Under Haizhou's still-dazzling late-autumn afternoon sun, the temperature remained scorching.
Outside Quancheng, white mist swirled as a group of somewhat exhausted figures slowly emerged. They wore gas masks, and their specially made protective suits were covered in bloodstains.
The pathfinder at the front still stood straight, using a rolled-up flag to break through every obstacle in the way.
Those behind him were almost all wounded, as though they had gone through a fierce battle. Some were even lying on stretchers.
At the very back, a burly giant dragged a truck bed that had been dismantled from a vehicle. It was piled with all sorts of enormous corpses, several smashed-up altars, and a few mutilated bodies.
"It's already this late."
Someone behind the captain looked up at the sky nearing dusk and removed her mask, her long hair flowing down her back like water.
"It was so gloomy inside, and the sense of time was all messed up."
Ji Xue sighed. "We were supposed to make it back for lunch. I'm starving to death."
"Hey, dinner's fine too."
Her twin brother, Ji Liu, yawned from behind her. "That thing was huge. It exploded right away and sprayed all over me. It's sticky as hell. I just want to hurry up and take a bath. Captain, want to join us?"
"You go ahead first."
Tong Shan, who was walking at the front carrying the flag, took off his mask and said calmly, "Make the most of your time and get some proper rest. Once the supplies and equipment have been replenished, we'll try to finish exploring all the previous areas."
"You're going back into the caverns?" Ji Liu was stunned. "Bro, you've only been in this godforsaken place for half a month, and you've gone into the caverns four times already. Aren't