Chapter 208: Beneath the Dome, a Trapped Beast Still Fights

The death warning from orbit, like ice water poured over the head, instantly extinguished the faint warmth that had just risen from acquiring energy. The air in the Ecological Hall froze solid; only the faint glow emitted by the seed crystals cast wavering shadows on everyone's faces, reflecting expressions of extreme heaviness and solemnity.

"Estimated arrival time of the drop pod?" Lin Mo's voice was cold as iron, his gaze sweeping sharply over the dome above, as if he could penetrate the metal and rock layers to see the lethal creation descending from space.

"Calculating based on descent rate and atmospheric resistance: estimated impact time, 7 minutes and 42 seconds." Zero's electronic voice responded rapidly. The console floated up, its deep-blue scanning beams focusing all power on the dome structure. "Impact point prediction: calculated based on the energy fluctuation exposure point of this unit and the structural weak points of the dome. The highest probability area is the southeast quadrant, directly above Priestess Liyana's location!"

Sister Ai Li reacted almost instantly. She dragged the unconscious Priestess Liyana away from the edge of the platform, quickly moving to a relatively sturdy area in the center of the hall. She positioned her own body above Liyana, her cold gaze死死盯着 the predicted impact point on the dome. An alloy short knife was reversed in her grip, though she knew it might be useless against a strike from orbit.

"Gardener! Dome defense systems? Any weapon systems?" Lin Mo asked the platform in a hurried voice.

【Negative. Unit B-7 is a pure ecological research unit, equipped only with a basic meteorite micro-impact defense matrix. Current energy levels and system integrity are insufficient to activate. Weapon systems are concentrated in the military sector and are all offline.】 The Gardener's answer cut off the last hope.

"Zero, structural analysis! Where can withstand the most?" Lin Mo's mind raced at lightning speed. He abandoned any thought of offense and focused entirely on seeking the possibility of holding ground.

"Calculating... The northwest corner of the hall. Support pillars are most dense there, and there is a secondary protective partition above that has not completely collapsed. Survival probability is relatively highest. However, if directly hit, the survival probability in any area is below 0.1%." Zero's data was cruel and real.

"Move! Quickly!" Lin Mo roared low, scooping up the weak Xiang Lingna in his arms. Sister Ai Li hoisted Priestess Liyana onto her shoulder. The few of them rushed toward the northwest corner of the hall at maximum speed. Those crystal cluster bodies also sensed the extreme danger, emitting fearful clicking sounds as they followed closely behind them, as if only hiding beside Lin Mo could grant them a shred of safety.

The northwest corner was piled with some abandoned planting troughs and instrument wreckage. A thick metal support pillar, covered in rust marks, ran from top to bottom. The moment the group hid behind the pillar, Zero's countdown reached its end.

Boom!!!

A dull, earth-shattering roar, as if striking directly into the depths of the soul, came from overhead! The entire Ecological Hall shook violently! As if struck hard by an invisible giant hammer!

Crack—Clang!!!

The dome in the southeast quadrant burst open in response! A gigantic, cone-shaped metal pod, its surface still radiating dark red residual heat, brutally tore through the composite metal plates and the energy-simulated sky curtain. Carrying countless fragments and smoke, it crashed down hard, completely destroying that area! A violent shockwave, mixed with scorching air currents and pungent smoke, swept outward in all directions!

Crash—The surviving glassware and fragile instruments in the hall were instantly shattered! A massive amount of dust and debris fell rustling from all parts of the dome, as if a gray snow had begun to fall. The support pillars emitted a grating groan that made teeth ache; the entire space seemed ready to collapse completely at any moment.

After the explosion, there was a brief, deathly silence, broken only by the crackling of burning flames and the groaning of twisted metal echoing through the air.

"Is everyone okay?" Lin Mo shook the dust from his head and asked anxiously. Xiang Lingna in his arms coughed and nodded. Sister Ai Li lifted her head from Priestess Liyana, confirming she was unharmed, though she herself had been cut on the arm by several flying fragments.

Luck! The drop pod did not hit them directly, but the landing point was extremely close, and the immense destructive power had already been demonstrated.

Click... Clang-clang...

The ear-piercing sound of metal friction came from the smoke at the breach. Illuminated by the swirling smoke and leaping flames, several tall, grotesque figures radiating cold killing intent stepped out from the damaged drop pod!

Their height approached three meters. Their main structure was a pale, cold alloy skeleton covered in dark purple biomaterial armor, with complex hydraulic transmission devices at the joints. Their "heads" were single composite sensors emitting a scarlet glow, lacking any facial features, possessing only pure killing desire. Their arms had been modified into rotating energy rapid-fire cannons and massive power claws flashing with ion arcs!

They were the Doctor's elite killing units—Scavengers! And four of them had been dropped at once!

【High-threat target detected: Scavenger-IV Type. Equipment: High-speed energy weapons, armor-piercing power claws, enhanced sensors. Energy signature: Hybrid technology and corrupted energy. Threat level: Extreme.】 Zero's alarm sounded.

The moment these Scavengers landed, their scarlet sensors immediately began scanning the entire hall, instantly locking onto Lin Mo and the others in the northwest corner, where the life force was most intense!

