Chapter 357: Mechanical Squad (10,000 Merge into 1, Bonus Chapter!)

20: 5, the 14th internal tide begins.

The silent city of Shancheng rotted quietly under an endless, sunless darkness; eerie rustling echoed from dark alleys, and occasional multi-legged silhouettes flickered through the shadows. In the underground morgue of Baicheng Central Hospital, the Union Train Exploration Team and several key members of Jingjing City nervously discussed their plan.

With more and more information decrypted, the current situation became increasingly clear and dire.

Lin Xian was right—the memory modules recovered from the first two transport ships were expendables, wiped clean of critical mission data; aside from fragments of personality and memory knowledge, they were useless.

The missile Lu Xingchen barely recovered in the nick of time was the real key.

Through ACS and Grace's analysis, followed by information processing by Genji Mochizuki, a disaster catalyzed by the Fanatical Descent Faction was coalescing within the skystorm of Star Abyss No. 5.

Combined with the original intelligence gathered by Jingjing City, the Crimson World had conducted brutal human vivisection experiments via mycelial networks and obtained a live tissue sample named "Umbra-Cell" from Baicheng's Mother Nest Research Institute.

They currently did not know the purpose behind the Crimson World's live tissue cultivation, only that some experiment had stirred the Abyss Beasts—if the 【Major Cleansing Device】 at the wastewater treatment plant activated, Baicheng and Jingjing City alike would be inevitably affected; if all of them received Level 5 markers, Genji Mochizuki's plan to sacrifice a floating city for diversion and evacuation would likely fail.

Therefore, how much critical experimental data had been extracted from the Crimson World's memory modules, or the potential impact of the Umbra-Cell, were no longer their immediate concerns.

At this moment, they needed to consider only one thing: escape.

"So we need to enter the wastewater treatment plant within one hour after the tide ends at 21: 5, disable their so-called cleansing device, and then evacuate?"

Qian Dele disdainfully pulled aside a body bag on the morgue table, then leaned against it and asked with skepticism:

"An hour to transfer both the Union Train and Jingjing City? That's not realistic."

"Impossible," Qian Suxun said directly: "Lin's point is that disabling the cleansing device buys us time until the next tide drop. As long as we aren't marked with a high-level tag, evacuation still has a chance."

"What the hell did these guys do to provoke an Abyss Beast?" Kiki snapped: "Being trapped in the Abyss is already bad enough—these bastards are unbearable!"

Chen Sixuan's expression, however, remained calm: "But didn't you say there's a fish-tailed colossus above the wastewater plant? How do we deal with that?"

"I remember you said observation triggers it—so if we don't look at it, we're safe?" Mo Nika added.

"We've only ever dealt with this thing once," Tianye Lan crossed her arms: "But Genji said if they can send living people in, there must be a way."

"Living people? Is he even still alive?" Xiang Ningjing frowned at the clone inside the rocket's cryo-capsule—his brain connected to a brain-machine interface, limbs modified and fused with white mycelia, his body nearly liquefied by the rocket's extreme G-forces; only his heart and brain were preserved by some device to maintain minimal viability. According to Genji Mochizuki, this man had been turned into a living courier's preservation bag, the most valuable parts being his memory module and the Umbra-Cell sample in the petri dish.

Long Zhijie, Shizhi, Bai Xiaoqing, and others stood silently to the side. Lu Xingchen, who had just performed a crucial feat, sat inside Qian Suxun's heavy armor—his spirit improved after Shizhi's purification, but he lacked the strength to speak.

Qian Suxun glanced at Lin Xian, exhaled deeply, and said: "Lin, besides intercepting the cleansing command, there's another problem—we don't know where the Abyss Beast is, or how much time remains before it arrives…"

BOOM!!

A thunderclap shattered the air, and every person in Baicheng—including those in the underground morgue—felt the tremor vibrating through the atmosphere.

Qian Suxun looked upward and continued: "Perhaps it's already above Baicheng."

All eyes turned to Lin Xian. He fell silent for a moment, then whispered to Grace:

"Grace, how long will it take for the Union Train to activate, accelerate, and dock?"

