"I know the research base you're talking about," Jin Sha said. "It's not far from here, and it's a resource point."
Bai Ye nodded. He was aware of this.
The research team had already perished after entering the pyramid ruins. They were either cut down by Predators or eaten by Xenomorphs. The few survivors were likely used by the Xenomorphs as breeding tools, as Xenomorphs needed to lay eggs in other creatures, absorbing their nutrients to hatch new Xenomorphs.
Therefore, there were no people in the research base, but the base contained a large amount of supplies, water, food, clothing, and other essentials.
Bai Ye asked, "Have you been there?"
Jin Sha shook her head. "No, it's not safe."
Bai Ye asked in confusion, "Not safe?"
Jin Sha nodded. "People have fought over supplies, and some Beastmasters have nested there. So, strictly speaking, it is a supply point, but it's more accurately described as a dangerous supply point."
"This..."
This situation was also different from what Bai Ye remembered.
In Bai Ye's memory, the research base was just a resource point.
Besides that, the pyramid ruins, a forbidden zone, was quite peculiar and required faction alignment.
These factions were the Human faction, the Xenomorph faction, and the Predator faction.
Each of the three factions had different missions. The Human faction needed to rescue humans who had been captured by Xenomorphs to lay eggs. Completing forbidden zone missions would yield Xenomorph eggs, or more directly, Xenomorph Beastmasters.
The forbidden zone rewards for the Xenomorph faction were the Xenomorph Queen's skull or tail. While these items were not useful on their own, they were excellent materials for crafting any weapon or armor, possessing terrifying resistance to defense, fire, electricity, freezing, and other elements.
As for the Predators, they naturally offered their standard equipment: wrist blades, shoulder cannons, and cloaking suits.
The research base was directly linked to the Human faction. To accept missions to rescue humans, one first had to go to the research base.
But now, the research base had become a dangerous area. What was going on?
Bai Ye was a bit perplexed. He could only be sure that it was related to Regice and the sudden appearance of Beastmasters, but he couldn't quite figure out the specifics at the moment.
However, after careful consideration, Bai Ye felt it didn't have much to do with him. His goal was not the Human faction, but the Predator faction.
Bai Ye wanted to obtain Predator equipment, not the standard set of wrist blades, shoulder cannons, and cloaking suits, but the Predators' more core technological equipment—the computer scanning system.
Or, more directly, the Predators' chest armor and bio-mask!
These items had the function of biological scanning. After scanning, one could know the approximate data of the target creature, and even, through computer calculations, determine its strengths and weaknesses. Although they lacked offensive or defensive capabilities, they were incredibly useful as auxiliary equipment. Furthermore, the bio-mask, in addition to displaying data, also provided poison resistance and night vision.
Of course, if he could also acquire the wrist blades, shoulder cannons, and cloaking suits, that would be even better. After all, apart from the wrist blades being a bit underwhelming, the Predators' shoulder cannons and cloaking suits were still quite formidable technological products in the current stage.
...
Soon, a massive base appeared before Bai Ye and Jin Sha.
Bai Ye clicked his tongue. That Villander was truly a magnate. Building such a base would not have been easy and would have cost a fortune.
However, after marveling at the sheer size of the base, Bai Ye's expression became a bit more serious.
"Be careful," Bai Ye said. "There's the smell of blood."
As he spoke, Bai Ye drew his Zanpakuto and slowly approached the research base.
After walking a short distance, Bai Ye suddenly stopped. On the ground before him lay a body, as if buried by wind and snow. Because the corpse was completely frozen, Bai Ye couldn't determine when it had died.
However, it was certain that it was a chosen one. Besides the human corpse, there was also the body of a Beastmaster nearby—a white sea lion.
Jin Sha walked over and said, "It's a white sea lion!"
Bai Ye nodded. "Let's go into the base first. Regardless of how dangerous it is, at least it's a place to shelter from the wind and rain."
Jin Sha nodded and followed Bai Ye towards the base. But at this moment...
"Due to a participant discovering and entering the forbidden zone research base, all participants currently in the glacial area will be transported to different locations within the forbidden zone research base in three minutes."
"Forbidden Zone Mission 1: Survive the pursuit of Predators. Mission Reward (Choose one of three): Super Alloy Throwing Knife x1, Super Alloy Wrist Claw Knife x1, Hard Gold Dagger x1."
"Forbidden Zone Mission 2: Survive the pursuit of Xenomorphs. Mission Reward: Distress Signal x1."
"Forbidden Zone Mission 3: Kill a Predalien. Mission Reward: Shrinkable Ball x1, Plasma Cannon x1, Shard of the God Stone x2."
"Gentlemen, please strive to survive to obtain the Shards of the God Stone."
...
Bai Ye was stunned by the sudden forbidden zone announcement, and then a screen quickly appeared before his eyes.
"Celtic, Cat Face, and Scar were once rare ancient human powerhouses, considered once in thirty years. They had a great chance of becoming the most powerful Predators. However, surprisingly, they went missing during the adult ceremony hunt. The Predator commander from their homeland did not believe the trio had been defeated. If not, then their homeland must have undergone tremendous changes, and perhaps a Xenomorph Queen, absent for many years, would reappear."
"Therefore, the Predator commander dispatched a large number of Predators back to their homeland to search for Celtic, Cat Face, and Scar, and to confirm if a Xenomorph Queen had re-emerged."
"Six days ago, the Predators' spaceship landed on the glacier. Their captain decided to split up. The captain led a portion of the warriors to search the pyramid ruins, leaving two squads to explore the glacier and confirm if there were any other creatures within the ice. If any were found, they were to be eliminated without mercy."
"One of the Predator squads discovered the base left by the research team and encountered Xenomorphs that had escaped from the pyramid ruins. Worse still, one of the Predators was accidentally infested by a Xenomorph, thus birthing a powerful Predalien. The entire research base consequently ushered in bloodshed. Therefore, those who enter here will be like entering a massive gladiatorial arena, caught in this life-and-death chase."
"Live, or, die..."
"Make your choice!"
...