In the cold reality, Mua'dib waited for a full ten hours. During these ten hours, he was like an ant on a hot pan, repeatedly refreshing the forum, watching his teammates wreak havoc in the game, while he could only stare blankly.
Finally, after his continuous attempts, he successfully entered the game and eagerly chose to log in.
A torrent of data flashed by, and his consciousness was pulled back into that dark world full of oil, gunpowder, and faith.
As soon as he entered the game, he spread his arms, looked up, and let out a characteristic, hearty laugh: "Hahaha! Mua'dib is back again!"
His laughter echoed in the enclosed space, sounding exceptionally loud. After laughing, he began to look around. The Helldivers Company players were scattered within a huge, sealed metal space. The constant 'clanging, clanging' of mechanical resonance came from all around, and the floor beneath his feet vibrated slightly with the rhythm.
He paused, "Huh? What's going on here? Are we not at the Chemical Refinery anymore?"
"Mua'dib, didn't you check the forum? No, wait, weren't you just posting on the forum?" a player next to him, who was wiping a laser sniper rifle, looked up and said, "We're going to the Mid-Hive to rescue a Tech-Priest. We're in the elevator now."
"So what exactly is this game's resurrection mechanism? I still don't understand it," another player said, puzzled, "Didn't Mua'dib die at the Chemical Refinery?"
"For now, it seems to be squad resurrection," another player explained, "However, as the Veil of Reality thickens later, it will likely become fixed resurrection points, and then running across the map will be troublesome."
"Oh, right," a player suddenly remembered something, his expression instantly tense. He leaned close to Mua'dib, lowering his voice, "Mua'dib, please don't get an itchy hand and use Hell Fire now. This elevator looks sturdy, but if you blast it, we'll really become space junk, and that won't be fun."
Mua'dib, hearing this, looked at everyone with a speechless expression: "Am I, in your eyes, the god damn unabomber?"
As soon as his words fell, all the players present, including Robert, nodded in unison and with incredible tacit understanding. The synchronized movements of 99 people looked quite spectacular.
Just then, the entire elevator came to an abrupt halt with a piercing metallic clang and a violent jolt.
"We're here!"
Almost at the same instant, all the players' playful expressions vanished. With a battle-hardened tacit understanding, they reacted quickly, their muscles tensed, almost instinctively completing tactical maneuvers and setting up defensive formations.
Dozens of dark gun barrels were aimed squarely at the elevator doors, which were about to open.
The heavy gate slowly rose with a hydraulic hiss.
Behind the door, there was nothing.
The expected human wave tactics of the cultists did not appear; what greeted their eyes was a huge platform that was somewhat excessively spacious and bright.
The players' tense nerves slowly relaxed. After confirming it was safe, they all lowered their guns. It wasn't that they were unwilling to fight, but everyone present knew very well that Robert was also with them in this elevator.
If they were ambushed by cultists at the elevator entrance, in a chaotic battle, anyone could die, but Robert's death was the last thing any player wanted to encounter at this stage.
A player walked out of the elevator, took a deep breath, and showed a look of intoxication.
"...Wow, the air here is so good. I even smell a hint of sweetness."
Other players nodded in agreement, and some even immediately pulled up their data panels.
"Yeah, I just checked my lung function. Can you believe it? In the Lower Hive, if you're not careful, one breath drops a point of health; here, one breath through the lungs, there's no decrease!"
"The air quality here is so good that an ordinary person staying here could maintain normal lung function for at least three years!" a player exclaimed.
"That long?!"
The players marveled for a while at the Mid-Hive's lack of strong corrosive and hallucinogenic gases, having only air filled with ash and enriched lead and mercury, but they didn't forget their mission.
Marveling aside, the Helldivers Company didn't need Robert to give specific orders; the players automatically formed a standard double-file military formation, with scouts at the front, armored vehicles at the rear, and Mua'dib deliberately placed in the center of the queue, with people 'watching' him from both front and back.
Meanwhile, Robert, as the Company Commander, took the walkie-talkie from his back, adjusted it to the previous channel, and tried to contact the mysterious Tech-Priest again.
After adjusting the channel, he brought the walkie-talkie to his mouth and tentatively said, "This is the Helldivers Company. We have arrived at the Mid-Hive via the Lower Hive elevator. Calling the Trinity Foundry Workshop, do you read?"
"..." A burst of static noise.
"This is the Helldivers Company, repeat, we have arrived at the Mid-Hive platform. Calling the Trinity Foundry Workshop."
After repeating twice, the other end of the channel finally responded after a burst of harsh static noise, with a heavily electronically synthesized voice, full of hums and crackles: "This is the Trinity Foundry Workshop! Oh, Omnissiah above, you really came, I thought you were all done for..."
Hearing this, a few black lines couldn't help but appear on Robert's forehead. This Tech-Priest... didn't sound very serious, did he?
"Ahem," the voice on the other side seemed to clear his throat, although he might not even have such an organ anymore, and his tone became slightly more formal, "Anyway, I'm glad you could make it. Listen carefully, warriors of the Emperor.
From your platform, proceed straight along the main maintenance channel for about two kilometers. You will see a three-way intersection; ignore the signs leading to the residential areas on the left and right, and take the middle one. Its entrance will have a large 'Gear-Alpha' symbol above it.
Pass through that door, and you will enter a defunct nutrient paste processing area. Watch your step, the steam pipes there are old and in disrepair. At the very end, you will see a towering black spire that reaches the ceiling—that is the Trinity Foundry Workshop!
This is the fastest and safest route. I have disabled most of the security systems along the way. The only thing you need to watch out for is the genestealer cult. Alright, I still need to check the production line. Over!"
The communication seemed about to end like that, but immediately after, a frantic, almost jumping, electronic voice came from the walkie-talkie: "Omnissiah! Don't screw that bolt like that! Holy Solace Line Three will hurt! Damn it, my servitor modifications were too rushed..."
With a 'click,' the communication was hastily cut off.
Robert held the walkie-talkie, which was still emitting a faint current sound, and exchanged glances with Mua'dib, who had walked up to him at some point.
"Is this Tech-Priest... reliable?" Mua'dib's tone was full of uncertainty.
Robert turned off the walkie-talkie and analyzed, "Let's follow the route he gave us first. At least he finished conveying all the key information before hanging up. In the current game, NPCs with this kind of profession are already rare..."