6. Captivity
The night, like thick ink, completely stained Blackstone Base. The hustle and bustle of the day seemed swallowed by the deep darkness, leaving only the whimpering sound of the wind weaving through the abandoned buildings. From a distant watchtower, a searchlight occasionally pierced the night. The cold beam of light, like the pupil of a giant beast, mercilessly scanned the sleeping base, casting fleeting pale shadows on the shattered walls.
Inside the SUV, the air was so thick it felt like water dripping from it. The blackout curtains separated the inside from the outside, creating two separate worlds. Only a single emergency light, dimly lit at its lowest power, cast flickering shadows on the four faces. No one slept, not even the slightest bit. The intelligence Lei Qing and A Yan had brought back weighed on everyone's hearts like a slab of ice.
"The number of guards at all exits has been at least doubled," Lei Qing's voice echoed low in the small space. He spread out a crude hand-drawn map and pointed to several marked points. "The inspection of our vehicle is especially strict. Every person and every piece of cargo entering and leaving is checked over and over again."
A Yan scratched his fiery red hair in annoyance, sparks flying from his fingertips: "Damn, that Xiao must have discovered something! We are like rats in a cage!"
Mu Lin stared at the map, his light blue eyes appearing particularly profound in the dim light. "It's not just about strengthening the guards. I noticed some dark, mobile sentries. They're not like ordinary guards; they're more professional and coordinated. When we were observing the exit, there were at least three groups of people watching our direction from different angles."
Su Lin sat quietly in a corner, his hands clasped tightly together until his knuckles turned white. He could feel the invisible net tightening, and he was the bait at its center. He said nothing, but his slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed the turmoil within him.
"We can't wait until dawn," Lei Qing finally decided, his voice firm. "Four in the morning is when the human body is most tired and least alert. It's also when the last shift of guards at the watchtower is most likely to slack off before the change of guard." He pointed a finger at an inconspicuous mark on the east side of the map. "We'll go from here, to the abandoned supply passage on the east side. A Yan and I observed it from a distance during the day. The defense there is relatively weak, and the wall is in disrepair, so a breach is possible."
With the plan in place, the atmosphere only grew more solemn, like the suffocating calm before the storm. They began their silent march, checking every weapon, distributing every bullet, and gathering the last of their supplies. The subtle clatter of metal against metal, the click of ammunition being loaded into magazines, and the muffled sounds of each other's breathing intertwined like a prelude to death.
Su Lin closed his eyes and concentrated, mentally organizing all the items he might need in the space—weapons, medical supplies, food, water—and placing them where he could most easily access them. His palms were sweating slightly from nervousness, and they were icy cold. He knew that this breakout couldn't afford even the slightest mistake; any negligence could plunge the entire team into an abyss of no return.
Time passed by in the anxious waiting, each second feeling as long as a century. Outside the car, the night at the base was not peaceful. Occasionally, sporadic gunshots, muffled screams, or some other unidentifiable strange sounds could be heard in the distance, reminding them of the dangerous environment they were in.
Inside the car, the four of them silently checked their watches, adjusted their equipment, exchanged glances, and made final preparations. As the time for the planned operation drew closer, the tension in the air reached a peak.
Just before four in the morning, when the team was about to take action—
"Boom boom boom."
Suddenly, a few polite but abrupt knocks were heard outside the car window. In the silent night, the sound was particularly clear, like the tolling of a death knell.
The four people in the car tensed instantly, like startled cheetahs. Their weapons slipped silently into their hands, the safety released. Lei Qing winked at A Yan, who took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to burst into flames. He lowered the window just a fraction and grumbled, "Who?!"
Outside the car stood a man in a base guard uniform. He looked unfamiliar, unlike any of the guards they had seen during the day. He wore a slightly forced, forced smile, and in his hands was a half-worn kettle, steam still rising from its spout. "Hey, guys, are you still here?" his voice was filled with strained enthusiasm. "I'm on patrol tonight. We've been told you're important guests and need to take good care of them. It's freezing cold, so I'm bringing you some hot water to warm you up."
Delivering hot water? In this base where supplies are scarce and the people are as cold and indifferent as an icy cave? And at this sensitive time when they are preparing a secret breakout?
This is so strange! It's like the word "trap" is written all over it!
Lei Qing's eyes sharpened, like a blade drawn from its sheath, and he was about to sternly refuse—
Sudden!
