威瑪戰爭 157－重返電磁菌林
----------地表・二號基地上方----------
塵土飛揚。
經過一番整備後，鑽掘作業再次展開。
亞瑞斯站在坑洞旁，看著眼前準備就緒的機甲。
「佛斯，準備好了就開始挖吧。」
他轉頭看向另一側。
「布拉姆，謝謝你特地過來幫忙。」
布拉姆看著自己的蓋布里歐工兵型。
「蓋布里歐現在就只有我一台工兵機，如果連我都不來幫忙，那也說不過去。」
下一秒。
佛斯駕駛鑽頭機甲啟動。
巨大的鑽頭開始旋轉，朝著地下岩層緩緩鑽入。
轟隆——
地面開始震動。
----------北側區域----------
雷歐納看著眼前被封鎖的通道。
「電源到底在哪裡啊……」
艾特觀察著入口。
「依照這個結構，應該只能從裡面解除。」
莎拉看著周圍。
「先把這附近清理出來吧。」
諾坦連接通訊。
「橘慶，你那邊有分析結果嗎？」
片刻後。
橘慶回覆。
「依照十年前留下的資料，在你們目前的位置附近，應該存在一個配電盤。」
「只是……」
「可能已經被破壞很久了。」
就在這時。
柏蘭突然停下腳步。
「等等……找到了。」
他蹲下身，從碎石中拉出大量纏繞的線路。
然而眼前的景象讓所有人沉默。
線路早已破損。
甚至有部分被強行扯斷。
柏蘭皺眉。
「天啊……」
雷歐納看著眼前的狀況。
「這樣根本不可能啟動。」
此時。
通訊中傳來聲音。
「我來試試看。」
耐斯駕駛著蓋布里歐衝鋒號降落。
轟！
機甲落地。
柏蘭疑惑。
「你要做什麼？」
耐斯打開連接系統。
「我把蓋布里歐的主電腦接上去。」
「看看能不能直接控制。」
艾特愣了一下。
「你還有這種能力？」
橘慶此時開口。
「雷歐納，我讓戰機跟你合體。」
「我下去幫忙。」
雷歐納點頭。
「好。」
「艾特、柏蘭、莎拉，你們先回駕駛艙。」
「這裡交給諾坦、耐斯還有橘慶。」
「了解。」
三人開始撤離。
就在這時。
天空傳來引擎聲。
天助駕駛著熾天使飛到附近。
「瑞柏請我過來支援。」
「如果有怪物靠近，我會負責攔截。」
雷歐納看向天空。
「也是……這裡現在可不是安全地帶。」
----------地下洞穴----------
漢克站在巨大金屬門前。
「這東西能打開嗎？」
凡赫辛看著門體結構。
「不行的話，要不要直接用雷射切開？」
麥特搖頭。
「剛剛已經重新取得聯繫。」
「橘慶也在上面。」
他看向漢克。
「將軍，我建議你先回大部隊。」
「上方已經開始開挖，萬一引來怪物，需要有人坐鎮。」
漢克沉默片刻。
「好。」
麥克斯走過來。
「老爸，我跟你一起回去。」
漢克點頭。
「那法蘭克、凡赫辛。」
「你們跟麥特留在這裡，破解這道門。」
----------地下洞穴・傷兵區----------
昏暗燈光下。
賽門看著躺著休息的萬斯。
「萬斯，你還撐得住嗎？」
萬斯活動了一下身體。
「還有點痠痛。」
「那個電磁菌的副作用……真的很可怕。」
溫斯頓看向另一邊。
「摩西到現在都還沒醒。」
「你就知道那東西有多危險。」
萬斯苦笑。
「說真的。」
「我覺得最大的問題是他的儲電槽。」
「電磁菌根本超喜歡那種地方吧。」
文森特點頭。
「我想也是。」
萬斯看向遠方。
「但是如果電磁菌真的能有效培養……」
「未來的電王，恐怕會變成非常恐怖的存在。」
文森特笑了一下。
「光聽漢克他們說，那群怪物被你們一刀解決。」
「我就知道那力量有多誇張。」
賽門補充。
「尤其是閃電號令那一擊。」
「整個地下洞穴都被照亮了。」
溫斯頓沉思。
「如果可以，應該帶一些樣本回去研究。」
賽門皺眉。
「但問題是……」
「這個地下洞穴太複雜。」
「我們根本記不起回去的路。」
「而且離開電磁菌林，很可能又會受到影響。」
文森特沉默。
「這確實需要考慮。」
就在此時。
巨大腳步聲傳來。
山德駕駛著炎魔走來。
「賽門。」
「有件事情要拜託你。」
賽門轉頭。
「什麼事情？」
山德看著眾人。
「帶著空中霸主、火神、沙漠之鷹。」
「回到剛剛經過的電磁菌林。」
賽門愣住。
他轉頭看向文森特。
兩人同時露出疑惑的表情。
山德繼續說。
「剛剛漢克他們在地穴北側找到了一座發射台。」
「但是那個設備需要大量能源才能啟動。」
「所以我們需要重新取得電磁菌樣本。」
賽門皺眉。
「可是你知道那裡會造成精神影響。」
「我們可能會受到電磁菌影響。」
山德點頭。
「我知道。」
「但那也是我們離開這裡的方法之一。」
文森特開口。
「我的機甲可以提供能源。」
山德看向他。
「我知道。」
「但我們擔心的是。」
「如果途中發生戰鬥，你可能無法同時支援。」
文森特沉默。
「那……讓我去取樣呢？」
賽門搖頭。
「不太適合。」
「當時是我、萬斯，還有閃電號令通過。」
「電王體型太大，可能無法穿越部分區域。」
文森特只能點頭。
「好吧。」
山德看向賽門。
「所以取樣任務交給空中霸主。」
賽門點頭。
「了解。」
山德轉身。
「你們兩個準備一下。」
「接下來，分頭行動。」
賽門與萬斯站起。
兩人簡單擊掌。
「走吧。」
機甲再次啟動。
而隨著地表開挖工程持續進行。
地下世界，也開始產生異常震動。
沉睡在深處的怪物們……
似乎正在逐漸甦醒。
