29: Stairs to the Sun

“Firmly believe in yourself.”

Joa turned his head, looking at everyone with a serious expression.

Immediately after,

He took out a large amount of weapons, ammunition, and food from his system space and said,

“Take a thirty-minute break.”

“After thirty minutes, we enter the relic and search for the Sun Ladder!”

“Yes, sir!”

Just over ten meters away from the small mountain of piled-up zombie corpses ahead,

Thirty-two mercenaries opened weapon crates, taking out weapons and ammunition.

Then they took out food and Water from the supply boxes, found a clean spot, and rested exhaustedly.

Seeing Joa still standing in front of the fallen mercenary, head bowed, staring blankly at his corpse,

Polaris slowly walked forward and gently embraced Joa from behind, offering silent comfort.

Holding Polaris's hands wrapped around his abdomen, Joa smiled.

“I’m fine.”

“To have such mercenaries… Heh, I should call them warriors.”

“I am very proud to have such warriors.”

“His sacrifice was not without value, and everything I’ve done is worth it.”

“In that dangerous World, if we don't have enough power to protect ourselves, one day,”

“All of us have a fifty percent chance of dying due to some accident.”

Hearing Joa’s words, Polaris was a little puzzled. Where did such an accurate probability come from?

But Polaris, already accustomed to Joa’s mysteriousness, didn’t ask, but instead said softly,

“I will protect You!”

Upon hearing this, Joa smiled and didn't argue.

Polaris fighting Thanos?

Without a doubt, Thanos would utterly dominate Polaris.

Their hands clasped tightly together, quietly feeling each other's presence.

When the time was almost up,

Joa spoke.

“It’s time to go.”

“Mm!”

Gathering the thirty-two warriors,

Joa took out a large amount of fuel and ammunition, placing it next to the cleared landing area.

“Helicopters on patrol for Vigilance. Advance team, mechanical dogs, follow me into the relic!”

“Yes, sir!”

Forty robotic dogs led the way, with the advance team close behind. Joa and Polaris walked in the center, and the support troops who arrived by troop transport helicopter followed behind.

They entered the relic through an entrance wide enough for dozens of people to pass simultaneously, which had been blasted open by fighter jets.

Everyone proceeded cautiously, constantly wary of any man-eating monsters that might appear.

There was no light inside the relic; it was incredibly dark all around.

Even with night vision goggles, they couldn’t see very far.

However, with Joa present, various military supplies were abundant, so they didn't need to conserve flares, and their advance speed wasn't slow at all.

“Boss, the path ahead is blocked by a stone door.”

Upon hearing this, Joa frowned.

They were already deep inside the relic; they couldn't easily use explosives anymore.

If it caused a collapse, all of them would be buried alive here.

“Is there no other way?”

“Sorry, sir, no other path was found.”

Taking a deep breath, Joa reluctantly walked forward.

“Joa! What are You doing?”

Turning to look at the worried Polaris, Joa smiled.

“Don’t worry, I’m just going to help open the door. There won’t be any danger.”

With that, Joa didn't give Polaris another chance to speak and immediately issued orders to the others.

“Be on guard! Be ready to Fire at any moment!”

“Yes!”

Swish, swish, swish! Hearing Joa’s command, everyone immediately raised their guns, aiming at the stone door not far ahead.

“Damn You, Joa, You’re doing this again!”

Polaris cursed under her breath, then rushed forward, following closely beside Joa.

Noticing Polaris's movement, Joa was about to tell her to go back, but seeing her determined eyes, Joa swallowed his words.

Arriving in front of the stone door, Joa placed his hands on it, then turned to look at the prepared warriors and nodded.

“Three! Two! One!”

As the countdown ended, Joa immediately moved the stone door into his system space and then quickly hid to the side.

The darkness inside the door was illuminated.

The dense mass of zombies inside mechanically turned their heads, letting out roars.

“Hiss! Ah!”

“Fire! Shoot!”

Dududu!

The battle began again.

Seeing this, Joa pulled Polaris and quickly returned to the center of the team, looking inside the door.

“Damn it! Why are there so many zombies again?”

Joa frowned, utterly annoyed.

From his system space, he took out over a dozen Gatling heavy machine guns with tripods.

“Use these!”

The warriors around Joa's eyes lit up at the sight of these good things, and then they operated the Gatling guns in pairs.

“People in front, move aside!”

Hearing the shout, the advance team members in front immediately moved to the sides.

“Hey! You damned monsters, taste this!”

Buzz! Tututututu!

The moment the Gatling heavy machine gun spat out its Fire snake, the muzzle flash instantly illuminated the front.

The dense mass of zombies inside the door was instantly torn to shreds.

In just a few tens of seconds, ten Gatling heavy machine guns loaded with 7.62MM rounds fired nearly one hundred thousand bullets.

After no more movement came from inside the door, the gunfire gradually ceased.

“Phew~!”

“This thing is so exhilarating!”

Letting go of the Gatling gun in his hand, Joa took out over ten ammunition boxes that could be carried on one's back and placed them next to the Gatling guns.

Then he said,

“Continue forward.”

Without needing further instructions, the warriors operating the Gatling guns consciously slung the ammunition boxes onto their backs, inserting the ammunition belts into the Gatling guns.

Then they dismantled the tripods, carried the Gatlings, and moved to the very front, behind the scouting robotic dogs.

A moment later,

“Boss! Found it! The Sun Ladder is in there!”

Hearing this, Joa couldn't help but burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! Good!”

Effort pays off. Joa, who had finally found the Progenitor Virus, immediately ordered everyone to follow the robotic dogs into the corridor.

The corridor wasn't long, and soon everyone arrived at an open, circular space.

The surrounding walls were carved with murals, and there was a circular hole at the top that allowed them to see outside.

Sunlight streamed in through the circular hole, perfectly illuminating the Sun Ladder on the altar.

Standing before the altar covered in Sun Ladder, Joa was deeply excited.

“Everyone, be on guard. No matter what happens later, do not panic.”

With that, Joa walked step by step towards the altar, a smile on his lips.

Polaris, by his side, still followed him closely, her expression full of worry.

This place felt so eerie, especially those flowers; they gave her a very ominous feeling.

She really wanted to stop Joa and persuade him to give up.

But thinking of all the effort Joa had put in for this thing, Polaris couldn't bring herself to speak.

Helpless, she could only quietly accompany him towards the flowers that made her feel so strange.

Seeing Polaris still following him, and with a very uneasy expression, Joa turned sideways and looked at her seriously.

“Lorna, You can’t come over. That thing is very dangerous!”

“…”

Seeing her say nothing, only looking at him with worry and unwavering determination, with even a hint of tears welling up in her eyes,

Joa felt deeply moved.

“Joa… Can You… please not go… That thing… makes me very uneasy… I’m so afraid if You….”

Smilingly pinching Polaris's cheek, Joa said softly,

“Trust me, I am special. It will only benefit me, not harm me.”

“But for You, it is truly, very, very dangerous.”

“So, You really can’t come over.”

“If anything were to happen to You… I would blame myself and feel guilty for the rest of my life.”

“Trust me, Lorna.”