vncnus Chapter 30 Alien 2
Chapter 30 Alien 2
"Mental connection stable. Chu Xuan, share your structural scan and energy readings. Zero, Ming Yanwei, report your optimal sniping position relocation route. Zhan Lan, continue scanning for life signals around Zheng Zha and the others, marking threat levels and anomalies."
Wang Lin's voice sounded steady within the mental resonance network, despite the throbbing pain in his temples from mental exhaustion. The emptiness brought about by the destruction of the contract remained, but the three-dimensional thinking network constructed by "mental resonance" was integrating scattered perceptions, calculations, and tactical intentions with unprecedented efficiency and clarity.
Chu Xuan barely paused; the more detailed ship structure diagram and real-time energy readings from the upper escape harbor of Area A, which he had just extracted from the main control terminal of the power bay, were immediately transformed into a precise data stream and fed into the shared network. Zero calmly planned three routes from the current engineering area to the high ground on the outer perimeter of Area A, marking potential obstacles and blind spots along the paths. Ming Yanwei focused her observations on possible ambush points for the aliens and usable environmental features. Zhan Lan's mental scan, like radar, clearly marked the dozens of strong hostile signals gathered within the escape harbor, the relatively concentrated defensive perimeter of Zheng Zha's team and other characters, and… outside the massive airtight door of the harbor, the giant bio-signal pulsating like a heartbeat, radiating a suffocating sense of oppression.
"The Queen... no, a more powerful variant. Its energy readings far exceed those of the Guardian in the power bay. It seems to be... controlling the aliens throughout the entire port area?" Zhan Lan's voice was filled with fear.
"Driving the prey into a specific area, where the strongest hunter reaps the rewards. A typical upgraded version of a hunting tactic," Chu Xuan analyzed. His mind raced through the shared network, simulating battlefield dynamics. "Zheng Zha and his group are pinned down near a small repair platform inside the port, relying on piled-up cargo containers and abandoned equipment for defense. There are about thirty to forty aliens, applying continuous pressure from multiple directions. The story characters... there are four left, concentrated in the center of the defensive perimeter. The Queen variant is located outside the main port entrance, seemingly waiting for the perfect moment to break in, or perhaps... enjoying the fear of its prey?"
"We can't charge in head-on," Wang Lin quickly assessed. "There are too many aliens, and the Queen variant is also holding them back. We must disrupt their formation to create an opportunity for Zheng Zha and the others to break through or counterattack."
"A feint attack," Chu Xuan interjected. "Zero point, Ming Yanwei, proceed to the designated sniping point via route C. The target is not the Queen, but several key lighting arrays within the port, partially exposed load-bearing structures, and... those ventilation vents that look like they've been modified by alien secretions. Create chaos and divide the battlefield."
"Understood." Zero and Mingyanwei's figures quickly disappeared into the shadows.
"Wang Lin, Zhang Jie, Zhan Lan, come with me. We're going here." Chu Xuan marked a point on the map—an area labeled "Exhaust Gas Emission Treatment Unit" located on the upper flank of Area A, near the side of the port. "This place is connected to the port's interior by narrow maintenance passages, and its internal structure is complex, containing numerous adjustable airflow valves and filtration devices. If the aliens communicate using pheromones and sound, this could be one of their 'command nodes' or information relay stations. Destroying it might disrupt their coordination."
"At the same time," Chu Xuan looked at Wang Lin and Zhang Jie, "we need to verify the aftereffects of the 'interference' we just experienced, and look for opportunities to further 'stabilize' or 'define' Zhang Jie's state under the pressure of actual combat. Wang Lin, your mental resonance needs to maintain a high-intensity coverage, and you need to try to simulate, amplify, or weaken specific mental fluctuations. Zhang Jie, you need to mobilize the power of the guide again, within a controllable range, but this time the goal is not combat, but... to 'observe' and 'record' the abnormal energy nodes on the battlefield, especially the Queen variant and those modified areas."
Zhang Jie's face was still somewhat pale, but his eyes had regained their sharpness. He nodded: "Understood. To be a human radar and recorder, right? I'll do my best."
Wang Lin took a deep breath and further strengthened the connection of "Mental Resonance," weaving it like invisible threads into a three-dimensional, dynamic battlefield situation map. This map included Chu Xuan's tactical deductions, Zhang Jie's energy perception, Zhan Lan's environmental scan, and information he received from Zero Point, Ming Yanwei, and even Zheng Zha (indirectly perceived through Zhan Lan's mental chains). At the same time, he began to subtly adjust the flow of the surrounding air with his mental power, creating weak but continuous background noise disturbances to interfere with any possible alien perception based on air vibrations.
