The destination was within reach. As long as they entered Laboratory No. 3...
Well, that wasn't exactly safe either!
This time, the forbidden zone was a bit different. Instead of directly assigning three forbidden zone missions for the chosen ones to figure out on their own, there were prerequisite tasks, and then...
When someone provided prerequisite tasks, even an idiot would know there was more to come!
However, no matter what, it would eventually come to an end.
But it seemed that bringing things to an end wasn't that easy!
Rumble, rumble!
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from the ground ahead.
The next instant, cracks began to appear, and the surrounding buildings started to shake, as if an earthquake had struck.
Soon, as the ground continued to fissure, a massive turtle emerged from the earth.
The turtle was about four to five meters tall. It wasn't an ordinary mutated creature; its back was covered with large patches of crystal-like spikes, and a small portion also covered its head, making it resemble a small crystal mountain.
Bai Ye licked his lips. Rhine Company had finally brought out the big guns.
Crystallized mutated creatures were, of course, another of Rhine Company's elaborate schemes.
The crystals were a given. Mutated creatures generally couldn't pass through roadblocks, and the slum area served as a natural barrier.
The barbed wire fences surrounding the slum could not withstand mutated creatures, so occasionally, mutated creatures would attack the slum.
This would inevitably lead to combat, and with the mutated creatures intercepted in the slum, the affluent areas remained unaffected.
Of course, the mirror zone was deserted, but the roadblocks were sufficient to stop mutated creatures. Therefore, the only explanation was that the mutated creatures had been captured by Rhine Company.
Bai Ye mused, glancing up at a building to his side, noticing Yimi carrying a sniper rifle.
"Damn it!"
Bai Ye cursed. Yimi's stance clearly indicated he was washing his hands of the situation, leaving Bai Ye to deal with the crystallized giant turtle on his own.
This was clearly an effort, but not a full commitment. It could also be seen as a way to wear Bai Ye down. For now, as long as the crystallized giant turtle was dealt with, they could enter Laboratory No. 3, and Yimi didn't think Bai Ye couldn't handle it.
So then...
He'd have to show off a bit!
Bai Ye quickly crossed his hands, his hand seals changing rapidly.
The next instant, the Sky Rending Thunder and Purple Lightning, along with the Blazing Phoenix Flying Fire, vibrated intensely, accompanied by an incessant hum of sword resonance.
The twin swords transformed into lightning and fire, descending towards the crystallized giant turtle. However, they didn't strike the creature directly but landed on either side of it.
Then...
With a boom!
A bolt of purple lightning and a streak of flame rotated clockwise, forming a massive circular formation that enveloped the crystallized giant turtle.
Thunderfire Heavenly Tribulation (Sky Rending Thunder and Purple Lightning can simultaneously set up a sword formation, the effects of thunder and tribulation fire can stack and be amplified by 15%)
The blue and red, dual-colored formation circle took shape, followed by a series of tremendous explosions.
Lightning bolts flickered incessantly, emitting a piercing crackle, while the spreading flames continuously detonated, boom, boom, one fire cluster after another shattering.
The crystallized giant turtle began to advance. Its speed was not high, but its mountain-like physique was intimidating. However, the moment the crystallized giant turtle reached the edge of the formation circle...
With a bang, a pillar of lightning erupted from the outer perimeter of the formation circle, like a prison, trapping the crystallized giant turtle within.
The sky suddenly turned a fiery red, and then streaks of celestial fire began to rain down from above, striking downwards relentlessly.
Boom, boom, boom!
Explosion sounds continuously echoed.
The flames repeatedly hit the ground and the crystallized giant turtle. The continuous bombardment was terrifying.
The ground couldn't withstand such powerful impacts and began to collapse, a section even breaking apart, revealing the underground sewer system below.
The surrounding buildings, due to the ground's collapse, also began to crumble, turning into piles of ruins or directly sinking into the earth.
Momentarily, as the dense black smoke dispersed, the crystallized giant turtle was reduced to a grotesque form. The crystals on its body had completely shattered, its body seemed to have split into pieces. Beneath the broken shell, only lumps of raw flesh remained.
After Bai Ye dispatched the crystallized giant turtle, he looked towards the distant buildings again. Yimi had already fled.
Bai Ye narrowed his eyes. It seemed Yimi's target wasn't indeed Allen and the others. This suggested there shouldn't be any conflict between them. So why had he confronted Bai Ye earlier?
"Could it be the forbidden zone?"
Bai Ye's eyebrows shot up. This wasn't impossible.
Of course, it was still speculation, and the answer remained elusive.
Because, though Bai Ye had visited the City of Ruins in his previous life and entered the forbidden zones in this area, he had never actually entered the forbidden zones of the mirror world.
At that time, some of the chosen ones were already able to explore the future technology zones. The City of Ruins, as an entry-level future technology zone, was naturally everyone's first choice.
Therefore, when Bai Ye arrived at the City of Ruins, the mirror world was no longer a secret. The forbidden zones of the mirror world had already been opened, and the mirror world had transformed from a forbidden zone location into a dangerous area where people hunted crystal people and mutated crystal creatures.
Thinking back now, if the forbidden zone was what Yimi had opened, then the problem might lie with the forbidden zone itself.
While Bai Ye was contemplating, Allen was also leading the way, swiftly climbing over the rubble.
"Let's go!" Bai Ye snapped back to attention, pushing the thoughts in his mind aside for the moment, and pointed forward, "Into Laboratory No. 3."
Laboratory No. 3, in reality, didn't look much like a laboratory.
It was a dome-shaped, hemispherical, technologically advanced building. To be honest, it resembled a museum or an exhibition hall more than a laboratory.
Upon entering, one was greeted by a spacious hall, surrounded by many conceptual technological products. Some projectors displayed holographic projections of technological artifacts.
However...
"You have completed the forbidden zone mission, 'Cover the exploration team's entry into Laboratory No. 3.' Mission reward: Gonzalez's Vulcan Gatling (Energy Version) x1."
"You have completed the forbidden zone mission, 'Cover the exploration team's entry into Laboratory No. 3,' and triggered the forbidden zone mission for Laboratory No. 3."
"Forbidden Zone Mission 1: Successfully enter the core area of Laboratory No. 3 (Crystal Separation and Extraction Facility). Mission Reward: Crystallization Ability or Random Black-tier Technological Weapon x1."
"Forbidden Zone Mission 2: Kill Dr. Dai Le. Mission Reward: Crystallization Ability or Random Black-tier Technological Weapon x1."
"Forbidden Zone Mission 3: Destroy the Crystal Energy Extraction Instrument. Mission Reward: Random Red-tier Technological Weapon x1."
The moment Bai Ye and his group entered the hall, the forbidden zone missions were triggered.