The secret laboratory, hidden in the depths of the abandoned military industrial base, was dimly lit, with only the hum of experimental equipment echoing in the air. Elias (Liam) stood in front of the holographic projection, his brows furrowed slightly, while Lumina's blue light flickered on his wrist, constantly sorting out the fragmented data collected earlier. Around the conference table, Marcus (Wang), Clara (Elena), and Dr. Gray waited quietly, their faces reflecting the cold light of the projection, each with a serious expression.
"We have to take the risk," Elias (Liam) turned around, his voice firm, cutting through the silence of the laboratory. His eyes swept over each of his partners, lingering for a moment on Clara (Elena) before continuing, "The peripheral data warehouse of Victor's Shadow Organization we locked down—there must be the key data of cross-species research and the improved plan of the Symbiosis Core. The mild gene editing technology we tested earlier is still not stable, and only by getting Victor's research data can we make a breakthrough as soon as possible."
Marcus (Wang) leaned forward, his fingers tapping the table lightly, the scar on his forearm—left from the previous material collection mission—faintly visible under the light. "I've checked the defense layout of the warehouse three times," he said, his voice low and steady, "It's a peripheral base, but the guards are not weak—there are at least twenty armed men, and according to the surveillance footage, there are low-level brain-controlled puppets patrolling around. The anti-surveillance equipment I prepared can interfere with their main monitoring system, but it can only last for ten minutes at most. Once the interference fails, we'll be trapped inside."
"Ten minutes is enough," Clara (Elena) pushed her glasses, her fingers sliding quickly on the tablet in her hand, the screen displaying a string of complicated codes—encrypted data fragments stolen earlier. She raised her head, her eyes clear and determined, "I've deciphered 70% of the access password of the data warehouse. As long as I can connect to the internal terminal on the spot, I can extract the target data within five minutes. The only problem is that Victor's men upgraded the defense system after the material theft last time, and there may be a backup monitoring system that we can't detect. If it's activated, we'll have no time to escape."
Dr. Gray crossed his arms, his expression solemn, and he shook his head slightly, "I don't agree with this operation being too hasty. Liam, your 40% brain awakening power is still not fully adapted. Last time in the Ice Ridge Research Station, you almost lost control of your energy when fighting the puppets—your body is still struggling to bear the load of symbiotic energy. If you encounter a fierce battle this time, your physical condition may not be able to hold on. Moreover, Clara's research on the purification reagent hasn't been completed yet—if she gets injured, the progress of the entire symbiosis project will be delayed, and we can't afford that loss."
"Dr. Gray is right, but we have no choice," Lumina's gentle electronic voice sounded, and her blue light projected a 3D image of the data warehouse, clearly showing every patrol route and guard post. "According to the real-time monitoring I intercepted, Victor's men will transport the cross-species gene materials to the main base tomorrow morning. Once those materials are transferred, we will lose the best chance to obtain the complete research data—maybe even the only chance. Besides, I can assist Liam in stabilizing his energy at any time, and as long as we act cautiously, the risk can be minimized."
Elias (Liam) walked to Clara (Elena)'s side, gently patting her shoulder, his touch warm and reassuring. "I will protect you, Clara," he said, his voice softer than before, but no less firm, "Marcus will cover us outside, Dr. Gray will stay in the laboratory to guard our research results, and Lumina will interfere with the monitoring. We have a perfect division of labor—just like we did in the Ice Ridge Research Station. We've come this far, and we can't give up now."
Clara (Elena) raised her head, looking into Elias (Liam)'s firm eyes, and the worry in her heart gradually dissipated. She nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing on her lips, softening the tension on her face. "I believe you, Liam," she said, her fingers unconsciously brushing the back of his hand, "But you also have to promise me that you won't take risks alone. If we encounter danger, we retreat together—our lives are more important than the data. I can't lose you, not now."
"I promise," Elias (Liam) smiled, his eyes softening, and the ambiguous feelings between the two, which had been brewing since their last battle, became more obvious in this tense moment. Marcus (Wang) cleared his throat deliberately, breaking the warm atmosphere with a low laugh, "Okay, you two, let's focus on the mission. We'll set off at midnight—now, let's check the equipment again. I don't want any mistakes in the last step; one mistake could cost all our lives."