Based on the current readiness of all vehicle units, additional time is required to exit the defensive line and engage the ascent track device. This depends on correcting the initial landing point of Jingjing City's superconducting magnetic anchor array. The primary delay lies in the startup phase; estimated total time is approximately 21 minutes and 40 seconds. Excluding adverse factors, this assumes you personally oversee track construction. Otherwise, total time may exceed 30 minutes.

Twenty minutes—normally good news for Lin Xian, allowing everyone to enter Baicheng's track and escape quickly—but now it felt too long. He had to return and pilot Wuxianhao himself. If others laid the track, it would waste precious time, and crucially, once beyond the defensive perimeter, they risked triggering a tide surge.

Thirty minutes could mean unimaginable casualties—and that giant serpent might still disrupt everything.

Thinking this, Lin Xian prepared to ask Genji Mochizuki—before he could speak, Genji's voice came through.

"Hmm, alright. The bunker can evacuate in 40 minutes, reach Jingjing City in 25. Jingjing City's startup time is negligible—I can pre-activate its core engine. But once Jingjing City activates, it may attract the 01 Entity even more than the Crimson World's cleansing device. Lin, I know your thinking: disabling the cleansing device is necessary. But synchronizing everyone's evacuation at once introduces too many variables. This… is indeed risky."

Lin Xian shook his head, smiling bitterly: "I know that. I never expected to solve everything at once. But even if we get into the wastewater plant, we don't know what the cleansing device looks like or whether we can disable it—that's the first hurdle. Even if we do, if the monster is already alerted, your hydrogen bomb decoy plan must be accelerated. And since the Crimson World wants us buried in the Abyss, they likely have other tricks. We probably only have one chance: this time window. With your computational power, you've already calculated it—each passing moment reduces our odds, right?"

After Lin Xian finished speaking, the Jingjing City members fell silent. In the bunker's command center, Genji Mochizuki said nothing, watching the monitor showing Lin Xian in his powered armor, his fingers rhythmically tapping his arms. After several seconds, he smiled faintly and sighed:

"You're right. Calculations show all adverse factors have converged. It's time to prepare for evacuation. Let's see… 20: 0. Next tide drop is at 21: 5. That gives us 85 minutes until the next surge. I'll have all bunker personnel evacuated and ready within 40 minutes—including those merchants."

Lin Xian checked the time: "I'll immediately prepare the Union Train. After the tide ends, I'll go with Suxun to the wastewater plant, then return to the train line to await your superconducting magnetic anchor array."

"So we're evacuating during the next tide?" Tianye Lan's face paled: "This…"

"No better option, Lan," Qian Suxun sighed: "Once Jingjing City activates, it'll alert an S-class anomaly or the Abyss Sovereign. But if we don't activate it, the Union Train can't reach us. And the Abyss Beast is already approaching. Waiting here is pointless. Compared to facing that beast, the tide storm is nothing."

Hearing this, Tianye Lan fixed her gaze, then exhaled: "You're right."

Lin Xian turned to Xiang Ningjing. Their eyes met, nodded, then relayed the next phase of the operation to the Union Train's line deep in the Dark Forest.

When Lin Xian's message arrived, Shi Di and the others immediately grasped the gravity. The previously quiet defensive line tensed instantly. Team leaders relayed orders down the chain; every position began preparing according to the pre-established protocols devised by Grace and Lin Xian.

On Wuxianhao, all rooftop weapon systems were lowered. Inside, tension ran high. As the lead vehicle, Wuxianhao would be the first to enter the magnetic anchor array. Luo Yang and Lao Mo led a team of engineers in final preparations.

"Understood, Team Leader Lin. We're ready!"

"No other anomalies detected at the current position."

"Lei Da hasn't scanned the giant serpent…"

"Understood!"

In the rear carriages, Shasha operated a six-axis manipulator to reinforce Shalihao, while Li Yi and Sun Yuzhen secured all Wuxianhao's supplies. Da Lou Shu, Qin Liang, and Lei Lei coordinated ammunition resupply. In Car 3, Ding Junyi, upon hearing Lin Xian's message, said:

"I understand. Have Grace sync the key data to me." Ding Junyi knew Lin Xian had no time. Fortunately, Grace could handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Though data transfer had delays, she didn't mind—more information might help her contribute.

