Chapter 5, The Death Passage

However, his reaction was quick, and the Flame Empress's response was certainly not lacking either. She also realized that due to the door not being completely sealed, these few individuals were very likely to escape. Almost at the moment the main door was jammed, a thin blue line suddenly connected along both sides of the wall. It was very faint and delicate, but the critical point was that this line was precisely blocking the exit in front of the only escape hatch.

While others were baffled by the situation, Matthew seemed to recall something, and his expression changed dramatically

Seizing this gap, Wang Zongchao fell to the ground headfirst, extending his right arm just enough to support himself on the ground through the opening in the laser net

With a sudden burst of strength from his right arm, Wang Zongchao shot backward like an arrow released from a bow, urgently breaking free from the encirclement of four beams of laser.

Wang Zongchao shrugged helplessly, seemingly casually placing the iron pipe upright along the side of the gate, and then continued walking forward, with J.D. and another female mercenary following behind, carrying equipment.

"No, you can only replace one of them." Matthew's handgun remained trained on him, and the other party's calm demeanor left him somewhat uncertain. However, considering the skills displayed by the other party, if they were indeed from the company, they must be important figures. He saw no reason to offend an employer for no reason, so he lowered his gun and said coldly, "I am only giving you this one opportunity. If there is any further movement, I will not hesitate to kill you."

The female mercenary he saved handed him a spring knife and a bottle of disinfectant alcohol as instructed. Wang Zongchao tore off a large piece of fabric from his clothing with his left hand, threw it on the ground, and then poured half a bottle of alcohol over it

At the same time the laser disappeared, the entrance gate reopened, revealing this scene before the astonished crowd outside the passage.

Wang Zongchao stopped her and said in his usual calm tone: "Please lend me a knife and a bottle of disinfectant alcohol"

Trapped in a situation of certain death, Wang Zongchao maintained a calm demeanor, adjusting his posture slightly to delay his time of death by a mere fraction of a second. He would never give up, even on the slightest glimmer of hope

... ...

At the same time he was speaking, the entrance gate came to a halt less than one meter above the ground, emitting a sharp, mechanical grinding noise. It turned out to be jammed by the iron pipe that Wang Zongchao had placed beside the gate. However, the immense force from above caused the iron pipe to creak and twist, indicating that it would not hold for much longer

In this moment, Matthew, who is being pulled by Zheng Cha and pressed against the door, has an illusion that Wang Zongchao has transformed into a large gecko, able to climb agilely and effortlessly on the extremely smooth glass wall using all four limbs

However, Wang Zongchao is not truly a gecko; his ability to briefly climb the wall relies solely on the instantaneous force generated when he leaps towards it. Immediately after, as his body is about to fall, he pushes off the wall with his limbs and astonishingly reaches the opposite wall in an instant! ... This causes the several lasers that follow to strike the wall without making a sound ...

In this moment, the veins in the right arm bulged, the muscles rippled, and the originally loose sleeve unexpectedly burst apart!

After being burned for a full five seconds, the part of his wound that had been severed by the knife was completely charred and had stopped bleeding. Only then did Wang Zongchao pour the remaining half bottle of alcohol onto the wound for disinfection once more, and then he smiled at the female medic who was standing there in a daze: "Please help me bandage the wound!"

Suddenly

In just an instant, the laser net gradually dimmed, and then it disappeared a few centimeters in front of his eyes, a faint sense of intense heat still rushed towards his face with the air.

His wound did not bleed; due to the terrifying high temperature of the laser, his injury was scorched by the heat, causing the flesh and blood to char and the bones to carbonize. Only half of the skeletal structure and flesh remained connected to his right hand, resembling a tree that had been cut halfway through.

This cannot be blamed on Wang Zongchao's rough actions; in fact, he has been quite courteous towards women. At the same time, he lifted his leg and swept it, knocking J.D.'s body, which was rushing forward, sideways to the ground. Then, he placed his leg on his abdomen and exerted force. Remarkably, with the strength of one leg, he flipped the tall and strong body of the male mercenary out the door.

I am aware that there are laser weapons inside, but that is a company secret that absolutely cannot be disclosed to outsiders, even in such circumstances. Otherwise, as soon as you go out and file a report, I will be executed by the company. Even if you do not do so, the company can understand the situation from the records of the Flame Empress motherboard that you take out. Wang Zongchao had long thought of an excuse for this.

