The alarms blared deafeningly, their shrill wails reverberating through the underground tunnels like a predator's roar. Jin Hao scrambled to his feet, his body aching from Ren's attack. Beside him, Lin Wei stood grimly, her dagger glinting faintly in the dim light. Despite her calm exterior, Jin could see the tension in her jaw, the slight tightening of her grip on her weapon.
"We need to move," she said sharply, glancing over her shoulder. "Now."
Jin nodded, though every instinct screamed at him to confront Ren—to demand answers about the artifact, the Crimson Veil, and why they were hunting him. But Lin was right. Standing around wasn't going to save them. Not with mercenaries closing in from all sides.
Lin led the way, her movements fluid and deliberate as she navigated the maze of tunnels. Each step echoed ominously, bouncing off the damp walls and creating an unnerving symphony of sound. The air grew colder and heavier, pressing down on Jin's chest like an invisible weight. His shoulder throbbed painfully, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward, focusing on keeping up with Lin.
"Where are we going?" Jin asked, his voice low but strained. The fiery symbol on his palm pulsed faintly, its heat both comforting and unsettling.
"A safehouse," Lin replied tersely, not slowing down. "Somewhere they won't find us—for now."
"For now?" Jin repeated bitterly. "That's reassuring."
Lin shot him a glance, her expression unreadable. "You want honesty? Fine. We're running out of options. Those mercenaries aren't amateurs—they're trained killers. If we don't stay ahead of them, we're dead."
Before Jin could respond, the sound of rushing footsteps echoed through the tunnel. The mercenaries were gaining ground, their shouts growing louder with each passing second.
"Pick up the pace!" Lin barked, breaking into a sprint.
Jin followed reluctantly, channeling Qi into his legs to boost his speed. The *Heaven's Wrath System* surged within him, flooding his veins with raw energy. For a moment, the pain in his shoulder faded, replaced by a strange sense of clarity. His meridian sight activated involuntarily, revealing glowing pathways of Qi coursing through the walls—hidden traps designed to incapacitate intruders.
"There's something up ahead," Jin warned, pointing toward a section of the tunnel marked by faint red lines. "Traps."
Lin hesitated, then nodded sharply. "Good catch. Stick close."
With careful precision, she guided them through the treacherous passage, avoiding pressure plates and tripwires that would've triggered deadly mechanisms. Jin marveled at her skill, though he didn't have time to dwell on it—the mercenaries were still hot on their trail.
Finally, they reached a narrow alcove marked by a faded crimson emblem carved into the wall. Lin pressed her hand against it, triggering a hidden mechanism that opened a concealed passageway. They slipped inside just as the first wave of mercenaries rounded the corner, their weapons crackling with crimson energy.
"That was too close," Jin muttered, leaning against the wall as the adrenaline began to fade. Pain shot through his shoulder again, reminding him of the toll this night had taken.
"You'll get used to it," Lin replied dryly, pulling out a small medkit from her coat. "Here. Clean your wound before it gets infected."
Jin accepted the kit reluctantly, wincing as he peeled back the fabric of his hoodie to examine the injury. The graze was deep but not life-threatening. Still, it hurt like hell.
"So what now?" he asked, dabbing antiseptic onto the wound. "We can't stay here forever."
"No," Lin admitted, pacing nervously. "But we need a plan. Running blind isn't going to cut it."
Before Jin could press further, the mechanical voice chimed in his mind once more:
**"System Alert: Qi Flow Detected. Current Status: Unstable."**
The fiery symbol on his palm flared angrily, sending waves of heat coursing through his body. Jin clenched his fists, trying to steady himself as energy surged uncontrollably through his veins.
"What's wrong with you?" Lin demanded, noticing his distress.
"It's… the system," Jin gasped, struggling to breathe. "It's acting up."
Lin frowned, studying him closely. "Focus, Jin. You need to stabilize it—or risk burning yourself out."
"How am I supposed to do that?" Jin snapped, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
"Control your breathing," Lin instructed firmly. "Channel the energy into your core. Don't let it overwhelm you."
Reluctantly, Jin followed her advice, taking slow, deliberate breaths as he focused on the fiery symbol. Gradually, the surging energy subsided, leaving him drained but stable.
**"Achievement Unlocked: Qi Stabilization II. Reward: 400 XP. Bonus: Enhanced Meridian Sight (+15%)."**
"Well done," Lin said curtly, though there was a flicker of approval in her eyes. "Now that you've got that under control, we need to talk strategy."
As Jin regained his composure, Lin pulled out a small device resembling a wrist-mounted computer. She tapped a few commands, bringing up holographic maps and encrypted files.
"This is one of their old safehouses," she explained, gesturing toward the monitors. "Abandoned years ago after a purge—but still useful if you know how to use it."
"What's with all the secrecy?" Jin asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who exactly are you?"
Lin hesitated, then sighed, lowering her guard slightly. "I'm no one special. Just someone who knows what it's like to lose everything to the Crimson Veil."