At Baicheng Hospital's morgue, the evacuation plan was finalized; both sides began preparations. Lin Xian's group now turned to the wastewater plant—the most urgent crisis at hand!

"Fifteen minutes left."

Qian Suxun maneuvered the ACS robot forward, projecting a holographic 3D image of the wastewater plant. Lin Xian recognized at once that they'd prepared multiple contingency plans and conducted thorough reconnaissance.

"Our observations show few anomalies within 500 meters of the plant. We suspect the colossus was deliberately positioned there and has remained stationary for a long time. But for some reason, it continuously rotates, completing one full turn every two to three minutes."

"Huh? Sounds like they installed a spotlight," Kiki frowned: "Who uses this thing to guard their research facility? They're insane."

"Indeed irrational," Lin Xian said to Qian Suxun: "What's the field of view of the colossus's front?"

Qian Suxun chuckled helplessly: "You've stumped me. Didn't we say the Crimson World gathered its data by sacrificing lives? We know very little about this thing."

"And the firepower there is heavy. Drones and powered armor alone won't break through," Tianye Lan tightened the joints on her armor's wrist, her voice sharp.

"We tried drone reconnaissance before—all intercepted by EMP defenses."

Lin Xian's expression darkened. He now understood why Jingjing City, despite its formidable strength, couldn't breach an unguarded clone research facility.

First, the Abyss was treacherous—internal tides cycled, and the terrifying Fish-Lion Colossus loomed. Lin Xian had once glanced at it and his Black Hawk armor had instantly rebooted. Other psychics likely suffered the same. The difficulty was near-impossible.

"Wait—don't your ACS and heavy armor have microwave plasma shields? EMP defenses shouldn't affect them," Kiki asked Qian Suxun.

Qian Suxun nodded: "Genji and I discussed this. But the problem is, once the armor enters the EMP field, even if the armor itself isn't damaged, I lose control. No data returns. We simply know too little about the interior. And compared to breaching the facility, intercepting transport ships yields higher returns with lower risk. They knew this, which is why they tampered with the transport ships."

Hearing this, Lin Xian realized Jingjing City feared losing their combat armor. Drones were expendable, but Qian Suxun's machines—clearly elite units—were irreplaceable. These robots' core systems relied on Qian Suxun remotely controlling three heavy armors; they lacked strong AI autonomy.

At this thought, Lin Xian had an idea. He turned to Grace—and beside her stood another robot, captured from the transport ship, identical in type to Grace. After a rapid system overwrite, Lin Xian could activate it immediately.

"What about her?"

"Uh…" Qian Suxun frowned: "You want your AI to enter first and disable the defenses?"

Lin Xian took a deep breath: "I don't think any of us psychics can withstand electromagnetic cannons or hypervelocity railguns."

As the man who built multiple 1130 and G3 electromagnetic railguns, Lin Xian knew their power intimately. Even against tide surges, these heavy weapons were insufficient.

During the Xilan Campaign, hundreds of Great Wall-50 railgun emplacements on the walls couldn't hold back the endless tide. But those weapons were meant for infinite hordes—hence their seeming weakness. If turned against psychics, they'd be unstoppable. They'd already slaughtered a powerful band of desert raiders with heavy weapons in Akse. Which psychic could face a Gatling cannon head-on?

Even in powered armor, no one could charge into a fortified position like that.

"This plan is viable."

Genji Mochizuki's voice came through: "With the Crimson-3's intelligence level, it can execute this mission."

Lin Xian said directly: "You already thought of this. You were just waiting for me to say it first."

In the command center, Genji Mochizuki crossed his arms, noncommittal: "It's your asset. And you still don't fully grasp the value of an 8192-quantum-volume AI. Yurius saw this robot—the Crimson World won't abandon its recovery."

"Let them come for it."

Lin Xian spoke calmly, then turned to Grace: "Grace?"

