The rusted giant iron gate stood half-open, like a bottomless crack in the darkness, or the ill-intentioned, gaping mouth of a demon.
Xia Chujian came to the side of the gate and made a gesture. Xia Chao immediately moved in front of it, switching a heavy defensive shield out from his mecha and planting it firmly against the ground.
Xia Yu silently slid to the others' side, holding an instrument that emitted a faint blue glow in the rainy night, swiftly outlining the space beyond the iron gate.
It was a vast, empty world with no heat-source signals, no life-sign data—only utter silence.
"Safe." Xia Yu reported in a low voice, though a trace of confusion colored his tone.
"However, the structural scan shows residual traces of a large, irregular heat source here, and it's cooling rapidly. It's... very strange."
Xia Chujian's heart sank slightly.
Yes, it was too quiet. Quiet in an unnatural way.
Besides, if there truly were no living creatures here, where had that large, irregular heat source come from?
She quietly ordered Xia Xiong, who had already entered and taken the high ground, "Xia Xiong, report the situation inside."
"No abnormalities. Only rain." Xia Xiong's voice came from above, as calm as ever.
"Advance." Xia Chujian suppressed her doubts and gave the order decisively.
Xia Chao kicked out, swinging his heavy shield at the same time and violently smashing open the half-closed iron gate.
The iron gate let out a piercing metallic screech, stirring up tremendous echoes inside the empty city. But they were soon drowned out by the deafening roar of the torrential rain.
Xia Chujian, Xia Yu, Xia Rao, and Xia Xi followed closely behind.
The bright lights on their mecha helmets lit up like several sharp white swords, piercing through the pouring rain