Since the dawn of recorded human civilization, no physics experiment has ever been terminated after initiation just because of the presence of risk. Recognizing risk, taking precautions, and carefully verifying are the judgments made by rational people when facing the unknown.

This includes the controversial hadron collider experiments from the old era, and even the extremely dangerous fission nuclear power reactors.

The reason why the expedition team set the Seventh Research Institute near Shelter No. 404, far from the city, and painstakingly built the laboratory underground with nuclear explosion-level protection was precisely as a countermeasure against potential risks.

In the most extreme situation, the Alliance can destroy the laboratory and use megaton structure materials to completely bury any potential unstable "anomalies."

Every staff member on the roster is well aware of these potential risks.

If one doesn't want to take any risks, then grab a hoe and make a living farming; it's the least risky work on the Wasteland.

Of course, the likelihood of the most extreme situation happening isn't actually that high, just like the rumors of the hadron collider creating a black hole and swallowing the Solar System.

After all, this wasn't a device created by a precursor civilization but was completed with the help of a hominid called Qiu Shiye. No matter how exaggerated the effects, there's always a limit.

To put it simply, it's entirely possible for a Doma person to concoct black powder under the guidance of human civilization and startle others, but to blow up the entire Gaia Planet with just a few kilograms of black powder is absurd.

Blowing up a planet is something even humanity itself can't achieve.

However, the outcome of this experiment still took all the researchers by surprise.

In the history of recorded human civilization, no physics experiment has ever birthed a creature not belonging to this world from the center of the laboratory...

And now, this record has been broken.

"Roar——!"

The deafening sound wave collided with the glass curtain wall, which was stronger than concrete.

The massive impact not only distorted the speaker in the control room but also caused the glass curtain wall to be covered with a dense web of cracks.

Fortunately, Yin Fang's shout of "Evacuate" snapped all the researchers present back to reality. They quickly rushed to the control room's door, switched to manual mode, and opened the power-off alloy door.

With everyone's efforts, the alloy door quickly opened, and a group of people streamed out one after another.

The situation was extremely dire.

The monster hidden in the dark repeatedly slammed against the glass, trying to break free from its bindings, and the glass curtain wall was already emitting an intolerable wail!

However, no one in the control room panicked; everyone remained calm.

The entire evacuation process proceeded methodically, with no one scrambling to escape. Everything was just as it had been during safety drills.

People formed a line according to their ranks—the lowest ranks first, the highest at the end—and quickly left the control room, heading swiftly towards the nearest safety corridor!

Director Dai initially wanted Yin Fang to go ahead of him, but the latter pushed him back.

Looking at the astonished Dai Huaian, Yin Fang glared at him fiercely and said,

"What does the safety manual say!"

Dai Huaian's face turned slightly pale, and he hurriedly said,

"But you're not a researcher from the Seventh Institute—"

Yin Fang interrupted him without hesitation.

"I am a Resident of Shelter No. 404, the Alliance's chief scientist! Stand in your position; this is an order!"

If there are Residents of Shelter No. 404 in the room, the Residents of Shelter No. 404 will always evacuate last!

This is a rule he set himself.

And it was written in the safety manual from the inception of the expedition team, specifically in the first chapter!

In the expedition team, rank signifies responsibility. The higher the rank, the greater the responsibility, and there is absolutely no situation where one climbs on top of everyone else and pushes all responsibility away!

It was like this back at the Academy.

The lowest-level prospectors took on the most dangerous tasks and ultimately bore the risk of mission failure for the researchers' career prospects, gaining no compensation after being thoroughly exploited.

He had tasted this bitterness before and could not allow this dross to be brought into the Alliance!

If he had no choice back then—since he was born into an academy with that appearance—he was now standing almost on par with "the Academy Chief Technical Officer."

He wanted everyone in the expedition team to remember that if they say "I'll take responsibility," they must bear that responsibility to the end!

They should never treat their words as mere passing gas when it's time to take real responsibility!

As for the claim that his death would be a loss for the Alliance, that's a load of nonsense.

People aren't like wine; there's no such thing as getting better with age.

