“Chapter 14”

"Chapter 14"

"A week passed, and it had been nearly half a month since Ark arrived in this world."

"During this time, nothing significant happened. Ark kept observing the movements of the vanguard team, which seemed to be at peace for now."

"Just as Ark's tense nerves began to relax over these few days, Fang Xunjiang suddenly approached her."

"'Sister, we need to go to the amusement park.'"

"Ark felt puzzled, as she didn't recall any plot point involving Fang Xunjiang taking her to an amusement park before the rebellion at the shelter."

"Could it be that her actions had again led to a new twist in the storyline?"

"'So suddenly? It's only been half a month since the last injection of the new antibody.'"

"Fang Xunjiang wasn't the type to show strong emotional fluctuations. Whatever he did, he always seemed dispassionate and lackluster. But now, Ark saw an unusual display of joy in him, even his deep black eyes twinkled with mirth."

"'I received a message from the central authority, saying there's new progress in the antigens for old humans. They need me to take you to the amusement park for cooperation.'"

Very suspicious.

That was Ark’s immediate reaction, followed by a thought.

Due to her intervention, the A-001 shelter had reined in the vanguard team’s activities over the past half month, ceasing to provide excessive alien information to the central authority. Perhaps this tightening of control here meant that the central authority might consider dangling more benefits to Fang Xunjiang.

Whatever the reason, she had no choice; she definitely needed to make this visit.

"I understand," Fang Zhou replied.

She theatrically picked up a radiation-proof cloak and followed Fang Xunjiang out.

Unlike the previous state of disorientation, Fang Zhou finally had the energy and opportunity to observe the outside environment.

After leaving the research center, the vehicle driven by Fang Xunjiang departed along a route behind the shelter, avoiding the regular residential areas. The air quality was good, allowing for a clear view of the surroundings.

Looking around, the A-001 shelter appeared like a circle, enclosed by high walls that protected it from the intrusion of external life forms.

The entire base's system recognized the vehicle, opening a passage beneath the tightly sealed walls. This was her first time leaving the shelter since her arrival.

After Fang Zhou left the shelter, looking northward from the direction Fang Xunjiang's vehicle was headed, the iconic central tower from the game was the first to catch her eye.

In the murky environment ahead, the metallic tower in the paradise stood tall like piercing through the clouds, visible from afar, unwavering in its stance.

Ark couldn't help but sigh inwardly, feeling that the tower represented a world vastly different from the outside.

The world outside the shelter was almost the same as when she first arrived, only now she saw it more clearly, realizing that its state of ruin was somewhat better than she had imagined.

The A-001 shelter was located in the inner circle of a safe zone, predominantly occupied by Shelter 001, with no presence of other smaller shelters. The other three major shelters were positioned in different directions centered around the paradise.

In this wasteland world, skirmishes over resources among small shelters were common, but the four major shelters, bolstered by ample manpower and resources, and support from the central authority, faced each other in rivalry without significant conflicts.

Within a certain distance from the shelter, Ark saw no other people, but occasionally various birds flew overhead.

"A bird suddenly perched on the windshield in front of the vehicle, its dark, hollow eyes peering inside."

"Fang Xunjiang seemed accustomed to this, while Ark, who had been observing the outside, leaned back in alarm."

"Noticing her reaction, Fang Xunjiang tapped the steering wheel. Instantly, an invisible force crushed the bird outside, which 'clicked' and flattened into a thin sheet of scrap metal. Its eyes popped out, landing on the windshield in front of them."

"It was a camera."

"Ark knew these were not ordinary birds, but drones."

"According to the 'Ruins of the Old Days' game guide, these were surveillance drones released by the amusement park to monitor the outside environment."

"'Xunjiang...' Ark felt a headache coming on, 'there's no need for that. These are the park's 'birds.' If you destroy them, the central authority might think you're dissatisfied.'"

"This was Fang Xunjiang's ability 'Two-Dimensional Compression,' an S+ level transcendent power with absolute suppression and a vast range. In the game, it seemed formidable, but witnessing it in reality was astonishing; the bird had turned into a paper-thin sheet in an instant."

