A sudden burst of golden light illuminated the ruins' base.
As the light faded, everything returned to normal. The 14x14 meter stone wall, directly facing the altar, once again revealed a spatial gate with a surface like a mercury mirror.
At that moment in the command center, Saint Gilles and Leon watched as their father activated the spatial gate, further convinced that Robert's assertions were correct.
Samuel Young, standing on the altar, could sense the emotional fluctuations of his two sons but didn't pay them much mind. Sometimes, the more you try to explain, the less clear things become.
Glancing at his hand, which had healed instantly, Samuel walked to the edge of the altar, overlooking the third spatial gate where the advance team, tasked with exploring other universes on behalf of Atlas and humanity, had already gathered.
---
Near the third spatial gate.
Not only were the fourteen advance team members assembled here, but there were also numerous technicians in white hazmat suits, along with engineers in black and orange protective suits.
The equipment of the advance team was vastly superior to what it had been the previous year. Each member was outfitted with pressurized, radiation-resistant suits capable of operating in a vacuum for up to seventy minutes. These suits, along with specialized mechanical exoskeletons, provided comprehensive protection for each member.
These suits, specially designed by the research department for the advance team, were known as "Hazardous Environment Vestsuits" or HEVs.
Compared to conventional mechanical exoskeletons and protective gear, the HEVs were in a league of their own, far more expensive than even the Tyrant exoskeletons. In appearance and function, they were close to power armor.
Samuel had made it clear that the advance team should have the best protection and firepower since they were responsible for exploring unknown territories and facing potential dangers.
The team's weapons were modular, similar to the CARB weapon system but more optimized. The weapons could be customized with extended barrels, grenade launchers, shotgun attachments, and more, allowing for precise targeting and calibration with their individual systems. The rifle, submachine gun, and shotgun calibers were 6.2x35mm, 5.7x28mm, and 20mm, respectively.
The shotgun and grenade launcher modules featured a variety of ammunition types, including high-explosive, armor-piercing, and cluster rounds.
Although the machine gun still used a .30 caliber, the research department had updated it with an optimized algorithm, making the .30 caliber smart bullets perfectly suited for Atlas's combat system. These smart bullets could lock onto targets after being fired and even make slight turns to hit targets hiding behind cover.
This weapon system was named the "Atlas Modularity Weapon System" or AMWS.
With HEVs and AMWS, each advance team member was worth millions.
At this point, the advance team members weren't in a hurry to pass through the mirror-like gate. They patiently waited while the technicians, crouching nearby, completed the final checks and adjustments on four Hellhounds.
Each Hellhound had a wired device attached to its back, linked to a control console near the gate, allowing the technicians to monitor the situation on the other side.
These Hellhounds were specially calibrated by the biology department for this mission. Their viral activity had been further weakened to prevent environmental contamination.
Meanwhile, the numerous engineers were equipped with engineering mechs, Hextech robots (spider/six-legged robots), and heavy equipment, all standing by to start their infrastructure work as soon as the situation on the other side of the gate was deemed stable.
Soon enough, the four prepared Hellhounds, following the established protocol, ran toward the spatial gate. Without any fear or hesitation, they passed through the mercury-like surface and vanished from sight.
Back at the control console, various screens provided the technicians with real-time footage and brief intel gathered by the Hellhounds.
It appeared to be a shopping mall lobby that had lost power. Based on the signage, advertisements, gravity, and atmospheric data, the third spatial gate seemed to lead to Earth.
However, it could also be a colony with artificial gravity and atmosphere. Regardless, the technicians confirmed that the situation on the other side was temporarily stable and communicated:
"Captain Price, the advance team can proceed."
"Understood. Roach, Soap, Ghost, you three go through first."
"Roger that."
With the signal and orders received, the fourteen heavily armed advance team members began to move.
Roach, holding an AMWS rifle equipped with an under-barrel grenade launcher, led the way with his two comrades, passing through the spatial gate one by one and disappearing into the mercury-like surface.
---
"Huff... huff..."
The sound of steady breathing echoed inside the sealed helmet.
Roach, already accustomed to this kind of work, showed no signs of emotional or heart rate fluctuations.
As he passed through the spatial gate, the HUD screen inside his helmet, initially white and blank, instantly switched to display the dim and dilapidated shopping mall lobby.
Without any hesitation, Roach and his two comrades quickly advanced, crouching fifteen meters ahead to maintain a vigilant watch.
Using the enhanced vision provided by the HEV, Roach scanned the surroundings, noting that the signage and decor were reminiscent of North America.
Moments later, the helmet screen displayed a pulse wave emanating from his position, rapidly spreading outward.
As the pulse wave traveled, the areas it passed through were rendered as architectural blueprints on the mini radar in the upper left corner, giving Roach and his comrades a rough understanding of the mall's layout.
However, after the pulse scan, the radar showed no signs of movement other than the three green dots representing Roach and his comrades and the four yellow dots representing the Hellhounds.
The pulse's effective radius fluctuated around fifty meters, covering approximately 8,000 square meters. Within that range, it seemed they were the only living beings, although factors like wall barriers and energy dissipation could reduce the scan's effectiveness over time.
"It's dead quiet," Soap commented, clearly uncomfortable with the environment.
"This place has been abandoned for a long time," Ghost added, kicking up some dust from the floor.
Roach, as usual, remained silent.
While they kept their guard up, the rest of the advance team members also passed through the spatial gate, arriving in the abandoned mall.
Receiving the same scan results, Captain Price ordered over the comms, "Everyone, stay alert. The Hellhounds will sweep the entire mall. If any threats are detected, Roach, Soap, Ghost, Zero, and Scarecrow will handle them. The rest of you secure the area around the gate and set up a wired communications base. And remember, no one goes off alone."
"Understood."
Next, the four Hellhounds, having been unlinked from the wires by the advance team members, quickly swept through the first floor of the mall, confirming no threats before moving on to the underground parking lot and the second, third, and fourth floors.
Roach and the others, tasked with dealing with potential threats, moved to the main entrance, where they also witnessed the... "anomaly" outside the mall.
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