C3 Summoning Mobilization Troops

"Summon the mobilization unit!" Han Feng vowed, convinced this would be his final leap of faith in this unreliable system.

"Summoning a mobilization unit requires 100 gold coins. Commanders receive a 50% discount on their first summon, reducing the cost to 50 gold coins. Summoning will commence in 20 seconds. Please wait." The system announced, initiating the summoning process.

Thank goodness... he could still summon. Han Feng glanced at the zero balance in his gold coin display and let out a wry smile. He was flat broke now.

Creak... The trio of doors in the restroom swung open. A formidable, muscular man emerged, giving Han Feng a crisp salute.

"Report to the commander..."

"Would you keep it down! Are you trying to get me killed?" Han Feng hissed at the mobilization unit in panic.

"Reporting to the commander... Mobilization Unit 0001 at your service..." The soldier's voice was hushed this time.

Han Feng barely registered the mobilization unit's words, his ear pressed against the door, straining to pick up any sounds from outside.

One second... Two seconds... After more than ten seconds, the outside noise persisted, yet it seemed like a lull compared to the initial bedlam.

Relieved, Han Feng turned to face the mobilization unit, standing still as a statue.

Impressive! That was Han Feng's immediate thought upon scrutinizing the mobilization unit.

Standing tall at 1.83 meters, Han Feng often boasted about his height. But next to this mobilization unit, he felt overshadowed.

The unit towered over him at over 1.9 meters, with arms bulkier than Han Feng's thighs. Even clad in a thick, coffee-colored leather jacket, the raw power was palpable. The soldier's face was obscured by a commanding gas mask, exuding an aura of lethal intent. Most notably, he wielded an AK-47—a weapon Han Feng knew all too well from countless war-themed games and its notorious presence in conflict zones.

A surge of security washed over Han Feng. He wouldn't be facing death today. He had assumed the weakest combatant from the Red Alert forces wouldn't make much of a difference. Little did he expect such an astonishing boon from the Red Alert system!

How did he get here? How on earth did a person just pop up in a bathroom stall?! It only dawned on Han Feng now that he had been alone in the restroom the entire time!

Han Feng approached and swung open the stall door where the soldier had appeared. Nothing...

The sudden appearance... it was as if he materialized from nowhere. No point dwelling on it, Han Feng decided, turning back to the soldier.

"What's the Red Alert System? How do I earn gold coins?" Han Feng pondered briefly before posing his questions to the soldier. He was clueless about the Red Alert System and hoped to glean some insights from the soldier who had appeared so unexpectedly.

"I don't know. Gold coins are earned by eliminating enemies," came a muffled, deep voice from behind the gas mask.

Silence fell abruptly. "Tell me everything you know about the Red Alert System. Can I earn gold coins by killing zombies too?" Han Feng, momentarily taken aback, resumed his questioning.

"There are no records of information pertaining to the Red Alert System. Yes, killing zombies will yield gold coins," the soldier responded, his tone devoid of emotion.

Okay then. From the soldier's responses, Han Feng gleaned one thing: the troops summoned by the Red Alert System had no clue about their own origins. Perhaps this was a sort of self-preservation feature of the system?

"What are you capable of? Share what you know," Han Feng decided to get straight to the point and understand what the soldier was all about.

"Obey all commands from the commander!" the soldier intoned gravely, then snapped to attention with a salute.

Lowering his hand, the soldier continued, "Armed with an AK47, magazine capacity of 30 rounds. No spare magazines, no alternative weapons. The weapon is replenished every 24 hours from the time of summoning."

Once more, a hush descended.

"Your gun won't malfunction, will it?" This was Han Feng's primary concern. He was well aware of the AK47's infamous reputation, but also of its questionable reliability. A jam at the wrong moment could be disastrous!

"The firearms I carry will not fail," the soldier assured Han Feng confidently.

"That's a relief," Han Feng sighed inwardly, a weight lifted from his shoulders. It seemed the system had proven itself dependable this time.