Weimar War 157 – Return to the Electromagnetic Fungal Forest
Surface – Above Base No. 2
Dust billowed into the air.
After a round of preparations, the excavation operation resumed.
Ares stood beside the excavation pit, watching the mechs as they finished their final checks.
"Foss, start digging once you're ready."
He then turned to the other side.
"Brom, thanks for coming all the way here to help."
Brom looked at his Gabrio Engineer Unit.
"Right now, I'm the only engineer-type Gabrio we've got. If I didn't come, it'd be hard to justify calling this teamwork."
The next moment—
Foss powered up the drilling mech.
The massive drill began spinning before slowly boring into the bedrock beneath them.
RUMBLE—
The ground shook violently.
Northern Sector
Leona stared at the blocked passage.
"So... where's the power source?"
Ait examined the sealed entrance.
"Judging from the structure, it can probably only be unlocked from the inside."
Syla scanned the surroundings.
"Let's clear this area first."
Notan opened a communication channel.
"Juqing, do you have any analysis results?"
After a brief pause, Juqing replied.
"According to the records from ten years ago, there should be a power distribution panel somewhere near your current location."
"...However..."
"It was probably destroyed a long time ago."
Just then—
Boland suddenly stopped.
"Wait... I found it."
He crouched down and pulled a tangled bundle of cables from beneath the rubble.
The sight before them left everyone speechless.
The wiring had long since deteriorated.
Several sections had even been ripped apart by force.
Boland frowned.
"My God..."
Leona looked at the ruined cables.
"There's no way we're getting this running."
At that moment, a voice came through the communicator.
"Let me give it a try."
Nice descended in his Gabrio Assault Unit.
BOOM!
The mech landed heavily on the ground.
Boland looked puzzled.
"What are you planning to do?"
Nice activated the interface system.
"I'm connecting the Gabrio's main computer directly."
"Let's see if we can take control that way."
Ait blinked in surprise.
"You can actually do that?"
Juqing spoke up.