"Puff—" An extremely slight sound, like the sound of high-pressure airflow, was heard, so weak that it was almost drowned out by the sound of the wind.
The smile on the "guard" standing outside the car suddenly turned strange and ferocious. He wasn't holding a kettle at all, but a cleverly disguised metal can! At that moment, a colorless and odorless gas was gushing out of the can, flowing rapidly into the car through the crack in the window!
"It's a drug! Hold your breath!" Mu Lin was the first to react. He was incredibly sensitive to air movement and temperature changes, and he immediately shouted. At the same time, he thrust his hands forward, trying to manipulate the airflow to form a barrier, dispersing and reversing the deadly gas!
But the other party's actions were too fast! And this drug was obviously extraordinary, and it took effect very quickly!
Ah Yan, who was closest to the window, had already inhaled a small amount of the gas and was suddenly overcome by a dizziness and a sense of weakness. He roared like a wounded lion, and instinctively, his fingertips ignited with a fiery flame. However, the flames flickered as his body lost control, losing their former ferocity. He punched the man outside the window in the face with all his might: "You're looking for death!"
The man seemed to have anticipated this, leaping back nimbly and easily dodging the weakened blow. The hypocritical smile on his face completely vanished, leaving only a cold, deadly look.
Almost at the same time! Like a silent signal!
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"
From the shadows on either side and behind the car, dozens of dark figures suddenly burst out like ghosts! Their movements were lightning-fast, their coordination seamless, clearly experienced and well-trained! Someone even used a heavy window breaker to slam into the driver's and passenger windows!
Under this long-planned blow, the specially made bulletproof glass uttered a teeth-grinding groan and instantly exploded into a dense spider web! The cracks were like vines of death, instantly covering the entire car window!
"Break!" Lei Qing's roar was drowned out by the sound of shattering glass. He fought back the dizziness and nausea from inhaling trace amounts of gas and fiercely kicked open the deformed car door! The heavy door, with immense force, sent the nearest attacker, weapon and body, careening forward, sending him flying. The sound of bones shattering was audible! A sniper rifle was useless in such close combat. He drew the military dagger from his waist. The cold blade shone with a deadly glare in the dim light, wiping the throat of another enemy with precision. Warm blood gushed out like a fountain, staining the car windows and the ground red!
A Yan roared as he leaped from the other side of the car, his eyes bloodshot from rage and the effects of the drug. He swung his flaming fists wildly, pushing back the enemies who tried to approach him. Tongues of orange-red flame licked the air, igniting the two attackers who couldn't dodge. They howled in agony and rolled on the ground. But A Yan's steps were noticeably weak, and his attacks were no longer as precise and ruthless as usual. The drug was steadily sapping his strength and will.
Mu Lin's entire body was engulfed in a surge of cold, instantly draining the moisture from the air and condensing it! Several crystal-clear, sharp-edged ice spikes appeared out of thin air, piercing the enemy approaching from the rear with a piercing scream, and instantly pinning them to the ground! The ice quickly spread around him, attempting to freeze the enemy's footsteps and temporarily delaying their attack. He turned around and shouted, "Su Lin! Follow me! Don't leave my side!"
However, Xiao's goal is extremely clear, and his plan is meticulous and vicious to the extreme!
Just as Lei Qing, A Yan, and Mu Lin were being desperately entangled by the large number of elite soldiers pouring in from outside the car, and the battle instantly fell into a stalemate and chaos - this was their real purpose! To attract everyone's attention and create chaos!
The two dark figures who had been lurking in the shadows beneath the car like stone statues finally moved! They slipped out silently like ghosts! One of them suddenly opened the car door where Su Lin was standing, while the other, holding a handkerchief soaked in a high concentration of sleeping pills, covered Su Lin's mouth and nose with lightning speed, before anyone could react. Su Lin had just stood up and was about to summon a weapon from space!
"Ugh!" Su Lin's eyes widened, pupils constricted in extreme horror. He caught a whiff of a strange, sweet, decaying aroma. His frantic struggle seemed futile against the opponent's sheer strength and the sudden attack. The potent drug, like a raging tide, instantly overwhelmed his consciousness. His vision blurred and distorted, the struggling figures of his teammates becoming nothing more than swaying blocks of color, and the sounds seemed to come from a distant horizon.
