Chapter 1162 The Dragon's Appearance Has Emerged

"It feels like a lifetime ago..." Wei Jingfang couldn't help but sigh softly, his voice so low that only he could hear it.

The bustling, vibrant night market scene before him created an incredibly strong contrast with his preconceived notions of a desolate, post-apocalyptic city filled with ruins and despair.

This place doesn't resemble a base struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world at all; it's more like... a carefully preserved fragment of past prosperity...

Meanwhile, Wu Xianglin, the commander of the Southern Theater Command, was drawn to a roadside stall selling simple toys. The stall displayed handmade wooden cars, shuttlecocks, and even small robots assembled from discarded parts.

Several teenagers were gathered around the stall, their eyes gleaming with longing. Their parents chatted and laughed, eventually pulling out a supply voucher with the emblem of the Central Plains War Zone and exchanging it for a small wooden horse.

This scene deeply moved Wu Xianglin, almost bringing tears to his eyes.

In his war zone, the children's eyes were mostly filled with fear, numbness, or precociousness that did not match their age. When had he ever seen such pure, childlike longing and joy after it was fulfilled?

Behind this lies an absolute sense of security, a relative abundance of resources, and the luxury that adults have the ability to create a little bit of "non-essential survival goods" for the next generation.

Lieutenant Generals Zhou Wei and Wang Zhiming of the Eastern Theater Command deliberately lagged behind by half a step and walked side by side. Both were silent, but the turmoil in their hearts was no less than that of others.

Zhou Wei noticed that even in this crowded night market, the streets remained clean and tidy, with no piles of garbage or homeless people who looked pale, thin, and desperate.

Although people dressed simply, mostly in practical work clothes or durable garments, they generally had a vibrant spirit and their eyes shone with hope for life and anticipation for the future.

“This place… is simply a paradise on earth.” Wang Zhiming, deputy commander of the Eastern Theater Command, finally couldn’t help but whisper to Zhou Wei beside him, his tone filled with indescribable complex emotions, including envy, shock, and a hint of bitterness about his own situation.

Zhou Wei nodded silently. Yes, a paradise on earth...

This word, which sounds like a fantasy in the apocalypse, is surprisingly apt in describing the area before us, shrouded in high walls, lights, order, and hope.

The overwhelming military strength of the Central Plains Theater has given rise not only to overwhelming advantages on the battlefield, but also to a reassuring order and prosperity that permeates every aspect of social life.

This power creates a virtuous cycle that is enviable and even arouses jealousy!

It protected this "paradise," and the stability, production, and people's hearts nurtured by this "paradise" in turn nourished the military forces on the front lines.

Walking on this brightly lit, bustling street, feeling the long-lost hustle and bustle of normal society, the three commanders from different war zones were all shocked and baptized in their hearts like never before.

Just as the group was enjoying the rare prosperity and everyday life in this post-apocalyptic world, trying to heal their souls, the crowd on the street suddenly became restless.

"Quick! Let's get to the Provincial Government Square!"

"I heard the footage of the daytime battle has been edited out and will be broadcast soon!!"

"Holy crap! Really?! I could hear the thunderous cannon fire from dozens of kilometers away during the day, the scene must have been unimaginable!! I can't believe they actually showed it to us!!"

"Nonsense! How long can thunder last?? My second aunt's son-in-law's wife said that they set up a thousand firecrackers just to retake the night market this time!!"

"A thousand cannons firing at once?! I absolutely have to watch that!!!"

"Isn't anyone worried about the risks of going to the night market?" someone in the crowd asked anxiously.

? ?

"Worried? What a load of rubbish!"

"You're not some nobody from out of town, are you? The commander must have his reasons for doing this. Instead of worrying about that, you should worry about what we'll eat tomorrow morning!"

"That's right, that's right! With the commander-in-chief here, the sky won't fall down in the Central Plains War Zone!!"

...

Blending in the rapidly moving crowd and listening to the conversations of the survivors around them, the leaders of the three major war zones—East, West, and South—felt a mix of emotions, with some even harboring a strange thought.

