After seizing the jeep from the three thugs, Anirudh drove straight toward the National University of Defense Technology.
Compared to yesterday, the level of chaos in City C had escalated even further, with the situation now teetering on the brink of full-blown riot.
Along the way, there were countless acts of violence—looting, fighting, and more. Shops were left wide open and in disarray, with bloodstains marking the ground, and the occasional body could be seen hidden in street corners. Some buildings and cars were even set ablaze, and no one seemed to be trying to extinguish the fires. At first glance, it looked as though a war had just occurred.
What was even more terrifying was that the riot was still spreading. With it, the number of zombies on the streets was also beginning to increase. However, because the outbreak had not yet formed a large-scale presence and there was a heavy fog blocking visibility, few people had noticed. But if this continued, the destruction of City C was only a matter of time.
Humanity's destructive actions were steadily pushing them toward their own annihilation.
Faced with this chaotic situation, Anirudh—despite possessing powers far beyond those of ordinary people—found himself completely helpless. He could only continue his drive toward the National University of Defense Technology.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Just as Anirudh was about to reach the National University of Defense Technology, a series of rapid gunshots echoed from a distance, momentarily startling him.
Having a good relationship with the city's police SP, Anirudh had handled many firearms over the years. He instantly recognized that these gunshots were not coming from the small-caliber pistols typically used by the police but from high-powered military rifles—weaponry only the military had access to.
"The army has entered the city?" he muttered.
The sound of the military rifles gave Anirudh a sense of relief. In this dire situation, perhaps only the army could stabilize the situation and save whatever remained of City C.
With that thought in mind, Anirudh increased his speed, heading in the direction of the gunfire.
As he neared the source, the gunshots grew clearer. Soon, a group of fully armed soldiers emerged from the fog, their armored vehicles providing cover as they quickly spread across the street and established control over it.
Loudspeakers mounted on the vehicles blared warnings.
According to the instructions of our superiors, City C will now be placed under military control, with a curfew and roadblocks. Please cooperate with the military and return to your homes immediately. Do not remain on the streets."
"Any violators will be dealt with according to wartime emergency regulations. Those with serious offenses will be shot on sight!"
…
As the soldiers took control of the street and the loudspeakers issued commands, the crowds that had been looting stores scattered like mice fleeing from a cat. Some ran home, while others hid, refraining from acting recklessly in front of the soldiers.
The army was the country's ultimate authority. Their power and respect among the people were unmatched by that of the police.
Those thugs might not fear the police, but they would never dare disrespect the military!
"Something's not right..." Anirudh muttered.
While there was nothing wrong with the soldiers themselves, their numbers seemed too few. They were only equipped with ordinary armored vehicles, military rifles, and a small number of submachine guns. There wasn't a single piece of heavy firepower like rocket launchers or tanks.
This was highly unusual for India, which had a fully mechanized military.
"Never mind. I'll get the answers I need when I meet Chandan," Anirudh decided after a moment, shaking his head and speeding up.
A few minutes later, Anirudh arrived at the National University of Defense Technology.
The university was under full martial law. The steel gates were completely shut, and various obstacles had been placed in front of them. Two watchtowers had even been erected, with fully armed soldiers positioned at them, ensuring the gate's security.
"Stop! The road ahead is blocked!"
When the soldiers saw Anirudh speeding toward the gates in his brightly colored jeep, they immediately raised their rifles and submachine guns, aiming them at him. One of them shouted, "Please cooperate, or, according to wartime emergency regulations, we have the right to shoot!"
"Wait!" Chandan, fortunately, arrived just in time. He trotted out from the side door, holding a stamped note and handing it to one of the soldiers. "He's my friend, and he has a pass."
"Yes, sir!"
After examining the note and seeing the official seal, the soldier nodded and said, "But you know the rules. Outside vehicles are not allowed to enter, and they must be inspected for infection before being allowed inside."
"Of course, I know. Don't worry, everything will be fine."
Chandan grinned and waved at Anirudh. "Boss, come on over. Leave the car here, and someone will take care of it."
"Got it."
Since the jeep didn't belong to Anirudh, he smiled and, after hearing Chandan's words, got out of the vehicle and walked toward Chandan with his suitcase.
