Scarlet.

Before Lin Xian truly saw that scene, he never imagined it was a color of the heavens and earth. Now, Lin Xian often recalls that scene, with an inexplicable discomfort in his heart. If the original Dark Tide made people directly face the horror of darkness, then when scarlet envelops the earth, it gives a sense of a world twisted, with no escape for humanity, an oppressive feeling.

He didn’t know what it was. Perhaps the Phoenix Society is also unclear, after all, it’s been less than a month since the battle of Dawn City. Yet Lin Xian knew, it was definitely not a good sign.

The night on Hawaii Island was silent and profound, with stars dotting the sky, sparse starlight sprinkling like dust over the dark sky. The gentle waves lapping at the shore brought a near-hypnotic calmness.

The city was deathly silent, with no lights illuminating those gray-white buildings, only the faint starlight outlining their contours. The remnants of buildings and ruins loomed in the night as if it were a forgotten ghostly domain.

Countless zombies wandered silently in the streets, their twisting figures like ghosts, accompanied by indescribable eerie whispers and writhing shadows lurking in the darkness. Such a sight should make one’s spine tingle, but in Lin Xian’s eyes, after experiencing various crises, those roaring undead and bizarre forms lost their terror, turning instead into familiar silhouettes.

He stood in front of the bridge, gazing at the Dead City yet inexplicably finding a rare sense of tranquility, as if the silent starry sky and calm waves quietly washed away the unease in his heart, transforming the twisted reality into a temporary peaceful harbor.

[Captain Lin, your breathing and heartbeat indicate you are very calm right now, which is very rare.]

At this moment, only Viola was left to accompany him on the bridge, while the others went back to their rooms to rest.

Lin Xian looked toward the sky, stretched lazily, and said indifferently, "There are many concerns, but it’s not yet time for me to worry. Although the Phoenix Society’s task is only half completed and we haven’t completely reached the poles, expectations are met, and I can momentarily relax."

He pointed to the vast coastal city, smiled, and said, "There’s no danger here, maybe I can slack off a bit."

[That’s a very good idea.]

Viola stood tall and graceful, hands behind her back, calmly responded, [According to the calculations of the Dark Tide, it will take at least 261 days for the next Star Abyss 13 Extreme Night to cover this area, and using the interplanetary orbit, it will take 113 hours to reach Panama. If flying, it only takes 23 hours. Considering the time for Dawn Center to traverse North America, you can indeed stay here for 15-20 days to rest and use this time to enhance your mechanical superpower. We currently have very ample resources, enough for the team’s rest and supply.]

"15 days?" Lin Xian chuckled, "How could that be possible, a rest of one or two days is more reasonable."

He took out the Dark Gear, glanced over it, and said, "The Holy Revelation has paid a lot to target me, I don’t think things are that simple. Holy City, Holy Revelation, Foundation, and that giant sea monster; although we managed to escape the super storm, I can’t stay too long on this island, joining up with the main force earlier would ease my mind as well."

"In your judgment, what do you think the characteristics of this taboo item are?" Lin Xian handed the Dark Gear to Viola.

Viola did not take it, instead stood firmly, [All my sensors, except the Soul Swinging Value Detector, cannot effectively detect this item, so I cannot analyze it from a ’perception’ standpoint for you. However, based on the known characteristics of taboo items and containment data, I believe the phenomena like ’retinal countdown’ and ’small Star Abyss explosion’ caused by this item are not attacks initiated by the keeper of the taboo item against you.]

Lin Xian nodded, weighed the heavy black gear in his hand, and said, "If they had such an overpowering force, they would have used it already. Chen Yanshu deliberately left this for me to bury this trap. It seems I should have somehow ’contained’ this Dark Gear under completely unknown circumstances. And that countdown, perhaps it’s some sort of..."

[Side effect]

"Side effect?" Lin Xian raised an eyebrow slightly, "Sounds about right."

Lin Xian looked at the Dark Gear, his expression heavy: "Ever since Brother Huo’s Infinite Ring and the Flashing Bullet given to me by Mochizuki Masashi, I’ve almost lost the sense of crisis regarding taboo items. To know the 1542 Radio almost took my life, the early data of the Angel Plan everywhere showed taboo items accompanied by a great deal of evil and death. This thing can even cause a small Star Abyss explosion. That range and scale, without the Energy Transition and Gravitational Lens, I would be doomed. Moreover, this thing can even shield me from containing other taboo items, it’s really too strange."

[Your analysis is highly insightful; from the perspective of the Descent Party’s human camp targeting you, shielding your Flashing Bullet, closing the South Heavenly Gate, and killing you, this is a highly profitable action. However, they failed.]

Lin Xian looked at the Dark Gear, somewhat puzzled.

Without the nagging countdown, Lin Xian indeed found himself seemingly linked to some sort of power with this black gear. He didn’t know how Chen Yanshu managed to transfer and contain this item to him. Currently, he didn’t know how to use this thing, which was quite troubling. Yet after the countdown stopped flashing, he also breathed a sigh of relief. He had too many things on him to worry about, not in a rush to figure it out. The primary focus now is to make the most of this rare night and the abundant resources on the island.