The four-person team moved like surgeons, quietly cutting into the waste gas treatment unit.
Meanwhile, inside the upper escape harbor of Area A.
"Hold your ground! Conserve ammo! Shoot their joints and mouths!" Zheng Zha roared, punching an alien that pounced from a side cargo container, sending it flying and splattering its acidic blood onto his reinforced combat suit, which then began to smoke. Beside him, Tyrant roared, weaving a deadly net of fire with his heavy machine gun, turning several aliens attempting to break through from the front into sieves. Li Shuaixi and Zhao Yingkong, like ghosts, darted between cover, using precise knife skills and burst fire to clear out alien larvae and lone adults attacking from tricky angles.
Four surviving characters—Captain Alyssa (a middle-aged woman with a resolute face but bloodshot eyes), Chief Engineer Reynolds (a bald, tall, thin man with broken glasses), Medical Officer Anna (a young, brown-haired woman trembling as she bandages a wounded crew member), and a marine named Carl who is now using a flamethrower made from a welding torch to repel approaching aliens—are shielded in the middle, their faces filled with despair and a sliver of remaining hope.
"This won't do! Our ammunition won't last much longer!" Overlord roared as he changed ammunition belts. "There's a big guy outside that door! It's waiting for us to run out of steam!"
"Chu Xuan and the others must have a way!" Zheng Zha gritted his teeth, his vampire energy and internal energy surging wildly within him, repairing his wounds and replenishing his depleted strength. He had already unlocked the first stage of his gene lock, greatly enhancing his reaction time and strength, but the pressure remained immense as he faced the surging tide of aliens and the terrifying aura outside the door.
suddenly!
boom! boom! boom!
Several main lights on the top of the harbor suddenly shattered! Broken glass and sparks rained down! Immediately afterward, a metal wall to the side groaned under the weight, and a ventilation grille that was half-sealed by alien secretions burst open, twisting and deforming along with a section of pipe behind it, crashing down on the several aliens gathered below!
It was Lingdian and Mingyanwei who made the move!
The sudden darkness and chaos momentarily halted the aliens' offensive. Zheng Zha's eyes lit up: "Great opportunity! Overlord, cover fire! Li Shuaixi, Zhao Yingkong, follow me, we'll clear the left flank and open the path to the side maintenance tunnel!"
Just as Zheng Zha's team seized the opportunity to try to counterattack, Wang Lin's team had already infiltrated the waste gas treatment unit.
This place is more eerie than I imagined. Huge metal tanks and a labyrinthine network of pipes form a maze-like space, the air thick with the pungent stench of chemicals and decaying matter. Even more striking is the fact that many pipes and valves are covered with a translucent, fluorescent, dark green biofilm, which undulates slightly as if alive, emitting faint energy fluctuations. In some places, the biofilm has even formed ganglion-like protrusions, connected by delicate, pulsating "threads."
"Biological neural network... pheromone synthesis and diffusion nodes..." Chu Xuan scanned rapidly, his eyes flashing with data. "They've transformed this place into a local 'information processing center.' Zhang Jie!"
Following Chu Xuan's previous instructions, Zhang Jie had already focused his mind, attempting to mobilize the guiding power within his body, enveloped by the "membrane," to perceive and analyze the energy structure and information flow of these biological network nodes. Wang Lin's mental resonance acted like a sophisticated filter, assisting him in stabilizing his output, shielding against overly intense energy fluctuations, and attempting to simulate a "harmless detection" illusion.
"The energy flow... is very complex. But there are two main convergence points. One is at the bottom of the largest filter tank over there, and the other..." Zhang Jie pointed to a main ventilation duct overhead covered with a dense biofilm, "over there. There's a very strong... command-oriented information flow there, pointing towards the port, targeting... the Queen and most of the ordinary Xenomorphs."
"Locate the master node. Zhan Lan, scan the internal structure and energy core of those two locations," Chu Xuan commanded, while taking out several simple remote-controlled bombs and energy jammers from his backpack and starting to quickly set the parameters.
