Fantasy Game: Infinite City

The abandoned research equipment's metal casing was covered in rust and black energy markings. The interior was cramped and narrow, barely enough for one person to curl up in. Han Zu pressed his body tightly against the cold inner wall, his breathing extremely shallow, even his heartbeat deliberately slowed. The energy within his body was like solidified ice, firmly locking every possible leak of energy within his meridians. Through the gaps in the equipment's casing, his gaze was fixed on the direction of the stairwell like a hawk's. He could clearly hear the heavy footsteps of soldiers, mixed with the incessant buzzing of energy detectors, like a death knell, as they approached the core area of ​​the experimental base step by step.

"Captain, the energy fluctuations just now came from this side. They were even stronger and more violent than the fluctuations on the metal rod." A soldier's voice carried an undisguised mix of excitement and vigilance. His footsteps stopped at the entrance of the experimental base, and the beeping of the energy detector suddenly sharpened, clearly indicating that it had detected the energy signal leaking from the alloy door. Han Zu's heart sank. He hadn't expected these soldiers to react so quickly, managing to trace the energy path to the underground experimental base. It seemed the Griffin Party's energy source detection technology was even more advanced than he had anticipated.

The squad leader's footsteps followed, steady and rhythmic, stopping in front of the alloy door. "Is this the door?" the squad leader's voice was low, tinged with inquiry. "Energy fluctuations are coming from behind the door; it seems what we're looking for is hidden inside. Check the door's condition and see if it can be opened." Two soldiers immediately stepped forward, pressing their energy detectors against the alloy door. A dense stream of data instantly appeared on the screen, complex runes flashing and echoing the markings on the alloy door.

“Captain, this door is covered in ancient sealing runes, probably left behind by Infinite Corporation to suppress the energy behind it. After all, only they would use such strange things.” A soldier skilled in rune deciphering quickly analyzed the data, his tone grave. “The runes are damaged in several places, and energy is continuously leaking out, but the door's structure remains sturdy, and ordinary energy weapons cannot destroy it. Moreover, there are still energy locks remaining on the door, which can only be opened by deciphering the rune sequence.”

The squad leader frowned, raising his hand to touch the cold runes on the alloy door. A violent energy tremor ran through his fingertips, causing him to instinctively withdraw his hand. "How long will it take to crack it?" he asked in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding research equipment, his eyes filled with greed—every piece of equipment here might hold secrets about energy experiments. If he could bring them back to camp, it would surely earn him higher regard from the Griffin Faction's higher-ups. Of course, this was just his own wishful thinking.

“It will take at least half an hour,” the soldier replied while operating the detector. “These rune sequences are extremely complex, and the energy fluctuations are very disruptive. A slight mistake could trigger the runes' defense mechanisms and cause an energy explosion.” The squad leader nodded, waving for two soldiers to stay at the entrance to decipher the runes, while the rest dispersed to search the experimental base. “Everyone, thoroughly search every piece of equipment and every document here. Don’t overlook any clues. Also, increase vigilance; the mutant attack isn’t over yet. Be wary of mutants breaking into the underground.”

The soldiers sprang into action, their footsteps echoing through the empty experimental base, accompanied by the clanging of machinery and the rustling of documents. Han Zu, hidden within the equipment, dared not breathe, his eyes fixed on the approaching soldier. A soldier was walking towards his hiding place, his energy detector constantly scanning the surrounding equipment, its screen flashing with faint light. Han Zu's internal energy circulated silently, ready to respond to any unexpected situation—if discovered, he had to eliminate this soldier instantly without making too much noise, otherwise he would inevitably attract the attention of other soldiers.

