Saving Humanity, Time Is of the Essence

The recording ends here.

There was also a part of daily rants, which quickly formed in Lu Ban's mind the image of a straightforward researcher who likes to eat beef noodles, listen to classical music, is passionate about research, and has also lost his daughter due to a disaster.

"Bridge?"

Lu Ban checked the contents of the notebook again and confirmed that the researcher must be studying how to launch spacecraft into outer space.

However, unlike Lu Ban's understanding of outer space aerospace, what he was researching was probably the technology for traveling to other worlds.

Lu Ban didn't know what kind of disaster the people suffered back then, but it was undoubtedly difficult to leave this planet and find a new home in outer space.

Perhaps some people were bewitched by evil gods from another world, gradually mastered the methods to travel to other worlds or open the passage between other worlds and this world, and finally released monsters from other worlds, causing a complete catastrophe here.

The researcher played the recording from the tablet for Frostheart, and remained silent for a while.

"So... he caused the swarm?"

Frostheart's expression was somewhat gloomy.

In her view, the researcher had good intentions from the beginning, just like herself now.

A good start doesn't necessarily guarantee a good outcome.

"It's not clear yet."

Lu Ban shook his head.

It would be biased to determine the truth based solely on this one record.

He searched the building again, turning on each electronic device in turn, and only found a partial map of the park.

Following the map, Lu Ban and Frostheart arrived at the biological research institute.

The area was even more severely damaged, with almost no buildings remaining on the ground.

However, Lu Ban discovered that the underground part here went even deeper.

He took a crowbar and cleared a path down the stairs, with Frostheart following behind.

It was pitch black below. Lu Ban wrote the word "glowing" on a Stone, held it in his hand, and the light shone through, revealing the ancient and mottled staircase.

As Lu Ban walked down, he discovered that this place was better preserved, perhaps because it was underground and had not been weathered by wind and sand. He could see the slogans on the walls.

Saving humanity is of utmost urgency.

In the face of disaster, every second counts.

This minute you waste is also the minute humanity heads towards its demise.

It was incredibly oppressive, making it hard to breathe.

In the underground laboratory, there were only some broken glass containers, making one wonder what they once contained.

Lu Ban also saw a room with many beds, like a hospital ward.

He and Frostheart arrived at the third basement level, which looked like a research office, with corroded filing cabinets and computers.

Lu Ban followed suit and turned on the computer. The fluorescent screen from hundreds of years ago used its last bit of strength to display pictures and text.

[The third report concerns genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and solutions for adapting humans to rapidly changing environments; the causes of climate change; future developments; and a land survey report.]

A research report on the effects of a special mineral on the human body reports that many patients exposed to this substance developed certain abnormalities; however, research into these abnormalities is currently limited.

[Case 1 of Distortion: This patient was exposed to three hours of radiation, specifically manifested as a change in the color of both pupils, with crystalline deposits visible. The patient was tested and was able to see through a 50mm thick wall.]

Regarding the effects of artificial mutations, testing revealed significant rejection reactions, manifested as rapid organ failure and brain damage.

Most of these documents study the radiation of a certain mineral to the human body and the resulting diseases and deformities.

This easily brings to mind the Crystallization Sickness that plagues people in the wasteland today.

According to the history now circulating in the wasteland, the prevalence of this disease was a major cause of human extinction.

According to these documents, Crystallization Sickness is not a natural disaster, but a man-made one.

Of course, the origin of the Oldest One radioactive minerals is unknown, but the subsequent research and human trials were all conducted by humans.

Researchers attempted to use these minerals to modify the human body, enabling humans to adapt to changing environments. However, they did not expect that such modifications would lead to shorter lifespans and more disasters.

It could be said that if these ores are a Pandora's box thrown to humanity by the devil, then opening it is humanity itself.

How could that be?

Frostheart found it unbelievable.

She has always believed that Crystallization Sickness, like insect swarms, is a natural disaster.

But now, both of these may be the result of humankind's own actions.

For her, it felt like her worldview had collapsed.

Lu Ban is acceptable.

This isn't the first time we've seen humans bring disaster upon themselves.

In various literary and film works, there are countless ways to destroy the earth.

Moreover, in worlds like the Otherworld, those worlds that are developing normally and have not been polluted are likely to be coveted by other Otherworlds. Otherworlds like the Deep Sea, Fog City, or City of Dusk probably dream of invading other Otherworlds and developing colonies.

The most unfortunate thing about the wasteland is probably that it was targeted by two alien realms at the same time.

Perhaps it's malice from other realms, or perhaps it's just the aimless rambling of an evil god. Radioactive ore is a form of pollution, and so is the bridge connecting these other realms.

Humanity in this world is torn apart by the tide of pollution, civilization is destroyed, and in the end, only the "new humans" who have adapted to the pollution survive.

The history of the wasteland that Lu Ban now knows is a complete history of destruction, adaptation, and rebirth in a polluted alien land.

However, Lu Ban wasn't sure if the current wasteland could be considered a rebirth.

The existence of the Crystallization Sickness has brought the world's technological and cultural development to a standstill, while the existence of the insect swarm is accelerating the wasteland toward utter destruction.

In a few hundred years, this world will probably be nothing but sand and gravel, devoid of any life.

Lu Ban and Frostheart continued forward and arrived near the rocket launch pad, a relatively well-preserved building.

The sign hanging here says "Command Center".

The two went upstairs, checked everything, and quickly found a document on the electronic device.

[Report and summary of several solutions to current global disasters]

Lu Ban opened.

Currently, rare natural disasters have occurred globally, with more than ten volcanoes erupting in the past three months, including two magnitude 6 volcanoes and one magnitude 7 volcano.

Two Category 16 typhoons have formed in the ocean, and more than 50 countries and regions will be affected.

A disease is spreading among crops, and global corn and wheat production is expected to decrease by 90%.

[Due to the impact of the pandemic, more than twenty countries and regions have fallen into a state of anarchy, and international humanitarian aid efforts are currently impossible.]

A magnitude 9 earthquake struck the West Coast, affecting more than a million people and displacing tens of millions.

The report was preceded by a report on the disaster. Lu Ban found it hard to believe that so many rare disasters could happen in such a short period of time.

He strongly suspected that some otherworldly Chosen of the Gods might have summoned an evil god or released some kind of seal in this world.

After looking past any one of these disasters that could wipe out half the world's population, Lu Ban saw the countermeasures that followed.