Chapter 49

The dead silence was completely shattered.

The Lighthouse Ruins Square was like the bottom of a cold pot dropped into boiling oil, instantly boiling and exploding! A vortex of gray fog swirled overhead, the murky darkness at its center rapidly expanding. The terrifying energy fluctuations, like a physical weight, slammed down upon every inch of space! The alloy ground beneath their feet trembled violently, groaning under the weight!

All around, the densely packed life support pods flashed red lights frantically, like countless suddenly opened, malicious eyes! The crackling sound of ice cracking grew louder and louder, converging into a chilling symphony of death! Within the pods, the ancient figures twitched with increasing force!

Desperate situation! A true ambush!

Chu Li's eyes, burning with madness and determination, stared at the nearest row of life-support pods that were about to break out. The dark blue light from the fingertips of his raised hands surged, almost stinging people's eyes!

She wanted to forcibly destroy these sleeping ancients, along with their life support capsules, before she was completely devoured! Using the most violent mental shock, she would completely annihilate their consciousness before it even woke up!

Even if the price is one's own complete collapse or being hit back by "echo"!

Just as the destructive blue light was about to burst out of his hand—

"etc!"

Chen Mengzhou suddenly grabbed her wrist with such force that he almost crushed her bones!

Chu Li turned his head abruptly, his eyes filled with confusion and rage on the verge of losing control: "Let go! Or we'll die together!"

"Look over there!" Chen Mengzhou's voice was hurried but extremely calm. His other hand suddenly pointed to the edge of the square, where the rock wall began to collapse and crack due to the violent shaking!

Chu Li subconsciously looked in the direction she pointed -

Behind the collapsed rock face, what was revealed wasn't more rock, but... a completely different, even older, and dilapidated metal structure! It was twisted and fractured, its surface covered in indescribable traces of weathering, as if it had endured eons of wear and tear. Its technological style was even more ancient and bizarre than the remains of Kronos' "Lighthouse"!

And at the exposed ancient metal fracture, there was also a huge, severely damaged... remnant of the base of the life support array! There were more of them, and the damage was even more thorough, leaving only charred frames and broken crystal fragments!

It seems... before Kronos built the "lighthouse", another unknown civilization had already failed here, leaving behind their remains, which were then covered and used by later generations!

This discovery flashed through Chen Mengzhou's mind like lightning!

The "beacon" installed by the Foundation...its energy signature is similar to that of the "Dream Weaver"...The "Dream Weaver"'s goal is to reverse anchor and peek into the "other side"...

And the things on the "other side" think this side is their "homeland"...

An absurd yet extremely terrifying thought suddenly exploded!

The signal emitted by that beacon might not be attracting random space-time disasters! It's likely that the signal carries the characteristic frequency of the "Dream Weaver" project! What it's really trying to attract... is the attention of the "Beyond" that the Foundation has always been trying to spy on!

Those crazy people at the Foundation! Not only do they want to reverse the anchoring, they also want to... actively lure things from the "other side" here?! Do they think they can control it?! Or... is this just some crazy scheme of a certain faction, one that even the rest of the Foundation is unaware of?!

At this moment when my thoughts were racing——

The vortex of time and space above his head suddenly let out a scream that tore the universe apart!

An indescribably massive claw, composed entirely of distorted light and chaotic matter, suddenly emerged halfway from the center of the vortex! Strange runes, constantly appearing and disappearing, covered the claw, and the aura it exuded caused the laws of the entire space to wail and collapse!

The real "other shore" is about to come!

And at the same time!

Bang bang bang——!

The hatches of the nearest Kronos life support modules finally burst completely! A pale yellow, viscous liquid gushed out! The figures suddenly opened their eyes!

Their eyes... were a cold, emotionless metallic silver!

The moment they regained consciousness, they were completely lost. With stiff yet swift movements, they tore off the wires connecting them. Their silvery gazes instantly locked onto the only living creatures in the field—Chen Mengzhou and Chu Li! And… the terrifying giant claws poking out from above!

"Intrusion...Detection..."

"Clear...abnormal..."

"Protect... the core of the 'Lighthouse'..."

Intermittent, cold electronic synthesized sounds came out of their throats!

They're not survivors at all! They're part of the Lighthouse's automated defense system! They're the sleeping guards!

The next second, the skin on their arms split open, revealing weapon ports gleaming with energy! Without hesitation, they aimed at Chen Mengzhou and the other two, as well as the giant claw, launching indiscriminate attacks!

The blazing high-energy beams and the icy solid barrage splashed down instantly!

Chaos! Utter chaos!

Chen Mengzhou suddenly pulled Chu Li to the ground, rolling to hide behind a huge piece of metal wreckage! Bullets and beams hit the wreckage, splashing sparks and debris all over the sky!

