Chapter 748: Convergence
Chapter 748: Convergence
Xu Chan was leading the entire group towards Chen Chuan at this moment.
With the speed of Xu Chan and the three captains, it wouldn't have taken long to reach Chen Chuan, but they were also accompanied by other personnel, slowing their progress.
It wasn't just them; all the creatures in the dense forest were fleeing from the threat of the sandworm swarm. The sky was filled with countless flying insects and birds, while the ground was teeming with various unknown creatures scurrying rapidly.
These creatures darted alongside them, sometimes devouring and tearing at each other.
Occasionally, some creatures would stumble and fall due to the terrain or collisions, only to be instantly engulfed by the swarming insects, leaving not even a trace of bones within moments.
This forced them to slow down, forming a formation with Xu Chan at the forefront and the other three captains protecting the flanks and rear, shielding everyone's advance.
The ground ahead was gradually rising, and they could now see the massive body of a creature below. Its abdominal feet were propping up its body, and the rustling sound of dirt and trees falling from above created a spectacular scene. This creature was undoubtedly a large one.
Large creatures in the Convergence Zone typically resided deep within it, rarely venturing elsewhere. This was likely because the environment away from the opposite world was insufficient to sustain their survival.
It was unclear how this creature had appeared here, but it was possible that it had been dormant underground. Perhaps the arrival of the sandworm swarm or the continued presence of the relic had awakened it.
In no time, the group reached the vicinity of the creature and leaped onto the folds of its body, then began climbing upwards.
Not only were they climbing, but various creatures and reptiles were also scrambling and leaping on the creature's body. It seemed that this creature offered protection to them.
With so many beings climbing simultaneously, it was inevitable that they would bump into each other, forming piles. Some were even struck by falling dirt, rocks, and trees from above. As they swarmed upwards, they also continuously fell, landing amidst the dense swarm of creatures below, disappearing in the blink of an eye—a sight that left onlookers with a sense of awe and dread.
Suddenly, an invisible wave of energy descended from above, causing the creatures blocking their path to tumble down in large numbers. In that instant, the area around them was cleared.
They looked up and saw a figure standing at the highest point, wielding a long sword in hand. A red cloak fluttered around him, and a magnificent radiance emanated from his position, extending upwards to merge with the splendid glow in the sky.
"Supervisor Chen!" Captain Lu exclaimed excitedly.
They had been running, and due to the rising ground ahead, they hadn't been able to see what was happening above during their sprint. But now, seeing Chen Chuan standing there unharmed, they wondered if the battle above had already concluded.
"We'll talk after we get up there," Xu Chan said.
Everyone responded in unison.
As they climbed up, filled with curiosity and excitement, they immediately scanned their surroundings. Behind Chen Chuan, they saw a sea of dismembered bodies, with barely any intact human forms. Their hearts trembled, and many couldn't help but gaze at Chen Chuan with a mixture of awe and admiration.
Xu Chan remained the most composed, as if he had anticipated the outcome. After surveying the area, he raised his hand in a salute, "Supervisor, the search team is reporting. All members are present."
The rest of the team members also snapped to attention, saluting Chen Chuan, despite their bloodstained and torn clothing, dirty faces, and unwavering postures.
Chen Chuan returned the salute and, after lowering his hand, looked at everyone, "Everyone, this time, the rear team asked me to come and support you."
Upon hearing these words, everyone's hearts stirred.
Captain Lu glanced around and couldn't help but ask, "Supervisor Chen, what about these people...?"
"They've been mostly taken care of," Chen Chuan replied.
Even though they had witnessed the scene, hearing Chen Chuan's confirmation still left them in awe.
When they had been observing the battle from the hillside, most of the enemy's main forces were still present. But now, after running for just a few minutes, had they really eliminated them all?
"Yes, I've kept one alive. I need his testimony," Chen Chuan said.
Captain Hai immediately asked seriously, "Supervisor Chen, what do you need to know?"
"There's been an issue within the bureau," Chen Chuan explained.
He briefly mentioned the death of the clerical supervisor and the capture of Supervisor Han.
"The clerical supervisor's remains ended up in the hands of the skinner. I kept this person alive to question him about the whereabouts of the clerical supervisor's remains and find a way to retrieve them."
The group was shocked to learn about the severe situation in the rear. Supervisor Han's actions could be considered treasonous, explaining why the Linaksys Federation forces had managed to infiltrate so easily. Many team members struggled to conceal their anger.
