"Ruan Xing?" Fu Zhi called out to him.

The others were waiting for him, and Ruan Xing knew this wasn't a good time to explain, so he could only provide a general warning. "We might face a very troublesome enemy later. I can already sense that he is at our destination."

The moment he said this, everyone's expressions became serious.

Whether it was the content of Ruan Xing's information or the way things were developing, it had already gone far beyond their ability to handle.

Chen Yihang, who had lost his ability, was now just a physically stronger-than-average regular person. Pei Ye was slightly better. Before the apocalypse, he could have been considered a special forces soldier.

They had brought a lot of high-tech equipment, but it was far from enough.

For those used to relying on abilities, it was like being stripped of their clothes: no sense of safety at all.

He and Fu Zhi exchanged glances quickly. Their tacit understanding was enough for them to silently assign roles without speaking.

Fu Zhi would take care of Pei Ye, while Ruan Xing would watch over Chen Yihang.

They had been climbing stairs for over an hour by now. The air was warm, perhaps because the laboratory required a constant temperature. Sweat marks were starting to appear on their combat uniforms.

"We're here." Fu Gui's voice sounded, and then he landed on Ruan Xing's shoulder.

Its small claws gripped him, the two thin legs trembling slightly. Whether from excitement or nervousness, it was hard to tell.

"This place is much bigger than the research department. I used to work here." Fu Gui tilted its head and looked around.

They were facing a small office area, and further in, an alloy elevator gleamed with a cold metallic shine.

Clearly, the security level here was much higher than the support center downstairs.

Apparently, at four in the morning, the computers here were still on.

It seems that workaholics exist everywhere.

Even the Tower was no exception.

A researcher in a white coat poked his head out from behind a computer, frowning. "Who are you?!"

Years of a safe and stable life seemed to have dulled his sense of caution.

"Security? It's not patrol time yet. You can leave now. Don't disturb my work."

He lowered his head and was about to continue.

But Ruan Xing pointed a finger, and the mycelium instantly shot forward.

The white, cotton-like strands looked soft and harmless, but they were as tough as the sharpest blade, slicing the red alarm button in his hand into pieces before binding his hands together.

"We're not security, just lost passersby." Pei Ye smiled "kindly" at the researcher.

Would a passerby casually take a researcher hostage?!

The researcher trembled. "Don't kill me. I'm just an ordinary researcher! I'll tell you whatever you want to know!"

Pei Ye clicked his tongue. "Spineless."

The researcher flushed red. "I only have one life."

Fu Zhi asked Ruan Xing, "Is it him?"

Ruan Xing shook his head. "No."

The red dot was still in this area, but deeper inside.

Pei Ye stroked his chin, then glanced at him. "In that case—"

He wrapped an arm around the researcher's neck. "Where are your research materials?"

He pulled out a dagger, pressing it to the researcher's neck and sliding it slightly, ready to cut his throat at any moment.

The researcher's legs were shaking. "D-Downstairs. Nothing important is kept up here."

Downstairs?

Following the elevator down would lead directly to the laboratory.

Next to the elevator was an iris scanner.

Only authorized personnel whose iris had been registered could enter the lab.

Pei Ye looked to Fu Zhi for approval. The group prepared to head down.

After a "beep—", the elevator doors opened.

"Behave yourself. Later, take us to copy the data."

Pei Ye's voice was harsh, like a gangster.

Even Fu Zhi gave him an extra look.

The researcher's legs trembled. In the mirrored walls of the elevator, the researcher could clearly see his own terrified face.

Ding!

In front of them was another steel door.

The space here was cramped, with barely two or three square meters between the elevator and the gate. Just enough to squeeze in a few of them.

The researcher scanned his eye.

"Beep—Researcher 0353, hello, welcome to the laboratory."

Ruan Xing found it strange. The device didn't report a person's name. Usually, when clocking in or swiping a card, if there was a voice prompt, it would state the person's name.

