Fantasy Game: Infinite City

Chapter 696 'Water'

In another empty plaza, five players received the mission to "find higher ground to avoid the flood." They quickly formed a well-organized and coordinated team. The team leader was Lu Chen, a "Tactical Commander," dressed in a black, tight-fitting combat suit. A folded tactical map and a multi-functional communicator hung from his waist, and two tactical daggers were strapped to his legs. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and he excelled at quickly formulating combat plans based on the battlefield situation, accurately analyzing enemy weaknesses and environmental advantages. The team members included Chen Mo, a "Mechanic," carrying a modified black mechanical backpack covered in wires and interfaces, capable of deploying various reconnaissance drones, robotic arms, and attack devices at any time. He possessed exceptional manual dexterity and was skilled at using mechanical equipment to deal with various crises. Ling Xue, a "Sniper," wielded a high-precision custom sniper rifle wrapped in camouflage strips. She carried a pouch full of special ammunition, wore a camouflage stealth suit, and had camouflage paint on her face. She possessed exceptional stealth capabilities, able to remain hidden even in a thousand-meter radius. With pinpoint accuracy from meters away, they delivered a fatal blow; "Fighter" Zhao Hu, a burly and tall man, a head taller than the other team members, with muscular build, wore heavy riot armor, wielding an alloy shield and a giant battle sword. He excelled in close-quarters combat, possessing astonishing defensive capabilities, and could build a solid defensive line for his teammates; and "Analyst" Li Na, carrying a silver detector, the instrument's screen displaying various data in real time. Following the mission prompts from the Infinite City system, she adjusted the detector's scanning frequency, allowing her to accurately analyze water flow speed, water level changes, water composition, and energy fluctuations. Although her support role meant she couldn't play a significant role in combat, she was currently the absolute core figure in dealing with the flood.

After leaving the square, the five people hurried along the coastal road, their destination clear—a television tower not far away. It was the tallest building in the area, over two hundred meters high, its structure made of sturdy alloy and concrete, strong enough to withstand floods, making it the best place to escape flooding. On both sides of the road were abandoned coastal streets, with many dilapidated vehicles parked haphazardly. Their bodies were covered in rust, windows broken, and interiors scattered with various debris such as rotting food, worn-out clothes, and discarded electronics, as if they had been abandoned for a long time. A faint salty, fishy smell permeated the air, mixed with a hint of decay, completely different from the fresh sea breeze of a normal beach; inhaling it caused a slight discomfort. In the distance, the sea shimmered, glowing golden in the afterglow of the setting sun, but upon closer inspection, it became clear that the sea was unusually calm, without a single wave, like a still mirror, exuding an inexplicable eeriness.

“According to the data from the detector, the sea level is currently one meter higher than normal, and the water flow is abnormally slow, almost still. This does not conform to the normal tidal patterns at the coast,” Li Na reported to her teammates while rapidly operating the detector in her hand. The values ​​on the instrument screen kept jumping, displaying complex hydrological data. “Moreover, the water contains trace amounts of unknown pollutants. These pollutants are highly corrosive and can slowly erode metal and skin. Long-term contact can lead to skin ulcers and organ damage.” She paused, her tone becoming serious. “The flood is expected to erupt in three hours. Based on the current rising water level trend, it may rise by more than ten meters, submerging the entire coastal area and possibly even spreading inland. The TV tower is the only safe high ground, but we need to get there as soon as possible to avoid being trapped by the rising water.”

Lu Chen stopped and unfolded the tactical map. The map clearly marked the location of the TV tower, the roads along the route, obstacles, and possible supply points. He ran his finger across the map, quickly analyzing the route: "Chen Mo, release three reconnaissance drones to scout the road conditions ahead, to the left, and to the right respectively. Mark areas with water accumulation, dangerous targets, and available supply points to ensure the safety of the route; Ling Xue, you advance stealthily at the front of the team, checking for possible ambushes and hidden dangers. Be careful to conceal your position and send a signal immediately if you find anything unusual; Zhao Hu, you cover the rear of the team, protecting Li Na and her detector to prevent surprise attacks from the rear; I will be in charge of overall command and adjust the route as needed based on the drones' detection results."

