Ling Cage, pick up Lu Mingfei at the start.

A week passed by in a flash, as if someone had pressed the accelerator. When the modified, peeling light truck slowly passed through the strict inspection at the gate of Longgu Village and drove into the leaden light of the outside world, Lu Mingfei felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart.

The vehicle bumped along, kicking up clouds of dust. Inside the carriage, the atmosphere wasn't exactly tense, but it was far from relaxed.

Lu Mingfei sat in the innermost seat, his head bowed, intently wiping the standard rifle assigned to him with a dry, soft cloth over and over again.

His movements were so delicate they bordered on reverence, as if it were not a weapon, but a fragile treasure.

The cold touch of the metal traveled through the fabric to his fingertips, but it couldn't cool the fine beads of sweat seeping from his palms.

Opposite him sat Maiduo and Suixing.

Maido was gently stroking the fledgling eagle Chagai perched on her arm, but her eyes kept glancing at Lu Mingfei, who was clearly overly nervous.

As always, Sui Xing remained calm. She leaned against the carriage wall, making it impossible to see her eyes, but her posture was upright, like a bow ready to be released.

Next to Lu Mingfei was Xia Dou, who was holding a portable game console and rapidly operating it with her fingers, while Xu Tong sat in the driver's seat, skillfully controlling the steering wheel and humming an off-key tune.

"What's wrong, are you nervous?" Mai Duo finally couldn't help but speak, her voice full of her unique energy, trying to dispel the faint tension in the carriage.

Lu Mingfei's wiping motion suddenly froze, then he quickened his pace, feigning composure, his eyes fixed on the gun barrel as if he could see something amazing: "No...no. I'm wiping the gun because it's the first weapon I've used on this mission, and I have to make sure it's done properly."

He tried to make his tone sound more relaxed, but it revealed a weakness that was only more obvious than it was meant to be.

Maiduo burst out laughing, her laughter like a silver bell breaking the silence: "I haven't even asked you to clean your gun yet."

Lu Mingfei's face instantly fell. Realizing he had inadvertently given himself away, he dejectedly stopped his mechanical wiping motion, clutching the gun to his chest as if seeking some reassurance: "Okay, okay, I'm nervous. You guys are seasoned veterans, and I'm still a rookie. The Devouring Beast might be nothing to you, but I don't know if my hands will shake, or if I'll be able to aim accurately..."

He paused, his voice lowering, trembling almost imperceptibly, "What if... what if I hold them back? What if I'm so scared that I break my Origin Realm?"

"Don't worry, you're such a genius, breaking the Guiyuan realm isn't that easy." Xia Dou, without even looking up, patted Lu Mingfei's shoulder forcefully with one hand, while intense sound effects rang out from the game console. "Besides, aren't we here? Uncle Xu Tong can cure the Scarlet Poison, Sister Suixing's archery skills are godlike, Sister Maiduo's spear strikes are like a dragon, and me... I'll just cheer you on and provide technical support!"

She finally raised her head, revealing a bright smile, her big eyes blinking, trying to infect Lu Mingfei with her optimism.

"Moreover," the previously silent Shattered Star suddenly spoke, its voice as clear and cold as a secluded mountain spring, "you'll never see the Devouring Beasts again. They will always be your nightmare. Only by facing them head-on can you overcome your fear of them."

Lu Mingfei nodded and took a deep breath. Perhaps because he was surrounded by several girls, the young man's pride, which didn't want to be looked down upon, subconsciously straightened his back, which had been slightly hunched.

The vehicle sped across the barren grassland, traveling along the dirt road worn into it by vehicles passing through Longgu Village over the years, with a rolling dragon of yellowish-brown dust trailing behind it.

Xia Dou was once again engrossed in her game world, seemingly oblivious to the dangers of going outside. After playing for a while, she suddenly remembered something, moved closer to Lu Mingfei, and handed him the game console: "One game each?"

Lu Mingfei clicked his tongue in exasperation. At a time like this, he was still thinking about playing games?

"Want to play?" Xia Dou urged, her eyes sparkling.

"Play!" Lu Mingfei saw the familiar Contra interface on the screen. "You've already handed it to me, so what else is there to say?" A sense of familiarity from the old world welled up inside him. He took the game console, and his fingers began to operate it subconsciously—up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, B, A! The cheat codes for thirty lives were typed out as if by instinct.

