Chapter 20: The Final Hunt and Beyond the Barrier

The aftershocks of the deadly battle were slowly calming inside Shelter No. 7, but the eyes outside the Echo team's base did not lessen; instead they grew more reverent and inquisitive. Chen Mo, by slashing LV 9 Luo Heng with an LV 8 reverse strike, displayed unfathomable power, fully cementing Echo's status as the top team in the shelter and the surrounding area.

Inside the base's conference room, the atmosphere held little any post‑victory laxity.

"The Barrier will disappear in less than forty‑eight hours," Chen Mo said, pointing to a crimson‑circled area on the map—a derelict industrial park on the city's edge near the Barrier's boundary, code‑named Iron Rust Zone. "According to intelligence supplied by Zhang Zhen and Su Yu's vague perception, the monsters there average LV 8–LV 9, with possible LV 10 elites and even… something more special."

His gaze swept over everyone: "This is our last chance. Before the Barrier vanishes, we'll conduct one final high‑intensity hunt, aiming to raise every member's level to at least LV 9; Han Qing and you," he said, looking at Zhang Yang, "must break through to LV 10. At the same time, we need to secure enough high‑level demon cores and materials as reserves for after the Barrier's disappearance."

The mission was dangerous, but no one hesitated. Everyone knew that beyond the Barrier lay unknown expanses and an even harsher furnace; without sufficient strength, they wouldn't even qualify to be pawns.

"Su Yu, this time your mission is of utmost importance," Chen Mo said, looking at her. "I need you to perceive, as fully as possible, the energy distribution inside Iron Rust Zone, especially any anomalous fluctuations that may relate to Purple Corrosion or Primordial Blood. At the same time, try to shield or disrupt any external probing that might exist in this complex environment."

Su Yu inhaled deeply and nodded gravely: "I'll do my best."

After a night's rest and resupplying ammunition and provisions, the Echo team set out again. This time, the squad's atmosphere was even more compact, like a blade drawn from its sheath, bearing unstoppable edge.

Iron Rust Zone lived up to its name. Rusted factories, broken pipelines, piles of abandoned machinery rose like mountains; the air was thick with the smell of iron rust and rancid oil, even masking the monsters' natural stench. Visibility was low, and the scattered metal severely disrupted ordinary people's sense of direction.

"Perception is heavily interfered," Su Yu frowned, straining to discern, "the energy fluctuations are chaotic… to the left‑front, there's a strong metallic energy reaction, count… five, no, six! They're moving fast!"

As soon as she finished speaking, several silver‑gray shadows sprinted out from a heap of scrap! They resembled oversized wolf spiders, but their limbs and torso were entirely made of corroded metal, joints flashing ominous red light, and their mouths were high‑speed rotating drill bits!

"Defensive formation! Watch their drills and leaping attacks!" Chen Mo barked low, raising his finely crafted tactical axe.

Combat erupted instantly! These rust‑corroded rippers not only had extremely high defense but also moved swiftly with seamless coordination, far tougher than any monsters previously encountered. Their metal drills could easily tear ordinary armor, and their leaping strikes were virtually unavoidable.

Han Qing's shield instantly bore several deep scratches; Zhang Yang and Li Siwen were forced to retreat repeatedly. Wang Hu slipped once, his shoulder guard grazed by a drill, opening a gash that spurted blood.

"Liu Qian!" Han Qing shouted.

Liu Qian's healing white light fell in time, barely stabilizing the wound.

Chen Mo's gaze turned icy; Shadow Step activated, evading the two rippers' lunges and appearing behind one on the flank. His tactical axe, imbued with Corrosive Poison Saliva and a highly compressed Energy Shot, cleaved hard at the creature's head‑body junction!

"Clang!! Shred—!"

A harsh metallic tearing sound rang out, accompanied by the crackle of electric sparks! The ripper's half‑head was split, and it struggled to the ground.

【Successfully killed LV 9 Rust‑Corroded Ripper, gaining 350 experience points!】

【Death Echo triggered! Successfully replicated skill: Metal Manipulation (LV 1 passive)!】

【Metal Manipulation (LV 1): Passive skill. Slightly enhances perception and affinity toward metallic substances, allowing minute shape influence (e. g., accelerating metal corrosion, subtly altering metal fragment trajectories).】

A fresh insight surged into his mind; though merely passive and weak, it gave Chen Mo a clearer perception of the ever‑present metal in his surroundings.