The team immediately got busy, each performing their duties without hesitation. Marcus (Wang) spread out a pile of equipment on the table: anti-surveillance jammers, silent pistols loaded with anesthesia bullets, smoke grenades, and a high-precision communication device. He picked up the jammer, pressed a button, and after confirming the signal was stable, he said, "This jammer can cut off their main monitoring and communication within a 100-meter radius—ten minutes, no more. The communication device has anti-interference function; I'll stay in contact with you at all times, and if there's any abnormality, I'll give you a signal immediately."
Clara (Elena) sorted out the deciphering program, carefully storing it in a portable data terminal the size of a palm, then put on a bulletproof vest specially modified for her—lightweight but extremely tough, which could effectively block pistol bullets. "I've stored the deciphered password fragments in the terminal," she said, showing the device to Elias (Liam), "Once connected to the warehouse's internal terminal, it will automatically complete the password deciphering and start data extraction. It will take about five minutes, but if there's any interference, it may take longer."
Dr. Gray took out a small syringe filled with a light blue liquid, walked to Elias (Liam), and said, "This is an energy-stabilizing agent—it can help you stabilize the symbiotic energy in your body and relieve the burden on your brain. I'll inject it into your arm now; it will take effect in ten minutes and last for about two hours. Remember, if you feel that your brain is swollen, your vision is blurred, or your energy is out of control, you must tell Lumina immediately—don't hold on. If you lose control, not only will you be injured, but Clara will also be in danger."
"I understand, Dr. Gray," Elias (Liam) nodded, rolling up his sleeve and exposing his arm. The needle pierced his skin lightly, and the cool liquid flowed into his veins, bringing a faint sense of relief. He closed his eyes and felt the energy in his body—with Lumina's assistance, the 40% brain awakening power flowed steadily in his veins, and the sense of powerlessness he felt after the last battle was gone. "I'm ready," he said, opening his eyes, his eyes full of determination, "Let's do this."
Midnight arrived, and the night was pitch black, with only a few stars dotted in the sky, their light too faint to penetrate the thick darkness. The data warehouse of the Shadow Organization was located on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by desolate wastelands, overgrown with weeds, and the only light came from the searchlights patrolling the wall, sweeping back and forth like cold eyes, monitoring every movement around.
Under the cover of the night, Elias (Liam) and Clara (Elena) crawled towards the wall, their bodies pressed close to the ground, avoiding the searchlights' range. 500 meters away, Marcus (Wang) hid in an abandoned car, holding a sniper rifle, his eyes fixed on the warehouse gate through the scope, his fingers resting lightly on the trigger, ready to shoot at any time to cover them.
"Liam, Clara, the main monitoring system has been interfered with," Marcus (Wang)'s voice came from the communication device, low and clear, "You have ten minutes—hurry up. The first patrol team will pass by the east wall in two minutes; you need to climb over before then."
"Understood," Elias (Liam) replied in a low voice, his eyes staring at the wall in front of him. He took out a climbing tool, unfolded it quickly, and inserted it firmly into the gap of the wall. With a light jump, he climbed up the wall nimbly, his movements silent, like a cheetah in the night. He leaned over the wall, checked the surroundings, and waved to Clara (Elena) after confirming it was safe.
Clara (Elena) climbed up quickly, her movements a little clumsy compared to Elias (Liam), but still agile. When she was about to reach the top of the wall, her foot slipped, and she let out a soft exclamation. Elias (Liam) quickly reached out, grabbed her wrist tightly, and pulled her up with all his strength. "Be careful," he whispered in her ear, his breath brushing her cheek, "We can't make any noise."
Clara (Elena) blushed slightly, nodded, and whispered, "I'm sorry, I was too nervous."
"It's okay," Elias (Liam) smiled faintly, letting go of her wrist after she stabilized herself, "Let's go—we don't have much time."
The two landed lightly on the ground inside the wall, bending down and pressing their backs against the wall, holding their breath. A group of low-level brain-controlled puppets patrolled past them, their steps stiff and uniform, their eyes dull and empty—those puppets were simpler versions of the cross-species experimental failures they encountered in the Ice Ridge Research Station, with only basic patrol functions, no independent thinking ability.
