Two military trucks, at the command of Major General Modi, set off grandly.
Tang Sui sat in the first truck, in the same row as Major General Modi and the driver.
Nine soldiers were in the large cargo area behind, ready to fight at any moment.
The second truck also had a 3+7 combination.
After screening for real-time passable routes, the finalized plan estimated a five-day journey from the B City military base to the W City military base, assuming no incidents along the way.
If any bridge was destroyed, they would have to detour.
A silent atmosphere spread through the truck. The driver, with his eyes fixed forward, maintained the highest level of vigilance, driving with complete concentration.
As long as he was focused enough, awkwardness couldn't infect him!
The two gray-green military trucks passed the smooth road section and were about to enter the dangerous area where combat had taken place.
Major General Modi picked up his radio, adjusted it to the team channel, and urged the soldiers to be vigilant as they were about to enter a combat zone.
Tang Sui, who had been leaning back against the seat with his eyes closed since getting on the truck, also opened his eyes. A faint black light flickered in his dark blue eyes, making Major General Modi, who instinctively glanced over upon noticing Tang Sui awake, doubt his own eyes.
Because in just a moment of daze, Tang Sui's eyes had returned to their usual clarity, showing no trace of the murky dark color. The black light he had just seen seemed to be his own illusion.
It felt a bit strange.
Major General Modi, who did not believe in gods, frowned. Just as he was about to remain silent and continue on alert, Tang Sui suddenly spoke:
"There's something up ahead. Do you want to take a detour or risk it?"
Ahead was a rather important fork in the road.
If they were to detour, they would have to backtrack for some distance, turn at the previous intersection, and take a long loop, which would delay them considerably.
Major General Modi cast a suspicious glance at Tang Sui, but still, he immediately opened the entire team channel and briefly said to stop.
Both military trucks came to a halt simultaneously.
"I've seen your file and heard about your special abilities. But please forgive my rudeness, I still don't quite believe it. If you say there's something ahead, can you provide some specific evidence?" Major General Modi said rationally.
Tang Sui, directly questioned, did not get angry. Instead, he asked with certainty, "If I provide the evidence, will you choose to proceed straight through the intersection or turn back and detour?"
Major General Modi's expression remained unchanged. "Of course, we will proceed. Our time is tight. Every minute we delay, humanity's survival becomes one minute more grim. Our mission is to escort you to the 'Gate' in W City as quickly as possible."
The number and types of monsters that appeared with the white fog were increasing. When he received this report the night before he left, his heart had chilled.
So, even if there was danger, they had to push forward.
All the soldiers carrying out this mission, including himself, had already prepared for sacrifice.
Tang Sui looked at the determination in Major General Modi's eyes, was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "I can't give specific evidence because, currently, you don't have special innate abilities. Let's trade trust, General. You and I will go to the roof, and you will maintain clear communication with the other soldiers and issue orders in a timely manner. Is that okay?"
Major General Modi paused. Under the worried gaze of the driver, he nodded and said coldly, "Okay."
After speaking, he turned his head, opened the small sliding window connecting to the rear cargo, called another subordinate to fill his spot, and he and Tang Sui would go to the roof.
Although they were military trucks, they weren't completely soundproof, and they had heard the conversation between Tang Sui and Major General Modi clearly.
But obeying orders was their duty.
Since Major General Modi had made a decision, they only needed to follow it.
Major General Modi opened the sunroof above the co-pilot's seat, used it for leverage to climb, and agilely flipped onto the roof of the military truck. He reached out to Tang Sui below, intending to pull him up.
Tang Sui thought for a fraction of a second, then extended his hand. With the other's strong pull, his feet left the ground from the truck door.
Major General Modi, pulling Tang Sui, almost stumbled and fell backward.
When Tang Sui stood steadily on the roof, Major General Modi's gaze towards him carried a strange meaning. His calloused hand, after letting go, couldn't help but rub his fingertips.
The reason he almost fell just now was that he felt as if he had grabbed a ball of cotton with no weight, and instead, his own exertion almost made him fall.
Recalling the information about Tang Sui submitted by the research department, Major General Modi's firm worldview began to waver.
The two military trucks resumed their journey.
Dense fog obscured the searchlights, allowing them to see only within five meters.
The static crackle of the radio was amplified in the silent, dense fog, making the soldiers, whose moods were already tense with the thick mist, agitated.
Tang Sui kept his mental power active, just in case.
Although his mental power detection range was still only three meters, when they were still more than twenty meters away from the foggiest fork in the road, even without activating his mental power, he could feel another malevolent aura rushing towards them.
It was like a beast marking its territory with its scent, and before the enemy even approached, they could already smell the warning scent left by the territory's owner in the wind.
In summary, there was indeed something there.
A wooden road sign, painted with peeling paint, had been brutally broken off by something and lay there, seemingly watching passing vehicles or people.
Major General Modi also felt a strange sense of unease.
Having spent years on the edge of life and death, he had also developed an instinct for danger.
Just as Tang Sui had said, as the trucks moved forward, the alarms in his mind kept blaring.
"Whoosh—!"
As everyone's breathing involuntarily became shallower, a sound of something breaking through the air suddenly came from above and to the right, descending fiercely towards the front of the military truck.
Major General Modi only had time to snatch up the gun in his hand and point it upwards when a tentacle, as thick as a bucket and covered in numerous bristly barbs, entered his vision.
At the moment of impending death, Major General Modi's mind went blank.
"Bang bang—!"
Like a hard hammer handle striking flesh, intending to mash it into a pulp.
Foul-smelling black blood erupted from the wound of the severed tentacle like a fountain. The viscous black was actually intensely red blood.
A fishy smell, characteristic of seafood, mixed with some kind of decaying blood, rained down on Major General Modi.
Fortunately, they were all fully equipped with protective suits, which prevented a secondary tragedy.
Major General Modi maintained his posture with the gun raised, staring blankly as the severed tentacle retracted into the dense fog as if burned. In its place, another terrifying roar replaced it.
"Roar—!"
It was a cry of pain and an enraged roar.
The breath blown out by the colossal creature hidden in the fog stirred the mist into a rushing current, chilling everyone's hearts.
— Author's Note —
This book will be finished at the latest by the day after tomorrow.
The main reason for starting this book was to allow Sui Sui to clearly see what she truly wants, find her path, and stop fumbling in the dark.