"I have a sowhat immature idea."
Hearing Chen Zongming’s voice, the porridge girl looked up and t his eyes, asking, "What idea?"
"At this point, we should all acknowledge that rescue isn’t coming. Even if Mr. Ling rembers us, by the ti they can send support, this base’s defense will likely be breached. By then, none of us will survive. Rather than that, we might as well take a gamble."
"How do you plan to gamble?"
"Break through," Chen Zongming uttered two words solemnly. "Rather than sitting here waiting to die, we should gather all resources for an attack. I just calculated, there are still over a hundred combat-capable mbers in the base, along with weapons and ammunition, enough for us to initiate a charge. As long as we open a breach, spread out, and escape into the desert, we’ll have a chance at survival."
The porridge girl pondered for a mont before asking, "Have you considered the others? Besides us combat personnel, the base has dozens of researchers averaging around fifty years old, lacking physical strength and combat capability. Having them charge with us would be sending them to their deaths."
Chen Zongming hurriedly said, "Why don’t you understand, staying here is a dead-end. Rather than dying here, let’s give everyone a chance to fight for their lives. Dying is fate, survival is luck. We are still young, porridge girl, do you really want to bury your life in this hellish place?"
"I understand your feelings, but I don’t agree with this plan. No matter what, I won’t abandon any companion; that’s my responsibility." The porridge girl paused and continued, "But I won’t make things difficult for you. If you can convince others to break through with you, then go ahead. I’ll stay and wait for rescue with everyone."
"You... sigh!" Chen Zongming opened his mouth to persuade further, but seeing the porridge girl’s steadfast gaze, he chose to give up. Having dealt with her for so long, he knew her determined nature; once she decided sothing, no one could sway her.
"Alright." Chen Zongming considered for a mont, then nodded, "Since you’ve decided, I won’t force you. I’ll tell the others my plan and let them choose."
"Zongming, I still hope you stay. We lack manpower as it is; if you take people away, defending will be difficult. Given the situation, we can hold out for at least ten days to half a month. If you leave, we might not last a day."
"So your best choice is to leave with ."
The porridge girl frowned slightly and said, "You’re forcing ."
"This is for your own good. Rest assured, I’ll do my utmost to protect you, no matter what happens, I..."
"Sothing’s wrong!" Before Chen Zongming could finish, an anxious voice rang out.
The two turned to see a young man rushing over, gasping for breath, "Those bastards outside found the base’s ventilation ducts. They’ve thrown gas grenades inside and sealed the ducts."
Hearing this, the faces of the porridge girl and Chen Zongming changed.
Looking up at the ventilation shaft as the young man described, a faint gas was indeed seeping from it.
"Block all the ventilation shafts imdiately; do not let the gas enter the base," the porridge girl commanded.
The order was quickly relayed, but no matter how fast everyone moved, they couldn’t stop the gas from entering the base. The vast underground base was at least half enveloped in gas.
With no other options, the porridge girl had to seal off areas, isolating the gas completely, greatly reducing everyone’s activity space.
Chen Zongming stood beside a machine, looking at the data displayed with an extrely grim expression.
"The base’s air can’t circulate. At this rate, within a day at most, the air will be completely depleted."
The porridge girl sat silently nearby, the unexpected situation catching her off guard. She had thought they could hold out much longer, but now it seed they only had one day.
"Porridge girl, let’s break through; staying here only leads to death," Chen Zongming stated.
"Staying leads to death, going out is the sa death." The porridge girl spoke blankly, "Zhu Hong uses these tactics to force us out. He knows well that once our air runs out, the only solution is to flee the base. I imagine he’s already set everything up outside, just waiting for us to fall into the trap. But you’re right, facing death either way, at least breaking through offers a glimr of hope."
With those words, the porridge girl gathered everyone in the base and explained her plan.
"We have one day to prepare; whether we survive depends on our luck." After speaking, the porridge girl sighed softly, ignoring the buzz of discussion as she walked out of the room alone. She wanted so quiet ti.
Outside the base, Zhu Hong stood by a tent, watching the tanks moving in the distance, the sunlight reflecting piercingly off his silver mask.
Soon, the tank barrels all aid at the base’s exit. Whoever erged from the base would undoubtedly be blown to bits by the ready-loaded shells.
"Alright, let’s head back. Now we just wait for the victory news." Zhu Hong smiled confidently.
A day, seemingly short yet long. But for those inside the base, it was an excruciating ti. They sat without image on the ground, backs against the walls, none speaking. At this point, they didn’t know what to say.
Knowing it was likely death, they could only gamble without retreat. Watching the clock on the wall tick, their hearts climbed into their throats.
Half an hour left... For them, this half-hour could be life’s final monts. So began breathing heavily, faces pale with fear for the upcoming fight, fearing what’s to co.
They yearned to live but understood the hope was minuscule.
A few younger mbers began to retch with nerves.
Footsteps sounded, and everyone looked up to see the porridge girl appear in their view. Without a word or a pre-battle speech, they all stood in unison.
They knew, it was ti.
"Take this!"
Taking the riot shield handed by Chen Zongming, the porridge girl asked, "How much explosives do we have remaining?"
"Only one box left."
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