Dr. Heisen's eyes instantly burst into an even more fanatical brilliance: "That's right! 'Bury Worms'! A living aggregate of ancient pollution sources! Its energy field is the best catalyst for testing 'Sample Zero's' adaptability and control over extremely polluted environments! If she can remain stable in the force field of that thing, or even... reversely suppress it..." His voice was trembling with excitement.
"Is the risk manageable?" the "engineer" sitting in the hoverchair suddenly spoke, his electronic vision flashing frantically, his voice metallic. "The structural integrity of Area B-7 has dropped to a dangerous level following the explosion of the mother body. The complete awakening of the 'burial worm' would likely cause structural collapse of this area and even the three sectors above it. The cost of repairs... would be enormous."
"The price?" Vincent K finally spoke again, his voice still gentle, yet with a kind of indifference, as if looking down on an ant. His icy blue eyes swept across the images on the table, finally settling on Lu Qingyi's chip model, pulsing with a dark purple light, in the center.
"The 'Ark Project' carries the only spark of human civilization's continuation in the twilight of doom. All resources, all sacrifices, are the necessary fuel for the new era." He lightly tapped his finger on the center of the light table.
Buzz——!
Lu Qingyi's chip model instantly enlarged, occupying the center of the entire light table! Next to it, a dark red energy bar chart representing the progress of the "Bury Ground Worm"'s awakening appeared simultaneously!
"Activate Contingency Plan: 'Ark Anchor.'" Vincent K's voice was like a final judgment. "First, seal off Area B-7 and all adjacent abandoned areas. Activate the highest level of physical and energy barriers. Confine the awakening of the 'Burnyard Worm' to a controlled experimental field. Structural collapse is permitted, but the core energy zone and the hive core must be absolutely secure."
"Secondly," he turned his gaze to the blurry image of Lu Cheneng's team fleeing in the upper left corner, and the deep red glow of Zero's eyepiece, "activate all dormant automated defense units and monitoring nodes in the deep wasteland, with the highest authority to track 'Sample Zero' and its associated targets (Lu Cheneng, Wen Shifei, Ajie, and the unknown individual 'Ghost'). Order: Capturing 'Sample Zero' is the highest priority. The remaining targets... are allowed to be eliminated on the spot. That 'Ghost'... I want to keep him alive. He has 'information' that we need to confirm."
"Third," he looked at Dr. Heisen, "remotely connect to the 'Sample Zero' chip. Inject the 'Source Material' stabilizer and 'Lure Pheromone'. Ensure that she maintains minimal confusion and energy activity within the 'Bury Worm' force field. We need her alive... as the most critical 'key' to contact, to test, to... activate the response we need."
"Fourth," his gaze finally fell on General Iron Wall and Shadow, "Iron Wall will be responsible for replenishing the losses of the Scavengers by double their strength. Shadow, I need you to obtain the recorder inside Pump Station 13 before the barrier blockade is complete, and... confirm the final outcome of the treatment of Grey Rat. All traces of this 'accident' must be thoroughly cleaned up. The unstable factors within the fortress also need a 'deep clean'."
Vincent K's voice was calm, as if he were arranging a simple resource allocation. Each instruction was cold and precise, treating lives as chess pieces to be manipulated at will, transforming disasters into controllable experimental parameters.
"For the Ark." Vincent K's projection nodded slightly, his ice-blue eyes reflecting the torrent of data jumping on the light table and the dark purple chip representing the "key".
"For the Ark." The projections of the other six council members, whether fanatical, cold, greedy or indifferent, all issued confirming orders at the same time.
A cold holographic light swirled beneath the starry dome, outlining an alliance forged by absolute rationality and ruthless calculation. The hive's will, like icy gears, began to turn relentlessly with maximum efficiency. The ancient calamity awakening deep beneath the earth, the prey fleeing on the brink of death, and the coveted "key" were merely precisely calculated variables in this vast plan.
Deep in the abandoned track tunnel.
“Bang!!!”
The dull, gut-shattering throbbing sound echoed again! This time, it seemed even closer! The entire tunnel shook violently like a ship in a storm! The huge, rusted pipes at the top groaned under the weight, and large chunks of rust and congealed dirt fell like hail! The mud beneath our feet surged and boiled!
"Ahem... Hurry! There's light ahead!" Wen Shifei was shaken to the ground by the violent vibration and choked on the foul air, but she pointed to the front of the tunnel, her voice filled with a hint of ecstasy in desperation!
Amidst the violent shaking and falling rust flakes, at the end of the tunnel, a faint, rusty-red natural light, like the only hope in the dark hell, loomed! There seemed to be a huge, half-buried tunnel exit!
Zero's crimson electronic compound eyes instantly locked onto that spark of light. Without the slightest hesitation, he clutched Lu Qingyi and sped towards the exit like an arrow. His movements remained swift, but the mixed liquid seeping from the torn wound on his back had already soaked a large area of his dark gray uniform, dripping into the mud, leaving a clear mark.
"Exit! Ajie! Hurry!" Wen Shifei struggled to get up and rolled and crawled forward.
Ajie carried the unconscious Lu Cheneng on his back, each step feeling like walking on the edge of a knife. The excruciating pain in his knees and the weight on his back nearly suffocated him. He stared at the approaching light, unleashing his last bit of strength, roaring and running wildly forward!
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