"Master Chief."
Soon, Cortana completed the scan and looked at John, saying,
"The end of the passage ahead of us also appears to be a vast open space, and it's beyond my scanning range.
Moreover, the environment here is vastly different from what the experts predicted.
The temperature remains around 27°C, and the oxygen content in the air is slightly higher than on the surface, making it a very friendly environment for humans."
At this point, Cortana turned to face the screen, looking at the expressionless people and saying,
"Master Chief, these people's physiological functions are all normal; there are no abnormalities. They are alive.
As for their unresponsiveness to their surroundings, I speculate they might be under brain hypnosis or mind control."
John frowned slightly, listening to Cortana's report, but said nothing more.
He then manipulated the God-Body to resume a standing posture, took the Gauss cannon from his waist, activated the thrusters, and continued flying towards the opening.
Then he said to Cortana in a calm voice, "Cortana, what about the route back to the surface?"
"I can't be certain, but if we want to retreat, our only option is to return the way we came," Cortana turned to John and waved her hand, saying,
"After the company acquired Reaver technology, their species' anti-gravity system was deciphered, and our God-Bodies are now equipped with anti-gravity capabilities.
So, using thrusters and anti-gravity, a height of forty-five kilometers is not a problem, but I cannot be certain if we can truly return to the surface."
"Alright," John nodded, "Then continue monitoring and scanning the environment here to provide research data for Dr. Halsey."
"Yes."
...
John then focused on piloting the God-Body, increasing the power of the thrusters and using the anti-gravity function as an aid, quickly heading towards the giant tunnel, which was five hundred meters high and wide.
Entering the tunnel.
On both sides of the tunnel's bottom, there was scarlet magma similar to the outer space, providing illumination.
During the flight, John looked down through the screen and saw that the dull-looking humans were still orderly queuing and walking towards the end of the tunnel.
"…" But John didn't say anything.
From the moment he became a Spartan, he had encountered all sorts of strange creatures, events, and objects.
And the group of humans below the God-Body were, to some extent, still 'normal.'
After all, they wouldn't suddenly mutate or possess extreme hostility.
Before long, the light at the end of the tunnel grew closer, and finally, the God-Body carried John and Cortana through the tunnel.
The moment they burst out of the tunnel, the God-Body performed an emergency stop under John's control, then ascended again to hover and observe the area.
This place was vastly different from the previous space.
The word 'open' was no longer suitable to describe it.
John used the God-Body's vision to gaze into the distance, but he couldn't see the edge; it was simply boundless.
Moreover, this place had a clear blue sky, a 'blazing sun' in the center, and several floating white clouds.
The ground was covered with a large amount of evergreen sclerophyll trees, palm trees, olive trees, and other vegetation.
The terrain included grasslands, small patches of desert, and high mountains, as well as rivers, lakes, ponds, and so on.
Animals also walked, hunted, or played in this vast green expanse.
And in the open space surrounded by trees in the very center, there were civilian houses, auditoriums, plazas, and temple-like buildings in ancient Greek, Egyptian, and European styles.
It was a super-massive ancient city.
At the very center of the city was a pyramid-like structure even taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza.
And at the top of the pyramid was a gigantic temple.
On both sides of the temple entrance were the 'Anubis' creatures that had been executed earlier by the God-Body squadron; it seemed their duty was to guard.
Seeing this.
Inside the cockpit, Cortana floated to the very front, looking at everything before her and exclaiming,
"This… John, this place is truly astonishing!
The temperature is constant at 24°C, humidity, oxygen, all conditions are in the most pleasant state.
It's completely opposite to the hellish scene we previously predicted; it feels more like… more like heaven."
John, however, remained calm, seemingly oblivious to the beautiful scenery displayed on the screen; instead, he looked directly below the God-Body.
He saw that the previously dull humans, after passing through the tunnel and arriving at the platform at the end, seemed to have regained their self-awareness.
Their expressions varied, mostly surprise and excitement.
Then, a group of heavily armored ancient-style infantry came before the people who had just emerged from the tunnel, leading them away from the platform towards the city in the center.
And even though those soldiers noticed John's God-Body, they did not show any hostile behavior; instead, they chose to ignore it.
Seeing all these strange phenomena.
John twisted his neck, stretched his shoulders, and then gripped the control stick tightly with both hands.
Looking at the temple atop the distant pyramid, he said in a deep voice, "Cortana, if those giant 'Anubis' launch an attack, assist me in controlling the floating cannons to deal with them together."
Cortana also put away her shocked expression, nodding seriously, "Yes, Master Chief."
After the brief conversation, the God-Body, which had been hovering in the air, suddenly accelerated, rushing towards the super-massive pyramid.
"Click!"
Just before reaching the temple, John pulled the bolt of the Gauss rapid-fire cannon, aiming the muzzle at the nearest giant Anubis.
"Beep! Beep!"
At the same time, the auxiliary screen on the left also emitted a target marking alert from Cortana.
All weapons were ready; as soon as John pulled the trigger, Cortana would also control the floating cannons to attack.
But...
"Y-young man."
Suddenly, a steady and solemn voice echoed throughout the entire cockpit.
Hearing this, John immediately stopped pulling the trigger, frowned slightly, and asked Cortana, "Did you hear anything?"
Cortana also looked puzzled and whispered, "Uh... hmm..."
The voice didn't give them more time to react, continuing with an echoing tone, "Do not view everything with hostility.
Come."
As soon as the words fell.
The giant Anubis creatures at the front of the God-Body all stepped down from the pyramid, moving away from the temple entrance.
The intention was clear: something inside the temple had withdrawn its defenses, inviting John and Cortana to enter.
Seeing this stance, Cortana turned to John and said, "Master Chief, I've detected only one massive heat signature inside the temple... at least twice the size of our God-Body.
Are we sure we want to go in?"
"Of course," John said without hesitation, "Even if there's an ambush inside, as a Spartan, I must continue forward."
Seeing John maintain his absolute confidence, Cortana also smiled and said, "Alright, then let's meet the mysterious person inside the temple."
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