"The commander's understanding of the first summoned soldier has earned you a bonus lucky draw from the system. Would you like to draw now?" The system's voice echoed in Han Feng's mind.

A lucky draw? Must be some kind of bonus reward, Han Feng mused with excitement. Without hesitation, he declared, "Lucky draw."

"Drawing now, please wait." "The draw is complete. You've won a grenade. This grenade will refresh every 24 hours from the time of the soldier's summoning." As the system concluded, a dark grenade materialized on the soldier's belt.

It looked like the grenade, much like the AK47, was on a 24-hour refresh cycle. But the grenade's loud blast could attract more zombies. Considering the zombies that continued to attack people even after being blown apart in that restaurant explosion, it was clear that targeting the head was key. A grenade? It seemed somewhat impractical, yet it was still a weapon for combat. It might come in handy later on.

Snapping back to reality, Han Feng pondered his exit strategy. Lingering in the restroom was far from ideal.

"We need to find a way out. And remember, once we're outside, try to avoid shooting! Be prepared for combat." Han Feng was still wary of the zombies' keen hearing and the risk of gunfire drawing them closer. He calculated that with the ability to fire 30 shots a day, even with a 24-hour refresh, those rounds would be spent in mere seconds during a fight. Conservation was key.

Han Feng cautiously turned the doorknob, feeling the sweat bead on his forehead. Yes, he was scared. The thought of the horrors lurking just beyond the door was chilling. But having grown up in an orphanage, Han Feng had developed a resilience that outstripped his peers.

The soldier's rifle, with its gleaming cold barrel, was trained on the doorway, his stance signaling combat readiness.

With a gentle nudge, Han Feng pushed the door open, his hands slick with perspiration.

The coast was clear. The area around the sink was deserted. This was a stroke of luck! Han Feng felt a surge of relief.

Together, they moved silently into the sink area, the bathroom door still ajar as it had been when Han Feng first entered. It appeared they had gone unnoticed.

Peering through the slightly ajar door, Han Feng took in the scene outside. The desolate, blood-streaked corridor was eerily quiet, except for the faint sounds of chewing that drifted down from upstairs...

"Ugh..." Han Feng clamped his hands over his mouth, repulsed. Even without witnessing the zombies feasting on their victims, the mere sounds were enough to conjure a horrifying image.

The corridor was deserted, but there was a corner between the door and the main entrance—a blind spot out of his view.

Despite this, Han Feng cautiously pushed the door open and stepped out. He was all too aware that the absence of zombies was a stroke of luck amidst the misfortune. Should they appear, escape would be impossible.

Sticking close to the wall, Han Feng advanced in a half-crouch, with the mobilized soldier following in combat-ready silence.

Reaching the corner, Han Feng paused, not daring to proceed blindly. He surveyed the area carefully, then risked a glance towards the main door—empty. Relieved, Han Feng let out a quiet breath.

"Stay close. Keep it down, and remember, no shooting..." Han Feng whispered to the soldier behind him.

"Understood." The soldier, masked against the threat of infection, responded in a hushed tone audible only to Han Feng.

Together, they edged towards the doorway. Han Feng scanned the area once more. The closest zombie was about thirty meters away, standing between them and the convenience store—Han Feng's intended destination.

What now? The store was blocked by the zombie, making entry impossible.

But they couldn't just turn back. Over an hour had passed without a sign of police, SWAT, or military, indicating the situation was far from simple.

Surviving in a zombie-infested area without water or food was tantamount to doing the undead's work for them. Securing the first batch of supplies was crucial—humans couldn't live without sustenance, and the towering soldier behind him was no exception. They needed that convenience store.

But how to reach it?

"Do you have a way to take it down without firing a shot?" Han Feng asked, turning to the mobilized soldier.

"Yes," came the soldier's confident reply.

"Take him out quietly," Han Feng instructed once more, his voice laced with caution.

"Understood!" The soldier, ready for action, made a beeline for the solitary zombie.