Ice Age Apocalypse: I've Stockpiled Billions of Resources

As the roar of the amphibious vehicle's engine gradually subsided, the vehicle shook slightly and came to a complete stop in the sheltered depression.

The lights inside the carriage were adjusted to a soft, warm tone, but even so, the smell of gunpowder and the tension in the air had not completely dissipated.

"Pfft."

A muffled thud broke the silence.

Just moments ago, Chen Shuang was staring intently at the radar screen, her fingers flying across the keyboard. Now, she seemed to have lost her spine, collapsing limply into the control chair.

Her face was pale, her bangs were wet with sweat and stuck to her skin, and her chest was heaving violently, as if the battle of the past half hour had exhausted all her energy.

"I can't go on... I really can't go on..." Chen Shuang's voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz. "My hands are still shaking. The data stream was too fast. If it had been even a second slower, those monsters might have cut into the blind spot."

She was really exhausted today.

The original plan was to find a safe spot, have a meal, and then get some rest. Who could have imagined that the Martian night would be so crazy?

I had barely put down my chopsticks when I was forced into a high-intensity race against time.

The emotional rollercoaster, coupled with prolonged periods of intense focus, was an immense burden for her.

"Well done, Chen Shuang." Lin Luo unbuckled his seatbelt, walked over and patted her shoulder, feeling a warm force in his palm. "Without your accurate callouts, our ammunition consumption would have at least doubled, and the vehicle would definitely have been damaged."

"I just... I just don't want to die."

Chen Shuang gave a wry smile and tried to raise her hand to wipe her sweat, but found that her arm was too weak to lift.

Not only her, but Zhang Min and Karina also looked exhausted.

Although the battle just now relied mainly on the automatic fire control system, they had to keep an eye on the monitors in all directions at all times, ready to take over manually at any time. The mental pressure they felt was unimaginable to ordinary people.

“These monkey demons… are terrifying.” Karina took a big gulp of water and said with lingering fear, “Their numbers are abnormally high. Even ant colonies on Earth don’t have such an exaggerated density.”

Lin Luo nodded, gazing intently at the dark night outside the window.

"That's definitely too much."

He found a comfortable position to sit down, took out a cigarette from his pocket, thought for a moment, then put it back, just holding it in his mouth for a quick fix.

"But that might be the norm on Mars."

Lin Luo's voice was deep, carrying a calm understanding of the world.

"Normal?" Natasha had calmed down by now. The black markings on her body had completely faded, and she had returned to her beautiful and charming appearance, although a trace of lingering murderous intent remained in her eyes. "You mean, this place was originally a monster's den?"

“Think about it,” Lin Luo said, pointing to the ground beneath his feet. “Based on the clues we found in the ruins, the Martians encountered an irresistible ‘catastrophe’ back then, which is why they had to flee this planet in a hurry.”

Everyone looked at Lin Luo, waiting for him to continue.

"The escape was hasty, even chaotic," Lin Luo continued to analyze. "They took away the core technology and the elite race, but the experimental creatures, pets, and even the unfinished biological weapons they kept were abandoned."

"You mean, these monkey demons were abandoned?" Zhang Min asked in surprise.

“Most likely,” Lin Luo sneered. “Without the constraints of their masters or the suppression of their natural enemies, these creatures survived in the ruins. For Martians, this is wasteland; but for these monsters, it is paradise.”

Lin Luo's words sent a chill down everyone's spine.

"Tens of thousands of years..." Lin Luo sighed. "In these tens of thousands of years, the vast majority of strange creatures that could not adapt to the environment have died out. Only species with strong reproductive capabilities, abnormal adaptability, and the ability to cooperate in groups have survived."

“Survival of the fittest.” Lin Luo looked at the replay of the battle on the screen and pointed to the elite scout that had been blown to pieces. “Look at that big guy, that’s proof of evolution. They’ve multiplied and thrived here, treating the entire surface of Mars as their hunting grounds and nurseries. The few thousand we just encountered were probably just a small group in this area.”

"This is practically raising poisonous insects." Chen Shuang couldn't help but shudder. "The entire planet is a giant petri dish."

“That’s right, so we have to be even more careful.” Lin Luo stood up and walked to the supply box. “The deeper we go into the heart of Mars, the more complete the social structure of these monsters will be. There’s even a possibility of more advanced ‘monkey kings’ or other mutant species appearing.”

The atmosphere was tense for a moment.

Seeing this, Lin Luo smiled and broke the awkward atmosphere: "Alright, don't think too much. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. The most important thing now is to recover your strength."

