The world outside the shed was no longer quiet.
The metal clicking…
the scratching…
the soft robotic whirr of mechanical limbs…
It grew louder.
Closer.
Like a pack of metal predators circling their prey.
The broken railway shed was small—
far too small for five people and the unconscious Yin Lie—
and every sound outside made the darkness inside feel even tighter.
Qin Mian held Yin Lie's cold body in her arms.
His head rested against her shoulder.
His breath brushed against her neck.
His skin felt like touching ice with a heartbeat.
She whispered to him, voice shaking:
"Lie… don't wake up again. Not now. Not like this…"
But the truth was—
he was already reacting.
His fingers twitched.
A faint glow pulsed under his skin.
His body sensed danger the same way a storm feels lightning before it strikes.
Kai felt it too.
She moved silently to the side of the doorway, rifle lifted.
Chen Gu stood behind a cracked pillar, clutching a metal pipe as if it were a weapon.
(Deep down he knew it wasn't.)
Thorne hid behind a pile of rusted tools, eyes wet, whispering:
"I'm too young to die… I haven't even kissed anyone yet…"
"Shut up," Kai hissed.
Thorne shut up.
But the Crawlers didn't.
Click—click—click—click—
One stepped into view beside the broken doorway.
A black metal body as wide as a motorcycle.
Eight sharp legs that moved like knives on sand.
Multiple glowing red eyes scanning in every direction.
Its head lifted.
A red targeting lens focused inside the shed.
Chen Gu whispered in pure terror:
"…They found us…"
Qin Mian felt Yin Lie tense in her arms.
His breath hitched.
His voice came out broken:
"…don't… let them… take you…"
She cradled his face.
"Lie. Listen. I'm here. I'm right beside you."
His glowing mismatched eyes flickered open—just a sliver.
"…Mian… run…"
She shook her head fiercely.
"No."
Kai whispered urgently:
"Qin Mian. Put him down. Take cover—NOW!"
Qin Mian didn't even look at her.
"I won't leave him."
Kai's jaw clenched.
"…you're going to get yourself killed."
"Then I die with him," Qin Mian whispered, voice trembling but firm.
Even the wind outside seemed to stop for a moment.
Kai stared at the girl holding a half-conscious boy like he was the only thing she had left.
"…You're more stubborn than he is," Kai muttered.
The Crawlers Enter
The first Crawler crawled under the broken frame of the door—
slow, careful, cold.
Then a second.
Then a third.
Their bodies made soft metal scraping sounds as they moved across the dirt.
Their red lights scanned the inside—
passing over Kai, over Chen Gu, over Thorne—
only stopping on Qin Mian and Yin Lie.
Qin Mian felt her stomach drop.
She held Yin Lie tighter, whispering:
"Don't be afraid. I'm right here."
He trembled.
"…Mian…"
She hugged him.
"I won't let them touch you."
The Crawlers lowered themselves, preparing to pounce.
Kai gritted her teeth.
"One more step and I shoot."
But she knew her bullets couldn't stop them.
Chen Gu's hands shook so badly his pipe clanged against the floor.
Thorne fainted and woke up again from panic.
Everything was seconds from disaster.
Then—
Yin Lie's power leaked out.
Just a small thread of blue light from his neck.
Barely anything.
But the Crawlers felt it instantly.
Their lenses snapped toward him.
They moved into attack stance.
Kai cursed.
"That's it—RUN—"
She never finished her sentence.
Because Qin Mian moved first.
Qin Mian Awakens Again
A Crawler leaped straight toward Yin Lie and Qin Mian.
Its metal jaws opened wide, ready to tear.
Qin Mian screamed:
"NO—!!!"
And the world rippled.
A shockwave exploded from her chest.
WHOOM—!!!
Blue dream-light blasted outward in a perfect circle.
The jumping Crawler was hit midair—
its metal legs twisted—
its head smashed into a wall.
Chen Gu staggered, shocked.
"Her power… it reacted to pure emotion again! No, more than that—she controlled it!"
Kai blinked.
"…That was aim. That was real aim."
Thorne peeked out from behind crates.
"SHE DID A KAMEHAMEHA—?!"
"Shut up," Kai snapped, but even she was stunned.
Qin Mian stood there, shaking.
But not from fear.
From something new.
Power.
Her eyes reflected the blue light still lingering in the air.
She looked at her hands.
Small.
Shaking.
But glowing faintly.
Then she looked down at Yin Lie in her arms.
His eyelids fluttered.
He whispered:
"…you… protected me…"
Her heart broke.
And rebuilt itself stronger.
"I told you," she whispered back.
"I won't let anyone hurt you."
She gently set him down behind her.
Then she stood up.
One girl.
Against machines.
She wiped her tears.
"I'll protect him."
Kai whispered under her breath:
"…You crazy, brave little girl…"
The Fight Begins
Another Crawler lunged.
Qin Mian raised her hands—
Not in fear.
But in instinct.
A curved shield of blue light formed instantly in front of her.
The Crawler smashed into it—
CRASH—!!!
The shield held.
The machine did not.
Its body bent, limbs snapping.
It fell to the ground twitching.
Qin Mian gasped, her chest rising and falling fast.
Her power was wild—
but she didn't lose control.
She chose where it went.
Kai stared.
"She's learning in real time. This is impossible…"
Chen Gu whispered:
"No. This is what a Dream Anchor truly is."
Before they could think—
The third Crawler attacked from the side.
Qin Mian turned—
Her hand sliced the air—
And a blade of dream-light flew out like a crescent moon.
SHHHH—!!
The Crawler split in half.
Metal pieces scattered across the floor.
The shed fell silent again.
Except for Qin Mian's breath.
And the soft trembling of her hands.
She turned immediately, dropping to her knees beside Yin Lie.
He was still half-conscious, face pale, sweat cold on his skin.
She held his face with both hands.
"Lie… I did it… I protected you… see?"
His fingers lifted weakly and touched her cheek.
"…Mian…"
His voice was soft, almost broken.
"…don't… cry…"
She shook her head, tears falling anyway.
"I can cry if I want. You scared me so much."
He tried to smile.
It looked painful.
But real.
Then—
click… click… click… clickclickclick
Dozens more metal footsteps echoed outside.
Kai's face turned cold.
"Oh no.
Those were just the scouts."
Chen Gu paled.
"The main hunters… they're here."
The shed became darker.
As dozens—
then hundreds—
of red eyes lit up outside.
Qin Mian wrapped her arms around Yin Lie's shoulders.
She whispered:
"Whatever comes next… I'll stay with you."
Yin Lie leaned his forehead against her chest.
"…don't leave…"
She closed her eyes.
"I won't."
Kai chambered her rifle.
Chen Gu held his pipe like a sword.
Thorne fainted again.
And outside—
the next wave of hunters stepped into view.
Bigger.
Stronger.
Smarter.
This time—
Qin Mian's power or not—
someone was going to die.
—Chapter 87 End —