A Journey of American Comics Starting from the Zombie Universe

Chapter 688 Mechanical Ball

Bai Yezhan's heartbeat accelerated involuntarily, and an indescribable emotion surged in his chest, which was both expectation and vague uneasiness. He knew very well that such a vision was definitely not something that could be caused by natural forces, and there must be some unknown secrets hidden behind it.

"Attention everyone!" Bai Ye's voice was deep and powerful, penetrating the silence of the night and echoing in the soldiers' ears. They quickly gathered, their eyes flashing with the same determination and curiosity as Bai Ye's. However, the light was too far away, and even their strongest legs could not reach it in a short time.

"Prepare the vehicles, we must get there as soon as possible." Bai Ye gave the order, his tone leaving no room for doubt. The soldiers moved quickly, and a huge jeep that almost swallowed up all the light around it was dragged out from its hiding place. Its tires were several times higher than those of ordinary vehicles, as if it was born to conquer this desolate land.

As the engine roared, the jeep slowly drove towards the unknown like an awakened beast. Inside the car, Bai Ye sat in the co-pilot seat, staring through the front windshield at the horizon ahead that was briefly illuminated by light and then quickly fell into darkness. The soldiers were scattered throughout the car, everyone was silent, but the air was filled with an indescribable tension and expectation.

In the night sky, the aurora began to dance wantonly, as if they were the most gorgeous dancers of nature, weaving a series of bizarre pictures in the darkness. However, this beautiful scenery seemed particularly strange at this time, and each flash of light seemed to be some kind of omen, foreshadowing something unusual that was about to happen. Fear flashed across the faces of the soldiers from time to time, and even they, who had been on the battlefield for a long time, were deeply shocked by this sudden scene.

As the jeep continued to move forward, the surrounding scene began to become blurred and distorted, as if the whole world was gradually losing its original order as they approached. Finally, after a long and bumpy journey, the jeep slowly stopped at the edge of the area covered by light.

Bai Ye got off the car first, his steps were extremely heavy, and every step seemed to be on the edge of the unknown and danger. The soldiers followed closely behind him, their breathing became rapid, their weapons were tightly clenched in front of their chests, ready to deal with any possible threats at any time.

When their sight penetrated the last layer of mist, the scene before them made everyone hold their breath instantly. They saw a huge mechanical smooth sphere lying quietly on the ground, emitting a faint blue light, which formed a sharp contrast with the desolate environment around it. The surface of the sphere was flawless and as smooth as a mirror, reflecting all the light around it, making it impossible to see its true appearance directly.

A strong chill emanated from the sphere, penetrating everyone's body and reaching deep into their souls. Bai Ye approached slowly, and he could feel an unprecedented sense of oppression, as if the weight of the entire world was concentrated on this small sphere. He stretched out his hand, wanting to touch the cold surface, but hesitated at the last moment.

"What is this?" A soldier's voice trembled, breaking the silence. However, no one could answer his question. The appearance of this mechanical sphere was too abrupt and too mysterious that they could not explain its existence with existing knowledge.

Bai Ye looked around and saw that the faces of the soldiers were full of fear and confusion. He knew that at this moment, they were standing at a turning point in human history. This sphere might lead them to a new era, or it might become the fuse that destroys everything. And he, as the leader of this group of people, must make a choice, no matter what the consequences of this choice will be.

The night wind was howling, and the aurora was still dancing in the night sky, adding a bit of mystery and uneasiness to this desolate land. Bai Ye took a deep breath, put aside the distracting thoughts in his mind, and his eyes fell on the huge mechanical sphere again. He knew that no matter what was waiting for them ahead, they had to go on bravely, because this was their mission and their destiny.

Following the sudden change, the huge mechanical sphere seemed to be awakened by an invisible force and slowly rose into the air at a speed so fast that it was astonishing. It was suspended in mid-air, and lasers that were exactly the same as the aurora that had previously passed through the sky began to gather around it. Those lights intertwined and collided, forming dazzling beams of light that illuminated the entire night sky like daylight.