His spirit revived, and his assault grew fiercer. The newly acquired Flame Affinity passive granted him slight resistance to the occasional electric sparks emitted by the rippers, and even the weak Metal Manipulation let him more precisely anticipate the spray trajectories of certain metal fragments.

With Chen Mo as a spearhead, the Echo team advanced steadily, gradually adapting to the rippers' attack rhythm. Though Su Yu's perception range shrank under interference, its precision improved, allowing her to warn of the most dangerous attacks a fraction of a second in advance.

After battle after battle, experience accumulated rapidly. Han Qing, after stubbornly withstanding a ripper leader's charge and cooperating with Chen Mo for a counter‑kill, flashed with light and finally broke through to LV 10! Zhang Yang and Li Siwen subsequently reached the LV 9 pinnacle.

They kept pushing deeper into Iron Rust Zone's core. The monsters there were higher‑level, and they even encountered an elite LV 11 Scrap Harvester, resembling a massive metal scorpion with a tail hook laced with deadly neurotoxin; it took a herculean effort to dispatch it.

Chen Mo's level rose to LV 11, and he subsequently replicated the skills Toxin Resistance Boost and High‑Frequency Vibration Cutting (LV 1).

Just as they finished clearing a plaza piled with scrap cars and were about to rest, Su Yu's complexion changed suddenly, and she pointed to a huge metal cylinder half‑buried in the ground at the plaza's center.

"There's something inside… it's faint… but… that feeling… is a bit like Mom's pendant…!" Her voice trembled with startled uncertainty.

Chen Mo's gaze hardened. Related to Primordial Blood?

He signaled the others to stay alert, then cautiously approached the rust‑streaked metal can. The container appeared violently damaged, with a gap large enough for a person to slip through.

He squeezed into the can; the interior was cramped, piled with assorted discarded electronic parts and mechanical wreckage. In a corner of broken copper and scrap, Chen Mo found a palm‑sized silver‑white metal box, its surface dust‑covered yet still revealing a precise structure.

The box had no keyhole, seeming to open via some energy authentication. Chen Mo tried feeding a trace of energy, but nothing happened. When he called Su Yu in and let her hold the water‑drop pendant near it, the box's surface suddenly glowed with faint blue patterns, then with a "click" it opened automatically.

Inside the box there was no Primordial Blood, only a data chip the size of a fingernail, constantly shifting colors, and a folded sticky note.

The sticky note bore familiar, delicate handwriting belonging to Su Yu's mother, yet more hurried than in the diary:

【Xiao Yu, if you've found this, it means you've begun to master the power. Within this chip are some of my research data on the "Observer" ability and the nature of Purple Corrosion, as well as… a coordinate. Go there and look for clues to the "Ark". Remember, do not trust the "Cleaner", and do not fully trust… the "System". Mom loves you forever.】

Data chip! Coordinate! Ark!

The amount of information was massive! Chen Mo quickly pocketed the chip and note, his mind roiling. Su Yu's mother had indeed left more behind! What is the "Ark"? Why can't the System be fully trusted?

"We should go," Chen Mo suppressed his doubts, leading Su Yu to swiftly leave the metal can.

The moment they stepped out of the can, the entire Iron Rust Zone shuddered violently! In the sky, the faintly visible massive Barrier emitted a clear, glass‑shattering "crack" sound!

The Barrier's light flickered wildly, becoming extremely unstable!

【Region Notice: C‑07 Beginner Zone Barrier stability is dropping sharply; it is expected to deactivate early in ten minutes! All players, please prepare!】

Early deactivation!

"Quick! Leave here! Refuge!" Chen Mo's face changed, and he shouted loudly.

The others dared not delay, retreating at top speed along the way they came.

Ten minutes later, when they gasped out of Iron Rust Zone and looked back, they saw an unforgettable scene—

In the sky, the massive Barrier that had shrouded the city for months shattered like broken crystal dome, turning into countless data‑stream‑glowing petal‑like fragments that fluttered down and dissolved!

The Barrier—gone!

The Blood Moon's light poured unhindered, reddening the distant unfamiliar mountains and wasteland outlines. A more primal, savage, unknown‑laden wind blew in from beyond the Barrier, carrying distant monster roars and also… the faint, scrutinizing and malicious aura of players from other zones.

Chen Mo gripped his tactical axe tightly, feeling the power surging within and the scorching data chip in his hand.

The beginner phase ended.

True post‑apocalyptic survival now only just begins.

The Echo team stood at attention, gazing at the vast, dangerous world beyond the Barrier; their eyes held no fear, only rock‑solid resolve and determination to embark on the new journey.

Their road is still long.