He himself climbed up from being an E-level Prospector, and he has no doubt another E-level Researcher could climb to his current position as well!

He also firmly believes that even if he defends the rules with his life today, there will surely be younger, more visionary researchers standing on his shoulders, seeing what he couldn't see, and continuing to defend the rules he once protected!

The deafening roar continued, and the sturdy glass curtain wall finally collapsed in an instant, the shattered glass shards bombarding the opposing wall of the control room like shrapnel!

Everything happened in a flash!

The explosion occurred less than half a minute after the third set of experiments began, and Yin Fang even felt the turbulent air wave surging behind him.

Fortunately, he wasn't caught by the monster lurking in the darkness.

Just as the glass curtain wall was about to shatter, he managed to exit the control room, stumbling into the corridor.

"Quick! This way!"

Dai Huaian, running ahead, pulled him, and the two steadied their footing, quickly rushing towards the entrance to the safety passage.

At that moment, the surface staff manually activated the backup generator, instantly restoring power to the underground passage.

With the sudden illumination, Lin Dong, running ahead, couldn't help but glance back, and was instantly stunned by the scene before him.

"Holy sh...!"

It was an enormous lizard, eyes as small as soybeans densely packed on either side of its gaping mouth, like ruptured boils.

The pitch-black scales emitted a deathly aura, reflecting not a glimmer of light under the bright fluorescent lamps.

It's as if all wavelengths of light were absorbed by those pitch-black scales!

That is...

Death Claw?!

No—

In front of such a monster, even "Nicole" would probably only be considered a snack. Perhaps "Death Lizard Giant" or "Death's Mouth" would be more appropriate names.

At the same moment he locked eyes with those bean-sized eyes, that gaping maw slowly opened.

And at the same time, a hand grabbed Lin Dong's collar from behind, pulling him into the safety passage despite his instinctive breath-holding.

The violent air current, accompanied by a deafening roar, bombarded the entire corridor. The shockwave that just flooded into the safety passage made his organs tremble, almost causing him to lose his composure.

Yanking this reckless former prospector in front of him, Ayrick shouted at him loudly.

"Are you out of your mind?! Run!!"

Lin Dong didn't have time to reply, nor could he hear what Ayrick was saying, but his feet began to move.

With heavy and frantic strides, the death lizard giant twisted its body and caught up to the entrance of the safety passage with incredible speed.

Fortunately, the narrow entrance got it stuck at the door, with only half of its mouth able to reach inside.

Looking at that ugly giant mouth, Lin Dong, who narrowly escaped death, felt his heart racing, almost jumping into his throat.

"This is insane..."

Other researchers wore the same expression.

Seeing the lizard's mouth seemingly preparing to roar again, Yin Fang quickly punched the dust cover off the fire alarm button embedded in the wall, lowering the fire isolation door of the safety passage.

The folding door made of alloy descended from above, severing the lower half of the staircase.

The death lizard giant let out a thunderous roar that made the folding door tremble, but it seemed to end there.

"We're saved..." Dai Huaian leaned against the wall, sighing in relief.

Their task was over.

Up next, it's the fighters' turn...

While the researchers were fleeing from the third-level laboratory to the second level, the scene at the institute's second sublevel was entirely different.

At the moment the laboratory's power was cut, twenty-seven players, who had been sitting in chairs bored and shaking their legs, suddenly leaped up as if injected with adrenaline.

The players present were all above Level 30 in sequence level. Although not top-tier T0 or T1 level strongmen, they were considered the backbone of the server.

An hour ago, they received a task from the Guards Corps to station at the Seventh Research Institute. From the Guards Corps officer, they received the "Xiaguang" Type Three power armor and the latest K-12 heavy exoskeleton, as well as the Huge Rock Military Industry's improved bomb guns, waiting in the upper levels of the institute.

According to the experience of those who participated in the "Seventh Institute" task, they only needed to idle in the institute until the task was completed and didn't have to fight for real.

Though the task process felt like imprisonment, the rewards were generous, and they could also gain occupational experience from the scientific expedition team and increase favorability with key NPCs, making the task popular and even requiring competing.