"Hey, did you guys record the fieldwork messages this time?" Xu Tong's voice came from the driver's seat, breaking the brief silence in the car that was filled only with game sound effects.

"It's recorded," Suixing replied succinctly; she always seemed to be the first to complete these necessary procedures.

"Ah! I haven't recorded it yet!" Maido suddenly looked up, a hint of annoyance on her face.

"Me neither!" Xia Dou exclaimed, startled from her game screen.

"Who told you to be so busy playing games?" Xu Tong teased.

"So what? Humph, it's not too late to record now." Xia Dou muttered, putting away the game console.

Lu Mingfei was completely confused and couldn't help but ask, "What's this field message? What's it for?"

"Oh, you didn't know that, did you?" Xu Tong explained in his slightly roguish voice while keeping an eye on the road. "Every time we go out on a mission, we leave a message before leaving the village. It can be an audio recording or a video recording, but we usually choose to record a video to show that we're being sincere."

He paused, his tone still relaxed, but what he said made Lu Mingfei's heart sink. "As for why I'm staying... hehe, it's the apocalypse, buddy. Who knows which mission might go wrong and we might not make it back? So I have to leave something for my family and friends to remember me by, to say a few last words. None of us know if this farewell will be forever."

A brief silence fell over the carriage. Xu Tong's words were like a cold stone thrown into Lu Mingfei's already turbulent heart, stirring up an even deeper chill.

Although Xu Tong spoke in an almost joking tone, the heaviness and helplessness contained in his words were clearly discernible.

"Alright, it's time for the routine again!" Maido broke the silence first. She took out a somewhat old but well-maintained portable video camera, a smile returning to her face as she tried to dispel the brief gloom. "What should we record today?" Her bright eyes darted around, and suddenly an idea popped into her head. "Hey! How about we all make a group appearance today!"

As she spoke, she squatted down in front of Lu Mingfei and Xia Dou, turned her back to them, and pointed the camera at herself and Lu Mingfei behind her.

"Today! We have a new member joining us for this mission—Lu Mingfei!" Mai Duo's voice was full of energy, as if she were hosting a farewell party. "Lu Mingfei, come on, face the camera, is there anything you'd like to say to everyone?"

The camera was suddenly shoved right in front of him, and Lu Mingfei panicked instantly, not knowing where to put his hands and feet: "Huh? What did I say? I don't know..." He looked at Mai Duo for help.

"Oh, just say whatever comes to mind, say whatever's on your mind!" Maido nudged his leg with her elbow, encouraging him.

Lu Mingfei swallowed hard, looking at the camera with even more nervousness than when facing the Devouring Beast. His mind went blank; all the prepared remarks he had made were forgotten. He could only stammer and speak in an almost solemn tone, "Uh... um... today is my first time on fieldwork. Thank you all for taking care of me these past few days, and... it's time for me to contribute. We... we will definitely return victorious!"

He practically shouted the last sentence, trying to use the volume to cover up his inner unease, making it sound particularly forceful.

"Well said, Comrade Lu Mingfei!" Mai Duo immediately cheered for him. Although she felt that the message was a bit too serious, like a pre-battle mobilization, she gave him encouragement, considering it was the first time.

She subtly turned the camera to Xia Dou, who had just taken the game console back from Lu Mingfei: "Xia Dou, you're still playing games? Anything you want to say?"

Xia Dou was startled by the camera and hurriedly shoved the game console into Hui Lumingfei's hands: "You play for me for now, don't die!"

Then she quickly sat up straight, a sweet smile on her face, and waved at the camera: "Hello Dad! Are you secretly drinking again? Remember to drink less, Mom's still waiting for you to take care of her! And sis, when are you going to give me a little nephew or niece? Shan Huishi is too bad at games, I can't count on her. If... if I can't come back this time, give Shan Huishi a future gaming partner! Also, you must take good care of Dad!"

"Still thinking about having a nephew, Xia Dou, haha! Okay, my turn." Mai Duo smiled and turned the camera to herself, her smile fading slightly, replaced by tenderness and longing. "What kind of surprise should we have today? Oh well, let's stick to the usual. Hey, Dad, how are your trainees doing today? Under your 'devil instructor' tutelage, there shouldn't be anyone who can't learn the Return to Origin technique, right? Hahaha, after all, you produced Lu Mingfei, the 'fastest in history,' hehe. Also, as the first 'Squad Leader of Justice,' I'm ready to step down! The next one will be handed over to…"

Maido's gaze suddenly swept towards Lu Mingfei, and Lu Mingfei's heart tightened immediately, thinking that this troublesome-sounding title was about to fall on his head.

