Elias (Liam)'s fingertips were resting on the encrypted codes of the virtual panel, and the blue light between his brows was bright and stable. The decryption ability brought by the 50% brain domain awakening was brought into full play. The messy codes on the screen were being disassembled and sorted out at a visible speed, and the core secret of Victor's cross-species research was about to surface. Lumina's virtual figure hovered beside the panel, the blue light around her flickering slightly. With her function restored to 80%, she was fully assisting in screening decrypted data and linking the laboratory's defense system, and her electronic prompt tone was accurate and smooth, with key information in every broadcast.
"Liam, the core fragment of Victor's research has been decrypted. He has been secretly researching the controllability of symbiotic energy, trying to realize energy control over organisms by transforming symbiotic factors." Lumina's electronic prompt tone suddenly became solemn, and the decrypted core data popped up on the screen, clearly showing Victor's experimental trajectory. "All data has been backed up synchronously and is being sent to Elena (Clara) and Nora's portable terminals to remind them to return as soon as possible."
Elias's expression sank slightly, his fingertips slid across the panel to quickly check the decrypted data, and the blue light between his brows kept beating steadily—he knew clearly that once Victor's research succeeded, it would surely bring unpredictable disasters, and they must grasp the complete secret and stop him before the other party. "Continue to dig into the remaining encrypted content, focusing on checking for clues related to the symbiotic energy carrier." He ordered in a deep voice, with unquestionable determination in his tone.
"Instruction received, fully digging into relevant clues now." Lumina immediately executed the instruction, and the decryption progress bar on the screen advanced rapidly. At the same time, the emergency warning lights in the laboratory suddenly flashed scarlet without warning, and the hum of equipment operation suddenly became rapid and harsh, intertwined with Lumina's electronic warning tone, breaking the tranquility of the laboratory, and a sudden siege quietly arrived.
"Warning! Warning! A large number of abnormal energy fluctuations have been detected, less than 3 kilometers away from the laboratory. The energy characteristics are completely consistent with Marcus's team, with a number of no less than 8 people, rapidly approaching the laboratory, and a siege has been confirmed!"
Lumina's electronic prompt tone was accompanied by a rapid alarm, and her virtual figure flickered slightly, but she still steadily controlled the defense system. "The laboratory's level 1 defense mechanism has been independently activated, and the external electromagnetic shielding device is operating at full capacity, but the other party is carrying targeted jamming equipment, and the shielding effect is continuously weakening. It is expected that the enemy will arrive at the laboratory's external defense line in 8 minutes!"
Elias's expression became solemn instantly, and the vigilance in his eyes replaced the previous concentration. The "battlefield situation prediction" ability brought by the 50% brain domain awakening was instantly activated. His brain, like a high-speed terminal, quickly analyzed Marcus's team's pursuit trajectory and equipment situation, while sorting out the laboratory's defense loopholes and formulating response strategies. "
Lumina, adjust the defense energy distribution, focus on strengthening the defense line at the laboratory's main gate and ventilation outlets, and activate communication jamming at the same time to block the real-time contact between Marcus's team and Victor, delaying their attack rhythm."
"Instruction executed, defense energy has been redistributed, communication jamming has been activated, and the contact between Marcus's team and Victor has been successfully blocked." Lumina's electronic prompt tone sounded in a timely manner, and a laboratory defense distribution map popped up on the screen, with red warning areas clearly marking the enemy's approaching route. "We have synchronously detected the return signal of Elena and Nora. They have received the emergency support instruction and are rushing back to the laboratory at full speed, expected to arrive in 20 minutes."
At this moment, the external speaker of the laboratory was suddenly forcibly taken over, and Marcus's deep and arrogant voice came, penetrating the hum of equipment operation, clearly echoing in every corner of the laboratory: "Elias, no, I should call you Liam, or——Ethan! I know you're inside, give up resistance. Lord Victor has already noticed your little tricks. This time I brought enough men to seize the decrypted data in your hand and destroy this laboratory. You can't escape!"
Elias's fingertips paused suddenly, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he quickly regained his calm—he didn't expect that Marcus already knew his real identity (Ethan = Liam = Elias). But he didn't panic, instead, a faint sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.
He reached out and pressed the switch of the internal speaker, responding in a steady and calm tone, deliberately confusing the opponent and delaying time: "Marcus, you got the wrong person. I'm just an ordinary experimental researcher. There's no Ethan you're looking for here, let alone any decrypted data. I advise you to evacuate as soon as possible, otherwise we will activate the laboratory's self-destruct program, and both sides will suffer."
Marcus's laughter came through the speaker, full of disdain and mockery: "Stop pretending, Ethan, your disguise can't fool me. Lord Victor has already found out your details. I'll give you 5 minutes to take the initiative to open the laboratory door and hand over all the data. Maybe I can spare your life, otherwise, we will forcibly break through the defense line, and by then, you will only be worse off!"
