The trees gradually grew shorter, and sunlight shone through the gaps in the green leaves onto the moss-covered, broken relief sculpture, filling the air with a refreshing fragrance.
The man leaned against a collapsed stone pillar, his head bowed and his eyes closed. His long blue hair fluttered in the wind, and his disheveled and tattered clothes swayed in the breeze.
"Yunmu!"
Lin Gu excitedly stepped forward, took off his helmet, and checked on Chu Yunmu's condition.
Yu Wei observed his surroundings and caught a glimpse of a small black object out of the corner of his eye, a bad feeling rising in his heart.
Fifteen people are trapped in the same place, so why is Chu Yunmu the only one here? Where did the others go?
"What are you standing there for? Come and help."
Lin Gu beckoned two soldiers to support Chu Yunmu on either side. He was still breathing, but had a high fever and needed to be removed from the area as soon as possible.
"Something's not right." Yu Wei's bad premonition grew stronger. "Quick, take the men and get out of here!"
"What's wrong?"
The researcher, who was collecting data, looked up, completely unaware of the tentacles slowly approaching from behind.
"ah!"
Before Yu Wei and his group could even react, the researcher was dragged away by a thick vine, and the samples were scattered all over the ground.
Everyone was stunned, and after they came to their senses, chaos ensued.
"Stay alert, retreat along the original route!"
At Yu Wei's command, the soldiers found their leader and quickly protected Professor Wang and the unconscious Chu Yunmu, holding their weapons and remaining on guard as they slowly retreated.
"ah!"
A scream pierced the sky, startling the birds in the trees into flight.
The vines were moving too fast for them to even see which direction they were coming from, or perhaps they were coming from all directions; they were surrounded.
"Holy crap! What the hell is this thing?"
Lin Gu watched with growing anxiety but was helpless. He could only order all the high-level Alphas to release their pheromones in an attempt to intimidate the thing.
“It might be the Ghost Hand Vine, a product of the Etolan Laboratory.” Professor Wang wiped the sweat from his face, his voice trembling slightly. “The vine is soft yet strong, and it can change its shape according to the environment. It can penetrate into any crevice and kill silently. Inhaling a large amount of its fragrance can cause hallucinations.”
As they spoke, several more people were dragged away by the vines. Lin Gu was furious and released pheromones like a madman.
"Stop releasing it, put away your pheromones, it's useless."
Yu Wei pulled out a dagger and gripped it in his hand. Prompted by the biometric detection system, he swiftly chopped off the vines at his feet.
"Wow……"
Suddenly, a sound like a baby crying rang out in the woods, and bright red sap seeped from the cut ends of severed vines, resembling blood.
"What's going on? Has this damn vine become a spirit?"
Lin Gu rubbed his eyes, completely unable to believe what he was seeing.
That's terrifying! A broken tree branch can actually feel pain?
“The Ghost Hand Vine lives in symbiosis with an animal called the Breath Worm. An adult Breath Worm has an intelligence similar to that of a seven or eight-year-old human child.” Professor Wang’s lips trembled. “I’m afraid we won’t be able to get out.”
"Grab your weapons and charge out!"
"Click..."
The sound of guns being cocked filled the air, and everyone's eyes were filled with determination.
"Fighting offers a glimmer of hope; not fighting means certain death!"
"I'll go first."
Lin Gu drew the long sword from his back and gripped it in his hand; the pure black hilt blended seamlessly with his black gloves.
"Huff... huff..."
The vines pierced the air and roared in, and the well-trained soldiers picked up their weapons and fought back fiercely, retreating as they fought.
With a single swing of the longsword, countless vines were severed, and red sap splattered everywhere. The mournful cries grew sharper with each passing moment, piercing the ears like awls and striking the brain. Powerful sound waves swept across everything, causing leaves to fall in their wake.
"Ah... my ears..."
The cries of agony rose and fell. Yu Wei could not bear it any longer. He knelt on one knee, his heart pounding violently as if it were about to burst out of his chest. His blood surged through his pulse, and his pheromones were released uncontrollably with overwhelming force.
The vines suddenly changed direction and attacked Yu Wei directly.
"Get out of the way!"
The black longsword sliced through the air, and the vines that were right next to him fell down with a thud, splashing bright red sap onto his helmet. Yu Wei subconsciously closed his eyes.
Are you alright?
Lin Gu nervously checked Yu Wei's condition from head to toe, but Yu Wei seemed to be stunned and stood there blankly.
"Has he gone mad?"
Lin Gu reached out his hand, but Yu Wei slapped it away.
“I have a plan.” Yu Wei’s eyes were full of excitement: “It likes my pheromones, I’ll keep it occupied.”
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Lin Gu swiftly severed a vine with his knife, leaning against Yu Wei and panting heavily. "We have to get out of here alive together."
"I'm the commander! Listen to me!" Yu Wei swiftly severed a vine with his knife. "We must have someone alive so we can get Yun Mu out of here."
"Let's go together! We might as well die together!"
Lin Gu refused to back down. He wasn't the kind of coward who feared death. Besides, Yu Wei was injured, and keeping him here would be tantamount to sending him to his death.
The vines stopped attacking, giving the group a chance to catch their breath. It was clever; it knew to wear down its prey.
“Lin Gu, deputy captain of the Secret Realm Rescue Team!” Yu Wei swung his sword to cut the vines and said sternly, “I am now ordering you, as captain, to lead your team to evacuate.”
"I...received!" Lin Gu stood up straight. "Mission accomplished!"
"Only children who have served for less than two years, protect the researchers and wounded during the evacuation; the rest stay behind to provide cover!"
"receive!"
Lin Gu had a soldier carry Chu Yunmu on his back, while he walked ahead to clear the way, with Professor Wang walking in the middle of the group.
"Lin Gu!" Yu Wei shouted with his back to Lin Gu, "Yun Mu is in your hands now!"
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