"Captain Lin."

Laine observed Lin Xian, knowing full well that if someone with Lin Xian's status as Sword Bearer had survived a direct confrontation with Sanctum members at the submarine base, then he needed to carefully consider every word Lin Xian said.

"What did you learn from Sanctum?"

Lin Xian countered: "I wanted to ask you—how did you know about Mount Garland's situation?"

Laine shrugged: "While monitoring that Uniga-1, we discovered the creature would approach underwater volcanic clusters for some kind of hunting 'activity.' Through investigation, we found its actions actually accelerated Mount Garland's volcanic activity. So everyone at the base believed the creature was probably hunting for underground energy sources. That's all..."

"What about that Forbidden Artifact you mentioned that can control volcanoes?" KIKI asked.

"What he's referring to is that geothermal emplacement device," Lin Xian stated. "This thing essentially serves as bait to attract more high-level abnormal entities for Uniga-1. The Foundation's goal might be researching world-class creatures through this opportunity. So if this device stops..."

"Then the Oceanic Titan will take initiative and strike Mount Garland!" Ning Jing interjected.

"Exactly."

Laine continued: "According to the Foundation's previous experience, when the density of high-level abnormal entities gathering in this sea area reaches sufficient levels, that monster will appear. Now that the Foundation has withdrawn, leaving only Sanctum's group holding the position, I thought this presented a perfect opportunity."

Lin Xian understood now: "But you didn't expect the monster to appear early due to Sanctum's Bait Agent, and moreover appear at the western coast far from the offshore island and volcanic cluster, dragging you into this while you gained nothing."

Laine looked helpless: "I thought you would clash with Sanctum yesterday. Our Falcon Sea Group was prepared to assist—if we could eliminate Sanctum's stronghold on the offshore island together, this plan might have proceeded smoothly."

"Hiding in the submarine base, waiting for the Oceanic Titan to hunt, then making a big score before withdrawing?"

Lin Xian nodded: "That sounds quite reasonable when you put it that way."

"Pretty bold too," KIKI crossed her arms. "Now that you know the monster is the Oceanic Titan, do you still have that plan?"

Laine massaged his forehead with a bitter smile: "The Foundation's internal security is too tight. I always thought it was some S-level creature."

Hearing Laine's information, Lin Xian confirmed his previous suspicions, though he hadn't expected the device would create a chain reaction.

"Captain Lin." Seeing Lin Xian's furrowed brow, Laine couldn't help but continue: "What did you mean earlier about having less than 24 hours?"

"The geothermal well's stability has reached dangerous threshold levels. I checked the monitoring center logs—according to their technical standards, if it isn't shut down within 24 hours, there's risk of energy overload that could destroy the entire submarine base."

After speaking, Lin Xian glanced at Laine, already planning to leave. He now understood the situations at Haiyan Island and Mount Garland. What remained was to retrieve Viola, locate the orbital node, and risk taking the Sky Dome train for an aerial crossing.

During this time, he could have convoy members scavenge the base's supplies. That nuclear-powered submarine could also be taken as consumption material.

As for the Neptune, Lin Xian definitely didn't have time to help others repair an aircraft carrier. If it was a propulsion system issue, it would take at least half a day—not worth the risk.

Hearing Lin Xian's words, Laine sharply pushed down his sunglasses: "What!?"

"Impossible?" Erica's expression drastically changed: "We previously obtained information from the base's control pipeline—that device should have at least 3 more days until its cooling cycle!"

Geddy spoke: "Could it be related to yesterday's events."

"Probably." Vanessa frowned: "The geothermal activity accelerated..."

"OMG, does that mean we're doomed?" The tall Azrael exclaimed with surprise.

Seeing their reactions, Lin Xian frowned: "24 hours isn't enough for you to evacuate this sea area?"

Laine looked at Lin Xian, his tone shifting: "Captain Lin, you probably don't realize that after Uniga-1 enters active state, several hundred kilometers of surrounding sea become dangerous. Even hiding in the submarine base requires maintaining silence. During this period, escaping this sea area is fundamentally impossible—even floating cities would be shot down by gathering atmospheric creatures. Once this period begins, no surviving humans can escape this sea area. The best method is to dock at the Oceanic Titan and wait out the storm!"

