Chapter 61 Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland 24

Inside the research and development building, it was pitch black, and thick dust filled the air. Outside, the sound of vines hitting the door continued, one after another, like a death knell.

Zhou Jue didn't turn on the lights, but directly activated the night vision goggles on his combat helmet. His vision instantly turned green, and the hall was a mess.

Tables and chairs were overturned on the floor, and documents and blueprints were scattered everywhere, covered with a thin layer of dust. Several zombie corpses lay in various contorted positions in the corner, their deaths—whether from starvation or some other cause—were unknown.

However, it didn't matter. Zhou Jue's gaze merely swept over the skeletons before he stopped paying attention.

Her target was clear—the data center and the blueprints for the power armor. As Titan Industries' most important core secret, it would inevitably be stored in the highest-security data center servers. According to the internal structural diagrams obtained when the security system was previously hacked, the data center was located on the second basement level of the building.

Zhou Jue did not take the elevator, but instead chose the relatively safe fire escape.

Pushing open the heavy fire door, a cold, damp atmosphere rushed out. The stairwell was also littered with debris. She tiptoed down the stairs, maintaining a high level of vigilance throughout, her night-vision goggles scanning every corner like radar.

The second basement level was even colder and darker than the upper level.

The emergency lights in the corridor had long been turned off, with only a few emergency exit signs on the wall flashing red, casting an eerie glow in the darkness.

The entrance to the data center is a half-meter-thick alloy explosion-proof door with a complex electronic combination lock on top and a retinal scanner next to it.

Zhou Jue still used the universal key, but unexpectedly, the key only unlocked the first layer of security. The second layer was a troublesome programming problem.

"Brother Tong, I'm leaving it to you."

[Received. Connecting to the target system...]

[Isolated, physically isolated network detected... attempting wireless penetration...]

Penetration successful. Initiating cracking of multiple encryption protocols...

[First layer... solved.]

[Second layer...cracked.]

[Retinal data... being simulated and generated...]

Zhou Jue waited patiently, her ears constantly listening for any sounds from the outside world.

The banging on the door outside has stopped.

This is not a good sign. It indicates that the mutated plant, having discovered it couldn't overcome the challenge head-on, is searching for a new approach.

It may be using its vines to explore the building's structure, looking for weak points such as ventilation ducts and windows.

She doesn't have much time left.

[Crack complete.]

"Clatter—"

Accompanied by the system's notification sound, the heavy alloy door emitted a dull unlocking sound and slowly opened inward.

Behind the door is a huge space with constant temperature and humidity.

Rows of black server racks stood neatly arranged, countless indicator lights flashing in the darkness. The hum of the servers running was the only sound here.

The backup power was still working, and Zhou Jue was delighted, as this saved her a lot of trouble. She quickly walked to the main server rack and reconnected using the universal interface key.

[Searching for keywords: power armor...]

[3752 relevant files found. Filtering in progress...]

[Filtering complete, target file locked.]

Download now?

"download."

[Download has begun. Estimated time: 3 minutes.]

Three minutes...

Zhou Jue frowned slightly. In the current situation, three minutes seemed to stretch on endlessly.

Instead of waiting idly, she turned around and kept an eye on the various devices in the room while remaining alert to her surroundings.

Two minutes...

"Brother Tongzi, once the data in the room is downloaded, collect it all into my Starry Sky Box immediately, leaving not a single piece of paper behind!"

"Understood, host!"

One minute...

The hum of the server and the pounding of her own heart intertwined, making time seem to stretch out infinitely.

Just as the download progress bar was about to reach 100%!

Boom!!!

A deafening roar suddenly came from overhead!

The entire research and development building shook violently, and dust and gravel fell from the ceiling.

alarm!

The piercing red alarm light flashed instantly, and the shrill alarm sounded throughout the entire underground space!

"Warning! Warning! The main structure of the building has been damaged! Intrusion detected in areas A, B, and C!"

The mutated plant finally lost its patience!

It launched an attack directly and violently from all four walls!

[Download complete. Side Quest 2: Find and bring back 'Power Armor' blueprints or physical samples (Completed).]

[Rewards are being distributed...]

Zhou Jue didn't have time to check what the reward was. She pulled out the key and rushed out. The system also collected all the machines in the room into the Starry Sky Box the instant Zhou Jue pulled out the key.

However, it was too late!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The walls on both sides of the corridor were smashed open by countless thick, dark red vines! They surged in like giant pythons bursting from the ground, instantly blocking her way!

Not only that, the ventilation ducts in the ceiling were also torn apart, and more vines sprouted from them, like deadly tentacles, wrapping around her!

Their retreat was cut off, and they were surrounded by enemies on all sides!

Zhou Jue's eyes instantly turned cold.

She remained completely calm, channeling her spiritual energy into the Boundary-Breaking Shovel.

"Get out of my way!"

She shouted, and the boundary-breaking shovel in her hand swirled into a silver whirlwind.

Any vines that approached her, whether whipped or entangled, were sliced ​​into pieces the instant they touched the shovel blade. Black, foul-smelling liquid splattered everywhere, sizzling as it corroded the walls and ground.

She fought as she retreated rapidly upstairs. The underground space was completely overrun by vines; staying there meant certain death! She rushed into the fire escape and frantically climbed the stairs.

But the vines' attacks are everywhere.

They crashed through the stairwell walls, emerging from every crack to surround and intercept her.

Zhou Jue's battle turned into a bloody breakout. Her stamina was rapidly depleting, but her eyes grew brighter and brighter, her fighting instincts fully unleashed.

"boom!"

She kicked open the fire door leading to the lobby on the first floor.

The sight before her made her gasp.

The entire first-floor lobby has been transformed into a "nest" made of vines.

Countless vines hung from the broken windows and ceiling, intertwining and turning the place into a terrifying jungle. The door she had previously locked was now smashed to pieces.

In the center of the hall, a giant vine, thicker than a bucket, throbbed slowly like a heart. At its tip, a mouth covered in slime and sharp teeth split open, facing her and emitting a silent roar.

This is one of the main roots of the mutated plant!

"Brother Tong, teleportation scroll!"

Zhou Jue roared inwardly; this was her last trump card.

[The teleportation scroll is ready. Activate now?]

Just as she was about to activate the teleportation talisman, her gaze inadvertently fell upon several metal barrels labeled "Flammable and Explosive" in the corner of the hall.

That's... high-concentration industrial alcohol!

A crazy thought instantly formed in her mind. To just slink away like this, wasting such an expensive teleportation scroll, would be such a huge loss!

"Brother Tong, teleportation talisman, ready at any time!"

Zhou Jue's lips curled into a cold smile. With the system's protective shield in place, let's go!

Instead of retreating, she charged forward towards the metal barrels!