Chapter 1839: Entrustment in Crisis
The sandstorm moved extremely fast. Xu Huo and the others had only moved a few thousand meters in the opposite direction before being caught up. It wasn't just the overwhelming sand; the wind speed was also tremendous, making it nearly impossible for anyone to stay upright. Even using defensive items couldn't prevent them from being swept along by the wind—they were merely encased within the defensive barriers, temporarily shielded from the wind and sand's interference.
Because of this sandstorm, the mutant beast groups either scattered or were buried on the spot, which actually saved them from one headache.
"Good, good, as long as we get through this," Gao Dawei sighed in relief, then habitually looked around. "Where have we been blown to? Is Brother Hei nearby?"
"He should be..." Xu Huo's reply was cut short as a tremendous force struck him from behind. He and Gao Dawei were sent flying into the sand. After the defensive barrier shattered, they tumbled and slid over twenty meters. Before they could stop, mechanical arms extending from beneath the sand clamped onto Xu Huo like crab legs and lifted him into the air.
Seeing this, Gao Dawei nearby was about to help when Xu Huo drew a black blade and severed the mechanical arms. But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, two figures emerged from the sandstorm, blocking Xu Huo from front and back!
"Watch out..." Gao Dawei's shout was cut off as the young player behind punched at Xu Huo from a distance. A visible force pierced through the wind and sand, slamming into Xu Huo's defensive barrier.
Gao Dawei couldn't see the barrier, only judging its integrity by the sand cleared around Xu Huo. This ambush had clearly breached it, because the moment Xu Huo was knocked away, sand blew onto him. Due to the fierce wind, Gao Dawei himself was uncontrollably thrown forward toward the black-coated figure.
Gao Dawei's heart leaped into his throat, only to settle again when he saw a petal-like barrier spread around Xu Huo.
But that didn't mean Xu Huo was safe. Though he had plenty of items, he was clearly at a disadvantage in speed, mostly on the defensive. Only once did he use a movement item to teleport behind the young player, wounding his arm with the black blade—at the cost of being stabbed in the shoulder by the black coat, then kicked flying by the young player after being suppressed by a trait.
The three fighters gradually moved away from Gao Dawei. He tried calling for other players to help, but no one responded, and no one came. Xu Huo and the other two drifted closer and farther, sometimes even affecting him. After another attempt to get close ended with him being blasted away by a powerful force, he clutched his bleeding nose and stared at the figures nearly disappearing into the sandstorm, shouting, "Let my uncle out!"
He vaguely saw Xu Huo get stabbed in the abdomen. Gao Dawei couldn't care less anymore and was about to charge forward when a picture frame flew in from afar. As it landed, Chang Shoujie rolled out along with it.
"Uncle!" Gao Dawei was overjoyed. He quickly helped the man up and set up a small windbreak barrier with an item. Looking back at the ground, he saw the frame half-buried in sand, while Xu Huo and the other two were closing in again.
"Let's go!" Gao Dawei hoisted Chang Shoujie onto his back and ran without hesitation. As he ran, he said, "This is a good chance—we can completely shake these people off!"
Chang Shoujie was too weak to move, but his mind was clear. He immediately pressed for an explanation.
Gao Dawei didn't mention the Polar Safe Zone incident, only briefly explaining why they were here and the cause of their current predicament.
"I thought those people would at least consider the clearance count, but they don't care at all about clearing the instance—they're just killing outright!"
Gao Dawei ran as he spoke. "I don't know where the others went either. There might be mutants around..."
Before he finished, he ran straight into Pink Hair. Pink Hair had already killed the player who attacked him and was looking for new targets. Seeing Gao Dawei, he asked, "What are you doing here? Where are the others?"
"I don't know, but the people from the Last Wish Before Death instance betrayed us," Gao Dawei quickly diverted attention. "We might have been scattered by their items—they used this item in CK22. They're probably hiding in the sandstorm, ambushing us. And there are mutants around. We should find a place..."
As he spoke, he was startled by a mutant pouncing from behind Pink Hair. Pink Hair casually raised a hand and dealt with it, saying dismissively, "Just these few people, no big deal."
"But there are mutant groups," Gao Dawei hoped he would travel with them. "You saw it too—there must be at least a few thousand!"
"Kill them all, problem solved." Pink Hair waved a hand.
"But... but there might be someone Mr. Xu is looking for among the mutants!" Gao Dawei found an excuse.
Pink Hair stood firm in the wind, a pair of especially heavy item boots giving him a rock-solid stance. He rubbed his chin. "Then kill them all and drag them out for him to check one by one. That's way easier than finding live ones."
With that, he walked away.
Gao Dawei, left alone to face mutants that kept lunging at him, was soon covered in wounds. He had to throw Chang Shoujie aside several times.
Within minutes, both were nearly exhausted.
"Dawei," Chang Shoujie said as Gao Dawei picked him up again, "listen to me carefully. Under my bed, dig down three meters. There's a locator device buried there. Take it out and activate it, then follow the coordinates to find Dr. Joyce."
Gao Dawei froze, incredulous. "Uncle, you knew where Dr. Joyce was all along?"
"This was the device Dr. Joyce gave me to find him. His last message said he had made progress on something but needed to leave for an undetermined time. Later, when I returned to Zone 010 from an instance, I was severely injured and couldn't go find him. I've been waiting for someone trustworthy to send in my place." Chang Shoujie spoke quickly. "Now, regardless of whether Dr. Joyce succeeded or not, someone must go to meet him. If he's still alive, you must stay by his side and protect him. Don't reveal his whereabouts easily—he has enemies in Zone 010 too."
Gao Dawei had already stopped in shock, but Chang Shoujie continued from behind, "I know you've always wanted to leave Zone 010, and I've been forcing you to stay. I understand your reluctance, but remember—you are from Zone 010. Don't abandon your people. Once you abandon them, no matter where you go in this world, you'll only be a stray dog!"
"Your roots are here. Zone 010 cannot go extinct!"
"Don't be spineless. Guard it even if you're the last one standing!"
"I'm nearly spent. You are Zone 010's hope!"
(Chapter End)