"I know the research base you're talking about," Jin Sha said. "It's not far from here; it's a resource point."
Bai Ye nodded. He was aware of this.
The research team had perished after entering the pyramid ruins. They were either chopped up by Predators or eaten by Xenomorphs. The few survivors were likely used by the Xenomorphs as breeding hosts. Xenomorphs needed to lay eggs within other creatures, absorbing their nutrients to allow new Xenomorphs to hatch.
Therefore, there would be no people at the research base, but it would contain a large amount of supplies: water, food, clothing, and so on.
Bai Ye asked, "Have you been there?"
Jin Sha shook her head. "No, it's not peaceful."
Bai Ye was puzzled. "Not peaceful?"
Jin Sha nodded. "People have fought over supplies, and some beast tamers have nested there. So, strictly speaking, it is a supply point, but a more accurate description would be a dangerous area supply point."
"This..."
This situation was different from what Bai Ye remembered.
In Bai Ye's memory, the research base was just a resource point.
Besides that, the pyramid ruins, this forbidden zone, was peculiar and required faction assignment.
There were the Human faction, the Xenomorph faction, and the Predator faction.
Each of the three factions had different missions. The Human faction needed to rescue humans captured by Xenomorphs to incubate Xenomorph eggs. Upon completing forbidden zone missions, they would receive Xenomorph eggs, or more directly, Xenomorph pets.
The forbidden zone rewards for the Xenomorph faction were the Xenomorph Queen's head carapace or tail. While these items were useless on their own, they were excellent materials for crafting any weapon or armor, boasting incredible resistance to everything from defense to fire, electricity, and freezing.
As for the Predators, they naturally received their standard gear: wrist blades, shoulder cannons, and cloaking suits.
The research base was directly linked to the Human faction. To accept the mission to rescue humans, one had to go to the research base first.
But now, the research base had become a dangerous area. What was going on?
Bai Ye was a bit bewildered. He could only confirm that it was related to Regigigas and the sudden appearance of beast tamers, but he couldn't quite figure out the specifics for now.
However, upon further thought, Bai Ye felt it didn't have much to do with him. His target wasn't the Human faction anyway, but the Predator faction.
Bai Ye wanted to obtain Predator equipment, but not the standard set of wrist blades, shoulder cannons, and cloaking suits. Instead, he desired more core Predator technology: the bio-scanner system.
Or, more directly, the Predator's chest armor and bio-mask!
The bio-mask's function was biological scanning. After scanning, it could reveal the target creature's approximate data. It could even use computer algorithms to calculate the opponent's strengths and weaknesses. While it had no offensive or defensive capabilities, as an auxiliary equipment, it was exceptionally useful. Furthermore, the bio-mask, in addition to displaying data, possessed anti-toxin and night vision functions.
Of course, if he could also acquire the wrist blades, shoulder cannons, and cloaking suits, that would be even better. After all, except for the wrist blades being somewhat lacking, the Predator's shoulder cannons and cloaking suits were considered incredibly powerful technological artifacts at this stage.
...
Soon, a massive base appeared before Bai Ye and Jin Sha.
Bai Ye clicked his tongue. That Verlander was truly a magnate; building such a base wouldn't have been easy and would have cost a fortune.
However, after marveling at the base's immensity, Bai Ye's expression became a little more somber.
"Be careful," Bai Ye said. "There's a smell of blood."
As he spoke, Bai Ye drew his Zanpakuto and moved forward, slowly approaching the research base.
Not long after, Bai Ye suddenly stopped. On the ground before him lay a body, seemingly buried by the wind and snow. Because the corpse was completely frozen over, Bai Ye couldn't determine when it had died.
However, it was certainly an awakened one. Besides the human corpse, there was also the corpse of a beast tamer nearby – a pure white sea lion.
Jin Sha walked over and said, "It's a White Sea Lion!"
Bai Ye nodded. "Let's go in the base first. Regardless of whether it's dangerous, it's at least a place to shelter from the wind and rain."
Jin Sha nodded and followed Bai Ye towards the base. But just then...
"As a participant has discovered and entered the forbidden zone research base, all participants currently in the glacial region will be transported to different locations within the forbidden zone research base in three minutes."
"Forbidden Zone Mission 1: Survive the pursuit of Predators. Mission rewards (choose one): Superalloy throwing knife x1, Superalloy wrist claw blade x1, Hard Gold Dagger x1."
"Forbidden Zone Mission 2: Survive the pursuit of Xenomorphs. Mission reward: Distress signal device x1."
"Forbidden Zone Mission 3: Kill a Predalien. Mission rewards: Shrinkable tennis ball x1, Plasma Cannon x1, Shard of God Stone x2."
"Gentlemen, to obtain the Shards of God Stone, please strive to survive."
...
The sudden forbidden zone announcement stunned Bai Ye for a moment, after which a screen rapidly appeared before his eyes.
"Kelt, Cat Face, and Scar were once rare ancient human powerhouses, considered once-in-thirty-years talents. They had a great chance of becoming the most powerful Predators. However, it was surprising that they lost contact during the coming-of-age hunt. The Predator commander of their homeland did not believe the trio had been defeated. If not, it meant their homeland had undergone immense changes, and perhaps the Xenomorph Queen, absent for many years, would reappear."
"Thus, the Predator commander dispatched a large number of Predators back to their homeland to search for Kelt, Cat Face, and Scar, and to ascertain if a Xenomorph Queen had indeed been reborn."
"Six days ago, a Predator spacecraft landed on the glacier. Their captain decided to split up. The captain led a portion of the warriors to search for the pyramid ruins, leaving two squads to explore the glacier and confirm if any other creatures existed within the ice. If any were found, they were to be eliminated without mercy."
"One of these Predator squads discovered the base left by the research team and encountered Xenomorphs that had escaped from the pyramid ruins within the base. What was worse, one of the Predators was accidentally infested by a Xenomorph, thus giving birth to a powerful Predalien. The entire research base subsequently plunged into bloody chaos. Therefore, those who enter here will be like entering a giant coliseum, thrown into this life-or-death escape."
"Live, or, die..."
"Please make your choice!"
...