Looking into his eyes, Wang Zongchao was acutely aware that he could not remain an outsider, and he did not wish to retreat. Therefore, he took the initiative to say, "I will replace them and go in with you." His demeanor was as usual, his gaze calm, as if the object pressed against his forehead was merely a toy gun.

But at that moment, several laser beams had gradually formed, and among them, several lasers transformed into a laser net that swiftly pounced on Wang Zongchao, creating an inescapable trap. Another beam was directed towards Matthew and Zheng Zha, who were standing at the entrance. Matthew desperately tried to lie down on the ground, but Zheng Zha tightly held onto him, refusing to let go. He himself was pressed against the door, and he even slowly closed his eyes.

Wang Zongchao suddenly accelerated, leaping off the ground, his entire being transforming into a phantom, and astonishingly, he flew along the wall, bypassing the laser directly

From the moment the door got stuck to the occurrence of this series of actions, only a brief period of less than two seconds had passed. Immediately afterward, the iron rod could no longer withstand the force exerted by the mechanical gate pressing down, and it suddenly broke, shattering into two pieces and flying out under this force.

With a flick of the index finger of the left hand, three shards of mirror shot towards the underground laser grid in three directions. Then, with a "bang," a crack was heard from each end of the glass walls.

Taking a deep breath, Wang Zongchao then noticed a stiff yet solemn voice ringing in his ears. Immediately, a sharp pain tore through his right arm, and he could smell a nauseating stench of burnt flesh in his nose

Wang Zongchao reacted as soon as the laser appeared. He leaned to the side and pushed towards the female mercenary with a palm strike. The force of this push was tremendous, and with a scream, the female mercenary's body shot out along the smooth glass floor, seemingly about to burst through the door in an instant

He then struck the knife down onto the floor, and under the intense impact, a few sparks flew out, igniting the alcohol and causing the corner of the cloth to burn fiercely.

I remember... this place is very terrifying. There was a time when they made me transport a corpse from here. I heard it was a spy who had infiltrated, and he was dismembered into several pieces... no, it was dozens of pieces. I almost vomited at that time... after that, I said I would never dare to come here again.

It is absolutely impossible to evade without any loss; in just an instant, Wang Zongchao made his choice

At this moment, his body resembled that of a snake, with his arms and legs moving rapidly as he crawled, his chest and abdomen close to the ground. His muscles undulated like the scales of a snake, akin to a startled serpent darting through the grass, moving at an incredible speed, accompanied by a whistling sound of the wind.

Although his tone was trembling and hesitant while telling this lie, which could be considered a complete failure, he was understandably panicked due to being threatened with a gun, so fortunately, he did not reveal any major flaws

This is a laser, a true laser. If it were to pass over any part of the body, it would undoubtedly be cut in half, transforming Wang Zongchao's actions from saving a life into a blatant act of murder

Kaplan manipulated the controls a few more times, and everyone could clearly see that as he struck the keys on the keyboard, the lights in the corridor responded fluidly, alternating between bright and dim. Then, Kaplan tested the opening and closing of the door, which also proved to be successful time and again, everything was well within his control

However, the laser launch ports controlled by the Flame Empress are not limited to just one. Behind those opaque glass panels are countless movable and adjustable laser launch ports. It seems to realize that Wang Zongchao poses the greatest threat, as three nearly parallel lasers suddenly split from that beam, targeting Wang Zongchao's head, waist, and thigh.

We have done our utmost to remind you to be cautious and to save as many people as possible. And now the result is that none of you have been harmed, while I have paid the price for your negligence!

Meanwhile, Kaplan shouted, "This is bad, the Flame Empress has actually cloaked herself and created a virtual operating system for me to breach the firewall and take control, and now she has regained control!"

I practice martial arts, so it is not surprising that I am a bit more agile than the average person and can endure pain better, right? Wang Zongchao's response was impeccable.

