Chapter 90 Retreat
Across from the research institute is an abandoned office building.
It was completely dark.
General Chen led his men into the building to take a headcount.
The military suffered significant losses, with several dead and a number wounded. The civilian superhumans fared even worse; of the more than 140 who went in, fewer than 100 remain in the building, all injured and looking terrified.
No one knows what's going on on the second basement level. The roars of monsters down there can still be faintly heard, and no one dares to go down to investigate. Those who escaped say there are terrifying monsters down there, attacking anyone they see, and they can't kill them all.
When roll call was taken, it was quickly discovered that someone was missing.
"Where are the Thunder Leopard Squad members?"
"I didn't see it...it seems like it didn't come up."
"It seems like not all of the Venomous Fang's men have come up..."
"They chose the second basement level..."
The words didn't need to be finished; everyone understood. If you went into a place like that and didn't get out in time, you were basically done for.
A chilling sense of shared loss permeated the crowd. No one felt sorry for Lei Bao or Du Ya, but no one knew if they too would disappear silently like that next time.
Ruan Ning's team sat down in a corner on the third floor. Da Huo lay nearby, listening alertly to any movement. Zhou Min and Lin Yan silently drank water and ate their dry rations.
"Lei Bao and the others are dead?" Zhou Min said softly, her voice a little dry.
Ruan Ning hummed in response, her face expressionless. She slowly chewed on her biscuit, her gaze sweeping over the still-shaken people downstairs.
Lin Yan whispered, "Chen Yao is waiting at the base. He's either waiting for Lei Bao to do something for him, or he's waiting for us to come back."
Ruan Ning took a sip of water and said calmly, "Lei Bao failed in his duties and got himself into trouble. Shen Yao won't let this go. When he gets back, he'll find out what happened here and hold us responsible."
Zhou Min gripped the kettle tightly: "Then we..."
"We'll deal with whatever comes our way," Ruan Ning interrupted her, her voice steady. "Let's focus on the immediate situation. Take turns keeping watch and get some rest."
She said nothing more and closed her eyes. The fire moved closer to her, offering a little warmth.
As dawn broke, the survivors in the abandoned office building were awakened.
I wasn't awakened by orders, but by sporadic shouts and gunshots coming from the direction of the research institute outside.
The last group of people trapped in the research institute took advantage of the early morning light and the relative decrease in monster activity to desperately rush out and escape into the building opposite.
They were covered in blood and dust, some missing limbs, supported by their companions, their eyes filled only with the relief of escaping death and the trembling of survivors. The news they brought back was all similar: there were too many monsters to clear them all, and many had died.
General Chen's expression darkened further. He ordered his men to treat the wounded who had escaped last, while he kept his eyes fixed on the direction of the research institute's entrance until the agreed departure time ticked by, and no more survivors emerged.
"Time's up." His voice was hoarse but firm as he ordered the officer beside him, "Take a headcount, gather your equipment, and prepare to evacuate. We're not waiting any longer."
No one objected. Staying meant certain death.
Spatial ability users—both military and civilian—began to collect and roughly wrap the various instrument components and boxes of documents they had gathered, wrapped in waterproof cloth and cushioning material, and store them into their own storage spaces. This was the most important achievement of their mission.
The retreat was more silent and more cautious than the journey there. A heavy atmosphere of sorrow and lingering fear permeated the ranks. The once mighty column had thinned considerably on the return trip, many bearing wounds and walking with faltering steps.
The route was the same one they had taken yesterday, but after a night, there were many more zombies wandering around, as well as some small mutated creatures attracted by the smell of blood.
The team dared not linger. The vanguard cleared the way with even more intense firepower, while the guards on both sides gritted their teeth and cleared away any approaching threats, protecting the wounded in the middle.
Ruan Ning's team remained in the middle section, slightly to the flank.
The journey back felt longer than the way there. Everyone was exhausted, and the only thing keeping them going was the thought that "we'll be safe once we get back to camp."
By afternoon, the outline of a temporary camp and fluttering flags finally came into view. The camp's guards spotted the troops from afar and gave a signal.
As the last person staggered across the camp's makeshift defensive fortifications, many collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, too exhausted even to cheer.
General Chen immediately directed his men to provide support, arrange for the treatment of the wounded, and take stock of the final number of casualties and the loss of supplies. The atmosphere in the camp was heavy yet bustling.
Ruan Ning's team found a small rest area assigned to them and unloaded their equipment. Da Huo lay down, its tongue lolling out. Zhou Min and Lin Yan were also exhausted and sat together drinking water.
Ruan Ning's gaze swept across the camp. She saw several people from the capital base talking quietly with the officers beside General Chen, glancing occasionally at the space ability users, clearly inquiring about the equipment recovery situation.
Lei Bao died, in that underground place filled with twisted monsters.
Shen Yao's men didn't come, but they're definitely keeping an eye on things.
The research institute accomplished its mission, but at a heavy cost.
They got what they really wanted and solved a problem.
After resting overnight at the camp, everyone set off back to the Dawn Base the next morning.
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