In the Tower, did researchers use numbers instead of names?

The moment they entered the lab, everyone was stunned.

Rather than a laboratory, it was more like a specimen room.

The temperature was noticeably lower than outside, and the air was filled with a chemical scent. Along the way, glass cases were filled with animal corpses.

There were numerous specimens: rats, rabbits, monkeys, crocodiles, spiders, and even human bodies.

Some floated in orange fluid, while others floated in transparent fluid. The skin was peeled away, exposing the fascia and muscle, while semi-translucent veins spread like crimson rivers across their forms.

Ruan Xing saw a vertically sliced corpse, half of its brain was pressed against the glass in disturbing clarity.

Pei Ye pushed the researcher forward while the others followed behind.

Pei Ye couldn't help but ask, "What do you need all these specimens for?"

The researcher's voice was hoarse. "How can a research center study from nothing? Specimens are just the basics. There are also experiment materials and such things that you haven't seen ye—"

Pei Ye's expression darkened. Thinking of his mission, he pointed with the dagger. "Take us to the data."

The researcher led them deeper into the lab. Large pieces of research equipment began to appear, none of which they recognized.

Fu Zhi, however, was frowning as he looked at the specimens.

Earlier, the specimens had been normal humans and animals. But the deeper they went, the more grotesque the displays became.

Pollutant specimens.

Some were not stored in liquid but preserved whole. Their skin was slightly withered, while their eyes were still lifelike, as if alive.

One looked human but was completely black, with facial features like the pistil of a man-eating flower spread across its face, and a long tail almost as long as its body trailing behind.

Fu Zhi felt that these specimens were more suitable for display than for research.

But displayed for whom?

And was this really where they stored data?

Everything seemed too convenient.

Only one researcher is working overtime, and he just happened to have access. They just happened to be able to copy the necessary data.

If everything went this well and the Tower didn't have a clue, could that ability suppression earlier really have happened?

Fu Zhi stopped walking.

Ruan Xing also froze, realizing something.

Chen Yihang, stuck between them, asked nervously, "Captain—"

"Pei Ye." Fu Zhi called out to the two in front.

Pei Ye turned his head.

"Kill him." Fu Zhi's face was expressionless, his hand resting on his sword hilt.

Pei Ye immediately drove the dagger into the researcher's neck.

Shhhhhh

Blood sprayed out like a high-pressure hose, instantly staining Pei Ye red.

The researcher clutched his throat in disbelief, collapsing without even struggling.

He was just an ordinary human.

Was Fu Zhi wrong?

Fu Zhi stepped over the body and continued forward. After circling the area, they found nothing that could store information except for a few large machines.

Maybe he was overthinking it.

"Yihang, try it." Fu Zhi accompanied Chen Yihang to attempt decoding, while Ruan Xing thought of the other floors they had seen in the elevator.

With so many floors, surely not all of them were specimen rooms?

Ruan Xing asked Fu Gui.

"Yes, each floor has different information. But I don't know the exact use of each."

Fu Gui preened its feathers.

"When I was still human, I had high clearance. But that was before. My biometric data was deleted long ago. Otherwise, I could take you to see."

It was the first time Ruan Xing had heard Fu Gui admit its identity aloud. Even past conversations with the knights hadn't been as shocking as hearing it directly.

Fu Gui glanced at him. "Why are you giving me that pitying look? It's nothing. I'm used to being a bird now. If you were to make me human again, I would dislike it. I can't fly, and I wouldn't be free."

"I was human for what, twenty years? Maybe less?" It scratched its head with its claw. "I'm very skilled as a bird. After all, it has already been fifty years. Even my soul is bird-shaped now~!"

Ruan Xing froze. "Fifty years?"

Could a crow live that long?

Fu Gui gave him a look. "You can accept romance novel male leads being 600 years old, but you cannot accept one being 60? What's so strange? You mages can live this long too, right?"

It hopped on the floor twice.

