60. Trust
Shi Dong followed Fu Yunong's gaze to the crack in the ice, "Can you sense the location of the crystal core?"
Fu Yunong nodded, "It's on the branches above our heads."
"That's good."
It would be difficult if it were underwater.
The two stood in silence for a while, then Shi Dong turned to Fu Yunong and said, "Let's wait for the water to freeze solid again. There's no rush."
Fu Yunong sighed softly, "It's all my fault, otherwise, Xiao Rang wouldn't have gotten hurt."
Shi Dong moved closer to her, silently keeping her company. She understood Fu Yunong's urgency, and at the same time, she wondered if Fu Yunong had someone she couldn't let go of. She asked herself honestly, and realized that it seemed like it wouldn't matter where she was.
Xing Jiajia came out of the tent, holding a communicator in her hand, and walked quickly towards the two of them. "Miss Fu, Miss Shi, I just contacted the main city. Reinforcements will arrive in a couple of days. Should we wait?"
Fu Yunong nodded, slightly apologetic, "I'll listen to Captain Xing. I was impulsive before and didn't listen to your advice."
Xing Jiajia was stunned for a moment, then quickly waved her hand, "Miss Fu, please don't say that. The situation was urgent at the time."
Two days later, the reinforcements arrived on time. Ru Feng, having heard that the location of the level-six crystal core had been confirmed, actually came in person.
"Lord of the City!" Xing Jiajia hurriedly went to greet him.
Ru Feng nodded, her gaze falling directly on Fu Yunong, a smile on her face. "I came to take a look."
Inside the tent, several people sat around a simple table, and Xing Jiajia recounted the events of the last investigation in a tactful yet objective manner.
After listening, Ru Feng looked up at Fu Yunong with deep eyes, "Yunong, I have always believed in you, and you can try to believe in us too."
Fu Yunong's cheeks flushed; she had indeed relied too much on the system and her small team.
“Lord Ru is right,” she said softly.
Ru Feng smiled with satisfaction and turned to Xing Jiajia, "Select twenty superhumans who are former soldiers to join Miss Fu's team. Also," she looked at Su Ya standing behind her, "you go with them too, your abilities might come in handy."
Suya?
Fu Yunong and the others were all curious about her abilities. They knew she had special powers, but they didn't know exactly what they were.
"Okay." Su Ya nodded softly.
Huangfu Jinrang's leg injury received timely treatment, and with the help of special medicine and wood-type superpowers, he recovered completely in just two days. He insisted on going in with her.
Fu Yunong looked at her puffed-out cheeks and couldn't help but pat her head. "Okay, I'll take you with me."
Another day passed, and the ice surface froze solid again. The special operations team was ready to go—Fu Yunong, Shi Dong, Xiao Linfang, Lin Songsong, Huangfu Jinrang, Su Ya, plus twenty superhumans, a total of twenty-six people.
As for Hua Hua, given the danger they faced, Fu Yunong and the others left it at the camp to wait for their return.
Before leaving, Ru Feng's gaze swept across the faces of each team member. "Everyone, be careful and stay in touch!"
"yes!"
Su Ya, with her slender figure clad in a large combat uniform, slowed her pace as she passed Ru Feng, gave her a deep look, and then quickly turned around to catch up with the team.
Fu Yunong had a gut feeling that the walkie-talkie might not be useful inside. Sure enough, less than a hundred meters into the woods, the walkie-talkie beeped twice and then lost signal completely.
"The signal is down," Su Ya whispered. "Everyone, move closer together and stay alert."
The high-powered searchlights were turned on, their beams piercing the darkness. Having learned from their previous experience, the group moved much faster, reaching the giant tree in less than an hour.
The superhumans were stunned by the sight of the giant tree before them, and some even considered using their powers to investigate.
Su Ya was the first to come to her senses. "Don't move." Her voice wasn't loud, but it was firm.
"Wind-type ability user, try to take off and get close to the crystal core. Be careful not to touch the vines."
A man responded, a gentle breeze rose beneath his feet, and he slowly ascended into the air.
Just as he reached halfway up the giant tree, the trunk suddenly trembled, and the drooping vines instantly straightened, like whips ready to be unleashed, lashing towards him!
"Watch out!" Suya shouted.
The man reacted swiftly, immediately withdrawing his powers and landing steadily on the ground. The vines missed their target, causing the giant tree's branches and leaves to shake violently, and the ground to tremble slightly.
It became restless again.
Suddenly, a pure white light shone around Suya. The light was not dazzling, but rather exuded a warm and sacred aura, slowly spreading outwards.
Shi Dong's pupils twitched slightly, light system!
The arc of light gradually expanded, enveloping the giant tree's trunk. The tree's movements slowed down, and its taut vines softened, as if it were wary of something.
Suya maintained the arc of light, "Quick...try again."
The superhuman immediately took to the air, carefully avoiding the vines under the cover of the arc of light, and flew towards the crystal core at the top.
Fu Yunong stared intently at his movements. The crystal core was right in front of her; she couldn't afford to have any more mishaps this time.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Just as he was about to get close to the crystal core, the giant tree suddenly let out a muffled roar, and its entire trunk trembled violently.
The vines that had softened instantly straightened, like steel whips, and lashed out at the person in mid-air with a whooshing sound!
