Foreseeing the global catastrophe, I sealed off the entire city in advance.

Chapter 8 Clearing Obstacles and Establishing Order: The First Glimmer of Dawn

The first rays of sunlight in the morning pierced through the layers of oppressive clouds and fell on the city walls surrounding Cangnan.

The traces of last night's beast tide are still clear—the anti-climb spikes on the outside of the city wall are covered with claw marks, several sections of the wall are slightly cracked from the impact, and in the ruins below the city wall, there are still corpses of deformed wild dogs and foul-smelling bloodstains.

But at this moment, the fortified city was in perfect order.

On the training field, the team members had finished their morning training and were sitting together eating breakfast and discussing last night's battle.

"I didn't expect those stray dogs to be so ferocious. Luckily, the city walls are sturdy enough, and the electric fence works well!"

"My hands are numb from killing so many monsters for the first time, but I feel much more at ease. Following Brother Chen, I'm sure I can survive!"

"I just don't know if there's more to come. I heard the poison gas in the west of the city hasn't dissipated yet, and the weather is getting weirder and weirder."

The team members' discussions revealed exhaustion and vigilance, but not a hint of retreat.

After last night's battle, they truly felt the terror of the mutated creatures and realized more clearly that the era of peace had completely ended and the battlefield of the apocalypse was now before them.

Lin Chen stood on the watchtower of the city wall, holding a telescope, looking down at the scene outside the city.

Last night's pack of mutated stray dogs was just an appetizer.

He could smell the increasingly strong aura of the aberrant factors in the air, feel the subtle vibrations coming from deep within the earth's crust, and see the shadows of storms lurking in the distant clouds.

The great catastrophe is now in its final countdown.

"Good morning, Brother Chen."

Zhao Lei came up with a breakfast in hand, his face tired but his eyes bright. "The body count from last night is finished. There were thirty-seven mutated stray dogs in total. Old Wang said he made a new discovery."

"Speak." Lin Chen put down the binoculars and took the breakfast.

"Old Wang dissected several stray dogs and found that they had a large number of aberration crystals in their bodies, similar to the bone spurs on aberration cats. These crystals can absorb radiation energy from the air and evolve rapidly," Zhao Lei said in a low voice. "More importantly, he detected that the stray dogs' blood is highly contagious. Once scratched or bitten, an ordinary person will mutate within an hour and become a monster just like them."

Lin Chen's eyes suddenly darkened.

This means that the mortality rate in the early stages of the apocalypse will be higher than he anticipated.

Not only do they have to face natural disasters and mutated beasts, but they also have to be wary of the risk of being scratched and infected by their own kind.

"Tell everyone that when going out on missions, they must wear full protective gear, especially stab-proof vests and gloves. They absolutely cannot be scratched or bitten by the mutated creatures," Lin Chen said coldly. "Also, have Dr. Li speed up the development of anti-mutation serum. Even if it's just an inhibitory one, it can save many lives."

"clear."

Just then, news came from the city's security team: "Brother Chen, the gambling den in the north of the city has been cleared. Twenty-three gamblers and drug addicts have been arrested. Five of them are suspected of taking advantage of the chaos to rob and injure innocent civilians. In accordance with previous regulations, they have all been dealt with."

Lin Chen nodded slightly.

This is the last major hidden danger to be eliminated in the city.

Following the chemical plant accident, he ordered a thorough purge of all violent gangs and criminals in the city.

Robbery, assault, disorderly conduct, hoarding of supplies and not sharing... Anyone who crosses this line, regardless of their status, will be eliminated.

In just a few days, the atmosphere in the city was completely transformed.

The former street thugs, gambling thugs, and scoundrels were either cleared out or driven away, and for the first time, order was truly established in the entire fortified city.

However, this approach has also drawn criticism from some ordinary people.

"It's just stealing some things, is it really necessary to kill someone?"

"Things are already in such a mess, isn't it going too far to be so strict?"

"I heard there's a family in the west of the city whose child was kicked out because he stole a piece of bread. Isn't that incredibly heartless?"

As order was established within the city, dissenting voices gradually emerged.

Ordinary citizens, in particular, inevitably feel dissatisfied as they see increasingly strict controls and the "bad guys" being driven away.

Lin Chen knew he could no longer hide it.

It's time to reveal the truth, let everyone recognize reality, and unite.