Grace stepped forward gracefully, hands behind her back.

【Understood. You require me to infiltrate the facility, disable the EMP and weapon systems, and conduct internal reconnaissance. This mission is challenging, but I can handle it.】

【Additionally】Grace glanced at the other robot, curled on the floor beside her, and said: 【I recommend activating this Crimson Dancer-series combat robot as a deployment unit to support my operation. This will significantly increase mission success probability.】

"No problem."

Lin Xian reached out and restored the Dancer's power module. Grace had completed the system overwrite. As the system activated, a low hum resonated from its internal power core. All its reversed joints realigned, and the robot rose to its feet.

【System booting】

The Dancer robot walked beside Grace, its voice cold and mechanical:

【Protocol activated. Importing controlled program.】

Now, two Dancer robots stood side by side—different in form, radiating an aesthetic of mechanical and human fusion.

【You may name it, or we may call it Dancer-1. Its base protocol is identical to mine.】 Grace said.

"Call it that." Lin Xian had no time for naming.

"Lin."

Tap. Tap.

At that moment, several heavy armors stepped forward from behind. Qian Suxun pointed at the ACS robot and said earnestly: "If so, please take my machines along too. Let the Crimson AI temporarily assume command. I believe they'll be useful."

Lin Xian glanced at him, then nodded without hesitation: "Fine. Do it."

With Qian Suxun's machines assisting, the success rate would rise. Lin Xian didn't want to lose this vital Crimson AI—but there was no better option. He knew Qian Suxun's gesture was a sign of true solidarity.

"Lin Xian, after disabling the defenses, what about the colossus?" Chen Sixuan asked.

Kiki proposed: "If observation triggers it, what if we just drive a vehicle straight in?"

"The Crimson World's aircraft are fully sealed. Maybe that's why they're immune," Xiang Ningjing added.

Qian Suxun nodded: "We monitored Crimson transport ships taking off—they always launched when the colossus rotated away from them. We can exploit that window, but we must calculate precisely."

"That's exactly what I thought."

Lin Xian checked the time: "After the tide ends, Grace leads the robot team through. Kiki and I will retrieve the two transport vehicles from the ship. Once the defenses are down, we'll seize our chance to enter."

Since the exact observation angle was unknown, they'd maximize their odds by entering only when the Fish-Lion Colossus rotated to its back.

"Split teams?"

"Fewer people, better," Lin Xian said directly: "The colossus emits strong dark corruption. Since it's unattended, we don't need many inside. Just Kiki, Fire Brother, and I. Others stay outside to defend against anomalies. Breaking into the facility will cause major commotion."

Qian Suxun nodded: "Then I'll go with you, and Shizhi too. Lin, we can't let you risk yourself alone. Shizhi can help resist the dark corruption, and I'm the one who understands Baicheng and the Crimson World best. Besides, without my armor, I'm useless outside." He said it casually.

"Lin brother, this mech is awkward to operate!"

At that moment, Lu Xingchen, seated inside the mech, spoke urgently.

"Oh, right, I almost forgot." Qian Suxun glanced at the mech, then at Lin Xian.

Fire Brother just burned his power armor to ashes and temporarily moved into Qian Suxun's heavy mech; but this mech will soon enter the research institute, so Fire Brother can't stay inside.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Qian Dele stepped forward, opened his own power armor, stretched lazily, and said: "I'll give you this set. I'm suffocating in it."

Qian Dele's words were half-polite, half-honest—he genuinely disliked wearing heavy power armor, especially since this armor offered no resistance against the Dark Invasion.

"Thank you, Brother Qian!"

Lu Xingchen let out a huge sigh of relief. He didn't want to remain inside this heavy mech, but his clothes had been badly burned—he couldn't appear outside looking so disheveled without damaging his image as the Fire God. And given his personality, he would never back down from such a critical mission, so he was stuck. Qian Dele's gesture solved his dilemma instantly.

Soon, the plan was finalized.

First, Grace leads Dancer-1 and several heavy mechs to infiltrate the wastewater treatment plant's research facility to destroy the EMP and defense systems. Then Lin Xian, Kiki, Lu Xingchen, along with Qian Suxun and Shizhi from Silent City, will seize the right moment to breach the Colossus Observatory and enter the interior.