Hearing this, KIKI immediately said: "But Mount Garland is about to erupt—probably submerging all of Haiyan Island. How do we hide then?"

"Our original plan was to wait until Uniga-1 completed its hunting before leaving." Geddy crossed her arms, expression darkening: "If that device can't sustain until Uniga-1 finishes hunting, then we're in trouble."

"Correct." Laine said gravely: "If that device gets shut down, the underwater monsters will immediately rampage and flee, and that Uniga-1 will definitely mobilize. Then Mount Garland will erupt prematurely, turning this sea area into hell. The massive tsunami it generates could submerge Asia-Pacific coastal areas..."

"According to you, we're damned if we leave and damned if we don't?" Lu Xingchen couldn't help frowning upon hearing this.

Ning Jing analyzed: "If the Oceanic Titan appeared yesterday without conducting hunting, it's highly likely lurking in the waters around Haiyan Island right now."

"Why can't we go through the sky?"

"Aircraft?" Cai En shrugged: "As this base's former security director, I can only say the air is more dangerous than the sea surface. I didn't understand before, but after seeing that monster rise from the sea surface into the clouds yesterday, it became clear—that creature is practically a cosmic dominator. I truly don't know how humanity should deal with it."

Hearing this, Lin Xian's heart sank, immediately sensing trouble.

It seemed they were already surrounded by endless giant sea creatures, while in the deeper waters lurked an ultimate hunter. Since being targeted by the Oceanic Titan yesterday, he'd had this intuition—that monster might genuinely be watching them!

"Wow, so what do we do?" KIKI looked at Lin Xian: "Can't leave, can't stay?"

"Maybe we can hide in that submarine base and wait out the disaster?" Shiori said quietly.

Lin Xian shook his head: "Won't work. This isn't just about Uniga-1 anymore—there's also Mount Garland. Once it erupts, the magma well beneath the offshore island will definitely create chain effects, instantly sinking the island into the Pacific."

"What about hiding on Haiyan Island? The main island must have defensive structures, right?" Ning Jing said.

"Defend against hundred-meter tsunamis?" Seeing Lin Xian's group anxiously discussing, Cai En interjected: "Whether we can even withstand the earthquake is questionable."

"Unlikely..."

Vanessa also looked grave as she told Cai En: "Cai En, repairing the Neptune will take at least 48 hours—completely too late."

"This has transcended whether the Neptune can be repaired." Cai En glanced bitterly at Lin Xian: "Even if the Neptune gets fully repaired now, we can't outrun the tsunami within 24 hours. The timeframe is too short. Unless we get lucky and Mount Garland has only a minor eruption, or..."

"Or the monster finishes hunting early, allowing us to shut down that device ahead of time and leave safely?" Lin Xian completed.

"Yes." Cai En sighed: "But judging by the Foundation's early evacuation arrangements, they probably calculated the irreversible crisis clearly before issuing the evacuation order. Really headache-inducing."

"Any other methods?"

"Yes, early energy release!" Lin Xian stated: "We might attempt partial energy release from that geothermal well to delay the eruption first."

"How do we release energy? It's a volcano!" Erica said incredulously: "Moreover, this action might attract more abnormal entities, making things even more dangerous."

"Right, what if it triggers early volcanic eruption?" Vanessa added.

"I think it might be feasible."

Laine now spoke: "I know this base has a dedicated underwater pipeline for emergency energy release, located in the southeastern sea area. If we open that, it might buy us some time. The only problem is... what's underwater there..."

His words immediately made Lin Xian's group recall their earlier aerial photography images—those massive whirlpool abnormal entities in the deep water that made their hair stand on end.

Lin Xian frowned gravely: "At this point, we have to gamble."

"I agree."

Cai En looked at Lin Xian after speaking, then extended his hand: "Captain Lin, let's cooperate. Working together might improve our survival rates."

"Good." Lin Xian shook his hand and immediately said: "You need to dock your fleet at the Oceanic Titan port first. Then we'll split into two teams—one responsible for attempting emplacement device energy release, the other finding suitable bunkers on Haiyan Island's main island."

After speaking, Lin Xian's expression turned grave. He checked the time and scanned everyone present.

"Everyone, the storm is coming. Let's move!"