After Lin Xian's consciousness link slowly vanished before her, Chu Yan leaned back against the corner of the wall, her face pale. She took several deep, gasping breaths to adjust herself. Looking at her vital signs HUD, it showed both her heart rate and mental fluctuations were in a critically dangerous state.

"I hope you succeed..."

Chu Yan whispered these words to the empty air, then looked at her uncontrollably trembling hand and slowly clenched it into a fist.

As a mental-type ability user, she should have been the best candidate to handle exploring the Crimson phenomenon. Yet even with her ability combined with the dark energy resonance device, Chu Yan still felt immense invasive pressure. And this was inside a building. If she were outside, she estimated she wouldn't last more than 30 minutes.

She had to find a way back quickly. With the Starfire Plan having failed, she needed to coordinate with Lin Xian to meet up in South America. The Star Abyss here was roaring, the world was burning, and perhaps humanity didn't have much time left.

Thinking of Lin Xian's words moments earlier, Chu Yan's eyes flickered, but she didn't contact Grace.

The Southern Celestial Gate was Lin Xian's trump card. In her and Professor Ye's view, this trump card might be the reason Lin Xian could survive under the Foundation's watchful eye. For this reason, she absolutely wouldn't use it casually. Moreover, this Crimson was full of unknown abnormalities - whether the Southern Celestial Gate's energy beam weapons could achieve the same lethal effectiveness as they did at Dawn City remained uncertain.

Sigh...

"Zzzzt..."

Chu Yan took a deep breath. Just then, intermittent static noise suddenly came through her communication channel. She looked at the interface and found it was coming from one of her teammate's channels.

"Tornado, Black Hornet, report your status!"

"Zzzzt..."

No response.

Creak...

An abrupt, strange sound suddenly came, interrupting Chu Yan's thoughts.

The Crimson outside the window was carrying a subtle, obscure aura, making the window frame creak.

Chu Yan's expression turned cold and sharp, her entire body covered by the power armor's energy field. A thin glimmer of light flowed along the curves of her armor. She quietly stood up, and two silver sharp blades ejected from under her forearms. Diffraction particles gradually heated up - these two blades possessed tremendous power in close combat, capable of directly slicing through even S-level flesh.

Chu Yan slowly approached the window, her fingertips spraying high-temperature rays to cut a narrow slit, then peered outside. The Crimson storm was visibly invading heaven and earth. The world wasn't pitch black;

instead, the Crimson seemed to carry a kind of visible light, turning everything in sight into this eerie negative-image crimson color.

The land was stained with a layer of blood-red, the deep crimson soil emitting visible red vapor into the air, which instantly evaporated into bloody mist and quickly merged with the atmosphere, making sky and water blend into one color until it was impossible to distinguish where sky ended and land began.

Creak...

The sound came again. This time Chu Yan confirmed it was outside the door!

She immediately turned around, looking at the sealed apartment iron door in the distance. The cold static noise still hissed faintly in the communication channel. Outside the door, the deathly silence was suddenly broken.

It wasn't the roar of zombies, nor the footsteps of abnormal entities. Instead, it was a sticky, heavy, crawling sound like wet, thick leather being slowly dragged across rough ground. Step by step, the sound ground against the cold cement floor, as if just feet away, carrying an indescribable malice, steadily approaching that sealed, rusted iron door.

At that moment, the sound outside suddenly vanished just before reaching the door, replaced by an extremely sinister, cold aura rapidly spreading toward the room. Chu Yan could see the temperature reading on her power armor's thermometer visibly dropping, a layer of frost condensing on the nanotech armor's defensive coating.

Simultaneously, the walls emitted a teeth-grating groan. The peeling wall paint, as if drenched in strong acid, peeled off and rotted away in large chunks, revealing even more decayed layers beneath. The falling paint chunks, halfway to the ground, melted like blood-soaked sponges with a "squelch" sound, turning into viscous dark red liquid that dripped to the floor, emitting a suffocating stench.

The rust spots on the already corroded iron door spread rapidly like living organisms, seemingly rapidly corroding and aging. Accompanying this was the accelerated collapse of the room's "visual field." The crimson mist rolled like ink, devouring vision, suppressing light to only outline a blurred, distorted contour within half a meter around Chu Yan. The cold light lamp on the floor now only showed a tiny rice-grain-sized spot of light.

Then, that originally sealed heavy iron door, completely covered in layers of crimson rust as if fused with the wall, swung inward silently without any external force touching it.

No sound. Beyond the doorframe was pitch blackness - no corridor visible, no walls visible, as if it were a deep void where even darkness lost meaning. It was an absolute emptiness that could devour all light and hope. Merely looking at it made one feel the icy fear of one's soul being stripped from their body.

Every muscle in Chu Yan's body instantly tensed, her pupils sharply contracting. Cold killing intent replaced the exhaustion in her eyes as she slowly tightened her grip on the force blades.

"Rose."

[I'm here.] The power armor's unique intelligent entity belonging to Chu Yan responded.

"My mental perception detects some kind of cross-dimensional being standing right in front of me."

