The metropolis once known as Demon City had now become a field of ruins sleeping at the bottom of the sea.
Looking out from the cockpit of the Golden Mad King, many landmark buildings could still be seen. The former River Mouth still had some faint traces, but no matter how magnificent the buildings once were, they had all become relics in the deep sea.
Perhaps soon, they would become the tombstone of a civilization.
As a coastal city, this place was submerged the moment the war broke out and sea levels rose.
But precisely because it was one of the first cities to be submerged, many of its internal structures became the best cover when facing the World Beast.
The Red Fortress Base was one of them.
According to the information Shen Feng had obtained, when the war between humans and the World Beast was at its most intense, many human forward bases, including the Red Fortress Base, were actually located underwater.
They secretly conducted all sorts of scientific research, providing support for humanity’s victory.
The Golden Mad King’s thermal imaging system quickly scanned the entire city, locating several heat sources buried under seawater and silt.
Two of them were clearly emitting a certain degree of radiation.
Shen Feng’s consciousness swiftly controlled the Golden Mad King’s cockpit to activate the ejection escape system, launching him directly into the seawater.
At that moment, he wore two Quantum Force Field Cores around his neck, which quickly formed a blue halo that protected his body from the high pressure of the seabed.
Like a fish, he swam towards one of the heat sources.
This was the former municipal building.
Seeing the various old logos on the municipal building, Shen Feng broke open a window and swam inside, holding an emergency flashlight.
The corridors inside the building were pitch-black, but fortunately, a beam of light from the Golden Mad King illuminated most of the area.
Judging from the layout inside, the place had been converted into a temporary command post, though it was unknown which troops it had commanded.
They had likely long since been annihilated in the river of history.
To Shen Feng’s disappointment, this wasn’t the Red Fortress Base.
The source of the heat was a small, sealed reactor at the bottom of the municipal building, and it was already on the verge of shutting down.
Meanwhile, all the paper documents inside the building had long since been turned to dust by the seawater, and the electronic equipment was completely destroyed by the highly corrosive water.
Leaving the municipal building, Shen Feng swam on in another direction.
Soon, a nondescript-looking office building appeared before him.
This was clearly a place where many companies had their offices. Various corporate logos were still faintly visible on the outer wall: Mahua Communication Company, Yuewen Group, Wenhui Tourism, IP Film and Television, and so on.
From the outside, there was no trace of the Red Fortress Base.
But judging by the infrared reaction, this had to be the place.
A laboratory of this level should be more concealed to avoid being destroyed by the Purifiers.
Shen Feng swam forward and released his Thought Field, enveloping the office building before him to inspect its interior.
Just then, as if sensing his presence, lights switched on one after another throughout the building’s interior, making it brilliantly lit as if it had come to life!
In a central area of the building, a large steel door slowly opened, revealing a passageway.
Immediately after, Shen Feng’s Silicon-Based Brain received a message:
"Welcome back."
Jingwei let out a whistle and said,
"Tsk, tsk. This is it, all right. Looks like this world’s version of you was a bit ostentatious."
Shen Feng smiled faintly and entered through the passageway.
Everything here was probably no different from the other fortress labs, or perhaps it was even better equipped.
The entrance to the passageway sealed again. The drainage system activated, pumping the water out of the corridor, and an alloy door on the other side slowly opened.
Shen Feng stepped inside and found the interior completely empty, yet spotless. It clearly still had an automated cleaning system.
There were no bodies or skeletons of the Salvation Army here. They must have evacuated in an orderly fashion, leaving everything in the hands of the artificial intelligence system.
"Shen Feng! You’re back!" Just then, an enthusiastic voice suddenly rang out, echoing throughout the entire base.
The next moment, a holographic projector in the ceiling shot out a beam of light, and the image of a cute young girl in a sailor uniform appeared before Shen Feng.
The girl could be described as a composite of every perfect starlet, fulfilling every man’s fantasy of a beautiful young girl. Her large eyes were welling with tears as she gazed at Shen Feng, looking as if she might pounce on him at any moment.
Shen Feng was taken aback. Just as he was about to speak, the girl’s brow suddenly furrowed. She looked at him and said,
"No... You’re not... you’re not my Shen... Which world are you from?"
Shen Feng was baffled, but an answer was already faintly forming in his mind.
Just then, Jingwei’s voice suddenly erupted from the silicon-based framework in his chest:
"...The hell? That’s this world’s version of me... Why is her virtual avatar so pathetic? No boobs, no butt... Hmph, you little perv, I seriously suspect this world’s you is a lolicon!"
Shen Feng now understood as well. The virtual holographic girl before him was the Jingwei of the Water World Apocalypse!
He had wondered before—if a version of him existed in every Parallel World, could there be a version of Jingwei as well?
He never expected to meet one here!
Jingwei’s voice rang out from the silicon-based framework again:
"Little sister, let me borrow your holographic projector for a sec, ’kay?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the holographic projector above cast another beam of light, forming a new virtual image in front of Shen Feng.
This one, however, was identical to the mechanical substitute Jingwei had made for herself: a slender and well-proportioned figure, cloud-like black hair, a curvy build, high heels, a miniskirt, and a look that was both aloof and stunningly beautiful.
This was precisely Jingwei’s self-image.
Shen Feng swallowed. He suddenly understood why Jingwei had chosen such an image for herself...
"You are... me?" the sailor-suited Jingwei No. 2 said, looking at Jingwei in astonishment. Then a happy smile spread across her face. "I knew it... I knew you would come! According to my model’s projections, the Shen Feng from the Parallel World was bound to come! Quick, come with me to the Shield UY Star! My Shen Feng is there, and he needs support!"
Hearing this, Shen Feng and Jingwei looked at each other, speechless.
Then, Jingwei sighed, waved her hand, and another hologram was projected. This time, however, it showed the meteoroid in the World Beast Star Realm on the other side of the spatial passage.
On the meteoroid stood Unit-00, impaled by sharp spikes, and Shen Feng, who had died standing.
This was the footage they had obtained from the Purification Church.
"Little sister, my condolences. Your Shen Feng has already... given his life."