In the deep ocean depths, the Infinity silently glides like a wounded ancient beast in the absolute darkness and dead silence of the deep sea. The previous earth-shattering nuclear explosion, volcanic eruption, and terrifying whirlpool that tore apart metal have passed, leaving only a distorted metal pressure hull, and the faint scent of blood circulating in the cabin air.

In the soundless darkness, Lin Xian felt like he was surrounded by cold, salty seawater.

The entire car body emitted occasional faint groans from the stress structure, blending with the sounds of bubbles occasionally popping in the deep sea, the ghostly sonar sounds, forming the background sound of this dead silence.

Lin Xian sat in the cockpit, his face heavy with the responsibility entrusted to Viola, stemming from his cautious mindset.

1:32:07

The countdown silently ticked away in front of him, like a ticking time bomb, making it difficult for Lin Xian to maintain absolute reason and clarity.

This thing is different from the Abnormal Body. Even in crisis-ridden nights and the depths of an abyssal ocean, Lin Xian can at least still use his Superpower, and there’s also the Infinity, Teacher Chen, KIKI, and other team members by his side.

But this countdown, eerie and unfathomable, hung over his head like the Damo Sword. He didn’t know what would happen when the countdown ended, nor did he know how to stop it, or the principle of its appearance, completely beyond his control or comprehension.

[Has dawn and destruction already occurred? Hmm, sounds like a very interesting insight. From a philosophical perspective, Hegel proposed that "contradiction is the root driving force of development." Destruction is the explicit result of the collapse of the old order, while dawn is the latent process of new civilization’s gestation. From a physics perspective, similar to the "Schrödinger’s Cat" thought experiment, when the time dimension is unobserved, dawn (survival) and destruction (death) can coexist as two ultimate states until the causal chain collapses into a single reality.]

Upon hearing Lin Xian’s words, Viola paused before responding.

Lin Xian felt somewhat agitated, rubbed his eyebrows, and said,

"Prepare to surface, and patrol the sea area to ensure safety before dawn."

Viola glanced at Lin Xian, calmly responded, [Understood, commencing ascent and surface investigation immediately]

"Ryan, follow along and prepare for battle..."

Lin Xian turned to look towards the cabin direction, somberly said, "Wake everyone up. After ensuring safety at dawn and leaving the crisis, arrange for shift rest. Our current state is risky."

"I’m of the same thought, Lin, but I suggest letting a part of our combat personnel be prepared first. Those with severe injuries need recovery urgently, and now is the best opportunity," Ryan’s voice echoed from the communicator.

"Alright."

Having issued the instructions, Lin Xian pondered strategies while unfolding the Mechanical Heart, covering the entire Infinity, carrying out comprehensive mechanical repairs. Once they successfully surface and escape the crisis, he could immediately use the Sky Dome Level to riskily leap, utilizing Sky Dome Level’s information ability, locating the Republican Islands or Noah through the Fire Book and the Water-Sky positioning shouldn’t be a problem.

However, before that, he must ensure he can survive as something unknown might happen now. To ensure the safety of Infinity and Beifeng 09, the key moment requires waking the backbone team for standby.

Lin Xian even considered whether he should distance himself from the Infinity before the countdown arrived...

Various thoughts, both positive and negative, Lin Xian thought about countless things.

Blub blub～

A violent water pressure vibration sounded outside the cabin wall, Lin Xian’s eyes fixed on the sonar detector screen. Before long, somewhere on the black surface of the Pacific Ocean, a train-like procession broke through the water curtain slowly emerging from the water, accompanied by a massive Abyssal-class Nuclear Submarine, Beifeng 09.

[Completed 50 nautical mile and low altitude sea reconnaissance, currently safe. Weather in the current sea area is anomalous, thick sea fog, suggesting no hatch activity until dawn or fog clears.]

Whoosh.

The water curtain kept falling outside the porthole. Lin Xian stood up, outside the porthole was just a wavy sea surface, the searchlight from the Infinity couldn’t illuminate far distances, the whole sea area was covered in dense fog, waves raised slight surges, the sound of waves echoing.

Lin Xian looked around the environment, immediately turned back: "Drones bridge in four directions, probe as far out as possible."

Just finished instructing, Lin Xian turned to press the communicator, intending to wake everyone on the Infinity to prepare for sudden emergencies.

But when he turned around, he found an indistinct figure appearing at the cockpit door, floating in the air, arms crossed, gazing at him with a haunting look—it could only be KIKI.

"Your countdown has less than an hour left, right?"

"58 minutes," Lin Xian nodded. "The sky is almost bright."

KIKI flew closer at this moment, face to face with Lin Xian, questioning,

"Why didn’t you wake me? Aren’t you worried about any dangers when the countdown ends, or are you planning to face this alone?"

Lin Xian was momentarily speechless, then said, "I was just about to wake everyone up."

"Is that so?" KIKI’s gaze filled with doubt, looked at Lin Xian, "Have you thought of a solution?"

"Not yet."

Lin Xian said, "Let’s wake everyone first. I’ve thought this over, this countdown is definitely not a good omen. Before clarifying the situation, I have to distance myself from the Infinity, but..."