Matthew nodded, drew his gun, and walked in front of Wang Zongchao, pressing the barrel against his forehead and said: "Although your identity records indicate that you are company employees, I have observed your behavior along the way, and you do not seem like a group of people who have worked here for a long time and are familiar with this place. While nerve gas can cause temporary amnesia, a person's habitual behavior cannot be changed. I do not wish to know whether you are trying to prevent us from entering the control room of the Flame Empress or if you want to allow more of us to enter the control room, creating an opportunity for you outside. In any case, there is a very good solution now: both you and we should send people in at the same time!"

So ruthless!" Zhang Jie silently uttered this phrase in his mouth, fully aware that such action was indeed necessary. Although there is a significant possibility of reattaching the wrist that has been severed by the laser if treated promptly, no matter how it is bandaged, the severe injury to the wrist will inevitably render the entire right arm a burden for a period of time. It will not only be unable to function, but any intense movement could lead to excruciating pain, rupture, and bleeding from the wound.

"Zheng Zha, let's go in," Matthew said as he pulled Zheng Zha inside. Wang Zongchao silently followed behind them, carrying an iron pipe. However, Matthew pointed his handgun at him and said, "Put down the iron pipe"

However, a laser still grazed the back of Wang Zongchao, leaving a charred mark on his skin

Then, Wang Zongchao held the knife in his left hand, first warming it over the fire. With a swift motion, the small knife surprisingly emitted the formidable power of a thick-backed cleaver slicing through the air, and without any hesitation, it struck the wound on his right wrist.

Although his tone remained as calm and deep as ever, the man's gratitude and commitment were still palpable

Matthew fell silent for a moment, his expression gradually softening. What Wang Zongchao said was indeed a fact; without these individuals, the three of them might have already been reduced to a pile of minced flesh in the laser channel.

If this does not count as having controlled the Flame Empress, then I will start learning programming from ABC again when I return! With his extremely confident response, Wang Zongchao felt a tightness in his heart; he had truly underestimated the Flame Empress!

"Who exactly are you?" Matthew, who had been silently observing everything, suddenly asked

Matthew shouted, "Medic! Hurry, come over and stop the bleeding... bandage the wound." The female mercenary in charge of medical care rushed over to bandage and stop the bleeding for Wang Zongchao

"So you just watch our people go to their deaths?" Matthew laughed in anger

Navigating through three perilous laser beams

With a faint sound of an explosion, the laser suddenly vanished, and the two mercenaries, a man and a woman, tumbled out from the space beneath the gate propped up by an iron rod. Although they fell in a disoriented manner, their lives were undoubtedly spared

However, in that very moment, a faint glimmer of light flashed, moving towards the laser faster than the two mercenaries.

However, the bulging veins on Wang Zongchao's face and his twisted expression indicated that he was indeed enduring unimaginable excruciating pain. Strangely, though, there was no cold sweat on his face despite the goosebumps rising on his skin like small beans; not a single drop of sweat emerged, as if he could control the closure of all the pores in his body at will.

"Hmph, those martial artists who can only shout and kick, I could defeat them with my bare hands. But someone like you, even if you gave me a machine gun, I wouldn't have any confidence..." Matthew snorted, knowing he wouldn't get any answers. He then asked, "You knew there were laser weapons inside long ago, why didn't you mention it earlier?"

At this moment, everyone outside the passage was in disarray. Some were anxiously banging on the iron door, while others were helping the male and female mercenaries who had just escaped a disaster but were unable to get up due to the rough manner in which Wang Zongchao had 'sent' them out. However, Wang Zongchao no longer had the energy to pay attention to others; the passage was very narrow, so narrow that three people could not walk side by side. The other end of the passage had turned into a pitch-black void, resembling an entrance to hell. But Wang Zongchao no longer had the energy to pay attention to others; the passage was very narrow, so narrow that three people could not walk side by side. The other end of the passage had turned into a pitch-black void, resembling an entrance to hell

After all, he is not a god. The three fragments of the mirror that were ejected only reflected and destroyed two of the laser emitters. The remaining fragment deviated, and although the laser that slipped through did not sever his entire wrist, it did cut through half of it, leaving a deep wound.

Once it lands, it will inevitably be shredded into minced meat by the laser net

So he patted Wang Zongchao on the shoulder and said: "Thank you... also, Zheng Zha saved the lives of me and two brothers. From now on, I will repay this kindness no matter what!"