Chen Mo nodded, quickly opened his mechanical backpack, pressed a button on the side, and three palm-sized reconnaissance drones flew out, unfolding their wings and emitting low hums as they flew in different directions. The drones' real-time footage was simultaneously transmitted to the terminal screen on Chen Mo's wrist. "Received, drones have departed and are scouting the road." He stared at the terminal screen, his fingers rapidly adjusting the drones' altitude and angle. "There's a flooded section of road 500 meters ahead, about 30 centimeters deep, with high pollutant concentrations. Vehicles can't pass, and pedestrians need to take precautions. There's an abandoned seafood market 1000 meters away; there are faint energy fluctuations inside, but it's unclear whether it's supplies or enemies. Further investigation is needed."

Lu Chen pondered for a moment, his gaze landing on the location of the seafood market on the map. The seafood market was located on the side of the only road leading to the TV tower. Going around it would add fifteen minutes to the journey, but if they could pass through it from the side, they could not only save time but also investigate the source of the energy fluctuations and collect usable supplies. "Avoid the flooded section of the road, pass through the side of the seafood market, and while you're at it, investigate the source of the energy fluctuations and collect usable supplies, especially drinking water and protective equipment," Lu Chen decided, speaking into the communicator. "Ling Xue, go to the seafood market first to scout out the situation and confirm if there's any danger. We'll follow you later."

Ling Xue responded, her figure flashing as she disappeared into the shadows by the roadside like a nimble cheetah. Her movements were light and silent, and she quickly vanished from everyone's sight. Her camouflage stealth suit blended perfectly with the surrounding environment, and the camouflage paint on her body could also block energy detection. Even at close range, it was difficult to find her. After arriving at the seafood market, she silently climbed onto the roof and lay prone in a broken section of the roof, looking into the market through the skylight. The market was in a mess; shelves were overturned and scattered, and the remains of various seafood were piled haphazardly on the ground, emitting a pungent, nauseating stench. Several huge mutated crabs were munching on the seafood remains. The crabs' shells were a dark black, covered with rough bumps, their pincers were covered with sharp spikes, and their legs had fluorescent patterns that glowed faintly green in the dim environment. They were clearly creatures mutated by the special energy of the dungeon, and were extremely aggressive.

Ling Xue took out her binoculars and carefully observed the number and condition of the mutated crabs. After confirming there were no other dangers, she reported to her teammates via communicator: "There are five mutated crabs in the market. They are not high-level, but they have strong defenses, hard shells, and corrosive pincers that can easily crush metal. We haven't found any other players or usable supplies yet. Their attention is focused on eating the remains." She paused and added, "Should we remove them to prevent them from interfering with our passage?"

Lu Chen pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "No need. Our core objective is to reach the TV tower as quickly as possible. There's no need to waste time and energy on these mutated crabs. Just avoid them. Zhao Hu, you're in charge of clearing the way. Use your alloy shield to block any possible attacks. Once the crabs spot us, use the shield to force them back. Chen Mo, control the drone to emit high-frequency sound waves to interfere with their perception and prevent them from locking onto our location."

The five people moved quickly along the side of the seafood market. Zhao Hu, carrying an alloy shield, led the way. The shield was covered with scratches of varying depths, marks left by years of battle, a testament to his strength. Chen Mo controlled three drones, flying in front of and to the sides of the group, emitting high-frequency sound waves. These sound waves, exceeding the range of human hearing, effectively interfered with the perception of the mutated creatures. The mutated crabs in the market were indeed affected by the sound waves, becoming agitated and restless, wildly waving their huge pincers and charging around the market, emitting muffled roars, completely unaware of the group's presence. Just as the five were about to cross the side of the market, two kilometers from the TV tower, Li Na suddenly stopped, her expression changing drastically. The detector in her hand emitted a rapid alarm, and the values ​​on the screen fluctuated wildly, showing an abnormal state. "Something's wrong. The hydrological data is abnormal. The water level is rising at a sudden faster rate, twice as fast as expected. At this rate, the flood may break out earlier than anticipated. We have at most an hour and a half left. We must speed up!"

"Speed ​​up! Get to the TV tower at full speed! Don't let the current hold you back!" Lu Chen roared, taking the lead and accelerating the team's pace as they sprinted towards the TV tower. At this moment, the surrounding ground began to tremble slightly, and a series of muffled rumbling sounds came from afar, like the sound of a dam releasing water or a heavy object crushing the ground—a chilling noise. However, Li Na, through the remote monitoring function of her detector, discovered that the dam's floodgates remained tightly closed, showing no signs of opening. The rising water level was not due to flooding, but rather an abnormal rise in sea level, accompanied by strong underwater energy fluctuations. "It's not a dam releasing water; it's underwater energy fluctuations causing the abnormal rise in sea level. These fluctuations are very strange, carrying a strong dark aura, like some huge creature stirring up the water on the seabed, pushing the water level up," Li Na said, her voice visibly tense as she ran and rapidly operated the detector. "Moreover, the concentration of pollutants in the water is getting higher and higher, reaching a moderate level of corrosiveness. Contact with skin will cause severe corrosive damage; we must take precautions."

