Chapter 33: The Mysterious Eyeball

Neon trailed behind the group, her head hanging low, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

How humiliating!

Mo Chen noticed her demeanor and found it odd.

This wasn't the Neon he knew from the original game.

In the game, she was a fearless advocate of overwhelming firepower. Yet here she was, acting more like a timid rabbit.

Sensing Mo Chen's gaze, Neon turned her head away, clearly still sulking.

Mo Chen chuckled.

She really holds a grudge.

Still, he hadn't lied to her earlier. That thing she had picked up?

It wasn't a Rapture's head.

It was a human eyeball.

Yes—human tissue.

Anyway, Neon's frosty attitude didn't last long. Anis took the initiative to approach her, apologizing profusely and even offering small trinkets as peace offerings.

Being a sheltered Nikke fresh out of the Ark, Neon had no chance against Anis's smooth tongue.

In less than ten minutes, Anis had successfully coaxed Neon out of her mood.

While chatting with Neon, Anis turned back to Mo Chen, flashing a triumphant smile and a look that said, See what I did?

Mo Chen gave her a thumbs-up.

Despite his outward composure, Mo Chen was far from calm.

He opened his hand, revealing a clear, glassy orb—something Neon had tossed aside.

A human eyeball.

Ordinarily, a person's eyes would lose moisture and shrivel up shortly after death, leaving the sockets sunken. But this one retained a lifelike appearance, though its texture was hard, almost like glass.

Were it not for the system's notification, Mo Chen would never have recognized it for what it was.

Looking closely, he noticed faint patterns on its surface, reminding him of the magical circuits from Fate. However, there was something fundamentally different about this.

Wait!

Mo Chen's memory stirred.

That other game had something similar—crystals that grew on the surface… Could this be the same thing?

"Commander, we're approaching the power station."

Rapi's voice broke his train of thought.

"Got it."

Mo Chen pocketed the eyeball, setting aside his suspicions for the moment.

"How's the situation?"

"No signs of Rapture signals yet, but according to reports, it's highly likely they're inside," Rapi replied, shaking her head.

"Understood."

Mo Chen, however, knew the truth.

The plant didn't just house ordinary Raptures—there was also a big one.

Codename: Grave Digger.

A Tyrant-class Rapture.

Many rookies had fallen victim to its devastating initial attack. It was tough, disgusting and a certified newbie nightmare.

Rapi stood by Mo Chen's side, efficiently checking her gear and loading her weapon.

"This is a high-risk area. Commander, please stay alert. If anything happens, stay behind me."

Her elegant profile, paired with her stoic demeanor, exuded an untouchable beauty.

"Understood," Mo Chen replied.

While his offensive capabilities were limited, he had more than enough tools to ensure his survival.

Rapi removed her magazine, attaching it to her gear. These were the meticulous preparations made before entering battle.

"No matter what happens, prioritize your safety above all else, Commander. If necessary, abandon the rescue."

To abandon a rescue was to acknowledge certain death.

Hearing this, Mo Chen nodded.

"Don't worry. Nothing will happen."

He wouldn't allow such a scenario to unfold.

Rapi seemed about to say more but stopped when her gaze met Mo Chen's dark, obsidian-like eyes. For reasons she couldn't explain, she felt reassured.

"Alright, let's move out," Mo Chen said, breaking the moment.

Mo Chen patted Rapi on the shoulder and turned toward the power station.

His primary objective now was to secure a base, and the power station presented itself as a promising location.

Rapi, realizing her lapse, quickly followed him.

The path to the objective was winding, littered with destroyed buildings, collapsed bridges, and torn-up highways. Along the way, they encountered numerous Raptures. Fortunately, with Shifty's guidance and navigation system, they avoided unnecessary detours.

"Scanning operational area."

"Alva particles purification in progress…"

"Concentration: 45.22%…"

"65.22%…"

"Alva particles concentration: 78.22%. Scanning complete. Purification failed... Wait, what?"

Shifty's surprised voice came through the communicator.

"That's odd. The area should've been purified, but instead of decreasing, the concentration has increased?"

Alva particles remain an enigma. Scientists don't fully understand their origin or mechanism, but it is known that Raptures generate them: these particles disrupt human communications and, in high concentrations, negatively affect Nikkes—sometimes causing serious damage.

Moreover, research from Ark's scientists confirmed that high levels of Alva particles can activate the Rapture's viral code, drastically increasing its likelihood of infecting Nikkes.

To mitigate potential communication disruptions and infections, the first task for ground operations is typically to purify the local Alva particles.

But this time, the purification device wasn't working.

"This is… such a hassle!" Shifty muttered, her voice crackling as the Alva particles began interfering with communications.

The route to the power plant was via an old maglev railway. It was direct, intact and led straight to their destination. However, with such high particle concentrations disrupting communications, venturing forward without knowing the number of Raptures ahead was incredibly dangerous.

"How strange…"

Shifty's puzzled voice came through again.

"What's wrong, Shifty?" Mo Chen asked.

"Near the power plant, there's a surge of high-energy activity. It almost looks like… an explosion?"

Her voice carried uncertainty.

"An explosion?"

The group exchanged wary glances.

There had been no reports of any other squads heading to the power plant.

"Yes, but wait—oh no!" Shifty exclaimed suddenly. "A large number of Rapture signals are appearing southeast of your position. They're converging in your direction, likely drawn by the explosion!"

"The energy readings are significant. I recommend immediate evasion!"

Evasion? That wasn't an option.

The path behind them was blocked, and the area ahead was a high-concentration Alva particles zone.

If he hadn't known Shifty was trustworthy in the original story, Mo Chen might've thought she'd turned traitor.

"Shifty," Mo Chen said calmly despite the urgency. "The maglev track is still the fastest route to the power plant, right?"

"Yes, but the explosion triggered the power plant's self-defense mechanisms, locking it down entirely."