Chapter 160 Creatures from Another Dimension
Zhao Yaqian hesitated. The words Cheng Zhenyong said on the road and the situation she saw at Su Han's camp were undeniably shaking her present considerations.
Li Ruikang was taken aback for a moment and did not blame Zhao Yaqian; instead, he gently asked, "What are you thinking?"
"Su Han's strength is very powerful, even more so than when at the Bei Qing Grain Warehouse, especially that Giant Tree Apostle. I feel... it might only need to deploy itself to destroy our entire camp. Only by using all our chemical bombs might we be able to inflict fatal damage on him."
Zhao Yaqian trusted her danger perception, and this was the judgment she made based on it.
After thinking it over, she revealed her thoughts, "Exploring this rift that might lead to an extradimensional space by ourselves, whether it fails or succeeds, Su Han might bear a grudge against us afterward. Moreover, stepping back a bit, having Su Han on our side for the exploration of this rift would make it safer. This... rift, I have some inaccurate feelings about it."
Danger perception is not omnipotent; otherwise, she would be a human disaster-avoidance guide.
If the source of the danger is not direct, or is beyond her capabilities, she similarly cannot perceive it.
Just like a knife, although also a dangerous object, might not trigger any reaction before it is directed at her, even before it stabs her.
The reason for this, she couldn't figure out either.
"What you're saying makes sense,"
Li Ruikang nodded, "However, we have already alerted him, haven't we?"
Zhao Yaqian was startled, and Li Ruikang continued to explain, "The booklet records Professor Tian's speculation; while it doesn't directly point out the existence of the rift, it is sufficient to make him think of it when he encounters it. As for the rift here, according to the initial agreement, confidential parts are not shared.
Moreover, we have not yet confirmed what the situation is, inviting him over would not be appropriate."
The nature of the rift is not fully understood yet.
And this here is their main base; inviting Su Han over when there are too many people is inappropriate, after all. How long will they stay, whether place allocations need to be made, whether guards need to be set, whether those with lower strength will be safe? Each of these is a problem.
And if only Su Han or their other powerful members are invited, might that make them suspect it's a trap?
After all, this is their main base.
Plainly speaking, telling Su Han before clearing up the situation is essentially giving up the initiative.
"Don't think too much," Li Ruikang comforted, "Just rest well for now; the situation here isn't that bad."
Zhao Yaqian glanced at Tian Jiaxuan and Bai Qiuwen, saying, "I understand."
Zhao Yaqian and Cheng Zhenyong then took a rest, they indeed hadn't rested well all the way here, and it wasn't about sending them away.
"Professor Tian, according to your estimate, can this rift be confirmed as an extradimensional space?"
Li Ruikang's gaze was profound as he calmly asked.
"It can be confirmed as a piece of extradimensional space based on psychic energy, but it's not the entirety of an extradimensional space, rather, just a small part... a fragment,"
Tian Jiaxuan pondered for a moment before finally coming up with the word, fragment.
After the rift was discovered, he risked taking students to test it as much as possible. On the other side of the rift, it had already been confirmed as a space filled with psychic energy, vastly different from the real world.
Psychic energy comes from extradimensional spaces, as does the psychic tide, and now the rift is due to their collision.
It's like the seas on both sides, which were merely close to each other, influencing the tides, but now the two isolated islands have collided due to their closeness.
"Fragment?"
Li Ruikang mulled over these words, his expression growing even more solemn, and he asked in a deep voice, "What might be on this 'fragment' then?"
"Monsters, more psychic energy, materials from extradimensional spaces... anything is possible. We've heard roaring sounds; it might be a world unlike ours, inhabited by extradimensional monsters. Although its area might not be very large, similar to an island, everything still needs observation,"
Bai Qiuwen took over, saying, "It can be compared to the changes in our world, but it will undoubtedly be more dangerous inside."
Li Ruikang said gravely, "Then let's prepare well, move all the chemical bombs over. If the situation goes awry, blow up the entire factory. If we can control it, this place will be a stable training ground for all the Southern City Guards."
Monsters were continuously growing stronger, although they had injections, these were still not enough. The rich psychic energy now emanating from the rift was enabling more Contractors to advance, which itself proved the value of the rift's existence.
Thus, Li Ruikang wanted to try and secure this place.
"Prepare for both eventualities,"
The usually silent Yan Tiejun spoke, "I will cover the retreat. If we cannot hold it, I will blow up the factory. But also be ready to evacuate, the bombs may not work on the rift."
Li Ruikang nodded, "Then let's all prepare, Southern City Guards to arms."
None of the people present had any intention of retreating voluntarily, including the two professors.
They all understood one thing: the world was turning out this way, an unknown extradimensional space was approaching the real world, and the emergence of the rift signified the beginning of the collision; no one knew how it would turn out.
If they now had access to more information and more opportunities to enhance themselves but chose not to try, only knowing to shrink back.