"Get out of the way!" Su Ya shouted in a panic.
The wind-type ability user reacted extremely quickly, immediately activating his ability to dodge, but the vines were several times faster than before, and with a "smack," they lashed hard at his waist and abdomen.
With a sharp "crack," accompanied by a chilling sound of bones breaking, the person was cut in two.
Blood splattered like raindrops. Almost instinctively, Lin Songsong raised her hand, and the transparent metal shield instantly opened, firmly protecting Fu Yunong, Shi Dong, Huangfu Jinrang, Xiao Linfang, and Su Ya, who was closest to her.
The others weren't so lucky; blood instantly splattered onto their helmets.
A young superhuman trembled with fear and was about to scream when his teammate covered his mouth and held it down firmly.
As soon as the wind-elemental ability user's remains hit the ground, the ice beneath his feet suddenly emitted a piercing "crackling" sound. Spiderweb-like cracks spread wildly from the giant tree as the cracks appeared, and the icy water seeping from the fissures instantly soaked up to his ankles.
"Ice type! Quick!" Su Ya ordered urgently.
A woman with a buzz cut immediately rushed to the edge of the crack, pressing her hands onto the ice. The cold air spread wildly from her fingertips, and the ice, which was about to break, instantly condensed into a layer of white frost, slowing down the spread of the crack.
But the giant tree was completely enraged, and countless vines with barbs lashed out at the crowd.
Su Ya's face turned deathly pale. She pushed her light-based abilities to the limit, and the bright white arc of light surged half a meter. The vines suddenly shrank back and hesitated to move forward.
Seeing this, Shi Dong decisively gave the order, "Metal-type, cut the tree trunk! Wood-type, absorb its energy! Fire-type, aim at the top, prepare!"
The metal-type ability user immediately stepped forward, wielding a half-meter-long double-edged blade, and sawed fiercely at the thick trunk of the giant tree like a whirlwind, causing sparks to fly everywhere.
Xiao Linfang and a dozen other wood-type ability users immediately unleashed their powers, a pale blue light enveloping the tree trunk, gently yet persistently drawing energy from it. The giant tree's branches trembled violently, and the force of its attack on the vines noticeably weakened.
Just then, a howling sound suddenly came from the depths of the dense forest, and dozens of zombies broke through the shadows and rushed towards the crowd.
Fu Yunong immediately opened the system panel, her fingertips swiping rapidly, and the approaching zombies were instantly harvested in droves.
Huangfu Jinrang closed her eyes tightly, her mental energy transforming into fine spikes to fight against the giant tree's consciousness. As time passed, veins bulged on her forehead, and a trace of crimson blood spilled from the corner of her mouth. The giant tree's movements became increasingly sluggish, even the swaying branches and leaves slowed down.
"Fire! Burn!" Shi Dong shouted.
Several fire-type ability users raised their hands simultaneously, and several flames shot into the sky. With the help of wind-type ability users, the fire instantly surged to the top of the giant tree, and the branches crackled as they burned.
Now!
A fierce glint flashed in Shi Dong's eyes, and dense arcs of lightning gathered around her. The blue electric light enveloped her entire body, serving as both a defensive shield and an aid in her climb.
With a light touch of her feet, she used the explosive force of the lightning arc to leap out of the light barrier and rush towards the top of the tree trunk she was standing on.
The giant tree sensed her intention, and the remaining vines frantically coiled around her.
Seeing this, Su Ya immediately adjusted the position of the beam of light, just enough to block the vines attacking from one side. Huangfu Jinrang used the last bit of his mental strength to fiercely stab at the giant tree's consciousness, causing its attack to be delayed for a moment.
Taking advantage of the two-second gap, Shi Dong leaped up and grabbed the charred branch with one hand.
The vines followed closely behind, wrapping around her ankles, but were struck by lightning and began to hiss and smoke, instantly retracting.
Fu Yunong reminded him at the right moment, "Shi Dong, two o'clock!"
Shi Dong gritted his teeth, using the sway of his body to move to the location of the crystal core, and then stabbed the target with the electrified dagger in his other hand.
With a soft "poof," the glossy black crystal core was picked out!
The moment Shi Dong grasped the crystal core, the giant tree suddenly let out a shrill roar, its entire trunk trembled violently, and black sap gushed from the wound at its base.
The ice surface cracked again with a loud "crack," and this time even the ice-type ability user couldn't hold on, as a crack several meters wide instantly appeared.
"Retreat!!!" Shi Dong shouted.
Lin Songsong immediately contracted the protective shield, firmly protecting the group, and ran wildly outside.
Shi Dong, holding the crystal core, leaped down from the top using the force of the lightning arc, landing right next to the protective shield, where Fu Yunong pulled him inside.
The giant tree behind them slowly toppled with a roar, crashing onto the ice with a deafening roar, then completely shattered, the splashing water instantly submerging half of the trunk.
The group desperately fled over the remaining ice, until they broke through the dense forest, boarded the waiting vehicle, and only dared to catch their breath once they reached the shore.
Shi Dong's chest heaved violently as she opened her palm to Fu Yunong, the level six crystal core radiating pure black light in her hand.
Fu Yunong looked at the crystal core and couldn't help but take a deep breath. The anxiety that had been hanging over her for half a year finally subsided.
The road home is finally about to open!
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