Zhang Chen swept through the seabed. There was indeed nothing here. If this were a city, with the blessing of the Lucky Card, one might stumble upon advanced supply crates just by casually browsing.
However, the seabed was too desolate. Encountering these mutated sea cucumbers was already incredibly fortunate.
Zhang Chen took stock: he obtained [Energy Gathering Crystal Core] *400 and [Delicious Sea Cucumber Meat] *80.
Diving had wasted some time.
At this moment, the duration of the Lucky Card had just expired.
It was time to return to the fleet and quickly pass through this sea area!
With this thought, Zhang Chen began to swim upwards…
Meanwhile, on the sea surface.
The dark red clouds had, without anyone noticing, gathered around.
Suddenly, a fierce wind arose.
It whipped up waves more than a meter high.
The yachts and fishing boats, like duckweed on the sea, drifted with the waves.
It felt as though they could capsize and sink at any moment.
"Professor Xiao, the storm is too strong. If we retreat at full speed now… we should barely be able to avoid the storm!"
"Otherwise, once the storm arrives, the biological energy rain will instantly corrode the hull! Before some of the suppression was lifted, cars could only last for about ten minutes in the downpour… Now that some suppression has been lifted, these rainstorms are likely even more terrifying. Our ships might not even last ten minutes!" Han Shuang said anxiously.
*Swish!*
A long whip flew over from the side, wrapping around the ship's wheel.
It was Katerina.
She looked at Han Shuang with cold eyes and said coldly, "Are you planning to abandon your companions?"
Having been in this apocalypse for so long, she had seen plenty of people like this. When danger arose, they would use their companions as shields to escape. Such incidents were all too common among people of all races and nationalities. Katerina hated those who abandoned their companions the most.
"Miss Katerina, please don't be angry. Zhang Chen saved our lives; we will not abandon him!" Professor Xiao Guanghan looked at Katerina with a sincere expression, glancing at the island that was about to disappear over the horizon. "Why don't we turn back to the island now?"
Han Shuang shook his head and said, "This storm is coming from the direction of the island. If we turn back, we'll run right into it! We won't have time to shelter the ships, and the end result will be being trapped on a deserted island! Moreover… those buildings on the island might not be able to withstand the storm for too long…"
As he spoke, Han Shuang glanced at Katerina's cold, pretty face and fell silent. The implication was that they had to leave now; if they waited too long, they would all perish.
"I'll only say this once: I will never betray my friends! If anyone tries to be clever, let's see whose brain works faster, or whose whip flies faster!" Katerina said, flicking her long whip and releasing the ship's wheel. She then struck the air. A loud crack echoed. Afterward, a water cup placed on the cockpit control panel was split in two by the fierce wind.
"We won't abandon Zhang Chen. We'll wait here!" Professor Xiao Guanghan said with determination.
Although Han Shuang was extremely reluctant, he could only nod in resignation, forced by Katerina's formidable strength and Xiao Guanghan's authority.
At this moment, not just Han Shuang, but the captains of the other ships also wore anxious expressions. They had thought that by killing the Deep Sea Tearers, everyone would be safe. Who knew the sea's conditions could change so unpredictably? Just moments ago, the sky was clear, and now, dark clouds were already looming. Faint dark red lightning could be seen.
"This is trouble!" The captains looked at each other, their gazes all falling on Xiao Guanghan. After all, his ship was the leading vessel, and everyone followed his course. If he went at full speed, they would follow suit.
But… now Xiao Guanghan had reduced the engine power and was slowly drifting on the sea. This naturally caused some concern among them.
"Why aren't we leaving? What are we waiting for?"
"Probably waiting for the True God. Didn't the True God jump into the sea? If he comes up and finds us gone… that wouldn't be good, especially since he just saved our lives…" Some captains had already begun calling Zhang Chen "True God."
"The True God is incredibly powerful; even monsters couldn't touch him. But we're not like that. We're mere mortals. If the ship sinks, we're all finished! How about… we hold hands again and pray? Perhaps the True God will feel our piety and display his divine power again!?"
Hearing this, survivors on some ships had already clasped hands, continuing to pray as they had before. However, this time, their expressions were noticeably more relaxed, and their attitudes were more devout.
"Hiss… you don't actually believe there's a god in this world, do you!"
"Zhang Chen is just a survivor with exceptional strength… Although… I don't know how he dealt with those monsters, but he hasn't ascended to godhood, has he! You all came from modern society, and you still believe such absurd things? Hah, if you want to stay here and wait for death, I won't!"
"Let's see if your True God can save you, or send you to meet the real gods! I'm leaving first!" The captain of the Sheep Country's ship snorted coldly and immediately opened the throttle, breaking away from the fleet and speeding off. He possessed rich sailing experience and often traveled by sea in Sheep Country. Based on the initial direction of Xiao Guanghan's yacht and the route of circling the island, he had already deduced the approximate location of the opposite continent.
Although he lacked a map and couldn't dock precisely, as long as the fishing boat could make landfall, everything would be easier once they reached land. If Xiao Guanghan's fleet continued forward, he would have been happy to blend in, dock at a port, and continue exploring for supplies – that was the best option.
But now, Xiao Guanghan had lost his mind, wanting to wait for Zhang Chen to brave the storm? He absolutely refused to do something suicidal. Forget about sharing hardships or camaraderie; being alive was all that mattered. Everything else was nonsense!
The fishing boat rapidly detached from the fleet, speeding away in the direction opposite to the storm.
"Disgusting traitor!" Tugenev stood at the bow of the ship and spat fiercely.
Zhang Wenwen also looked coldly at the fishing boat and said slowly, "In the name of the True God, I curse you!"
With that, she crushed a card. An invisible energy instantly spread out.
At the same time, the dark clouds had descended. The waves on the sea grew larger, tossing the people on the ships about.
*Crack!*
A dark red bolt of lightning split across the sky, accompanied by a deafening explosion. Afterward, the island was obscured by a layer of mist and disappeared. This mist grew closer, seeming about to engulf them in an instant.
Just then, a figure shot out from the sea, soaring into the air.
It was Zhang Chen!