Chapter 23
20 kilometers underground, the B5 deep-sea diving base.
This is a three-story steel fortress buried deep in the rock. The top floor is a warm and secluded living area; three hundred meters down is a sophisticated and cold working area, with high-precision instruments arranged in hexagons surrounding the core activation device; and fifty meters down is a terrifying energy launch platform.
There, the initial counteracting energy will be amplified infinitely, eventually condensing into an "energy bubble" fifty meters in diameter. Like a miniature star, it carries antimatter annihilation energy, specifically designed to neutralize the violent shockwaves deep within the Earth's crust.
The two hadn't slept all night an hour before the earthquake struck.
Inside the control room, Noah's pupils had completely transformed into pure golden light. Through his supernatural ability, his senses were now integrated with the base; he could "see" the terrifying energy bubble on the third-level launch pad, which was slowly pulsating and expanding like a heart.
Claire remained on the first floor. The screen in front of her was split in two: on the left, the first rays of dawn appeared on the ground, and the first glimmer of hope rose from the sea; on the right, however, was an endless abyss of darkness, with massive metal supports like subterranean monsters, emitting a cold light that seemed to devour disaster.
Twenty minutes before the earthquake, the fifty-meter-class energy bubble reached its limit. Noah pinpointed the epicenter 40 kilometers underground and decisively pressed the launch button.
The launch pad only provided the initial thrust. To precisely "navigate" this massive energy bubble within the iron-hard rock, the Sentinels' supernatural abilities were crucial. Noah unleashed his full power, his golden eyes burning like stars. He used his will as invisible reins, pulling the world-destroying force wildly through the dark lava and rock formations.
Three minutes before the earthquake, the energy bubble arrived at its designated location ahead of schedule. Due to its proximity to the earthquake's epicenter, the surrounding electromagnetic field had collapsed into a chaotic mess, and the intense radiation caused the metal bulkheads to groan in agony. If it weren't for the Sentinels' supernatural abilities holding it together, the entire system would have already collapsed.
Noah was soaked to the bone, and wisps of dark, supernatural energy mist seeped from his pores, baring its fangs and claws.
In the living room on the first floor, Claire clasped her hands together and prayed silently in the deathly silence.
The predicted moment has arrived! The earthquake source, like a demon awakening, instantly unleashed a colossal energy powerful enough to tear the continent apart. In the same instant, Noah released his final restraints— "Impact!"
The energy bubble burst violently deep within the Earth's crust, unleashing a torrent of antimatter annihilation energy that clashed head-on with the seismic waves, resulting in a silent neutralization in that unseen abyss.
The control room screen flickered, eventually settling on a stable curve: [Magnitude: 8.0 -> 4.2. Downgrading complete.]
Mission accomplished, Noah slumped back in his chair, his golden pupils fading, the warmth of a life-or-death race against time lingering.
When Noah stepped out of the control room, he looked like a burnt-out ember. The dark gray supernatural mist, like a leech clinging to his bones, transformed into an ominous flame that enveloped him completely.
A deathly pale face was reflected in the elevator mirror. As they approached the first floor, the Crystal Clan's second-in-command forced himself to straighten his back, straightened his disheveled collar, and tried to project a triumphant "heroic" image.
But as soon as the elevator doors opened, Claire was already waiting there. She had no interest in appreciating his clumsy acting; her eyes were filled only with barely concealed trembling and heartache. Without a word, she half-dragged, half-supported him to the living room sofa, quickly placing her hands on his palms.
Purification begins.
The thick black fog, like flowing tar, slowly shifted along their fingertips. Noah's breathing became smoother, and a glimmer of life finally returned to his bloodless face. He stared at Claire's focused profile, a wave of fear washing over him: the Sentinel's power was both a curse and a gift; without the Guide's "safety net," the intensity of that exertion would have been enough to kill him before dawn.
"How can you still laugh?" Claire caught the curve of his lips, her tone reproachful, but her eyes were red. "This time the corruption is too deep."
“Those old guys in the management committee, when have they ever not treated us like animals…” Noah smiled mischievously as usual, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. “What’s there to be afraid of? As long as you’re here, I’m tough as nails.”
Seeing Claire's relentless determination to eliminate the last wisp of black mist, Noah sighed inwardly, "Darling, your husband has a good constitution. Leaving a little 'black mist' in his body is like having probiotics; they can coexist peacefully with me. You've been purifying for two hours already, why don't you rest?"
Claire glared at him resentfully: "It's not even half dissolved yet, what's your hurry! This stuff is a slow poison, a negative energy that devours the soul. Don't try to use probiotics to mislead me. Lie still and don't move!"
“...Yes, madam.” Noah immediately shrank back, looking like a henpecked husband.
After a brief silence, the esteemed manager turned his head restlessly, his brows furrowed: "I've been busy all night, and my stomach feels like it's rebelling. I'm so hungry..."
Claire then realized that neither of them had eaten or drunk anything since the party the previous night. The Sentinel's power consumed his life potential, requiring frequent replenishment. She released his hand, letting him go to the kitchen to find food.
"Won't you come and have some with me, madam?" Noah hummed a tuneless little tune in the kitchen, like a child who had just pulled off a prank. Before long, the aroma of toasted bread and the savory smell of bacon filled the air.
He dawdled, glancing at the news and chatting about politics, turning what should have been a ten-minute breakfast into an hour. Claire finally managed to drag him back to the sofa, but less than an hour later, he was complaining of thirst again. He complained that bottled water lacked soul and insisted on grinding coffee beans himself.
"I haven't slept all night, my brain needs caffeine." He said, yawning exaggeratedly as he watched the steam rising from the coffee pot, as if trying to defuse some inevitable judgment.
Next came the bathroom break, which took another half hour. By the time he slowly made his way back to the living room, Claire was already so sleepy that her eyelids were drooping.
"Claire, how about we take a nap first?" Noah asked tentatively.
Claire jolted awake, looking at the lingering mist still clinging to him, her eyes resolute: "No."
Noah was quiet for ten minutes, then started complaining again about how hard the sofa was and how stiff his posture was. Claire saw right through his act, raising an eyebrow: "We can change places, but no one's stopping today until all these toxins are drained!"
Noah instinctively hugged her, like a large, affectionate dog: "My lady..."
"That's no use, let's get down to business." Claire said coldly, unmoved.
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