Chapter 26: Outpost and the Guardian AI

The rumbling of the collapsed cableway still echoed in the rift valley, and the splashing energy mist, like the tendrils of an evil spirit, tried to drag the survivors on the edge into the abyss. Chen Mo coughed blood, shielding Su Yu tightly behind him, his icy gaze sweeping like a razor over the Purification Society soldiers fighting fiercely with Han Qing and the others ahead.

These soldiers clearly hadn't expected the prey to break through the cableway chasm so bravely, nor that the enemy would erupt with such combat power in desperation. Under Han Qing's shield bash, Zhang Yang and Li Siwen's flank slaughter, and Wang Hu and Zhao Lei's desperate all‑out assault, plus Chen Mo—who had just crossed the chasm, drenched in blood but with even greater killing intent—joining the fray, the Purification Society's formation instantly fell into chaos.

Chen Mo didn't even use energy blasts; he simply pushed his newly acquired Rock Skin to the limit, charging into the enemy ranks like a human tank. Each swing of his fine tactical axe brought a dull bone‑cracking sound and spattered filthy blood. He needed to vent—vent the lingering fear and anger from almost losing Su Yu and almost being buried in the rift.

The battle ended quickly. This ambushed Purification Society squad was wiped out completely, leaving only a few corpses that rapidly grew cold and some damaged equipment.

"Quick! Check injuries, collect ammo! We can't stay here!" Chen Mo gasped the order, then leaned on his axe and looked toward the faintly visible metal structure behind the rock ledge.

It was an extremely simple, smooth‑lined silver‑white building, hemispherical like an upturned bowl, quietly set into the end of the eagle‑beak rock ledge, starkly out of place amid the rough, barren surroundings. Its surface was mirror‑smooth, with no visible doors, windows, or seams—only an inconspicuous depression at the center that perfectly matched the shape of Su Yu's teardrop pendant.

"That's it……my mother said……the Ark's outpost……" Su Yu stared at the building, her voice trembling with excitement and a hint of nervous homesickness.

Everyone quickly tended to their wounds, replenished with the energy batteries scavenged from the Purification Society soldiers (barely compatible with their weapons), and arrived before the silver‑white building.

"No door?" Han Qing tapped the smooth wall with his shield, producing a dull metallic echo.

Chen Mo looked at Su Yu. She understood, took a deep breath, stepped forward, gently removed the teardrop pendant from her neck, and carefully pressed it into the depression.

"Hum——"

A soft tone sounded, as if a machine that had slept for countless ages was being awakened. The pendant and depression fit seamlessly; blue energy lines radiated from the pendant like a living thing, instantly spreading across the entire building surface! The formerly smooth wall slid open silently, revealing an entrance emitting a soft white light.

A stream of dry, clean air with a faint ozone smell flowed from the passage, forming a stark contrast with the polluted, chaotic environment outside.

"Stay alert, follow me in." Chen Mo stepped into the passage first, Su Yu close behind, and the others followed in turn.

The passage interior was the same silver‑white metal, walls emitting an even cold light, floor a slip‑resistant grid. It was eerily silent, only their footsteps and slightly heavy breathing echoing. The passage wasn't long; its end opened into a spacious circular hall.

In the center of the hall floated a sphere composed of countless blue lines, constantly shifting into complex geometric patterns. Beneath the sphere was a device resembling a control console.

The moment they entered the hall, the blue light sphere flared bright, and an emotionless electronic synthesized voice rang out within:

【Detected 'Observer' gene sequence and 'Ark' token. Identity verification passed.】

【Welcome to Ark Outpost 7, the last heirs.】

【I am the outpost's guardian AI, codename 'Night Watch'.】

"AI?" The group exchanged glances; although the apocalypse and the system bonded to them were already fantastical, such a high‑tech AI still felt somewhat unreal.

"Night Watch?" Chen Mo stared at the blue light sphere, "Is this part of the Ark? What exactly is the Ark? And what are the Purple Blight and the System about?"

【Verifying permissions……Insufficient clearance. Heirs' level is too low to access the core database.】

【According to the highest command hierarchy, when an 'Observer' reaches the outpost and the external Purple Blight concentration exceeds the threshold, the outpost will activate the 'Fire Seed' protocol and provide basic assistance.】

The light sphere flickered, and several new light screens projected onto the console before Chen Mo.