"Leona, let the fighter combine with you."
"I'll head down there and help."
Leona nodded.
"Got it."
"Ait, Boland, Syla—return to your cockpits."
"Leave this to Notan, Nice, and Juqing."
"Understood."
The three began withdrawing.
Just then—
The roar of engines echoed overhead.
Tian Zhu piloted Seraph into the area.
"Ruibo asked me to provide support."
"If any monsters show up, I'll intercept them."
Leona looked toward the sky.
"Good point..."
"This definitely isn't a safe place anymore."
Underground Cavern
Hank stood before the enormous metal gate.
"Can this thing be opened?"
Van Helsin examined its structure.
"If not... should we just cut it open with a laser?"
Matt shook his head.
"We've re-established communications."
"Juqing is already above ground."
He turned toward Hank.
"General, I recommend you return to the main force."
"They've already started excavating up there. If monsters are drawn in, someone needs to take command."
Hank remained silent for a moment.
"...Alright."
Max walked over.
"Dad, I'll go back with you."
Hank nodded.
"Then Frank, Van Helsin..."
"You stay here with Matt and figure out how to open this door."
Underground Cavern – Medical Area
Under the dim lights—
Simon looked at Vance, who was resting on a cot.
"Vance, are you holding up?"
Vance stretched carefully.
"I'm still pretty sore."
"The side effects of those electromagnetic fungi..."
"They're terrifying."
Winston glanced toward the other side.
"Moses still hasn't regained consciousness."
"That tells you just how dangerous those things are."
Vance forced a smile.
"Honestly..."
"I think the biggest issue was his power storage unit."
"Those electromagnetic fungi absolutely love places like that."
Vincent nodded.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Vance looked into the distance.
"But if those fungi can actually be cultivated successfully..."
"Future generations of the Thunder King could become unbelievably powerful."
Vincent chuckled.
"Just hearing Hank describe how you cut through those monsters in a single strike..."
"I already knew that power was on another level."
Simon added,
"Especially the Lightning Command attack."
"It lit up the entire cavern."
Winston fell into thought.
"If possible..."
"We should bring back some samples for research."
Simon frowned.
"But here's the problem."
"This underground labyrinth is far too complicated."
"We don't even remember the way back."
"And once we leave the Electromagnetic Fungal Forest..."
"We could be affected by the fungi again."
Vincent nodded quietly.
"That's definitely something we have to consider."
Just then—
Heavy footsteps echoed through the cavern.
Sander approached in Flamo armor.
"Simon."
"I need to ask you a favor."
Simon turned around.
"What is it?"
Sander looked across the group.
"Take Sky Dominator, Vulcan, and Desert Eagle..."
"Back to the Electromagnetic Fungal Forest we passed earlier."
Simon froze.
He exchanged a puzzled glance with Vincent.
Sander continued,
"Hank's team discovered a launch platform on the northern side of the cavern."
"But that facility requires an enormous amount of energy to activate."
"So we need to collect new electromagnetic fungus samples."
Simon frowned.
"But you know those fungi affect people's minds."
"We could end up under their influence again."
Sander nodded.
"I know."
"But it's also one of our best chances of getting out of here."
Vincent spoke up.
"My mech can supply the power."
Sander looked at him.
"I know."
"But our concern is this—"
"If we're attacked on the way..."
"You won't be able to provide both combat support and power at the same time."
Vincent fell silent.
"...Then let me collect the samples instead."
Simon shook his head.
"That's probably not a good idea."
"Back then, only Vance, I, and Lightning Command managed to get through."
"The Thunder King is simply too large to pass through some of those passages."
Vincent could only nod.
"...Alright."
Sander looked back at Simon.
"So the sampling mission belongs to Sky Dominator."
Simon nodded.
"Understood."
Sander turned away.
"The two of you, get ready."
"We split up from here."
Simon and Vance stood up.
The two exchanged a quick fist bump.
"Let's go."
The mechs powered up once more.
As the excavation on the surface continued...
The underground world began to tremble abnormally.
Deep beneath the earth—
The monsters that had long slumbered...
Were slowly beginning to awaken.