In addition, a certain big shot who reportedly got up several times during the night stated that the researchers practice at high intensity daily on the treasures he brought back from South Gate Two, and sooner or later they would refine the DLC out.

Thus, a rumor circulated on the forum that the Seventh Research Institute's "Security Level Upgrade" task actually contained a "hidden mission"!

It's widely known that "hidden missions" are crucial to becoming the "chosen one" in Wasteland OL.

If a DLC can be triggered, that would surely be the "opportunity" to promote to T1!

Therefore, aside from a group of mid-level players who just reached Level 30, even some old players at level forty or fifty occasionally came here to try their luck at finding a way to trigger the hidden mission.

"Brothers! It's time!"

"Ahhhh!"

"Prepare for battle!"

Without needing a reminder from the Guards Corps officer, four Level 50 players in power armor rushed ahead, leading the charge into the elevator exclusively for security personnel.

With a crisp "click," the landing pod instantly passed through the elevator shaft leading directly to the third-level laboratory underground, landing with a "thud" at the end of the shaft.

Ordinary folks would lose half their health from such impact before the fight even started.

But standing inside were three Level 45 strength type beasts and one intelligence system brain!

Level 45!

Old White hadn't reached this level when he could already solo the lair on B6 of the refuge.

The four veterans of the Super Fierce Army Corps were all here; it's unlikely a BOSS could defeat them!

The player at the front, "Ominous Sign," remained unfazed and as stable as an old dog, readying his bomb gun while cheekily pinching an incendiary bomb from his side pocket, holding it inverted in his left hand.

"Task refresh! Target 'Death Lizard Giant'! Judging by the name, it should be the junklord type variant. Prepare incendiary bombs!"

"Attention! No need to mind the laboratory's facilities, but be sure not to destroy any holy relics!"

"Got it!" "Turning Misfortune into Fortune" replied, loading an incendiary bomb into his bomb gun while blocking the corridor's two sides with "Zhao Ge."

"Scant Hope" and "Billowing Waves" followed closely, one carrying a rocket launcher, and the other holding a remote control terminal, deploying a half-meter-high automatic unmanned vehicle and a quad-rotor combat UAV.

The entire four-person small team resembled a chariot rolling down the corridor, fiercely targeting the task objective.

At this moment, the giant lizard that broke through the isolation wall was inserting its head into the entrance of the escape passage, attempting to catch the few rodents hiding inside.

But at this time, the noise echoing in the laboratory attracted its attention.

The threat of death was approaching!

Feeling the unavoidable threat, it instinctively pulled its head out, retreating two steps while its bean-like eyes locked onto the end of the corridor.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor, like drums of war slowly beating!

"Hss—"

The death lizard giant let out a heavy nasal sound, its amber-like pupils narrowing dangerously.

Meanwhile, the players carrying bomb guns boldly sized it up, commenting on its twisted appearance.

"Damn... It's really freaking ugly."

"It kinda looks like SCP-682, but it's balder... and slightly bigger."

"Here's the question: how did these physicists manage to create this thing?"

"Maybe it walked straight out of the Biological Institute—"

"Roar—!"

A furious roar interrupted their conversation.

The sound wave spread instantly, shaking the whole corridor, and jostling the four hulking figures!

Perhaps angered by the group's cavalier response, the giant lizard, with scales as deep as a black hole, transformed into a charging truck, twisting its massive body to crush the debris-littered corridor!

Realizing the threat posed by this "variant," "Turning Bad Luck Into Good" no longer took it lightly, quickly tossing a phosphorus incendiary towards it, while pulling the trigger on his bomb gun, responding to its battle roar with a gunshot!

"Bang bang bang—!"

The 19mm muzzle spat out scorching tongues of flame, sending a torrent of iron rain down the wide corridor!

It's not just this lizard that looks like Garbage Prince; even a super mutant standing here would be crushed into pulp!

However, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

The death lizard giant hit by the explosion arrow seemed unfazed, only letting out a pained roar, then surged forward, ignoring the phosphorus flames from the incendiary bombs, leaping away in a few strides!

