Chapter 553 The Beast Under the Human Skin
"I call these monsters mutant fog ghosts." The base commander's voice was filled with a barely perceptible heaviness and murderous intent: "This is a terrifying existence that we have confirmed at a heavy price."
"They can perfectly imitate human appearance, voice, and even some of their behavioral logic. When the gray fog first arrived, communications were instantly interrupted and order collapsed. We received a large number of survivors. Among them were these things.
But we didn’t know anything at the time, which led to hidden dangers in the team.”
Her eyes swept over Xiao Jin with a deep warning: "They are covered in human skin, mixed in with the terrified crowd, passed our layers of inspection, and can even tell their 'experiences' with tears.
We used to treat them as our compatriots until they suddenly tore off their disguise and showed their fangs when you were least prepared - perhaps when distributing food, arranging accommodation, or rotating guards late at night."
The surveillance footage was frozen on a close-up of a torn, blood-stained "human skin", connected to a rolling mass of gray mist with a dark red light flashing at the core.
“Fortunately, their thinking is simple and their attack mode is relatively single, but the lethality brought by their camouflage and suddenness still caused heavy damage to the base.
This is why any new face will be subject to the strictest scrutiny.”
After hearing this, Xiao Jinci realized why the other party opened fire without thinking when he, Yin Hang and others arrived here.
"A mutated fog ghost?" Xiao Jin stared at the monitor with interest.
It's quite interesting, but I haven't come across it.
As if seeing Xiao Jin's doubts, the base commander's expression was a little ugly: "They seem to be born with sensitive perception and can clearly know who is more threatening to them.
They assume that ordinary people are easier to deceive, so they mostly target vulnerable groups.”
After hearing this, Xiao Jin understood. It turned out that he was deliberately avoiding the players!
At this moment, the base commander pressed the button and the image on the monitoring screen changed instantly.
She motioned Xiao Jin to look over. The screen showed a special cell isolated behind multiple layers of reinforced glass, where several fog ghosts of various shapes were imprisoned.
There was an ordinary humanoid fog ghost, who was roaring and banging against the wall; there was also a "special fog ghost" that was larger in size, with denser fog and arms transformed into sickle shapes, who was quietly lurking in the corner.
There was another one whose body surface was covered with a thin, translucent substance similar to skin tissue. It was the "mutated fog ghost".
The base commander said in a heavy tone: “One of the core tasks of the base at present is to study them.
Find the weaknesses of the gray fog and analyze their evolutionary path. The ultimate goal is to find a way for humans to survive in this environment or even counter it!
The location of the 'nest' is the key information that the Seventh Exploration Team exchanged for seventeen lives."
"The base gate will be opened at six o'clock the day after tomorrow." The base commander looked at Xiao Jin with a sharp gaze: "The main force is the military's elite commando team, responsible for fire support, opening up roads and establishing temporary strongholds.
At the same time, there will be ten to twelve "special people" including you to participate in the core assault. Your mission is to break through the most dangerous area, find and destroy the core. "
"So many people?" Xiao Jin raised his eyebrows.
She thought there would be only 5 or 6 at most. After all, this task was not easy. She didn't expect that there would be such a stubborn person.
But this also explains why the base commander was so stingy about the reward of phantom metal!
With so many players, she must have been bleeding a lot...
"Opportunities are always fleeting." The base commander said with a hint of meaning: "To be as good as you, I'm afraid it wasn't all smooth sailing."
Xiao Jin raised his lips slightly: "You are right, the strong always need to pay a higher price."
"Very good." The base commander suddenly stood up and extended his hand.
Her hands were dry and strong, covered with calluses. "The base will provide you with the necessary equipment and intelligence support. Someone will inform you of the specific details before the operation."
She paused and added, “If you have any new findings about the mutant fog ghosts, especially whether they have higher-level forms or more complex organizations, please inform me as soon as possible.
That will be one of the key variables in the success or failure of the operation.”
Xiao Jin held that hand, cold and firm: "Understood. Happy cooperation, Base Commander."
..............................
The lead-gray alloy door closed silently behind Xiao Jin, isolating the command center's cold air and huge surveillance screen.
The one-eyed man was now waiting silently outside the door. He glanced at her with his remaining right eye, said nothing, and turned to lead the way.
Passing through the passage filled with huge construction noise again, Xiao Jin's eyes swept over the ordinary people who were working hard under the steel skeleton.
It is now 9 o'clock in the evening, but they still haven't rested. Their numb faces are full of fatigue, and sweat mixed with dust has washed out muddy grooves on their necks.
Some people were struggling to carry heavy steel bars, their backs bent; some were pushing heavy carts that were almost out of control, their arm muscles bulging, veins popping out, and suppressed hoarse sounds coming from their throats;
Farther away, a group of people were cleaning a collapsed pipe. The shovels and rubble made a monotonous and desperate sound. The dust was so thick that people's faces were almost invisible.
This is the price of "asylum".
Use blood, sweat and even life to exchange for a place to survive in this doomsday steel fortress.
The elevator stopped at a relatively quiet rest area near the ground entrance. The one-eyed man threw a magnetic card and a metal plate with the room number written on it to Xiao Jin.
“Your temporary accommodation is up there, and someone will deliver your food rations, so don’t run around.
The base commander will meet with you at five in the morning the day after tomorrow. You can just swipe your card normally. If you need anything, press the bell on the wall and someone will come to handle it. "
After saying this, he turned around and disappeared around the corner of another passage like a silent shadow.
Xiao Jin held the cold magnetic card and found her room - 306 after a while.
Moreover, this row of houses basically looked like separate small houses. Staring at the other doors not far away, Xiao Jin keenly sensed the aura behind the doors.
If I'm not mistaken, these people should be her 'teammates' in the future.
"Heh~" Suddenly, Xiao Jin chuckled.