"Kid, you don't even want the First-Class Merit?" Lin Gu slapped him on the back of the head in exasperation. "Have some backbone, will you?"

"Wu Ming, lead your men out first. As for who gets the credit, we'll settle that after we're out."

Yu Wei winked at Lin Gu, signaling him to continue the conversation.

“That’s right, the commander-in-chief has given the order, you should prepare to withdraw.” Lin Gu crossed his arms. “If these guys get killed, all our work will have been for nothing.”

While Wu Ming was still hesitating, Yu Wei stepped forward and kicked the person who was tied to the ground.

"Monster! There's a monster... Ah!"

The person on the ground looked dazed, trembling all over, with lifeless eyes.

Yu Wei frowned, even more worried about Chu Yunmu's condition.

They couldn't find anyone in the central area, so they had to risk going inside to search. They didn't have much time left, at most four days. If they couldn't find anyone, they would have to leave.

"General Yu, the danger inside is many times greater than outside. Let some researchers evacuate."

Professor Wang took out a list, circled some names, and said that they were all young and the hope of the alliance, and did not need to take risks with these old men.

"It's up to you to decide."

Yu Wei beckoned over and summoned a soldier to take stock of the supplies, which would be redistributed later.

Of the six researchers, only two remained: Professor Wang and another researcher surnamed Li.

Yu Wei distributed the remaining supplies again, then looked at the dense forest ahead and fell into deep thought.

The trees here are so dense that they block out the sun, making the interior extremely dark and the air circulation very poor. The miasma and dark swamps are all difficult to deal with, not to mention the mutated creatures that inhabit them.

"Just in case, let's go together."

Lin Gu noticed Yu Wei's hesitation. The map they had marked earlier was from decades ago. According to the surviving photos, there should have been a large circular square here decades ago, with a towering clock tower in the center, which was one of the previously planned meeting points.

"I'll go first, you follow behind."

Yu Wei turned on the searchlight, activated the infrared and material analysis systems on his helmet, picked up a twig, lit it, and threw it inside. The flame burned for a while before quickly going out.

"There is oxygen."

Lin Gu breathed a sigh of relief, took off his helmet, and was nauseated by a foul odor.

"Oh my god, this gas is poisonous! It stinks so bad... Ugh!"

"Be careful, it might be poisonous."

Yu Wei handed the water to Lin Gu, waved, and led the group into the dense forest.

"If I had known this place was like this, I should have applied for a mecha."

Lin rinsed his mouth, put on his helmet. The specially made helmet had the function of a gas mask, but it couldn't block out the stench.

The stench of decay assaulted my brain; everywhere the light shone was a stark white skeleton, and the sap secreted by the trees splattered onto my clothes and helmet.

Wow!

One of the team members stepped on a bone, which snapped with a "crack," startling him so much that he jumped back a step.

"Haha, what a coward."

"It's just a bone..."

The tense atmosphere eased considerably, and Yu Wei breathed a sigh of relief, thinking they had seen something.

“This looks like an animal bone, a leg bone.” Researcher Li picked up the bone and examined it, his brow furrowing. “A large animal, dead for less than three days.”

"Alert! All members, turn off the lights."

Yu Wei's heart, which had just relaxed a little, jumped into his throat again. This was only near the interior, yet the bones of a large animal had been found, indicating that at least one highly dangerous creature lived here.

"In the gas composition analysis, oxygen is 15%..."

"Warning! Warning! Unidentified creature detected approaching..."

The flashing red lights and the incessant alarms pierced their eardrums and struck their brains. The group slowly drew closer, holding their breath and raising their weapons in readiness.

"Swish swish... swish..."

The sound of objects rubbing against branches was amplified in the silent and dark environment, where all around was so quiet that only breathing and heartbeats could be heard.

"Tick-tock..."

Liquid dripped onto the helmet, and Yu Wei looked up to meet a pair of scarlet eyes.

"Up there!"

The moment the searchlight was turned on, Yu Wei saw a huge snake flicking its tongue.

The giant snake was entirely black, with fins resembling overlapping small fans growing on either side of its head. Its scarlet eyes were particularly eerie, and sticky saliva dripped from its fangs.

When they first saw this thing, everyone was stunned. Their minds went blank, and their legs felt like they were filled with lead, unable to move.

The giant snake attacked with lightning speed, then suddenly stopped as it approached the crowd. A powerful surge of pheromones swept over them like an invisible barrier.

After a brief standoff, the giant snake slowly retreated, its scarlet eyes filled with resentment.

"call……"

As the giant snake disappeared, Yu Wei's legs went weak, and he collapsed forward as if all his strength had been drained.

"General Yu!"

"Yuwei!"

The person next to him reacted quickly and helped Yu Wei up. Lin Gu pushed through the crowd to Yu Wei's side and opened his helmet to check on his condition.

"Look how nervous you are, I'm fine."

Yu Wei coughed a few times, forced a smile, and stood up with the help of the person who was supporting him.

"Why is your face so pale?" Lin Gu grabbed Yu Wei's hand as he was about to put on his helmet. "You should get out of here right now. I'm going to find Yun Mu."

No wonder Yu Wei was always wearing a helmet; his condition had deteriorated to such an extent.

"I'm fine." Yu Wei put on his helmet. "It's too dangerous inside. I don't feel comfortable letting you go alone."

"What could possibly happen to me, a grown man like me?"

"Listen to me, keep going." Yu Wei waved his hand. "Speed ​​up, we can't stay here any longer."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!