Chapter 712

Chapter 712

I also fell into deep thought.

Before, we thought the residents of Forbidden Island were test subjects of the Elite Alliance, the Elite Alliance was a test subject of the New World Union, and the New World Union was a test subject of our Divine Clan.

Our Divine Clan could activate the Control Spirit Crystal and use it to control the New World Union.

But now, based on the information we just uncovered, I—or more accurately, our Divine Clan—are test subjects of this so-called "Mainframe"!

Bourbon, Gwyneth, and Garrison are nothing but pawns of the Mainframe!

What the Mainframe wants to gain from studying us is still unclear, and we don't have a specific answer yet.

But one thing is certain, as Jack said, when we went to the lab and took the Elite Alliance's test samples and data, we freed the Elite Alliance from the New World Union's Mind Control Elixir and its psychic control. However, we also stirred up a huge problem.

That problem is this so-called Mainframe!

We have no idea how the Mainframe will deal with us next. And the more unknown it is, the more scared I feel!

The thing humans fear most is the unknown!

"We just escaped with our lives. We should relax a bit. Let's discuss these issues when we get back to Elite Alliance headquarters with Chief Leader Harvey, Chief Councilor Marshall, and the others," I said to Jack.

Jack nodded, agreeing with me.

I'm now the leader of the Elite Alliance, so Jack has to listen to me!

I looked at the surviving Elite Alliance warriors and the Awakened Legion fighters. Every one of them looked exhausted, their eyes filled with sadness for their fallen comrades.

I turned to Jack and said, "When we get back, make sure to reward the surviving warriors well. And for those who didn't make it, provide generous support to their families!"

Jack's eyes were red, and with a hoarse voice, he replied, "Understood, Leader!"

My gaze shifted to Sophia, Sabrina, Lily, Uri, and Dane. Though they were tired, their eyes shone brightly. The victory of seizing the lab samples and data made them incredibly happy.

I walked over and gently touched Sophia's delicate, beautiful face, smudged with the smoke of battle. With a heavy heart, I said, "Sophia, you helped me a lot today. Thank you!"

Sophia smiled shyly and glanced at Sabrina beside her, "Ms. Harvey was much braver than me! I never expected Ms. Harvey to be so amazing!"

Sabrina modestly patted the energy gun in her hand, "Thanks to the energy gun developed by our Elite Alliance tech team! My dad only has me as his child, so I always try to help him. I secretly learned a lot of combat skills behind his back, hoping to be useful to him one day. I don't show it unless I absolutely have to."

Sophia joked, "Looks like we were fooled by your gentle appearance!"

I looked at Lily's cold face. Her hand still gripped her crossbow tightly, her gaze firm and heroic.

"Lily, you were so cool today!"

But Lily frowned, her clear eyes showing dissatisfaction, "I'm a woman. Using 'cool' to describe me doesn't seem right, does it?"

I knew she didn't mean it, so I smiled slightly and corrected myself, "Alright, not cool—how about heroic and impressive? Is that better?"

Lily pouted, "That's how it should be. Don't use the wrong words!"

My eyes moved to Uri and Dane, and I placed my hand on Dane's shoulder, "Noah sent you two to help me, and you really came through. Without you Wildman Tribe warriors today, we might not have made it out of the lab in one piece. You're the pride of the Wildman Tribe!"

Dane said, "We have a common enemy, so of course, we fight together. No need for thanks!"

Uri, holding his sheathed long blade in both hands, added, "Dane's right. We share the same enemy, so we stick together. In the future, we'll fight this Mainframe together!"

I nodded and said, "Let's rest for a bit when we get back, then meet with Chief Leader Harvey, Cecil, and the others to figure out how to handle any attacks the Mainframe might launch!"

The atmosphere in the ship's cabin should have been one of relief after surviving, but the shadow of the "Mainframe" weighed on everyone's heart like an invisible block of lead.

The exhausted warriors sat or lay down, staring blankly at the ceiling or tightly holding their comrades' hands, silently seeking a faint warmth.

The faces of those who died lingered in their minds. The joy of victory was nearly washed away by the overwhelming fear of the unknown.

I tried to push away the image in my head of the "Mainframe"—a vague, omnipresent face made of cold data and countless surveillance screens.

It's studying our Divine Clan? For what?

Is it the unique gene sequence that lets us connect with and activate the Control Spirit Crystal? Or the special waves of our Spiritual Energy?

Or is it some mutation we developed as "test subjects" over long years of evolution?

Bourbon, Gwyneth... these figures we once looked up to as superior beings from a higher realm are just sheepdogs herded by the Mainframe! This shocking realization chilled me more than the cold air of the lab.

"Trump card!" I silently chewed on the word.

Has the Mainframe already found a weapon that can instantly crush the Divine Clan's resistance or even control our will? Just like how the New World Union used the Mind Control Elixir on the Elite Alliance? This thought made my muscles tense up, almost making me jump out of my seat.

In this suffocating silence, something strange suddenly happened!

A low, grating hum came out of nowhere from deep within the metal walls of the cabin, like countless giant metal insects buzzing their wings at once.

Then, the crystal communication array fixed to the floor—those dim, emergency contact crystal cores—suddenly lit up with an eerie purple glow!

The light wasn't steady; it pulsed violently like something alive, and with each pulse, the humming grew louder.

The purple light spread quickly, like living vines climbing and spreading along the metal walls. Wherever it touched, the cold metal started oozing tiny crystal particles that also glowed purple!

These particles grew and solidified rapidly. In just a few seconds, strange clusters of purple crystals formed in the corners, on the walls, and even on the ceiling of the cabin!

"What's happening?"

"An attack?"

"Energy readings are off! The crystals are changing!"

Shouts of alarm broke the silence.

The warriors instinctively grabbed their weapons, but faced with this weird phenomenon, their guns felt useless.

Jack's face changed drastically. He rushed to the control panel, trying to cut the power or activate the shield, but the screen flashed with crazy error codes. All control systems had failed!

A piercing scream cut through the air.

An Elite Alliance warrior sitting against the wall accidentally touched the rapidly growing purple crystal cluster with his arm.

The crystals, like hungry wolves smelling blood, instantly wrapped around his arm. At a visible speed, they pierced through his combat suit and dug into his flesh!

The purple glow spread along his veins, bulging under his skin with glowing lines. His eyes filled with purple light, his face twisted in pain, and he let out an inhuman howl.