Embers Ad Infinitum

Shang Jianyao stroked his chin and asked Jiang Baimian, “You suspect that the ceiling is a node that connects the Ashlands to the New World?”

Jiang Baimian nodded. “The incorporeal black shadows that occasionally extend out or shrink back are very similar to the large amount of darkness I sensed when using the Life Angel necklace against Doctor. Don’t forget, Doctor is a powerhouse who has already entered the New World.”

In addition and more importantly, Shang Jianyao had also used the Life Angel necklace’s aura to enhance his perception to discover the uniqueness of the ceiling.

Long Yuehong suddenly felt a little terrified when he heard his team leader and Shang Jianyao’s conversation. “If those black figures represent the New World’s node, doesn’t that mean that we might be infected with the Heartless disease if we stay any longer? We would be wiped out without needing the full 14 days! Uh, except for Old Ge.”

According to the Old Task Force’s guess, humans would gradually contract the Heartless disease by overextending their stay around a New World node regardless of whether the Heartless disease originated as a virus in the New World or the darkness that had a certain connection with the New World.

With the size of this laboratory, the Old Task Force’s carbon-based humans could last at most half an hour!

“Liar!” The honest Shang Jianyao cursed the artificial intelligence, Future, again.

What happened to using the two system lockdowns to make the humans present engage in bloodshed over the next 14 days for a mere chance of survival?

Recalling the matter of the door closing, be it Jiang Baimian, Bai Chen, Long Yuehong, or the neutered version of Source Brain, they felt that Future was capable of such an act.

“Regardless of whether it’s true or not, we have to make the best use of our time!” Jiang Baimian looked around the central control room and deliberated before saying, “Hey, let’s put on the military exoskeleton, but don’t turn it on. Closely monitor for any intruding electromagnetic waves.”

The timid but cautious Shang Jianyao had no questions about this. With Long Yuehong’s help, he quickly finished donning his military exoskeleton.

Meanwhile, Jiang Baimian quickly completed this matter with Bai Chen’s help. She then exhaled and said, “Let’s return to the main experimental area now and use the ceiling as a breakthrough point.”

With that said, she bent down and picked up the flashlight. She then waited for a second until Shang Jianyao walked to the central control room’s door before following him.

With the military exoskeleton switched off, it was actually a burden to Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao thanks to its weight. Fortunately, they had outstanding physiques and had great strength.

The neutered Source Brain—wrapped in an electromagnetic shield—brought its tools with it and chose to follow behind them.

As the Old Task Force walked back to the main experimental area, the lights everywhere went out. Even the emergency backup lights lost their luminance.

Future had cut off the laboratory’s power supply, throwing the place into pitch-black darkness. This prevented the neutered version of the Source Brain from charging.

A series of clicks sounded as Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and the others switched on their flashlights and illuminated the area ahead with a yellowish glow.

They eventually returned to the main experimental area.

At this moment, Bai Chen discovered a problem when her flashlight’s beam swept across the area. “The guard robots from before are gone!”

Originally, there were several hibernating guard robots scattered across the main experimental area. But now, all that was left were equipment, corpses, tables, and chairs.

Source Brain’s red glow—which had been weakened by the electromagnetic shield—flickered. “Those guards are definitely under Future’s control; they are equivalent to its subordinates. It probably doesn’t want these capable aides that are limited in number to be destroyed during our final struggles. Therefore, it moved them elsewhere.”

This was its judgment based on its understanding of artificial intelligence.

Jiang Baimian held the flashlight and searched for the guard robots. “We still have to find their whereabouts and deal with them to a certain extent. Otherwise, they might rush out and cause trouble at a critical moment.”

After a quick search, Jiang Baimian and Bai Chen realized that the metal door—on the main experimental area’s other side—leading to the freezer was closed.

At this moment, Long Yuehong—who was in charge of checking the wards, offices, and storage rooms—also returned to the main experimental area and reported the situation. “There are no robots in the rooms on both sides of the corridor.”

He didn’t use the walkie-talkie to report in advance. Instead, he chose to do it face to face because he was worried that the electronic products would be affected by Future and have his transmissions distorted.

Long Yuehong was still very careful in this regard.

“Room 14 doesn’t have any personal items that belong to the volunteers either,” added Shang Jianyao—who was beside Long Yuehong.

This was another matter. He had just done a search in passing.

The volunteer—or rather, experimental subject—who was missing in the main experimental area was suspected to be from Room 14.

“It seems like the guard robots have entered the freezer.” Jiang Baimian nodded and cast her gaze and flashlight at a metal door not far away.

“I’ll blast it open!” Shang Jianyao was eager to give it a try.

Jiang Baimian hesitated for a moment and turned to look at Source Brain.

The neutered Source Brain said, “I’m worried that it will trigger a chain reaction and waste the time we have to save ourselves.”

