Chapter 352: Subterranean Ruins

The dark passage sloped downward, steep and slick. From the direction of the Stone Chamber behind, the sounds of collapse and mechanical humming rose like a death‑driving drumbeat, pursuing relentlessly.

Lin Yifan and Ling Ling were practically rolling and crawling down in the darkness. The searing pain in Lin Yifan's right arm was constantly tugged by the run, nearly toppling him several times, and only Ling Ling's timely use of Moonlight Power to lift him kept his posture barely steady. The little Xiao You in his arms still slept, as if the world's cataclysms meant nothing to it.

The passage was not naturally formed; its four walls were smooth, coated with a cold, metal‑like material, also etched with the familiar dark‑gold patterns, though most were dim and many were cracked or broken. The air was oppressive, heavy with the smell of iron rust and a pungent, rancid oil stench.

【Navigation data update: currently passing through 'Seventh Beacon Chamber – Secondary Corridor – β Connection Segment'. Structural integrity: 37%. Warning: multiple energy leak points and structural damage detected.】 The cold database interface in his mind stubbornly flickered, offering limited information.

"Light ahead!" Ling Ling suddenly called out lowly; her eyesight in the dark was better than Lin Yifan's.

Lin Yifan strained to look up and indeed saw, at the lower end of the passage, a faint, flickering, grim‑green glow.

The two quickened their steps, stumbling as they rushed to the passage's end.

The view ahead opened up, yet a heaviness settled in the heart.

The passage exit they stood on was atop the rock wall of an underground space unimaginably vast. Looking down, the depth was dizzying, the bottom invisible, only endless darkness. Looking up, the ceiling was likewise unseen, only oppressive, seemingly solidified darkness.

And at the center of this massive underground space, the most stunning sight filled the eyes—

Several colossal metal conduits, each over ten meters in diameter, protruded from the surrounding rock walls like the severed carcass of a giant serpent, twisted and broken, pointing toward the space's center. Cast from a dark alloy, their surfaces were riddled with massive tears and explosion scars, and many spots intermittently flashed dangerous electric sparks, emitting a faint "crackle."

At the center of those broken conduits, where something should have connected, now lay an immense, ragged black void, as if a massive entity had been ripped out, leaving only this gruesome wound.

Those grim‑green, flickering lights came from partially functional indicator lamps at the broken conduit cuts and from some lingering rune circuits on the conduit surfaces. They burned like ghost fire, faintly illuminating the desolate ruin, casting a apocalyptic scene.

In the air, beyond the iron rust and rancid oil, a heavier scent lingered… the charred smell of energy overload burn, and an absolute, soul‑freezing stillness.

Here, it seemed to be the core hub of a massive energy system, once subjected to unimaginable catastrophic destruction.

【Warning: entering 'Primary Energy Conduction Shaft' (abandoned). Massive residual void energy detected (ancient). Titan‑class energy core missing detected. Warning: high‑concentration metal dust and weak radiation residues in the environment; recommend activating an energy shield.】 The database's prompt coldly interpreted the scene before them.

The energy core was taken? Lin Yifan stared at the massive central void, a chill rising from his spine. What kind of force could destroy such a grand facility and seize its core?

"There! A bridge!" Ling Ling pointed left.

From the side of their opening, a narrow, also metal‑made suspended walkway stretched forward like a thin line, linking to a dark opening on the opposite rock wall. The walkway was riddled with rust, many sections already broken, only twisted metal frames barely holding the connection, appearing exceedingly fragile against the endless abyss below.

This is the only path.

Wooo—Wooo—

From deep within the rear passage, the heart‑pounding alarm and mechanical buzzing grew nearer, and a heavy, metallic foot‑stomping sound could be heard approaching!

There was no time to hesitate!

"Go!" Lin Yifan gritted his teeth and was the first to step onto the rusted walkway.

The moment his foot landed, the entire walkway emitted a sour‑making "creak," shaking violently as rusted debris fell, plunging into the boundless darkness below.

Lin Yifan and Ling Ling's hearts rose to their throats; each step was taken gingerly, as if treading thin ice.

