Chapter 289: Time‑Space Jump Device: Ultimate Mission Preparation

Zhao Yang's finger was still on the edge of the paper boat, the yellow sugar paper shimmering faintly in the light. He was about to pick it up for another look when the ceiling lamp flashed twice, and the power to the Main Control Console buzzed out and went dark.

The three of them looked up simultaneously.

Zhao Xing was the first to react, "It's not a breaker trip; the entire circuit was burned out."

Zhao Chen rushed to the Terminal, the Screen was black, and pressing the reboot key elicited no response. He unplugged the external power cable, sniffed at the connector, "There's a burnt smell; the circuitry is overloaded."

Zhao Yang crouched to inspect the data slot beneath the floor, the cover was scorching hot. He pried open a slit, and inside several wires were broken, with sparks still crackling.

"It's not a malfunction," he said, "it's as if someone far away gave a command to make all charged objects explode at once."

As his words fell, the ceiling vent rattled, and a golden beam surged down from the Rift, striking the center of the room. The three instinctively stepped back half a step, and within the column of light a palm‑sized Metal Ring slowly rose, its surface etched with dense tiny characters, turning gently.

Zhao Jianguo stood in the doorway, a half‑lollipop in his mouth, holding a phone—its Screen glowed with the words "Check‑in Successful".

"Lucky today," he said, walking over and slipping the phone into his pocket, "the system says this thing is called a 'Time‑Space Jump Device', and it can send people to the future."

Zhao Xing stared at the ring, "How did it just fly out by itself?"

"Check‑in gave it," Zhao Jianguo shrugged, "I didn't ask for it."

Zhao Chen reached out to touch it, but Zhao Jianguo stopped him, "Hold on, the system said it must be activated by all three of you together. One alone won't work, nor will two."

"Why us?" Zhao Yang asked.

"I don't know," Zhao Jianguo shook his head, "but it's very clear: the Triplets must activate together; missing any one counts as a failure."

The Metal Ring suddenly halted its rotation, its surface text began to glow and scroll upward line by line. The three leaned in, reading content that resembled a manual.

The first clause reads: "Activators will face Time‑Space Paradox, Body Splitting, and other irreversible risks; they bear the consequences themselves."

Zhao Xing finished the final sentence, and the room fell silent for several seconds.

"That sounds pretty scary," Zhao Chen said.

"It's no joke," Zhao Jianguo leaned against the wall, his tone unchanged, "if you don't want to go, you can stop now. I won't stop you."

The three exchanged glances.

Zhao Xing was the first to place his hand on it, "I'll join."

Zhao Chen followed suit, extending his hand, "I'll join as well."

Zhao Yang was the last to touch, his voice low but steady, "We're ready."

The Metal Ring jolted violently, blue light poured out from where their palms met, spreading across the floor like rippling water and filling the entire room. Cracks in the walls began exuding black vapor, the air grew thick, making breathing somewhat laborious.

Zhao Jianguo stepped forward, positioning himself in front of them.

"Wait," Zhao Chen suddenly said, "this blue light… isn't the same color as the one from the last emotion device activation."

"It's not the same kind of energy," Zhao Yang said, looking down at his hand, "this time it's emanating from within the bones outward."

Zhao Xing bit his lip, "But I can control it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the ceiling light tubes burst one by one, fragments falling and striking the floor. The Main Control Console's Backup Battery Pack emitted a sharp alarm and exploded within three seconds, flames shooting up half a meter.

Zhao Jianguo turned, grabbed the Fire Extinguisher, and sprayed a circle to quell the flames. Amid the swirling smoke, the Metal Ring's light grew stronger, and fine cracks began to appear in the floor, leaking a dark red glow as if something beneath was moving.

"Something's off," Zhao Jianguo said, turning back, "the system never said there would be cracks."

Zhao Yang exhaled, "The device is pulling something in, not just sending us out."

"Who's pulling whom isn't clear yet," Zhao Jianguo tossed the Fire Extinguisher aside, stepped behind them and stood firm, "continue."