Bai Chen thought for a few seconds and said, “Why don’t we trap them inside? This way, they have to open this door first even if they want to ruin our attempt. This will cause quite a commotion, so it’s very easy for us to sense it in advance and make preparations.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao’s applause wasn’t late.

“Not bad!” Jiang Baimian nodded in admiration.

Bai Chen accepted it calmly and subconsciously explained, “I did something similar when I was a Ruin Hunter to eliminate any interference from competitors to the greatest extent.”

As she spoke, the neutered version of the Source Brain and Shang Jianyao walked to the metal door at the same moment and used tools to destroy the intricate electronic and mechanical structure.

Jiang Baimian summoned Long Yuehong and pushed some large, nearby equipment over in an attempt to block the door.

Upon seeing this, Bai Chen tacitly observed her surroundings to prevent any accidents.

The metal door leading to the freezer was soon completely made dysfunctional, covered by layers of obstacles.

Jiang Baimian then ordered, “Destroy all the electronic products around the empty bed, including the ceiling lamps. This is to prevent Future from using them to spy on our actions.”

“Alright!” Shang Jianyao eagerly picked up the Berserker assault rifle and pulled the trigger.

Amidst the gunshots, bullets and sparks flew in a five-meter radius around the empty bed.

In less than three minutes, only the Old Task Force’s military exoskeletons, bionic artificial intelligence armor, and flashlights were intact.

Phew… Long Yuehong exhaled and shone the flashlight in his hand at the empty metal bed.

He suddenly thought of a question as he took in the darkness and silence around him. “When the Old World was destroyed, most of the laboratory researchers survived and ran out. They definitely wouldn’t bother with confidentiality. However, why does nobody except Oray know of this place?”

Just as Long Yuehong said that, a smiling male voice replied, “Because they either became Heartless or were eaten by the Heartless. They died in this city ruin.”

“Is that so…” Long Yuehong had just nodded when he suddenly realized that Shang Jianyao wasn’t the one answering him, nor was it Source Brain!

His pupils instantly dilated. Together with Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, Bai Chen, and the neutered version of the Source Brain, he trained the flashlight and his gaze at a spot.

They saw Wu Meng—who was wearing a gray suit with black stripes and round glasses—sitting on a chair at the edge of the main experimental zone and smiling at them.

Wu Meng smiled and said, “Sorry. As an audience, I shouldn’t interject when a performance is being played. Please continue.”

“Aren’t you here to save us?” Shang Jianyao was rather ‘disappointed.’

Wu Meng chuckled. “Practitioners of the Dao do nothing; they let nature take its course. The contrarians do otherwise. I’ve been sealed for too long, so it’s inevitable that I want to find some entertainment. Therefore, I came to see how you resist that fellow and escape. Continue and pretend I don’t exist.”

Being stared at by a terrifying existence more dangerous than Future worries us more, alright… Jiang Baimian calmed down, walked to Shang Jianyao’s side, and whispered, “Take turns trying with the Six Senses Beads and the small jade Buddha. If you can’t sense the black figures or can’t lock onto them, use their corresponding abilities and take out a high-performance battery and the simple discharge device you made.

“Since Future is suspected to be using the New World node to complete Electromagnetic Manipulation, using a large electric current to impact the node might very well produce a certain effect. There’s no rush. Do it after I finish communicating with Source Brain.”

Jiang Baimian spoke very softly, afraid that Future would catch wind of it.

She then walked to Source Brain—which was enveloped by an electromagnetic shield—and asked in a whisper, “If we eliminate Future’s interference, how long will it take for you to crack that firewall?”

“At least three weeks,” replied the neutered version of the Source Brain.

“That won’t do…” Jiang Baimian fell silent for a few seconds. “What if we don’t seek to control but to paralyze the laboratory’s control system, preventing the self-destruct mechanism from activating?”

“It’s still the same,” Source Brain replied honestly. “The self-destruct mechanism and control system are in concurrence. Regardless of whether the latter is paralyzed, it will activate as long as someone tries to open the door through force or cause excessive damage in the laboratory. Furthermore, it is also protected by a firewall.”

Without waiting for Jiang Baimian’s response, Source Brain added, “But without Future’s interference, I can use the laboratory’s control system’s interface to send a large amount of useless data to the firewall and expend the corresponding resources to prevent the self-destruct mechanism from receiving the signal immediately.”

Jiang Baimian’s eyes lit up. “How long would the delay be?”

“With my current body’s resource allocation and the comprehensive traits of the firewall, I can delay it for at least 56 seconds but not more than 63 seconds.” Source Brain had a sufficient understanding of the laboratory’s various systems and instantly calculated a result from the corresponding data.

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly and said, “About a minute. Just barely enough…”

She then looked at Shang Jianyao. “Go!”