Fortunately, the soldier only lingered by the equipment for a moment; the detector didn't detect anything unusual, and he turned and walked towards another pile of discarded documents. Han Zu knew he couldn't hide here indefinitely. Once the soldiers cracked the alloy door and opened it, the meteorite's energy signal would be exposed. Not only would the main force of the Griffin Faction arrive, but it might also attract more mutants, putting him in a precarious situation. More importantly, he had to obtain the meteorite before the Griffin Faction, or at least figure out how to control its energy. Otherwise, if the meteorite fell into the hands of the Griffin Faction, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Han Zu slowly turned his body, observing the two soldiers deciphering the runes through another gap in the outer shell. They were intently operating the terminal, their fingertips rapidly moving across the screen. The rune sequences were constantly rearranging on the terminal, causing some of the runes on the alloy door to glow faintly before quickly dimming. Han Zu noticed that each time a soldier deciphered a rune, the energy fluctuations leaking from the alloy door would intensify, and the black markings on the surrounding walls would writhe more violently, as if alive, greedily devouring the leaking energy.

Just then, a rapid communicator ring broke the silence of the experimental base. The squad leader immediately answered the communicator, his expression instantly turning grave. "What? The mutants have breached the outer defenses and are converging towards the clock tower. Some of them have already stormed into the first floor?" His voice was tinged with disbelief, and he immediately issued a stern order, "Notify the outer squads to guard the clock tower entrance at all costs! Absolutely no mutants are allowed to enter the underground! This is a crucial location for the energy source; if the mutants destroy it, we will all die!"

A chaotic cacophony of responses came from the other end of the communicator, interspersed with the roars of mutants and the firing of energy weapons. The squad leader hung up, his face grim. He had never imagined the mutants' attack would be so fierce. He had initially thought it was just a small-scale raid, but now it seemed these mutants were drawn by the underground energy fluctuations and were determined to break in at all costs. "Speed ​​up the decryption!" he roared at the two soldiers working on the runes. "We must open the gate within ten minutes. We need to control the energy source as soon as possible, otherwise, once the mutants break in, it will be too late!"

The soldiers dared not delay, quickening their pace. The rune sequences on their terminal screens flashed faster and faster, and the light on the alloy door intensified. Han Zu knew things were going badly. Ten minutes was far too short; he had to find a way to stop them. He quickly scanned his surroundings, his gaze landing on an abandoned energy converter not far away. The converter's casing was damaged, exposing the internal wiring, which was covered in black energy marks, clearly indicating that it had been corroded by meteorite energy years ago.

A bold idea sprouted in Han Zu's mind. He slowly extended his hand through the gap in the device, and the energy within his body transformed into a thin thread, silently spreading towards the energy converter. This thread of energy was extremely weak, like a candle flickering in the wind; it would not be detected by the soldiers' detectors, yet it could precisely touch the internal circuitry of the converter. Han Zu's control skills had long since reached a level of perfection; the energy thread, like a nimble snake, traversed the exposed circuitry, precisely connecting to the converter's core interface.

A faint hum emanated from the energy converter, almost drowned out by the distant sounds of battle. The converter's screen suddenly lit up, displaying a jumble of data streams, and emitted a weak energy fluctuation that resonated slightly with the energy leaking from the alloy door. This weak resonance precisely disrupted the connection between the soldier's terminal and the alloy door's runes; the screens in front of the two soldiers instantly displayed garbled text, bringing the decoding progress to an abrupt halt.

"What's going on? The terminal's malfunctioning?" a soldier exclaimed, frantically banging on the terminal a few times, but there was no response. Another soldier's expression also changed drastically, pointing at the alloy door and saying, "Captain, the rune sequence is disordered, and the energy fluctuations are becoming unstable!" The squad leader strode over, looking at the garbled text on the terminal, then at the slightly trembling alloy door, a hint of vigilance flashing in his eyes. "Someone's interfering with us!" he shouted sharply, "Search the surrounding area immediately, find the source of the interference, and kill them without mercy!"

The soldiers tensed instantly, raising their energy weapons and scanning their surroundings warily. The energy detectors beeped sharply again, beginning a comprehensive scan of the surrounding energy fluctuations. Han Zu immediately retracted his energy filaments, completely concealing his aura, remaining motionless like a cold stone within the equipment. He knew the squad leader had noticed the anomaly, and the search would be even more rigorous; the slightest carelessness could expose him.

