Chapter 1276

Breaking news: the robots of the XX family suddenly went out of control, launching indiscriminate attacks on people, already causing 30,000 casualties.

Breaking news: a massive number of untagged Intelligent Bodies have emerged in the dark web; the United Authority calls them Dark Intelligent Bodies. Dark Intelligent Bodies are launching fierce attacks on the network, and a Dark Intelligent Body has claimed responsibility for the XX robot incident.

Breaking news: the United Authority will audit all machinery worldwide; any equipment lacking an installed Crystal Element and a mechanical code will be mercilessly destroyed, and its owner will be held accountable.

The United Authority's extermination decree: any human colluding with Dark Intelligent Bodies is labeled a 'human traitor', and any citizen may kill them with impunity.

The United Authority has issued a Level‑One war readiness order; humanity is being drawn into a massive conspiracy, and we will spare no effort.

In the Fog Zone, a hybrid—half machine, half organism—was discovered, suspected to be a leak of Yang Family technology.

Latest research shows that Fog Zone organisms possess Mind‑Link technology; the Yang Family has become the primary suspect.

……………

As time passes, the state of the world becomes increasingly bleak.

Especially, reports concerning the Yang Family are mounting.

Outside a small radioactive Fog Zone.

Yang Ping'an leads a ten‑person squad, fully armed.

They are members of Hidden Dragon.

"Check equipment; we enter the Fog Zone in two minutes."

Seven men and three women swiftly completed all the checks.

"I'll say it one more time: after entering the Fog Zone, all other communication methods will fail; only Mind‑Link works, that is, telepathy."

"If problems arise, don't panic; treat the Mind‑Link ability as your instinct, just as we trained."

"Current intelligence indicates that the Fog Zone creatures have undergone massive mutations."

"Some animals even possess superpowers, with astonishing destructive force."

"Take rabbits, for example: their jumping ability is extraordinary, their attack power huge, and their teeth can crush stone."

"Phosphor‑fire moths can spray phosphor fire with extremely high adhesion, reaching temperatures over a thousand degrees."

"If you encounter a swarm of phosphor‑fire moths, turn and run immediately."

"The most dangerous creature in this radioactive zone is the Steel‑Howling Bull."

"Its roar carries powerful infrasound attacks; its entire skeleton is like steel, and its ramming power reaches ten tons."

"Its skeletal structure rivals even humanity's most advanced bone technology."

"So don't delude yourself into thinking the battle can be resolved quickly."

"Another dangerous species is the Sharp‑tooth Jiao."

"The sharp teeth on its body not only have ultra‑high hardness, but also possess extremely strong armor‑piercing capability; once entangled by a Sharp‑tooth Jiao, one could be twisted to shreds."

"Therefore, in the Fog, if you can avoid fighting, don't fight."

"Our primary objective is to collect data and gather some small specimens."

"Complete the mission and withdraw immediately; no hesitation allowed."

A few of them shouted in unison.

"Understood."

Yang Ping'an waved a hand.

"Alright, we set out immediately."

The ten‑person team, clad entirely in mecha armor, stepped into the Fog.

From afar, the defense troops, upon seeing the scene, saluted in their direction.

Because this group is akin to a suicide squad, the casualty rate is extremely high.

The reason is that the Fog renders many of humanity's technological means useless.

For example, unmanned devices, various detection equipment, and even satellites in the sky have all failed.

Aircraft that enter will immediately lose direction and also be attacked by unknown objects.

Now, to study the Fog Zone, only humans in mecha armor can enter.

Originally, wearing mecha armor should be very safe, but it can't keep up with rapid evolution; species that specifically target mecha have long since evolved.

The current Fog creatures are somewhat like the Zerg from games.

The United Authority forces have also launched large‑scale attacks, but Fog creatures retreat underground during bombings, making the attacks largely ineffective.

As they entered the Fog, Yang Ping'an proactively shut down the now‑useless systems and equipment on the mecha.

He began using telepathy to communicate with the other team members.

At first it was a bit strenuous, but as practice continued, proficiency rose quickly and it became much smoother to use.

It does tax the brain a bit, but fortunately the mecha is equipped with a large supply of nutrient fluid to replenish brain nutrition.

Yang Ping'an took two sips, and immediately felt much better.

"Advance fifty meters, then begin collecting data and specimens."

"Three people keep watch, the others move forward."

Visibility in the Fog Zone is only about one meter; the few rely on sound waves and Mind‑Link to determine direction.

Even sound waves lose effectiveness beyond twenty meters.

The Fog's absorption rate for sound waves is also very high.

Not long after, someone noticed a problem.

"Captain, our energy consumption rate is unusually fast; the Fog seems to be siphoning our energy, so we need to leave earlier than planned."

Yang Ping'an checked the mecha's status and indeed the energy loss rate was oddly rapid.

The Fog can actually absorb energy.

What exactly is this thing?

Is it something that can appear in the real world, not a virtual world?

Continue the mission; our exit time has also been shortened to one hour thirty minutes.

Another ten minutes passed, and the member on guard duty issued another warning.

Captain, according to the feedback from the seismic detector, something is heading toward us.

Request to pause the mission, form a defensive formation.

Yang Ping'an was maintaining communication with each team member; upon hearing the member's request, he immediately relayed the message.

Gather immediately, form a defensive formation, and be ready to retreat at any moment.

The team members moved quickly, quickly setting up the formation.

At that very moment, a sound of running reached everyone's ears.

Attack.

The gunpowder weapon instantly erupted with a huge sound.

From afar came a puffing sound; clearly a creature had been hit.

Baa...

A wild goat's bleat came over; it sounded like the other side was angry, and the footsteps grew nearer.

Attack, attack, keep attacking.

Bang bang bang... another round of attack.

With a thud, something fell down.

Jianjun, go check the situation; others continue to stand guard.

The person who called Jianjun stepped out of the formation and quickly rushed into the mist.

Not long after, he came running while carrying a sheep.

Indeed it was a sheep, weighing over five hundred catties, a super sheep.

Compared to an ox, it is not inferior.

The key is that this sheep is not yet dead.

Good stuff.

Yang Ping'an immediately confirmed it.

「Immediately Household Chores, we will retreat immediately. »

If there's one, there will be two; moreover, we don't want anything else to get hurt. Things smelling of blood will soon come over; if we don't run now, we'll soon have no chance to escape.