Those three figures, all clad in chemical suits, leaped and weaved through the dense jungle, each time narrowly avoiding the Worm Cannonball assaults of the giant jaguar by mere inches.

One of them, a handsome man with androgynous, delicate features, wielded a Thin Sword. His movements were ghost-like as he circled the jaguar, nimbly dodging. Each time he pressed forward, he managed to slash through clusters of worms with his sword, causing them to burst and release pus.

A blond-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian youth held a slender craft knife. Sinking the blade into the jaguar's flesh, he made a light cut that skillfully peeled away a large swath of skin, much like an expert butcher dismembering an ox.

An ordinary-looking middle-aged man slid rapidly across the ground, dodging Worm Cannonballs and the jaguar's claw strikes. All the while, his fists suddenly clenched, igniting flames that soared ten feet high.

The middle-aged man leaped up suddenly, delivering an upward punch to the jaguar's jaw. The flames burst forth in an explosion, and the force of the punch and the shockwave staggered the jaguar.

His two companions quickly advanced to assist. Their blades flashed, slicing open the jaguar's neck. Blood spurted out like a fountain, pooling on the ground.

The massive jaguar crashed to the ground, but the trio didn't let up. They quickly regrouped, warily eyeing the depths of the jungle.

The middle-aged man with the Giant Stone Knuckles called out loudly, "Friend, since you're already here, why not come out and meet us?"

The jungle was deathly silent; there was no response.

The blond youth with the slender craft knife looked troubled for a moment. He raised his hands, stowed the knife away, and then addressed the depths of the jungle.

"Our landing point is closer to the Libra Company Boston Biotech Laboratory than yours.

"The low-rise building on the surface is just a cover for the actual laboratory.

"The real lab lies deep underground, accessible only via a long elevator ride.

"Many of these aberrations wander near the surface elevator entrance. Individually, they aren't strong, but they're extremely difficult to handle in groups. Most of the aberrations guard the low-rise building; only this jaguar could be lured out for us to encircle and kill.

"A single squad wouldn't even be able to enter the laboratory, let alone break through the first layer of aberration guards.

"We can only achieve our mission objective by cooperating."

He paused, seemingly to give them time to think.

"You didn't attack just now, did you?

"This mission requires a score of positive three points for completion. It might seem that wiping out the other squad will allow for immediate teleportation,

"but in practice, it's very difficult for two squads of similar strength to achieve a three-for-zero wipeout.

"The three of us, even if we're not at our best, can take one or two of you down with us if we're wiped out.

"At that point, even if you have positive one or positive two points,

"you'll have to tackle the remaining extremely difficult scenario mission with an incomplete team.

"If you fail to complete that, you'll be erased."

The androgynous man holding the Thin Sword also spoke. "The Libra Company laboratory isn't far from either of our squad's landing points. Rushing there wouldn't take much time at all.

"Even going underground, one day is sufficient to explore the entire laboratory.

"So why did the System give us a seven-day mission timer?

"We're all veteran players; we understand the System's implication. Even if you want to wipe us out, if just one of us escapes, they can spend these seven days hiding, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

"They could even coordinate with this scenario world's native aberrations to ambush and eliminate one of you.

"At that point, you'll either have to attempt the scenario while constantly on guard against attacks,

"or you'll waste the remaining time playing a draining game of cat and mouse.

"In summary, this mission might appear to be pushing players into a life-or-death squad battle,

"but it's actually encouraging both squads to set aside their prejudices and form a temporary alliance.

"Only after completing at least two mission objectives, with each squad securing positive two points, should either side consider attacking the other."

The analysis by the two opposing players was logical and well-founded, not too different from what Li Ang and his team had anticipated. The benefits of immediately fighting upon meeting didn't outweigh the potential gains from temporary cooperation to clear the scenario. After all, the laboratory might possess biotechnology far beyond this era. Furthermore, the risks of temporary cooperation were also lower than those of direct combat.

Hidden in the jungle, Li Ang and his two companions exchanged glances and slowly emerged in a triangular formation.

PHEW...

The Caucasian youth couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, revealing his player ID: [Stonemason].

The androgynous man also sheathed his Thin Sword, displaying his ID: [Black Holy Son].

The last one, a middle-aged man named [Zhuang Pengpai], remained expressionless as he shook his fists, dispersing the flames.

Li Ang's group, also materializing their player names, didn't approach recklessly. They maintained a distance, scrutinizing the other party.

No one spoke. The atmosphere was somewhat tense and oppressive, as if grim, heavy music echoed in the air...

All eyes turned to Li Ang, who, with a serious expression, put down his smartphone that had been playing the song "Halloween Theme."

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"Sorry," Li Ang said. "This scene just fits this BGM too well."

With Li Ang's interjection, it became difficult for either side to maintain their serious demeanor.

[Stonemason] waved his hand and said resignedly, "Alright, let's cooperate temporarily for now. At the very least, let's clear out the aberrations around the Libra Company laboratory together."

Wanli Fengdao and Dusk Knight nodded, watching as the other three dissected the giant jaguar, dividing its carcass into three parts and packing them into their bags.

Once they had finished, [Stonemason]'s group of three led the way. Li Ang and his companions didn't follow directly behind them but trailed to their left rear, using a drone to monitor the other group's position as they advanced.

Since both groups had confirmed each other's locations, they no longer needed to conceal their movements, and their pace quickened considerably.

Soon, they spotted a gigantic building in the dense jungle.

The modern, roughly square-shaped structure had a vast footprint and was made entirely of reinforced concrete. Its outer walls only had a small row of transparent windows high up.

In this dense forest, surrounded by shade-giving trees and an eerie silence from the birds, the building, completely covered in green vines, looked... like a gigantic concrete sarcophagus—oppressive and sealed.

At the building's entrance stood eight decorative concrete columns, all of them broken and toppled.

The parking lot in front of the main entrance was filled with abandoned vehicles, and low, verdant weeds had pushed through the cracked concrete.

Passing a stone marker engraved with "Libra Company Boston Biotech Laboratory," [Stonemason] took a deep breath. "This is it."

Wanli Fengdao frowned as he looked around. "How do we get in?"

"[Stonemason] said in a deep voice, 'We can't go through the main entrance; there are too many monsters inside.

"'We'll climb in through a small window on the third floor. Before that, you can use a drone to scout the interior.

"'By the way, the scene inside... it's quite spectacular...'"