The number of Copper Mechanical Lifeforms in the ruins was large, and they came in many forms.
The Copper Mechanical Lifeform appearing before Gel was a new form she hadn't encountered in this past month.
However, the Copper Mechanical Lifeforms encountered so far, despite different forms, showed no difference in danger level. They all possessed the ability to 'rustify' targets.
Even though they roughly understood the Copper Mechanical Lifeforms' abilities, the Hunter Association consistently chose to avoid combat during this period, playing hide-and-seek with the lifeforms roaming the B1 level.
Because the Copper Mechanical Lifeforms seemed to maintain some connection within a certain 'planar range'. If one Copper Mechanical Lifeform was disturbed, others nearby would rush over at the fastest speed.
Therefore, Gel limited herself to observation, without any desire to attack.
'Appearance is different, but mobility and ability characteristics likely have no difference.'
Gel thought silently, then pulled back behind the corner, observing the surroundings.
The underground ruins were vast. Though the terrain was complex, the interior spaces were ample.
For instance, the passage Gel was in was eight meters wide and about four meters high.
The spaciousness was actually a disadvantage for the hiding side.
However, the Hunters who came to the Dark Continent were professionals, capable of overcoming this terrain disadvantage.
'How to reunite with the team?'
Gel frowned deeply, suppressing her Aura as she moved along the wall, avoiding the nearby new-type Copper Mechanical Lifeform.
In her mind, at least ten frequently used team areas surfaced.
The Hunter Association hadn't been idle during their over-a-month stay on the B1 level of the underground ruins.
While figuring out the ruin's terrain, they also memorized the activity ranges of the Copper Mechanical Lifeforms.
Although they hadn't fully explored the B1 level, they could easily avoid many patrol areas of the Copper Mechanical Lifeforms and had also found over a dozen relatively safe spots.
But those safe spots weren't safety zones in the true sense, just safer relative to other locations.
After being separated from the team, the meeting points Gel considered were these safe spots.
She believed the main team's thinking should align with hers. After all, she wasn't sure if she was the only one separated.
'The closest safe spot is still some distance from here.'
Gel's mind raced. Sweat beads slid down her smooth, wheat-colored forehead to her pointed chin.
Processing the complex map information stored in her brain wasn't simple… it consumed considerable brainpower.
In a situation where one wrong step could lead to an abyss, to increase the fault tolerance, she could only be meticulous and careful, again and again.
'Choose one main route, keep two alternate routes.'
After calculating the routes, Gel let out a long breath and activated her ability. Her right arm became soft-bodied. Her entire right hand transformed directly into a snake head with a bow tie at its neck and four hearts on its forehead.
As the softened, snakified arm extended, adhering to the principle of energy conservation, the arm correspondingly thinned.
Gel controlled the sentient snake head, making it elongate, climb along the wall, poke its head out in the darkness, and scout the situation in the corner passage.
After confirming there were no Copper Mechanical Lifeforms in the essential passage, the snake head directly fed the information back to Gel's mind.
Subsequently, Gel passed the corner, still moving along the wall, extremely cautious.
The Copper Mechanical Lifeforms in the ruins had night vision. But peculiarly, light sources and darkness seemed the same in their eyes.
However, the Hunter Association hadn't realized this point. They only knew the Copper Mechanical Lifeforms had night vision, so the B1 level, with light filtering in, was a relatively advantageous environment for humans.
The snake head transformed from Gel's right arm had thermal sensing, able to see the power source crystals hidden inside the Copper Mechanical Lifeforms in dark environments.
Therefore, as long as she was careful, she could basically avoid all Copper Mechanical Lifeforms encountered along the way.
Step by step, moving along the wall, Gel gradually headed towards the nearest safe spot.
If there were no Copper Mechanical Lifeforms active nearby, the entire passage or room would be completely silent.
A flowing breeze brushed her face, carrying a hint of chilling cold.
If not for the light sources filtering down from above, plus traveling alone, it would be hard to persist in such an environment.
So far, probably only Don was the human who had overcome loneliness and persisted.
Gel moved lightly. While passing by an inset 'U'-shaped small pit, her gaze sharpened.
Inside the inset pit lay a rusted body, now unrecognizable as to what creature it was, with less than one-fifth of its skeletal framework remaining.
Clearly, this was the handiwork of a Copper Mechanical Lifeform.
Gel's gloomy gaze swept over the broken, rusted body, then passed the inset pit, continuing along the wall.
After some distance, she raised her other hand, snapped off a segment of a root plant growing on the wall, then nibbled on it in small bites, replenishing her energy.
These edible plants were everywhere in the ruins.
Therefore, the Hunter Association and Beyond's team, no matter how long they stayed here, didn't need to worry about food.
After swallowing a root segment, Gel continued forward. Her slender figure repeatedly appeared between light, shadow, and darkness. The snake head transformed from her hand continuously scouted the path ahead.
Arriving at a corner not far from the safe spot, Gel held her breath and stopped, leaning against the edge of the wall.
Inside the corner passage stood three Copper Mechanical Lifeforms with different forms.
They stood motionless, like sculptures.
'This path is blocked. Unless something can lure them away, there's no way through.'
Gel lightly bit her lip. Her attention was briefly focused on the three motionless Copper Mechanical Lifeforms in the passage.
She completely failed to notice a finger-sized unknown object slowly moving within the dense plants on the wall, approaching her left shoulder.
Vaguely, the unknown object revealed itself: a bar-shaped thing formed by seven diamond-shaped copper blocks, each the size of a marble, linked together. In the center was engraved a small crystal emitting a faint light.
The pointed tips of the diamond-shaped copper blocks touched, the contact points seemingly glued with strong adhesive, making the seven blocks a seamless whole, resembling a worm.
The copper worm silently reached above Gel's shoulder. Suddenly, the sharp corner of the diamond-shaped block at the head stabbed towards Gel's exposed shoulder.
Sss!
A needle-like pain quickly spread. Gel's body jolted violently. Disregarding the situation, she swiftly rushed forward several steps.
Several drops of blood flew from the wound on Gel's shoulder. Upon hitting the ground, they instantly turned into small puddles of rust.
Meanwhile, the copper worm that attacked Gel arched its body, standing on the wall vines like a cobra in attack posture.
Gel looked at the copper worm that attacked her, a flicker of panic deep in her eyes.
Her left shoulder instantly became exceptionally heavy. Even without looking, she knew that part of her muscle tissue had rustified due to this copper worm's attack.
"Why is there something like this...?!"
Gel had no intention of counterattacking whatsoever. Without hesitation, she turned and fled.
In this place, humans had lost the right to attack.
Unless one possessed the ability to annihilate all Copper Mechanical Lifeforms in the ruins.