"Holy crap, did we mess this up?" Lu Zhaoming's heart skipped a beat. It felt like he had just paid for a membership and was told that the server was under maintenance.

System notification: "External intrusion signal detected. The ruins are about to self-destruct."

Lu Zhaoming frowned, glanced at everyone, and said in a low voice, "It seems someone doesn't want us to leave alive. We have one last move." His eyes flickered, like a mage preparing to unleash a powerful attack.

Su Li gripped Lu Zhaoming's hand tightly, a hint of worry on her alluring face: "What chess game?"

Before the words were even finished, a sickeningly loud mechanical roar came from afar, mixed with the ear-piercing noise of metal rubbing together, just like the scene from Saw.

The ground began to tremble slightly, and dust kept falling from above. Lu Zhaoming looked up and saw several huge mechanical tentacles twisting and approaching them in an incongruous manner. The tips of the tentacles were flashing with eerie blue arcs of electricity, clearly indicating that they were not to be trifled with.

"It's the Scorpion's men!" Professor Lin exclaimed, his face turning deathly pale, as if he had seen something terrifying.

Lu Zhaoming sneered, "You've come at the perfect time! Let's settle both old and new scores together!" He drew the Blade of Judgment from his back, his eyes instantly turning sharp, like a sword drawn from its sheath.

Bai Yu and Xiao Dao immediately assumed fighting stances, while Xiao Cui huddled tightly behind Lu Zhaoming, trembling with fear.

"Prepare for battle!" Lu Zhaoming said in a deep voice, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority.

He stared intently at the approaching mechanical tentacles, a dangerous smile playing on his lips, and whispered, "The show's about to begin..."