Chapter 23: Wasteland Trek and the Aberration

Baton and his "Vulture Caravan" became fresh fodder on the wasteland; their iron‑scaled lizard mounts, after losing their master, let out a few mournful cries and dragged their heavy bodies, scattering into the ruins, leaving only a few bodies gradually growing cold and a pervasive smell of blood.

The Echo squad didn't linger long. After quickly clearing the battlefield and packing the useful supplies—mainly that bag of credit points, the map, a small amount of high‑grade ammunition, and Baton's decent machete—they immediately left the makeshift outpost.

The world after the barrier vanished is fraught with danger; any place lingered in too long could become a hunting ground or a trap.

Using the leather map obtained from Baton and the coordinates left by Su Yu's mother, Chen Mo plotted a route to the fringe of the "Death Rift". The path must cross a vast unknown wilderness, skirt several monster lairs marked as high‑risk, and pass at least two survivor settlements of indeterminate size.

Under the Blood Moon's light, a tiny team moved silently along the shattered road. The asphalt beneath them was riddled with cracks, stubbornly sprouting oddly shaped, dark‑hued weeds. Abandoned vehicles stood like metal tombs, their rusted shells occasionally bearing dried, blackened bloodstains and massive claw marks.

The stray demonic energy particles in the air grew more active, making the monsters' attacks even fiercer. They ran into packs of faster, sharper‑clawed "mutated hyenas"; they faced "burrowing rail‑claw insects" that lie in wait beneath the sand and spring up suddenly; and they even saw, far above, terrifying winged beasts with wingspans over ten meters casting huge shadows.

Each encounter was a brutal fight. The wasteland monsters were far more cunning and death‑defying than their counterparts in the "Sanctuary".

"Left front, behind the dunes, five iron‑claw insects are lying in ambush! They're waiting for us to enter the encirclement!" Su Yu's warnings grew increasingly precise, even roughly discerning the monsters' intentions.

"Han Qing, three o'clock, raise your shield! Zhang Yang, Li Siwen, flank ready, and when they show themselves, break their claws!" Chen Mo's commands became ever more decisive.

The combat tempo was blisteringly fast, often deciding victory within minutes. Thanks to the intense trials and post‑duel power gains in the "Rusty Iron Zone", the Echo squad, though generally lower level than the wasteland monsters, always turned danger into safety through their tacit coordination, Su Yu's warnings, and Chen Mo's over‑spec output.

Chen Mo's level rose to LV12, and he became increasingly adept at employing the newly acquired 【Rock Skin】, alternating it with 【Bone Armor Technique】, greatly boosting his defense. He also copied a further enhancement of 【Toxin Resistance】 from an LV11 "Poison‑Sting Scorpion Lion".

Under continuous pressure, Su Yu's perception steadily improved. She began to vaguely "hear" the monsters' energy fluctuations that carried simple information—such as "hunger", "alert", "attack command". Though she could not yet grasp complex meanings, this was crucial for anticipating hostility. She even, encouraged by Chen Mo, deliberately emitted a faint, peaceful mental wave, which surprisingly confused a small group of low‑level mutated rats, preventing them from launching an immediate attack.

This showed her another possible use for her ability beyond combat.

Days of trekking, eating wind‑blown meals, sleeping exposed, constant vigilance. Everyone grew thinner and darker, yet their gazes were like honed blades—sharper, filled with the tenacity unique to wasteland survivors.

That evening, following their plan, they reached a waypoint marked on the map as the "Abandoned Observation Station". It was a white building perched on a small hill, most walls collapsed, but the main structure remained, offering an open view—easy to defend, hard to assault.

After carefully clearing out a few night‑stalking bat demons that had taken residence inside, the team settled in the relatively intact control room.

"According to the map and our pace, another three to four days should get us to the outer zone of the Death Rift," Chen Mo spread the map, pointing at the crimson skull marker, "Baton's note says 'spatial turbulence, aberration nest, life‑prohibited zone.' We need to be extra cautious."

"Aberration? What's that?" Liu Qian whispered, the term sounding unsettling.

"Not sure, but definitely not good," Han Qing said, wiping the blood off his shield. "If even a desperado like Baton marks it as a prohibited zone, it's certainly not a benign place."