Captain Hai's expression turned solemn, "Supervisor Chen, I'm skilled in interrogations. Can I handle this matter?"
Chen Chuan glanced at him and nodded.
At this moment, Captain Hu spoke up, "Supervisor Chen, the bug tide is about to arrive. Should we leave this place first?"
Chen Chuan replied, "There's no avoiding the sandworm swarm. From what I know, the shortest duration of the swarm is a day or two, and it can last even longer.
Moreover, I suspect these bugs are drawn here by the relics. Unless we abandon this place, it'll be difficult to escape them."
But he reassured them, "Don't worry, everyone."
Chen Chuan tapped the ground with his foot.
"This thing is called a Dormant Worm. It specifically feeds on large swarms of small insects. The environment here isn't suitable for its long-term activity. After consuming the bug swarm, it will continue to sink into the ground and fall asleep. So, we're actually safer here."
Xu Chan contemplated for a moment and said, "In that case, we'll need to spend the night here."
Chen Chuan nodded, "Yes, we just need to be cautious of the Convergence Zone creatures that might surge up with the swarm."
Xu Chan immediately responded, "Then let's start preparing for the night."
After obtaining Chen Chuan's approval, he promptly organized the personnel to spread out and set up defenses.
In addition to the supplies they carried, there were also many resources left behind by the Coalition and the Linax Federation, which they made full use of.
They dug trenches around the perimeter, sprinkled medicine inside and around them, encircled the area with layers of barbed wire, and then set up a campfire with a reasonable distance between each fire. They also erected tents that could accommodate everyone for the night.
To avoid attracting more Convergence Zone creatures, they needed to promptly burn the corpses at the site.
As everyone went about their tasks, Captain Hai, following the directions provided by Chen Chuan, located the Skinner. Seeing the man's body twisted like a pretzel, Captain Hai was inwardly startled, wondering what kind of force could do this. Many interrogation methods would be ineffective, but there were still options.
He picked up the Skinner and brought him to a secluded spot.
Chen Chuan, seeing that everyone was busy, moved to the side and began collecting the weapons left behind by others.
This time, the harvest was substantial. Every weapon he found was an altered weapon capable of channeling Heart Power.
For example, Heros' dagger, Qi Qianyang's long whip, the Thunder Twins' arm fins, and more. Although Heros had never used his dagger in front of Chen Chuan, the fact that he carried it on his person indicated its exceptional quality.
Chen Chuan carefully cleaned each weapon, then placed them in a sealed bag and stored them in his backpack, intending to bring them back after the mission was complete.
He didn't touch the weapons of the ordinary fighters; he didn't even remember their faces, and their weapons were not worth his attention.
About an hour later, Captain Hai returned, wiping his hands with a handkerchief as he walked. When he reached Chen Chuan, he saluted and reported, "Supervisor, he has confessed everything. The situation is a bit complicated. It's unlikely that Manager Wen's body will be found."
"How so?" Chen Chuan asked.
Captain Hai took a deep breath and steadied his voice, "He skinned Manager Wen, separating the flesh from the skeleton, and then performed some sort of treatment. He placed the remains in two storage boxes, intending to bring them back as collectibles. They are currently in their camp."
"Where is the camp located?" Chen Chuan inquired.
"It's about a distance from here. With the sandworm swarm approaching, it's uncertain if the camp will survive the swarm."
Captain Hai took out the map he had drawn earlier and pointed to a specific location, "According to his confession, the camp should be within this area."
Chen Chuan estimated the distance and checked the time; it was still an hour until nightfall, and it would take much longer to reach the camp, not including the return trip. Indeed, they were running out of time.
Furthermore, due to the sandworm swarm, the camp might have already evacuated with their belongings.
In that case, they would have to find the camp later.
"There's one more thing," Captain Hai added. "The man said that the general leading this mission seemed to be preparing for some kind of ritual."
"A ritual?"
"Yes, that's what he said."
Captain Hai continued, "He claimed to be a hired fighter, uninterested in the higher-ups' intentions. He said the ritual made him feel evil and uncomfortable."
Chen Chuan nodded, "Anything else besides that?"
"No, I questioned him repeatedly, and he confirmed that this was all he knew."
"Is he still alive?" Chen Chuan asked.
"Yes."
"Good. Keep him alive, but don't let him die. We'll deal with him after we find Manager Wen."
Captain Hai saluted solemnly and replied, "Yes, sir!"
Chen Chuan glanced at the map again, looking in the direction of the indicated location, "A secret sect ritual... I have a feeling that camp won't be easy to disperse."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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