Above, the giant claw seemed enraged by the guards' attack. It roared even more terrifyingly and slashed downwards, ignoring the energy beams. It crushed the two Kronos guards in one blow! Metal and flesh (if any remained) were instantly annihilated by the chaotic energy!

But more guards rushed out of the life support cabin and fired crazily at Giant Claw, Shen Mengzhou and the others without fear of death!

The entire square became a killing field for a three-way melee! Kronos's guards, the giant claws of the other shore, and Chen Mengzhou and Chu Li, who were trapped in the middle!

"Madmen! They're all a bunch of lunatics!" Chu Li screamed amid the deafening explosions and roars, the blue light on his fingertips flickering due to the violent emotional fluctuations.

Chen Mengzhou's brain was working frantically in the extreme danger!

The guards' attack logic seemed to prioritize eliminating the largest energy source (the giant claw) and unidentified intruders (them). And that giant claw seemed to be filled with a desire to destroy all "obstacles"!

Opportunity! The only chance!

Take advantage of this extreme chaos!

"Don't worry about the guards! Attack that beacon base!" Chen Mengzhou shouted at Chu Li, and at the same time suddenly leaned out from behind the cover, and the spatial energy condensed into a blade, not to attack the guards or the giant claws, but to slash fiercely at the information transmission base in the center of the square, which had been destroyed by her but might still have some residual structure!

boom!

The base exploded again, and more parts flew everywhere!

This was like stirring up a hornet's nest!

The silver gazes of all the Kronos guards instantly focused on Chen Mengzhou! Obviously, attacking the "Lighthouse" facility was the highest priority threat!

At the same time, the giant claws above its head seemed to become more frantic as the beacon signal weakened. It slammed the square indiscriminately and smashed several life-support capsules!

"Now! Run towards the gap in the west!" Chen Mengzhou pulled Chu Li up, increased the speed to the extreme, and rushed towards the direction of the more ancient ruins that were exposed by the collapse of the rock wall!

Behind him, there were countless energy beams chasing him and the terrifying sound of giant claws slapping!

They were like dancing in the hail of bullets and the collapse of the sky and the earth, and every time they dodged, they brushed against death!

A blue light flashed in Chu Li's eyes, and a powerful mental shock suddenly erupted backwards. It was not an attack, but formed a mental interference area, causing the guards' attack movements to be delayed for a very short time!

Just take advantage of this opportunity of a few tenths of a second!

The two of them rushed into the cracks of the collapsed ruins, revealing even more ancient ruins, like two swift shadows!

Behind them came the angry electronic sounds of the guards and the violent roars of the giant claws, but they seemed to be restricted by some rules and could not leave the core area of ​​the square immediately, or they were restraining each other and did not chase in the first time!

The two men ran madly forward along the ancient twisted metal passage. Explosions and vibrations continued to be heard behind them, and the entire structure was groaning and collapsing!

I don’t know how far I ran, but the sound behind me gradually weakened.

A faint light appeared ahead, and there was the sound of flowing water?

The two rushed out of the end of the passage, and the view in front of them suddenly became clear!

They had actually rushed out from the other side of the mountain! Before them was a surging, subterranean river emitting a faint phosphorescent glow! The river flowed rapidly, and it was unknown where it led.

And by the river, there was a tattered, but seemingly sturdy, raft tied up! It looked like it was left behind by explorers long ago.

No time to wonder why there was a raft here!

The sound of approaching pursuers could be heard from the passage behind him!

"Get on!" Chen Mengzhou cut the rope without hesitation and pulled Chu Li onto the raft!

The raft was instantly swept by the rushing river and rushed towards the darkness downstream!

Almost the next second after they left, several Kronos Silver Guards rushed to the riverside, staring at the rapidly receding raft with cold silver eyes. They raised the ports of their weapons, but seemed unable to aim effectively due to some energy interference or the distance.

Finally, they turned stiffly and disappeared out of the cave entrance.

The raft drifted rapidly in the dark underground river, temporarily escaping from the pursuers.

Chen Mengzhou and Chu Li collapsed on the raft, gasping for breath, soaked and in a miserable state.

The thrilling escape just a few minutes ago exhausted their last bit of energy.

a long time.

Chu Li suddenly laughed softly, and the laughter echoed in the dark river, carrying with it the madness of surviving a disaster and a hint of bitterness.

"...It's muddied... As expected...it's even muddier..."

Chen Mengzhou didn't smile. She looked at the phosphorescent rock wall that kept passing by above her head with a deep gaze.

The Foundation, the Kronos Guard, the existence of the "other side", and the remains of an even older unknown civilization...

The fragments of truth are piecing together more and more, but the picture they piece together becomes increasingly larger and more terrifying.

She slowly raised her hand and looked at her palm.

The cold black compass lay quietly.

This time, it didn't emit any light.

But she knew that all the answers might ultimately lie in this thing.

The raft drifted towards the unknown dark depths.

A new escape has begun.

This time, they took away more secrets and questions that could subvert everything.