling activity.

Observers watching from afar felt a mix of emotions—fear, admiration, and an undeniable sense of awe.

A military force of such professionalism and precision commanded respect.

By the 24th minute, the machine dogs had seized a munitions warehouse in a 12-meter-tall, multi-hundred-square-meter plaza on the first underground level of Jingyuan Refuge.

Two machine dogs equipped with mechanical arms began sorting bullets on-site, rearming their comrades who were low on ammunition.

Using this location as a forward base, they prepared to push deeper into the refuge once fully replenished.

By the 27th minute, 30 machine dog units had entered the refuge, with only two left behind to guard surface vehicles.

The first underground level of Jingyuan Refuge was almost entirely cleared, with no organized resistance exceeding groups of three individuals.

With the outermost defenses under control, the AI shifted to Phase 3 of its operation.

It deployed a digging team to expand the crater into a sloped tunnel wide enough for vehicles.

Soon, power supply trucks, ammunition transport vehicles, and other logistical units entered the refuge, relocating their operations to the first underground level.

At this stage, while Su Wu seemed to hold the upper hand, victory was still far off.

Jingyuan Refuge housed a population of 327,000 and spanned an area equivalent to 200 aircraft carriers—over 1,200 times the size of Su Wu's farmhouse refuge.

This massive underground kingdom boasted a labyrinth of passageways totaling thousands of kilometers.

Even with the rapid pace of the machine dog units, clearing and securing the entire area would take considerable time.

"Currently, we've occupied nearly half of the second and third underground levels. Below that are nine more layers, mostly storage warehouses for supplies and equipment."

"Personnel presence is sparser down there, but the terrain is far more complex. It won't be easy to conquer."

Reviewing the det

ailed 3D map of Jingyuan Refuge, Su Wu marveled at its immense scale.

(End of Chapter)