Just as they reached the middle of the walkway, the most unstable section—

Boom!!!

A massive explosion roared from the passage entrance they had come through! Scorching shockwaves spewed out, laced with flying metal fragments!

Immediately after, a huge, gruesome silhouette shattered the entrance's rock wall and appeared in their view!

It was a humanoid mechanical construct nearly three meters tall! Yet its form was far from any elegant design, brimming with pure violence and a sense of destruction!

Its body was made of a dark, scar‑riddled, dented metal; the torso was massive, limbs thick and tipped with sharp barbs. Its "head" was a constantly rotating, multi‑faceted sensor flashing crimson light, coldly scanning the entire space. Its right arm was a multi‑tube rotating muzzle emitting dangerous energy fluctuations, while its left arm was an enormous chainsaw sword, its edge streaming with high‑temperature red light!

Each step its heavy metal foot took on the metal walkway made the entire bridge emit a strained groan and violent tremor!

【Identification: Ruin Defense Unit – 'Scavenger' Type III. Threat level: High. Equipped weapons: high‑frequency pulse cannon, molten‑heat chainsaw sword. Target: eliminate all unauthorized lifeforms.】 The database alarm flashed wildly.

The 'Scavenger's' crimson sensor instantly locked onto Lin Yifan and Ling Ling on the walkway!

Buzz—!

Its right arm's multi‑tube pulse cannon muzzle instantly flared with a blinding white light!

"Jump!" Lin Yifan's spirit surged, he roared, using all his strength to lunge forward!

Ling Ling reacted faster, Moonlight Power erupted, her form turning into a white streak that darted out!

Boom!!!

A thick pulse energy beam hammered the spot where they had just stood!

Amid the violent explosion, the already fragile walkway was completely blown apart! The twisted metal framework howled as it fell downward!

Lin Yifan and Ling Ling, though leaping out early, were still slammed by the blast's shockwave, hurled toward the opposite rock wall!

Thud! Thud!

The two crashed heavily onto the metal platform extending from the opposite opening, rolling together. Lin Yifan felt his bones near disintegration, his right‑arm wound tearing open again, blood gushing. Ling Ling let out a painful cry, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

Still shaken, they turned to look back.

There, the 'Scavenger' stood at the other end of the broken walkway, its crimson sensor staring coldly at them. It seemed unable to leap across the massive gap, but its right‑arm pulse cannon began recharging, the dazzling white light coalescing, clearly intending a long‑range barrage!

At this critical moment!

Mutation rebirth!

Buzz—Buzz—Buzz—

Throughout the massive Primary Energy Conduction Shaft, the indicator lamps and runes that had only flickered grim‑green suddenly, without warning, erupted collectively in unprecedented, blinding red light!

A grander, older, undeniable alarm rang through the entire space, instantly drowning out the 'Scavenger's' operating sounds!

【Maximum alert! Anomalous spatial fluctuations detected in 'Core Missing Zone'!】【Feature match: 'Breath of the End' infiltration (low intensity)! Repeating: 'Breath of the End' infiltration!】【Priority override! All defense units, prioritize dimensional threats! Repeating, prioritize dimensional threats!】

The 'Scavenger', poised to fire, suddenly froze! Its crimson sensor instantly shifted away from Lin Yifan and Ling Ling, snapping toward the massive, gruesome void at the center of the space that had once linked to the energy core!

At the void's edge, space began to warp again, a viscous, nauseating dark‑red glow seeping like blood, slowly spreading! Though far smaller than the fissure seen in the Stone Chamber, the extreme evil, madness, and decay radiated identically!

"They" really were drawn here! The database's warning was fulfilled again!

The 'Scavenger' emitted a rapid, warning‑laden sharp electronic tone, completely ignoring the nearby Lin Yifan and Ling Ling; its massive body abruptly swung, its right‑arm pulse cannon without hesitation aimed at the slowly seeping dark‑red glow in the space's center, firing wildly!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A thick energy beam slashed the darkness, striking the void's edge, attempting to Purify the infiltrating evil force!

