Elias stood on the second-story concrete balcony of his family home, looking out over the suburban expanse of Camella Lessandra Bucandala.
Beside him, Sergeant Mateo Cruz unrolled a high-resolution satellite map overlay across his tactical tablet screen.
"Supreme Commander, here is the full layout of the subdivision," Cruz reported, pointing to the screen.
Beyond Cherry Street and Jakarta Street lay a sprawling suburban complex divided across Phase 2, Phase 3 Expansion, and Phase 5.
Thousands of tightly packed two-story townhouses stretched across multiple blocks toward the outer fields.
Because the airborne crimson rain had struck during peak weekday morning hours, over three thousand residents were present inside the subdivision when the outbreak began.
With seventy percent succumbing to immediate airborne mutation, over two thousand turned residents were wandering between the houses.
"This place is huge, Sergeant," Elias said, his eyes scanning the distant rooftops.
"Clearing thousands of townhouses and killing all these zombies is going to take us three full days."
"Furthermore, Supreme Commander, look at our outer boundary points," Cruz pointed toward the western perimeter edge on his tablet.
While the main front entrance was guarded by heavy iron gates, several side access roads connecting to outer Bucandala fields were wide open.
Without physical barriers, wandering zombie swarms from Aguinaldo Highway could easily spill into the subdivision through those open gaps.
"Here's the plan," Elias said simply.
"First, ask the survivors if anyone is willing to help us block those open roads."
"Second, we clear these streets house by house, from Phase 1 all the way to Phase 5."
"Yes, Supreme Commander!" Cruz saluted sharply before stepping down to the driveway.
Sergeant Cruz went down Cherry Street, knocking loudly on locked front doors to call for volunteers.
"Knock! Knock!"
"Any able-bodied men! Step out and assist our unit in building road barricades to secure the neighborhood!" Cruz shouted.
Behind barricaded windows, terrified residents yelled back in stubborn refusal.
"Are you crazy?! No way!" a male neighbor shouted from a second-story window.
"It's the end of the world out there! We're staying inside!" another stubborn resident yelled, slamming his curtains shut.
Most of the survivors were far too terrified and paranoid to leave their homes, refusing to open their doors.
Out of all the houses along the street, only seven brave survivors actually stepped outside to help.
"We'll help you, Sergeant," a middle-aged father said, trembling as he looked at the blood-stained pavement.
"Good," Cruz nodded. "My riflemen will cover you. Move!"
Under the watchful eyes of Fireteam Alpha's snipers stationed on the roof of the KM-450, the seven volunteers worked alongside the soldiers.
"Rumble... Crash!"
They dragged overturned delivery tricycles, heavy wooden construction beams, and abandoned commuter cars across the open western access roads.
Within two hours, three massive, impassable vehicular barricades were constructed, completely sealing Camella Bucandala from external roaming swarms.
With the perimeter gaps secured, Elias led Fireteam Bravo directly into Phase 1 along Cherry Street and Jakarta Street.
"Keep quiet and use your blades. We clear house by house," Elias told his men, unsheathing his combat knife.
"Fireteam Alpha, take the left row of townhouses! Fireteam Bravo, take the right!" Cruz ordered.
"Kick it open!" Elias said, stepping up to a narrow townhouse entrance.
"Crash!"
The heavy wooden door caved inward, revealing four turned residents snarling inside a dark living room!
"Grrr... Raaagh!"
All four zombies lunged simultaneously, their rotted claws tearing through the dim air!
Elias exploded into motion with his 3x Peak Human speed and physical strength!
He grabbed the lead turned male by its collar, driving his tactical knife upward through its jawline into its brainstem!
"Squiggle... Squelch!"
Without losing momentum, Elias pivoted, delivering a devastating side kick into the chest of a second zombie!
"Boom! Shatter!"
The crushing 3x physical impact shattered the zombie's ribcage, blasting it backward through a glass dining table!
He grabbed the remaining two turned residents by their throats, slamming their skulls together with bone-shattering power!
"Crack!"
Both monsters collapsed lifelessly onto the tile floor in less than three seconds.
Behind him, Sergeant Cruz and Fireteam Bravo breached adjacent townhouses along Cherry Street with terrifying military precision.
"Slice!"
"Crack!"
"Thud!"
Door by door, street by street, the squad executed silent, methodical clearing strikes through living rooms, kitchens, and upstairs bedrooms.
Because of their elite tactical training and Elias's overwhelming CQC power, the squad suffered zero casualties throughout the sweep.
By the time dusk settled over Cavite, Elias and his squad had cleared the first row of townhouses along Cherry Street and Jakarta Street.
A total of one hundred thirty turned residents lay dead across the concrete of Phase 1.
"Fireteam Bravo, harvest every Red Core!" Sergeant Cruz ordered, wiping black gore from his tactical blade.
Two riflemen swept through the cleared streets, carving open skulls and gathering one hundred thirty glowing crimson crystals into heavy tactical pouches.
Sergeant Cruz presented the pouches to Elias near the parked KM-450 tactical vehicle.
Elias placed his hand over the glowing crystals, absorbing the energy into his System Vault.
"Ding!"
[ System Notice: 130 Red Cores Absorbed! ]
[ Total Red Cores Vault Balance: 200 / 500 Red Cores ]
[ Progress to First Lieutenant (1LT): 200 / 500 ]
A warm flow of energy washed through Elias's muscles as his vault balance reached two hundred Red Cores.
He needed three hundred more Red Cores to reach First Lieutenant rank and unlock the Arsenal Shop.
Elias wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking out over the darkened streets of Phase 1.
Phase 2, Phase 3 Expansion, and Phase 5 still awaited his blade tomorrow morning.
Elias clenched his fists, his eyes burning with cold resolve as night descended over Camella Lessandra Bucandala.