"And me?" Jin pressed. "Why are they after me? What does this artifact have to do with any of this?"
Lin exchanged a glance with him, her expression conflicted. "It's tied to your bloodline. To something they thought was gone forever."
"My bloodline?" Jin repeated skeptically. "What are you talking about?"
Before Lin could answer, the monitors flickered, displaying a live feed of a familiar face: Commander Ren. He stood in front of a crowd of mercenaries, his expression cold and calculating.
"You thought hiding would save you?" he sneered, addressing the camera directly. "You're wrong. By dawn, every ally you've ever had will be dead—or wishing they were."
His words sent a chill down Jin's spine. Despite his arrogance, Ren wasn't bluffing. The Crimson Veil didn't make idle threats—they acted with precision and ruthlessness.
Jin clenched his fists, frustration boiling over. "So what do we do? Let them play their games?"
"No," Lin countered firmly. "We turn the tables. Use their tactics against them."
Before Jin could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the tunnel outside.
"They found us," Lin whispered, drawing her dagger once more.
Jin nodded, channeling Qi into his palms. Whatever came next, they'd face it together.
As the mercenaries poured into the alcove, Jin felt the fiery symbol on his palm pulse angrily. Energy surged through him, raw and electric, flooding his veins with adrenaline. The mechanical voice chimed in his mind once more:
**"System Alert: Face-Slap Mode Detected. Current Target: Mercenary Leader."**
Perfect timing—or maybe just dumb luck. Summoning every ounce of Qi he had left, Jin charged forward, weaving between the mercenaries with *Ghost Shadow Steps*. With a burst of speed, he delivered a slap aimed directly at the leader's cheek.
To his surprise, it connected.
The impact echoed through the alcove, leaving a bright red mark on the leader's face. His comrades froze, staring in stunned silence as their leader staggered backward, clutching his cheek.
**"Achievement Unlocked: Tactical Slap. Reward: 10,000 XP. Bonus: Increased Precision (+20%)."**
Before Jin could press the advantage, however, Commander Ren appeared, stepping out of the shadows with a cold, calculating smirk.
"Well, well," Ren sneered, raising a hand crackling with crimson energy. "Looks like we've underestimated you, Jin Hao."
Ren didn't waste time with dramatic speeches or smug grins. He moved like a storm—fast, brutal, and utterly relentless. The fireball in his hand blazed brighter than before, casting jagged shadows across the narrow space. Jin pressed on, unleashing a flurry of strikes aimed at Ren's weak spots. But Ren countered each blow with brutal efficiency, forcing Jin to retreat further into the alcove.
Behind him, Lin fought desperately to hold off the remaining mercenaries, her movements growing slower and more labored with each passing second. Jin wanted to help her—but Ren refused to let up, pressing his attacks with relentless precision.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that," Ren said mockingly, stepping closer. "But persistence isn't power."
"Tell me something I don't know!" Jin shot back, weaving between Ren's attacks with *Ghost Shadow Steps*.
Before Ren could retaliate, Zhang stepped forward, raising his hands in surrender. "Hold on!" he called out, his tone calm but urgent. "There's no need for this to get messy."
"Oh, really?" Ren sneered, raising an eyebrow. "And why should I listen to you?"
"Because I've got something you want," Zhang countered smoothly, pulling the data chip from his pocket. "Something you'd kill for."
Ren hesitated, glancing at the chip. For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air. Then he laughed—a cold, humorless sound that sent chills down Jin's spine.
"You think a little data scares me?" Ren asked, shaking his head. "You're more foolish than I thought."
"It's not just data," Zhang insisted, his voice steady despite the accusation. "It's proof of everything—the corruption, the lies, the crimes. Expose this, and the entire Crimson Veil collapses."
Ren's expression darkened, his arrogance giving way to suspicion. He glanced at the chip again, then at Zhang, clearly weighing his options.
"Fine," he said finally, lowering his weapon slightly. "Hand it over."
"No deal," Zhang replied sharply. "Not until you let them go."
Ren's smirk returned, colder this time. "You're in no position to negotiate."
"Maybe not," Zhang admitted. "But neither are you. Without this chip, your operation falls apart—and so does your precious Ascension."
For a moment, tension crackled in the air like static electricity. Then Ren laughed—a cold, humorless sound that sent shivers down Jin's spine.
"You've made a grave mistake," Ren declared, stepping forward. "One you'll regret."
Before anyone could react, Ren unleashed a devastating attack that sent everyone sprawling. They hit the ground hard, gasping for breath as searing pain shot through their ribs.
"This isn't over," Ren whispered, his voice low and deadly. "Not by a long shot."
With that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving behind a trail of destruction—and more questions than answers.
"We need to move," Zhang said urgently, helping Jin to his feet. "He'll be back—and next time, he won't hold back."
As they limped away from the wreckage, one thing was clear: the fight against the Crimson Veil was far from over. And with Ren still out there, none of them were safe.
Not yet.