[Similar to the situation inside Star Abyss No. 3?]

"Not sure, probably similar. Prepare!"

[Understood, immediately deploying gravitational lens deployment device!]

Whirr!

Chu Yan's shoulder armor opened, raising a black precision device resembling a small electromagnetic cannon. The cannon muzzle aimed at the emptiness beyond the door, loading a special metal projectile.

Her gaze now focused on that void where the crimson chaos of the room intertwined with the fleeting, distorted light-and-shadow gateway. She saw the "doorframe" outline, now twisting visibly like the rotting ribs of some gigantic creature.

She knew a creature was right there!

"Since you're here, why hide? Let me give you a mirror?"

Chu Yan crossed her blades before her chest, the power armor's thrusters roaring behind her. Simultaneously, a metal projectile wrapped in powerful gravitational force shot from the cannon on her shoulder, instantly transforming into a geometrically expanding miniature black hole that scoured space fragments as it blasted into that crimson void!

...

Lin Xian's consciousness returned from the Black Star Forge. Looking at the brightly lit, clean, and tidy hibernation hall, his expression was full of gravity.

Although he hadn't shown much pressure in front of Chu Yan, the information obtained from her gave Lin Xian an intuitive feeling that the dark devouring was approaching humanity's final life-or-death moment.

"The Crimson... it really does look like nuclear radiation clouds ejected from the Star Abyss. This is more troublesome than the Polar Night. There's no guarantee you won't find yourself trapped in Crimson during some dark night."

Lin Xian took a deep breath, taking out the precognition sphere given by Hua Xiaoling while frowning thoughtfully. "The Sanctum's activities are becoming more frequent too. It seems likely the dark civilization is directing them to conduct some kind of infiltration."

Although he could deduce this, what Lin Xian couldn't understand was what method the Foundation used to make those people defect from the human camp without any warning.

After all, changing one's stance wasn't easy. Moreover, the people Chu Yan mentioned were all elite figures among human survivors - individuals with high strength, intelligence, and charisma. Even facing dark infestation and fear collapse, they should have stronger rationality and mental fortitude than ordinary people. Therefore, Lin Xian was very curious. If they had been forcibly abducted or tortured, he wouldn't think much of it. But the fact that these people seemed to willingly change their stance and leave peacefully was what made it puzzling.

Beep~

Pressing the civilization precognition sphere again, a light screen projected before Lin Xian.

[Precognition simulation No. 16751 in progress. Begin precognition?]

"16,751? That jumped way too much, didn't it?"

Lin Xian immediately frowned. Although a civilization's development had many contingencies, he didn't expect there to be so many failed precognitions needed to generate a civilization...

Just as he prepared to run another civilization precognition, a dull, congested feeling struck his head, accompanied by a sinister cold impact that made Lin Xian shudder uncontrollably. The feeling was familiar - he had sensed it moments earlier in Chu Yan's consciousness.

Perhaps he was being affected. Lin Xian pinched the bridge of his nose. Working continuously plus having six manufacturing sequences running nonstop was becoming unbearable. He decided to put away the civilization precognition sphere for now, planning to rest and try again in the evening when he felt better, hoping for different discoveries.

So Lin Xian stood up to check on Monica's condition.

But at this moment, the situation inside Monica's hibernation pod made his expression change slightly. Because through the transparent hibernation pod glass, he noticed that Monica, lying inside, seemed to have undergone many subtle changes in these short few hours.

Her white inner suit seemed dissolved by some dark energy overflowing from the crystal lattice cultivator on her chest, turning into large patches of gray ash that slid away in radial patterns, leaving Monica almost completely naked. Not only that, Lin Xian detected some changes in Monica's body.

What specific changes were hard to describe immediately. After a few seconds, he realized Monica's body seemed to be becoming... perfect!

Perfect - Lin Xian couldn't find another descriptor.

Monica's skin seemed more delicate than before, even emitting a faint glow on the surface - definitely not a phenomenon human flesh should exhibit. What Lin Xian found strangest was that a scar on Monica's left shoulder, left when abnormal entity acid pierced through it at Dawn City, had completely disappeared. This was very abnormal.

Although Monica, as a high-level ability user, had an evolved physique that made scar healing and cell regeneration dozens of times faster than ordinary humans before Doomsday, that scar contained corrosive dark energy residue that shouldn't heal so quickly. For this, Monica had specifically consulted Night Stalker rescue personnel from the Phoenix Society, and the answer was it would take at least one to two months.

Thinking of this, Lin Xian's gaze sharpened!

Unless... her ability evolution was currently skyrocketing at an unimaginable rate, with all her cells wildly iterating and upgrading, genetic instructions making her continuously ascend toward a perfect human form!

"Looks like we really can double your spirit value."

Looking at Monica's increasingly perfect body before him, feeling the visual impact of this healthy, optimized physique, Lin Xian felt no inappropriate thoughts but instead an inexplicable heaviness in his heart.

Why heaviness?