Outside, Ningjing, Xiaoqing, Abai, Qian Dele, Mo Nika, Long Zhijie, and Tianye Lan will guard and resist the strange entities in the city, securing the evacuation route.

Time: 21: 0. In the underground nuclear facility beneath Bai Cheng's West Mountain, personnel from Silent City and teams led by Hu Lushou and Lu Zhao were all frantically preparing for evacuation. Countless drones orderly hoisted supplies onto Silent City's large evacuation base vehicles. Each combat unit's drone swarms quietly charged, their lights flashing in synchronized rhythm. The entire bunker buzzed with the tension of a storm about to break.

Yet Yueyue Shinji stood silently in the main control room. He could remain motionless there for an entire day. His powerful quantum core—Silent Heart No. 8—constantly computed, but most of its processing power wasn't used for evacuation coordination or bunker control, nor for communication with Lin Xian's team. These tasks were negligible to him.

Maintaining such massive computation relied almost entirely on data gathered from the Star Abyss, calculating formulas to predict the Dark Invasion. Every second, it performed exponential hypotheses, calculations, refutations, and restarts. Meanwhile, in several layers of automated laboratories beneath the bunker, thousands of robots repeatedly processed these formulas and experiments.

The entire bunker functioned like a giant automated intelligent brain research center. The few hundred members of Silent City and Hu Lushou's team were merely a tiny fraction of it.

This was why Yueyue Shinji had rooted his core team in the Star Abyss for two months. If he'd merely wanted to flee, he would have evacuated the ten-thousand-person No. City long before Silent City was pulled into the Star Abyss. Qian Suxun and other core members all knew: Yueyue Shinji was playing a game—with the Dark Dimension, with the Crimson World.

In Bai Cheng's morgue, Lin Xian checked the time: five minutes remained until ebb tide. Calculating by rocket speed, those dozens of rockets carrying frozen cryo-capsules of clones had either been destroyed or already exited the Star Abyss. The Crimson World's agents were surely monitoring and retrieving them at designated points.

Perhaps in just minutes, the purge command would be transmitted through a hidden signal hub to Bai Cheng's research facility. Whether or not it could fully awaken the Star Abyss's master, the strange entities in Bai Cheng would inevitably erupt.

For the Crimson World's organization, each purge plan took only twelve hours—or one day.

But for Lin Xian and Silent City's people inside the Star Abyss, it meant six or twelve days—even longer for the Union Train buried in the Bottomless Lake's Dark Forest!

"Lin Xian."

In Bai Cheng's hospital morgue, Chen Sixuan walked beside Lin Xian and said: "Our train is so far from here. If Bai Cheng's Star Abyss goes out of control, the magnetic levitation flight plan requires at least twenty to thirty minutes. Do you think we'll make it?"

Lin Xian looked at her and replied: "Are you worried we won't make it in time for Yueyue Shinji's floating city decoy plan?"

Chen Sixuan's expression darkened slightly. She took a deep breath and voiced her concern: "I just feel—if we're targeted by one of those monsters, there won't be enough 'luck' or 'timing' left for us…"

"It's fine," Lin Xian reassured her. "Once Silent City launches the superconducting magnetic anchor array, our train can break free. After that, how we escape depends entirely on us. Silent City won't be able to help."

Chen Sixuan paused, then understood. Once Silent City lifted off, why would it wait to travel alongside their train? According to Yueyue Shinji and Lin Xian's plan, Yueyue Shinji was supposed to wait until the Union Train landed in Bai Cheng before deploying the floating city's hydrogen bomb decoy. But Silent City couldn't wait forever. If threatened by the Star Abyss's master or any S-class strange entity, Yueyue Shinji wouldn't sit idle. Whether they seized this window depended entirely on Lin Xian and his team.

"Also, if absolutely necessary, I have other options." Lin Xian noticed Chen Sixuan's worry and added.

"What options?" Chen Sixuan asked, surprised.