"Lumina, where is the internal data terminal?" Elias (Liam) asked silently through neural symbiosis, not daring to make a sound, for fear of attracting the puppets' attention.
"It's in the east corner of the first floor of the warehouse," Lumina's voice sounded in his mind, gentle and clear, "There are two guards outside the door, holding assault rifles. I can interfere with their brain waves for about thirty seconds—enough for you to subdue them. Be careful, the warehouse's walls are soundproof, but the guards' voices may attract other patrols if they shout."
"Got it," Elias (Liam) nodded, turning to Clara (Elena) and making a gesture—subdue the guards, then enter the room. Clara (Elena) understood, nodded, and took out a small anesthesia injector from her pocket, holding it tightly in her hand.
The two moved forward cautiously, sticking to the wall, approaching the east corner of the warehouse. The two guards stood at the door, chatting in low voices, not noticing the danger approaching. "Hurry up, this shift is almost over," one guard said, yawning lazily, "I hope I can get a bottle of wine after work—this place is too boring."
"Don't dream," the other guard laughed, "The boss has been in a bad mood lately, ever since the last material theft. If we make a mistake, we'll end up as experimental subjects, just like those puppets outside."
At that moment, Lumina's voice sounded in Elias (Liam)'s mind: "Ready—interfering with their brain waves now."
The two guards suddenly froze, their eyes dull, their bodies stiff, standing in place motionless. "Now," Elias (Liam) whispered, rushing forward quickly, covering the first guard's mouth with his hand, and pressing the anesthesia injector against his neck. The guard struggled slightly, then went limp, and Elias (Liam) gently put him on the ground.
Clara (Elena) also rushed forward, dealing with the second guard in the same way. When she was about to inject the anesthesia, the guard suddenly shook his head, as if breaking free from the interference. "Who are you?" he shouted, reaching for the assault rifle beside him.
"Clara, hurry up!" Elias (Liam) shouted, rushing over to hold the guard's arm, preventing him from picking up the gun. The guard struggled violently, his strength surprisingly large. "Intruders! There are intruders here!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing in the silent night.
"Damn it," Elias (Liam) cursed in a low voice, pressing the guard's head against the wall hard. The guard's eyes rolled back, and he fainted. "We've been exposed—Clara, go to the terminal quickly, extract the data, I'll hold them off!"
"What about you?" Clara (Elena) asked anxiously, her hands already typing on the terminal's keyboard, "I can't leave you here alone!"
"I'll be fine," Elias (Liam) said, picking up the guard's assault rifle, checking the ammunition, "Marcus will cover me, and Lumina will help me. You just need to extract the data as quickly as possible—we only have a few minutes left before the monitoring interference fails."
Clara (Elena) nodded, turning her attention to the terminal, her fingers moving faster than ever before. The screen displayed the password deciphering progress—80%, 85%, 90%. "Hurry up, hurry up," she muttered to herself, her forehead covered with cold sweat.
Elias (Liam) stood at the door, his back against the wall, staring at the corridor ahead. Footsteps came from afar, getting closer and closer—more guards were rushing over, accompanied by the stiff steps of brain-controlled puppets. "Marcus, we need cover," he said into the communication device, "Guards are coming from the west corridor, about ten of them, plus three puppets."
"Understood," Marcus (Wang)'s voice came immediately, "I'll take care of the two at the front—get ready."
A gunshot rang out, faint and muffled—Marcus (Wang) had pulled the trigger. The guard walking at the front fell to the ground, shot in the head. The other guards were stunned for a moment, then scattered, hiding behind the walls, shooting towards the outside of the warehouse.
"Clara, how's the data extraction?" Elias (Liam) asked, shooting back at the guards, the bullets hitting the wall beside them, sparking splashes of debris.
"98%—just a little more!" Clara (Elena) shouted, her voice trembling with excitement and nervousness. Suddenly, the terminal screen flickered, and the progress bar froze. "No! The system is being interfered with—someone is remotely cutting off the data connection!"
"Lumina, can you stop it?" Elias (Liam) asked, hiding behind the door frame to avoid the bullets.
