But…
Even though this glass separated the two groups, it wasn't without a door. They could simply open it, walk out, and talk face to face. So why weren't these "others" coming out?
The mutants gave their explanation. "We could come out, but wouldn't that scare you? We've seen the surveillance footage. You're all terrified of us mutants."
Scared? Aside from Pei Xin, the one who reacted most strongly was Lan Jin.
Lan Jin quickly clarified. "I'm fine with most things. I just hate multi-legged bugs."
One of the mutants replied, "But those multi-legged bugs are actually the gentlest of us."
The implication was clear. If they were afraid of the gentlest ones, then seeing these half-human, half-beast mutants would be even worse. And if they stepped outside and got struck down by lightning? That would be even worse.
Both sides were tense now. The humans were on edge, and so were the mutants behind the glass.
Then Huang Jinghe, who had been silent, pointed toward something behind the glass. "What's that?" he asked.
Everyone turned to look.
They finally spotted what Huang Jinghe was pointing at: an elevator. The display above it showed "4F," meaning this was most likely the same elevator they'd used earlier.
That was good. They didn't have to go back the way they came. They could ride it to the fourth floor and leave from there. Maybe, if they were lucky, it would take them straight to the first floor.
But Huang Jinghe had another thought.
"Earlier, we didn't see any mutants in this villa," Huang Jinghe said. "Those creatures came out of paintings. And the first through fourth floors are filled with paintings. The moment we step out, we'll probably be surrounded. Getting out won't be easy."
In other words, even if they reached the fourth floor, safety was not guaranteed.
Still, they needed to confirm if this was a viable escape route. The group hugged the wall, skirting around the glass enclosure, and moved cautiously toward the elevator.
The mutants watched them intently. As Huang Jinghe neared the elevator, the feline-shaped mutant's mouth twitched. Lan Jin immediately slapped down Huang Jinghe's hand before he could press the button.
Startled, Huang Jinghe jumped. "What's wrong, Sister Lan?"
"Don't press it." Lan Jin's tone was firm. She glared at the mutants. "Why are you laughing?"
"Laughing?"
Everyone turned their eyes toward the mutants. But of course, none of them would admit it.
"Who laughed? What are you talking about?" one mutant said innocently. "Us? Why would we laugh?"
"Exactly. And you know why. Back up. Let's get back to the door."
No one hesitated. They immediately retreated toward the entrance. The moment they moved away from the elevator, the mutants' eyes filled with venom.
But Lan Jin wasn't giving up on the elevator entirely. Once they regrouped at the door, she told Huang Jinghe, "Xiao Huang, use your water ability to press the button."
If they had a plant-based ability, this would've been easier. But the only plant-ability user in their group couldn't use their powers, so Lan Jin had to rely on Huang Jinghe.
Huang Jinghe was a water-ability user. He could create powerful water jets, and water was flexible enough to reach around corners. Pressing a button with water was easy.
Huang Jinghe formed a precise jet of water and pressed the button.
As the elevator began descending toward basement level five, tension rippled through the mutants behind the glass. They grew increasingly agitated, and when the elevator doors opened, panic broke out. They jabbed at their consoles, trying desperately to respond.
Then chaos erupted.
Countless mutant creatures poured out of the elevator.
The humans didn't wait. They slammed the heavy door shut immediately.
Ling Jiang quickly froze the door with her power, sealing it under a thick layer of ice.
Screams erupted behind the barrier. They didn't know what was happening inside, but whatever it was, it wasn't good.
The elevator was now sealed off. Between that and the swarm of mutants, their only path upward was completely blocked.
The route they'd come from was also packed with mutants. They were trapped.
Captain Zhang said grimly, "This place isn't safe. Let's go upstairs."
They hurried up the stairs, but the screams had drawn attention. Mutants blocked their way at the fourth-floor landing, slamming against Ling Jiang's ice barricade.
They were completely surrounded.
Pei Xin's voice trembled. "This isn't right! How are we trapped like this? I don't want to die here! Think of something!"
Lao Gao snorted. "You think we can just come up with a plan like that? If we had tools, sure, we could dig a tunnel."
Lao Shi muttered, "That's no plan. Even with tools, we'd never dig through four stories. That would take weeks."
Shen Zhiyu spoke up. "Instead of digging, we should search for another way. This place is huge and complex. There might be secret passages or escape routes."
Secret passages?
Xi Yu, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "I might know a way. Back on the ship, Professor Pei told me—if we're in danger, always go left."
Everyone turned to him, waiting for more.
But Xi Yu had nothing else to add.