Fantasy Game: Infinite City

Meanwhile, in the Griffin Faction camp on the outskirts of the small town, the atmosphere was unusually tense. Inside the command tent in the center of the camp, several Griffin Faction officers huddled around a large detection device, their brows furrowed, their eyes fixed on the screen. The screen displayed an energy fluctuation map of the small town and the distribution of mutated creatures. The mutated creature dots that had been densely distributed in the town's center were now rapidly spreading outwards, dispersing to every corner of the city, and the number of mutated creatures in the central area had become extremely sparse.

"What's going on? Why have these mutants suddenly scattered?" A tall officer in black combat uniform asked, his tone tinged with doubt and wariness. This officer, named Karen, was the on-site leader of the Griffin Faction's exploration mission in the small town of Pljevlja. He had participated in numerous dungeon exploration missions, was highly experienced, and possessed a decisive personality.

The soldier operating the detection equipment immediately stood up and respectfully replied, "Sir, according to the equipment monitoring, about half an hour ago, the mutants in the city center suddenly became abnormally agitated, and then began to spread to the surrounding areas. They have now dispersed to the outer areas of the city, with only a small number of mutants remaining in the central area. The specific cause is unknown, but it is speculated that it may be related to abnormal energy fluctuations within the city."

Karen's gaze fell on the screen, his fingers lightly tapping the table as he pondered. Since sending patrol teams into the small town, the camp had been receiving a constant stream of reports of teams going missing; over a dozen teams had already been wiped out, making him realize that the danger within the town was far greater than anticipated. While these mutants weren't top-tier in strength, their sheer numbers and aggressive nature, coupled with the intense mental interference and energy fluctuations within the city, made the exploration mission extremely difficult. He had originally decided to consolidate his defenses, suspend sending teams into the town, and await support from headquarters, but the current situation offered him a glimmer of hope.

“The fact that the mutants have dispersed to the outskirts means that the defenses in the city center are weaker. This is our best chance to enter the center and find our target.” Karen raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the officers present, and said firmly, “If we miss this opportunity, it will be much more difficult for us to get in once the mutants regroup in the center.”

“But sir, the situation inside the city is unclear, and the previous team suffered heavy losses. Wouldn’t it be too risky to send a team in now?” an officer said worriedly. “We don’t know why the mutants are scattered yet. If this is a trap, the consequences would be unimaginable.”

“The risks certainly exist, but the opportunities are even greater.” Karen shook her head, her tone leaving no room for doubt. “Our orders from headquarters are to find the target at all costs. Now that we have this opportunity, we cannot give it up. Moreover, we have dispatched an elite team equipped with armored vehicles, which is sufficient to deal with any potential dangers. As long as we act quickly and find the target before the mutants regroup, we can successfully complete the mission.”

Having said that, Karen didn't hesitate any longer and immediately issued the order: "Immediately dispatch two elite squads, fifteen men each, equipped with the best weapons, equipment, and detection devices. Also, deploy two 'Iron Wall' armored vehicles to cover the squads' movements. Order the squads to set off immediately, entering from the western entrance of the city and rapidly advancing to the central area. Focus your search on the clock tower and surrounding area, making sure to find traces of the energy source. At the same time, all defensive forces around the camp should be on high alert, closely monitoring the movements within the city. If the squads encounter danger, be ready to provide support immediately."

"Yes, sir!" the officers present responded in unison, immediately turning and leaving the command tent to relay orders. The camp instantly became a hive of activity, with soldiers quickly assembling, collecting weapons and equipment, and armored vehicles roaring to life, ready to go.

In less than ten minutes, two elite squads had assembled. Each soldier wore specially designed combat armor, which, while resembling slightly thicker bulletproof vests, actually offered superior protection compared to standard powered armor. It featured a fully modular structure and was equipped with the latest scanning and fire control modules, connected to their energy weapons. Combined with neural enhancement modules and combat drug injection systems, this made their combat capabilities as swift and powerful as a cheat code in a mobile game. Aside from lacking "invincibility" and flight capabilities, this equipment was extremely sophisticated. Furthermore, two "Iron Wall" armored vehicles were positioned in front of the squads. These massive vehicles, heavily armored, were equipped with twin-barreled energy cannons and plasma machine guns on top, providing both powerful firepower support and effective cover for the soldiers.

