Chapter 834: In the Darkness
Certain items or characteristics can only be used under specific conditions. Jin Feixue's decision to return to the top of the building was itself a flaw, which is why Ahsis started from that angle first.
However, that golden, stage-like light screen was a massive trap. Whether it contained other items was unknown, but the players of District 011 couldn't easily get close to Jin Feixue.
To reduce losses and improve efficiency, the Command Room activated thermal weapons and aimed them at the building. Destroying the lower floors would have the same effect, provided Jin Feixue's item needed to be anchored to a physical object.
But unexpectedly, two of the artillery barrels veered off target and blasted directly into their own weaponry, instantly destroying three weapon emplacement points!
These weapons were stored underground and only brought out during wartime, so this not only destroyed the weapons but also took out one layer of the pressure-resistant defenses along with several buildings.
The base city descended into chaos once more. Even as rescue efforts began, multiple suicide and self-detonation incidents erupted simultaneously.
"Dou Shengnan made her move," Xu Huo said.
"Dou Shengnan is that player from the Phantom Sound Knights who's terrifyingly good at hypnosis," Yan Jiayu said with a grave expression. "I haven't forgotten the scene at Harbor City where people packed the rooftop and jumped off one after another."
"Finding her now won't be easy," Xu Huo added.
Dou Shengnan was known for controlling others through hypnosis. In a place like District 011, she wouldn't directly cordon off an area and threaten the government like she did in District 014. The most sensible approach would be to control her targets in advance, so while Jin Feixue drew everyone's attention, the controlled individuals could sow chaos within District 011 from the inside.
He pulled up his communicator and checked all the incident locations currently being broadcast. He noticed that aside from the Stellar Corporation Hotel and several key government departments, the Game Government base had also triggered an alarm.
"Why is the base alarming too?" Yan Jiayu said. "If the Phantom Sound Knights are here to avenge their comrade, they should go straight for the District 011 government. Clashing with the base brings them no benefit at all."
The staff at the Game Government base appeared to be low-ranked players on the surface, but they had plenty of items. Moreover, to protect what was stored in the base, every floor of the building was layered with items, and the weapons they could use were absolutely state-of-the-art. Fighting the base would only add a formidable enemy with zero upside.
Besides, the base generally didn't interfere in district affairs. Even if the Phantom Sound Knights wiped out District 011 entirely, they likely wouldn't lift a finger.
"It's also possible someone took advantage of the chaos to break in," Xu Huo said.
Previously, there had been signs of Holy Sword Society activity in other areas of District 011. If members of the Holy Sword Society had also infiltrated, they might have taken the opportunity to hit the base while the Phantom Sound Knights were making their move.
"But we can't rule out that the Phantom Sound Knights have another agenda," he added. "This revenge performance is too theatrical."
The base's purpose wasn't just to repair the tracks; it also handled transporting test subject samples from various districts. Previously, the Holy Sword Society had been frequently active in other subordinate districts of District 011, and now the Phantom Sound Knights had shown up too. The timing of both parties was too coincidental.
He exchanged a glance with Yan Jiayu. "Let's go take a look."
The two were of one mind and immediately turned toward the Game Government base.
However, by the time they arrived, the entire base had already been sealed off. The robots that normally moved about outside were lined up in ranks on the ground and in the air, encircling the building with weapons all pointed outward.
From inside the base, the occasional sound of fighting could be heard, but not a single running figure could be seen, no cries for help were heard, and even the base's internal alarm had been silenced.
"Someone's already gotten in," Yan Jiayu said, turning to look at him. "But none of the base's players have shown up."
The base hadn't been particularly busy these past few days.
Shi Youzhi had led his squad out on a mission and hadn't returned yet. Unless overtime was required, few people stayed at the base, but that didn't mean the base was unguarded. Since the alarm had been successfully triggered, Director Sanyang and the others must have received the notification. Yet not a single person had appeared, and the armed robots were all facing outward...
"There might be someone inside," Xu Huo said.
He had never set foot above the fifth floor of the base building. What was up there, whether any players stood guard, he had no idea. But at this moment, he instinctively sensed that the base was no less dangerous than the Stellar Corporation Hotel.
Faces flashed through his mind: Bai Kou, Jin Feixue, Director Sanyang, and others. Dr. Deng leaking information, the Holy Sword Society's abnormal activity, and a series of other events seemed to have faint, tenuous connections. Unfortunately, the information gap prevented him from making even a basic judgment about the situation.
"Why are you two here too?" Wan Tingfang came running over from a distance, looking around left and right. "Why haven't I seen anyone else?"
Xu Huo was about to speak when he saw a surge of black qi pour out from within the base building. It wasn't like black smoke; it was something that stripped away light, something as dark as the night itself. The moment he laid eyes on it, the blackness had already covered everything outside the base. There was no time to react, and his vision went pitch black in an instant!
He could see in the dark, but this black substance was clearly abnormal. It didn't just rob him of sight; his hearing and sense of smell were also stripped away. He reached out beside him and, unsurprisingly, found neither Yan Jiayu nor Wan Tingfang.
The layout outside the base had changed.
Having previously witnessed Jiangjiang's Octagonal Gallery, Xu Huo wasn't surprised to encounter another field item. However, based on his perception of the surrounding space, this place seemed to have become a barren wasteland.
In this silent space, the only thing he could directly touch was the ground beneath his feet. The feedback from his steps suggested an ordinary grassy field. There were no trees or other obstacles around, and he could walk freely without any people or animals approaching. He was clearly trapped inside a battlefield between high-level players.
After brief hesitation, he chose not to try opening a door within the item, instead walking forward on instinct. After about five minutes, a faint light appeared ahead. Drawing closer, he found a small cabin of a few square meters with a sign hanging on the door with words on it:
"Safe House."
"You can take shelter here. The black mist will recede in thirty minutes."
Still hesitating, the darkness shifted once more. In an instant, Xu Huo felt a pressure from the air itself, and his breathing involuntarily tightened. He immediately pulled open the safe house door and stepped inside. The moment the door closed, that all-pervasive crushing sensation vanished.
Inside the room was a chair, a table, and a tea set on the table. The kettle even had hot water in it, and beside it sat a gem appreciation magazine. It looked more like a place for leisure.
Xu Huo walked over and sat down, poured himself some tea, then flipped open the magazine.
The magazine wasn't new; there were water stains on it. Besides that, the room also bore traces of scuffles and attacks, evidence that he was clearly not the first person to come here.