Chapter 227: Withering

No one spoke in the monitoring room.

Everyone silently packed their luggage, preparing to flee.

From initially being shocked by the outsiders' strength, to later feeling that Lin An and company merely had brute force but no brains, they were just reckless thugs.

Within two minutes, they no longer held any hope for Lin An and the others.

Zhang Hai remained silent, neither stopping them nor saying more.

At his age, he had already come to view life and death lightly.

Human hearts are complex.

Although from his heart he wanted to reduce the risk to a minimum, not letting anyone go out.

But, could he really bring himself to be ruthless?

He had experienced many things and was no longer as impulsive as in his youth.

Therefore, when Deng Xiang pointed a gun at himself and Yao Haiping insulted and threatened him, he didn't take it to heart.

He could understand, perhaps.

Deng Xiang had a wife and children, while he still had a promising youth.

Yao Haiping was even younger, and ought to have a bright future.

Death, especially what they saw as a meaningless death, left none of them able to stay calm.

Resentment, unwillingness, madness...

It's human nature.

"Director Zhang..."

"Come with us..."

Deng Xiang, with a complex expression, walked beside Zhang Hai with his wife, not knowing what to say.

From initially losing reason, to now a mixture of feelings.

He found it hard to articulate exactly what was on his mind.

"You all go..."

Zhang Hai waved his hand, calmly watching the monitor.

He had gone against his own principles, yet he still wanted to live up to his beliefs.

On the screen, the man controlling the flying sword seemed to be fighting the monster to the death.

He had exhausted all his techniques, yet could do nothing against the monster.

Meanwhile, the black bear that could originally withstand the monster was hiding in a corner, nursing its wounds.

Besides him and Deng Xiang, no one else was looking at the monitor.

Without hope, and many even thought these outsiders were simply foolish.

Yao Haiping picked up the packed food, his wary gaze leading a group of people toward Deng Xiang.

He slightly turned his head, contemptuously whispering to those behind him:

"See? This guy is still hesitating."

"If you follow her, you'll die outside without even knowing how."

Zhang Hai paid no heed to the two split factions, merely silently entering the final command.

After pressing the last digit, a mechanical voice sounded:

"Beep, the self-destruct program has been activated."

"In 15 minutes and 59 seconds, the tactical nuclear bomb will detonate."

"Please evacuate the personnel as soon as possible."

"..."

"..."

The alarm prompt sounded.

Zhang Hai let out a deep sigh, turned around, and carefully surveyed his surroundings.

Since the test facility was established, he had spent 43 years here.

One could say he had spent his entire life here.

He had long since regarded this place as his home.

Looking at the crowd before him, eager to flee, he slowly spoke:

"If you want to leave, go ahead; I will remind those outsiders in one minute..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yao Haiping suddenly rushed to the control console:

"Director Zhang! See the Buddha off to the west!"

"We must lock those people and the monster together!"

"Weren't you worried before that we might bring back the monster's corpse or become possessed?"

"Those outsiders have been fighting the monster up close for so long!"

"How can you not be worried now!?"

"What if you tell them this place is about to self-destruct, they turn and flee, luring the monster to chase them—what then!?"

"Then, if the monster follows them out, or they escape with the monster..."

"... wouldn't that just be wasted effort?"

The crowd behind Yao Haiping spoke up in succession:

"Yeah, Director Zhang. We'll be fine. But don't let those people escape!"

"Escape?"

Zhang Hai gave a light chuckle, shook his head, and was about to say something.

The next second.

Yao Haiping's gaze flicked to the control panel, then shifted as he lunged forward and tapped several times in quick succession.

Beep, the B7 passage on level 7 has been closed.

Beep, the B6 passage on level 6 has been closed...

What are you doing!!

Zhang Hai was shocked and angry, yet all he heard were seven consecutive alert notifications.

Nothing.

Yao Haiping panted, staring fixedly at him:

Section Chief Zhang. I said, see it through to the end.

That monster's strength has increased; aren't I also afraid it might come after us?

Besides, we already told those outsiders to lure the monster to the liquid nitrogen; it's them who wouldn't listen, still attacking the monster like idiots.

We didn't even invite them in, and who knows where they're from!

They deserved to die!

But we're different.

Not to mention anything else, we've been working diligently here for years.

Since you want to let us go and also eliminate the monster,

Why not just keep it simple?