Zhan Lan's mental energy seeped into the area covered by the biofilm like flowing water. Soon, her expression changed: "The master node is in the main ventilation duct! There... there's something like... an egg sac, but larger. Inside isn't an embryo, but... a highly condensed mass of bioenergy and neural tissue! It's constantly receiving and sending information! The bottom of the other filter tank is a secondary node, like an... energy reserve and relay station."
"Destroy the master nodes and paralyze their command system," Wang Lin said in a deep voice. "Zero Point, Ming Yanwei, can you lock onto the master node of that ventilation duct? External attack."
"The angle is limited, and it's partially obstructed by metal pipes. Internal destruction or powerful armor penetration is required," Zero's calm voice came through.
"I'll go." Zhang Jie suddenly spoke, a faint golden light flashing in his eyes. It seemed that the power within him had become more active after sensing a clear target. "I can feel... the rule disturbances emanating from that main node, and there's some kind of... weak resonance with the Guide's authority. Using my power, along with specially made ammunition, might be able to destroy it more effectively. Wang Lin, cover me."
Wang Lin looked at Chu Xuan, who calculated briefly and nodded: "Okay. The energy structure inside the main node is unstable, and the guide's power belongs to the higher-dimensional rule side of energy, which may trigger a chain reaction of collapses. Wang Lin, you are responsible for guiding and stabilizing Zhang Jie's output to prevent energy leakage from alarming the Queen too early. Zhan Lan, continue to interfere with the information reception of the secondary nodes. I'll go and plant bombs, ready to detonate them simultaneously when the secondary nodes are affected or the main node is destroyed, creating maximum chaos."
The plan was swiftly executed. Wang Lin and Zhang Jie re-established a deep spiritual connection. This time, he attempted to more precisely "weave" his spiritual power with Zhang Jie's guiding power, simulating a composite energy beam with attributes of "purification" or "rule disruption." Zhang Jie, meanwhile, raised a pistol that had been temporarily modified by Chu Xuan and inlaid with high-purity energy crystals, and slowly injected the guided composite energy into the barrel.
Chu Xuan moved through the pipes like a ghost, placing bombs and jammers at key locations around the secondary nodes. Zhan Lan, on the other hand, deployed her mental barrier with all her might and attempted to disrupt the energy balance of the secondary nodes with her mental power.
"Now!" Wang Lin shouted as the energy in Zhang Jie's gun reached a critical point.
Zhang Jie pulled the trigger! There was no deafening gunshot, only a slender beam of light, a blend of dark gold and light blue, silently shot out and precisely penetrated the core node of the main ventilation duct covered by biofilm!
Om-!
A deep, unsettling hum emanated from within the main pipe! The biofilm covering it twisted and boiled violently as if splashed with strong acid, then rapidly withered and carbonized! The dark green fluorescence dimmed sharply! Immediately afterward, a chaotic, violent mental fluctuation, like a shockwave from an explosion, spread in all directions along the biological neural network!
Inside the port, the alien swarm, which had been adjusting its formation amidst the chaos created by Zero and Ming Yanwei, and slightly agitated by Zheng Zha's team's counterattack, suddenly showed a noticeable slowing and disarray! Some aliens even stopped attacking, turning their heads blankly and emitting unintelligible hisses. Outside the door, the Queen mutant's terrifying aura also fluctuated violently, letting out a roar mixed with anger and...confusion!
"Secondary node, detonate!" Chu Xuan pressed the remote control.
Boom! Boom!
The bomb and jammer placed at the bottom of the filter tank detonated simultaneously! The violent explosion and energy pulse not only completely destroyed the secondary node, but also caused a small-scale pipe rupture and chemical leak. The acrid smoke and chaotic energy field further disrupted the area!
"Now! Zheng Zha! Break through! Head to the side to inspect the passage! We'll meet you!" Wang Lin roared in the mental link, while feeling a strong dizziness—maintaining a high-intensity mental resonance and guiding Zhang Jie's dangerous power was consuming far more energy than expected.
Inside the port, Zheng Zha shrewdly seized this fleeting opportunity. "Charge!" His entire body flashed with red and white light, and like a human tank, he smashed through several chaotic aliens in front of him, tearing an opening for his teammates and characters behind him! The Overlord's heavy machine guns fired wildly, suppressing the flanks. Li Shuaixi and Zhao Yingkong guarded the flanks. Karl used his flamethrower to cover the rear.
Like arrows, the group broke through the aliens' brief chaotic defenses and rushed towards the marked maintenance passage on the side!
