Chapter 683: Shadowed Passage

Stop! Which unit do you belong to?!

Hurriedly moving forward, just as Yenir was about to swipe her card through the guards’ exclusive passage, a stern shout suddenly erupted from one side of the wall.

At the supposedly unguarded entrance, three Rebel soldiers appeared like covert sentries, all eyes fixed on her in wary alertness.

(Hm? There’s someone else?)

Noticing that their uniforms were nothing like those of regular soldiers, Yenir paused briefly. Fortunately, she reacted swiftly—lifting the card in her hand, she spoke evenly:

“Subordinate of Captain Zhang from Squad b064.”

Both the squad number and her identity were genuine. Even if they double-checked with that battalion leader, she had nothing to fear. Since they were willing to show her their card, there was no reason not to cover for her.

The three covert guards exchanged glances, clearly recognizing Captain Zhang. Yet, with unwavering caution, they closed in and said in a low voice:

“Captain Zhang had you come down? Doesn’t he know that with the test underway, no one is allowed free movement right now?”

“Why didn’t you come in with the previous team? What exactly do you plan to do now that you’re here?”

A barrage of questions followed.

Ordinarily, all guards involved in the test would have entered ahead of time. With the shield even activated, letting anyone in now would undoubtedly violate the regulations.

They were stationed here to prevent any information from leaking out during this period!

A sinking feeling gripped Yenir as she struggled to answer their probing questions. Logically, Captain Zhang—aware of her intent to sneak in—should have given her a proper heads-up. This situation simply wasn’t right.

With no other option, Yenir adopted a commanding tone and replied forcefully:

“This is Captain Zhang’s order! Any questions, you take them up with him. I’m just here for a quick check and will report back afterward!”

The declaration made the three Rebel guards’ faces turn grim.

A tense standoff was clearly brewing.

Seeing that these soldiers were determined to bar her entry, Yenir’s irritation grew as she remembered the messages sent by Ming Luo and his team.

(I can’t delay any further. These three clearly have orders to block all movement. They can stall all they want as long as they follow orders…)

“If you have any objections, contact Captain Zhang directly! My descent here isn’t just on his orders—it comes with High-Ranking directives as well.”

Without hesitation, Yenir took a gamble, invoking High-Ranking backing.

She was counting on the possibility that the Squad Captain had taken her bribe—whether they liked it or not, the matter had to be settled! Besides, what she said wasn’t entirely untrue.

Sure enough, after Yenir urged them to verify her credentials, the three covert guards’ expressions darkened. One even shot her a cold glare before stepping aside to inquire with a superior.

After about half a minute, once a confirmation came through an internal mechanical device, the lead Rebel soldier grimly gestured:

“Alright, go ahead.”

“But you can’t use the main passage—the shield is active. Opening that route would compromise its effect. Enter through the emergency exit instead, and once inside, do not wander. If we catch you stalling and wasting time, the consequences will be on you!”

As the words died away, Yenir raised an eyebrow, instantly grasping the subtext behind the Rebel’s instructions.

(Emergency exit? Don’t wander? Looks like this entry path is problematic. Could it be letting us see things we shouldn’t?)

Yenir nodded subtly, saying nothing further.

Yet unexpectedly, she found herself inadvertently glimpsing things that had been hidden from view before.

Soon after, following a series of complex password inputs, a dark passage sloping downward abruptly emerged from the wall.

Staring into the bottomless tunnel that clearly bypassed an entire level, Yenir’s mind raced, linking it to her earlier suspicions.

(Below the 19th level, everything is interconnected! This level is much larger than I imagined!)

(So by taking this route, I’m effectively bypassing the 20th level and reaching the 19th from below?!)

Without showing any sign of unease and under the cold scrutiny of the Rebel soldiers, Yenir strode forward confidently.

————

“What a deep passage…”

A sudden gust of wind burst forth from the darkness, howling through the tunnel. Yenir dashed ahead, her mental power spreading quickly like a spider’s web over the surrounding area.

In less than two seconds, she had thoroughly mapped the secret structure beneath the 19th level.

Her senses revealed a vast cavity filled with abundant seawater.

For some inexplicable reason, Yenir kept hearing faint hissing sounds—as if some creature lurked within this enormous underground realm.

“Could it be a Sea Beast?”

“The sound is coming from directly below the 19th level… If it really is a Sea Beast…”

Her heart pounded hard.

Recalling Ming Luo’s map of the 19th level, a bizarre possibility surged through her mind.

“That semicircular metallic giant isn’t a building—it’s the Sea Beast’s shell!”

“The Rebels have stationed a Sea Beast underground at the 19th level and built a metallic shell around its back, disguising it as a testing device!”

Yenir’s face hardened. If this were true, then what Ming Luo referred to as an in-test entry into the hemispherical structure was essentially a trial conducted on the Sea Beast!

Without giving it further thought, Yenir quickened her pace, determined to reach the 19th level above and confirm her theory!

She navigated the passage as if traversing a U-shaped corridor.

After about half a minute, a burst of light appeared, revealing a small metal door marked with the number 19.

It was clear that this door served as an alternative entrance to the 19th level.

Taking long strides and drawing a deep breath, Yenir moved to open the door. Just as she approached, a low, urgent voice from the adjacent room caught her attention.

“Leave them here. Make sure their hands and feet are securely bound! If not, they might just bounce off somewhere before they die!”

“Got it, Captain. Damn, these guys are so strong—I can’t even get a hold of them!”

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

“Damn! Someone just bolted, Captain. I say we just cut off their limbs!”

“Enough talk! Bring him back! Even with their hands and feet bound, they’re still prone to bouncing around!”

“Remember, if the survivors ask about their missing comrades when we get back, just say they’re undergoing treatment!”

…

In an underground compartment adjacent to the passage, bound survivors with vacant, milky-white eyes stared blankly.

“Bang bang bang! Bang!”

Their heads and backs slammed against the ground.

As more survivors were ushered in by Rebel soldiers, these restrained individuals thrashed on the floor, their legs rigidly clashing together.

They resembled fish on a pallet, their bodies torn apart.