Ye Mo stared at his right hand, his fingertips still trembling.
The arc of electricity in his palm flickered, its rhythm changing. After seven flashes, a brief burst of light appeared, as if someone had secretly flipped a switch. He touched his chest with his left hand; the Faraday cage against his skin was burning hot, and the miniature generator hummed, barely managing to hold back the surging current within him.
He didn't have time to wait for the signal to be restored, nor could he confirm whether there was any leakage after the repeater box was connected. The only thing he could do now was to keep moving forward.
His right shoulder wound was still bleeding, but he couldn't care less.
He turned his pain receptors to the lowest setting and took a step forward with his left foot. A puddle splashed up, and a flash of blue light streaked across the surface.
There was movement at the end of the passage. Three figures stood behind an energy barrier, their equipment far superior to the previous group. They held runic halberds and had shield generators hanging from their waists. They stood in a triangle formation, clearly coming for him.
Ye Mo knew he couldn't delay any longer.
He slammed his palms on the ground, and high-frequency lightning burst out along the slippery surface. The electric current struck the barrier, causing the runes on the wall to vibrate violently and crack. The enemy reacted immediately; the man in the middle raised his halberd to block, while the two on either side began to flank him from behind.
He deliberately took half a step back.
The enemy in the middle fell for the trap, charging forward and slashing down with his halberd. Ye Mo dodged to the side, his right hand flashing out like lightning, delivering a high-voltage electric shock to the enemy's wrist joint. The runes went out of balance, the weapon shattered into pieces, and the backlash sent him flying, crashing into the wall and falling to the ground.
The system notification tone didn't sound. He knew this time it wasn't a hallucination; he really couldn't keep up with the rhythm.
But he can't stop.
Two enemies on the left and right were closing in, their shields deploying to form a crossfire network. Ye Mo pushed off the ground with both feet, leaping into the air and raising his hands high above his head. The air crackled and popped, the metal pipes in the ceiling twisted and deformed, and a powerful electromagnetic field was sensed.
A bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking him squarely between his palms.
The electric current, guided through their arms, shot forward in a fan-shaped electric grid. A blinding flash erupted, instantly overloading the shield, which shattered with a deafening roar. The two men collapsed to their knees, their muscles convulsing, their weapons slipping from their hands.
The passageway was illuminated.
The walls were charred black, moisture evaporated, and electric sparks spread along the cracks. The entire road looked as if it had been cleaved out by lightning.
The last enemy was still lying on the ground, one hand reaching for the device at his waist, his fingers gripping the activation button. It was a directional explosive rune; once detonated, the entire passage would collapse and seal off.
Ye Mo stepped forward, and as soon as his right leg touched the ground, his fingertips twitched again.
He gritted his teeth, raised his palm, and aimed it at the other person's waist. He switched to low-power continuous discharge to interfere with the resonant frequency. The device flashed red a few times, emitted a piercing alarm, and finally went out with a "click".
He kicked the man to the ground, his voice indifferent. "Did your master teach you this? Or did you want to die?"
The other person's eyes rolled back, and they fainted.
Three unconscious people lay motionless on the ground. The barrier had completely collapsed, and the passage was now unobstructed.
Ye Mo looked down at his right hand. The electric arc was still jumping, the rhythm unchanged, seven flashes followed by one short flash, as if some kind of signal was taking root in his body.
He ignored it.
Turn around and walk forward.
With each step, the puddles beneath their feet shimmered with a faint blue light. Lightning marks remained on the walls along the passageway, like the bite marks of a giant beast. The air smelled of burning metal.
The main control area is 300 meters away.
He has a long way to go.
But the path has already been opened.
He pressed his left hand against his injured shoulder, his right hand hanging at his side, the electric arcs occasionally flickering. He stopped checking it and stopped trying to suppress it. As long as he could move, he would keep moving forward.
New runic lamps lit up at the corner of the passage, pale golden lines creeping up from the ground to form Blockade Array. This was not an illusion, but a real barrier, thicker and harder to break than before.
Ye Mo stopped in his tracks.
He raised his hands, palms facing forward. Arcs of electricity compressed between his fingers, emitting a low-frequency hum. He took a deep breath, preparing to unleash another wave of lightning.
Just as he was about to make his move, his right hand suddenly trembled.
It's not a convulsion.
He lifted it up on his own initiative.
Spread your fingers wide, with your palm facing the center of the barrier.
He didn't give the order, but his body moved first.
The electric arc suddenly erupted, no longer leaping randomly, but condensing into a beam that shot straight out. The lightning pierced through the passage, and the moment it struck the rune array, the entire wall burst into a blinding golden light.
The barrier shattered.
Cracks spread like a spiderweb, and the golden runes extinguished one by one. Smoke and dust rose, and the passage reopened.
Ye Mo withdrew his hand and stared at his palm.
The electric arc was silent for a moment.
Then it starts bouncing again.
Seven times, one short, bright flash.
Seven times, one short, bright flash.
Same as before.
But he knew things were different now.
That attack just now wasn't under his control.
It fired it itself.
He didn't speak, nor did he stop.
Keep walking forward.
The passageway narrowed, and water began to drip from the maintenance pipes on the wall. Water droplets fell on his shoulder, mixing with blood as they flowed down. His right leg lurched slightly, but he didn't stagger.
There is light ahead.
It wasn't an emergency light, nor a rune; it was the main control area's lighting system. A pale blue, cool light shone through the fence gate, drawing a dividing line on the ground.
The door was closed.
The electronic lock is displaying red, indicating that authentication is required.
Ye Mo walked over, his right hand automatically raised, and his palm placed on the recognition area.
A beep.
The door opened.
He paused for a moment, stunned.
He didn't enter a password, nor did he crack the system.
But the door recognized him.
He withdrew his hand and looked down.
A faint arc of electricity flickered in his palm.
Seven flashes followed by one brief flash.
He stepped over the threshold and entered the next section.
The ground began to tilt, the slope increasing. The air became more stuffy, and I could feel static electricity tickling my nasal cavity when I breathed. Vibrations came from the pipes overhead, as if some equipment was starting up in the distance.
He quickened his pace.
One hundred meters. Fifty meters. Thirty meters.
The metal door to the control room appeared before them, bearing the Asgard insignia, with a crack in the center, as if it had been forcibly pried open.
He walked to the door and raised his right hand again.
This time he didn't stop it.
An electric arc surged in his palm, seeping into the crack in the door. The internal circuitry crackled, the lock cylinder melted, and the door slowly opened.
A gust of hot air hit my face.
The room was filled with control panels, all the screens were black, except for one terminal that was still running, with green code constantly scrolling.
He walked in, his gaze sweeping over the terminal.
The screen displays a series of coordinates.
Refreshing.
He recognized the format.
This is the track offset data for the Bifrost.
The numbers are still changing.
He stood still, his right hand hanging down.
The electric arc flickered.
Seven flashes followed by one brief flash.
He raised his left hand, ready to touch the keyboard.
His right hand suddenly rose up.
Spread your five fingers wide, facing the terminal interface.