88 PAC Remains (1/2)
Chapter 88: PAC Remains
Translator: _Min_Editor: Rundi
<True height: 240m>
”Initiating shock absorber.”
The turbine engine began to fire downwards as Jiang Chen stared at the speed monitor. Only when the downward velocity decreased and stabilized to 10m/s did he stop increasing the power output.
The pitch black hole extended vertically down into the ground. The blue engine flame, lighting up the surrounding, revealed a metallic wall. It seemed like this was the entrance to a secret facility, but the door showed ”something” had already stricken through.
He took a deep breath as he began to check the power armors equipment.
”EMP Absorber initiated. Weapon system, functional. Left armor, minor damage...this shouldn't be a problem. Communication...still offline.”
As both feet landed on the ground, Jiang Chen closed the engine and then immediately fired out a sticky luminescent bomb that completely lit up the dark space.
”Oxygen concentration relatively low. The radiation level is nearly zero. The bacterias need to be in a low oxygen environment to reproduce? No wonder the bacteria outside didn't seem to reproduce.”
Jiang Chen suddenly remembered something from a long time ago. Knowledge he almost gave back to the bald teacher.
”When the cell is dividing, the DNA is in its most unstable condition, so it requires a radiation free environment?”
”Yes, speaking of this, the zombie bacteria seems to be a mutated version of the radiation eliminating bacteria.” Jiang Chen recollected the information he gathered from the very first building he landed in, in the apocalypse.
”That's exactly it. The radiation eliminating bacteria was effective before and possessed the ability to resist exposure to radiation. However, because of uncontrolled mutation during the cell division stage, it turned into bacteria that could turn people or creatures into zombies.” Even though it was a slim possibility, it did happen, and it spread. ”But the unknown bacteria seems to be from the same source as the zombie bacteria? The only difference being that the reproducing condition is now more strict.”
Of course, it was only a theory, there was no scientific backing.
”The wall in this place is made of lead?” Jiang Chen walked forward as he held his tactical rifle up, exploring deep inside the tunnel.
Lead? Also built below the hospital. This place must be a nuclear fallout shelter. What kind of monster could create a massive hole like this inside a nuclear fallout shelter that's capable of guarding against a nuclear bomb?
Jiang Chen began to feel anxious as his trigger finger moved steadily.
Because of the fear of a sudden EMP strike, Jiang Chen didn't engage in a gliding position as the fall was still in his memory.
The tunnel was pitch black without a single ray of light. He didn't know if there were anyone alive inside. Just like what Sun Jiao said to him before, not every survival base was successful, and not every survival base stored people alive. In this era, people's purpose was to save a genetic code. As long as the species is not extinct...the genetic code is saved for the people who designed the survival base.
Because he restarted the EMP absorber, the life detection device could not be used. There was nothing more fearful than the unknown.
Every step on the dry concrete floor had a crisp sound to it. The monotone sound echoed within the hollow tunnel, which made the place even more frightening. Due to the time constraint, however, Jiang Chen didn't dare to ponder, he had to keep going.
His vision locked onto the crosshairs of the tactical rifle, ready to react to any unexpected danger.
After 5 minutes, he was at the end of the tunnel.
The road ended with a gray gate made out of an unknown material. Jiang Chen spent a while using the flashlight to search for an open button but failed to do so.
In the middle of the giant door, red words were printed.
What is this?
”Fu*k, that monster could not only break through surfaces, but it could also pass through walls?” Jiang Chen cursed as he took out his welding gun from his back and stabbed the door furiously.
”Your action is futile.”
A faint voice diffused through the communication channel which sent a chilliness down Jiang Chen's spine.
”Who is this?”
”He raised his tactical rifle as he scanned around, but he didn't see any suspicious targets.
At the same time, he noticed that other than the nine offline team member on the communication system, there was an extra name.
”Me? My name is, of course, secret teller. Isn't it written on your communication channel?” The voice sounded rather helpless.
”I remember I have the EMP absorber open.”
”Did you not take elementary school physics? I remember that all humans should have taken that,” the voice ridiculed, and then let out a sigh before continuing, ”EMP absorber is not an absolute defense, as long...”
[What? Which elementary school teaches physics?]
”Wait, I don't have time to listen to you explain elementary school physics to me. Can you open the door for me?” Jiang Chen abruptly interrupted.
”Door? Oh, you are chasing after that bug, you can't beat him.” The voice was straightforward.
”Bug? What does it look like?” Jiang Chen hastily asked.
”It looks like a giant ball of meat. It wanted to go into the hibernation chamber. To be honest, it is quite smart and even threatened me, so I had to open the door to let it in.”
”Let it in? Ha, is it not going to threaten you when you let it in?” Jiang Chen asked dumbfounded.
”Oh? Why would it hurt me? It is only interested in you.” The voice was full of mockery.
[Wait, did I miss something...]
”I remember that all humans should have taken that.”
Jiang Chen paused, and then he asked in uncertainty.
”You... are not human?”
”That's right, did you just figure that out? Hehe, I am only a program. You would call me... Artifical intelligence? Secret protector? Code X71281?” The voice sounded reminiscent as if that memory was far in the past.
”Secret protector? Isn't your name secret teller?” Jiang Chen asked in confusion.
”Oh, I gave myself a better name,” as if it was not a big deal, the voice casually answered.
[Giving itself a name?! This is not the level that just responds to human actions! Just like Little White will never change a user's setting. It seems like this is intermediate artificial intelligence? No, it might be advanced?]
”Are you going to go in or not?” The voice sounded like it was yawning.
”You are going to let me in?” Jiang Chen was at a loss.
”Of course, I am the secret teller right now, I feel like it would be more interesting if I let you in.”