"Move out!" With the squad leader's order, two squads boarded their armored vehicles, their engines roaring as they sped towards the western entrance of the small town. The wheels crunched over the gravel, kicking up clouds of dust and leaving two clear tracks in the night. Detection equipment within the camp monitored the squads' movements throughout, displaying their positions and surrounding energy fluctuations on screens. Karen and several officers stood guard over the screens, their expressions serious, watching every detail intently.

At this moment, Han Zu was in a narrow alley in the center of the small town, investigating a residual energy signal point. This residual point was located on a wall deep in the alley, and its energy fluctuations were relatively strong and of higher purity than those he had encountered before. Han Zu crouched down and scanned the wall with the contractor's equipment. The screen displayed a complex energy spectrum, which had some similarities to the energy characteristics of the clock tower's metal rod, but there were still obvious differences. He extended his fingertip and gently touched the black mark on the wall, allowing the energy within his body to seep into the wall through his fingertip, carefully sensing the energy fluctuations within.

Just then, the distant roar of an engine reached his ears, growing clearer and clearer, clearly indicating that a large vehicle was approaching the town. Han Zu's eyes narrowed instantly. He immediately put away the contractor's equipment, and in a flash, hid behind a pile of abandoned debris deep in the alley. He completely concealed his presence and listened carefully to the sounds outside.

The roar of engines grew closer, accompanied by heavy footsteps and the sounds of soldiers talking. With his keen hearing, Han Zu could clearly discern that there were at least thirty people approaching, along with two large armored vehicles. From the soldiers' conversation, he could tell they were Griffin Faction soldiers; they had obviously sensed the anomaly within the city and were taking the opportunity to infiltrate and explore.

"Attention everyone, stay alert. Mutants may appear at any time. Armored vehicles lead the way, squads follow behind, advance gradually, focusing on searching the clock tower area." A squad leader's voice rang out, his tone serious and commanding.

Han Zu peered through the gaps in the pile of debris toward the alley entrance. Two massive armored vehicles slowly drove into the alley, their searchlights flashing, illuminating the surrounding street and dispelling the darkness. Energy cannons atop the armored vehicles rotated slowly, vigilantly scanning their surroundings. Two squads of soldiers followed behind the vehicles, advancing in tactical formation. The soldiers' eyes warily observed their surroundings, their energy detectors emitting faint beeps as they detected energy fluctuations in the vicinity.

Han Zu's eyes remained calm, without the slightest hint of panic. He knew very well that this Griffin Faction squad was well-equipped and had armored vehicles for cover, making them far more powerful than the patrol squads he had encountered before. A direct confrontation, while he was confident he could annihilate the squad before they could send out a distress signal, would inevitably trigger a violent energy fluctuation and explosion, not only revealing his own location but also potentially attracting more Griffin Faction soldiers. Moreover, his primary task was currently to find the unknown energy source; there was no need to waste time on this squad.

He slowly regulated his breathing, pressing his body close to the ground, as if blending into the surrounding debris, trying to minimize his presence. The armored vehicles and soldiers advanced slowly along the alley, the searchlights sweeping across the walls, getting closer and closer to the pile of debris where Han Zu was hiding. Han Zu could clearly hear the soldiers' footsteps, their breathing, and the roar of the armored vehicle's engines; he could even smell the gunpowder emanating from the soldiers and the fuel from the armored vehicles.

A soldier walked to the pile of debris, stopped, and scanned it with his energy detector. The detector emitted a faint beep but showed no abnormalities. The soldier frowned, seemingly puzzled, but didn't linger, turning and rejoining the group. He hadn't expected that his target was just a few steps away.

Armored vehicles and soldiers slowly made their way through the alleyways, heading towards the clock tower. Only when the roar of engines and the sound of footsteps faded into the distance did Han Zu slowly stand up from behind a pile of debris, brushing the dust off his clothes. His gaze followed the direction the squad had gone, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. The Griffin Faction's sudden entry into the small town, with a clear objective—heading directly to the clock tower area—clearly indicated they had some idea of ​​the energy source's location. This meant he had to accelerate his exploration, finding the target before the Griffin Faction found the energy source; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Han Zu didn't linger. He immediately turned and continued deeper into the alley, heading towards the next remaining energy signal point. In the darkness of the small town, danger and opportunity coexisted. The arrival of the Griffin Faction team made the already strange situation even more complicated. But Han Zu felt no fear, only unwavering conviction. He was determined to find the unknown energy source, uncover the truth behind the "Silent Corridor" instance, and thwart the Griffin Faction's conspiracy.