Voom—! The energy rapid-fire cannons on the arms of all four Scavengers began to spin and charge simultaneously, gathering blinding energy light!

"Find cover!" Lin Mo roared. The Stardust Power erupted instantly, condensing a semi-transparent milky-white light shield before him!

Click-click-click-click-click—!!!

Dense energy beams poured down like a rainstorm! Most struck the light shield Lin Mo had raised, sending ripples of violent disturbance outward, numbing Lin Mo's arms and forcing his body to retreat continuously! Zero's console immediately retaliated, firing deep-blue energy beams precisely at the Scavengers' joints and sensors, attempting to disrupt their attacks. But most only sparked against their armor, with minimal effect!

Relying on her ghost-like speed, Sister Ai Li, carrying Priestess Liyana, moved quickly to evade among the collapsed planting troughs and instrument wreckage, drawing some of the fire. Energy beams exploded behind her, creating charred craters, putting her in extreme peril!

"This won't work! Their firepower is too intense!" Xiang Lingna cried out anxiously. Protected behind Lin Mo, she watched the wavering light shield and the approaching Scavengers. The crystal on her right arm trembled slightly from weakness.

Those crystal cluster bodies, terrified, shrank into the corner. Their body auras flashed wildly, emitting helpless clicking sounds.

"Gardener! What else in this hall can be used? Anything!" Lin Mo shouted at the platform while struggling to maintain the light shield.

【... Irrigation system... Some pressurized water pipes might...】 The Gardener's voice was intermittent. 【... But energy is needed to activate the pump house...】

"Zero! Give energy to the pump!" Lin Mo commanded without hesitation.

Zero immediately allocated part of its computing power. A stream of energy flowed backward along the lines previously connected to the platform!

Hiss—!

The next moment, the long-dry, hidden nozzles throughout the hall suddenly sprayed powerful jets of water! Due to system damage, the water sprayed uncontrollably in all directions, instantly soaking a large area and temporarily disrupting the Scavengers' sensors. Their shooting became chaotic for a moment!

But water obviously could not truly harm them.

Just then, one Scavenger seemed to judge Lin Mo the greatest threat. It stopped firing, took heavy steps forward, its power claw flashing with deadly ion arcs, and charged directly at Lin Mo! It intended to tear him apart at close range!

"Brother Lin Mo!" Xiang Lingna screamed.

Seeing the massive power claw about to slam down hard, Lin Mo's eyes sharpened. He was just about to drop the shield, dodge, and engage in a direct clash—

Voom-wooo—!!!

That familiar, vast Ark humming sound rang out again! And this time it was clearer, closer! As if it were in the adjacent chamber!

As the humming sound swept over, the movements of the four Scavengers suddenly froze! Their scarlet sensor lights flashed violently. The corrupted energy within them seemed to clash violently with this humming sound, which contained order and vitality, causing them to experience a brief system disruption and stiffness!

Even the dark purple biomaterial armor on their bodies seemed suppressed by an invisible force, its luster dimming for an instant!

An opportunity!

How could Lin Mo miss such an excellent chance! He instantly dropped the light shield. His body shot out like a cannonball. All the Stardust Power condensed into his right fist. The whole person transformed into a blazing white streak of light, and he struck the chest of the stiffened Scavenger with a fierce punch!

Boom!!!

Immense power erupted instantly! The thick chest armor of that Scavenger was actually smashed inward! The humanoid weapon, as if struck by a high-speed train, was knocked flying off the ground, crashing hard into the burning ruins in the distance and exploding into a huge fireball! The light of short-circuited circuits and black smoke leaking corrupted energy spread everywhere!

The power of a single punch, to such an extent!

The other three Scavengers, just recovering from the effect of the humming, saw their comrade instantly killed! Their processors seemed to experience a momentary logic error. Their scarlet sensors locked onto Lin Mo, yet they did not attack immediately. Instead, they retreated half a step, assuming a defensive posture!

This carbon-based life form's energy level and aggressiveness far exceeded estimates!

Lin Mo was not unscathed either. The full-force strike nearly drained half his strength. His chest heaved violently as he panted, staring at the remaining three machines.

The humming sound faded again. But this time, the direction from which it disappeared seemed to leave a faint energy trail, pointing toward a passage entrance on the other side of the hall, partially covered by ruins! Deep within that passage, something seemed to have a deeper connection with this humming sound, and with the entire Ark!

"Gardener! What is that?" Lin Mo asked immediately.

【... The energy trail points to... the deep maintenance passage of Unit B-7... connecting to... an ancient node of the Ark's internal network... Perhaps... some unrecorded... backup interface...】 The Gardener's answer carried uncertainty.

At this moment, the remaining three Scavengers seemed to have received new orders. They no longer attempted to attack separately but quickly closed in, forming a simple triangular offensive formation. The energy cannons on their arms began charging again, their scarlet lights死死锁定 Lin Mo! At the breach of the drop pod behind them, new shadows seemed to be writhing, as if a second wave of drops was about to arrive!

Strong enemies ahead, unknowns behind. But that ancient humming seemed to point out a possible direction for them.