"I'll tell you when the time comes."

Lin Xian glanced at the handheld electromagnetic cannon on his shoulder. This custom weapon, named Flash No. by Yueyue Shinji, was designed specifically for silver bullets. He pondered—if time ran short, he might use it to return swiftly to the train line and activate Infinity.

"Lin." Qian Suxun called out to Lin Xian.

At 21: 4, all squad members in the morgue watched the clock. The impending purge device hung over them like a ticking bomb. Tension mounted. Even Mo Nika, the composed Train Queen, grew pale. This helplessness—where life and death were out of their hands—left her gasping.

21: 4: 9

Time froze again at fifty-nine seconds!

59

59

21: 5! Ebb tide!

A vacuum-like ringing echoed in everyone's ears. The previously chaotic ruins of the hospital and streets fell utterly silent.

At that moment, all eyes fixed on Lin Xian.

Lin Xian stepped forward immediately: "Grace, move!"

【Understood】

*Screech!

The massive doors opened layer by layer. Grace, Dancer-1, an ACS robot, and three heavy mechs surged outward. Seconds later, mechanical clashes and combat sounds erupted outside, accompanied by the shrieks of strange entities.

"Clearance complete. Split up." Lin Xian turned to Ningjing and the others.

The squad immediately divided. Ningjing, Tianye Lan, Long Zhijie, and their group advanced toward the preset coordinates of the wastewater plant, clearing the area and lying low. Lin Xian raced to the transport ship they'd seized and, with Kiki, retrieved two transport vehicles.

These armored transports had no weapon systems. Lin Xian didn't expect them to fight—he only needed them to charge into the wastewater plant.

【Distance to target: 3 kilometers.】

Lin Xian and Qian Suxun's team each boarded a transport vehicle. Grace continuously transmitted updates.

*Hum*—at the same time, they drove the vehicles toward the wastewater plant.

Fire Brother sat in the back, focusing intently, preparing for battle. Kiki used the holographic system to relay information to Lin Xian via Silent City's citywide surveillance.

"Lin Xian, take this route. Turn left ahead. Long Zhijie's team cleared this area. We can drive straight into that unfinished building and wait for Grace's update."

"Lin, don't get too far apart. This distance lets Shizhi support both vehicles." Qian Suxun's voice came through.

"Got it!" Lin Xian replied, then drove into the darkness.

"Lin Xian, a large strange entity detected southeast of the wastewater plant in the old factory building. Detour via Pinghe Road." On a high-rise, Chen Sixuan and Ningjing stood at the windward edge, watching a massive black humanoid figure, head bowed, back to the street, standing motionless in the corner of the building—eerily still.

"Floating biological entities above Yulong Street's office plaza—minimum B-class, clustered. I didn't engage directly. Other threats are cleared." On a street corner, Tianye Lan crouched atop a high-voltage tower, with Long Zhijie flying behind.

"Robot squad is entering."

On a mall building far from the wastewater plant's main gate, Mo Nika used her mech's radar and her own ability to precisely track Grace's advance. Her gaze fixed on the wastewater plant's sky, where a floating colossal shadow—the Fish-Lion Colossus—slowly rotated. Mo Nika frowned, sensing a terrifying wave of dark energy sweeping toward them. She crouched low: "Adjust angle: south, counterclockwise…"

Meanwhile, Lin Xian monitored his teammates' positions and Grace's updates. They drove into the derelict factory, stopping beneath a shadowed unfinished building.

Ahead stood a low wall, blocking the view toward the wastewater plant.

Of course, in this darkness, "view" meant little. But Lin Xian couldn't see didn't mean they wouldn't face the Fish-Lion Colossus directly.

【Distance to target: 1000 meters. Engage tactical operation mode.】 Grace's voice sounded in Lin Xian's earpiece.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!

The moment Lin Xian stopped the vehicle, distant alarms blared. Artillery fire erupted—Grace's infiltration had begun!

Under the night sky, Bai Cheng's wastewater plant lay silent as a rusted steel tomb. Rusted pipes glowed sickly crimson under the moon. *Thud! Thud! Thud! Suddenly, ground tremors shattered the quiet. From the thick night fog, three heavy mechs surged forward, racing toward the plant's main gate.