His figure darted swiftly through the alleyways, like a ghost, avoiding any possible clues. He continued to investigate the residual energy signals along the way, though most were useless aftershocks, Han Zu did not give up. He knew that as long as he persisted, he would one day find the crucial clue leading to the truth. The mutated creatures deliberately avoiding him, and the Griffin Faction team that had quietly entered the town, were merely interludes on his journey of exploration, unable to hinder his progress.

Deep within the alley, black energy imprints writhed on the walls, whispers mingling with the tolling of an empty bell, creating an eerie and terrifying atmosphere. Han Zu's figure gradually disappeared into the shadows of the alley, leaving only a faint trace, as if he had never been there. Behind him, the Griffin Faction's squad steadily advanced towards the clock tower. A contest surrounding an unknown energy source was quietly unfolding in this abandoned town.

Han Zu continued walking along the alley, the pebbles beneath his feet making a faint sound that was particularly clear in the quiet environment. He stopped every now and then to activate the contractor's equipment, scanning the surrounding energy signals and searching every corner that might hide clues. The appearance of the Griffin Squad earlier made him realize the urgency of the situation; he had to lock onto the target before they could find the energy source.

The alley ahead gradually widened, connecting to a main road at its end. Han Zu walked to the alley entrance, peeked out, and looked towards the main road. The main road was littered with abandoned vehicles and rubble, and most of the buildings on both sides had collapsed, leaving only crumbling walls. The tracks left by several Griffin Faction armored vehicles were clearly visible, their wheels crushing the rubble into powder. In the distance, the figures of Griffin Faction soldiers could still be seen on the street, advancing towards the clock tower in tactical formation, their searchlights sweeping across the street, warily guarding against any potential dangers.

Instead of proceeding along the main road, Han Zu turned and slipped into a side alley. While the main road offered a wide view, it made him an easy target for the Griffin Faction soldiers. The side alley, though narrow, provided better concealment, making it more suitable for hiding his movements. He quickly advanced along the alley, encountering several residual energy signals along the way. After careful examination, he found them to be merely the aftershocks of the energy source's spread, yielding no valuable clues.

Just then, he sensed the presence of mutated creatures again. This time, there were more than a dozen, lurking in an abandoned residential building not far ahead. Han Zu paused slightly, a hint of curiosity rising in his heart. The mutated creatures he had encountered before had all fled in terror upon seeing him. This time, however, they were gathered in one building, not scattering in all directions. Was there some special reason for this?

He slowed his pace, cautiously approaching the residential building. The doors and windows were broken, and the walls were covered in black energy markings, emitting faint energy fluctuations. Han Zu hid behind a utility pole next to the building and peered inside. On the floor, he saw a dozen mutated creatures huddled together, their bodies trembling slightly, their eyes filled with fear, occasionally glancing out the window as if wary of something. Their posture was similar to the mutated creatures he had encountered before, but instead of fleeing, they huddled together, as if this gave them a sense of security.

Han Zu observed carefully for a moment and noticed that the mutated creatures' gazes were mostly focused on the main road, seemingly fearing the Griffin Faction's squad, not him. This discovery deepened his doubts. Could it be that these mutated creatures' fear wasn't just directed at him, but also at the Griffin Faction soldiers? But most of the patrol squads he had encountered before had been killed by these mutated creatures, indicating that the mutated creatures didn't have such a strong fear of the Griffin Faction's soldiers.

To verify his guess, Han Zu deliberately took a step forward, slightly revealing his presence. The mutated creatures inside the building instantly sensed his aura. Their previously curled-up bodies tensed abruptly, their fear intensifying as they retreated, fleeing deeper into the building. However, they didn't leave the apartment building; instead, they hid in the shadows of the stairwells and rooms, still too afraid to leave the building.

"I see." Han Zu suddenly understood. These mutated creatures weren't just afraid of him, but of all powerful living beings. However, they were bound by some force, unable to completely escape the small town, and could only hide in relatively secluded places when they encountered danger. The reason they avoided him so much before was probably because the energy aura on his body was stronger than that of the Griffin Squad soldiers, making them feel a stronger threat.

Having resolved a lingering doubt, Han Zu didn't linger and turned to continue along the alley. He knew that now was not the time to delve into the habits of the mutated creatures; finding the energy source was the top priority. He ventured deeper into the branching alleys, searching for every remaining energy signal along the way. Unbeknownst to him, he had already approached the center of the small town, getting closer and closer to the clock tower.