Darkness swallowed everything whole. The entire security station was plunged into an eerie silence, as if even the air had frozen still.
Li Chuan tightened his grip on his weapon, his body sinking slightly into a battle stance. He knew this wasn't just an escape—his opponent was crafting a new hunting ground.
"All units, listen up." His voice was low but sharp through the earpiece. "He's not just running. The darkness is his cover, but it can be ours too."
Shen Qiu's fingers danced over the keyboard, trying to restore the system. But the entire network had been severed—backup power failed, rendering the security station a dead zone.
"Damn it." Shen Qiu clenched his teeth. "He used an EMP. The whole server's fried."
Su Man pressed against the wall, her pistol aimed at any possible movement. "What was he trying to erase just now? He mentioned the real 'Eclipse-17'—who is it?"
Shen Qiu stared at the pitch-black screen, taking a slow breath. "The name is gone. The moment he made his move, the system wiped it completely."
Cheng Mo let out a cold chuckle. "Looks like he knew exactly what he needed to erase."
A subtle shift in the air.
A movement—barely noticeable, like a shadow sliding through the void.
Li Chuan's fingers brushed against the trigger, his heartbeat steadying as he entered a hunter's trance.
Suddenly—
A silver flash tore through the darkness!
Li Chuan's instincts reacted faster than thought. His body tilted back just in time, the blade slicing past his chest, carrying a cold whisper of death. Before he could fully recover, the attacker struck again—swift, precise, relentless.
But Li Chuan wasn't just anyone. In the pitch-black chaos, he tracked his opponent's movement through sound and intuition. At the perfect moment, he twisted sideways, his hand latching onto the assailant's wrist. A sharp elbow strike followed, smashing into the attacker's shoulder!
Thud—
The impact forced the assailant back, but the response was immediate—a flick of the left hand, and a thin wire shot out from the attacker's sleeve, whipping toward Li Chuan's wrist!
"Watch out!" Su Man warned, her gun raised, but the darkness made a clean shot impossible.
Li Chuan made a split-second decision—his foot pivoted, and with a sharp pull, he redirected his opponent's force. The attacker was yanked closer, momentarily thrown off balance. Seizing the opening, Li Chuan drove his elbow like a thunderclap into the opponent's stomach!
A muffled grunt—the attacker staggered.
But he didn't panic. Instead, he swiftly slid back, his fingers brushing against his sleeve—
A faint beep echoed.
Shen Qiu's earpiece crackled to life.
"Micro explosives! Everyone, evacuate—now!"
Too late.
Boom!
A shockwave erupted through the security station. Glass shattered, metal groaned and twisted, and the entire hall was consumed by chaos.
Li Chuan was thrown backward by the blast, his back slamming against the cold concrete wall. A sharp ringing filled his ears. But he didn't hesitate—forcing his body to stabilize, his eyes swept the darkness.
A figure was sprinting toward the exit!
"Don't let him escape!" Su Man had already regained her footing, raising her gun—
Bang!
The bullet grazed the runner's arm, but the man didn't slow down. He moved like a phantom, utterly unfazed by pain.
Cheng Mo gripped his combat knife, a smirk forming. "He's fast. Let's see if he's faster than me."
Before the words fully left his lips, he was already in pursuit.
Li Chuan exhaled sharply, shaking off the pain. He had no time to waste—he took off after them.
The chase led them beyond the security station, through the empty streets where city lights reflected off the damp pavement. The lingering scent of gunpowder and smoke mixed with the night air.
The black-clad man moved swiftly, weaving through back alleys before slipping into an abandoned factory.
Li Chuan and Cheng Mo entered moments later, their footsteps silent, their eyes sharp. Su Man and Shen Qiu moved around to block any escape routes.
Inside, the factory was eerily still. Flickering overhead lights cast long, distorted shadows across the rusted machinery.
"He's here," Li Chuan murmured, lowering his stance as he advanced.
A faint metallic scent lingered in the air. Cheng Mo narrowed his eyes, his senses alert—
Then, something shifted.
Without hesitation, Cheng Mo lunged to the side—
Thud!
A steel cable whipped down from above, slicing through the air where he had just stood. It embedded itself deep into the concrete, leaving a jagged mark.
A slow, amused voice drifted from the darkness.
"Welcome… to my hunting ground."
Li Chuan ignored the taunt, his hand pressing lightly against his earpiece.
"Shen Qiu, can you restore comms?"
A faint crackle—then Shen Qiu's voice, still weak but clear. "I've got partial access. Working on jamming his signal now."
"Good." Li Chuan's eyes darkened, lips curling into a cold smirk.
The enemy thought they had been lured into a trap.
But the real hunt…
Had only just begun.