This spirit, this prestige... coupled with the current power of the Central Plains War Zone...

To put it bluntly, Commander Gu, barring any unforeseen circumstances, is likely already destined for greatness...

...

Soon, as if drawn by an invisible magnetic pole, the crowd surged toward the provincial government square, the core area of ​​the gathering place.

At Chen Haitao's signal and with the subtle guidance of the plainclothes bodyguards around them, the leaders of the three war zones also moved with the enthusiastic crowd.

The so-called Provincial Government Square is actually a large open space in front of the former Qinghe Town Government that was cleared after the apocalypse. After being leveled and hardened, it has become a huge square that can accommodate tens of thousands of people.

The square is paved with neat stone bricks, and tall lighting poles stand all around, illuminating the entire area as bright as day.

It is said that a magnificent statue of a high-ranking official may soon be erected here, but of course, this is just a rumor, and its veracity is impossible to verify...

At this moment, the most eye-catching thing is the huge object standing on the outer wall of the former government building, directly north of the square!

It was a super display screen made up of countless large LED screen units. Its size was so large that it covered almost 60 percent of the entire building wall. In the night sky, it was like a huge mirror that exuded magic, or rather, a time portal about to open, leading to the daytime battlefield.

Below the screen, a dense crowd had already gathered, from elderly people with white hair to young children, from workers in overalls to women holding babies. People were craning their necks, their faces a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and a kind of almost devout focus.

The buzzing of conversation echoed across the square like a tidal wave, yet it remained largely under control thanks to some invisible order; no one pushed or argued.

Wei Jingfang, Wu Xianglin, and others stood slightly behind the crowd, where they had a clear view of the screen and could observe the reactions of the people around them.

They were also infected by this collective sense of anticipation and unconsciously held their breath.

Suddenly, all the lights in the square dimmed slightly, as if gathering energy for an important moment.

Immediately afterwards, the huge LED screen lit up!

No opening credits, no subtitles, the climax starts right from the beginning!

The footage is presented from a high-altitude, bird's-eye view, with the camera trembling slightly, creating a realistic sense of presence.

On the vast, scorched earth and ruined city outskirts, rows upon rows of heavy artillery and rocket launchers stood like a forest of steel, their barrels raised high, pointing directly at the desolate giant city in the distance—the Night Market!

The next second, it was as if a god had waved his scepter!

"boom--!!!!!!!!!!!"

The deafening roar, a cacophony of thousands of cannons roaring simultaneously, was like a tangible shockwave, even after being processed by audio equipment. It slammed into the eardrums of everyone in the square and reached the depths of their souls!

On the screen, a thousand cannons fired simultaneously!

The blazing muzzle flashes were like flowers of death blooming in an instant, stretching into a dazzling sea of ​​light that illuminated the entire position as bright as day!

What followed was an even more chilling scene!

Countless shells, trailing blazing flames, tore through the gloomy sky like a meteor shower, their resolute intent to destroy everything drawing countless beautiful and powerful arcs as they rained down on the distant city!

At that moment, the sky was divided by countless lines of fire, like a huge, burning fishing net covering the fallen city.

The spectacular sight of shells firing in unison and streaking across the sky is already breathtakingly violent and a powerful display of industrial strength!

This scene caused the survivors in the square to erupt in thunderous cheers and shouts!

The climax is right from the start!!!

"Hit! Hit them hard!!"

"Kill those sons of bitches monsters!!"

"Yes, blow them into whistles!! Take back our city!!!"

"Long live the Commander! Long live the Central Plains Military Region!!"

...

The crowd erupted in cheers. The pent-up fear, hatred, and desire to reclaim lost territory were released in this moment with the devastating barrage of artillery fire!

On the screen, the shelling continues. The camera cuts to footage of shells crashing into city streets like hail, exploding into huge fireballs and thick smoke. Devastated buildings collapse in the explosions, and zombies and mutants hidden within are instantly torn to pieces or thrown into the air by the shockwaves...

.....