When the blue light rose to chest height, the central black Rift suddenly widened, and a face made of interlocking metal forced its way out—devoid of features, only rows of Gear Set teeth meshing and turning, emitting a voice‑like sound:

"You won't get away!"

The sound didn't enter through the ears but manifested directly in the mind, rattling the temples painfully.

Zhao Xing nearly let go, Zhao Chen gripped his arm, "Don't let go! If you do, all our progress is lost!"

Zhao Yang closed his eyes, sweat beading on his forehead, "It's interfering with the signal; I can feel… it wants to hijack control."

Zhao Jianguo fished a fresh lollipop from his pocket, tore the wrapper and placed it in his mouth without chewing. He stared at the Mechanical Face and whispered, "Then don't try to escape."

The Metal Ring thrashed violently, the ground beneath the three completely fissured, blue and red light intertwining and surging upward. A chunk of the Main Control Console's roof was ripped away, bricks and tiles flying far. Outside, the sky was no longer blue but a twisted gray‑purple, clouds being torn as if by something, spiraling in concentric circles.

Zhao Chen suddenly shouted, "The system interface has changed!"

The wall's original golden text turned entirely blood‑red, the last line reading: "External Intrusion detected, Countermeasure Protocol activated—Executor Identity Lock: Zhao Jianguo."

"What executor?" Zhao Yang asked.

No one answered.

Zhao Jianguo spat out the candy piece, the crumbs scattering on the floor. He stepped forward, placing one hand on the edge of the Metal Ring.

"Don't touch!" Zhao Xing shouted, "If you join now it will trigger the Chaos Sequence!"

"I know." Zhao Jianguo kept his hand, "but you missed something."

"What?"

"Check‑in isn't random," he said. "I figured it out yesterday. Every time a key item appears after check‑in, there's an anomalous data upload beforehand. For instance, last night I uploaded the Activation Protocol, and today the Jump Device appeared."

Zhao Chen's mind jolted, "You're saying… we thought we were making our own choice, but the system, based on your actions, had already pre‑arranged the next step?"

"Almost—just about," Zhao Jianguo's hand already pressed against the Metal Ring, "so this activation isn't to send you away; it's to draw them out."

The Mechanical Face twisted and deformed within the Rift, more metallic limbs attempted to break out, but were halted by the blue light. It emitted a harsh, grating sound, like a laugh.

Zhao Jianguo stared at it, "You've been waiting for this moment, right? Waiting for the Triplets to open the door themselves. Yet you didn't anticipate that among those who open the door is still me."

Zhao Yang felt his palms burning, the blue light began circulating back into his body, "The device is reverse‑absorbing energy! We can't last much longer!"

"It won't take long," Zhao Jianguo stood upright, "we just need them to reveal themselves enough."

Zhao Xing's teeth trembled, "Then what are you going to do?"

Zhao Jianguo said nothing, merely placing his other hand onto it as well.

Three forces converged, the Metal Ring emitted a sharp screech, and the foundation of the Siheyuan trembled. Distant glass shattered, neighbors' windows all blew out. The Rift in the sky suddenly contracted, then flared open again, as if struck by something huge.

The Mechanical Face was pushed back half an inch by the blue light, letting out an angry roar: "You can't destroy the program! Time Reset! We'll be back!"

"I know." Zhao Jianguo's mouth twitched, "so this time, I won't jump."

He exerted force with both hands and pushed forward.

The Metal Ring emitted a strained creaking sound, the blue light suddenly intensified, almost engulfing everyone's silhouettes. The Triplets' hands remained on it, their bodies began to tremble, fine cracks appeared beneath their skin, as if they could not withstand the pressure.

Zhao Jianguo's nose bled, but he did not wipe it.

"Listen up." He said to the three children, "No matter what you see from now on, don't let go. Even if the sky falls, hold on tight for me."

Zhao Yang's throat tightened, "What are you going to do?"

Zhao Jianguo lifted his gaze, looking at the constantly twisting Mechanical Face, and said softly:

"I want to shut it back."