"I'm trying," Lumina's voice sounded anxious, "But the other party's technology is very advanced—it's the same as the person who activated the backup monitoring system. I can only delay it for one minute—Clara, you have to extract the data in one minute!"
Clara (Elena) bit her lip, her fingers moving frantically on the keyboard. The screen flickered again, and the progress bar jumped to 99%. "Almost there—just a few seconds!"
At that moment, a loud noise came from the corridor—one of the brain-controlled puppets rushed over, its body covered in scars, its eyes red with blood. It roared, waving its sharp claws, and pounced at Elias (Liam). "Liam, watch out!" Clara (Elena) shouted, turning around to warn him.
Elias (Liam) turned around, raising his rifle and shooting at the puppet. The bullet hit the puppet's chest, but it didn't fall—instead, it became more violent, rushing forward faster. "It's a reinforced version!" Lumina shouted, "Its body has been modified with cross-species genes—ordinary bullets can't kill it!"
Elias (Liam) threw down the rifle, activating the symbiotic auxiliary device on his wrist. The blue light of Lumina surged, and 40% of the brain awakening power erupted instantly. He raised his hand, and a burst of blue energy shot out, hitting the puppet's head. The puppet froze, then fell to the ground, twitching a few times before stopping moving.
"I'm done!" Clara (Elena) shouted, holding up the portable terminal, "The data has been extracted!"
"Great—let's go!" Elias (Liam) rushed over, grabbing her hand, and ran towards the back door of the warehouse. The monitoring interference had already failed, and the searchlights were sweeping towards them, illuminating their figures.
"Intruders are escaping through the back door! Stop them!" a guard shouted, leading a group of people to chase after them.
Marcus (Wang)'s voice came from the communication device: "I've cleared the way for you—there's a path behind the warehouse leading to the wasteland. I'll meet you there in five minutes. Be careful, there's a sniper on the roof of the warehouse—he's aiming at you!"
Elias (Liam) pulled Clara (Elena) to the ground, and a bullet flew over their heads, hitting the wall behind them. "We have to get out of the searchlight's range," he said, pulling her up and running towards the path Marcus (Wang) mentioned.
As they ran, Clara (Elena) suddenly stumbled, and a bullet grazed her arm, blood gushing out instantly. "Ah!" she cried out in pain, falling to the ground.
"Clara!" Elias (Liam) shouted, stopping and kneeling down to check her wound. "Are you okay? Hold on, we're almost there!"
"I'm fine—just a scratch," Clara (Elena) said, biting her lip, trying to stand up, "We can't stop—they're catching up!"
Elias (Liam) picked her up, carrying her on his back, and continued running. The guards' shouts and gunshots were getting closer and closer, and the sniper on the roof was still shooting at them. "Marcus, where are you?" he asked, his breath hurried, his body beginning to feel weak—using 40% of his brain awakening power for a long time was putting a heavy burden on his body.
"I'm right ahead—keep running!" Marcus (Wang) shouted, and a gunshot rang out, followed by the sound of a body falling. "I took care of the sniper—you're safe now!"
Elias (Liam) breathed a sigh of relief, speeding up his pace. He saw Marcus (Wang) standing beside an abandoned truck, waving at them. When they were about to reach the truck, Elias (Liam) suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on a guard standing not far away—he was wearing a black uniform, different from the other guards, and his eyes were staring at Elias (Liam)'s face, as if he knew him.
"Ethan Reed," the guard said, his voice cold and sharp, calling out Elias (Liam)'s current identity, "We've been looking for you—Victor has been waiting for you for a long time."
Elias (Liam)'s heart sank—they had found his identity. "Marcus, take Clara and go!" he shouted, putting Clara (Elena) down, and turning to face the guard.
"No, I'm not leaving you!" Clara (Elena) said, grabbing his arm tightly, her arm still bleeding.
"This is an order!" Elias (Liam) said firmly, pushing her towards Marcus (Wang), "Take the data and go back to the laboratory—protect the data, protect yourself. I'll catch up with you later."
Marcus (Wang) grabbed Clara (Elena), pulling her towards the truck. "Come on, Clara—we have to trust him. He'll be fine."