However, just as they were about to rush into the passage, a sudden change occurred!
The massive, tightly sealed main airtight door of the port suddenly emitted a sickening metallic twisting sound! Then, several thick, bony claws, gleaming with a dark golden metallic sheen, reached through the crack in the door! It was a Queen variant! It was actually using brute force to forcibly tear apart this alloy door, which was theoretically capable of withstanding the impact of a small meteorite!
"Oh no! It's coming in!" Medical Officer Anna screamed in despair.
"Hurry! Get in the passage!" Zheng Zha's eyes were bloodshot as he turned around and punched away an alien that was trying to pounce on Anna, urging them on fiercely.
The group scrambled and stumbled into the narrow maintenance passage. Almost the instant the last person (Karl) stepped inside, the Queen mutant let out a deafening roar, finally tearing open the heavy, airtight door—enough for its massive body to pass through! A violent gust of wind, carrying a foul stench, surged into the harbor. Its mountain-like, dark golden body slowly squeezed in, its destructive gaze instantly locking onto the retreating group!
"Close the door! Activate emergency isolation!" Chu Xuan's calm voice rang out through the mental link. He had already taken control of the multiple isolation doors of this maintenance passage through the system privileges he had hacked.
Bang!Bang!Bang!
Three heavy alloy gates descended one after another behind Zheng Zha and the others, temporarily blocking the Queen's direct pursuit. But everyone knew that this temporary barrier wouldn't hold off the monster for long.
"Chu Xuan! Wang Lin! What do we do next? That thing will catch up soon!" Zheng Zha asked breathlessly. The passage was dimly lit, with only the emergency lights providing a pale green glow.
"As planned, rendezvous with Sector D-12. There's a small dock there with a spare engineering shuttle. While it might not be able to perform a hyperspace jump, it's enough to get us off the ship and into space to await rescue or find another way out." Chu Xuan's voice remained calm, but his speech was extremely rapid. "The Queen mutant and most of the Xenomorphs have been drawn to the upper levels of Sector A. Sector D-12 currently has a low threat level. But we must hurry. The Queen could breach the isolation gate at any moment, or send other Xenomorphs to flank us from other routes."
"Wang Lin, how are things on your end?" Zhan Lan asked with concern, as she could sense the intense fluctuations in Wang Lin's mental energy.
"It's alright... I need some time to recover. Zhang Jie also expended a lot of energy." Wang Lin leaned against the wall of the passage, swallowed a mental energy recovery potion, and felt his tearing headache ease slightly. Zhang Jie's face was even paler; the attack just now seemed to have taken a heavy toll on him, and the fluctuations in the "membrane" within his body were even more pronounced.
"Take a break while you can. At midnight, Mingyanwei, report your location and evacuation route."
"Evacuating according to the planned route, expected to arrive at the rendezvous point outside Zone D-12 in ten minutes. There was some alien activity along the way, which has been cleared." Zero reported briefly.
The group fell silent and moved quickly through the dimly lit passage. Chu Xuan led the way, using his familiarity with the spaceship's structure to avoid known damaged areas and potential alien activity paths. Zheng Zha, Ba Wang, Li Shuaixi, and Zhao Yingkong protected the characters from the storyline. Wang Lin, Zhan Lan, and Zhang Jie followed at the rear of the group.
The passageway was far from peaceful. Faint sounds of impact and alien hissing could be heard in the distance, indicating that the Queen was attempting to breach the isolation gate, or that aliens from other areas had been mobilized. The pervasive stench and occasional remnants of biofilm in the air served as a constant reminder of the pervasive nature of alien modifications.
"Wait!" Chu Xuan, who was walking at the front, suddenly stopped and raised his hand. He stared intently at the screen of the terminal in his hand, where the curve representing the energy reading of the channel ahead was fluctuating violently.
"Fifty meters ahead, turn right into the passage. High-intensity energy gathering detected... and life signals. But... it's very chaotic, not like a simple alien." Chu Xuan's voice carried a rare hint of doubt.
Wang Lin forced himself to focus and extended his psychic vision forward. In the passageway after the corner, he "saw" a bizarre scene: about a dozen people dressed in the uniforms of the Surako crew, gathered there in contorted postures. Their bodies were covered in thick, writhing, dark green biological tissue, which fused with them like exoskeletons. Many had unnaturally mutated limbs; some had arms that had turned into sharp bone blades, some had huge abscesses on their backs, and some had heads encased in translucent carapaces, revealing only their crazed and tormented eyes. They emanated intense alien bio-energy, but simultaneously, there was a faint but undeniable presence of human life magnetic fields and residual mental fluctuations.
