Chapter 159

The special aircraft did not return to Northern Europe; under Su Jin's remote coordination, it landed at a secret airfield in a friendly nation in the South Pacific, unknown to the outside world. This location lay within the optimal operational radius of the high-speed stealth assault craft for the estimated coordinates of the target offshore platform.

Inside the airfield hangar, lights blazed brightly. Eight carefully selected "Shield" security personnel, along with Lei Zhan and Qin Feng himself, formed the ten-man special assault team. They wore specialized dark diving combat suits, equipped with advanced individual weapons and gear treated for waterproofing and corrosion resistance, optimized for underwater and confined-space combat. Thick camouflage paint covered each face; their eyes gleamed sharp as hawks; the atmosphere was deadly serious.

Su Jin's holographic projection stood before them, her back illuminated by a large screen constantly refreshing data streams and satellite imagery.

"Target: 'Sea Serpent' platform." Su Jin pointed to an enlarged image on the screen—a tiny black dot against the blue ocean. It was a massive semi-submersible platform with a complex upper structure featuring clear Living Quarters, a Heliport, and several sealed, unidentified dome-shaped buildings. "According to the latest remote sensing and electronic reconnaissance, the platform's permanent personnel are estimated at 50 to 70, with at least four heavy weapon emplacements and an unknown number of automated defense systems. Its core research area, based on energy signatures and structural analysis, is most likely located beneath the largest central dome."

Her finger moved to another screen, displaying a metal box about the size of a suitcase, flickering with a faint blue indicator light.

"This is the prototype 'Purification Force Field' generator. Upon activation, it will continuously emit a directional energy field of a specific frequency, with an effective radius of approximately fifty meters. Theoretical models indicate this field will completely deactivate 'Guiding Enzyme' within its range within thirty seconds. This means any 'Shengwu Zhuneng' device or weapon reliant on this enzyme will rapidly become inoperative within the field's area."

Su Jin's gaze swept over each team member, finally settling on Qin Feng, her tone grave: "Your primary mission is to deploy the generator near the platform's core research area and successfully activate it. Secondary objective: retrieve as much of its research data storage equipment as possible. Final objective: confirm the combat effectiveness of the 'Purification Force Field' and extract safely."

"Understood!" The team growled in unison, their voices echoing through the empty hangar.

Qin Feng stepped forward, his gaze calmly scanning his team. These were the elites who had endured the icy wastes of Greenland and the depths of the Mariana Trench alongside him.

"This operation is not a competition. There are no rules—only life or death." Qin Feng's voice was low, yet metallic in tone. "The Foundation hides like a venomous snake, striking us repeatedly. Today, we pull out its fangs! Do you have the confidence?"

"Yes!" The roar was deafening.

"Board the craft!"

No additional pep talk. Operation codename—"Operation Tooth Extraction."

Two streamlined, black high-speed stealth assault craft, their surfaces coated with radar-absorbent material, slipped soundlessly from the hangar like phantoms of the night, sinking beneath the dark sea, leaving only faint ripples that were quickly smoothed by the waves.

Inside the craft, only the faint hum of equipment and the steady breathing of the team members filled the air. Qin Feng closed his eyes, calibrating his physical state, raising his perception to its peak, as if merging with the surrounding seawater. Lei Zhan performed one final check of his weapons and Communication Equipment.

After hours of submerged travel, the assault craft silently surfaced at the designated coordinates, exposing only the periscope and snorkel.

"Report: 'Sea Serpent' platform visually confirmed, three nautical miles out. Patrol boats present on perimeter; defense level moderate," the captain whispered.

Through night-vision goggles, the silhouette of the brightly lit offshore steel city was clearly visible in the distance.

"Plan A: underwater infiltration. Action!" Qin Feng ordered.

Ten dark shadows slipped into the icy sea like ink dissolving in water, using underwater propulsion units to rapidly advance toward the platform's support structures.

The platform's massive shadow loomed overhead like a crouching beast. The team avoided potential underwater sensors and illuminated zones, climbing the rough metal pillars like geckos, using magnetic attachments and ropes to swiftly and silently reach the edge shadows of the platform's deck level.

"Clear." "Clear."

Brief reports echoed through the communication channel. Two team members eliminated two patrolling guards at the platform's edge without a sound.

"Group A, clear obstacles along the route and establish extraction point. Group B, follow me into the core zone." Qin Feng signaled.

Lei Zhan led Group A's four members, quickly dispersing and using shadows and cover to clear the path toward the designated extraction point—a small helicopter landing pad at the platform's stern.

Qin Feng personally led Group B—including the team member carrying the "Purification Force Field" generator—like a blade driving straight into the platform's central massive dome.

The platform's interior structure was a labyrinth, but Su Jin's pre-infiltration simplified schematics provided clear guidance. They avoided main corridors, using ventilation shafts and maintenance passages to advance swiftly. Two scattered patrol squads encountered en route were swiftly neutralized in silent combat.

"Left turn ahead—enter main research corridor. Heavy guard expected," Qin Feng whispered over comms.