Standing on the right, "Turning Bad Luck Into Good" widened his eyes, exclaiming "Damn!"

Charging with metal streams against armor-piercing bullets?!

"Is this thing still a carbon-based life form?!"

"Who the hell knows—" "More Bad Than Good," wielding a rocket launcher, pulled the trigger, sending a plume of white smoke shooting towards the advancing giant lizard.

Almost skimming the edge of safety, the high-explosive rocket struck the lizard's shoulder!

The explosive shockwave swept through the entire corridor, sending whistling fragments flying, scraping the alloy walls and power armor's breastplate.

This rocket managed to do some damage, blasting a palm-sized hole in the lizard's shoulder!

Blood, red to the point of black, dripped onto the floor, sizzling like a highly corrosive inorganic acid.

"Turning Bad Luck Into Good" swallowed hard, his eyes fixated on the lizard, a look of disbelief plastered on his face.

"Impossible..."

His buddy had just fired a metallic hydrogen warhead shell!

Even if the armor-piercing effect of a high-explosive bomb is average, its explosive power should be enough to flip over a Chimera armored car!

Yet the death lizard seemed unfazed! Merely shedding a layer of skin!

And more than that—

The palm-sized wound was healing at a speed visible to the naked eye!

"The expansion pack... activated?"

Facing the horrifying scene, "More Bad Than Good" squeezed out a statement until "Crashing Waves" next to him yelled loudly, snapping him out of it.

"Switch to armor-piercing bullets, what are you standing there for?!"

The ground-level robotic vehicles poured out a torrent of firing power, and grenade launchers hanging from the barrels were firing continuously at the death lizard.

The death lizard seemed to have adapted to their attack rhythm, twisting its neck to withstand the face smacking assault, then powerfully clawing forward to charge!

With half its face damaged, it turned its other face to alternate eyes flicking to see ahead.

When the other side of its face was also damaged, its initially battered face returned to its original form.

"More Bad Than Good" had finished reloading, quickly firing a second rocket!

This time, however, the death lizard prepared, darting its elongated mouth forward at an incredible speed, flicking up, deflecting the fast-flying armor-piercing bullet to the ceiling!

"Boom—!"

The armor-piercing bullet, enough to penetrate the side armor of a tank, instantly exploded, showering the corridor with burning metal shards like resplendent fireworks.

At this point, the four players facing the battle had put forth all their strength, none dared to underestimate the equipment and level advantage.

However—

In the face of overwhelming power, simply being serious seemed inadequate to solve the problem.

"More Bad Than Good" watched helplessly as that beast simply opened its big mouth, bit down, twisted... and his leader "Bad Omen" was torn in half along with his armor, with one half flung to the other side of the corridor.

"Brother Omen!!" "Turning Bad Luck Into Good" instantly turned red-eyed, throwing away the bomb gun, drawing the ceramic steel combat knife strapped to his arm.

The explosion arrow has a safety distance limit; at close range, it has lost its effect!

At this point, the knife is more useful!

"Roar—!"

Bathing in the steaming blood, the death lizard let out a satisfying roar, then swiped a claw at the nearby metal canister.

With a crisp "clang!" the power armor-clad "Turning Bad Luck Into Good" was smashed open like an oyster, eyeballs exploding and splattering across his helmet's tactical goggles.

It's not just speed—

Facing this ultra-spec combat power, his most proud strength was also brutally crushed!

Two teammates perished consecutively, "More Bad Than Good" felt grief rising from his heart.

"I'm going all out with you!"

Running away wouldn't be an option, especially not at this distance.

Without a word, he activated the power armor's self-destruct program, drew his combat knife, and charged forward.

As he watched the prey rush forward to die, the Death Lizard Giant grinned menacingly, opened its massive mouth, and bit down!

Under the pressure of that space-ripping bite force, [Losing Odds] felt like he was caught in a door, instantly crushed into tomato paste by the shattered steel, spraying from the broken shoulder guard!

