The Abyss

As the flash at the muzzle of the Desert Eagle faded, Bai Zhou lay in a pool of blood, and the system's alert that Team 1 had lost a member rang out.

The entire room sank into darkness once more.

Click-!

The empty magazine of the Desert Eagle popped free and clattered to the floor. As a fresh magazine was loaded, that somewhat forlorn figure had already turned and left, not sparing the room another glance or another second.

The one who had appeared on Level 3 of the Hive and shot Bai Zhou was Yimo.

After leaving the room, Yimo walked through the dark Underground Laboratory. He did not look at the System Map. He simply kept moving alone through the darkness, cold and numb.

Every so often, he passed a sign glowing with a faint blue light. Its glow fell over the incomplete, rotting bodies on the ground, making them look terrifying and sinister.

During his journey, a Zombie or two would occasionally appear on the path Yimo was taking.

But when they saw Yimo, they did not rush at him excitedly. Instead, they seemed afraid. Their bodies began trembling instinctively, and then they turned away, not daring to look at him again.

Throughout it all, Yimo paid them no heed and continued onward.

When he passed a completely sealed Sluice Gate, Yimo stared numbly at the security system. The crimson light in his Left Eye flickered as he took a bloodstained access card from his pocket and swiped it.

Dingling-!

The security system, which should have been out of power, accepted the card and activated facial and iris recognition.

"Dingling."

"Scanning... error... scanning... error..."

"Dingling."

"Level 10, highest clearance, confirmed. Welcome."

As a jumble of text appeared on the security system's display, the Sluice Gate opened with