The dark‑red glow and pulse energy collided violently, annihilating each other, emitting a sizzling, corrosive sound!

Seize this chance!

"Run quickly!" Lin Yifan pulled Ling Ling up, didn't look back, and rushed into the pitch‑black opening behind him, leaving the battle between the machine and the evil demon behind in his mind.

The new passage was equally dark downward, but seemed even narrower and more winding.

They ran for an unknown length of time, only daring to stop when the fierce explosions and energy collisions behind them grew distant and muffled, leaning against a cold metal wall to gasp heavily.

The post‑cataclysm fear and exhaustion surged to his heart like a tide.

Lin Yifan spread his palm, and the dark‑golden Beacon Fragment lay there quietly, faintly radiating residual warmth.

It is both a key and a Disaster Star.

And this silent ancient ruin is far more dangerous and… complex than they imagined.

The cold metal wall pressed against his back as Lin Yifan gulped air; each inhalation tasted of rust and dust, scorching his throat.

The wound on his right arm tore open again after the brief sprint, blood soaking the crude bandage and sending waves of tearing pain.

Ling Ling leaned beside him, her tiny body trembling—not from cold, but from the death threat in the flash of lightning moments ago and the faint, terrifying sounds of the machine battling the demon behind them.

The Xiao You in his arms still slept, as if the upheaval of the world mattered not to it; only through the soul link could one sense its essence slowly and steadily recovering.

"What… what exactly is that?" Ling Ling's voice trembled with lingering fear; she was referring to the mechanical killer called the Scavenger.

"The… guardian of this ruin," Lin Yifan rasped, bearing the pain, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.

This new passage was narrower than the previous one; the walls were no longer rock but entirely made of that dull metal, covered with denser, more intricate dark‑gold patterns, many spots bearing damage and scorch marks. The air grew heavier, and the burnt‑after‑energy overload smell intensified.

He spread his left hand, and the dark‑golden Beacon Fragment lay quietly in his palm, still emitting a faint warm glow. The cold database interface in his mind, after the recent chaos, seemed over‑consumed, becoming extremely dim, maintaining only minimal operation like a dying candle in the wind.

【Environmental Scan: Passing through 'Maintenance Passage-γ-7'. Structural Integrity: 41%. Energy Level: Extremely low. Multiple ancient battle remnants detected…】 The information flickered intermittently, as if with poor contact.

"It seems… it can guide us?" Ling Ling also noticed the metal piece in Lin Yifan's hand and his occasional stare as if he were 'looking' at something.

"You could say that, but it's also a source of trouble," Lin Yifan gave a wry smile, clutching the metal piece. This thing attracted the Scavenger and also the terrifying Breath of the End—blessings and curses unpredictable. "It shows a relatively intact room ahead on this passage; we need to go there for a brief rest. I can barely hold on."

His condition was indeed dire: excessive blood loss, depleted strength, and his soul exhausted from the successive shocks.

Ling Ling nodded firmly, carefully supporting Lin Yifan: "Alright, Brother Yifan, I'll help you walk."

The two trudged forward along the narrow, dim metal corridor. Inside, a dead silence prevailed, only their heavy breathing and footsteps echoing clearly across the vast metal walls.

After about a hundred meters, a fan‑shaped, half‑open metal gate appeared ahead. The gate was immensely heavy, its edges bearing massive deformations and tears, as if a great force had forced it open.

They slipped in side‑by‑side, staying alert.

Beyond the gate lay a modest circular chamber, also of metal construction. The interior was a wreck: broken cables hung from the damaged ceiling and walls like withered vines. Shattered, unidentifiable instrument parts littered the floor, coated in thick dust. The walls were lined with control panels and screens, now all black and cracked. In a corner lay several twisted, non‑human metal skeletons, buried under heavy dust, their ages of death unknown.

It seemed like a small control node or shelter, likewise not spared from the past disaster.

【Identification: Secondary Monitoring Node-b11. Status: Completely Discarded, energy core missing, all systems offline.】 The database supplied a cold annotation.