Chapter 65: Catching Up

Lin Chen had just finished helping A Kai secure the final piece of the electric grid bracket when a system prompt suddenly popped up before his eyes: 【Detected a large heat source approaching from 5 kilometers away. Identified as Shadow Organization support troops, carrying "Fire Bat Bombs" and other incendiary weapons. Estimated arrival in 15 minutes. Suggest host initiate emergency defense protocol.】

Fire Bat Bombs?

Lin Chen's heart sank. He had seen these weapons in the apocalypse; once detonated,

they would release high-temperature flames capable of burning through ordinary steel plates. If used to attack the purple electric grid,

the consequences would be unimaginable.

He hurriedly shouted to A Kai and Xia Nuan, "The Shadow Organization is coming with incendiary bombs! Quickly store the supplies into the infinite space and prepare to break out!"

Xia Nuan nodded immediately,

her fingertips brushing over the stacked cans and medicines as she silently recited "Store." The supplies vanished in an instant.

A Kai ran to the side of the automatic turret to check the ammunition: "Can the electric grid block the Fire Bat Bombs?

If it really comes to it, we'll fight them to the death!"

Lin Chen didn't answer immediately,

asking the system in his mind first: "Can the purple electric grid withstand the Fire Bat Bombs? Is there a countermeasure?"

【The purple electric grid has a high-temperature resistance limit of 800°C. Fire Bat Bombs can reach combustion temperatures of 1200°C and cannot be withstood. The system provides a temporary solution: consume 500 units of supplies to exchange for a "Low-Temperature Shield Generator," which can lower the Fire Bat Bombs' combustion temperature to below 500°C.】

"Exchange!" Lin Chen agreed without hesitation.

The next second, a palm-sized metal device appeared in his hand. Following the system's instructions,

he embedded the device into the electric grid console. 【Low-Temperature Shield Generator activated, can operate continuously for 30 minutes.】

Just as he finished preparing, the sound of car engines came from afar,

accompanied by the "whoosh" of air being pierced—the Shadow Organization's Fire Bat Bombs had already been fired. Lin Chen immediately ordered,

"Activate the low-temperature shield!" A pale blue shield instantly enveloped the outside of the purple electric grid.

The Fire Bat Bombs slammed into the shield, the flames exploding, but the temperature was forcibly suppressed, leaving only a layer of scorch marks on the shield's surface.

The electric grid remained unscathed.

"It works!" A Kai shouted excitedly, picking up the Gatling gun and strafing the Shadow Organization's convoy.

But the Shadow Organization people were well-prepared; their vehicle bodies were fitted with steel plates. The bullets hit them,

leaving only bullet holes, unable to harm the people inside at all.

【Detected enemy vehicle defense upgrade. Suggest host use Absolute Zero ability to freeze the wheels and restrict their movement.】

The system prompt popped up, and Lin Chen immediately complied. He concentrated his energy, mobilizing the chill within his body,

and swung it toward the wheels of the nearest vehicle. The cold air spread instantly; the wheels were frozen into ice shells, the car lost its balance,

and flipped onto the ground. The people inside crawled out, but just as they wanted to open fire, they were struck by the current from the purple electric grid and fell to the ground instantly.

Seeing this, the Shadow Organization's leader shouted angrily, "Increase firepower! Break their shield!

" More Fire Bat Bombs were fired over, and the light of the low-temperature shield began to dim.

【Low-temperature shield energy remaining 30%. Estimated failure in 10 minutes.】

Lin Chen's heart tightened, knowing he couldn't drag this out any longer: "A Kai, you cover me,

I'm going to blow up their ammunition truck!

Xia Nuan, you stay by the console. Once the shield fails,

shut down the electric grid immediately, and we'll run out the back door!"

"Got it!" The two agreed in unison. A Kai picked up the Gatling gun and fired wildly at the Shadow Organization members,

drawing their attention. Lin Chen quietly circled to the side, mobilizing his Absolute Zero ability,

condensing an icy, slippery surface under his feet, and charged rapidly toward the ammunition truck.

【Detected host approaching enemy ammunition truck. Suggest using "Ice Spike Explosion" tactic: condense Absolute Zero ability into an ice spike, insert it into the ammunition box, and use the temperature difference to trigger an explosion.】

The system prompt provided the plan, and Lin Chen immediately complied. He condensed an ice spike as thick as an arm,

and slammed it into the ammunition truck's box. The ice spike melted instantly upon contact with the heat,

and the resulting temperature difference caused the Fire Bat Bombs in the ammunition box to become unstable. The "sizzling" sound grew louder and louder.

"Run!" Lin Chen turned and ran back. He hadn't taken more than a few steps when the ammunition truck exploded with a "Boom—,"

flames and black smoke shooting into the sky. Half of the Shadow Organization's convoy was destroyed, and the remaining people were thrown into chaos.

【Detected enemy ammunition truck destroyed. Reward: Ability Energy Recovery Agent ×3, can quickly replenish ability consumption.】

The system prompt popped up. Lin Chen casually stored the recovery agent into his space and shouted to A Kai and Xia Nuan, "Take this chance, retreat!"

The three quickly ran to the mall's back door. Xia Nuan shut down the electric grid, and Lin Chen used Absolute Zero to freeze the back door handle,

preventing the Shadow Organization people from catching up. They hadn't run far when they heard the Shadow Organization leader's roar from behind: "Lin Chen!

You just wait! Next time, I will definitely tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

Lin Chen didn't look back, leading the two toward the abandoned factory. After running for about 20 minutes,

confirming no one was following, they stopped to catch their breath. Xia Nuan took water from the space,

and handed it to the two: "That was close. If the shield had failed even a moment later, we would have been surrounded."

Lin Chen took a sip of water,

and just as he was about to say "It's nothing," a system prompt suddenly popped up: 【Detected host successfully broke out and destroyed the enemy ammunition truck. Completed "Extreme Defense" mission. Reward: Safe House Upgrade Material Pack ×1, containing "AI Defense System" core component ×1.】

"AI Defense System?" Lin Chen's eyes lit up. This was a high-level feature he had seen on the blueprints before;

with it, the safe house's defense would be taken to the next level. He was just about to share this good news with the two,

when he suddenly noticed the posture Xia Nuan used to hand him the water—it was exactly the same as before at the convenience store and the mall, even the angle of her finger curvature was no different.

The doubt in his heart surfaced again,

and just as he was about to ask, the system suddenly popped up a line of familiar text: 【Subject 127 emotional fluctuation normal, scene transition preparing】. This time, the text lingered for two seconds before disappearing. Lin Chen rubbed his eyes and pressed the system: "What did that prompt mean? Who is Subject 127?"

【Host is experiencing hallucinations, suggest resting. There is an abandoned research institute within 10 kilometers nearby, which can serve as a temporary safe point. Shall I navigate?】 The system evaded his question and directly provided a new direction. Lin Chen frowned. Although the doubt in his heart wasn't resolved, he knew now wasn't the time to dwell on it, so he had to nod: "Navigate."

The three followed the system's navigation and walked toward the research institute. But they didn't notice,

in the sky behind them, a drone was quietly following them, its lens aimed at Lin Chen,

the footage being transmitted in real-time to a screen labeled "Shadow Organization Headquarters." In front of the screen,

a person wearing a white lab coat was watching Lin Chen's back, a strange smile appearing at the corners of their mouth.