Chapter 98: S-Rank Item: Doomsday Base Vehicle

Huang Haitao led the way, nearly thirty Awakened Ones followed behind Lin An, and the group marched mightily straight to the place where Gao Tian was.

Along the way, students panicked, many even thinking another monster attack was coming.

They passed the main road and arrived in front of the teaching building.

"This is the place!"

Huang Haitao came to a sudden stop, pointing to the old storage room at the corner of the first floor where cleaning tools were hung.

Lin An flashed forward and kicked the door open; before coming, he had already activated Judgment Eye to gather information along the way.

The information inside the door showed that someone's life force was extremely weak, possibly dying at any moment.

His heart sank; the key figure in his plan was to subdue one of the Six Kings, the Demon Hunter!

As a renowned Awakened One, the Demon Hunter not only possesses great strength but also immense potential.

Most importantly, in his past life he was an archer skilled in long-range attacks, and in defensive battles he could unleash excellent combat power against mutants.

Moreover, the Rescue Squad currently lacks one person to activate the Doomsday Base Vehicle.

Having always intended to take the elite path, Lin An really didn't want to casually recruit ordinary Awakened Ones just to fill numbers.

The simple iron door was blown away in an instant.

In view was a short, thin male student wearing glasses, crouching before the bed; on the bed lay Gao Tian, on the brink of death, his body oozing pus.

"Lord Lin An!!"

"Brother Huang?"

The male student was a bit timid; seeing so many Awakened Ones enter the room, and even the idol of everyone in the academy, Lord Lin An.

Could it be that he was caught sneaking food to Gao Tian in violation of the rules?!

His hand trembled, and half a dry bun fell to the ground.

Lin An took a step to the bedside, placed his right hand directly on Gao Tian's head, and slowly transmitted spiritual power.

"Huh—"

Under the continuous flow of pure spiritual power, Gao Tian gradually awoke, his dry, whitened lips involuntarily letting out a painful groan.

Just being able to wake up is good!

Lin An's heart suddenly relaxed, and he directly asked:

"Gao Tian?"

"Are you skilled at archery, and do you also have a brother studying in the capital?"

"Who... are you..."

Gao Tian spoke with difficulty; he now felt aches all over, and after days of only drinking a little water, his throat felt like it was being cut by a knife.

Seeing Gao Tian not answer Lin An's questions, the group of Awakened Ones became anxious.

"Lord An is asking you—just answer!"

Lin An raised his hand to stop the Awakened Ones behind him from shouting, merely fixing his gaze intently on the boy before him.

"Demon Hunter Gao Tian!"

The person before him indeed resembled the image previously published on the rankings.

"Yes... I used to practice archery. How do you know about my brother...?"

Gao Tian, despite repeated urging, spoke with difficulty, his eyes full of suspicion.

Anyone being stared at by a crowd, especially after being expelled from the academy, would think they were being sought out for trouble.

Upon receiving a definite answer, Lin An's heart leapt with joy.

The stone that had been weighing on his heart finally fell.

The reason he deliberately delayed dealing with the sand worms last night was not only to play the savior's role, but largely to guard against a possible Demon Hunter lurking in the shadows.

After all, the reputation of being one of the Six Kings in his past life is immense—he is literally one of humanity's top combat powers, akin to a walking nuclear weapon!

Yet he never expected that one of those past-life kings would now be lying on the bed, close to starving to death.

Suppressing the absurdity in his heart, Lin An unhesitatingly took out the blood stone and asked:

"Do you want revenge! Do you want power!"

"Join my team, be loyal to me, and I can give you everything you want!"

Although the blood stone has only a one-time use, if it can secure a future king, he would gladly exchange it—not just the blood stone, but even a piece of epic equipment.

As for whether Gao Tian could become the Demon Hunter of his past life again after his fate was broken by him, he didn't worry at all.

When Awakened Ones break through to the third rank, they awaken the Gene Lock within their bodies.

The lock, once activated, halts further growth of strength.

Therefore, to advance to the third rank, one must not only obtain sufficient spiritual energy but also unlock the Gene Lock.

However, the Gene Lock is extremely difficult to open; if the attempt fails, one mutates into a mutant.

The cost of failure is too painful, causing many second-level Awakened Ones to dare not unlock the Gene Lock, preferring to remain stuck at the peak of the second level.

This is also one of the reasons why the number of third-rank Awakened Ones in his past life was extremely low.

But the Six Kings are different; the kings of his past life were born able to open the Gene Lock—once they acquire enough spiritual energy, they automatically advance to the third rank.

After a long time with no response from Gao Tian, everyone felt anxious.

Hearing Lin An's words just now, they wished they could take his place, and even if they were mute they would gesture to show their agreement.

That was an invitation proactively offered by Lord Lin An!

Since the sand worms were subdued, Lin An's displayed strength has seemed nearly invincible in their minds.

Following such a being, becoming a squad member, they'd probably laugh in their dreams.

Look at Zhang Tie, look at An Jing Tian—who isn't far stronger than an ordinary Awakened One?

After a while, Gao Tian's eyes flashed with deep hatred and resentment; he turned his head with effort toward the friend who had always cared for him, and spoke slowly.

This person... sir? I'm willing to join your team, but I'm already a cripple.

I'm really grateful... that you could look... up to me.

Gao Tian gave a bitter laugh; all the bones in his body had been broken by Li Hua, and if it weren't for his heart occasionally bursting forth with faint vitality to sustain him, he wouldn't have lasted until now.

I can save you!

Lin An smiled confidently and directly pressed the blood stone against his chest.

Beep, blood stone usage count -1, current usage count (0/3).

The blood stone, once full of vital energy, completely turned into a dim, lusterless crystal agate, reduced to a mere ornament.

No regrets; although it was just a white Props, the blood stone has played an important role all along the way.

One could say that without the blood stone, he would have died long ago.

He solemnly stored the blood stone in the ring.

Amid the astonished gazes of everyone, Gao Tian's originally shattered body gradually repaired itself, and within just a few minutes it returned to peak condition.

Even a Props that can replenish 50% of his vitality, when used on an ordinary Awakened One, can practically be called a full-health resurrection!

Gao Tian's expression was excited; he dared not believe it as he repeatedly felt over his own body.

Accept the invitation.

Lin An gave a faint smile; he could understand this feeling akin to being dead and then revived.

Upon hearing the voice, Gao Tian hurriedly nodded, and the system's confirmation sound came instantly.

Beep, detected a new Awakened One joining the team.

The current Rescue Team is full (5/5), mission accomplished!

Hum!!

At an altitude of 42,000 kilometers in near-Earth space orbit, within a space like a black hole, a beam of light shot out.

Then.

A powerful, heart-pounding pressure almost broke through the atmosphere at light speed, descended from the heavens, and directly sank into Lin An's sea of consciousness!

Beep! Congratulations, player obtained S-rank special Props 【Doomsday Base Vehicle】!

Beep, a new Rescue Team mission is about to begin!!

Within the mental world, a black heavy-armored base vehicle brimming with futuristic technology slowly rotated!