novelraw Chapter 723 The Pillar of Fire Soars into the Sky
Chapter 723 The Pillar of Fire Soars into the Sky
Chapter 723 The Pillar of Fire Soars into the Sky
The moment the word "second" was uttered, the expressions of those still within the deep pit changed drastically.
In that instant, it was as if their ears had been suddenly plugged with earplugs, and they couldn't hear any sound at all.
Even the sound of the wind rushing past my ears as I flew forward completely disappeared.
"Boom!" The ground, which had not yet stopped shaking, suddenly trembled violently, so violently that even small pebbles were shaken into the air.
"Boom—!" Immediately afterwards, a deafening explosion rang out, accompanied by a blazing flash of fire, which burst through the thick soil and rocks from the ground and shot into the sky.
The area covered by this towering pillar of fire is the large crater where the research institute has sunk deep.
Those still inside the deep pit were instantly blasted into the sky by the towering pillar of fire, their fate unknown.
As for the butterfly insectoids flying around the deep pit...
Those of lower rank turned directly to ashes.
Those of higher rank were better off, as they weren't directly reduced to ashes, but they were still blasted into the sky, their fates unknown.
Those who had already escaped the deep pit were not spared from being caught in the blast of the towering pillar of fire.
The shockwave from the blast that spread outward from the pillar struck every butterfly insectoid and every person equally, except for Bai Mianmian.
The mushroom phantom that enveloped her blocked the shockwave of the explosion that was heading towards her.
Although the mushroom phantom trembled noticeably as it withstood the shockwave of the explosion, it still firmly protected Bai Mianmian inside, preventing the shockwave from directly hitting her.
Even though everyone was prepared for the explosion, they were still thrown forward by the impact, falling in various ways, and some even coughed up blood.
"Bang bang bang..." Some people even crashed into the ground because their hover shoes went out of control, creating craters in the hard ground.
Even those who didn't fall from mid-air were forced to the ground by the shockwave of the explosion, trying their best to avoid being blasted away by the blast.
Compared to humans, the butterfly-like insectoids, who were completely unprepared for explosions and relied solely on flapping their large wings to fly, were in a far more dire situation.
The magnificent, colorful wings were instantly torn apart, and some even had their bodies and heads ripped into several pieces.
Even those butterfly insectoids whose bodies and heads were fortunate enough to remain intact were eventually blasted far away by the shockwave of the explosion, and finally crashed to the ground, their fate unknown.
After the impact of the explosion subsided, everyone except Bai Mianmian was in a sorry state.
But those who were still alive almost all looked like survivors, their eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and lingering fear as they looked ahead.
In front of them was the research institute's large pit, which had sunk nearly ten meters deeper.
The butterfly insectoids that had been densely attacking the group were now nowhere to be seen alive, not even within a hundred meters.
As the echoes of the explosion faded, the scene fell into a deathly silence, with only the heavy, labored breathing of the crowd clearly audible in the air.
"Hahahaha..." Just then, a laugh filled with the joy of surviving a disaster resounded throughout the entire space.
"I'm not dead, haha... cough cough cough..." However, his joy turned to sorrow, and bright red blood flowed out in gushes with his laughter.
The man immediately panicked and removed the gas mask from his face, then raised his hand to pour the treatment into his mouth.
The joyful smiles on the faces of the other survivors were already visible beneath their gas masks.
But upon seeing the man's disheveled state, he immediately forgot about laughing, quickly removed his gas mask, and began to pour medical medication into his own mouth.
Although no one was missing an arm or a leg, almost everyone suffered some internal injuries.
Even Pan Cheng and the others did the same. They took off their gas masks and drank the medicine. Some of them were too lazy to get up and just drank the medicine while lying on the ground.
Don't think everything's fine just because there aren't any butterfly insectoid attacks now. When they're ready to leave, they'll still have to fight the butterfly insectoids blocking their way and clear a path out.
Therefore, you absolutely cannot let your injury drag down the whole team!
"How are you? Is anyone injured and unable to move?" Xin Xiao, who had straightened up, immediately checked on the team members' condition.
Pan Cheng, who had been lying on the ground and didn't want to get up, suddenly stood up and shouted loudly with a strong voice, "It's alright, Deputy Regiment Commander."
Upon hearing this, the others, who were either lying down, sitting, or standing casually, immediately perked up and sharpened their gazes towards Pan Cheng.
We all know each other so well, everyone knows what kind of bad idea this kid is up to.
Almost instantly, those who were standing casually straightened their backs, and those who were lying or sitting also stood up one after another and straightened their military posture.
Then, as if to prove that they were also in great shape, the group shouted louder and louder, "It's alright, Deputy Regiment Commander!"
Listening to the resounding yet energetic replies from the crowd, and seeing their bright and piercing eyes, Xin Xiao knew that they were not pretending to be strong.
His tense nerves couldn't help but relax a little.
Over there, after confirming that the crisis was over, the mushroom phantom on Bai Mianmian's body faded and disappeared. Then, she turned to look at Xin Xiao.
“Deputy Regiment Commander…” Just then, a worried shout came from afar, interrupting Bai Mianmian’s words.
"It's Captain Han." Pan Cheng's expression brightened, and he turned his head sharply to look in the direction from which the voice came.
They saw Han Feitong leading four or five people rushing towards them.
"How are you? Are you hurt?" Han Feitong's concerned words came over before she even arrived.
"Captain Han, we're fine, and the deputy regimental commander is doing well too." Pan Cheng raised his right hand and waved in that direction, responding loudly with a smile.
Xin Xiao, who was specifically mentioned, suddenly froze, the smile that had quietly appeared on his lips when he saw Han Feitong.
A flicker of unease flashed across his eyes, and he called out in a slightly deep voice, "Pan Cheng!"
"Yes, Deputy Regiment Commander!" Pan Cheng's expression instantly turned serious, and he looked at him in a ready-to-follow posture.
"..." Xin Xiao was speechless upon seeing his expression.
Han Feitong, who was approaching, glanced at the team members and, after confirming that they were in good condition, breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's good that you're all okay."
The explosion had really frightened her; she was afraid that some of her teammates might not have been able to evacuate in time.
Thinking of this, Han Feitong couldn't help but glance at Xin Xiao.
Unexpectedly, Xin Xiao was also looking at her at that moment, and their eyes met in mid-air.
Han Feitong: "..."
Xin Xiao: "..."
Those who had come with Han Feitong breathed a sigh of relief and greeted the others with smiles.
Before long, the two groups started chatting.
Pan Cheng and his group recounted their experience of escaping from the research institute. After being amazed, the other party also talked about what happened after they evacuated from the institute.
Whether intentionally or not, no one disturbed Han Feitong and Xin Xiao, who were locked in a gaze.
As Bai Mianmian watched them chatting animatedly, several images flashed through her mind—scenes of Luo Ziyu and the others happily conversing on Star D7.
The sense of unfamiliarity and estrangement in Bai Mianmian's eyes as she looked at Pan Cheng and the others faded slightly.