"Hillstone limestone!"

Lu Mingfei breathed a sigh of relief. Although he didn't know what this "righteous class monitor" did, it sounded very troublesome. It was great that he had escaped this predicament.

However, after relaxing, a more complex emotion welled up inside me.

He felt that his comment was out of place compared to those of Maiduo and Xiadou.

Their messages contained trivial instructions to their families, and a joking regret, more like a conversation that might be a final farewell, a pre-prepared last will and testament, while their own messages were like an empty slogan.

Sui Xing seemed to see through his confusion, and her cool voice rang out from the side: "Every time we go on a field mission, we are prepared that we may not be able to come back. So, every message we leave is treated as the last chance to speak to our families."

Her tone was calm and even, yet it revealed the cruelest reality.

Maido also put away the video camera, patted Lu Mingfei's shoulder hard, trying to convey some strength: "But what you said is also very good! 'Triumphant Return,' we like this! We will definitely bring supplies and return safely!"

Lu Mingfei covered his face, feeling a burning embarrassment, but more than that, he felt an indescribable admiration and shock.

He looked up and glanced around at everyone in the carriage—Xu Tong, who was driving with one hand and still humming a song; Xia Dou, who picked up the game console again and acted as if nothing had happened; and Mai Duo, who was teasing Cha Gai but whose eyes were unusually firm.

There was also Shattered Star, quietly wiping his arrows, seemingly isolated from the outside world... Each of them calmly accepted the possibility of death with each mission. No one complained, no one backed down, all for the sake of protecting the survivors in the village and fighting for that slim chance of survival.

"Hoo—" Lu Mingfei exhaled a deep, slow breath. He realized that he didn't yet have this awareness, and compared to them, he seemed so out of place, so... insignificant.

Perhaps he should have stayed in that familiar dark internet cafe, venting his energy on virtual enemies on the screen, instead of here, facing real, life-devouring terror.

He turned his head somewhat dejectedly and looked out the car window.

The vehicle was now traveling through a tranquil area bathed in the glow of the setting sun. It seemed like a miraculous place in the midst of an apocalypse.

Nearby, the dense forest stretches like a green ocean, lush and vibrant with life. At the edge of the forest, a lake, clear as a mirror, perfectly reflects the brilliant sunset and the deep green of the forest, creating a tranquil scene reminiscent of a paradise.

In the distance, vast expanses of solar panels spread out in precise circular arrays, like a silver wheat field, shimmering with a rational and restrained light under the setting sun, strangely blending with the surrounding natural beauty. Further away, the continuous mountain ranges outlined dark blue silhouettes, silent and majestic.

"Why is the ecology here so good? There are no Devouring Beasts?" Lu Mingfei was attracted by the scenery outside the window and temporarily forgot his tension, asking in confusion.

"You forgot? The shielding tower," Maido replied, a hint of pride in her voice.

"Is this shielding tower that powerful? Can it cover such a long distance?"

"Of course..." Maido's voice lowered, her gaze fixed on the distance, as if piercing through time and space, "To retake these ground strongholds and build the shielding towers, we lost many comrades and families..."

The atmosphere in the carriage froze slightly as she spoke, but the next second, her voice brightened again, filled with hope, "But... perhaps this is the meaning and value of our existence as Awakeners! I believe that one day, the Mana ecosystem will be completely eradicated, and then, everywhere you look will be as vibrant as this place!"

She smiled at Lu Mingfei, her eyes sparkling brightly: "So, Lu Mingfei, you'd better work hard and awaken your powers soon! We're all very curious about what kind of abilities you'll possess!"

"Me too, hehe! I'm super excited!" Xia Dou put down her game console, hugged Sui Xing's arm and shook it. Although Sui Xing didn't show any expression, she didn't push her away.

"My... ability?" Lu Mingfei looked down at his hands, his palms opening and closing as if trying to grasp something definite from the void.

What abilities could he possibly have? Summon mechs like in the game? Or unleash world-destroying magic? Or perhaps...? The burning golden eyes from his dream flashed through his mind, along with the twisted figure of "Deadpool," and a strange tremor ran through his heart.