"Shit, Anirudh, did you get plastic surgery or something?" Chandan asked, staring in shock when he saw Anirudh. The latter had lost almost all his weight, and his temperament and skin had changed significantly.
"It's not that drastic. It's just that you didn't pay attention to me..." Anirudh shrugged, not sure how to explain it. "By the way, when I was coming here, I saw some troops cleaning up the streets and maintaining order. Do you know anything about this?"
"I just found out about it too."
Chandan nodded, his playful expression turning serious. "It seems the situation in City C is getting worse. Even the number of zombies roaming the city is increasing. That's why the higher-ups have no choice but to send out the limited forces they have."
Chandan sighed. "But there are only three regiments of troops stationed here, and two of them are in reserve. If we rely on them alone... we won't be able to maintain order for long."
"We have to keep it under control, no matter how hard it is," Anirudh said, finally understanding the severity of the situation. "Otherwise, City C will be finished."
"So, how long will it take for reinforcements to arrive?"
"We don't have many troops stationed in Agra," Chandan explained. "Apart from the three regiments in City C, there are only some reserve regiments and engineering regiments in surrounding cities, as well as an air defense brigade. But those forces are stuck in their own cities, maintaining order. They can't come to our aid."
Chandan shook his head. "We're counting on reinforcements from New Delhi, but because of the fog and other factors, they won't arrive until at least tomorrow night."
Agra City, where City C was located, was part of the Western Command , with the headquarters based in New Delhi. Given the circumstances, it would take at least one or two days to move troops from there.
"I hope the situation can hold until then."
Knowing that the main forces wouldn't arrive until the following day, Anirudh felt even more anxious. The longer it took, the worse the situation would become.
As the two of them talked, Anirudh passed the security check at the entrance, ensuring there were no signs of infection on his body. He was finally allowed to enter the prestigious National University of Defense Technology.
However, the situation was too urgent for any sightseeing. Anirudh followed Chandan to his parents' home, where he was given a room to stay in.
Chandan's parents, who were busy handling the zombie outbreak, couldn't entertain Anirudh at the moment.
After a brief conversation, Chandan went back to his room to play games, leaving Anirudh some time alone to rest.
But thoughts of the terrifying blood-colored monster, the mysterious entity that had destroyed City's No. 1 Hospital Jeevan Daan, and the system's awakening lingered in Anirudh's mind, preventing him from finding peace.
Unable to rest, Anirudh decided to use the time to gather information. The system had said that after the apocalypse, everything that humanity worships, fears, and fantasizes about would become real. So, Anirudh figured it was best to gather as much relevant information as possible now, so he wouldn't be caught off guard later.
He began searching for information on the apocalypse, zombies, and the fog.
According to news reports, the zombie virus had spread worldwide, and the situation was worsening. However, there was a glimmer of hope: the zombie infection initially only affected the dead, so the number of zombies was still relatively low. Additionally, because of the influence of movies and games, people had some idea of how to deal with zombies. With governments providing guidance, a global collapse had been averted—for the time being.
Countries like the United States and Switzerland, with their high per capita weaponry and low population density, had initially managed to control the spread.
But more weapons weren't always a good thing. In the United States, where gun ownership was already high and public security was poor, civil unrest had spiraled out of control. Many people had been killed by others and turned into zombies, causing the situation to collapse once more.
All in all, the global situation was dire.
As Anirudh continued his research, a post on a forum caught his attention.
"The fog and zombies are just the beginning. The real danger is coming soon!"
The title of the post sent a chill down his spine, and he quickly clicked on it.
Just as he had expected, the post contained content almost identical to what the system had told him. It even mentioned the possible emergence of other monsters appearing in the future.
However, as soon as this post was released, very few people believed it. Only some bored people replied to the post and some even cursed the poster.
The owner of the post did not respond to those people's ridicule or curses, but just hoped that everyone could believe everything he said. At the same time, he also told everyone that if these monsters really appear, it is very likely that they will appear according to the popularity of these monsters. The higher the popularity of the monsters, the higher the probability of their appearance. Therefore, he suggested that everyone check more popular monsters or legendary information to prepare for emergencies.
After that, the owner of this post never responded again.
"Why does this person also know this information?"
After reading this post, Anirudh fell into deep thought.
And then he realized something very important.
In addition to the Rudraksha pendant he owns, there is a high possibility that there are other inherited artifacts circulating in the world!