"'But it scared sister,' he said, as if it were the most natural thing."

"Ark hesitated to speak, then sighed quietly. Such heavy love..."

"The journey from A-001 to the amusement park was quite long. By the second half of the trip, Ark began to yawn. As they drew closer, she saw the 'Absolute Defense' of the central tower and the park."

"This could be described according to the preview images of the park provided in the original game data."

"If the shelter was merely enclosed by walls, the park was completely enveloped. It resembled a pristine egg, encompassing vast territories, seamlessly isolating itself from the outside world."

"The central tower seemed to break through the middle of this 'egg,' connecting the park to the outside world."

"The difference between what she saw on the screen and what she saw in person was incomparable. Even from this distance, just glimpsing a corner of it gave her a profound sense of impact."

"Upon entering the park's vicinity, drones and patrolling robots became visible everywhere."

"Fang Xunjiang's vehicle was likely registered in the park's system. They were ignored by the machines, allowing them unobstructed access to the park's edge. A pathway opened beneath the endless white walls, and Fang Xunjiang drove in as if it were routine."

"There was no recognition alert, or perhaps, as soon as they entered the central surveillance range, the park's system had been awaiting their arrival."

"This sent a shiver down Ark's spine, causing goosebumps to form on her skin."

"After entering the amusement park, the pathway Fang Xunjiang drove into was just wide enough for their vehicle, with a smooth, n-shaped layout, making Ark feel as if she were in a tunnel."

"Five minutes later, the vehicle stopped. They had reached the end of the passage. When they stepped out of the car, the door in front of them opened, revealing it to be an elevator."

"'Let's go, sister.'"

"Ark followed Fang Xunjiang into the elevator. There were no floor buttons to press, nor an emergency call for elevator malfunctions. Once the doors closed, it began to ascend automatically."

"The display screen showing the floor numbers started changing rapidly."

10、50、100……

"Finally, it stopped at the 155th floor. The elevator doors opened to reveal two people waiting outside, a man and a woman."

"'Long time no see, you two~'"

"The man greeted them."

"Ark looked at him."

"He had long, disheveled ink-blue hair spilling over his back, soft features with a smile on his face, wearing a white garment with splotches, and casually sporting a pair of slippers. His untidy appearance was starkly out of place in this setting."

"The other was a young woman with an expressionless face, dressed in black military attire, her hand resting on the gun at her waist, standing upright and nodding politely at them."

"Ark and Fang Xunjiang stepped out of the elevator, the scene outside suddenly opening up."

"To the right was a massive floor-to-ceiling window, offering an unobstructed view outside. Ark's eyes widened slightly."

"In all her time here, this was the first time she had seen the 'blue sky' and lawns. The high-rise buildings outside were densely packed, and from the 155th floor, the vehicles below the central tower looked like sesame seeds, with various drones flying in the sky."

"The plants in the park were real, but the sky was not."

"Ark knew that the blue sky above was projected by the display system covering the entire park, showcasing technology far beyond what was available in the shelter."

"'What's the progress this time?' Fang Xunjiang asked directly."

"'Hey, Joker, no need to rush,' the blue-haired man said leisurely. He approached Ark, took her hand, and rolled up her sleeve to inspect her arms."

"This familiar examination reminded Ark of Lu Feilan."

"Then, with a smile in his eyes, he said, 'If everything goes well this time, your body will be fine for the next six months, and you won't need to come to the central facility for your monthly injections.'"

"'But...' he drawled, 'Joker, as you know, we never make a losing deal.'"

"'What's the condition?'"

"'I can't decide that. You'll need to discuss it with the higher-ups.'"

"Having said this, the young woman beside them gestured for Fang Xunjiang to follow: 'Please come with me, Mr. Joker.'"

"Ark knew she had no say in such matters. With a hint of depth in her eyes, she waved to Fang Xunjiang, and when he leaned down, she whispered in his ear."

"'Remember to bargain. Don't let them take advantage of you.'"

"This was her last hope for her naïve younger brother."