With a wave of his hand, he magically produced a pile of food from the strange space.

The table was instantly filled with goodies: self-heating braised beef rice, canned luncheon meat with an enticing aroma, several bottles of high-energy sports drinks, and even a plate of sliced ​​vacuum-packed braised chicken legs.

"Wow!" Chen Shuang's eyes lit up instantly, and her previously limp body seemed to be injected with a spark of vitality. "There's meat in it!"

"You fought so hard just now, you can't go without eating something good." Lin Luo tore open the packaging of a chicken leg and handed it to Natasha. "Especially you, you were so emotional just now, your spider abilities must have been quite depleted, right?"

Natasha took the chicken leg, feeling a warmth in her heart.

Although Lin Luo had yelled at her earlier, she knew it was for her safety. Activating her mutated abilities was indeed extremely taxing on her physical strength, and her stomach was already completely empty.

"Eat! Eat this rich man out of house and home!" Zhang Min didn't stand on ceremony and grabbed a box of beef rice to heat it up.

Soon, a rich aroma of food filled the carriage, dispelling the original smell of blood and engine oil.

Everyone wolfed down their food; no one spoke, only the sounds of chewing and swallowing filled the air.

At times like these, food is not just energy, but also a source of psychological comfort and the most direct proof that "I am still alive."

Lin Luo opened a can of braised pork and ate it heartily with white rice. The hot food finally eased the deep-seated fatigue in him.

Half an hour later, only a pile of empty cans and packaging bags remained on the table.

Everyone leaned back in their chairs, letting out satisfied sighs. Chen Shuang's complexion had become much rosier, and Natasha's eyes had regained their liveliness.

"Alright, we've finished eating. Now let's arrange the night watch."

Lin Luo wiped his mouth, his expression turning serious again. "Although it's safe here for now and the radar hasn't sounded any alarms, we can't let our guard down. The amphibious vehicle's defense system is automatic, but someone has to keep an eye on it to prevent elite monsters like the one that can block signals from getting close."

“I’ll do it,” Natasha was the first to raise her hand. “I didn’t exert myself much just now, so I’m full of energy right now.”

“No.” Lin Luo refused outright. “Although your senses are sharp, you need deep sleep to calm the agitation at the genetic level. You almost lost control just now, so you must get a good night’s sleep tonight.”

Natasha pursed her lips but did not refute.

"I'll take the first half of the night," Zhang Min said. "I ate too much just now, this will help me digest."

“No need.” Lin Luo shook his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone. “You’re all tired today, especially mentally. Chen Shuang’s hands are still shaking, and Karina’s eyes are almost closed. I’ll take the first shift.”

"Lin Luo, you're human too, and you've been driving for half a day," Karina said with some concern.

“I’m physically stronger than you, and I know what I’m doing,” Lin Luo said firmly. “I’ll keep watch for the first four hours, and then until the middle of the night. If it’s safe, I’ll wake up Zhang Min or Natasha to relieve me. Everyone will take turns sleeping so that everyone will be energetic tomorrow morning.”

"But……"

"Follow my instructions." Lin Luo interrupted them, stood up, walked to the driver's seat, and adjusted the seat to an angle that allowed him to observe the surroundings without being too uncomfortable. "Turn off all the interior lights except for the emergency lights. Everyone, go to the rest area and sleep immediately."

Seeing Lin Luo's resolute attitude, the others stopped being coy.

In the apocalypse, obedience to orders is the first principle of survival, and they have indeed reached their limit.

Chen Shuang and Karina crawled into their sleeping bags in the back row and fell asleep almost immediately upon hitting the pillow.

Zhang Min also lay down in the back seat of the passenger seat, wrapped in a blanket.

Natasha walked over to Lin Luo, bent down, and gently kissed him on the cheek.

"Call me in four hours," she whispered in Lin Luo's ear. "Don't push yourself."

"Go ahead and don't worry." Lin Luo patted the back of her hand and smiled gently.

Soon, the sound of even breathing filled the carriage.

Lin Luo sat alone in the darkness, with only the dashboard in front of him emitting a faint blue light that illuminated his angular face.

He wasn't as relaxed as he appeared.

He lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and the pungent smoke swirled in his lungs, keeping his mind perfectly clear.

Through the bulletproof glass, the Martian wasteland outside remained a desolate darkness.

But in Lin Luo's eyes, it seemed as if countless pairs of eyes were hiding in this darkness, watching him.

Mars still holds many unknown dangers.