The Curtain Rises

These words struck like a thunderclap, causing many to turn pale.

"Chief! This..."

Someone immediately wanted to object.

But Li Zhenguo waved his hand, giving them no opportunity to speak.

"From this moment on, the primary mission of all units shifts from reclaiming strategic strongholds to covering the evacuation! Utilizing our remaining heavy firepower and organizational integrity, we will no longer attempt to chew through those 'hard bones' infested with high-level Abyss Beasts. Instead, we will conduct echeloned defensive maneuvers, shield the surviving civilians, and gradually withdraw from the core radiation zones of the high-level nests!"

"At the same time."

He deepened his tone. "Coordinate with local armed forces to rescue trapped civilians with all our might, and establish stable survivor settlements based on areas with relatively lower threats."

A major general in charge of equipment and logistics could not help but speak up.

"Chief! I understand your intent, but those strategic strongholds—especially our military industrial, energy, and communication facilities—will be completely destroyed once we abandon them. Even if we save the people, without the support of a modern warfare system, our soldiers will be forced back into the age of cold weapons to fight the Abyss Beasts hand-to-hand once our ammunition runs out."

"Hand-to-hand?"

Li Zhenguo stared at him sharply, pointing toward the sub-screen that had already gone dark.

"Do you think that is simple hand-to-hand combat? That is an entirely new combat force! If we continue to rely on our old combat systems, we will only be slowly worn down to death."

His voice carried a desperate, burn-the-bridges resolve.

"Back then, we were a step late in shifting our mindset, and it took us hundreds of years to catch up to other nations. But now, Source Energy is the new way of war."

"They don't need massive logistics chains or uninterrupted power. They kill monsters, obtain power, become stronger, and then challenge even stronger monsters! This is our only path forward: to sustain the war through the war itself!"

Li Zhenguo's gaze swept across every face in the room—some shocked, some contemplative, some anxious.

"Therefore, everyone, remember! In the current situation, the most important thing is not to preserve those factories and equipment, but to preserve the people. Preserve every single person who has the potential to become a soldier, to become a Source Energy practitioner!"

"You... do not forget this one phrase."

Li Zhenguo paused for a moment, waiting until everyone's eyes were fixed on him, before saying in a low, heavy voice:

"If you preserve the people and lose the land, both the people and the land can be recovered. If you preserve the land and lose the people, both the people and the land are lost!"

These sixteen characters, carrying incomparable weight, slammed heavily into the souls of everyone in the command center.

No one spoke; there was only the sound of heavy breathing and the tireless humming of instruments.

A tragic yet firm consensus rapidly coalesced in the silence.

Li Zhenguo scanned the room, sighed, and softened his tone.

"I know your concerns. This sudden catastrophe is likely caused by higher-dimensional beings or a superior civilization, which is why you are wary of the Source Energy cultivation methods, Source Energy Crystals, and even the Source Energy technological items obtained from the crystals."

"But... do we have any other choice now? If those unknown entities dare to give us weapons, we dare to take them! Rather than sitting here waiting for death, we might as well fight to the end."

"No matter the outcome, they may be able to extinguish our lives and crush our bones, but they cannot break our spines."

"Everyone, do not forget the environment our ancestors emerged from. Those nests are not just enemies; they are resources! If we have no weapons and no resources, we will seize them from the enemy!"

Having said all this in one breath, Li Zhenguo picked up his teacup and took a sip to moisten his throat.

Afterward, he immediately displayed his decisive, fast-paced style.

"General Staff."

"There is no need to discuss the strategic direction further. Regarding the dispersal and establishment of survivor settlements, what specific recommendations does the General Staff have? Has the nest distribution map I requested been completed?"

A staff officer with the rank of major general stepped forward immediately. Behind him, a young field officer quickly operated the console, and the massive national map on the main screen switched to a complex diagram filled with dense red patches and the winding, tortuous blank areas between them.

"Chief."

The major general's voice was steady and clear. He picked up a light pen and pointed to the blank areas.

"According to simulations conducted by the supercomputer combined with the latest intelligence, these are the relatively safe gaps between nests that we have been able to confirm."

The light pen circled those highly irregular blank zones.

"As you can see, these gaps are mostly narrow and scattered. Depending on the level and density of the surrounding nests, their safety levels and areas vary greatly. Our recommendation is to handle them through a tiered classification system."

"For small to medium-sized cities and township areas."

He zoomed in on a typical region where there were many small red spots and the gaps were relatively fragmented.

"We suggest relying on existing local police and militia organizations to prioritize establishing initial gathering points within these relatively safe gaps, with survival as the primary objective."

"Once the settlements are stable, we will gradually expand outward based on our strength, selectively clearing out the surrounding Micro Nests to increase the size of the safe zones."

Next, the screen switched to a large metropolitan area, which contained not only dense micro-red spots but also several red blocks representing the higher threat of "Small Nests."

"As for large cities and areas with dense nests..."

The major general's tone became even more solemn.

"The remaining monsters are stronger, and the gaps are smaller and more dangerous. We must rely on the remaining main force units in each theater of operations, concentrating armor and heavy firepower to conduct forced assaults and clearing operations."

"Our recommendation is to spare no cost in the core areas of these regions to chew through at least two to three adjacent 'Small Nest' territories and establish large, stable, and militarily managed survivor bases! These will serve as regional support points to radiate outward, gather survivors, and become bridgeheads for future counterattacks."

He finally pulled up a summary table.

"Based on a comprehensive assessment of existing intelligence, resources, troop strength, and nest distribution, computer simulations show that across the country, we have the opportunity to establish and maintain a total of 316 survivor settlements in the long term!"

"So few."

"This is nowhere near enough."

A low murmur rippled through the hall.

The major general staff officer continued, "Among these, there are 298 projected small and medium-sized gathering points that rely on established gaps and require gradual development."

"And there are 18 large-scale bases that require the military to launch assaults and seize territory from Small Nests."

He paused, then added, "These locations have all undergone preliminary screening. They must meet criteria such as proximity to stable water sources, the presence of existing fortifications or terrain that is easy to defend and hard to attack, and an estimated initial survivor population of a certain scale."

Li Zhenguo stared at the 316 markers on the screen, which looked like sparks of Kindling, and let out a heavy breath.

"Good! Refine the framework according to this plan!"

He issued the order decisively.

"Immediately mark the locations of these 316 preset gathering points, recommended migration routes, and threat level assessments of surrounding nests with the highest priority. While the internet and mobile communications haven't been completely cut off yet, release this immediately!"

"Tell all our compatriots that the country has not abandoned them! Tell them where is relatively safe. At the same time, notify all military units to cover the civilians as they relocate to these preset points, and exert full effort to clear out the monsters surrounding these points to create the conditions for establishing them!"

After a brief, dead silence, Li Zhenguo waved his hand sharply.

"Everyone, execute! Draft detailed instructions immediately and issue them to all theater commands! This strategic operation shall be named: Kindling!"

Military orders were as immovable as mountains. The Dragon Abyss underground command center began to operate frantically, like the most precise war machine, following the issuance of the highest-level decision.

Streams of instructions carrying the new strategic vision pierced through the earth, flying toward the units still fighting in blood across the country.