Chen Mo immediately took out five black chemical protective suits from his mechanical backpack and distributed them to everyone: "Put these on quickly. These are chemical protective suits I modified. They are made of special corrosion-resistant materials and can withstand moderate concentrations of corrosive substances. The helmets have a filter function to purify the air, and the backpacks are also equipped with short-term underwater oxygen supply devices to deal with emergencies." Everyone quickly stopped and put on the chemical protective suits. The suits fit snugly against the body and have an automatic temperature regulation function, which can isolate external corrosive substances and pungent odors. The helmet visors allow for a clear view of the external environment without affecting movement or vision.

Just as the five people finished donning their protective suits and prepared to continue, the road ahead suddenly collapsed, creating a chasm about five meters wide. Below the chasm flowed turbulent black water, its current swift and bubbly, filled with eerie foam. The water carried the remains of various mutated creatures, emitting a pungent, putrid stench that was nauseating. "The chasm is blocking our way. Taking a detour will add twenty minutes to our journey, and we simply don't have enough time!" Ling Xue crouched at the edge of the chasm, carefully observing the water below. Her expression behind her mask was grave. "The water is very fast, highly corrosive, and contains unknown mutated creatures. We can't cross it directly; forcing our way across will only result in being swept away by the current or attacked by the mutated creatures."

Zhao Hu gripped his alloy shield tightly, walked to the edge of the chasm, and tried to extend it to the other side to build a temporary bridge. However, the chasm was far wider than the shield's length, and it couldn't reach the other side at all. Moreover, the black water splashing against the shield made a sizzling sound, and the surface was corroded with tiny pits, clearly unable to withstand the corrosive water for long, let alone support the weight of five people. "The shield isn't long enough, and its corrosion resistance is insufficient; we can't build a bridge," Zhao Hu said, pulling the shield back. He then turned to Lu Chen, "Chen Mo, is there any way to quickly build a temporary bridge?"

Chen Mo quickly surveyed the terrain on both sides of the chasm and nodded, saying, "Okay, I'll build a simple suspended bridge using alloy pipes and high-strength ropes. It can support the weight of two people. We'll need to cross in batches, but construction will take at least ten minutes. We must act quickly and not delay." "No time to hesitate, build it immediately!" Lu Chen decisively ordered, quickly making arrangements. "Ling Xue, you're in charge of vigilance. Lurk on high ground around the area to prevent underwater mutated creatures from attacking; Zhao Hu, you stay by Chen Mo's side and protect him with your shield to prevent any emergencies; Li Na, continue monitoring the water level and seabed energy fluctuations. If there's anything unusual, immediately sound the alarm; I'll direct the passage to ensure safe passage."

Chen Mo immediately retrieved a large quantity of alloy pipes, high-strength ropes, and securing devices from his mechanical backpack, quickly commencing construction. He manipulated the mechanical arm on his backpack, precisely splicing the alloy pipes together and securing them firmly with ropes, creating a simple suspended bridge. The bridge's ends were fixed to solid rocks on either side of the chasm, swaying slightly under the impact of the water flow, appearing quite fragile. "The bridge is complete, but its load-bearing capacity is limited; only two people can cross at a time. We need to be quick!" Chen Mo wiped the sweat from his brow and addressed the group. "Ling Xue and Li Na, go first. Your professional defensive capabilities are weaker, so you need more protection. Also, Li Na's hydrographic detector must not be damaged," Lu Chen instructed. Ling Xue stepped onto the bridge first, her movements light and steady, quickly crossing the chasm. Upon reaching the other side, she immediately hid behind a nearby abandoned vehicle, setting up a sniper rifle to monitor the surrounding environment, especially any underwater activity. Li Na followed closely behind, carefully walking onto the bridge, holding the detector tightly in both hands, slowing her pace, and steadily moving forward. After successfully reaching the other side, she immediately continued to operate the detector to monitor changes in the water level.