Chapter 2187: Extremely High Mortality Rate
The Non-Game Area Simulator was a large-scale facility, and the entire building was a cube of pure white. The interior was divided into multiple levels, each floor having a different function. The first floor was the reception hall, where the staff were all Mental Super Evolvers, responsible for preliminary screening and guidance.
Xu Huo followed the staff into the elevator. The elevator rose slowly, and the numbers on the display panel kept jumping. Finally, it stopped at the 15th floor.
The elevator doors opened, revealing a long corridor. The walls on both sides were made of transparent material, allowing a view of the rooms inside. Some rooms were empty, while others had people undergoing testing.
"Please come this way." The staff member led Xu Huo to a room at the end of the corridor. The room was spacious, with various instruments placed inside. In the center was a reclining chair, surrounded by numerous probes and sensors.
"Please lie down here. The test will take about an hour. If you feel any discomfort, you can press the button next to you at any time." The staff member pointed to a red button on the armrest of the chair.
Xu Huo nodded, walked over to the chair, and lay down. The staff member operated the instrument, and the probes and sensors automatically attached to Xu Huo's body. Soon, a faint buzzing sound came from the instrument, and the test began.
Xu Huo closed his eyes, feeling the subtle changes in his body. The instrument emitted various frequencies of waves, scanning his body. This feeling was somewhat familiar, similar to when he had undergone super evolution tests before.
Time passed minute by minute. Just as the test was nearing its end, a sudden alarm sounded. The instrument's screen flickered wildly, and then a burst of intense energy surged out, directly hitting Xu Huo.
Xu Huo's body trembled, and a sharp pain spread throughout his body. He opened his eyes, only to find that the surrounding scene had changed. He was no longer in the testing room but in a vast white space.
"Warning! Warning! The simulator has malfunctioned! Please evacuate immediately!" A mechanical voice echoed in the space.
Xu Huo tried to move, but found his body bound by an invisible force. He looked around, only to see countless figures appearing in the white space. Some were familiar, some were strange, all looking panicked.
"What's going on? Why are we here?" someone shouted.
"This is the interior of the simulator! Something went wrong, and we're all trapped inside!" another person replied.
Xu Huo frowned. He tried to use his Spatial Super Evolution power, but found it completely suppressed. It seemed that the simulator had a special function that could seal off the super evolution abilities of those inside.
"Don't panic. The simulator's self-protection mechanism will activate soon, and we'll be sent out." A calm voice sounded. Xu Huo looked up and saw a middle-aged man standing not far away, wearing a white lab coat, looking like a researcher.
"Who are you?" someone asked.
"I am Dr. Duo Er, the chief designer of this simulator." The middle-aged man said, "The simulator malfunction is likely caused by an external force. We need to find the source of the malfunction as soon as possible, or we'll all be trapped here forever."
As soon as the words fell, the white space suddenly shook violently, and cracks appeared on the ground. From the cracks, a strange black gas emerged, quickly spreading throughout the space.
"Not good! This is a dimensional storm!" Dr. Duo Er's expression changed drastically. "Everyone, hold your breath! Don't let the dimensional storm invade your body!"
But it was too late. Some people had already inhaled the black gas, and their bodies began to twist and deform, eventually turning into pools of black liquid.
Xu Huo's heart tightened. He quickly used his Mental Super Evolution power to form a mental barrier around his body, blocking the invasion of the dimensional storm.
"Kid, you're a Mental Super Evolver?" Dr. Duo Er looked at Xu Huo in surprise. "That's rare. Most people trapped in the simulator can't use their super evolution abilities."
"My super evolution ability is special." Xu Huo said lightly.
"Great, you might be our only hope." Dr. Duo Er said, "The core of the simulator is on the top floor. If we can get there and restart the system, we might be able to escape."
"Lead the way." Xu Huo said.
Dr. Duo Er nodded, turned around, and walked forward. Xu Huo followed closely behind. Along the way, they encountered many people affected by the dimensional storm, all of whom had turned into black liquid. The scene was horrifying.
"Be careful, there's danger ahead." Dr. Duo Er suddenly stopped, pointing ahead. Xu Huo looked up and saw a huge black vortex blocking the way, with lightning flashing inside, exuding a terrifying aura.
"This is the source of the dimensional storm. We have to get through it." Dr. Duo Er said.
Xu Huo took a deep breath, gathered his Mental Super Evolution power, and formed a mental blade, slashing at the black vortex. The mental blade collided with the vortex, emitting a deafening roar. The vortex shook violently, but did not dissipate.
"It's useless. The dimensional storm is formed by the simulator's energy disorder. Ordinary attacks can't destroy it." Dr. Duo Er shook his head.
"Then what should we do?" Xu Huo asked.
"Only by finding the core of the simulator and restarting the system can the dimensional storm be stopped." Dr. Duo Er said, "But the core is deep inside the vortex. Ordinary people can't get close."
"I'll try." Xu Huo said, stepping forward.
"Wait!" Dr. Duo Er stopped him. "The energy inside the vortex is enough to tear any living being apart. If you go in, you'll die."
"I have no choice." Xu Huo said, "If we don't stop the dimensional storm, everyone here will die."
With that, Xu Huo walked straight into the vortex. The moment he entered, a powerful tearing force came over him, as if trying to tear his body apart. He gritted his teeth, using his Mental Super Evolution power to protect his body, and moved forward with difficulty.
I don't know how long he walked, but finally, he saw a faint light ahead. He quickened his pace, and when he got closer, he found it was a huge crystal ball, emitting a soft glow. This should be the core of the simulator.
Xu Huo reached out to touch the crystal ball, but at that moment, a powerful energy burst out from the crystal ball, directly hitting him. His body flew out, heavily hitting the wall.
"Damn it!" Xu Huo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, stood up, and once again approached the crystal ball. This time, he was more careful, using his Mental Super Evolution power to probe the energy fluctuations of the crystal ball, looking for a breakthrough.
After several attempts, he finally found the weakness of the crystal ball. He gathered all his strength, forming a mental spear, and fiercely stabbed at the crystal ball. With a "crack," the crystal ball shattered, and the surrounding dimensional storm instantly dissipated.
The white space began to collapse, and Xu Huo felt his body lighten, then he fell into darkness.
When he woke up again, he found himself lying in the testing room, surrounded by medical staff. Dr. Duo Er stood beside him, looking at him with a complex expression.
"You're awake." Dr. Duo Er said, "You're lucky. The simulator malfunction caused a mortality rate of over 90%, and you were one of the few survivors."
Xu Huo sat up, feeling the soreness all over his body. "What about the others?"
"Most of them died." Dr. Duo Er shook his head, "The dimensional storm is too powerful. Only a few Mental Super Evolvers survived."
Xu Huo was silent for a moment, then asked, "What caused the simulator malfunction?"
"We're still investigating." Dr. Duo Er said, "But preliminary judgment suggests it was caused by an external force attack. It seems someone wants to destroy the simulator."
"Who would do that?" Xu Huo asked.
"I don't know." Dr. Duo Er said, "But one thing is certain, this is just the beginning. There will be more dangerous things to come."
Xu Huo nodded, a flicker of determination flashing in his eyes. No matter what dangers lie ahead, he will face them head-on.