However, this time it miscalculated, unexpectedly, the prey in its mouth could explode, with a "boom," blasting away half of its head, blasting the nearby unmanned vehicle and drone into a weightless crash against the wall.

Yet—

This seemingly fatal blow still did not kill it!

This bizarre lizard seemed almost immortal, with half its drooping head spewing out large chunks of blood, regrowing in just a few breaths.

Including those amber-colored eyes.

What a pity.

Though the power armor is nuclear-powered, it's still not the same as nuclear weapons. The regular dynamite used to detonate the reactor isn't enough to trigger a tactical nuclear explosion.

[Turbulent Waves], blasted by the shockwave against the wall, was completely dumbfounded.

He sat on the ground, forgetting to stand up, staring speechlessly as the monster approached, momentarily losing his ability to speak.

Damn... what the hell to fight?!

Its regenerative power is stronger than the Mother of Dead Claw, and its combat power surpasses a drugged-up Garbage Lord.

No—

If the Garbage Lord came, he'd probably end up as a snack.

Perhaps, the only option left is to blow up the research institute.

The blood-soaked gigantic lizard grinned at him, as if playing with prey, staring at this doomed man with its amber eyes, yet not rushing to bite.

To it, this little mouse was definitely dead.

The only confusion was where exactly that strong premonition of death came from earlier.

Could it be—

This world harbors a creature even stronger than it?

But anyway, these four little mice were clearly not its match...

As the Death Lizard Giant regarded the prey close at hand, light footsteps suddenly reached its ears, still from the end of the corridor.

It slowly turned its face towards that direction, seeing an azure power armor and a square-shaped iron hammer reflected in its mung bean-sized pupils.

Its eyes instantly squinted with danger, its throat issuing a low growl.

Yet before it could open its mouth to probe, like a Wild Wind, the air current blew onto its face.

That same earth-shattering strength—

And even more fierce than a rocket launcher!

The enormous head, like a watermelon hit by a truck, hurled away wrapped in countless bits of flesh and dark red blood, plastering an entire wall.

"Roar—"

Swaying its bulky body backward, the Death Lizard Giant finally roared, but the sound had a distinct note of panic, like being watched by an even greater giant.

Half of the shattered head grew new tissue buds, stitching itself visibly at a rapid pace.

However—

A careful observation would reveal that its regeneration speed was a full second slower than before!

"I see... turns out even a monster from the void isn't invincible, its self-healing ability weakened with each regeneration."

"But I'm quite curious, what provides this self-repair energy? Organic matter? Or... like your very existence, from within the outer side of the cosmic membrane?"

A calm voice drifted into [Turbulent Waves]' ears, the latter raising his stupefied face to see the figure emerging from the smoke, mouth forming an 'o' shape.

"Whoa—"

Manager?!

If he remembered correctly, the last time this big shot took action seemed to be during the Battle of the Torch?!

At that time, he was not present on site, only hearing the forum players blow it out of proportion, saying the hammer rent even space, obliterating the Great Path...

Clearly, that was exaggerated.

Not noticing the player's expression sitting by the wall, Chu Guang tightened his grip on the nitrogen-powered hammer, and under the fearful half-face of the Death Lizard Giant, leisurely stepped forward.

"Boom—"

The Death Lizard Giant appeared startled, swaying its body backward, and issued a hoarse angry roar attempting to ward him off.

"Roar—!"

The deafening roar enveloped the waning sound waves, bombarding towards Chu Guang, yet the moment it was about to touch his steel breastplate, it was blocked by an invisible air wall.

The compressed nitrogen was as solid as steel, creating ripples of folds spreading out.

However—

That wasn't what Chu Guang was most proud of.

His sequence level would continuously upgrade as players leveled up.

And with the players' numbers in the server continuously swelling, the incessant iteration and evolution of sequence branches, he had now grown to a level that even he considered himself to be a monster.

Perhaps, only this entity suspected to be from the void was worthy of his personal action.

Holding the hammer across his chest, he stepped forward in the fearful gaze of the Death Lizard Giant.

"Let me see—"

"How many times you need to be killed before you're truly dead."

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