He looked up, leaned back against the car window, and gazed at the receding scenery, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

A few hours later.

……

"vomit--"

Lu Mingfei slumped against the side of the carriage, his head sticking out of the window, and he dry heaved. Mai Duo, Xia Dou, and Sui Xing had already moved to the corner furthest away from him, looking at him with disdain.

"Hey! Lu Mingfei! Throw outside, not in the car! I worked so hard to keep this car in good condition!" Xu Tong couldn't see what was happening behind him, but he could hear the heart-wrenching noise, so he shouted urgently.

Lu Mingfei clung weakly to the edge of the carriage, feeling nauseous and his vision blurring, but he couldn't vomit anything, which made him feel even worse.

They had long since left the core coverage area of ​​the Longgu Village shielding tower and passed through that last green ecological zone.

The road became rough and uneven, full of gravel and potholes, and the modified van bounced like a small boat in a storm.

For Maiduo and her friends, this kind of bumpy ride was nothing new; their bodies naturally adjusted to the vehicle's movements. But for Lu Mingfei, who was experiencing this kind of road condition for the first time, it was undoubtedly torture.

Seeing that he couldn't vomit and just looked pale and lifeless, the girls finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"How are you? You didn't throw up in the car, did you?" Xu Tong asked again, still not entirely at ease.

Lu Mingfei replied weakly and irritably, "I threw up! I threw it all over the car!" He was already in such a sorry state, and this guy only cared about the car!

Hearing that Lu Mingfei still had the strength to retort, Xu Tong breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled, "Hey kid, you're so stubborn, aren't you?"

The vehicle continued driving along the desolate and dilapidated road for a while before finally coming to a slow stop in front of a huge shadow.

"We've arrived." Xu Tong pulled the handbrake, his voice breaking the slight tension in the car.

Despite his discomfort, Lu Mingfei looked up and gazed outside. He was immediately stunned by the sight before him.

They were on the edge of a city ruin. The once towering skyscrapers were now just twisted steel skeletons, like the remains of a dead beast, silently pointing to the gray sky.

The shattered windows, like countless empty eyes, indifferently watched the uninvited guests. The jagged, broken sections of the collapsed overpass told a story of the devastation that followed.

As far as the eye could see, there were only broken walls and ruins, and an omnipresent, suffocating silence.

Against this backdrop of ruins, their destination—the old-fashioned medical research institute—stands alone in front of them.

It is a standalone, square white building, but its former pristine whiteness has long been covered by filth, moss, and a large amount of dark red, carpet-like substance called "scrophularia," making it look dirty and eerie.

The building's exterior walls are damaged in many places, with huge cracks resembling ugly scars, and some windows are wide open and dark, as if leading to unknown fears.

The open space around the research institute was also eroded by this scarlet fungal carpet, with only a few twisted, blackened plants stubbornly sticking out.

What's even more chilling is that on a vacant lot to the side of the main building of the research institute, there are a few gray-white humanoid stone sculptures in different poses. They are the "flesh and soil" left behind after the life essence was drained, keeping the last action before death, silently telling the tragedy here.

A mixture of decay and an indescribable sweet and fishy smell wafted on the breeze, causing Lu Mingfei's stomach to churn once again.

The difference between this place and the tranquil ecological area I saw just a few hours ago is like heaven and hell.

The intense aura of death and the eerie atmosphere unique to the Mana ecosystem, like a cold tide, instantly overwhelmed Lu Mingfei, causing his nerves, which had just relaxed slightly because of his companion's joke, to tighten to the extreme once again.

He instinctively gripped the rifle in his arms, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

"This is it." Xu Tong jumped out of the car, stretched his limbs, and the playful look on his face disappeared, replaced by the caution of a veteran. "Check your equipment and prepare for action. Remember, stay alert, move quietly, and finish quickly."

Shattered Star silently slung her composite bow over her shoulder and checked her quiver; Maido quickly assembled the parts of her spear, producing a crisp metallic clanging sound; Xia Dou also put away her game console and replaced it with a small device with scanning capabilities.

Lu Mingfei took a deep breath of the polluted air, trying to suppress the fear in his heart, and followed their example to check his weapons and equipment one last time.

He knew that the real test was only just beginning.