A soldier walked towards the energy converter, his detector intently focused on it, the screen displaying faint energy fluctuations. "Captain, there's energy fluctuation here! This converter must be interfering with us!" the soldier shouted, raising his energy weapon to fire. The squad leader quickly arrived, carefully examining the converter, and shook his head: "No, this converter has been abandoned for years. It couldn't be actively emitting interference signals. Someone is controlling it. Continue searching; the source of the interference must be nearby."

The soldiers continued their dispersed search, their footsteps drawing ever closer; Han Zu could even hear their breathing. He slowly clenched his fist, his inner energy poised to erupt. If discovered, he would launch a surprise attack, first eliminating the approaching soldiers, then seizing the opportunity to rush towards the alloy door. Just at this critical moment, a violent tremor suddenly erupted from the stairwell, accompanied by a heavy thud and the screams of soldiers. The lights throughout the experimental base began flickering wildly, and rubble rained down from the walls.

"Damn it! The mutants are coming in!" A soldier's exclamation came from the stairwell, followed by the firing of energy weapons and the ferocious roars of the mutants. Han Zu peered through the crack and saw several enormous mutants charging down the stairs. Their bodies were covered in black scales, their eyes gleaming with a scarlet light, and they spewed corrosive venom from their mouths. Several soldiers who couldn't dodge in time were instantly struck by the venom, their bodies rapidly melting away amidst screams of agony.

The squad leader's expression changed drastically. He immediately abandoned the search and shouted to the soldiers, "Everyone, retreat to the vicinity of the alloy door immediately and hold this place! Absolutely do not let the mutants get close to the door!" The soldiers retreated towards the alloy door, engaging in fierce combat with the mutants rushing in. The flashes of energy weapons illuminated the experimental base; the roars of the mutants, the shouts of the soldiers, and the sounds of gunfire mingled together, creating utter chaos.

Seizing the opportunity, Han Zu pulverized his body into liquid and quietly slipped out through a gap in the abandoned equipment. Avoiding the direct combat, he reassembled himself in the shadows beside the door, his gaze fixed on the alloy door. At this moment, the two soldiers responsible for deciphering the runes were already entangled with the mutants and preoccupied with their own survival; their terminals lay on the ground, their screens already extinguished. Han Zu strode to the alloy door, reached out, and touched the runes on it once more.

This time, he didn't consciously control his energy output. The energy within his body surged like a rushing river, flowing from his fingertips into the runes. The runes instantly lit up with a dazzling light, and the previously damaged patterns began to repair themselves rapidly. At the same time, new runes emerged from the gate, intertwining with the old ones to form an even more complex sequence. Han Zu could clearly sense that the runes contained the sealing power left behind by the Infinite Corporation. This power counterbalanced the violent energy of the meteorite, maintaining a delicate equilibrium.

As he channeled his energy to repair the runes, he carefully deciphered the information within the rune sequences. These runes were not only sealing methods but also keys to controlling the meteorite's energy. Each sequence corresponded to a frequency band of the meteorite's energy. By mastering the manipulation of the runes, one could initially guide the meteorite's energy and even reseal it. The contents of the research log flashed rapidly through Han Zu's mind, and combined with the information from the runes, his understanding of the meteorite's energy deepened.

A loud "Bang!" rang out as a mutant was struck by a soldier's energy weapon, its massive body crashing heavily to the ground not far from Han Zu, splattering black blood and emitting a pungent stench. Han Zu didn't turn around, remaining focused on manipulating the runes. The light on the alloy door grew brighter, and the door began to tremble slowly, creaking and groaning, clearly about to be opened. The squad leader noticed Han Zu's figure, a flash of rage crossing his eyes. "So you're here!" he roared, shaking off the mutant beside him and firing his energy rifle at Han Zu.