Under the cold synthetic light of the medical support cabin, Lu Cheneng slowly opened his eyes. There was no joy at having survived, only a dead, heavy sense of emptiness, as if his soul was still trapped in the darkness beneath the factory's collapse.

The pain didn't disappear, but took a new, deeper, bone-deepening form. His left arm… from the elbow down, it felt empty. A sharp, physiological phantom pain lingered like a ghost around the broken part, and every heartbeat brought a distinct throbbing pain. A deeper pain came from within his torso, where the bones, muscles, and nerves, forcibly "burned" and mended by the violent energy, were like broken porcelain forcibly pieced together. Every slight movement tugged at the wounds within, which hadn't yet fully healed, emitting a silent groan. He tried to raise his remaining right arm, but the movement was stiff and sluggish, and a tearing pain spread deep within his muscles.

He rolled his dry eyes, his gaze settling on his shattered torso. Where the lines of searing energy had once covered his skin, now lay a series of pale silver scars, like strange, liquid metal cooled. They snaked across his chest and abdomen, covering the edges of the massive wound on his shoulder, even extending to his remaining right arm. These scars felt cool and smooth, incongruous with the surrounding normal tissue, like a brand imposed upon him, a mark not his own. His gaze finally settled on his clenched right hand. He still held the demonic blade tightly, its blade shimmering with a deep, dark gloom, as if absorbing the surrounding light. The ominous purple lightning that had once lingered on it had completely vanished, replaced by a strange, mercury-like sheen that silently glided across its surface. It was eerily silent, yet exuding an aura of danger even more restrained and profound than before. Lu Cheneng could feel a faint, cold pulse emanating from the hilt of the knife, like the heartbeat of the abyss, strangely resonating with the blood coursing through his broken body. Each pulse brought a faint yet distinct throbbing deep within the core of the chip within his brain. This knife... like him, had been completely transformed.

"You're awake." A calm but exhausted voice sounded at the cabin door. Wen Shifei stood there, her face still pale, but her eyes were a little calmer than before. Her hands were wrapped in thick bandages that emitted faint healing light waves, and her movements seemed a little clumsy. She walked to the side of the life support cabin, her eyes swept over his body covered with silver scars and the dark magic blade, and a complex and indescribable emotion flashed in her eyes, including regret, worry, and a hint of subtle fear. "How do you feel?"

Lu Chensheng opened his mouth, his throat dry as sandpaper. "...still alive." His voice was hoarse. He paused, his gaze darting out into the dim corridor. "Ajie...Anvil...Monkey?" Each name sounded incredibly difficult.

Wen Shifei was silent for a moment, her voice dropping to a low note. "Ajie was seriously injured, suffering from multiple fractures and internal bleeding. He's being treated next door. Anvil... his sternum collapsed, his spine damaged. He's still in intensive care, and his condition isn't optimistic." She took a deep breath and spoke the last of his name with difficulty. "Monkey... didn't make it out. He detonated the energy cell... and perished along with the 'Scavenger'."

Die together… The monkey's final roar still seemed to pierce his ears. Lu Cheneng closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently, sending a sharp pain through the wounds all over his body. A cold torrent of grief, anger, and powerlessness crashed against his crumbling mental dam. He gripped the magic blade tightly in his right hand, his knuckles crackling softly with the force, and the mercury sheen flowing through the blade seemed to accelerate.

"The situation... in the fortress?" He forced himself to divert his attention, suppressing the turbulent emotions in his voice.

"It's terrible." Wen Shifei's voice was heavy. "Although the mental pollution index has dropped somewhat due to the final disruption to the factory core and Qingyi's shielding efforts, it's still above the danger threshold. The number of people completely corrupted and losing their minds is increasing every day. Supplies are scarce, and medicine is in short supply. The 'Ark' beacon (the seven-pointed star) hangs like a sword of Damocles overhead. The energy response may be temporarily stable, but who knows when the next attack will strike? The chaebol's fleet is circling the periphery like vultures, and the Black Snake Gang's activities are becoming more frequent. They seem to have sensed the fortress's weakness."

She paused, her eyes growing grave. "The most thorny issue is Qingyi... the master control chip within her body... and the truth behind Project Zero... Right now, everyone in the fortress is in a state of panic. Some see her as their only hope, while others... see her as a ticking time bomb poised to explode and destroy everyone at any moment. Rumors about whether to... 'get rid of' her to prevent future troubles... have already begun to spread secretly."

"Deal with it?" Lu Cheneng suddenly opened his eyes, and a terrifying cold light burst out from his only remaining right eye, like a wounded lone wolf, "Who dares to touch her?!" The Demon Blade seemed to sense the master's intention, and the dark blade hummed imperceptibly, and the cold pulse became clear in an instant.

"No one dares to come openly yet, but Beacon is under a lot of pressure." Wen Shifei held down his shoulders, which were trembling with excitement, and gestured for him to calm down. "The fortress needs stability, strength, and a direction to fight against the chaebol and the Ark. You are now... the spiritual pillar of the fortress, Lu Chenentang. Many people have witnessed your struggle in the factory and saw that you survived. You must stand up as soon as possible."

A spiritual pillar? Lu Cheneng looked at his empty left arm, feeling the pain within him running like a broken machine. A bitter smile curled his lips. Even clenching his fist was now difficult for him. His gaze fell on the Demon Blade again. Its mercury-like sheen seemed to silently tempt and warn him.

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