Because he worried that those so-called "defections" might precisely be because humans became enamored with this perfect evolution. As Lius and Chen Yanxiu said, a more perfect world civilization could shatter the worldviews and values of remaining humanity.

That was the most terrifying part...

Thinking this, Lin Xian felt somewhat heavy-hearted. Looking at Monica's beautiful face in sleep, he sighed softly and said, "The expected side effects haven't appeared yet, but you've become more beautiful. You'd probably like this change, Queen Mo."

Lin Xian checked the time and, confirming Monica's vitals were stable, decided not to interfere or disturb her, planning to rest first. He hadn't returned to his room since coming back from outside, his mind filled with various matters. Hua Xiaoling's visit had just ended, the world was plunged into Crimson crisis again, and the Infinite's rare rest period would likely end early. Lin Xian decided to depart for South America tomorrow morning.

Today he needed time to attach that military train to the rear of the Sky Dome train for towing, while also completing several heavy weapons, including repairing and enhancing the static field, plus many other preparations...

After that, he still needed to check on his Mechanical Heart Research Center matters and study that black gear.

With so many headaches waiting for him, without proper rest his brain would be like mud and completely unable to function.

Just as Lin Xian prepared to leave the hibernation hall, the sound of a hibernation pod opening suddenly came from behind.

!

Lin Xian stopped walking and turned around to see Monica's hibernation pod cover slowly opening, white cold air spraying out. Sensing something wrong, he immediately turned to go check.

But at that moment, a graceful figure slowly rose from the hibernation pod. Two fair, full long legs stepped onto the ground, then stood up.

"Monica?"

Lin Xian frowned deeply, looking at the figure in the white cold air.

"You seem to have many worries?"

Monica's high, sexy voice rang out. As the cold air dissipated, Monica stood with arms crossed, her slightly glowing eyes fixed on Lin Xian. Those eyes now seemed capable of piercing through emptiness. The remnants of her inner suit quickly slid down her straight back and full, rounded buttocks to the floor, yet she showed no covering or shyness, facing Lin Xian with complete composure.

"Sorry, I heard your murmuring. Clearer than ever before."

Lin Xian looked at Monica before him. Monica's figure was truly exceptional - tall, with a full, healthy, well-proportioned physique, and quite impressive chest development, creating extreme visual impact that made Lin Xian momentarily stunned.

After freezing for two seconds, he coughed dryly to break the awkwardness, checked the time and said seriously, "It's been less than 10 hours. Why are you awake already?"

Hearing Lin Xian's words, Monica slightly frowned: "Really? But I... feel excellent now."

"Can you sense the crystal lattice's presence?" Lin Xian asked.

Monica looked down. Instantly, a dark purple glow slowly brightened on her chest. As the light intensified, Lin Xian could feel a sharply rising spirit value fluctuation continuously releasing from Monica. Simultaneously, the skin over her chest and even her rib cage showed shadows, as if an extremely high-energy entity was burning within Monica's thoracic cavity!

Lin Xian raised his hand, power armor activating. He looked at the spirit value detector - the numbers were rising.

9,000, 10,000, 12,000, 15,000,

17,000!!

Bzzzt!

Monica now spread her arms, her hair moving without wind, energy surging throughout her body. Nearly substantial sound waves formed channels that circulated around her like corridors.

Witnessing this, Lin Xian couldn't help but exclaim in amazement: "It actually succeeded. Only took 10 hours."

Monica's shimmering gaze swept over Lin Xian, then she retracted her energy release. After the spirit value fluctuations vanished, she turned and walked to the makeup mirror beside the hibernation pod. Looking at her perfect body in the reflection, she couldn't help but curl her lips and say, "The process wasn't wonderful, but I like this result."

Then she looked at Lin Xian: "Director Ding's speculation was probably correct. I saw from an abnormal entity's perspective - indescribable, immensely vast. That thing is currently floating in clouds 10,000 meters high, capable of capturing sound waves from two different dimensions."

"You heard that too?"

"Surprised?"

Lin Xian fell silent: "Honestly, this isn't good news."

If it were confirmed that ability users and abnormal entities shared origins, Lin Xian could hardly imagine what pressure human ability users would face upon learning the truth, nor what their fate would be.

Monica seemed to detect Lin Xian's concern. Walking with bare, smooth steps, she quietly approached Lin Xian. Only when she was very close did Lin Xian see her approaching and immediately looked at her, saying:

"Aren't you afraid? Your ability, or perhaps... your life, has formed some connection with abnormal entities."

Monica chuckled softly, seemingly not concerned at all. Looking at Lin Xian with arms crossed, she said leisurely, "Actually, thinking positively, there's good news too."

Lin Xian was puzzled: "Such as?"

Monica took another step forward, her full figure almost pressing against Lin Xian, then said with distinctive charm:

"If theoretically, with my evolved crystal lattice, I've become a type of abnormal entity... then... have you ever tried it with an abnormal entity?"

Lin Xian leaned his head back, squinting at Monica with her subtle smile, and immediately said:

"Are you serious?! It's the apocalypse right now!"