The afterglow of victory has not yet dissipated, but a heavier haze has quietly descended.
Lu Cheneng stood at the observation window of the repair chamber, his still pale face, its lines hard and icy, reflected in the glass. Inside, Wen Shifei was conducting the final energy channeling. Her fingertips, shrouded in a gentle, faint blue light, carefully guided the last trace of chaotic energy within him into the magic blade. The blade was dark, its mysterious silver lines flickering like breathing, as if digesting the power it had consumed, yet also emitting a subtle... restlessness. With each flow of energy, Lu Cheneng could feel the stabbing pain of the old wound on his left arm and the burning ember-like aching deep within the core of the chip in his brain. Power had returned, but the price was always there.
Outside the window (on the simulation screen), the tranquil fortress scene was no longer. The simulated skylight in the dome was shrouded in an eerie, purple-red mist. The faint yet pervasive whisper of the spirit emanating from the Ark's signal grew clearer in the air, tangling like cold spiderwebs around everyone's nerves, bringing with it an inexplicable irritation and a deep-seated fear. Inside the fortress, some weaker-willed children began crying unexplained, and soldiers occasionally lost focus during training, even exhibiting brief bouts of aggression. In the Healer's laboratory, the number of isolation pods increased, housing residents displaying early signs of contamination, such as skin changes, hyperactivity, or lethargy.
The shadow of the "Ark" is eroding this last pure land in an unstoppable way.
"Signal strength is still slowly increasing, and the mental pollution index has exceeded the standard by 17%." Inside the command center, "Beacon's" voice came through the communicator with a metallic coldness. "The chaebol's 'scavenger' forces are unusually gathering in multiple directions, with extremely high energy readings. Signs of large-scale biostimulant injections have been detected in several downtown hubs controlled by the Black Snake Gang... They seem driven by something to launch a full-scale offensive at all costs."
Lu Chen's fists clenched unconsciously. He knew a storm was coming, and at the center of it lay the Lighthouse, those who knew the secrets of the Ark. He looked into the repair cabin. Wen Shifei had just finished her counseling, raised her head wearily, and offered him a weak smile. Her smile remained clear, but it couldn't hide the worry deep in her eyes—she, too, sensed the unusual signal and the agitation of the Demon Blade.
"We must reinforce the fortress and be prepared to defend it to the death." Lu Chen's voice was low and hoarse, transmitted throughout the command center through the communicator. "Check all defense matrices and activate the highest level of energy shields. Medical team, prepare to deal with large-scale mental contamination and...possible biological contamination." His eyes swept across the ominous energy readings of the chaebol troops on the screen. "Also...the final debugging of the 'resonance virus' must be accelerated."
At the mention of the "Resonance Virus," Wen Shifei's expression instantly grew complex. This ultimate cyber weapon, based on a partial sequence of Lu Qingyi's genes and combining the "Zero" countermeasure protocol with Wen Shifei's own abilities, was originally their trump card against the chaebol's "Hive" system. However, its core code bore a disturbing...homology with the persistent "Ark" signal. Like a key, it could unlock a prison, but it could also awaken an even more terrifying monster.
"The virus's core protocol... overlaps with the Ark's signal by as much as 89.7%." Wen Shifei's voice trembled slightly as she brought up a comparison chart of the two sets of data. "I'm worried... using it might... amplify the signal or cause unpredictable chain reactions."
The command center fell into a brief silence. Not using the virus could result in the fortress being breached, with everyone reduced to slavery or experimental subjects. Using the virus could hasten the arrival of the world-destroying "Watcher," or even trigger a catastrophe outright.
"We have no choice." Lu Chen's voice was firm, breaking the silence. "If we can't hold the fortress, everything else is just empty talk. The virus... is our only means of counterattack. I'll bear the risk." His gaze fell on the magic blade at his waist. This blade could absorb energy. Perhaps... it could also suppress the side effects of the virus at a critical moment? This was just his unsure guess.
Wen Shifei looked at the unquestionable determination in Lu Cheneng's eyes, then looked at the light spots of the chaebol troops getting closer and closer on the screen, and finally nodded heavily: "Okay. I will complete the final debugging and set up triple physical isolation and self-destruction protocols to reduce the risk as much as possible." She turned and walked towards the studio, her back carrying a tragic and heroic look of desperate efforts.
"Be careful." Lu Chenxiang's voice sounded behind her, softer than ever.
Wen Shifei paused slightly, without looking back, and just said "hmm" softly.
The studio door closed, shutting out the outside noise. Wen Shifei sat before a massive holographic console. The screen displayed the core of the "Resonance Virus," a series of faint blue and dark red data streams. It was beautiful yet deadly, like a meticulously crafted work of art, yet also like a stellar bomb poised to explode at any moment. She took a deep breath, her fingertips dancing across the virtual keyboard as if playing a movement of fate, performing the final encryption, stabilization, and... the limiter installation. Each keystroke felt like a bargain with the devil.
At the same time, the fortress's defense alarm suddenly rose to the highest level! The shrill beeping tore through the oppressive air!
"High-energy reaction detected! The main fleet of the chaebol has broken through the outer defense line! The 'Beehive' cluster charge mode has been activated!" The scout's report was accompanied by a broken voice.
A terrifying scene unfolded on the holographic screen: no longer a single "Scavenger" robot, but hundreds of them, fused, twisted, and deformed like flesh and blood, into several mechanical beasts over ten meters tall! Their shells coursing with dark purple energy veins, their compound eyes flashing with the same faint light as the "Ark" signal. With earth-shaking steps, braving the fortress's artillery fire, they fearlessly charged towards the energy shield! They fired not conventional energy beams, but sticky, highly corrosive, and mind-disrupting biological pulse spores!
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