Abyssal Wanderer.

On the other hand, Jim and Hanel's journey down the road was also quite difficult.

With the main elevator out of service, they descended along the fire escape. However, the fire escape was naturally fraught with obstacles from various structures.

The two of them were able to reach the basement level unharmed mainly due to two advantages.

Firstly, the fire escape route is narrow, and the structures that can move around here are generally not very threatening—at least not for the two of them.

Secondly, they have a large number of symbiotes of pharmacists as meat shields to help clear paths, fight, and test various booby traps and pitfalls.

If it weren't for the selfless sacrifices of these symbiotes, the two of them would likely have been seriously injured, if not killed, along the way.

"Ha, so you guys are the 'saviors' we're supposed to escort over there... Forgive me for being blunt, but you don't really look like someone who can save all of us."

Shen L looked at Jim and then, without waiting for his response, turned his gaze to Hanel beside him.

"And the committee members... If you had sent people to the underground resettlement area sooner, things wouldn't have turned out this way."

The outspoken head of the operations department spat lightly as he spoke, and finally turned his gaze to the pharmacist, who was now over three meters tall and whose body was connected to countless wriggling symbiotes.

"Also, I absolutely will not allow this thing on the bus."

Jim and Hannel had listened to the previous operational meeting online, so Shen L didn't need to explain the plan to them again.

As specific instructions were issued, Jim and Hanel boarded the all-terrain vehicle and took up their positions in the most heavily protected area. Although Jim, as a Deep 3 Coordinator, was considered a key combatant in the team, Orpheus Path was not adept at fighting Constructs, and his survival was a prerequisite for the mission's success. Therefore, Shen L gave him a strict order not to participate in any combat.

"The only battle you can participate in is the battle for dignity after we've all died, understand?"

Shen L said so.

Although Hanel had the highest adjustment level among them, since the Narcissus Path Adjuster was not good at fighting Constructs, he simply stayed in the vehicle and was responsible for Jim's safety in the last mile.

The pharmacist was ultimately not allowed to get on the vehicle, but after Hanel explained that he needed to replenish "daffodil pollen" every twenty minutes to control him, Shen L reluctantly agreed that the bio-monster covered in symbiotes could hang on the vehicle and be responsible for guarding the area around it.

As for Jiang Zhou...

"I'll be the scout; I'll take on the task of scouting for any unusual situations ahead."

He said this.

The Chainbearer Modified Armor greatly enhances the power system; if it weren't for the energy storage limitation, it could even stay airborne indefinitely, providing aerial cover.

However, considering energy limitations, Jiang Zhou plans to rely on this power system to move quickly between buildings and observe the threats along the way from a high vantage point.

“If I were setting up an ambush, I would definitely plant silencing field generators at possible observation points in the surrounding area in advance... Even if you detect the threat, you won’t be able to warn us in time.”

In response, Shen L offered a very insightful reminder.

Jiang Zhou, however, replied:

"Don't worry, I have a way to communicate that can break through the silence barrier... I've already given the receiver to Jim Ritter, and all the intelligence will be transmitted through him."

The means of communication that can break through the silence barrier basically involve quantum communication. Although similar communication devices are extremely expensive on the market, it is not surprising that an employee of an Olympus company would be equipped with such a device.

Therefore, Shen L did not have too many doubts about this, but expressed his hope that he would take over the communication device instead of Jim, so that the team could react faster.

Jiang Zhou brushed it off by saying that he was very annoyed by how the other party had treated him earlier—which infuriated Shen L, who kept cursing the company for being so petty. However, before activating his armor and leaving, Jiang Zhou didn't forget to remind the other party of something.

“Although I know you are prepared, you must be especially careful when you get to the large elevator, as the enemy may be lying in ambush there.”

The idea of ​​ambushing when the target point is stopped is tactical nonsense, but Jiang Zhou's emphasis on this point has its own special reasons.

Jiang Zhou noticed that the Heavenly God Path was lying in ambush there.

Yes, Tian Shendao left the fourth floor of the resettlement area. While they were discussing tactics, he found a sniping spot that could snipe the large elevator in advance—heaven knows how he did it.

Based on his previous experience, after witnessing the actions of the Heavenly God Path, Jiang Zhou was almost certain that an ambush would take place at the large elevator.

Well... that's what he originally thought.

But even half an hour later, as the Icarus Liberation Front's demolition experts planted bombs on the super-elevation cable of the large elevator, no ambushes appeared in the vicinity.

The area around the large elevator was eerily quiet, but no matter how Jiang Zhou searched the vicinity, he couldn't find a single trace of an ambush.

On the contrary, they encountered quite a few constructs along the way.

"Ha, so this is what they call the negative layer being under the control of the Icarus Liberation Front? There are hidden constructs everywhere, just waiting to be tricked."

While making the most of every spare moment to recharge, Jiang Zhou mocked in the channel.

Along the way, they encountered four waves of constructs. While they weren't as numerous as the military-grade constructs on the tenth floor, by the last wave, some constructs were carrying out prohibited heavy weapons—presumably hoarded by former gangs or smugglers.

Fortunately, Shen L recently upgraded to Depth 3. Relying on the magnetic field deflection ability of the Icarus Path, he managed to deflect a high-explosive rocket that was aimed directly at the all-terrain vehicle.

"Ha, is this the ability of 'company elites' to serve as vanguards? They only slowly warn of danger when their heavy weapons are almost in their faces."

Because of the mental exhaustion caused by driving the magnetic field deflection, Shen L, whose mind was somewhat disordered, almost instinctively retorted: "Precise magnetic field deflection is a technique that Icarus Path Adjusters need to spend a lot of time practicing to master. Forcibly using this ability before becoming familiar with it can easily lead to fluctuations in mental index."

Jiang Zhou didn't bother to mention that he had already intercepted four rockets from his high vantage point, and the one that Shen L deflected was just a stray one.

Of course, the one who made the greatest contribution was the pharmacist, who released several advanced symbiotes called "flying dragons" and used their carbon-based bodies to intercept more than ten missiles. These true heroes all remained silent, neither vying for fame nor profit, nor mocking others.

Overall, they had no objections.

"Oh!"

As the demolition expert detonated the bomb, the elevator cable was severed.

A metallic sound that made your teeth ache came from the large elevator shaft. Under the influence of the Doppler effect, it came from far away to near and then from near to far, finally ending with a loud "boom", which shook the ground of the resettlement area.

After the demolition was completed and the demolition expert had carefully inspected the vehicle, Shen L signaled everyone to board the all-terrain vehicle and prepare to descend together.

It was at this moment that the Heavenly God Path's gun finally fired.

The Gauss bullet passed through the side window of the driver's cab, turning the driver's head into a diffuse cloud of blood.

The driver, who had been chatting and laughing with everyone earlier, now had his hand on the switch for the anti-gravity engine. (End of Chapter)