Having said that, Yao Haiping stepped back into the crowd.

Zhang Hai's face turned ashen; after a moment's hesitation, he said nothing more.

Indeed.

These outsiders have suspicious backgrounds; although they appear to be rescue personnel sent from another Military Region.

But they have never responded to us.

Furthermore...

These people have been fighting the monster for so long; letting them go poses too great a risk...

Since they've already decided to let the people from the test facility escape, he couldn't be bothered to quibble over these minor details.

Yao Haiping gave a light chuckle, seeing Zhang Hai acquiesce, he quickly turned his head:

Quick, let's grab a few more weapons and go!

From here, it only takes two minutes to reach the outside of the escape elevator; we'll leave five minutes to run out of the blast radius!

The two groups exchanged a glance, then rushed quickly into the rear storeroom.

Inside the seventh passage.

Clang—

Lin An had just finished testing the new sword technique and was about to record the data when he suddenly frowned.

In his mental perception, the Survivors behind the three doors were gathering together, retreating backward.

The broadcast that had been giving audio prompts also stopped.

The Safety doors behind them closed in succession, sealing off their retreat.

Suddenly retreating?

Moreover, they also gave up communicating with us?

And they even wanted to lock us together with the monster?

Do they think there's no hope? Preparing to flee?

Swoosh!

He raised his hand to recall the flying sword, watching the monster rapidly regenerate before him.

If that's the case...

Then let's not test the sword technique for now.

He was still thinking about capturing a few batches of researchers to bring back for the base to design Equipment.

At this point, if we drag it on, those people will probably have already escaped.

Then.

There's no need to keep 'playing' anymore.

Zhang Tie, Wen Ya, Chu An.

Get ready to leave.

Lin An gripped the alloy longsword and spoke calmly.

Lin Dui!!

Where are we going?

Are we just ignoring this monster? Damn, it's basically unkillable.

Zhang Tie bared his teeth and grinned as he stood up from the corner and hurried over to join him.

He noticed the metal door behind him suddenly close, a flash of shock in his eyes.

Before him, the monster, having healed its head, lunged forward.

Go catch them.

Lin An gave a light chuckle, his eyes suddenly turning fierce.

Combat instinct!

Successive slashes!

In an all-out burst, the sword light shone dazzlingly.

Within an extremely short distance, Lin An's charge speed approached the sound barrier, and the intense wind pressure stirred up airflow in the passage.

Hiss!

Six streaks of silver light flashed in succession, and the Indestructible Asura that had just lunged at him was cut into six pieces.

The monster's body, already strengthened to resist flying swords, could not withstand a single blow in his close-quarters combat.

Compared to the telekinetically controlled flying sword, the damage Lin An personally dealt was far beyond what the monster could bear.

On the ground, the monster whose limbs, head, and entire body had been severed was rapidly healing.

Captain Lin!

This is useless!

Zhang Tie wore a puzzled expression, yet all he saw was Wen Ya closing her eyes and sharing her spiritual power with Lin An.

I know it's useless!

Lin An stood sword in hand beside him, and in an instant a rich death aura burst from his whole body.

Only saw his right hand suddenly reach out, pointing at the undying immortal monster, as he softly uttered:

Divine Stab!

Boom!!

The violent mental impact, after consuming a large amount of spiritual power, solidified into a physical blow that fiercely struck the monster.

Chunks of flesh kept exploding, grinding the just-healed body into fine fragments once more.

The blood-mud on the ground writhed, attempting to heal again.

Wen Ya and the other person showed a flash of incomprehension in their eyes, but then only saw what happened next.

As the death aura condensed, a death god phantom instantly appeared behind Lin An.

Only saw a red light flash and vanish in Lin An's eyes.

In the silent stillness, the death god phantom wielding a sickle grinned as it sliced toward the void.

Withering!

Crack.

Like the sound of souls shattering in the void.

On the ground, the constantly writhing blood-mud instantly halted, motionless.

As if completely dead.

Inside the monitoring room, Zhang Hai's eyes widened into ovals.

His mouth slightly open, his trembling arm pointing at the screen, he was speechless for a moment.

After a while.

Only when Lin An and the others on the screen gathered up the blood mud on the ground and rushed toward the lower fan door did he come to his senses.

Mon... mon... monster died!

His incredulous shout stunned the crowd behind him who were preparing to escape by elevator.

The crowd stared back in shock.