As the outpost system detected the approaching threat, the entire facility groaned like a machine awakening. Metal plates disguised as sludge drying beds burst open. Twin electromagnetic pulse cannons rose like black bone claws from hell. Blue-white arcs of electricity exploded in drone lenses, blindingly white. From the gate, rooftops, countless hidden auto-cannons flipped into position and opened fire in an instant!

*Duuuu!

Countless cannons rained fire on the heavy mechs. Then, swarms of red-glowing drone bees poured from ventilation shafts, swarming the invaders.

*Zzzt!

An electromagnetic surge exploded—the EMP defense system activated. Communication signals between Lin Xian's squads and nearby vehicles instantly died. Car engines shut down. Before the wastewater plant, the three heavy mechs activated microwave plasma shields. Their mechanical arms morphed into thick alloy shields. Instantly, metal storms detonated against the shields, sparks flying.

Under the storm of fire, two of the three heavy mechs were shredded within seconds. But this also created an opening!

In that instant, Grace, Dancer-1, and the ACS robot counterattacked the hidden defenses, launching pulse lasers to destroy automated cannons.

On distant rooftops, Chen Sixuan provided long-range sniper support to eliminate firepoints. Mo Nika, Abai, and other long-range units joined in.

Quickly, the auto-cannons, drone swarms, and EMP cannons were wiped out. Even the alarm system was silenced by Chen Sixuan's single shot in the dark. The battle shifted rapidly. Grace and Dancer-1 moved like ghosts in the night, their metal skins seemingly tougher than Qian Suxun's heavy mech's shield—charging straight through the hail of bullets into the plant.

Under the night sky, Grace and Dancer-1 danced like two ballerinas amid the storm of metal.

As the first tungsten alloy EMP round tore through the air, her super-solid carbon alloy toe already left the ground. Her slender mechanical limbs extended like a drawn katana, slicing through the bullet gaps. The fiery trails of swarm missiles illuminated the sleek, elegant armor of the two machines. Their black paint now glowed faintly blue, like phosphorescent fire floating on a midnight sea.

"Ballistic prediction complete."

Grace's quantum processor calculated all incoming trajectories in 0. 003 seconds. Her right wrist extended a high-frequency blade, sweeping elegantly. Three approaching micro-missiles split silently into six pieces, exploding behind her in orange-red fireballs.

Protected by covering fire, the twin ballerinas swiftly entered the plant.

As the last heavy mech shattered, the once-roaring secret research facility fell silent again. But the massive battle had triggered widespread strange entity outbreaks. The towering figure, previously crouched in shadow, now appeared beneath the building where Chen Sixuan and Ningjing stood.

On Long Zhijie and Tianye Lan's side, countless twisted floating entities surrounded them. On Mo Nika's side, Qian Dele, leaning against the shadows, sensed something crawling rapidly up the mall's staircase…

Strange entity outbreak! Mark generated!

21: 2. Communication still down. But Lin Xian's hidden group sensed large-scale battles erupting in multiple directions. Long Zhijie's non-organic manipulation ability had ripped half the street's pavement into the air. Abai's laser beams lit up the sky!

"They've started."

*Zzzt…*

A green energy membrane enveloped the two transport vehicles, purging the Dark Invasion forces.

Lin Xian exhaled in relief—then immediately felt a terrifying force, like a bottomless abyss, sweep over them.

The Fish-Lion Colossus was rotating!

He forced down his inner turmoil, staring fixedly at the clock and Grace's updates.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Three minutes…

21: 7. Suddenly, Grace's voice and all other squad signals lit up simultaneously.

【Base system overwrite complete. All weapon systems under my control. Commander Lin, you may now enter the research facility at your discretion.】

"Well done, Grace!" Lin Xian exhaled sharply. He and Qian Suxun immediately observed the Fish-Lion Colossus's angle, preparing to advance.

【You're welcome.】

In his earpiece, Grace's voice remained calm.

【You can always trust Grace.】

(End of Chapter)