A drop of water from the ventilation duct above hit Ye Mo's forehead, making his eyelids twitch from the cold. He didn't look up, but the frost on his palms grew thicker and thicker, and cold air seeped out from between his fingers, as if it were freezing from his bones.
The right leg was still alarming, and the Steel Bone system kept beeping. "Power output limited, evacuation recommended."
He thought to himself, "Shut up, I'm a human the Fridge now, my main skill is to tough it out."
Ultron stood six meters away, the blade on his left arm humming incessantly, and a red light swept across his body from his chest, as if it were loading a timer.
Ye Mo knew that this thing was almost fixed. After another round, his piece of junk would probably fall apart into a large package of spare parts.
He leaned against the wreckage of the control panel, took a breath, and quietly reached his left hand to the side of his neck—where the micro-communication chip Tony had given him was embedded, a low-frequency pulse, silent broadcast, designed specifically for situations like "I'm about to die but I can't scream for help."
"If this drags on any longer, the base will become a graveyard." He gritted his teeth, his fingertips tapping three times rapidly under his skin, inputting the preset code.
[Level X threat confirmed, coordinates locked, all personnel assemble.]
The moment the signal was sent, the overhead pipe vibrated again. This time, instead of water droplets, a very thin beam of red light swept across the gap and disappeared in an instant.
Ye Mo's lips twitched slightly. "Fine, you found out I tipped you off? Too late."
He knew Ultron now had two choices: either pounce on him immediately and kill him, or retreat and rearrange his tactics.
But if it hesitates for even a second, reinforcements will have a chance to arrive.
He slowly straightened up, even though his right knee creaked like a rusty hinge.
"Come on, grandson, that lightning attack was just a warm-up. Next up is the limited-time Ice and Snow World experience."
That's what I said, but in reality I'd already turned the system upside down— the Ice Manipulation could still be used once more, the Self-Healing module was still cooling down, the Steel Bone shell had three cracks, and I was afraid of drafts when I walked around.
But he cannot sit, kneel, or fall down.
When he fell, the group behind him lost their leader.
Three seconds later, the western outer wall of the base exploded with a "boom," creating a two-meter-wide hole. Amidst the flying debris, a dark figure tumbled to the ground, performed a forward roll, and crouched down against the wall, scanning the entire area through infrared goggles.
"Enemy location?" Black Widow lowered her gun, her voice short and sharp.
Ye Mo raised his hand and pointed in the direction of Ultron.
Without asking any further questions, she flipped over and leaped up, taking two steps onto the broken steel beam to occupy the high ground. She slowly raised her sniper rifle, aiming the muzzle at the interface area on Ultron's back.
Almost simultaneously, a transport drone swept low over the east, its hatch opened, and Hawkeye jumped off, carrying a compound bow on his shoulder. The bowstring was already drawn the moment he landed, and the arrowhead glowed with EMP blue light.
"The back door is cleared, no ambush," he whispered, his gaze fixed on the muzzle of Ultron's left arm cannon.
A thunderclap suddenly exploded in the sky, tearing apart the dark clouds. Thor rode down from the sky on lightning, his warhammer slamming into the ground. Arcs of lightning scattered and surged, illuminating the entire ruins.
"The storm has been diverted, and there are no tracking signals in the sky!" he roared, raising his Hammerhead and sending bolts of lightning dancing around him.
Captain America arrived last, clearing a path with his shield, smashing through a pile of collapsed concrete blocks, and quickly stepped forward to support the swaying Ye Mo.
"What's the situation?" he asked succinctly.
Ye Mo grinned, his teeth blackened by cigarette ash. "We've been waiting for you."
Tony then burst out from the other passage, his armor half-activated, his mask undone, his face blackened and smoking. "So, why did you suddenly issue a mobilization order? Are you using me as a tool again?"
"How could that be?" Ye Mo coughed twice, spitting out a mouthful of grayish saliva. "I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself. Otherwise, next time at the meeting, everyone will say you only know how to build robots and ended up getting defeated by them."
"Ha, that's hilarious." Tony rolled his eyes. "So, you're acting like this so I have to carry you on my back while you charge into battle?"
"No need." Ye Mo straightened up, supporting himself with Captain America's hand. "I can walk, it's just that my right leg is a bit frozen, I walk like a penguin strolling around."
"Even the penguins are more stable than you are right now." Captain America patted him on the shoulder, then turned to the others, "Everyone's here? Report on your status."
"High vantage point control, clear field of vision," Black Widow said calmly.
"Long-range firepower in position." Hawkeye nocked a second arrow.
"Thunder is ready, ready to shatter it to a crisp at any moment." Thor gripped his warhammer, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Tony brought up the projector on his wristband. "I can access the main control system and interfere with its data link, but someone needs to directly restrain it."
"Then let's divide the tasks." Captain America sheathed his shield and stood in the center. "We're not here to dismantle machines, we're here to end the threat. Everyone, listen up, group yourselves according to your abilities."
Ye Mo forced himself to walk to the projection area, pointed his finger, and a holographic map popped up on the ground, marking Ultron's location and energy flow.
