The perimeter of New Clark City was fortified with reinforced steel concrete walls, reaching a height of 20 meters and a thickness of 5 meters. This robust defense was constructed following the arrival of Blackwatch, a collaboration between the city’s residents and Blackwatch’s engineering team.

Strategically placed along the top of the wall were watchtowers, each manned by vigilant guards around the clock. These sentinels were equipped with high-powered binoculars and communication devices to maintain a constant watch for any potential threats.

The fortifications of New Clark City were further bolstered with the addition of heavy-duty weaponry. Along the top of the wall, interspersed between the watchtowers, were mounted M2HB heavy machine guns. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Operated by trained Blackwatch soldiers, the M2HBs were strategically placed to cover key areas of vulnerability along the wall. The guns were capable of delivering a high rate of fire, making them an effective deterrent against large groups of infected or any armed incursions.

In addition to the manned weapons, automated sentry guns were also installed at intervals along the wall. These sentries were equipped with motion sensors and targeting systems, programmed to detect and engage any unauthorized movement approaching the city. The sentry guns complemented the manual defenses by providing continuous surveillance and firepower, especially useful during nighttime or in conditions of reduced visibility.

Additionally, a sophisticated surveillance system was installed. Cameras with night vision capabilities and motion sensors dotted the length of the wall, feeding live footage back to a central command center within the city. This allowed for real-time monitoring and rapid response to any breach or unusual activity.

Inside one of the watchtowers, two guards were stationed, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings. It was Christmas Eve, and despite the gravity of their responsibilities, they couldn’t help but be drawn to the live broadcast of the celebrations inside New Clark City. The atmosphere of joy and festivity was a stark contrast to the tension that usually filled their days.

As they were momentarily distracted by the sounds of laughter and music emanating from the broadcast, one guard noticed something unusual in the distance. Squinting his eyes, he tried to discern the anomaly in the dark expanse beyond the wall.

"Hey, check this out," he called to his partner.

His partner roused from the brief respite of the celebrations, quickly rose to his feet and grabbed his binoculars. Peering through the lenses, his relaxed demeanor vanished instantly. A massive wave of zombies, like a dark, undulating tsunami, was approaching the wall at an alarming pace.

Without hesitation, he reached for the red button mounted on the wall of the watchtower. As he pressed it, a loud, piercing siren blared throughout the camp. The festive music and laughter were abruptly replaced by the urgent wail of the alarm, signaling imminent danger.

The civilians, who moments ago were immersed in Christmas celebrations, quickly recognized the alarm for what it was. Panic surged as they began to hurry back to their houses, seeking safety. The well-rehearsed emergency protocols kicked in, and the streets that were once filled with joyous celebrations now echoed with the sounds of urgent footsteps and commands.

Meanwhile, the guards in the watchtower sprang into action. They radioed the command center, reporting the size and speed of the approaching horde. The soldiers manning the M2HB machine guns were alerted, preparing to engage the threat.

The automated sentry guns, triggered by the approaching mass, began their ominous hum as they powered up, ready to assist in the defense. The night vision cameras along the wall relayed crisp images of the approaching zombies to the command center, allowing the commanders to assess the situation and coordinate the defense.

As the first zombies reached the outer perimeter, the M2HBs roared to life, their thunderous gunfire cutting through the night. The sentry guns joined in, their automated systems targeting and firing accurately.

Meanwhile, In the command center, Richard was alerted of the situation, but what was more alarming was the system notification.

[Emergency Quest: Survive the zombie wave.]

[Rewards: None!]

"What?" Richard exclaimed inwardly. Usually, in every wave, there’d be a reward after surviving the hordes, but this time, there was nothing. The absence of a reward made Richard uneasy. It hinted at an unexpected level of danger or a twist that the system hadn’t revealed yet. He quickly composed himself and began issuing orders.

"Graves, mobilize all combat-ready personnel," Richard commanded, his voice steady despite the rising tension. "And get me a visual on those zombies. I want to know what we’re dealing with."

Graves, always prepared for such contingencies, nodded sharply and began coordinating the defense. He relayed Richard’s orders through the communication network, and within moments, Blackwatch soldiers, already on high alert due to the siren, began taking positions along the wall, ready to support the machine gunners and sentry guns.

Richard turned his attention to the surveillance monitors, analyzing the live feed of the approaching horde. The sheer number of zombies was staggering, and they seemed to be moving with more coordination than usual. This wasn’t just a random attack; it was a calculated assault.

"Could Lin Feng be controlling them somehow?" Sara mused aloud, standing beside Richard and watching the monitors.

"There’s no doubt about it, it’s Lin Feng," Richard said. "But how come we didn’t notice this number of zombies? Sara, could you please pull up the satellite and drone footage within a five-kilometer radius of New Clark City in the last twenty-four hours?"

Sara quickly obliged, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she accessed the requested data. As the satellite and drone footage appeared on the screens, both Richard and Sara scrutinized the images, looking for any signs of the approaching horde.

To their surprise, the footage from the past twenty-four hours showed no significant movement of zombies near New Clark City. It was as if the massive wave had materialized out of nowhere, undetected by their extensive surveillance system.

"This doesn’t make sense," Sara said, her brow furrowed in confusion. "There’s no trace of such a large group assembling or approaching until just now. It’s like they just... appeared."

Richard’s expression grew more serious. "It means Lin Feng might have found a way to cloak their movements, or worse, teleport them. This is a game-changer. He’s using tactics we haven’t seen before. But since this is a wave, it’s time for me to take advantage of this opportunity."

Richard opened his system and then used his experience and gold capsules which doubled his experience and gold gains for one day. And the effect was instantly applied as he saw through the streams of notifications.

As he was looking at it, Lisa approached him from the side. "Brother? What’s happening?"

"There is a zombie outside, and we are clearing it as we speak," Richard replied simply. "There is nothing to worry about, this horde wouldn’t last in an hour."

Upon saying that, Sara detected something in the monitor.

"Sir...flyers inbound two kilometers out, and there are hunters and juggernaut as well," Sara reported.

Richard glanced at Graves who was busy barking orders, they shared an understanding nod. It’s time for them to help outside.