Li Chuan stared at the underground Level 5 facility marked on the map, his brows slightly furrowed. 'Nexus' not only was Li Feng's final control center but also the core hub of the entire plan. He knew very well—once they infiltrate, it mean direct showdown with Li Feng, no more way to retreat.
Shen Qiu quickly simulated an infiltration route on the terminal, the screen flashing with complex data streams. He pointed at a hidden passage on the map:
"Based on the building blueprint ah, 'Nexus' main entrance confirm heavy guarded. But here—emergency drainage tunnel. That time this research base build for containment breach emergency one, so got this tunnel. We can use it to bypass the front defenses."
Su Man checked her magazine, her voice firm: "If Li Feng know we already found this place, confirm he will tighten security. We must act fast."
Li Chuan nodded, his gaze sharp: "We split into two teams. Shen Qiu, you handle remote interference, make their surveillance system blur-blur for a while, create chance for us to sneak in. Me, Su Man, and Cheng Mo go through the drainage tunnel into 'Nexus'."
Shen Qiu quickly typed a string of code, hacking into the base's security system. "I can fake some ghost signals, make them think got intruder at other place. This way, we can buy maybe few minutes."
Cheng Mo spoke in a low voice: "Few minutes enough already."
The entrance to the drainage tunnel was hidden inside an abandoned pump station at the outskirts of the facility. The tunnel was damp and dark, its walls covered in moss. The air carried a musty, decayed stench.
Li Chuan led the way, cautiously observing their surroundings. They had to cross this long and narrow pipeline to reach the lower levels of 'Nexus'.
Su Man whispered, "Too quiet liao, don't feel like an unnoticed loophole leh."
Cheng Mo gripped his combat knife tightly, his expression grim: "Li Feng shouldn't make such a low-level mistake."
Just as he finished speaking, a red infrared beam suddenly swept across the end of the tunnel—
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Instantly, alarm triggered. The tunnel walls snapped open, shooting out multiple steel cables, aiming straight at them!
Li Chuan reacted fast, rolling to the side just in time. The cables slammed into the ground with an ear-piercing metallic screech.
Su Man raised her gun and fired, severing one of the cables mid-air. Cheng Mo grabbed onto an overhead pipe, using his momentum to leap away from another strike.
Shen Qiu's voice came through the earpiece urgently: "Aiya, is automated defense system! You all must pass in five minutes, if not ah, the whole tunnel will lockdown!"
Li Chuan's eyes flickered as he scanned the area, quickly locating the sensor nodes controlling the steel cables.
"Su Man, cover me."
Su Man nodded, firing precise shots to disrupt the tracking system. Li Chuan pulled out a small EMP grenade and tossed it towards the main control panel.
FLASH!
A white burst of energy flickered. The automated defenses stuttered for a brief moment—
"Move!"
The three of them dashed through the tunnel, reaching the far end just as the security doors slammed shut behind them, sealing off the passage completely.
They had successfully infiltrated the underground core of 'Nexus'.
Inside 'Nexus', they were greeted by a long metallic hallway, lined with high-precision surveillance systems. The walls embedded with digital screens, displaying real-time footage of the entire research facility.
On one of the screens, Li Feng's face appeared. A slight smirk played on his lips, as if he had been expecting them all along.
"Li Chuan, you really came."
Li Chuan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Looks like you already know I will find this place."
Li Feng chuckled lightly. "Of course. 'Nexus' is the heart of everything. You making it here already prove your skills. But—"
Suddenly, a string of code flashed across the screen.
KRRR—
The entire hallway split open.
From beneath the floor, mechanical arms shot out like writhing metal tentacles, lunging at them!
Su Man reacted instantly, flipping backward while firing shots, blasting apart several of the mechanical limbs. Cheng Mo wielded his knife, slicing through a claw that reached for him.
Li Chuan's sharp gaze quickly analyzed the motion patterns of the mechanical arms—
"These things rely on automated tracking. If we don't step into their fixed scan zones, can avoid their attacks."
With this new strategy, the trio carefully maneuvered forward, using the hallway's structures as cover.
Several tense minutes later, they successfully bypassed the trap and reached the final control room door.
Shen Qiu's voice crackled in their earpieces: "Li Feng's main server is just behind this door. I managed to hack into part of the system. Listen ah, I can force open the door for you all, but only 30 seconds window!"
Li Chuan took a deep breath. "Then let's make this 30 seconds count."
The massive security door hissed open.
Inside—
They stepped into 'Nexus' core hall.
It was a vast, circular chamber. At the center sat a massive supercomputer server, its cables pulsing with blue light.
And standing before it—was Li Feng.
His expression calm, as if he had been waiting for this moment all along.
Li Chuan's voice was icy: "Li Feng, game over."
Li Feng smiled faintly.
"Game? No, Li Chuan—this is only the beginning."