Apocalypse Showdown: Carrier Conquest

Chapter 44: Second Symbiosis

Outside the logistics park, hidden in the darkness, Zhou Lin couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful. He had originally treated the logistics park as his own property but hadn’t rushed to collect from it. It seemed that taking one wrong step had led to another.

“Forget it. After all, they have to feed hundreds of thousands of people. I don’t necessarily need those supplies.”

He patted his own back and adjusted his snowboards, heading toward his next target.

What Zhou Lin didn’t know was that Wang Pingping had already identified the person who had “stolen” the dehydrated vegetables as their top enemy and reported it to the "Post-Disaster Command" currently representing the government of Jazhou City. In his report to the command, Wang Pingping pointed out that a group of vicious gangs had appeared in the city, and their existence might endanger social order and the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. He called for a severe crackdown and punishment!

Since upgrading his abilities, Zhou Lin had been contemplating one major question—what kind of vehicle should he symbiotically bond with.

His first thought was to use something already available—such as the airplane on Laifu Hao!

He had considered fighter jets, cargo planes, and helicopters. However, after much thought, he dismissed these options. Since the onset of the Endless Night and the freezing cold, along with his past death, he realized that, from an environmental standpoint, airplanes were not the most suitable mode of transport.

Ground transportation was the most urgent need for Zhou Lin at the moment. The "Conqueror" in the warehouse was the all-purpose champion, and if he had no other choice, that would be his pick.

At over 11 meters long, 2.55 meters wide, and 3.95 meters high, with a curb weight of 23,000 kg, the "Conqueror" boasted an impressive 425 kW power output, 578 horsepower, and 2800 Nm of maximum torque. With a 600-liter main fuel tank and a secondary tank that could be added at any time, the total fuel capacity was over 1,000 liters. Equipped with seven differential locks, a sandwich structure for insulation, and an advanced suspension system, the vehicle ensured a smooth ride even in extreme conditions.

The vehicle had a full suite of amenities, including an 18500-pound winch, shovel, sand recovery boards, and 12 solar panels on the roof. It was fully equipped with a hybrid power system, a water-cooled diesel generator, and a 21.6 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. Inside, the space was luxuriously designed, with a fully stocked kitchen, a spacious bathroom, and high-end climate control systems to ensure comfort in any weather.

It was, without a doubt, the ultimate survival vehicle for the apocalypse, though it came with a hefty price tag—something Zhou Lin could never have imagined possessing in peacetime.

There were other RVs on the market too, especially after the recent surge in RV popularity in Asharan. Many automotive manufacturers had seized the opportunity to produce city RVs and heavy-duty versions, offering numerous excellent options.

However, Zhou Lin’s plan for the future was to use the house in Lanshan as a temporary shelter during the early days of the apocalypse. After two months of extreme cold, there would be a period of relatively comfortable temperatures. However, once the snow melted, the surface water would flood the area, causing significant flooding. It was a given that parts of Jazhou City would be submerged.

After the floods, people might think that the worst was over and that only high temperatures and epidemics would follow, but that was not the case. The mass flooding would leave large areas submerged, and as the temperature rose, the evaporating water vapor would rapidly form thunderstorms, bringing heavy rain, hail, and tornadoes. The fluctuating temperatures between minus forty and forty degrees would make the situation even worse.

On top of that, the northern coastal areas of Asharan would face severe nuclear contamination. The nuclear facilities that had been frozen during the Endless Night period due to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes would thaw and begin releasing harmful materials into the environment. The radioactive contamination would spread, impacting countries and regions far beyond.

However, Zhou Lin had little knowledge of the outcome for Asharan’s northern neighbors. It was rumored that the mutated creatures in Black State and Ocean State were particularly fierce, so it was likely that those people were in for a tough time.

Lost in his thoughts, Zhou Lin didn’t realize he had reached his destination—the Jazhou Auto City. Just like the logistics park, it was also buried under a thick blanket of snow. The once-bustling 4S dealerships were now buried beneath piles of snow.

But Zhou Lin wasn’t here for the cars.

Among civilian vehicles, the "Conqueror" was at the top of the food chain, especially in small cities like Jazhou, where it was almost impossible to find a stronger vehicle.

But Zhou Lin considered the "Conqueror" still imperfect. If he were to symbiotically bond with it and use it frequently, he would need to modify, maintain, and repair it repeatedly. Unfortunately, even with the ability to modify and maintain it within Laifu Hao’s storage space, it was impossible to generate the necessary parts and materials out of thin air.

There were some vehicle parts on Laifu Hao, but they were not necessarily suitable for the "Conqueror," so Zhou Lin had come here to take a look.

He began digging through the snow and soon spotted a familiar domestic vehicle brand. It wasn’t exactly what he was looking for, but since he was already here, he figured he might as well take a look.

Half an hour later, Zhou Lin entered what used to be the showroom.

As he switched on his portable light, the entire showroom was revealed to him. The glass walls were shattered, and most of the vehicles on display were frozen in ice, likely impossible to use. There were no signs of human activity, suggesting that everyone had evacuated before the disaster fully hit.

After a brief consideration, Zhou Lin decided to load the vehicles in the showroom onto the deck of Laifu Hao. Then, he headed for the maintenance and repair workshop at the back.

There were several vehicles still awaiting or undergoing repairs, but Zhou Lin wasn’t interested in them. He was there only to collect brand-new parts and repair tools from the warehouse.

Fifteen minutes later, panting with exhaustion, Zhou Lin realized that this approach was too slow. He couldn’t keep making trips like this every day.