The moment he hung up the communication, Elias immediately transmitted an instruction to Lumina through brain waves: "Take advantage of these 5 minutes to quickly repair the damage of the external shielding device, and activate the laboratory's hidden fortifications at the same time, preparing to respond to their forced breakthrough. In addition, closely monitor the return progress of Elena and Nora, and once they approach, immediately guide them to enter secretly from the laboratory's back door."
At the same time, Elena (Clara) and Nora, who were on their way back, were rushing to the laboratory at full speed by small aircraft. On Elena's portable terminal, in addition to the emergency support instruction sent by Elias, there were also the decrypted data of Victor synchronized by Lumina. Her fingertips slid quickly on the panel, carefully checking the data. Suddenly, a vague text and coordinate attracted her attention—it was a clue about the "hiding place of the psionic crystal" recorded by Victor, vaguely marking the connection between the crystal and symbiotic energy, which was the key clue they had been looking for.
"Nora, come quickly!" Elena hurriedly called Nora, pointing her fingertips at the clue. "There is a clue about the hiding place of the psionic crystal in Victor's data. This may be the key to cracking his research. When we return to the laboratory, we will synchronize this clue to Liam, which may help us find a way to stop Victor!"
Nora leaned over to quickly check the clue, with a hint of surprise in her eyes: "Great, with this clue, we can take the initiative! Speed up, Liam is dealing with it alone in the laboratory, he must be struggling. We must rush back to support him as soon as possible, and not let Marcus's team break through the defense line!"
Inside the laboratory, Elias remained calm and composed. Relying on the situation prediction ability brought by the 50% brain domain awakening, he constantly adjusted the defense strategy, linked Lumina to control the defense equipment, and resolved Marcus's team's tentative attacks again and again. Lumina's function was fully exerted, independently repairing defense loopholes, interfering with the enemy's attack rhythm, and cooperating with Elias's instructions to firmly hold the external defense line.
The 5-minute time limit had expired. Seeing that Elias had no intention of compromising, Marcus was completely enraged and ordered a full-scale attack: "Everyone, listen up, break through the defense line with all your strength, destroy the laboratory's defense devices, and make sure to seize the decrypted data and catch Ethan!"
Intense energy attacks landed on the laboratory's defense barrier, which vibrated violently, the energy load continued to rise, emitting a harsh hum, and it might break at any time. The blue light between Elias's brows became more and more dazzling, his brain was running at high speed, predicting the enemy's attack direction, and quickly issuing instructions: "Lumina, concentrate all defense energy to strengthen the main gate defense line, and activate pulse attacks at the same time to repel the approaching enemies, delay time, and wait for Elena and Nora's support!"
A fierce offensive and defensive battle officially started. The light of energy collision illuminated the entire laboratory. The hum of equipment operation, the explosion of energy attacks, and Lumina's warning tone intertwined, making the atmosphere extremely tense. Under Elias's precise command and Lumina's full cooperation, the laboratory's defense barrier withstood the enemy's fierce attacks again and again, successfully repelling Marcus's team's first full-scale attack.
Looking at the defense line that could not be broken for a long time, Marcus's face became more and more gloomy. He did not expect that only Elias and an AI could block their fierce attack. Just as he was about to order a second attack, the energy detector he carried suddenly beeped—it captured a strong symbiotic energy fluctuation coming from inside the laboratory, which was the symbiotic energy reaction that Victor had been wanting.
A hint of greed flashed in Marcus's eyes. He immediately suspended the attack, took out the communicator, forcibly broke through the interference, and reported to Victor: "Lord Victor, we have captured the symbiotic energy fluctuation inside the laboratory, confirming it is the target energy. Elias (Ethan) really holds the core secret of symbiotic energy. Although we have not broken through the defense line, we have locked the energy source. We request you to lead the team to support in person, and make sure to seize everything related to symbiotic energy!"
Inside the laboratory, Lumina instantly captured the communication fragments between Marcus and Victor, and immediately reported to Elias: "Liam, we detected Marcus sending a report to Victor, mentioning symbiotic energy fluctuations. Victor has received the message and is expected to lead the team to support in person in 15 minutes. The energy characteristics have been captured, and the intensity is far beyond Marcus's team!"
Elias's expression became more and more solemn instantly. He knew clearly that Victor's personal arrival meant that the crisis would further escalate, but he did not flinch at all, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes—he must defend the laboratory, guard the decrypted data and the clues of the psionic crystal, wait for Elena and Nora to return, fight side by side with them, and jointly stop Victor's conspiracy. The blue light between his brows was still stable, his gaze was fixed on the defense distribution map on the screen, and he began to plan a defense strategy to deal with Victor's personal attack.