Three, four... In the end, at least six tiny, cold red dots lit up faintly in the shadows along the edge of the hollow, like bloodthirsty fireflies.
They hovered soundlessly, taking everything inside the hollow into their "sights."
The Silver Dust made no further moves and merely watched in silence, yet that silent gaze was more heart-pounding than any roar.
Their very existence was a net of death slowly drawing tight.
In three to five standard hours... perhaps even less, the main force of the Cleaners would flood in like a tide.
By then, in their current battered state, they would be facing an organized, well-equipped mechanical army.
Coupled with the sealing crisis that could erupt completely at any moment, there would be no chance of survival.
Time slipped away like sand through fingers.
Ming Xin forced his boiling thoughts to calm down. In a hopeless situation, panic was useless. Only by making the choice most likely to offer a Thread of Life in the shortest possible time could he survive.
Two options burned into his mind like red-hot brands:
Option One: Repair the seal.
· Advantage: If successful, it would not only avert the immediate catastrophe, but might also yield valuable information about the "Gate" and the ancient disaster.
They might even receive assistance or a reward from the Silver-white Mechanical Body.
· Disadvantages:
1. The success rate was extremely low (<0.7%).
2. The energy requirement was enormous: at least five standard units of pure high-grade Order energy were needed.
The Iron Tomb wreckage was heavily contaminated with energy and required highly efficient purification (>85% efficiency). The Ning Guang fragments had been destroyed, and Rust Eater's purification ability was insufficient.
3. The task was arduous: three failed anchor points had to be physically repaired, and the routes were occupied