Chapter 1163 Cohesion
As time passed, the awe-inspiring images of continuous artillery fire continued on the giant LED screen, but the perspective began to shift, from the macroscopic torrent of steel to more specific and brutal close-ups of the battlefield.
When the camera abruptly cuts to a giant anthill torn open by artillery fire, and clearly captures the "ghoul" warriors clad in matte "Night Hunter" armor surging forth like a black tide—
The deafening cheers and shouts across the entire provincial government square seemed to be abruptly stopped by an invisible giant hand!
The bustling crowd, which had been boiling just a moment ago, suddenly fell into an eerie, almost frozen silence.
Tens of thousands of faces, gazing up at the screen, underwent dramatic changes in expression within a very short time—
The excitement and fervor of being immersed in the roar of artillery fire instantly transformed into extreme astonishment, bewilderment, and... an uncontrollable, instinctive fear!
On the screen, the figures left afterimages as they moved at high speed, and the heavy footsteps could be felt even through the speakers.
Wielding obsidian claws that gleamed with a cold light, they tore apart the soldier ants' hard shells and crushed everything in their way with a ferocity that was completely beyond human comprehension!
The movements were filled with pure power and a desire for destruction; the inhuman aesthetics of violence created a completely different visual experience from the uniform torrent of steel just moments before.
"What...what is that?!" A young worker standing in the front row suddenly took half a step back, his voice trembling, and his face drained of color.
"A monster...a new monster?!" A mother holding her child instinctively pressed the child's head into her arms, not daring to let him look anymore, her own eyes filled with terror.
"They...they're fighting the mutated ants! They're helping us fight the monsters!" Some of the calmer people realized that the "ghouls" in the video were attacking the mutated ant colony, but their voices were still full of uncertainty and deep doubt.
“But…but they don’t look…human!” someone nearby immediately retorted, their voice strained.
"Look at their movements, that ferocity... and those claws! What normal person would act like that?!"
Fear, like an invisible plague, spread rapidly among the silent crowd.
Many people looked at each other, and could see the same horror and bewilderment in each other's eyes. The shock brought by this existence that was beyond the scope of understanding even temporarily overshadowed the joy of recovering their homeland.
However, at that moment, a slightly aged yet powerful voice rang out from the crowd, breaking the subconscious panic:
"What's the panic?! Everyone, put your minds at ease!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old soldier with gray hair, wearing a faded old-fashioned military uniform and several faded medals pinned to his chest, leaning on a cane and staring intently at the screen.
Although he had wrinkles on his face, he stood up straight.
"Did you see that clearly?!" The veteran slammed his cane heavily on the ground, making a loud "thud" that drew the attention of those around him.
"They're killing monsters! They're clearing out those man-eating ant nests! They're bleeding for us, they're reclaiming our territory!"
He pointed to a "ghoul" warrior on the screen who was smashing a guardian ant against a wall, and said in a loud voice:
"I don't care what they look like or what weapons they use! As long as their guns and claws are pointed at those zombies and monsters, they are our warriors! They are our own people protecting us!"
The veteran's words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.
The crowd began to break free from their initial pure fear, and rationality began to return.
“The old man is right…” A bespectacled man, who looked like a technician, adjusted his glasses and tried to analyze the situation:
"Their armor has insignia! It's the symbol of our Central Plains Theater! And look at their tactical coordination, they've clearly received rigorous training!"
“That’s right! If they were monsters, why would they be wearing such uniform equipment? And how would they know how to fight in coordination?” someone nearby chimed in.
"I know them!! They're the ones who rescued us from the night market, but we were kept in secrecy! They're our soldiers who were infected and mutated..." a survivor in the crowd shouted excitedly.
This secret has been kept in their hearts for far too long. Now that it has been released, it means they can finally tell it!
Just then, the screen gave a brief close-up of one of the "ghoul" warriors—
As he roughly tore open the chest cavity of a soldier ant, the clear Central Continent Theater insignia on the armor patch, and the resolute gaze of a human soldier, though distorted, that was still faintly discernible (perhaps a deliberate capture by the photographer, or perhaps a psychological effect), magnified through the ultra-high-definition screen, came into everyone's view.
That look in his eyes showed no madness, no confusion, only focused concentration on carrying out the mission and a chilling killing intent toward the enemy.
At that moment, that brief close-up, the familiar insignia on the armband, the unwavering determination and resolve in the soldier's eyes, were like sunlight piercing through the dark clouds, instantly dispelling the fear and gloom that permeated the square.
"It's them! They really are our soldiers!!" In the crowd, a middle-aged man suddenly clenched his fist, his voice trembling with excitement. His previously clenched fists were now shaking slightly with emotion.
"I knew it! How could the commander let monsters fight for us!" A plump woman next to her patted her chest, breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile returned to her face, even carrying a hint of pride.
"Look how powerful it is! Much more powerful than those ferocious mutants!"
“Those deformed soldiers… they became like this because of us…” a young girl wearing glasses murmured, her eyes slightly reddening, her previous unease turning into deep emotion and respect.
"They've all become like this, yet they're still fighting for us... So what reason do we have to give up?"
"Salute!!" someone shouted from the crowd.
The next moment, a touching scene unfolded—
In the square, whether it was veterans in old military uniforms, ordinary workers and residents, or even children who were barely waist-high and wearing Fuxing-affiliated elementary school uniforms, they all straightened their backs spontaneously and in unison, with solemn and respectful expressions, and raised their right hands to salute the special operations brigade soldiers on the screen who were fighting bloody battles in the ant nest, whose forms were no longer human but whose hearts were still with humanity!
There were no unified commands, only silent understanding and heartfelt reverence.
People put aside their previous fears and doubts, and were replaced by a complex emotion that mixed gratitude, shock and pride.
Cheers erupted again, but this time, they were no longer just a simple outburst; they were filled with respect for the heroes and heartfelt support!
"Long live the Central Plains Theater!!"
"To reclaim our homeland!!"
"Thank you for your hard work, soldiers!!"
The shouts grew louder and louder, even more fervent and heartfelt than the previous roar of artillery fire!
As people watched the "ghoul" warriors on the screen crush the mutated ant swarm with ferocity, their previous fear vanished. In their eyes, the ants were no longer terrifying monsters, but their most reliable bulwark, a symbol of the unparalleled military power of the Central Plains War Zone!
An unprecedented sense of cohesion and belonging rose and gathered in the square where tens of thousands of people were gathered!
They are proud to be a member of the Central Plains War Zone, reassured by the powerful protective force they possess, and filled with unprecedented confidence in completely dispelling the shadow of the apocalypse and rebuilding their homes!
"What has been the reaction to the broadcast in various gathering places within the province?"