"Is this... a mutated form after being parasitized? Or... a biological weapon modified by the aliens using human crew members?" Zhan Lan's voice trembled.
"It seems there's more than one direction for modification." Chu Xuan's eyes were cold. "The Xenomorphs not only possess engineering capabilities and collective intelligence, but they may also have mastered some kind of... technology to incompletely transform parasitic hosts, retaining some biological functions and instincts, and turning them into controllable combat units. These 'infected' may be less threatening than pure Xenomorphs, but they are numerous and retain some human tactical thinking and weapon usage abilities."
As if to confirm Chu Xuan's words, the "infected" seemed to sense their approach and turned around, looking at them with crazed and malicious eyes. Several of them, who still had human arms, even raised their rusted but possibly still firing marine rifles or cutting tools!
"Prepare for battle! Don't get close! They might also have highly acidic blood inside them!" Zheng Zha roared, assuming a fighting stance.
However, before they could fire, heavy and rapid footsteps came from the other end of the passage! It was the Queen mutant! It had broken through at least one isolation door so quickly, and seemed to have sensed the abnormality on the "infected's" side, and was rushing in this direction!
Blockade ahead and pursuers behind!
"No time to entangle them! Wang Lin! Mental shock! Maximum range! Disrupt them! Zheng Zha, Ba Wang, clear the way! Charge over at top speed! Target: D-12 shipyard, don't linger!" Chu Xuan shouted the order, his hands working on the terminal as if preparing to activate a preset program.
Wang Lin gritted his teeth, ignoring the exhaustion of his mental energy, and concentrated all his remaining mental energy into a mental shockwave that covered the passage ahead, which he then released suddenly!
hum!
An invisible mental storm swept through! The movements of the "infected" all froze, their faces showing even more intense pain and confusion. Several who had tried to raise their guns even clutched their heads, letting out inhuman howls. The fragments of human consciousness remaining within them seemed to be more sensitive to this mental attack.
"Charge!" Zheng Zha seized the opportunity, his entire body exploding with red and white light to the extreme, crashing into the "infected" horde like a heavy battering ram! Ba Wang's heavy machine gun and Li Shuaixi and Zhao Yingkong's swords followed closely behind, tearing a bloody path through the chaotic enemy ranks! Chu Xuan, along with the plot characters and the weakened Wang Lin, Zhan Lan, and Zhang Jie, followed closely behind.
The team, like a sharp knife, pierced through the "infected's" blockade. But the footsteps behind them and the suffocating sense of oppression were already close at hand! The massive figure of the Queen mutant had already appeared at the other end of the passage, its dark golden carapace reflecting a cold luster in the dim light!
"Quick! The last isolation door leading to Sector D-12 is just ahead!" Chu Xuan shouted, pointing ahead.
Everyone sprinted with all their might. The final twenty meters! Ten meters!
The Queen mutant let out a furious roar, suddenly accelerating as its powerful hind legs stomped the ground, causing the entire passage to tremble! Its pincer-like tail rose high, whistling through the air, and stabbed fiercely towards Zhang Jie at the back of the group! In its perception, the faint, yet both repulsive and desirable, "special" fluctuations emanating from this "creature" made it its top priority target for elimination!
"Zhang Jie!" Wang Lin's eyes widened in horror as he tried to use his mental power to stop him, but his mental energy was already exhausted. Zheng Zha turned around to try and save him, but he was too far away.
At this critical moment, Zhang Jie, who was at the back of the group, suddenly had an unprecedented dark golden light burst forth in his eyes! It was not activated on his own initiative, but rather, at the critical moment of life and death, the "membrane" in his body that was already on the verge of breaking and the power of the Guide that had been suppressed for a long time suddenly erupted under the combined pressure of the external threat of death and the internal instinct for survival!
This time, it was no longer a controlled, disguised energy output guided by Wang Lin. Instead, it was a chaotic, violent torrent of rule-based power, brimming with an aura of "abnormality" and "rebellion"!
Centered on Zhang Jie, this force exploded outwards like a storm! Dark golden light instantly filled the passage, forming a violent and unstable energy barrier that slammed into the giant tail thrust out by the Queen mutant!
Boom—!
