Chapter 90、A New Mechanism? The Enigma Gate

"Boring. There's not a single real challenge to be seen," Yi Bai muttered, rubbing his head as he sighed, "They really do treat soldiers like their own children. Every time it's the same, making us look like we're on some kind of cheat mode."

This wasn't what he'd expected from the Apocalypse Wars. The intensity of the battles didn't even compare to a simple Red vs. Blue military drill!

With nothing interesting to watch in the war, Yi Bai shifted his focus back to his own shelter.

"Xiaoci went off to formulate a new plan. It'll take a few more days to see the results. We should be in time for the final leaderboard though," he thought. "Let's check on Lin Yue and the others."

"There are man-eating fungi everywhere outside. I wonder if they've had any luck finding medical supplies."

Yi Bai took a deep breath, glanced at Wang Shi standing nearby, and silently activated his skill to link with Lin Yue's perspective.

Lin Yue's Perspective

"Rat-tat-tat! Rat-tat-tat!"

The moment Yi Bai linked in, he could hear the rapid-fire gunshots. Through Lin Yue's eyes, he saw her leading the team, protecting two doctors while firing at the surrounding dark green fungal plants.

Guns had little effect on the man-eating fungi, but alternating rifle shots were enough to keep them at bay for the moment.

The entire street had transformed into a vast ocean of green. Everywhere Yi Bai looked, there were countless different types of fungi—some huge, vine-like tendrils, others small and spiderweb-like, blocking the path ahead.

In Lin Yue's view, the surrounding buildings were all engulfed by the fungi. The ground under the armed team was covered in thick, dark green layers, and occasionally, fungal tendrils would rise up from below, attacking the squad.

At times like these, the female doctor Zhao Siqi, protected by the team in the center, would raise her hand and scatter a powder on the ground, dispersing the surrounding fungi.

"Watch your feet! They're coming again!" Lin Yue warned. She noticed numerous tendrils appearing under one of her team members' feet, ready to strike.

But just as they were about to be attacked, a transparent liquid sprayed onto the tendrils. The fungi recoiled as though scalded by hot water, retreating quickly into the ground. The air was thick with the scent of disinfectant.

"Great effect!" Chen Qiuren immediately praised, his face brimming with flattering smiles. "Dr. Zhao, you're amazing!"

"I can't compare to Dr. Chen. This is just a little trick," Zhao Siqi glanced at him sideways, her beautiful eyes carrying a faint mockery. "Every time I think of Dr. Chen's glorious past, I feel nervous. Terrified, even."

"Not at all, not at all. It's just the respect from fellow professionals," Chen Qiuren quickly lowered his head and waved his hand, humble as ever.

Zhao Siqi's face darkened. "Chen Qiuren, you know I'm not talking about your career."

"Then what are you talking about?" Chen Qiuren looked confused. "For me, besides my career, is there anything else?"

Zhao Siqi's expression became icy, and she turned her head, refusing to look at him any longer. She was afraid she might snap and kill this annoying man right there.

The team members exchanged glances, all sensing something was off. It felt like these two had some kind of old grudge, yet they managed to stand side by side without a fight. Especially Dr. Chen—whenever he saw the opportunity, he would flatter Zhao Siqi like a sycophant, making him seem more like a servant than a peer. It was as if Zhao Siqi owed him millions, and he was constantly groveling, which almost made people feel sorry for him.

Lin Yue didn't care about the doctors' personal drama. Her sharp eyes were scanning the surroundings, every muscle in her body on high alert.

There were just too many fungi! The team's ammo was running low, and they might even have trouble on their way back.

"The hospital's not far, it's just ahead," Lin Yue suddenly whispered to the team. Chen Qiuren glanced up and saw the prominent sign of the large city hospital in the distance, now covered in green, looking eerie and unsettling amidst the overwhelming fungal growth.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Chen Qiuren couldn't contain his impatience and rushed to the front of the group. "Hurry, Dr. Zhao needs the equipment inside. The fate of the world rests on your shoulders!"

Zhao Siqi furrowed her brow. "Chen Qiuren, are you mocking me?"

Chen Qiuren immediately apologized with a grin, "Of course not… I'm just stating the facts. The boss is waiting for you to make a breakthrough."

"Heh." Zhao Siqi sneered at him, choosing not to respond.

The team picked up their pace, and before long, they arrived at the entrance of the hospital. Along the way, they hadn't encountered any survivors, and there were no cries or calls for help. It was as if the entire world had been consumed by the never-ending fungi, and they were the last living souls left.

"Wait!" Lin Yue suddenly stopped. She stared at the decaying hospital gates and sensed something was off.

"Look! Something's moving inside…"

She pointed forward, and the others squinted their eyes in the distance.

In the hospital parking lot, amidst the green fungal ground, a strange red flame-like mass seemed to be slowly rising from the earth. It twisted and pulsed like a living entity, standing at the center of the parking lot, exuding a mysterious and eerie aura.

"Is that some kind of derivative of the fungi?" Lin Yue asked, looking at the others. Zhao Siqi shook her head. "I'm not sure. Without experimental data, I can't make an assessment."

At that moment, Yi Bai, watching through Lin Yue's eyes, saw the strange red flame-like structure too. And just as he laid his eyes on it, a system message suddenly popped up in front of him.

[The First Round of the Apocalypse has Ended! The Puzzle Gate is now Open.]

[Puzzle Gates will randomly appear in various corners of the Earth. Once discovered by survivors, they can participate in the challenge.]

[Inside the Puzzle Gate, solving the puzzles will yield abundant rewards.]

[Please Note! Puzzle Gates are rare and precious—don't miss your chance!]

[Be Warned! Failure to solve a puzzle inside the gate will result in immediate death for the participants. No revival or healing mechanism will prevent this punishment.]

"The Puzzle Gate?" Yi Bai froze. Another new mechanism?

No wonder today, the first day of the second round of the apocalypse, was packed with surprises—one new feature after another. It felt like the entire world was being thrown into confusion, just for fun.

Yi Bai looked again at the red, flame-like gate in the hospital parking lot. This time, he saw more information floating above it:

[B-Rank Puzzle Gate]: Survivors may enter on their own or send talent units in. Five different types of puzzles are available. Solving one will reward the team with B-rank rewards.

[Note]: Inside the Puzzle Gate, you can find items such as "Talent Unit Summoning Tools," "Shelter Upgrade Materials," and "Talent Unit Upgrade Tools."

"It was waiting here all along!" Yi Bai gasped, quickly realizing the purpose of the Puzzle Gate.