August 24, 2069, daytime.
Somewhere in the Western Pacific.
Phoenix Society Sky City - Phoenix City.
[August 24, 2069] [Saturday] [15:29:15 (CCST)]
Power System: Star Engine No. 1 is operating normally, with stable parameters and no malfunction alarms. The "Night Star 9" Sky City Nuclear Turbine Processor temperature is normal, entering maintenance phase 2-1 for the day.
Navigation System: In the first stage of cruising per the plan, flown [625] kilometers, speed at [210] kilometers/hour, altitude maintained at [9600] kilometers.
Airspace Radar: Coordinates XX-YY-ZZ+10 (offset from current position), tracking biological entity No. 04, sudden abnormal weather.
Abnormal Weather Description:
Target sea area, Sky City meteorological satellite and over 20 million Pacific buoys detected a high-pressure wave zone with a diameter exceeding 2400 kilometers, almost forming a black hole that moved slowly over the Pacific Ocean, lasting 3 hours and 05 minutes before the high-pressure wave zone disappeared.
[August 24, 2069] [Saturday]
[15:40:55 (CCST)]: Following the Sky City Security Management Committee resolution, ZL-02 and ZL-03 unmanned sky reconnaissance vehicles, Nightwalker Guard’s 4th Division 7th Flight Group were dispatched to the target area for reconnaissance.
[16:03:12 (CCST)]: Unmanned reconnaissance vehicles report that biological entity No. 04 has changed its trajectory.
Sky City Security Management Committee confirms the current direction of movement for biological entity No. 04 is
Asia-Pacific Continent.
Yunjiang Plain, wilderness outside Hengshan Pass.
Under the night, numerous camp floodlights were set up, the convoy was littered with the aftermath of a major battle.
Deceased companions, shattered insect corpses, vehicles covered in blood plasma, all surrounding the Infinity train, piles of insect corpses were in sight.
The various convoys each sent patrol and cleanup teams to investigate possible hidden threats and any not yet dead monster insects.
Assisting the wounded, inventorying ammunition, repairing vehicles... Inner camp, restless shadows, extremely busy activity.
The core members of the four convoys gathered at a temporary awning in the center of the camp, conversing around a bonfire.
"Captain Lin, I am immeasurably grateful; if not for you, we would surely have been completely wiped out." Liao Ming’s face showed exhaustion from surviving a disaster, sincerely thanking Lin Xian’s team. "Uncle Wu, should we..."
Wu Zhenhai raised his hand to interrupt, indicating he understood, and immediately began calling his subordinates.
"Liang Zi, bring over our supply truck No. 5."
Lin Xian saw through their intentions and directly said, "Since this is a joint operation, we’re all rowing the same boat, so there’s no need for that. Traveling is not easy for you, and you few hundred people need those supplies more than I do."
Hearing Lin Xian’s words, Luo Yang, Liang Lei, and Li Yi looked anxious.
"Brother Lin, you’ve done so much to save so many of our lives; we ought to show some appreciation."
"That’s right. If it weren’t for you guys, my wife and I wouldn’t have survived to see tonight." Liang Lei said hurriedly, bloodstains still on his face.
Lin Xian waved his hand. In the previous battle, all convoys suffered casualties except for Infinity, which came away with not a single minor injury. Even though these convoys sought his protection, they had exhausted all their strength and means, surrounding Infinity to shield it. If he wanted to seek some advantage, he would have spoken up before dusk; now seeing their dead and injured, he had no such intentions.
"Alright, I appreciate everyone’s good intentions." Lin Xian glanced at the sky and said, "Cold air has approached, with a blizzard coming next. Supplies are survival capital, and today’s battle was mutual aid and cooperation, so no need for courtesy."
After speaking, Lin Xian shared their observations about the dark marker with the convoys.
"If nothing unexpected happens, we can eliminate this monster within its territory. Next, we will also hide in the darkness. As long as luck is on our side, we might be safe for several nights."
Li Yi touched her rounded belly and looked at Lin Xian with confusion and concern. "Dark Marker? Captain Lin, is this... really credible?"
"Logically, I think Brother Lin is right. It sounds more accurate than the pack hunting effect." Luo Yang expressed strong agreement. "The only problem is, if we follow this theory, we can’t know if we have the marker or what its level is except by encountering an Abnormal Body. That seems a bit passive."
"Passive, my foot," Wu Zhenhai slapped his thigh with solemn determination. "If you’re supposed to encounter it, you will; the difference is when to run and when not to, and you can’t always count on good luck."
Liao Ming nodded, suddenly understanding. "No wonder some convoys we’ve seen escape large Abnormal Bodies’ clutches only to disappear shortly after; it turns out they outrun one danger only to succumb to another."
Lin Xian surveyed the area; he was only sharing his experience without bringing up Hell Black Chrysanthemum.
Whether or not he spoke about it made no difference, as his listeners wouldn’t trust something they understood even less as evidence; that would be counterproductive.
If they didn’t believe, words were useless.
In moments of life-and-death escape, each convoy relied most on its own experience, with crucial decisions requiring personal judgment.
Lin Xian could also tell from their eyes that they hadn’t fully accepted this idea, as they couldn’t see any markers on their bodies, and the concept of Abnormal Body attacks was hard to rationalize.