An explosion more violent than any previous collision occurred! The raging energy turbulence and shockwave tore and twisted the metal walls on both sides of the passage! Those running at the front were thrown forward by the blast. The Queen mutant let out a roar mixed with pain and rage; its tail, powerful enough to tear through warship armor, was actually shattered by the chaotic yet highly fundamental force of the rules, sending dark golden shell fragments mixed with dark green blood splattering everywhere!
Zhang Jie, at the epicenter of the outburst, was struck as if by lightning. He was thrown backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the isolation door at the end of the passage. Blood gushed from his mouth, and his aura instantly weakened to the extreme. The dark golden light covering his body rapidly dimmed and dissipated, revealing dense, crack-like dark red lines beneath his skin—traces left by the internal power conflict and the backlash from the rules. His internal "membrane" seemed to have...completely vanished in this complete eruption.
"Zhang Jie!" Wang Lin struggled to his feet and rushed toward Zhang Jie, who was slumped on the ground.
The Queen mutant shook its massive head, seemingly dizzy from the recoil, but the savagery and killing intent in its eyes intensified. It steadied itself, took another step, and prepared to launch an even more lethal attack.
"Initiate final isolation! Quickly!" Chu Xuan roared, rushing to the control panel and entering the final command.
Bang!
The final, heavy alloy isolation door slammed shut a split second before the Queen mutant could pounce again, dividing the passage in two. Outside, the Queen mutant's frantic slamming and the sickening sound of metal tearing echoed, but for now, the door held them back.
"Let's go! To the dock! The gate won't hold for long!" Chu Xuan helped up a character from the story and ran towards the depths of Sector D-12 without looking back.
Zheng Zha carried the unconscious and weak Zhang Jie on his back. Wang Lin and Zhan Lan followed, supporting each other. Ba Wang, Li Shuaixi, Zhao Yingkong, and the surviving Karl brought up the rear.
The group stumbled and staggered, finally making their way into the small dock in area D-12. Inside the spacious dock, a medium-sized engineering shuttle was indeed moored, and it appeared to be in relatively good condition.
"Quick! Get on board!" Chu Xuan was the first to rush up the gangway and start the shuttle's system self-check.
Everyone boarded the ship as quickly as possible. As soon as the last person (Zheng Zha carrying Zhang Jie) stepped into the cabin, Chu Xuan immediately closed the cabin door and started the engine to warm it up.
"System self-check passed! Engine started! Prepare to undock!" Chu Xuan's voice rang out through the ship's internal communication system.
Just then, a deafening crash and the clanging of metal came from outside the massive gates connecting the dock to the main ship! The Queen Mutant was about to break through the last line of defense!
"Launch port access open! Hurry!" Chu Xuan pushed the control stick sharply.
The engineering shuttle emitted a stream of azure ions from its stern, propelling the vessel slowly out of its berth and towards the already opened launch channel. At the end of the channel lay the pitch-black universe dotted with starlight.
Behind them, the dock's isolation gates were finally ripped open with a deafening roar! The Queen mutant's enormous and ferocious figure appeared at the dock entrance, roaring defiantly at the shuttle that was speeding away, and even attempting to unleash a thick, highly corrosive barrage of dark green acid!
Most of the acid barrage was blocked by the force field barrier of the dock and the shields activated by the shuttle in an emergency, but a small amount still splashed onto the stern of the ship, burning out several dents.
The shuttle sped up and finally broke out of the launch channel, completely escaping the deadly cargo ship, the Surakho, and sailing into the cold space.
Inside the cabin, all was deathly silent, save for the hum of the engine and the heavy breathing of the crew. The relief of surviving the ordeal was intertwined with the weight of losing their companion (Lu Renjia) and the near-death experience of being seriously injured (Zhang Jie).
Wang Lin slumped in his chair, looking at Zhang Jie, whose breath was weak and whose skin was cracked and faintly visible, on the medical bed. He then looked out the porthole at the Surako, which looked like a steel tomb and was gradually disappearing into the distance. He felt a mix of emotions.
The first step of the "Breaking the Shackles Plan" achieved initial interference with the rules of the main god at a terrible cost. However, Zhang Jie's "shackles" did not seem to be broken; instead, they erupted completely in his desperate situation, bringing about an even more severe backlash. He himself also exhausted his mental energy, the contract paper was destroyed, and the new ability system was not yet fully stable.
