On the Binhai Avenue.
Wu Cheng, dressed in black armor, froze on the spot.
Just minutes ago, he thought the incident was finally over, but who knew...
A chilling coldness crept up everyone's spines.
It's not that they can't accept the deaths caused by the Calamity Beast attacks, it's just that this time...
It seems like too many people are dying...
Amidst the white, frigid current, Wang Hai slammed his fist away from the Rat Matriarch who was lunging at him again, the immense force shattering the ice on the ground.
But his own arm was trembling slightly; the continuous high-intensity battle and the corrosive effects of the low temperature were rapidly depleting his strength.
He was panting, his breath quickly dissipating into the cold mist, his mind racing as he processed what Shen Heng had just said.
"Unavoidable..."
"Direction to the southern sea... delaying for two to three hours..."
"Lack of manpower, lack of specialized equipment, lack of time..."
Each word was like a cold file, scraping at his already taut nerves.
Wang Hai took a deep breath of the icy air and asked in a low voice, "What would be the best-case scenario?"
There was a moment of silence in the earpiece, then Shen Heng's familiar voice rang out.
"The best-case scenario is that the explosive forces cancel each other out, pushing the cryogenic cloud outwards to a minimum."
The speaker paused for a moment, then continued:
"Even so, it will spread to nearly a quarter of the area, and then spread in the direction the wind blows."
Wang Hai's expression turned completely grim.
A quarter?
Hearing the brief pause in the sounds of battle through his headset, Shen Heng spoke again:
"If an explosion is unavoidable, then we'll have to figure out how to save as many people as possible."
"For example, those who are certain they cannot escape should be organized to hide in underground parking lots, subway stations, the basements of large shopping malls, or reinforced concrete buildings with good airtightness and insulation!"
"Then seal the gaps in the doors and vents to prevent the low-temperature clouds and ammonia gas from entering."
"Finally, coordinate all available medical resources, warm clothing, fire-fighting gas cylinders, and even industrial oxygen cylinders, and gather them at these designated shelters!"
"Maintain a minimum supply of oxygen and warmth within the shelter, and await rescue from headquarters!"
Shen Heng quickly offered the best solution he could think of.
However, he received no reply; all he heard in his earpiece was the incessant sound of battle.
Shen Heng pondered for a moment, and was just about to have Fan Hong carry out the order when Wang Hai's voice finally came through the earpiece.
"The plan is good and can be implemented, but let's postpone organizing the personnel to go in."
Hearing the hoarse, heavy, yet strangely calm voice beside him, Shen Heng felt a chill run down his spine, and an ominous premonition arose within him.
Just as he was about to ask why the staff were being delayed in entering, he heard Wang Hai speak again.
How much time is left until the earliest possible explosion?
Shen Heng paused for a moment, then said, "About forty minutes!"
"Hmm, you just said... if the energy is successfully guided and the cloud is pushed towards the sea... it can delay things for two or three hours, right?" Wang Hai continued to ask.
"Yes, that's right, but we don't have enough manpower, equipment, or time to support this plan," Shen Heng replied.
"Yes, I know, but we don't need those things." Wang Hai said in a deep voice, his tone devoid of emotion, yet carrying a chilling resolve.
At this moment, even someone who wasn't Shen Heng could sense that something was amiss.
"Team... Captain?" Han Ling's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tension.
Shen Heng sat on the stool in a daze.
We... don't need it?
Does this mean someone can fulfill the requirement for that energy guidance?
Simply wanting to destroy one thing is fine, but intervening in a specific order and path...
Shen Heng's pupils contracted slightly; he too had considered a possibility, but...
Seemingly to confirm his conjecture, Wang Hai spoke again.
This time, he called out a name.
" Wu Cheng!"
After a long silence in the earpiece, Wu Cheng's voice, which was completely different from usual and devoid of any joking tone, finally came through.
"Captain, will we die?"
In the earpiece, Wang Hai also remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"I guess so!"
After the words were spoken, neither of them spoke again.
Instead, Han Ling exclaimed urgently, "No!!"
" Han Ling," Wang Hai began, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable, ultimate authority befitting a captain, along with a hint of barely perceptible weariness, "You should understand this better than anyone else..."
"Understand what?! I said no, and that's final!! Why?! Why should you go?! There must be another way! Think again! Think again..."
Han Ling interrupted, her voice filled with a broken sob and an unprecedented loss of composure.
Wang Hai listened silently to Han Ling's breakdown and cries. Only when her cries subsided and only suppressed sobs remained did Wang Hai's voice ring out again.
This time, his voice lowered, losing its captain's authority and carrying a rare, almost tender weariness.
Sometimes, certain things just need to be done by someone...
As soon as he finished speaking, he unilaterally and completely cut off the communication channel.
Shen Heng sat in his chair, stunned.
When the captain questioned Wu Cheng, everyone understood his thoughts.
Wu Cheng has a technique that allows him to leave an unburned spark of Origin Power in different locations and then control it to detonate.
This is indeed the only scheme in their team that can intervene in the energy of key nodes in a specific order and path.
However, Wu Cheng needed to be nearby to accurately detonate those sparks.
With the Sharp-Horned Rat Matriarch there, the captain had no choice but to...
Suddenly, a somewhat uncertain but concerned voice from beside him startled him.
"Young lady, why are you suddenly crying?"
Shen Heng looked up at the short-haired girl standing next to him.
Le Gu Nan stood quietly beside her, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
She stared blankly at Shen Heng, her tear-filled eyes brimming with clear sorrow and helplessness.
Han Ling seemed to have all her strength drained away; her body swayed, and she almost lost her balance.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face, blurring the chaotic streets and the figures of people running frantically before my eyes.
She bit her lip hard to stop herself from crying out, but her trembling shoulders and suppressed sobs betrayed her immense grief and helplessness.
Why him of all people?
Why does it have to be him?!
Just as she was about to be overwhelmed by this emotion, her clothes were gently tugged.
Han Ling suddenly looked down, her eyes blurry with tears, and saw a little girl looking up, her face dirty, her big eyes filled with fear and confusion, asking softly:
"Sister... why are you crying? Are we... all going to die?"