As evening fell, the central square of the fortified city was brightly lit.

Lin Chen stood on the makeshift platform, below which stood all the members inside the stronghold—the core team, ordinary citizens, and newly joined survivors.

"I know that many people have opinions about what we've done."

Lin Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire square, carrying a calm and powerful tone: "Some people think we're too cruel, some people think we're too heartless, and some even think we shouldn't have driven people out of the city over such a trivial matter."

The audience was silent, with many people lowering their heads or looking puzzled.

Lin Chen raised his hand, signaling Zhao Lei to move the carcasses of the mutated wild dogs and the samples of the mutated cats that he had shot the night before onto the high platform.

A foul stench instantly filled the air, and many people instinctively backed away, their faces showing fear.

"Take a look, everyone."

Lin Chen pointed at the corpses on the ground, his voice cold and serious, "These are not ordinary animals; they are mutated beasts, products of the Great Cataclysm! They carry a deadly mutation virus. Once scratched or bitten, you will turn into a monster just like them!"

"Three days ago, a young man in the west of the city was scratched on the arm by a stray cat. In just two hours, he underwent a mutation and turned into a bloodthirsty monster. In the end, we shot him dead with our own hands."

"Yesterday, a gambler in the north of the city sneaked into the hospital during the chaos, trying to steal antibiotics. After we caught him, he secretly bit a nurse. Fortunately, it was discovered in time and no serious consequences occurred."

Every word Lin Chen uttered was like a heavy hammer blow to everyone's hearts.

Many people turned pale instantly, and when they recalled their previous doubts, they couldn't help but feel ashamed.

"I can tell you that what we are driving away are potential dangers; what we are eliminating are the roots of chaos."

"When the apocalypse comes, human nature will be amplified infinitely; greed, selfishness, and cruelty will become the norm. If we are merciful and leave these people inside the fortress, it won't be long before they breach our defenses from within, causing everyone to die in the mouths of the mutant beasts!"

"I, Lin Chen, swear here and now—"

Lin Chen's voice suddenly rose, his eyes sharp as knives, sweeping over everyone in the audience, "I built this high wall not to survive for myself, but to protect Cangnan City, to protect all those who are willing to live and willing to abide by the rules!"

"Follow me, follow the rules, work hard to build, and I can guarantee you will survive, endure the winter, and see the dawn!"

"If anyone refuses to follow the rules, tries to take advantage of the chaos to commit evil, and wants to turn the barrier into their playground for wrongdoing, then I, Lin Chen, will show no mercy!"

After he finished speaking, the audience fell silent.

After a long while, someone started to applaud.

Immediately, more and more people joined in, and applause and cheers resounded throughout the square.

"Brother Chen, we believe in you!"

"Follow Brother Chen, follow the rules, and survive!"

"Fortified City is our only hope!"

Looking at the excited crowd below, Lin Chen finally felt a weight lifted from his heart.

People's hearts have finally come together.

Order was finally established.

The next step is to completely solve the problems of supplies and food in the city, achieve self-sufficiency, and get through the most difficult period.

"Starting tomorrow, the logistics team will organize everyone to reclaim wasteland and plant grains and vegetables," Lin Chen announced loudly. "Old Wang's machinery team will modify farm tools, and Dr. Li's medical team will provide technical support. Everyone must contribute their strength to the survival of Fortified City!"

"Food and shelter, safety and hope for survival—"

This is the promise of the fortified city.

As night deepened, the crowd in the square gradually dispersed.

Standing on the high platform, Lin Chen looked at the city gradually returning to calm, a trace of fatigue finally showing in his eyes, but also a trace of relief.

The man-made disaster has been cleared up, and people's hearts have been united.

The city's defenses have been established, and order has been restored.

Next, the real test will begin—

A global catastrophe erupted.

Massive earthquakes, superstorms, tsunamis, extreme cold, heat waves, zombie viruses, mutations of all races...

A series of disasters will drag the entire world into an abyss.

But Lin Chen was already prepared.

Holding memories of a past life, with unwavering faith, reliable brothers by my side, and an immortal fortress beneath my feet.

He will defend this city.

He will protect the people around him.

He will build a city of hope for humanity on the ruins of the apocalypse.

The dawn has quietly broken in Cangnan City.

Lin Chen's battle to defend the city had just entered its most intense phase.