Chu Xuan was sitting in the driver's seat, rapidly operating the control panel, retrieving the last monitoring data of the Surako and the detection information of the shuttle, his brows furrowed, as if he were calculating something.
"Chu Xuan, has the distress signal been sent out? Where do we go next?" Zheng Zha asked, his voice weary.
"The distress signal has been sent out encrypted as planned, but we cannot determine when the company or military will arrive, or... whether they can be trusted." Chu Xuan did not turn around, his voice still calm. "Based on the last internal data transmission from the Surako and the shuttle's remote scan... things may be more complicated than we imagined."
He pulled up a star chart, which marked the original route of the Surako, a signal from a distant colony, and... a faint but persistent anomalous spatial signal that had just been detected near the route.
"The Surakho is no ordinary cargo ship. Its cargo holds contain more than just minerals and supplies. In its deeply encrypted logs, I discovered records about 'biological weapon prototypes,' 'extreme environment adaptability tests,' and 'target drop point Zeta,'" Chu Xuan said slowly. "This ship is very likely a biological weapon test transport vessel disguised as a cargo ship. And the Xenomorph outbreak may not be purely accidental."
"As for us..." Chu Xuan zoomed in on the star map, highlighting the coordinates of the anomalous spatial signal. "After detaching from the Suramo, the shuttle's passive detectors captured this signal. It doesn't belong to any known navigational beacons or natural phenomena. Its modulation frequency... has less than 0.3% similarity to the spatial fluctuations during the God's teleportation, but there are anomalous matches in some local features."
Upon hearing this, Wang Lin, Zheng Zha, Zhan Lan, and the others were all taken aback.
"You mean..." Wang Lin asked hoarsely.
"It's uncertain. But there's a possibility." Chu Xuan turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone behind his glasses before finally settling on the unconscious Zhang Jie. "The Main God's arrangement for us to enter this world and trigger the 'Guidance Protocol' might not just be a 'test' for us. This unusual signal, the secret of the Surako, the 'modification' of the Xenomorphs... might all be part of the 'test,' or even... a sequel to the 'Guidance Mission,' or some kind of 'chain reaction' unknown to us."
He paused, his voice cold and clear: "We need to make a choice. Should we stay away from this dangerous airspace, wait for unknown rescue, and gamble with our weakened state? Or... adjust our flight path and actively investigate that anomalous signal point? The latter is extremely risky, but it may touch upon the core secrets of this horror movie world, and even... relate to certain rules of the Main God Space, as well as Zhang Jie's current condition."
Silence fell once more in the cabin. Only the hum of the shuttle engine and the faint sound of the life support system could be heard.
Outside the window lies the boundless, dark, and unknown deep space.
Their escape may only be the beginning of another, more dangerous journey. The unleashed, unrestrained power of the guide within Zhang Jie, and the potential "gaze" from the disturbed God, are like the Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.
Wang Lin closed his eyes, feeling the stinging pain from the depletion of his mental energy, and the emotional fluctuations of his teammates in the mental resonance network—exhausted, heavy, yet containing hidden resilience.
He slowly opened his eyes, looked at the deep starry sky outside the porthole, then at the unconscious Zhang Jie, and finally at his teammates who were waiting for him to make his statement.
He knew that the choice was once again placed before them. This time, however, there was no advantage from the rules provided by the contract, no sufficient intelligence, only a battered team and an unknown coordinate that might lead to deeper darkness.
"Go." Wang Lin's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable determination. "We can't run away forever. Zhang Jie's problem must be solved, and the rules of the Supreme God must be faced. That signal point might be a trap, or it might be... the answer."
Zheng Zha exchanged a glance with him and nodded emphatically: "Agreed. Whether we live or die, we'll only know after we try."
Zhan Lan, Ling Dian, Ba Wang, Li Shuaixi, Zhao Yingkong, and Ming Yanwei all nodded in agreement. Even the characters in the story, still shaken from their ordeal, seemed to have no choice but to follow these "mysterious powerhouses" after their hellish escape.
Chu Xuan showed no surprise, simply turning around calmly and starting to input new coordinates into the navigation system.
"Flight route set. Target: Unknown space signal point Zeta. Estimated journey time: 48 hours. All personnel, take this time to rest, treat injuries, and replenish resources. Next stop, we will face the 'truth' of this world."
Under Chu Xuan's control, the shuttle slightly adjusted its direction, and the ion stream at its tail shone brightly as it sped towards the deep, mysterious starry sky.