The guard smiled coldly, clapping his hands. More guards and brain-controlled puppets rushed over, surrounding Elias (Liam). "You can't escape," the guard said, "Surrender, and I'll let you die painlessly. Otherwise, you'll become a puppet, just like those things beside you."
Elias (Liam) activated his symbiotic energy again, blue light surging around him. "I'll never surrender to Victor," he said, his voice firm, "You can try to stop me."
The guard nodded, and the puppets rushed forward. Elias (Liam) rushed into the crowd, fighting with them. At that moment, his wrist suddenly hurt, and Lumina's blue light flickered weakly. "Liam, my energy is running out," she said, her voice trembling, "I can't assist you anymore—you have to hold on."
Elias (Liam)'s vision began to blur, and his head felt swollen—his brain could no longer bear the load of the symbiotic energy. A puppet's claw scratched his back, and blood gushed out. He stumbled, almost falling to the ground.
Just as the guard was about to shoot him, a gunshot rang out, hitting the guard's shoulder. The guard fell to the ground, screaming in pain. Elias (Liam) looked up, and saw Marcus (Wang) standing not far away, holding a sniper rifle. "Hurry up, Liam!" he shouted, "Get in the truck!"
Elias (Liam) seized the opportunity, rushing out of the crowd, and running towards the truck. Marcus (Wang) shot again, stopping the guards from chasing them. Clara (Elena) leaned out of the truck window, holding out her hand. "Liam, hurry!"
Elias (Liam) jumped into the truck, and Marcus (Wang) stepped on the gas pedal, the truck rushing forward into the darkness. The guards' gunshots faded away, and they finally escaped.
Clara (Elena) quickly took out the first-aid kit, bandaging Elias (Liam)'s back wound. "You're hurt," she said, her voice trembling, tears in her eyes, "I told you not to take risks alone—you almost died."
"I'm okay," Elias (Liam) smiled weakly, reaching out to wipe away her tears, "I promised you I wouldn't leave you, and I kept my promise."
Marcus (Wang) glanced at them from the rearview mirror, sighing softly. "We're not out of danger yet," he said, his voice serious, "That guard knew your identity, Liam. Victor must have already found out that you're alive, and he'll send more people to chase us. The laboratory is no longer safe—we have to move."
Elias (Liam) nodded, his expression solemn. He took out the portable terminal, looking at the data they had extracted. "We got the data," he said, "But at what cost—our identity is exposed, the laboratory is no longer safe, and Victor is coming for us."
Just as he finished speaking, the portable terminal suddenly beeped, and a video popped up on the screen. It was a man wearing a black mask, his face hidden in the shadows, only his eyes visible—cold and cruel, full of malice.
"Elias (Liam), or should I call you Ethan Reed?" the man said, his voice distorted by a voice changer, "You did a good job of escaping this time, but don't be happy too early. I know everything about you—your symbiosis with Lumina, your team, your plan to stop me. The data you extracted is just a trap—I've been waiting for you to take it."
Elias (Liam)'s eyes widened, and he stared at the screen in shock. "Who are you? Are you Victor?"
The man laughed coldly, a laugh full of disdain. "Victor is just my pawn—he's not worthy to be my name. I've been watching you since you were reborn, watching you struggle, watching you gather your little team. You think you're getting closer to the truth, but in fact, you're walking into my trap step by step."
He paused, his voice becoming colder. "The data you extracted contains a virus—it will soon spread to your laboratory's system, exposing all your research results and your new hiding place. In three days, I will come to you, and I will take Lumina, take your symbiotic power, and take everything you care about. Enjoy your last three days, Elias (Liam)—the game is just beginning."
The video ended, and the terminal screen went black. The truck fell into a dead silence, and no one spoke. Elias (Liam) held the terminal tightly, his hands trembling. The data they risked their lives to get was a trap, and a mysterious mastermind was watching them from the shadows. Clara (Elena) leaned against his shoulder, her face pale with fear. Marcus (Wang) gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white.
Outside the truck, the night was still thick, and the road ahead was dark, with no light in sight. They had escaped the warehouse, but they had walked into a more terrifying trap. The mysterious mastermind, the virus in the data, the exposed hiding place—all of these were like a noose, tightening around their necks. Elias (Liam) closed his eyes, knowing that the real danger had just begun.