The night seemed unusually long.
Death and gunsmoke permeated all of Zhonghai City.
Military aircraft circled everywhere above Zhonghai City, while army ground units conducted exhaustive sweeps through the streets below.
Tanks, military vehicles, artillery, and all manner of military hardware normally seen only on television or in movies had now been deployed.
But this time, their targets were the ordinary citizens of Zhonghai City.
Countless civilians fled through the streets, crying and screaming. Seeing the soldiers who usually protected them now pointing guns at them only deepened their fear and unease.
An officer stood atop a military vehicle, repeatedly calling through a loudspeaker, "Please return home immediately and cooperate with us. Lock your doors and stop wandering around. These are exceptional circumstances. Comply immediately, or don't blame us for getting rough."
Several agitated men pointed at the troops and hurled abuse at them. "What gives you the right to tell us to stay home? What the hell is happening? We have a right to know!"
Another man added indignantly, "Exactly! Our phones have no service, and the power and water are out. Aren't you just sending us home to die? We're not going back!"
With those men leading the defiance, the surrounding civilians grew worked up and stood their ground before the troops.
As the soldiers and civilians faced off, someone in the crowd suddenly began vomiting blood violently, frightening everyone nearby into backing away.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
Seeing her husband vomiting blood, the woman beside him hurried over to support him.
The sight instantly put the entire military unit on edge.
"Everyone, move back! We have an infected person!"
As every gun swung toward the couple, the woman went deathly pale. "What are you doing? We... ah!"
Before she could finish, her blood-vomiting husband, whom she was shielding