Jeram wore diving gear, holding a submersible thruster.
The thruster continuously sprayed white foam, propelling Jeram upwards.
Bai Ye blinked in surprise. "What's going on? Where are the mechs? Did the insertion point explode?"
Jeram pointed to his head, covered by a spherical glass oxygen mask, indicating he couldn't speak. Bai Ye directly took out his communicator and pointed at it.
Jeram showed a look of realization, pointed to his headset, and then projected a holographic image using the communicator.
"Run!" Jeram projected the image and immediately shouted, "It's going to explode."
Bai Ye asked, "What's exploding? Where are the mechs?"
"The mechs are going to explode," Jeram replied. "Sea beasts are still emerging from the insertion point, no less formidable than the Poisonous Woman. We couldn't defeat them, and the cluster bombs also fell inside the insertion point."
"Then the native pilot who was with me planned to self-destruct his mech, using its energy core to blow up the insertion point. Was I supposed to stay and be buried with them? If I don't run now, I'm done."
Bai Ye nodded. "I can transform into lightning and reach the surface instantly."
Jeram's eyes lit up.
"But I can't carry anyone," Bai Ye said. "So, goodbye."
Jeram: "???"
Bai Ye's figure flickered, and he vanished, turning into a streak of lightning.
Jeram finally understood what he meant and couldn't help but curse. "Are you kidding me? You said you couldn't carry anyone, what was the point of that!"
Jeram quickly grabbed the thruster and continued moving towards the sea surface.
Meanwhile, Bai Ye surfaced. The surrounding warships had clearly received the message and were now scattering in all directions.
Without a word, Bai Ye unfurled his tail fins and shot towards the sky.
He didn't know how long he flew...
BOOM!
A massive explosion suddenly erupted from below.
A giant geyser of water shot up from the sea surface into the sky, reaching at least a thousand meters high, almost hitting Bai Ye.
The surrounding sea surface was hit by hundred-meter-high waves, which surged outwards frantically.
Moments later, the geyser crashed back into the sea, and the waves pushed outwards.
For a moment, the sea surface seemed to have been scooped out by a giant palm, leaving a massive crater.
The surrounding seawater continuously poured into the crater, forming a ring of waterfalls.
Then, the crater began to shrink at a visible speed, the water constantly rotating and forming a vortex.
Jeram felt he had truly hit rock bottom. He finally managed to break through the sea surface just as the explosion's shockwave appeared, only to be hit by the geyser and tossed around by the waves. After the waves finally subsided, he was sucked into the vortex.
It was at this moment...
Bai Ye's figure flickered, returning to the sea surface. He looked at the struggling Jeram and asked, "Need help?"
"Help... *glug*... *glug*... Help... me... *glug*... Help me!"
Bai Ye reached out, grabbed Jeram's outstretched arm, and then flew up again, pulling Jeram out of the sea.
At the same time...
"You have completed Mission Three: Destroy the Sea Beast Insertion Point in the Parallel Universe. You have received mission rewards (optional): Authority to open restricted zones in the Sea Beast World x1, Upgrade effect (Divine Might) for Sea Beast Scale Armor x1, Special Ability (Water Spirit) x1."
The hidden mission was completed!
Bai Ye looked at Jeram. "Did you complete your mission?"
Jeram, with his mouth open, spat out seawater. "Yes, I did. How about you?"
"Completed as well," Bai Ye replied. "Should I drop you back at the warship?"
"No need to go back. The mission is done, why go back?" Jeram said with a look of annoyance. "My mech, my mech is gone."
Bai Ye blinked, not understanding at first. Then, looking at Jeram's resentful and regretful expression, he suddenly understood.
This guy wanted a mech!
Jeram's thoughts were understandable.
Although he was just an ordinary pilot, or more directly, a tool, he was involved in piloting the mech, but the mech itself had nothing to do with him.
However, it was still a thought, a hope.
For example, was this a prerequisite mission?
Was it a chain mission?
Could he establish a connection with the base through this hidden mission?
In any case, the mech existed, but Jeram only had the right to pilot it. However, piloting rights could be a good start.
Jeram was clearly anticipating what came next, perhaps he could truly acquire a mech.
And then...
That mech self-destructed, taking the insertion point with it, perfectly illustrating the concept of shattered dreams.
Since that was the case, why go back?
He was at least an "emperor of labor" before, but now that the mech was gone, let alone being an "emperor of labor," Jeram was most likely going to be unemployed.
Bai Ye said, "But I can't fly you back to land, can I?"
"Put me down," Jeram said. "I have a boat."
Jeram did have a boat, though it looked strange. It was made of leaves, about ten meters long, clearly an item from a magical region. The hull was adorned with many magical runes, but it could at least function as a boat.
Jeram sat on the leaf boat, panting. "I plan to head back to land. I've been working on this mission for a month, I'm exhausted."
Bai Ye nodded. "From this location, how should I travel to where I want to go?"
Jeram replied, "You should head north, and then follow the route I told you last time."
"Okay, thanks." Bai Ye remembered something and continued, "Do you know about the Turtle Rider?"
"Turtle Rider?" Jeram asked. "Is it a giant mechanical turtle? It attacks once you enter a certain range, but its objective is to repel enemies, and it rarely kills. It stops attacking if you retreat?"
Bai Ye nodded.
"I know," Jeram said. "That place is easy to find, it's near the route I gave you."
Jeram gestured for Bai Ye to give him the sea chart.
Jeram drew a circle on the sea chart. "This is the route I told you last time. If you deviate tens of nautical miles to the southeast from this point, you'll see the Turtle Rider."
Bai Ye asked, "From your tone, it sounds like you've been there?"
Jeram replied, "I have. I entered the sea from the northern magical region and passed by here before reaching this point. That place is shrouded in mist, and you can vaguely see an island, or perhaps land?"
"You can vaguely see the outline of buildings, and they are quite grand. Of course, I wanted to explore it, but as soon as I reached the edge of the mist, I was attacked. I tried a few times, but I couldn't defeat it, nor could I slip in, so I gave up."
Bai Ye asked, "So, that's why you said they don't kill easily?"
"Yes!" Jeram exclaimed. "But that doesn't mean you won't die. Their attacks are generally not aimed at people, but if you're unlucky, or not skilled enough and get blown up, they probably won't care."
"Alright," Bai Ye said. "Goodbye."