The gunfire ceased abruptly, replaced by a deathly silence.
Ye Mo leaned against the cold metal wall, panting heavily. Even with the Force Field Shield created by the Gene Spiral Tower, the massive impact of that bombardment still felt like a hammer blow to his ribs. With each breath, his lungs burned with a stinging pain, as if he had swallowed shards of glass. He glanced down at the tactical watch on his wrist; the screen was slightly cracked, but the time was clearly displayed: a full fifteen minutes had passed since he entered the passage.
"These guys are pretty persistent." Ye Mo forced a smile, but his facial muscles were terribly stiff. "If it were me, I would have changed magazines and gone to eat by now."
Emma Frost didn't reply. She stood two steps away from Ye Mo, her once crystal-clear Diamond Form now somewhat dim, a fine layer of white frost covering her skin—a physiological reaction to excessive mental exertion. Her face was as pale as paper, her lips trembling slightly; clearly, the Mental Dread she had just experienced had drained her immense energy. But her icy blue eyes remained sharp, fixed on the dark muzzle of the cannon ahead, as if waiting for her prey to reveal a weakness.
Ye Mo knew he couldn't wait any longer.
The mental interference earlier threw the camp into chaos, but that was only temporary. The commander, that old fox, would never give up the attack just because a few of his men went berserk. Once they reacted and activated higher-level sonic weapons or heavy firepower, this fragile shield wouldn't be able to withstand a second assault. Moreover, the terrain here is too narrow; once trapped in the passage, there wouldn't even be room to retreat.
We must break the deadlock and shift from passive defense to active infiltration.
Ye Mo took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging blood and qi within his body. He closed his eyes, his consciousness quickly sinking into the Gene Spiral Tower in his mind. There, countless gene fragments, shimmering with faint light, were slowly rotating. He didn't need complex combinations; he only needed the purest and most direct means of mental interference.
He was searching for the fragment of the ability he had recently unlocked—" Hostility Resonance ".
This isn't some sophisticated skill; it's more like a prank-like psychological suggestion. Its function is simple: to implant a brief instruction in the target's subconscious, making them perceive their teammates as a threat. It sounds absurd, but in close-quarters combat, this cognitive distortion is enough to create maximum chaos.
[Abnormal mental fluctuation detected. A 30-second cooldown is recommended.]
The system notification sounded coldly, devoid of any emotion.
"Shut up, I didn't tell you to." Ye Mo silently repeated to himself, forcibly suppressing the system's warning. He knew the risks, but he had no other choice.
Just then, the cannons ahead began to rotate again. Red laser sights reappeared on the two men, this time in greater numbers and more widely distributed. Clearly, the enemy had adjusted their tactics and were preparing for a saturation attack.
" Emma Frost." Ye Mo opened his eyes, his voice low and urgent, "Are you ready? I'm going in."
Emma Frost turned her head and looked at Ye Mo's face, which was etched with fatigue yet remained stern. She didn't ask why, nor did she ask how. At this moment, trust transcended words. She nodded, her fingertips lightly tracing the air, and an invisible Mental Barrier quietly unfolded, completely concealing their presence.
"Don't die in there," Emma Frost said softly, a hint of concern in her voice.
Ye Mo grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "Don't worry, I'm very tough."
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly pushed off the ground, his body shooting out like a fully drawn bowstring. Instead of charging towards the frontal cannon muzzle, he used the gap in the metal door that had just been opened to slip into the nearby maintenance pipe.
At the same time, Emma Frost activated her power.
This time, instead of directly attacking the commander's brain, she dispersed her mental energy into countless tiny tentacles, silently infiltrating the minds of the elite guards who had not yet completely fallen into chaos. She did not forcefully control their actions, but simply planted a seed called "hostility" deep within their subconscious.
The seeds germinate extremely quickly.
A guard operating an automated turret suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable irritation. He turned to look at his partner, his eyes filled with suspicion and wariness. The next second, that suspicion transformed into genuine fear and anger. In his eyes, his partner's outstretched hand was no longer handing him ammunition, but drawing his gun and firing.
"What are you doing!" the guard roared, slamming the wrench in his hand down on his partner's helmet.
This blow completely ignited their already tense nerves.
The surrounding guards were all caught up in this sudden surge of emotion. The once orderly defensive formation collapsed instantly, replaced by a farcical free-for-all. Some were shooting at each other, some were brandishing weapons and fighting, and some were even firing wildly into the air. The entire passage was filled with shouts, curses, and the clanging of metal, a level of chaos far exceeding Ye Mo's expectations.
Ye Mo crawled swiftly through the pipe, the noise from outside filling his ears. He peered through the gaps in the pipe's grille and saw that the mercenaries who had been so fierce just moments before were now locked in a fierce battle. Some were even covered in blood, yet they refused to stop, as if they had fallen into some kind of frenzy.
"That's right," Ye Mo thought to himself, "It's easier to get things done when things are in chaos."
He climbed along the pipe to the end of the passage, where there was a ventilation grille. Behind the grille was the explosion-proof door leading to the underground storage area.
Ye Mo reached out and grabbed the fence, then snapped it open with force. Because the Resonance Disintegration ability from earlier still lingered in his body, the metal fence became extremely fragile and was easily torn apart by him. He flipped over and jumped out, rolling once upon landing to dissipate the impact, then quickly got up and crouched down behind some cover.
Ahead, two guards stood with their backs to him, seemingly arguing. Their attention was completely absorbed by the internal turmoil, and they were utterly unaware of the danger behind them.
Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Mo raised his right hand, a faint light gathering in his palm—his enhanced physical explosive power. He lunged forward, kicking the first guard in the back of the neck. The man didn't even utter a sound before collapsing to the ground. Immediately afterward, as the second guard tried to turn around, Ye Mo's elbow slammed into his Adam's apple.
Click.
The crisp sound of bones cracking was particularly jarring in the silent corner. The guard clutched his throat, collapsed to his knees in agony, and could no longer utter a sound.
The whole process took less than three seconds. Clean, efficient, and effective.
Ye Mo didn't even glance at the two people on the ground, heading straight for the heavy blast door. The door had a complex electronic lock and gravity sensor. Normally, cracking this would take a lot of time, but now, he didn't have time to waste.
He placed his palm on the door panel, concentrated his mind, and activated the " Resonance Disintegration " ability within the Gene Spiral Tower. This time, he no longer pursued destructive power, but instead adjusted the frequency to be completely synchronized with the door lock's mechanical structure.
Buzz...
A very faint vibration was heard. The latch inside the door began to loosen, making a teeth-grinding scraping sound. A few seconds later, the heavy blast door slowly opened a crack inward.
Ye Mo squeezed in sideways and then closed the door behind him. With the door closed, the noise outside was completely shut out.
The corridor was dimly lit, with only the emergency lights emitting a faint red glow. A faint ozone smell permeated the air, the odor of overloaded electronic devices.
"Well done," Emma Frost's voice came from behind. She followed closely behind, moving as lightly as a cat.
Ye Mo turned around, looked at her slightly pale face, and couldn't help but reach out and gently pat her shoulder. "You should rest for a while. You looked almost exhausted just now."
Emma Frost shook her head, forcing a smile, "I can manage. As long as you don't hold me back."
"Hey, what are you saying?" Ye Mo rolled his eyes. "If I hadn't cleared the way, you'd probably still be getting fired up outside."
The two exchanged a smile, and the atmosphere eased slightly. But this was merely the calm before the storm. They both knew that the real challenge had just begun.
Ye Mo took out a small jammer from his pocket and pressed the start button. An invisible electromagnetic wave spread out, cutting off all communication signals in the corridor. Now, they were like an isolated island forgotten by the world, unable to send out any distress signals.
"Let's go." Ye Mo pointed to the depths of the corridor. " The Vibranium storage area is just ahead. According to previous intelligence, there should be one last line of defense in the core area. We need to get the stuff before those lunatics come to their senses, and then disappear."
Emma Frost nodded, and the diamond sparkled again, but this time, her movements were more cautious. She stood half a step ahead of Ye Mo, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.
The two moved quickly down the corridor. The floor was covered with thick soundproofing material, perfectly absorbing their footsteps. There were surveillance cameras on the surrounding walls, but Emma Frost used her mental power to block out any visual feedback. To the patrol team, everything here was normal, and nothing seemed amiss.
This feeling of being in control calmed Ye Mo down slightly. He liked the feeling of dancing on the edge of a knife; it was thrilling, but also full of uncertainty. He didn't know what would happen next, or whether he could escape unscathed. But he knew that as long as he was with Emma Frost, there was a chance of winning.
The corridor grew longer and longer, and the air temperature dropped lower and lower. It was the unique chill of underground facilities, carrying a sense of oppression.
Finally, a massive alloy gate appeared ahead. Above the gate, a conspicuous red warning light illuminated, displaying the words: "High-Risk Area, Unauthorized Entry Strictly Prohibited."
Ye Mo stopped and turned to Emma Frost: "This is the finish line. Beyond this door lies the core area of Vibranium storage. Klaue definitely hid the most valuable things there."
Emma Frost took a deep breath, her eyes growing even colder. "Ready?"
Ye Mo clenched his fist, feeling the power gradually returning to his body. He glanced at the tactical watch on his wrist; exactly twenty minutes had passed.
"I'm available anytime," Ye Mo said in a low voice, taking the first step.
Emma Frost followed closely behind, the two figures moving like ghosts through the dimly lit corridor. No one noticed the two intruders, as everyone's attention was focused on the sudden mental storm.
When they stood before the gate, Ye Mo stopped. He reached out and gently touched the gate panel with his fingertips. Another segment within the Gene Spiral Tower began to operate, a rare ability he had acquired during his early attempts at fusion—" Resonance Disintegration."
If the frequencies are right, even the hardest metal will become as fragile as tofu.
With a faint buzzing sound, the latches on the gate began to loosen, producing a teeth-grinding scraping sound. A few seconds later, the gate slowly opened, revealing a deep, dark passageway inside.
A chilling aura wafted over me, mixed with a faint metallic smell.
"Go in." Ye Mo stepped aside to make way for Emma Frost to go first.
Emma Frost glanced at him, then stepped inside without hesitation. Ye Mo followed closely behind, and the instant he entered, he slammed the door shut, completely shutting out the chaos outside.
In the darkness, only the sound of their breathing could be clearly heard.
"This is the core area." Ye Mo turned on his flashlight, the beam illuminating the road ahead. Neatly arranged on both sides were huge metal boxes, each bearing a prominent warning sign.
Emma Frost walked up to one of the boxes and reached out to touch its surface. It was icy cold and felt real.
"It really is Vibranium," she said softly, a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes. "The value of this on the black market is simply unimaginable."
"Don't get too excited," Ye Mo cautioned. " Klaue won't let us succeed so easily. There's definitely a trap here."
Before he could finish speaking, the ground suddenly began to shake violently.