Less than an hour later, under Dorothy's guidance, Mo Chen entered the region where Eden was located—far to the east of the Ark, in a remote and uninhabited plain that was considered the last sanctuary of humanity.
In the original game, Eden was one of the few places outside of the Ark. Unlike the dark, sunless underground world of the Ark, Eden existed on the surface, where all plants and animals were real, and most of the food came directly from the land. With no Rapture threats and no need to worry about sudden attacks, it was a veritable utopia.
Additionally, one of the biggest differences from the Ark was that Eden was predominantly populated by Nikkes, with only a small number of humans. The entry requirements were extremely high—without exceptional abilities or technical skills, one wouldn't even qualify to enter.
However, the closer Mo Chen got to Eden, the more he felt something was off. Along the way, there were countless Rapture corpses and severed limbs scattered across the ground.
The charred battlefield was still smoldering, the land cracked and filled with craters, and among the debris, he could faintly make out human-like arms, frameworks, and broken parts—remnants of destroyed Nikkes.
From the flickering embers and the acrid smell of burning smoke, it was evident that this battle had taken place only a few hours ago, or even more recently.
With a crunching sound, Mo Chen felt something snap under his foot.
Lowering his gaze, he saw a scorched, deformed skeleton beneath his boot—what seemed to be an arm, now turned to brittle ash. With every step, the charred remains crumbled further, the eerie sound of breaking bones echoing throughout the desolate ruins.
Surveying the surroundings, he frowned slightly.
It was clear that this place had once been a lush green plain, but now it looked like it had been plowed over by artillery fire, reduced to nothing more than a wasteland.
The once-thriving vegetation had been replaced by charred, skeletal trees. The air was thick with the stench of scorched earth and dust. Scattered among the wreckage were remnants of broken buildings—what once seemed to be defensive structures.
Yet, it appeared as though molten lava had swept through, as not only metal but even reinforced concrete and the ground's sand had melted into a pitch-black solid mass, resembling obsidian.
Mo Chen thought to himself,
"So Eden isn't as peaceful as the original game depicted."
After traversing the ruins, stepping over wastelands and smoke-filled battlegrounds, they finally arrived at the entrance of a massive canyon.
Mo Chen scanned the terrain carefully.
Nestled within a valley, Eden was surrounded on three sides by mountains, with rugged rock formations everywhere. This landscape made it ideal for concealment, making it far less likely to be discovered by Raptures.
However, he saw no structures—nothing that looked remotely like Eden.
A thought crossed Mo Chen's mind, recalling what he knew from the game's storyline. Activating his super-vision with the Blacklight Virus, his pupils narrowed slightly. Instantly, his enhanced vision pierced through the deception before him.
It was as if a foggy mirror had been wiped clean—the veil of illusion lifted, revealing what lay hidden.
Before his eyes, a picturesque town appeared, resembling an idyllic countryside retreat. Though it couldn't compare to the Ark's sprawling megacities, which housed millions, it was surprisingly lively.
There were no towering skyscrapers, but the buildings were tall enough to suggest a relatively advanced civilization.
Correction: even more prosperous than he had imagined.
"The Commander is the first human to see through the camouflage without using any instruments."
Dorothy seemed to notice Mo Chen's gaze, turning her head to give him a soft smile before gracefully stepping forward. After just a few steps, her figure passed through an invisible barrier, vanishing as if she had disappeared entirely.
Mo Chen didn't hesitate to follow. As he reached the spot where Dorothy had disappeared, he felt a slight resistance, but it was gone in an instant—like stepping through a thin layer of water.
Suddenly, his vision became much clearer.
Trailing behind, Indivilia, who lacked Mo Chen's enhanced vision, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward as well. The moment she crossed the barrier, her eyes widened in surprise—before her lay an entirely different world.
Buildings were spread out across the landscape, with lush greenery lining the streets, all clean and orderly like a miniature city. There were even shops and entertainment facilities, seamlessly blending modern technology with nature.
No wonder they couldn't be found. So this is the technology they're using.
Indivilia smirked inwardly.
How arrogant of them to expose such a secret to me. Once I return, I'll definitely…
Just then, as if sensing her thoughts, Mo Chen suddenly turned his head and gave her a smile.
"You wouldn't happen to be thinking about bringing Raptures here to raze this place to the ground, would you?"
Indivilia's heart skipped a beat.
He had seen right through her!
She quickly lowered her head and muttered, "I wouldn't dare," putting on a submissive and obedient act.
Mo Chen chuckled.
"That's good to hear."
Dorothy's mesmerizing eyes flickered as she glanced at Indivilia, the corners of her lips curling into a smile, half teasing, half knowing.
"There's no need to worry. Eden isn't some fragile glass ornament. If you'd like to visit, we're always happy to have guests."
Mo Chen joked from the side, "That sounds great. I just happen to need a stronghold on the surface. How about giving me a piece of Eden? Or better yet, why don't you build another one for me?"
Dorothy covered her mouth as she laughed, her bright eyes sweeping over Mo Chen with a playful glance.
"Commander, you truly know how to joke. Eden took decades to build—it's not something that can just be handed over so easily. Besides, it's my treasure. If I gave it away, wouldn't I be left homeless?"
Mo Chen smirked. "Then how about this? I'll give you the Outpost base, and we'll swap. The surface is full of danger, and Raptures are everywhere."
Dorothy smiled. "Eden has camouflage technology that allows it to blend seamlessly with the environment. Plus, we have magnetic shielding that prevents Raptures from detecting this place, so security isn't an issue."
"Oh? Is that so?" Mo Chen gave Dorothy a meaningful look, his tone laced with implication. "But from what I saw, quite a few places seem damaged."
Since entering the camouflage barrier, he had already noticed several signs of attack within Eden. Some areas had been reduced to ruins, and the barrier itself flickered at times, showing clear signs of damage.
Additionally, he saw Nikkes working to repair damaged structures, tending to the wounded, and transporting supplies. Connecting this to the scorched battlefield they had passed earlier, Mo Chen was certain that Eden had recently been attacked by a formidable enemy.
"Why not come to the Outpost instead? It's located in an underground layer, spacious, well-fortified, and you wouldn't have to worry about Rapture invasions."
He was testing her.
Dorothy didn't directly respond to Mo Chen's probing. Instead, she gave a light smile and changed the subject.
"Apologies, Commander, but I'm not too fond of dark and damp places."
"No problem, just live at my place."
"Your place?"
"Yeah, Eden is mine now, so that makes it my home. If you marry me, wouldn't that mean you'd have two places to stay?"
"My my, Commander, you certainly have quite the imagination."
"Hahaha."
To an outsider, the two seemed to be chatting and getting along well, but in reality, they were carefully testing each other, subtly exchanging blows beneath the surface.
Indivilia hurried to catch up with them. For some reason, as she watched their backs, her palms began to sweat.