"Being human means studying. It's so exhausting. How is that better than being a bird? As a human, a bag of chips is gone in a few bites. Now, a snack is the size of my whole body! A whole-body-sized bag of chips!"

Fu Gui let out a raspy cackle.

Ruan Xing suddenly remembered. The first time he met Fu Gui, he had been locked in a cage.

"When I first met you, you already escaped from the Tower?"

Fu Gui tried to touch its nose, but it was hard for a bird, so it tapped its beak instead. "Ah, yes. I slipped out when Will wasn't paying attention."

"And then got caught again?"

Fu Gui bristled. "That was strategy! If they didn't catch me, how would I get the chance for revenge?!"

While master and servant talked, Chen Yihang made progress.

"There's nothing confidential here. Just some unimportant stuff. Better than nothing, I guess."

He packed up the laptop.

But then the fluorescent lights flickered twice, and one by one went out.

Pop~!

When the last tube went dark, the room fell into pitch blackness.

The specimen room had no windows or other sources of light. Without electric light, it was absolute darkness.

No one moved rashly.

In absolute darkness, every sense was amplified.

A faint rustling came from the specimen area.

Bang!

Explosions sounded in succession, followed by the bubbling of liquid.

It was the specimens from earlier!

A whooshing sound cut through the air, and Ruan Xing caught the stench of something foul rushing toward his face.

Fu Gui immediately took flight so as not to hinder Ruan Xing's fighting, using its night vision to warn him.

"Behind you! Watch your right shoulder!"

Ruan Xing had no time to chant. He twisted to the side and fired a shot.

The sound of a bullet hitting flesh rang out, like a battle horn marking the start of combat.

Not far behind Ruan Xing, Chen Yihang let out a muffled groan. He was hit.

Once Ruan Xing was safe, he began chanting magic.

A large sphere of light slowly formed in his hand.

It lit up the surroundings, revealing the situation.

Fu Zhi was nearby, blocking many monster attacks for him. His movements were fast, unaffected by the darkness, and Ruan Xing noticed he was now using the black blade. The white one had been damaged in the fight with Zhou Zheng.

Pei Ye's face was tense, clearly struggling to adapt. He drew his gun, but his speed wasn't great.

In front of Chen Yihang, a pitch-black pollutant with a tail slowly pulled back, leaving Chen Yihang on the ground, clutching his bleeding abdomen.

Ruan Xing threw the light sphere to the ceiling, where it stuck as if magnetized, illuminating the area of more than ten meters around.

With the light, Pei Ye's shots became precise, one bullet per target. On the other hand, Fu Zhi's speed remained unaffected.

Ruan Xing rushed to Chen Yihang's side.

The black monster's tail was severed cleanly, and the cut muscle withered.

How were these pollutants moving? Could dead things really control a physical body?

Ruan Xing conjured a fireball, and it worked well. These specimens were so dry that they ignited instantly, emitting silent screams.

He sealed Chen Yihang's wound to stop the bleeding.

"Thanks."

Chen Yihang got up. It was his first time experiencing Ruan Xing's healing ability. Hearing about it from the captain was one thing, but seeing it now was amazing. Specially when most of their combat ability was being suppressed.

As the battle eased, the light sphere above began to dim.

Time was up.

"Let's get out of here first."

Ruan Xing urged.

They moved forward cautiously.

Chen Yihang carried the laptop, and Ruan Xing instructed him to stay behind.

Fu Gui landed back on his shoulder.

[These specimens aren't right. They're not polluted. And even if they were pollutants, how could they die and then come back to life?]

Ruan Xing noticed. The red dot had appeared.

Right in front of him!

He hurled a fireball, both attacking and lighting the space ahead.

The figure wore a white coat, now soaked in red blood, as if it had just climbed out of a sea of corpses.

It was the same researcher they had already drained dry.

He was smiling at Ruan Xing, blood still glistening between his teeth, as if he had just eaten raw meat.