The soldiers were frightened by the sudden scene and retreated one after another. Their eyes were full of fear and confusion, as if they had witnessed the omen of the end of the world. Some people exclaimed, some trembled, but most of them were afraid of the unknown and helpless. However, in this chaos, Bai Ye seemed particularly calm. The corners of his mouth curled up with a meaningful smile, and his deep eyes flashed with a strange light.

"Bai Ye, what should we do?" A soldier finally couldn't help but asked in a trembling voice. His eyes were full of dependence and trust in Bai Ye, as if Bai Ye's words could dispel all the fear and anxiety.

Bai Ye did not answer immediately, but quietly watched the mechanical sphere that was showing its power in mid-air. His heart was filled with complex emotions, including surprise, curiosity, but more of an indescribable excitement and expectation. He knew that the appearance of this sphere was by no means accidental, and the secrets hidden behind it might completely change the world.

"We... don't need to do anything." Bai Ye finally spoke. His voice was calm and firm, like an invisible force that gradually quieted the surrounding soldiers. "This sphere does not belong to us, nor to this world. It came here for a purpose and a mission. All we can do is observe, learn, and then... wait."

The soldiers looked at each other, surprised and confused by Bai Ye's words. But seeing his calm demeanor, the fear and anxiety in their hearts seemed to gradually dissipate. So, they began to imitate Bai Ye, standing there quietly, observing the mechanical sphere that kept flashing lasers in the air.

As time went by, the light of the mechanical sphere gradually became soft and stable, no longer as dazzling as before. It began to slowly rotate in the air, as if performing some kind of ritual or self-examination. At this moment, Bai Ye suddenly turned around and strode towards the giant jeep.

"Let's go." He said briefly, opened the car door, and got in the driver's seat. Seeing this, the soldiers still had many questions in their minds, but they quickly followed and got in the car.

The jeep started up again, and with a roar, it slowly drove away from the area covered by the light of the mechanical sphere. The soldiers looked back through the car window from time to time at the sphere that was still spinning in the air, with mixed emotions in their hearts. They knew that this night's experience would become one of the most unforgettable memories of their lives.

Bai Ye, on the other hand, was driving the jeep with a thoughtful look on his face, his heart full of visions and plans for the future. He understood that the appearance of this mechanical sphere was not just a simple natural phenomenon or a visit from aliens, but more likely a sign of the beginning of a new era. As a witness and participant of this era, he must be fully prepared to meet the upcoming challenges and opportunities.

As the jeep went farther away, the light of the mechanical sphere gradually faded out of their sight. But Bai Ye knew that this was not the end, on the contrary, it was just the beginning.

One day later, when the first rays of morning light barely penetrated the heavy clouds and sprinkled on this desolate land, Bai Ye once again set out on the journey to the location of the mechanical sphere. His steps were firm and powerful, as if he had foreseen everything he was about to face. The soldiers followed closely behind him, their eyes showing both fear of the unknown and unconditional trust in Bai Ye. As the distance got closer, the area that was briefly illuminated by the light of the mechanical sphere came into view again. However, unlike the last time, this time there was no dazzling light, nor the heart-pounding laser. The mechanical sphere floated quietly in the air, like a forgotten star, quietly guarding this land.

Bai Ye stopped and looked up at the huge mechanical sphere, with an indescribable emotion in his heart. He slowly raised his hand, signaling the soldiers to stop, and then walked forward alone. Although the soldiers were full of doubts, they still obeyed Bai Ye's orders, stood quietly in place, and observed Bai Ye's every move.

Bai Ye walked under the mechanical sphere and looked up, trying to find a clue or reaction from its mirror-smooth surface. However, the sphere still maintained its cold and mysterious look, as if it was indifferent to everything in the world. Bai Ye frowned, and an inexplicable irritation surged in his heart.

Suddenly, he bent down, picked up a stone that was scattered on the ground, and threw it at the mechanical ball. The stone drew an arc in the air, and with a whistling sound, it hit the surface of the ball fiercely. However, surprisingly, the ball did not react at all. It still floated there quietly, without even a trace of vibration.

Bai Ye was stunned. He couldn't believe his eyes. He picked up a bigger stone and threw it at the ball with all his strength. But the result was the same. The ball remained indifferent. The soldiers showed surprise and puzzlement. They began to whisper and guess the true identity and origin of this mechanical ball.