At that moment, Wang Hu, who was on window watch, let out a suppressed shout: "Below… there's light! And sound!"

The others instantly went on high alert, silently approaching the window.

Below, not far away on the wasteland, two groups were locked in fierce combat! One side was raggedly clothed, like wandering survivors; the other wore uniform dark‑red outfits bearing a twisted eye emblem, moving in synchronized, coordinated fashion, wielding strange weapons that fired dark‑red energy beams!

【LV. 12 Purification Society patrol soldier (???)】 ×8

They're members of the Purification Society! They're hunting those wandering survivors!

Although the wandering survivors were slightly more numerous, their individual strength and gear were far inferior; under the barrage of dark‑red energy beams, people kept screaming as they fell, their bodies rapidly withering as if drained of moisture!

"It's the Purification Society!" Su Yu's face went pale, her voice trembling; she sensed the cold, evil aura emanating from those patrol soldiers, the same source as the "Cleaner".

Chen Mo's eyes were icy. What a narrow road for enemies.

Just as the survivor squad seemed about to be wiped out, the mutation suddenly surged!

The wasteland floor exploded open! A massive, twisted silhouette burst from the earth!

It looked as if countless dismembered limbs from various creatures had been crudely stitched together, its surface covered in nauseating flesh growths and constantly opening mouths; several octopus‑like, slick tentacles flailed wildly, and at its center was a huge eye streaked with blood vessels! The energy waves it emitted were chaotic and maddening, exuding a nauseating, filthy aura!

【LV. 14 Aberration (fusion monster)】

"Roar—!!"

The Aberration let out a soul‑piercing roar that blended the screams of countless beasts! Its massive eye snapped onto the two fighting sides, and several tentacles shot out like lightning, instantly ensnaring a Purification Society patrol soldier and a wandering survivor!

Whether dark‑red energy beams or ordinary bullets struck it, they only caused tiny wounds that were quickly healed by the writhing flesh growths!

The two ensnared victims let out harrowing wails as their bodies visibly withered, their flesh and energy seemingly sucked directly by the tentacles! Meanwhile, the Aberration's wounds healed even faster, its aura growing slightly stronger!

"Attack! Prioritize killing the Aberration!" the Purification Society lieutenant barked, apparently knowledgeable about this monster, his tone laced with strong aversion.

The remaining patrol soldiers instantly swivelled their barrels, focusing dark‑red energy beams at the Aberration's massive eye.

But the Aberration was unusually cunning, waving its tentacles to block while continuously summoning small, rotting‑meat‑like "splinters" from the ground, which lunged at the Purification Society soldiers and the remaining survivors.

The battlefield instantly grew even more chaotic and brutal.

Inside the observation station, the Echo squad watched with their hearts pounding.

"Is that… the Aberration?" Wang Hu's voice trembled.

"It's absorbing life… strengthening itself…" Su Yu sensed the chaotic, filthy energy flow, her complexion turning even paler.

Chen Mo's gaze fixed on the battle below, his mind racing. The Purification Society were enemies, the Aberration a huge threat. Yet now, perhaps a chance…

"Prepare for battle," Chen Mo suddenly ordered.

The others froze in surprise.

"Chen Mo, which side are we to help?" Zhang Yang couldn't help asking.

"We help no side." Chen Mo's eyes were sharp. "Let them both be worn out. Our target is… that Aberration, and the equipment and intel on the Purification Society soldiers."

When the clams fight, the fisherman profits!

He looked at Su Yu: "Can you sense the Aberration's core or weak point?"

Su Yu forced herself to endure the discomfort, focusing her mind on the chaotic energy mass; after a moment, she strained to speak: "Its energy… is too chaotic… the core… seems to be behind that big eye… constantly moving… hard to lock onto…"

"That's enough." Chen Mo gripped his tactical axe tightly. "Han Qing, Zhang Yang, Li Siwen, Wang Hu, Zhao Lei—you five, wait for my signal; your target is to clear those small splinters and the remaining patrol soldiers. Su Yu, Liu Qian, you stay here to provide support, using this." He handed Liu Qian the modified rifle that had belonged to Baton.

"What about you?" Su Yu asked anxiously.

Chen Mo looked toward the battlefield below, which resembled a blood‑and‑flesh grinding stone, a cold, sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"I'll go… pluck that eye."