Chapter 30: The Research Center

Online Game: One Shot, Blood Surge

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When it came to reacting, Wu Hua was the fastest, having been suspicious from the very start of the mission.

Although it was a major federal mission, the government's method of granting credit points as subsidies suggested there was more to it than just destroying the base. The truth would never be revealed until the very end.

The center of the blast site was charred black; computers and equipment had long since been obliterated, black smoke billowed everywhere. Sunlight streamed down, and Wu Hua’s keen eyesight played its role at a crucial moment. He immediately noticed that the original energy pillar had already been blown away, and in its place, the ground revealed a sinister hole, about one meter in diameter, not easily seen without careful inspection.

He cleared away the broken chairs and benches scattered above, and saw a glimmer below. Wu Hua understood immediately—this must be the escape route specially arranged by the system.

Wu Hua quickly whispered into the walkie-talkie strapped to his shoulder, "Come up, there’s an exit in the blast center, beneath where the energy pillar was."

He didn’t shout, but every member of the Qimen Squad heard him clearly.

The most energized were Su2o and Wandering in the Rivers and Lakes. Both were at the bottom; Su2o’s “Boulder Smash” skill consumed an enormous amount of psychic energy—using it once required him to pant for ages, and rely on crystal sources to replenish. Wandering in the Rivers and Lakes was even more frantic, casting electrical spells with his right hand while slapping magical potions onto his thigh with his left, evidence of both the huge consumption and the frenzy of the zombies below.

Upon hearing the words "exit," the two nearly collapsed in relief. "Crazy Bomber, if you’re not a good comrade, who is?"

Snow Night Fairy adopted a kneeling shooting stance, her damage per shot now dropped to only 600 points. After firing more than ten consecutive shots, she grew increasingly alarmed—no player remained human below, only a dense mass of zombies surging upward like a black tide. At most, they could hold out another ten minutes.

"Are we really going to die here today?" Snow Night Fairy was deeply unwilling. Her hard-earned level 30 had been achieved through the dedicated efforts of her company sisters, who avoided grouping and sacrificed themselves to lure high-level monsters for her from a distance. Her equipment was also extremely expensive; losing even one piece would mean the loss of tremendous manpower and financial investment.

Just then, she noticed something—Su2o and Wandering in the Rivers and Lakes were racing upward, faster than any other player, their expressions tinged with excitement.

It was a tiny detail, but Snow Night Fairy caught it. As a sniper, her powers of observation and judgment were exceptional.

She looked upward again—Qimen Company's people were all rushing toward the blast center above, their movements somehow off. Only Wu Hua was missing.

Two people had left a deep impression on her during this mission. One was Earth Yam, whose self-sacrificial explosion stunned everyone; the other was Wu Hua. This small, unremarkable figure seemed to have ordinary equipment, yet based on past experience, Snow Night Fairy felt he was the true elite of the Qimen Squad.

That Desert Eagle was certainly a lethal weapon, but his intelligence, reaction, and judgment were his real strengths. Good equipment was impressive for a moment, but strong technique was the true path to greatness.

Snow Night Fairy quickly deduced: There very likely was a way out above!

She immediately motioned to Lily of the Valley, who understood, and the two of them shot upward like arrows.

The black hole beneath the energy pillar was actually a mine shaft—deep and narrow, allowing only two people to descend the iron ladder at once.

Qimen Squad seized the lead again, and after descending about six or seven hundred meters, they dropped into a metal circular chamber.

This circular chamber was similar to the blast center above, but twice as large, brimming with modern technological ambiance. Dense machinery operated automatically, dozens of computers flickered, and two metal doors stood at the chamber's edge. In the center, a large electronic screen displayed a continuous stream of subtitles:

"Year 102 of the Aiji era. Human technology reached its peak, yet resources in the solar system gradually dwindled. The Earth Federation, in order to ease resource supply, discovered the main planet T18, suitable for human life and rich in resources, in the distant Jinchi Star System. Nine centuries later, T18 has become a second Earth, humans have proliferated and developed, achieving technology equal to that of Earth..."

"What is all this?" Flying Girl asked, curious.

Wu Hua replied, "Let’s watch; maybe there’s a clue for escaping."

Dragon Battle Starfield checked his watch. "Twenty minutes since we left above. We don’t have much time. Everyone, pick a door."

Wu Hua remained still, continuing to read the screen:

"A century ago, the enemy launched a fierce assault. To defend the peace of T18, we activated the planetary energy radiation defense system. All life on the planet was destroyed in an instant, only a few survived and have continued to reproduce to this day. We have pondered: our current energy can no longer resist the enemy’s attacks. Is there a special power that can make us stronger? The T-virus, as a second-generation top-tier energy product, can induce hyperactivity in human cells, greatly increasing strength, making the body exceptionally powerful and immune to harm..."

Wu Hua was struck by realization. "So this is the true science research center. Did the NPC scientists develop the T-virus here?"

"Unfortunately, the T-virus has severe side effects and is highly contagious. The stronger a person’s abilities, the greater the side effects, ultimately endangering humanity itself. In keeping with a scientist’s conscience, I decided not to deploy this product. Humanity’s fate should be determined by humanity itself. Dear friends, if you can read these words, it means the energy pillar above has been destroyed..."

"No time, move!" Dragon Battle Starfield urged. More and more players were jumping down, signaling the zombie army was fast approaching.

"Wait a bit," Wu Hua insisted.

"In test tube No. 3 nearby is a crystal source, capable of resisting the mutated virus rays. Simply reach in to receive it, but the ray only slows the spread of the virus and cannot eradicate it, effective for 24 hours..."

Wu Hua quickly turned; in the northwest corner, as expected, stood a row of giant test tubes aglow with various lights. He was about to run over when Dragon Battle Starfield grabbed him firmly. "We’re out of time—go!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a zombie fell through the shaft cover, unleashing a fresh wave of howls in the chamber. Wu Hua, reluctant, had to follow the main group toward the northern door. If given more time, he believed the electronic screen would definitely offer specific escape routes.

Yet once the electric door opened, the contrast between inside and outside was stark.

A barren, pitch-black expanse greeted them, with only a distant point of light. Without hesitation, all players sprinted toward it.

After running for a while, the group quickly understood the terrain: a smooth black mountain, with the bright spot marking the entrance to a mine halfway up. But the mine itself was tiny, with another opening inside. This opening led upward at a forty-five degree angle to a stone bridge, which in turn led to a mine above the research center. The repeated, hollow, complex structure resembled human ribs, spiraling upward.

The narrow openings made it easy to defend against zombies—an ideal terrain for holding off the horde.

By now, the few hundred survivors were all seasoned veterans—mentally tough, quick to react, and powerful. Wu Hua kept checking his sensor, which was flashing frantically. The zombie army was less than three hundred meters away.

No Guilt Shooter, lugging his ten-kilogram M249, ran slowly. After crossing the first bridge, he simply stopped, turned, and yelled, "I’m not leaving today! If I take one down, that’s enough. I’ve got my points—I want experience!"

With that, the heavy M249 machine gun erupted in a frenzy of fire, its blaze lighting up the mountain gorge.