Chapter 32: Data Storm and Choice

Mother's voice faded, the blue Light Sphere completely extinguished, leaving only the oppressive silence in the cabin and the storage device emitting a faint glow. The weight of the truth was almost suffocating; it was not a simple apocalypse, but the cruel process of a higher existence "digesting" an entire civilization.

Su Yu's sobbing gradually ceased; she wiped away her tears, her eyes still sad but replaced by something harder. She looked at the skull belonging to her mother before the console, bowed deeply, then turned, her gaze fixed on Chen Mo.

Chen Mo clenched the storage device tightly in his palm, the cold touch calming his boiling thoughts a bit. He looked at the teammates; each face showed shock and bewilderment, but more so a resolve to burn the boats.

"No time for sorrow or fear." Chen Mo's voice broke the silence, metallic in tone, "The 'System' and the monsters above could react at any moment. We must leave immediately, find a safe place to process this information."

He walked to the skull, bowed slightly in respect, then carefully lifted its fingers from the console's groove. The moment the fingers moved, the whole cabin shuddered! The red alarm lights flashed silently but rapidly!

【Warning! Core data has been transferred! 'Information Safe Haven' protocol terminated!】

【Unauthorized data leak detected! Marked target: Observer (Su Yu), high‑threat mutant (Chen Mo and team members)!】

【Initiate emergency response protocol: issue global bounty, priority: highest! Deploy all available clearance units!】

The cold, emotionless "System" alert tone this time did not echo in his mind but came directly from the remaining broadcast system of the outpost, reverberating in the cabin!

Almost as the alert sounded, Chen Mo felt a will far larger, colder, and absolutely malicious than any before, like an invisible giant net, instantly enveloping the entire Death Rift area! It was the core will of the "System", or rather, a genuine strand of its attention!

"Move!" Chen Mo's complexion changed dramatically, he grabbed Su Yu and rushed without hesitation toward the incoming passage!

The others followed closely, sprinting up the metal corridor at top speed! Behind them, the cabin emitted muffled overload explosions and the groaning of twisted metal structures! The entire underground complex began to collapse under the "System's" will!

When they staggered out of the passage and returned to the clearing of the decayed forest, the scene before them made everyone gasp coldly!

The sky was no longer a single blood‑red hue but covered by countless flickering, circuit‑board‑like crimson data streams! Thick crimson light pillars swept back and forth like spotlights over the Rift! In the distance, dense, heart‑pounding wing beats and the roar of energy engines could be heard, clearly indicating a massive gathering of flying monsters and Purification Corps units being forced together!

Worse, the dark pit they had temporarily suppressed was now violently churning, and the ancient malice inside roared with ecstatic and venomous rage: "It's coming! It's here! You can't escape! All will become sacrifices for my escape!"

【Global bounty issued! All players and combat units, please note!】

【Target: Observer (Su Yu), Level LV????, extremely dangerous, priority: extermination!】

【Related targets: Chen Mo (LV14), Han Qing (LV11)… and seven others, classified as high‑threat mutant infection, priority: elimination!】

【Provide valid coordinate info, reward System points, Legendary Skill Scroll x1! Killers receive System points, designated Legendary equipment x1, special title 【Civilization Cleaner Drone】!】

Rich rewards, naked temptation! This will make them the public enemies of all survivors, all System‑controlled monsters, and even the Purification Corps!

"Damn it! Now we're truly street rats!" Zhang Yang looked at the data storm that made his scalp tingle, cursed, but his grip on the machete tightened.

"What do we do? Which way?" Han Qing looked at Chen Mo, shield pressed firmly in front as if it could block the invisible pressure.

Dead ends in every direction. The Rift is a forbidden zone, behind them the outpost is collapsing and the ancient malice is about to break free, the sky is sealed, the ground will soon be flooded by countless enemies.

Chen Mo's brain raced at an unprecedented speed. The data his mother left was not yet parsed, but some key info flashed in his mind—"System operates on rules", "Observer permissions can partially modify low‑level commands", "Other Ark wrecks or rebel forces"…

His gaze snapped to the leather map, to the area marked "Eternal Wasteland" on the far side of the Death Rift, extremely distant from their current position. Mother's data mentioned that there might be an extremely xenophobic but possibly linked to early "Ark" survivors "Iron Anvil Settlement" there!

Go there! It is currently the only direction that may free them from the System's direct control and find allies!

But how to cross this region already locked by the System's will and countless enemies?

"Su Yu!" Chen Mo shouted, "Use your permissions! Try to jam the 'System's' tracking of us! Not long, just a few seconds!"

Su Yu understood instantly. She closed her eyes, poured all her spiritual power into the pendant, while recalling the snippets from her mother's data about using "Observer" permissions. She was no longer a passive sensor; she actively simulated her unique, Primordial Blood‑derived vibration as part of the surrounding environmental energy, like a chameleon, attempting to "deceive" the System's scan!

Her face turned deathly pale, nosebleed spurted, her body swayed. This resistance far exceeded her capacity!

Yet the moment her spiritual power dispersed, a crimson light pillar swept over their position in the sky, clearly showing a minute, almost imperceptible turbulence and delay!

Effective!

"Now! Follow me! Target northwest, Eternal Wasteland!" Chen Mo growled, activating 【Shadow Step】, and surged toward the northwest of the forest! He didn't choose the seemingly safer route, but charged straight into the area where monster roars were densest and energy fluctuations most chaotic!

The most dangerous places often hide a sliver of life amid the chaos!

"Keep up, Mo!" Han Qing roared, shield charging, smashing the decayed root barriers ahead!

The squad flew like arrows into the chaotic battlefield. Sky‑borne monsters dived, ground‑level mutated beasts driven by the System surged, and even some scattered survivor squads, eyes greedy from the bounty, tried to intercept!

The battle erupted instantly, fiercer than any before!

Chen Mo alternated 【Rock Skin】 and 【Bone Armor Technique】 to the limit, each swing of his tactical axe carrying a compressed energy explosion that shredded the charging monsters. He no longer held back; 【Life Drain】 activated frequently, siphoning life from enemy corpses to replenish himself and his teammates.

Su Yu endured the mental backlash, ceased fine control, and let her perception radiate outward like a shockwave; though she could not deceive the System for long, she could briefly disrupt the senses of nearby enemies, buying the team precious breaths.

Han Qing's shield, after blocking a charge from an LV16 corrupted mammoth, finally gave way, shattering completely; he himself spat blood and was thrown back. Zhang Yang hoisted him onto his back, while Li Siwen and Wang Hu guarded the sides, and Zhao Lei and Liu Qian frantically healed in the middle.

Everyone was over‑exerting, each gaining new wounds. Yet they did not stop, did not look back. Behind them lay absolute death, only ahead, the faint "Iron Anvil Settlement", the only weak Starfire visible in the darkness.

Chen Mo did not know how long they could hold out, nor whether the "Iron Anvil Settlement" was hope or another trap.

He only knew they could not stop.

He glanced back at the Su Yu carried by Zhang Yang, still striving to maintain the interference, looking at her pale face and determined eyes, something deep within him was struck hard.

He turned his head again, gazing at the death road to the "Eternal Wasteland" shrouded by the data storm and countless enemies, a near‑mad flame burning in his eyes.

Then… carve a bloody path!

The "Echo" squad, in this region‑wide datastorm, like an unyielding skiff, sails toward the unknown shore, hard and resolute, raising its shattered sails.