"This is the data analysis from our recent encounter." His voice was a little hoarse, but every word was clear. " Ultron's red heart on its chest is its main processing core, but its left arm's cannon relies on a dual-cell battery on its side for power. Disrupting the power supply chain halves its firepower."
Tony leaned closer to take a look and nodded. "That makes sense. It's about 80% repaired, but the energy module is still loading. We can use this window of opportunity to breach the outer shell."
"I'll hold them off head-on," Tony said, "While Ye Mo makes his advance."
"Your shell is practically falling apart, and you're still charging forward?" Ye Mo glanced at him sideways. "Are you planning to ram it with your face?"
"I have armor," Tony shrugged. "And you? Just a hoodie and half a good leg?"
"I have a system." Ye Mo patted his head. "And I just discovered that Ice Manipulation and Steel Bone can be temporarily stacked to create localized ultra-low temperature embrittlement, making it easier to break through defenses."
"When did you figure out this function?" Tony frowned.
"A sudden inspiration struck me five minutes ago." Ye Mo shrugged. "Anyway, we might as well try anything. At worst, we'll both be scrapped."
"I like this plan," Thor laughed. "Simple, brutal, and easy to kill."
"Don't steal the show," Black Widow warned from above, "It's moved."
Everyone immediately became alert.
On the monitor screen, the red light on Ultron's chest flashed faster, the blade on his left arm retracted, the cannon muzzle slowly opened, and the energy conduit began to charge.
"It's about to launch a full-scale attack," Hawkeye whispered.
"Then let's strike first," Captain America ordered. " Tony draws fire, Ye Mo looks for an opportunity to cut the energy chain, Thor prepares the lightning control circuit, and Hawkeye, Black Widow, and I will clear the backup lines and the assault nodes. Wait for my signal, then we'll move in unison."
"Clear."
"Receive."
"Wait until you throw your shield."
Ye Mo moved his wrists, and frost flowers condensed on his palms again. This time he didn't press them down, letting the cold air spread from his fingertips to his forearms. The Steel Bone Structure made a faint "crackling" sound, as if it was adapting to the low temperature.
" Tony," he suddenly said, "If I suddenly say 'the system notification says it's ready,' don't believe me."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't hear the system notification at all." He grinned. "I was just making up an excuse to bolster my courage."
Tony laughed, "Okay, I'll play along with whatever you say then."
"Also," Ye Mo looked at Captain America, "I might not be able to walk very steadily later, so don't make me go first."
"I won't let you lead the charge," Captain America said, looking at him, "But you'll have to keep up."
"I'll do my best." Ye Mo took a deep breath. Although his right leg was still giving him warning signs, his spirits lifted.
Seven people formed a semicircle, standing behind a safety bunker outside the main control area.
On the monitor screen ahead, Ultron's figure stood silently, its red light scanning, as if waiting for them to make the first move.
Tony's armor fully activated, the thrusters making a slight noise.
Thor's warhammer lifted off the ground, crackling with electricity.
Black Widow's finger was on the trigger.
Hawkeye drew his bowstring taut.
Captain America held his shield horizontally, his gaze unwavering.
Ye Mo stood beside Tony, his left hand hidden behind his back, quietly pressing the last bit of cold energy into his palm.
"Ready," Captain America whispered.
No one spoke; only the hum of the equipment and the crackling of distant electrical fluctuations filled the air.
Ye Mo stared at the red dot on the screen, his mind flashing back to the series of actions he had just witnessed—sending signals, waiting for backup, his teammates bursting through the door one by one...
He originally thought he would have to face death alone, but now he stands here surrounded by people who would take the blows for him.
"I used to think of myself as an unlucky transmigrator who had to rely on the system for everything," he suddenly said in a low voice. "But now I realize that the system's most amazing achievement was bringing me together with you all."
Tony glanced at him sideways. "That's touching. I suggest recording it and playing it at the memorial service later."
"Get lost," Ye Mo said with a laugh.
Captain America raised his shield and shouted, "Action!"
Tony's thrusters ignited with a roar, Iron Man Armor shot into the sky, heading straight for Ultron.
Thor swung his warhammer, and lightning struck, hitting the ground's electrical circuits.
Black Widow and Hawkeye fired simultaneously, their EMP arrows and sniper bullets crisscrossing.
Captain America's shield flew out of his hand, heading straight for Ultron's head sensor.
Ye Mo gritted his teeth, dragged his right leg, and rushed out of the cover. The Steel Bone Structure was running at full power, and cold air burst out from his palms, rushing straight towards the energy node on the side of Ultron.
Seven figures unfolded amidst the ruins, launching a relentless attack.
Ultron flashed a red light, signaling the start of a countermeasure.
Ye Mo charged ahead, almost touching the energy conduit—
Suddenly, the ventilation duct above their heads was ripped open with a "whoosh," and a dark figure leaped down from above, heading straight for Ye Mo's back.
His pupils contracted, and before he could turn around, he only had time to raise his left hand behind him, whereupon frost instantly erupted from his palm.