【Basic Assistance List:】

【1. Regional environmental scan (updated to Day 97 of the Purple Blight descent): provides a high‑precision map of the surrounding 500 km, distribution of energy nodes, and markings of known threats.】

【2. Basic equipment enhancement: can use the outpost's energy to perform a limited attribute enchantment or material reinforcement on personal gear.】

【3. Limited database access: can query some non‑critical historical data, a biological compendium (Aberrant Mutants logged at 13 %), and an overview of low‑threat forces.】

【4. Emergency energy resupply: charge one qualifying energy weapon.】

"Only these?" Chen Mo frowned; these aids were practical but far from touching the core secrets he sought.

【Warning: high‑priority threat detected approaching. A Purification Society elite squad (12 members, average level LV15, leader level LV17) has locked onto the outpost's signal, estimated arrival in 23 minutes 17 seconds.】

【Recommendation: heirs should promptly accept assistance and decide the outpost's subsequent disposition: A. Emergency Concealment (consumes 80% reserve power, lasts 72 hours). B. Activate Self‑Destruct Procedure (erase all traces).】

An LV17 elite squad!

Everyone's faces changed abruptly. Having just endured successive fierce battles, the team was in poor shape; facing an elite squad whose average level was at least two tiers higher and that had come prepared, their chances of victory were slim!

"Accept all assistance immediately!" Chen Mo ordered without hesitation, "Sync the map to our tactical tablets! Enhance all gear! Charge the energy weapons! Su Yu, you're in charge of querying the database—focus on non‑critical info about the Purification Society, Aberrant Mutants, and the System!"

Time was pressing; everyone sprang into action at once.

The console's sides opened several slots, extending mechanical arms that began applying a Weak Energy Deflection effect to Han Qing's shield, and adding Sharp or Sturdy enchantments to the weapons of Zhang Yang and the others. Chen Mo placed his fine tactical axe and several energy guns into the designated enhancement slots.

Su Yu quickly searched the database. A flood of information streamed into her mind; she endured the discomfort of information overload and skimmed rapidly:

"The Purification Society……originally the Human Purity Faction, firmly believes the Purple Blight is a divine cleansing of imperfect humanity, dedicated to eradicating all Aberrant Mutants and individuals deeply contaminated by the Purple Blight, including……the Observer? They regard the Observer as an accomplice of the Purple Blight?"

"Aberrant Mutants……are the failed products of forced fusion between Purple Blight energy and native organism genes, unstable in form, possessing strong aggression and contamination, actively devouring life energy to evolve……some high‑rank Aberrant Mutants may retain fragments of their former consciousness?"

"The System……entries partially blocked……only shows: non‑natural construct, purpose unknown, highly correlated with the Purple Blight phenomenon, suspected to involve higher‑level management permissions……"

Although these are fragments, the information volume remains enormous!

At the same time, Chen Mo's tactical axe finished enhancement. The axe shaft grew darker, its blade suffused with a barely perceptible energy halo, its attributes markedly improved. Several energy guns also filled with power.

【All basic assistance has been distributed.】

【Please select the outpost's subsequent disposition before the countdown ends.】

On the light screen, the countdown showed less than five minutes remaining.

"Choose A, Emergency Concealment!" Chen Mo decided instantly. Self‑destruction is a last resort; this outpost still holds great value.

【Command confirmed. Initiating Emergency Concealment procedure. Consuming 80% reserve power. Concealment duration 71 hours 59 minutes……】

【Warning: during concealment, the outpost will cut all external communications and energy output, and its internal life‑support system will drop to minimal power consumption.】

【Wishing you good luck, heirs.】

The blue light sphere quickly dimmed, and the hall's lighting grew extremely faint. The outpost emitted a low hum; its exterior silver‑white walls began to shift in color, gradually blending with the surrounding rock as if it had never existed.

Just one minute later, the outpost fully entered the 'Silent' state, becoming nearly undetectable from outside.

Chen Mo and the others stood in the dim hall, able to hear each other's tense heartbeats. Outside, the heavy footsteps of an iron‑armored lizard and the roar of an energy engine could be faintly heard.

The Purification Society's elite squad has arrived.