Bai Ye's face turned gloomy. He walked to one side of the sphere and walked around it again and again, trying to find a breakthrough from different angles. However, no matter how hard he tried, the sphere seemed to be protected by an invisible barrier and could not be touched by external forces.

"What on earth is this?" Bai Ye muttered to himself, his voice full of frustration and unwillingness. He looked up at the sky, trying to find the answer from there, but there was nothing except gray clouds.

The soldiers gathered around him, their eyes full of concern and worry. They knew that Bai Ye must be feeling very heavy at the moment. However, they were powerless and could only stand aside silently and give him spiritual support.

Bai Ye took a deep breath and tried to calm his emotions. He knew that he couldn't just give up. The appearance of this mechanical sphere was no accident. There must be some important secret hidden behind it. He had to find a way to uncover this secret.

So he walked under the sphere again and carefully observed every detail of it. He noticed that although the surface of the sphere was as smooth as a mirror, it did not seem to be completely flat. In some places, he could vaguely see some tiny bumps or depressions. He reached out his hand and gently touched those places, trying to feel the mystery in them.

However, just as he was about to touch the surface of the sphere, a strong electric current suddenly came from his fingertips, causing him to withdraw his hand abruptly. He looked at his finger in surprise, only to see a burnt mark left on it. He looked up at the sphere, only to see a faint blue light flashing on its surface, as if warning him not to act rashly.

Bai Ye's face became even gloomier. He realized that this mechanical sphere was not a simple object. It possessed some unknown power and wisdom. He had to treat it with more caution, otherwise it would probably cause unnecessary trouble.

Seeing this, the soldiers gathered around and asked Bai Ye about his condition. Bai Ye shook his head, indicating that he was fine. Then, he looked up at the huge mechanical sphere again, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Since there was no substantial progress in the study of the mechanical sphere, Bai Ye decided to change his strategy and temporarily withdraw his attention from the intense exploration. He turned around and smiled at the soldiers who were confused but still highly alert. There was both helplessness and relief in that smile.

"Everyone, it looks like our battle with this big guy today will come to an end for now." Bai Ye's voice echoed in the empty wilderness, with a hint of relaxation and ridicule, "In this case, we might as well change our mood and enjoy this rare quiet time."

The soldiers were stunned at first, then smiled knowingly. They quickly took action, some took out dry food and water bottles from their backpacks, and some began to look for a suitable picnic spot and spread out the picnic blanket. Soon, a simple but warm picnic site was built under the shadow of the mechanical ball.

Bai Ye also participated in the process. He personally selected a few flat stones to form a simple dining table, and then asked the soldiers to sit in a circle. Everyone took out their own food, including bread, sausages, canned food, and a few bottles of wine brought from the base. Although the food was simple, it seemed particularly precious and delicious in such an environment.

"Come on, let's toast to our first picnic!" Bai Ye raised his glass and proposed to the soldiers. The soldiers responded one after another, raised their cups or kettles, and clinked them together, making crisp sounds. At that moment, all the fatigue and confusion seemed to be dispelled by the laughter.

During the picnic, the soldiers began to relax. They talked about their hometowns and families, and shared stories and jokes. Bai Ye also participated in the conversation, sometimes listening, sometimes interrupting, and adjusting the atmosphere with his unique sense of humor. In this strange place covered by mechanical spheres, they seemed to have returned to ordinary military camp life, enjoying their rare leisure time.

However, in this relaxed and joyful situation, Bai Ye did not completely let down his guard against the mechanical sphere. From time to time, he looked up at the sphere floating quietly in the air, thinking about his next action plan. He knew that the appearance of this sphere was no accident, and the secrets hidden behind it might have a profound impact on the whole world. Therefore, he had to stay alert and be ready to deal with any possible changes.

After the picnic, the soldiers began to pack up and prepare to return to the base. Bai Ye stood under the mechanical sphere, staring at its mirror-smooth surface, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He took a deep breath, then turned around and gave the soldiers new orders: "After we return, we must immediately organize a team of experts to conduct a more in-depth study of this mechanical sphere. At the same time, strengthen the vigilance here to ensure that it will not be disturbed by any unexpected events."

(End of this chapter)