Indeed, at the corridor's end stood a thick alloy airtight door. Four fully armed guards, eyes alert, stood before it; above the door, a rotating surveillance camera spun.

"Simultaneous takedown. Three. Two. One!"

As Qin Feng finished counting, the ventilation grate above the corridor suddenly dropped. Two Group B members descended like divine warriors, their silenced weapons spitting fire! Simultaneously, two more emerged from the corridor's corner, firing precise shots!

The four guards never had time to raise an alarm—they collapsed. Another team member used a portable electronic jammer to disable the camera.

"Breach the door!"

The tech specialist rushed forward, connecting the decoder to the door's access system. The progress bar flashed rapidly.

Just then—

"Woo—!!!"

A shrill alarm blared across the entire platform!

They had been discovered—either by a hidden sensor, or because the fallen guards triggered a life-sign monitoring failure alert!

"Hurry!" Qin Feng's eyes hardened.

"Access granted!"

The airtight door hissed open.

The sight beyond made everyone's pupils contract—a vast chamber filled with bio-tech incubation tanks, energy conduits, and at its center, a massive device pulsing slowly like a living Bio-heart, emitting a faint green glow. Dozens of researchers and armed personnel in white or black uniforms stared in shock at the doorway!

"Intruders! Open fire!" A heavily armed officer reacted first, raising his weapon and firing!

"Take cover! Deploy the generator!" Qin Feng roared, his assault rifle already spitting fire, instantly dropping two charging armed personnel.

In an instant, gunfire erupted throughout the core research area—bullets flew, laser beams and energy weapons crisscrossed, transforming the once high-tech space into a bloody battlefield!

Group B members, relying on precise tactical coordination and superior individual combat prowess, used the equipment as cover and engaged in fierce firefights against numerically superior enemy forces.

The team member carrying the generator, under desperate cover from his comrades, braved the hail of bullets and hurled the metal box toward the base of the pulsing "Bio-heart" device!

"Activate!"

Qin Feng, pinning down enemies with precise shots, bellowed into the comm.

The metal box at the heart of the battlefield flared with its blue indicator lights at maximum intensity!

An invisible yet perceptible energy wave, centered on the box, spread outward like ripples, instantly engulfing a fifty-meter radius!

"Purification Force Field," activated!

What followed stunned every assault team member.

Within the field's range, the energy conduits connected to the "Bio-heart," previously glowing with various hues, dimmed and extinguished at visible speed. Nearby small bio-incubation tanks' fluids turned cloudy; their tissue samples rapidly decomposed and decayed!

Most dramatically, the massive central "Bio-heart" device itself—its strong, rhythmic pulse suddenly stuttered, then became erratic and weak. Its green glow flickered violently, like a faulty bulb, while inside, a grating, muscle-tearing sound echoed!

"No! Our Divine Remains!" screamed a white-coated researcher in despair.

Within the field's range, all "Shengwu Zhuneng" devices reliant on the "Guiding Enzyme" were failing and shutting down at an alarming rate!

"Effect confirmed! Target system neutralized!" the observer team member reported excitedly.

"Collect data! Prepare to extract!" Qin Feng calmly ordered, swapping out his magazine. Enemy resistance had plunged into brief chaos and panic due to the sudden collapse of their core system—this was the opening!

Two team members sprinted toward the main control console, forcibly dismantling the data storage units.

However, the platform's alarm drew more guards, who flooded into the research zone from every entrance, intensifying the firepower. Group A reported over comms that the evacuation route was also under heavy resistance.

"Boss, there are too many enemies! We're pinned down!" Lei Zhan's voice cut through the gunfire.

Qin Feng's eyes turned cold; he was about to order a forced breakout when—

The entire platform shuddered violently! A deep, massive roar—far louder and heavier than any previous explosion—erupted from deep within the platform! With that roar, all lights instantly went out, leaving only emergency red lights flashing wildly.

Not caused by them! The platform itself had malfunctioned! Likely a chain reaction triggered by the core equipment's failure—or had the Foundation, seeing defeat imminent, activated its self-destruct protocol?!

"Withdraw! Withdraw now! Abandon the data! All units evacuate via backup protocol!" Qin Feng decided instantly.

No more hesitation!

The surviving team members did not hesitate—they fell back while fighting, heading for the designated backup evacuation point: an emergency escape pod deployment zone on the platform's flank.

Explosions erupted one after another; flames burst forth from every corner of the platform, thick smoke rolling endlessly. The "Hydra" platform, the Foundation's decades-old maritime fortress, was collapsing from within.

As Qin Feng and the remaining team members boarded the seized emergency speedboat and broke through fire and smoke to escape the sea now turned to Purgatory, behind them rose towering flames and continuous secondary detonations.

He turned back, his gaze icy.

This time, it was not elimination from a competition.

This was real, iron-and-blood "check-in."

The Foundation's poisonous fang had been ripped out at its root—by the most brutal means possible!

Special Ops, check-in successful.