The last thing he saw was Lei Qing's bloodshot eyes, his face twisted with rage and despair, unable to break through the encirclement. He saw the maddening sight of A Yan, his entire body ablaze with flames, like a fire god descending to earth, being stopped by several enemies desperately using their bodies and special shields. He saw Mu Lin trying to control the ice wall to rush to the rescue, but being blocked by more enemies and crossfire, his face a mixture of anxiety, anger, and endless regret...
Then, all light, sound, and sensation vanished as quickly as if a power outage had occurred, and the world was plunged into endless, cold darkness.
The attackers, having succeeded, showed no lingering desire to fight, their coordination uncanny. The man who had covered Su Lin's mouth and nose quickly lifted him, completely unconscious, onto his shoulders, while another cautiously covered their rear. Just as they had come, they retreated swiftly, like the receding black tide, following their pre-planned route. In the blink of an eye, they were lost in the shadows of the intricate, dark alleyway.
The entire process took place in a flash, from breaking the window to abducting and retreating, in just over ten seconds. The coordination was flawless, clearly a precise operation that had been rehearsed countless times! Their goal from the beginning wasn't to crush them head-on, but to forcibly abduct Su Lin, using his men as bait and cannon fodder, at any cost!
"Su Lin!!!"
A Yan let out a heart-wrenching, almost inhuman roar! Watching Su Lin being abducted, panic and rage erupted within him like a volcano! The flames surrounding him shot up uncontrollably into the sky, their color changing from orange-red to blazing white! The terrifying heat instantly reduced the two charging enemies to screaming, human-like charcoal! But his madly burning wall of flames still couldn't break through the fearless human defense line formed by even more enemies!
Lei Qing slit an enemy's throat with a single blow, not even bothering to wipe the blood splattering his face as he attempted to rush in the direction Su Lin had disappeared. But more attacks poured in from all sides like a tide: blades, clubs, even a specially crafted net, forcing him to retreat. For the first time, his face, usually as cold and hard as stone, betrayed a frenzied, destructive killing intent. His deep eyes burned with the flames of hell!
Mu Lin manipulated the frost, freezing the legs and feet of several enemies to the ground. His face was as pale as paper, devoid of a trace of blood. His eyes were filled with endless regret and terror. He hated himself for not being able to detect the trap sooner, hated himself for not being able to protect the people behind him! The cold air he released almost froze the air around him, but it couldn't freeze the enemy's frantic attack, nor could it freeze the heart aching from the loss.
They had fallen prey to the classic tactic of luring the enemy away from their mountain range! The enemy used a large number of manpower to draw all their firepower, but the real killer move came from the most unexpected hidden corner!
"Chase!" Lei Qing's voice cracked with extreme rage. Like a wounded tiger trapped in a desperate situation, he completely abandoned all defense and dodging. Only one thought remained in his mind - chase him! Get Su Lin back! He brandished his dagger and launched a frantic charge in the direction Su Lin had been taken, each blow carrying the determination to die together!
A Yan and Mu Lin, their eyes red, followed closely behind! At this moment, all thoughts of conserving strength and caution were thrown to the wind! The two diametrically opposed forces of fire and ice intertwined, forming a devastating storm! Waves of fire rolled, spikes of ice raged, ruthlessly shredding anything that dared to stand in their way!
But it's too late!
Just as they advanced less than twenty meters, the only path leading to the eastern passage was completely blocked by a larger number of base guards who had rushed in upon hearing the news! A blinding searchlight beam shone down from above, firmly locking onto the three of them. The clatter of chaotic footsteps echoed from all directions, and more enemies, like hyenas scenting blood, poured out from every alleyway, their guns spewing deadly flames!
No matter how strong the three of them were, they were still flesh and blood. Faced with this carefully arranged net, enemies that were several times their number, and the crossfire network, they were instantly surrounded and could not move forward!
Lei Qing, A Yan, and Mu Lin stood back to back, forming a small defensive circle, desperately resisting the attacks from all sides. Their eyes burned with resentment as they stared intently at the dark alleyway where Su Lin had been taken away, their eyes etched with rage, their hearts consumed by endless rage, heart-wrenching fear, and icy despair.
Su Lin was forcibly abducted right before their eyes!
And deep in the alley, darkness was like the throat of a giant beast, swallowing up all light and hope.
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