212: Chapter 212 Fred

Those who entered the cave were well-trained soldiers. With Li Zhenbang's warning, the moment he spoke, tongues of flame erupted from their gun barrels.

In an instant, gunfire roared within the cave, and muzzle flashes split the darkness.

Several of the attacking vines were instantly shredded, splattering sap everywhere. But more and more vines appeared, incredibly tough, and they could rapidly regenerate even after being shot apart.

"Watch above!"

A few vines as thick as bowls plummeted straight down from the cave ceiling. Two soldiers couldn't dodge in time; their protective suits were pierced by thorns, and they were immediately hauled up towards the top of the cave.

The situation was growing increasingly dire.

"Get out of here!" shouted the American lieutenant, Myron.

"Cover each other! Fall back!" Li Zhenbang also commanded.

The remaining men began moving rapidly toward the cave entrance while pouring fire onto the wildly thrashing vines. The interwoven storm of bullets temporarily suppressed the vines' assault.

A few minutes later,

The team finally scrambled out of the cave, back onto the relatively open plain. The shaken soldiers retreated a full hundred meters from the entrance, their gun barrels still trained on the dark maw, fearing those terrifying vines might pursue them.

Vines that attack people... just what were they?

After checking for casualties, Li Zhenbang's face was pale with lingering fear. A small mercy amidst the misfortune: none of the soldiers dragged away by the vines just now were from his own squad.

A startled exclamation came from beside him. "Commander Fred, you're injured?!"

Everyone looked. The officer from England was deathly pale. His protective suit was torn open on the thigh, and blood was steadily seeping from the wound. He had clearly hit a major artery. Without immediate action, he would bleed out right there.

"It's rather obvious, isn't it?"

Fred gave a weak tug at the corner of his mouth, looking at the others. "Who's the medic? If someone doesn't help me soon, I really am going to die."

Someone immediately stepped forward to staunch the bleeding, but Fred's face grew paler and paler. He was clearly fading fast.

Seeing this,

Li Zhenbang quickly retrieved a small red bottle labeled 'Yunnan Baiyao' from his personal first-aid kit. He took out a dark brown pill sealed in wax, crushed the seal without hesitation, and shoved the pill into Fred's mouth.

A miraculous scene unfolded. Fred's condition actually stabilized. Those present couldn't help but exclaim at the pill's wonder, especially when they learned it was traditional Chinese medicine, finding it all the more incredible.

Fred asked Li Zhenbang if he could purchase a few pills, but the latter refused, explaining they could not be shared.

Fred had no choice but to give up, regretfully.

The incident with the rescue team was relayed to the rear and quickly drew the attention of the expert team outside the Rosen Bridge. Many expressed great interest in those aggressive, regenerative vines. One expert suggested having the advance team collect samples immediately.

This proposal was stopped by an officer nearby. Clearly, these vines were dangerous. So far, including the Polar Bear squad, ten men had already been lost to them. Naturally, they wouldn't risk the remaining soldiers.

The expert tried to argue further but was shut down by the officer's retort, "If you think it's doable, you go." The expert fell silent, looking embarrassed.

The officer's expression softened slightly. "Professors, our tanks and heavy weapons are already on the way. Believe me, we'll blow their nest to pieces tomorrow. For now, please, no unnecessary sacrifices."

"Of course..."

The rescue had failed, and the advance team had already been in this world for over ten hours. They prepared to return. After all, wearing heavy protective suits made normal rest and even relieving oneself difficult. Many had already been unable to hold it, simply wetting themselves, leaving their suits damp inside.

Who exactly did it won't be named.

Following safety protocols, Li Zhenbang and the others were sent into an isolation and decontamination channel upon their return. Atomized, potent disinfectant was pumped into the passage, ensuring it covered every crevice.

Only after decontamination were they permitted to enter a designated living area to begin eating and washing up.

The living area was a massive commercial ship. Its interior had been remodeled into strict Red, Yellow, and Green zones.

Li Zhenbang and the others now entered the Yellow Zone, a second-level isolation living area. All waste here underwent high-temperature, high-pressure treatment. Even the drainage system was independent.

The English officer Fred, injured in the other world, received significant attention. He required first-level isolation treatment and had to undergo comprehensive medical checks, including extraction of blood, saliva, and skin samples to monitor for any unknown microbes or viruses.

One could say the care was meticulous.

Fred watched uneasily as the nurse drew his blood. He even recalled plots from several sci-fi horror films he'd seen. He didn't want to become one of those unlucky souls.

For some reason, Fred felt a sense of unease.

Those damned vines!

Fred cursed inwardly, silently praying, "Great God, please protect this newly converted believer. If I come through this unharmed, I will believe in you for the rest of my life."

Perhaps God heard his prayer. The examination results allowed Fred to breathe a huge sigh of relief. Aside from some abnormal indicators due to significant blood loss, there was nothing seriously wrong.

"Please rest well, Commander Fred," the nurse said with a smile to the middle-aged man in the bed. "You'll recover soon."

"Thank you, Miss Mia..."

After the nurse left, Fred let out a long breath. His tense nerves finally relaxed. Under the sedative effects of the medication, he soon fell into a deep sleep, emitting heavy snores.

And no one noticed that beneath his bandages, the tissue around his wound was turning ashen and increasingly hard...

——

On Titan,

After reinforcing the observation chamber's protection to meet the strictest Level 5 biosafety laboratory standards, Lin Fang also ordered two Clone soldiers to enter and bring out Alimu, who had completely petrified.

The two Clone soldiers who had direct contact with Alimu also remained in the observation chamber. Until the cause was determined, Lin Fang wouldn't allow them to come out recklessly.

Subsequently, samples were taken from Alimu's tissue.

Half an hour later, Yodelion reported his findings to Lin Fang. The big name in virology spoke with astonishment:

"BOSS, it was troublesome, but I found something different in these stone powders. There's a special virus. My God, this virus's molecular chain isn't composed of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, but another element—silicon!"

A silicon-based virus?

Lin Fang looked pensive. But how did Alimu get infected? The difference between Clones and normal humans is essentially the lack of independent thought and consciousness.

Is this a virus that infects through consciousness?