Then, as the Psychic Tide intensified and the apocalypse continued to evolve, they would inevitably be phased out.
This was not the outcome they wanted.
........
After the command was issued in the core layer of South City camp, actions were swiftly taken, and injections were distributed, prioritarily to the Armed Forces, guards, and the first batch of Southern City Guards militiamen.
The First Order Upper Grade injection had a good enhancement effect on most people, especially some talented Southern City Guards stationed on the inner side near the factory, whose Apostles' speed was undoubtedly faster.
Some individuals advanced from First Order Inferior to First-level Intermediate, while others reached First Order Upper Grade, elevating their overall strength significantly.
Of course, this batch of Southern City Guards who used the injections also showed obvious wood-like mutations in their Apostles. Enjoy exclusive content from empire
Wooden skin, vine-like arms, and other changes not only boosted their strength but also indicated a high level of influence from the Mother Nest Ancient Tree lineage in their Apostolic bodies.
Compared to their transformations, Li Ruikang and Wang Hu were also among those who used the injections.
The two accomplished their breakthroughs one after another, with Li Ruikang contracted to a Giant Claw Zombie. Although his talent was not on par with Zhao Yaqian and Guo Wutao, as camp commanders, they were not short of injections.
Thus, his strength increased sufficiently to keep up with the main force, and naturally transformed after using the injections from the Mother Nest Ancient Tree lineage, reaching his racial limit.
Divine Initiation Ritual, the chosen sacrifices were monsters imprisoned within the chemical plant—First Order Upper Grade Giant Macrophage Dogs.
Bone blade canine mutation, Second Order Low Grade Apostle, three meters in size with a robust build, especially at the joints where there were bone blades, and its entire body was gray.
Another Apostle contracted was a First Order Upper Grade two-headed dog.
With limited monsters in the camp and no current ability to hunt Second-grade Monsters, Li Ruikang did not mind contracting First Order Upper Grade monsters to enhance his combat power first.
Wang Hu's situation was similar, but during the Devouring Meat's Divine Initiation Ritual, he devoured a Clawed Giant, thus, after the Fusion and Advancement, he transformed into a Clawed Abomination.
Resembling a Clawed Giant, but a size larger, with three arms and two mouths, its fierce head had a split, and on an even larger third hand on its spine was another gaping gnarly mouth.
Li Ruikang and Wang Hu, one after the other, elevated the camp's armed forces to another level.
There are seven Second-order Contractors within the entire camp, controlling twelve Second-Rank Apostles; only Li Ruikang and Wang Hu were taking into account the bigger picture, unable to find stronger Second-grade Monsters in time.
In the manufacturing plant, cracks were increasingly appearing, not just emitting the roaring of monsters but now the wandering creatures were faintly visible.
The monsters had also discovered the crack here, but due to their size, they were merely peering and wandering around.
But it was clear they would not wait too long.
"The psychic changes are intensifying, the crack is expanding, it's now large enough for the monsters to pass through"
Upon noticing the sudden changes, Tian Jiaxuan immediately became serious. "Quick, alert now, as soon as the space stabilizes, those things will be able to pass through."
"Professor Tian, Professor Bai, both of you retreat to the perimeter immediately, leave this place to us, we will act according to the plan,"
Duan Jie had been waiting nearby, his expression calm, ordering his subordinates to escort Bai Qiuwen and Tian Jiaxuan away first.
The Southern City Guards quickly entered the factory and rapidly arranged barriers for the defense line, clearing any miscellaneous items within a hundred-meter radius centered on the crack, and fully surrounded it, with firearms and crossbow arrows aimed at the purple glowing fissure.
Everyone held their breath and focused intently, all eyes on the changes happening at the extradimensional fissure.
As soon as the violently changing psychic and spatial forces calmed down, the roaring monsters would charge out.
Li Ruikang, Yan Tiejun, Guo Wutao... all the Second-order Contractors had arrived at the scene, Apostles summoned by their sides, and weapons in hand.
"Roar"
An excited roar of the monster emerged from inside the crack, Guo Wutao with a determined look, coldly said, "Those monsters are already too eager."
"Then let's fight."
Yan Tiejun was even more decisive in his approach, "If this line of defense doesn't hold, we'll blow up the factory, using the second line of defense to stop them, and finally the entire factory. But by that time, leave it to me."
"Here they come!"
In the midst of their conversation, a dazzling purple light suddenly burst forth, instantly lighting up the massive factory, reflecting off everyone's figures, then the extradimensional fissure began to stabilize, resembling the size of a door, with flowing light.
Suddenly, a pale claw reached out from inside, and a low roar sounded, a head twisted, skull-like, resembling a mummified monster emerged.
Excited roars erupted from its elongated, horrifying throat, its eyes flickering dimly, upon seeing the lined-up people, it let out a sharp screech, then charged fiercely towards them.