Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

Compared to the significant boost in combat and productivity brought by the spider robots, the service humanoid robots seemed more like an auxiliary addition.

Based on the frame of construction robots, these humanoid robots had bio-inspired exteriors made from resin and metal-coated materials, giving them a more human-like appearance with modern technological aesthetics. However, their actual functionality saw almost no improvement. In fact, the added fragile outer shell slightly reduced their practicality.

Even so, this still marked an important breakthrough.

The service humanoid robots were not intended for complex tasks. Their roles were limited to daily patrols, carrying light items, and performing simple maintenance work. They did not require survival points for enhancements, and their computing power needs could be fully met by the temporary resources of the AI system.

Their introduction could replace over 80% of tasks previously performed by construction robots, allowing the high-cost construction robots—each requiring 2 survival points to produce—to focus solely on the remaining 20% of more challenging tasks.

This shift effectively increased the overall productivity of each construction robot by fivefold.

These service humanoid robots could also be deployed in other shelters, where they could oversee key areas and guard important warehouses, reducing the likelihood of accidents.

"Moreover, no matter how strong the battle capabilities of machine dogs are, their appearance is still just that of dogs. Humanoid robots will leave a very different impression."

"Their presence will likely bring greater stability and compliance to the shelters under my rule."

Public perception, while intangible, was undeniably real. With a contingent of service humanoid robots, Su Wu would no longer appear to his residents as a faceless entity operating from a digital network. Instead, he would be recognized as a tangible leader with soldiers who could project his authority into every corner of the shelters.

This would solidify his legitimacy as a ruler.

However, alongside the benefits of deploying large numbers of spider robots and humanoid robots, Su Wu realized he could no longer ignore an issue he had previously overlooked: network security.

The AI controlling these systems was based on a supercomputer-level smart notebook. In terms of hardware capabilities, it wasn't much different from the world's most advanced supercomputers.

Theoretically, a highly skilled individual could use Jianghe City's extensive network to launch a reverse hack on the AI.

Even if the hacker failed to seize control of the AI, they could still disrupt its normal operations.

Such an attack would equate to a strike against Su Wu from an entirely different angle, one with potentially devastating consequences.

For instance, it could result in the spider robots and humanoid robots under AI control malfunctioning or even rebelling.

Given Su Wu's heavy reliance on these machines to maintain his shelters, such an event could cause catastrophic damage. At best, he'd lose substantial resources; at worst, entire shelters might be rendered inoperable.

"Network firewalls..."

Su Wu pondered this challenge, finding himself at a loss for where to begin.

His expertise in this area was still limited. If not for the heightened reliance on AI brought about by the new robots, he might not have considered this issue at all.

"I'll have to start learning from scratch. It shouldn't take too long to get the basics."

On the afternoon of August 24th, as Su Wu finalized his new robotic designs, the days of unrelenting rain brought their first major disaster to the surface.

A massive landslide of mud and rocks poured down from the mountains, roaring its way to the outskirts of Jianghe City.

On its path, it buried over a dozen shelters under meters of sludge, trapping tens of thousands of people in oxygen-deprived conditions.

The thick mud not only sealed off shelter exits but also blocked ventilation systems, cutting off their ability to exchange air with the outside.

Simultaneously, long-dry riverbeds began to overflow with accumulated rainwater.

Large volumes of water breached the riverbanks, flooding lower-lying areas and turning the ruins of several villages into lakes.

By August 25th, the water levels had risen further.

Flooding spread to parts of Jianghe City's urban ruins, with the deepest areas reaching depths of up to three meters. It had escalated into a full-blown flood disaster.

The worsening conditions forced Su Wu—focused on his studies and research in the safe confines of his shelter—to once again shift his attention to the surface.

"Things are already this bad."

Using a camera mounted on a high-rise building, Su Wu observed a Jianghe City that had become an island in the midst of a flood.

All roads leading out of the city were submerged under rushing waters.

Conditions inside the city weren't much better. Pools of rainwater unable to drain had gradually submerged lower-lying structures and were creeping toward higher ground.

Every hour, the water level around the city rose by half a meter.

At this rate, in less than a day, Jianghe City would be entirely underwater, with all shelters submerged.

"Pull back the scavenger teams and spider robots for now."

Although the floods didn't pose an immediate threat to the waterproof scavenger vehicles and spider robots, Su Wu decided to exercise caution.

The sheer force generated by the moving waters was not something these land-based machines were built to handle.

Following Su Wu's orders, a group of over twenty spider robots, stationed at a higher elevation and carrying their final haul of scrap metal, boarded ten scavenger transport vehicles and began their journey out of the city.

As the convoy moved, rising floodwaters gradually enveloped the vehicles.

Soon, the convoy disappeared from view. Only the faint glow of their headlights, visible ben

eath the murky waters, hinted at their slow progress toward safety.

(End of Chapter)