In that moment, Wang Zongchao plunged straight to the ground, his entire body resembling a push-up, with his arms bent, using both hands and feet, he surged forward with great force

The female medic, possessing strong psychological resilience, trembled slightly for the first time while bandaging a wound. Even with the iron-blooded demeanor of a mercenary, she could not discern whether the person before her was human or machine

As they walked approximately to the middle of the corridor, they were already four to five meters away from the entrance they had come through. Suddenly, the entire corridor darkened. Then, the doors on both sides closed from top to bottom like sluice gates. The five people present were all on edge, and upon seeing this situation, they immediately rushed towards the exit. However, judging by the speed at which the doors were closing, it was clear that there was no way to escape.

The type of weapon is not important; if we were facing a row of machine guns, the outcome would only be worse! Moreover, your people have confidently stated that they have already controlled the Flame Empress. Wang Zongchao was also unceremonious, letting out a cold laugh, and then continued to speak:

A white smoke permeated the air, mixed with the scent of melted glass. It turned out that in that moment, Wang Zongchao had thrown a shard of mirror with remarkable precision, perfectly directing it towards the laser, which reflected the beam back and destroyed a hidden laser emitter located behind the glass in the passage.

This was precisely the true intention behind Wang Zongchao's loss of composure when he faced the female corpse and shattered a glass mirror upon opening his eyes. It was after Zhan Lan introduced him to the laser passage while descending the stairs that he made targeted preparations.

Completion of the Double C-level horror side story, reward points: 4000!

The destruction of the two laser emitters created a small gap in the laser grid on the ground

However, merely severing the palm with a blade and using fierce flames to thoroughly disinfect and stop the bleeding from the wound, Zhang Jie questioned whether he could accomplish such a feat himself

Enduring excruciating pain, Wang Zongchao attempted to move his right hand, but only his little finger and ring finger managed to move slightly. It seemed that if his left hand did not receive timely treatment, it would inevitably be rendered useless.

Amidst the screams of many, including mercenaries, a scene of bloodshed unfolded; his entire right hand was completely severed from the wrist by his own doing, and as blood gushed forth, he brought the severed end of his right wrist close to the flames

Unexpectedly, Miao Gang did not disclose the information that should not have been revealed; instead, he conveyed the dangers of that passage in a reasonable yet subtle manner. Since he did not directly mention the laser passage, this statement was not restricted by the 'Main God' from being spoken.

After listening to his explanation, Matthew frowned but turned to Kaplan and shouted, "Confirm once again whether you have breached the Firewall of the Flame Empress!"

He glanced at his right arm, only to see a shocking wound at the wrist, from which a plume of black smoke rose, the flesh and blood charred by high temperatures.

Matthew reacted the fastest, suddenly throwing himself to the ground. Zheng Zha, having been attentive to that direction, had already dropped to the ground the moment the laser line appeared, so the laser line merely grazed his shoulder, the sharp and searing sensation seemed to pass closely by his shoulder. Under the shadow of death, his mind had already gone blank.

With no obstacles remaining, the gate slammed down onto the ground, and the only exit was finally blocked!

However, another laser swept closely along the ground, directly targeting Wang Zongchao, who was lying down.

The air was filled with the aroma of grilled meat, and the smell of blood evaporating in the flames was nauseating. The gazes of the crowd were filled with horror, including that of the mercenaries, who had begun to suspect that the figure before them was not a flesh-and-blood being but a robotic terminator from the future

If one were to leap off the wall to the opposite side, at the angle of those four lasers, it would be sufficient to dismember oneself in mid-air

At this moment, Wang Zongchao's figure was still in the air, while a network of lasers had already woven into shape above the floor where he was about to land, and four other lasers were already slicing towards his figure in mid-air

Since the channel began to close until now, only five seconds have passed. However, during this process, Wang Zongchao transitioned from saving others to saving himself, elevating his intentions and spirit to their peak. A series of extreme movements were executed, and at this moment, his internal energy was boiling, already causing a slight feeling of dizziness and weakness.

Of course, this also requires taking considerable risks. Ordinary glass, when exposed to laser, will melt in an instant. Therefore, even if it can reflect the laser, it is only for a fleeting moment. This moment of reflection must precisely direct the laser back to the emission point, the difficulty of which is evident. However, this also demonstrates Wang Zongchao's exquisite control over force.