The Gate

"All the energy underground is being gathered by the altar."

Ning Xuan led Ning Yu and Shen Yiyue toward the mechanical gate, speaking softly as they moved.

The closer they got, the more intricate the patterns on the ground became, making it clear that this was the true center of the underground space.

Shen Yiyue, walking behind, cast a seemingly casual glance past Ning Xuan, her eyes landing on the blue mechanical wings.

The wings shimmered with faint streams of light, gently swaying and adjusting their balance in sync with Ning Xuan's movements.

Despite seeing nothing unusual, Shen Yiyue couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. According to Ning Yu, this "Ning Xuan" they were dealing with now had unknown intentions.

Both of them knew there was a trap, but they played along, pretending to be fooled as they joined Ning Xuan.

Ning Yu subtly tapped Shen Yiyue's hand, signaling her to stop observing. Shen Yiyue reluctantly complied.

"It's just ahead."

They reached the end of the passage and looked toward the mechanical gate not far away. Two cybernetic enforcers patrolled the entrance, their eyes scanning the area.

Just as their gazes were about to fall on the trio, they quickly retreated into the passage.

"What's the situation inside?"

Ning Yu casually asked, keeping an eye on Ning Xuan's reaction. From here, they could only see the exterior.

But the interior of the mechanical gate was likely even more complex.

"Inside... I'm not entirely sure about the situation inside..."

Ning Xuan hesitated, then shook her head.

"Are you in contact with Lacy? Can she do anything?"

Ning Yu maintained a calm expression, pretending to think through the plan as she continued questioning.

"On the internal channels, I can't reach her private communication address, and I don't have access to her public one."

Ning Xuan shook her head again, pressing a few buttons on her arm. A blue screen extended out, displaying the calls she had made to Lacy, all unanswered.

Ning Yu nodded as if understanding, then turned her gaze to the mixed patrol of soldiers and cybernetically enhanced zombies in the distance.

"If we make a frontal assault, we should be able to finish the fight in five minutes."

After some thought, Ning Yu presented her assessment.

"Five minutes?!"

Ning Xuan's eyes widened in surprise.

"Well, maybe... three minutes?"

Ning Yu adjusted her estimate.

"But if we charge in directly, we don't know what kind of security measures are inside. It would just alert them."

"If they all gather together, it'll make things even more complicated."

She had no intention of a head-on confrontation. If there were any devastating weapons inside, it would be a costly mistake.

"But didn't you mention assassination earlier?"

Shen Yiyue quipped at an inappropriate moment.

"Shut up."

Ning Yu pinched Shen Yiyue's lips, muffling her into incomprehensible sounds.

Ning Xuan looked at the two with a puzzled expression, unsure what they were talking about.

"So, sister, what do you suggest?"

Ning Xuan furrowed her brow, seemingly asking Ning Yu for her plan.

"Look at the situation over there..."

Ning Yu pointed to the three patrol teams currently in the middle of a shift change.

"Can you record for a while and map it out?"

Ning Xuan nodded at Ning Yu's request:

"Of course."

Her eyes glowed with a blue hue, streams of data flowing through them. One of her eyes dimmed, turning a normal shade of blackish-gray, making her look more like an ordinary person.

After recording for a while, a video composed of lines and dots representing the patrol routes was generated and displayed on the screen on her arm.

When the video reached the two-thirds mark, Ning Yu paused it.

"See, at this moment, the two big guys are at their farthest points from each other."

"And the patrol teams are in the middle of a shift change. If we follow this route, we can move through their blind spots and go over the top."

Ning Yu pointed to the space above the mechanical gate.

Both she and Ning Xuan had flight-like abilities, so the aerial route was naturally part of Ning Yu's plan.

"Can you open that small door up there?"

Ning Yu pointed to a few small transport entrances above the mechanical gate, each with its own security measures.

She looked at Ning Xuan with a "you can definitely do it" expression, full of confidence.

Ning Xuan's eyes flickered with blue light, as if performing detailed calculations. After a moment, she said:

"It should be no problem."

"I think we can try your plan, sister."

Ning Xuan turned to Ning Yu, giving her a reassuring look.

"But what if we're discovered?"

Shen Yiyue felt they should at least have a backup plan.

"Then we'll have to resort to assassination."

Ning Yu drew her finger across her neck, giving Shen Yiyue the universal gesture.

Time passed quickly, and the next patrol cycle began—the same one they had just recorded.

"We start three seconds early."

Ning Yu reminded the other two. All three had memorized the timing of the exact moment to act.

The two enforcers moved to opposite ends of the gate, reaching their maximum distance from each other.

The two patrol teams began chatting, with the human squad leader seemingly complaining about something.

They exchanged cigarettes and a glowing substance that looked like a hallucinogen or drug, sharing a knowing "I get you, brother" look.

Meanwhile, above their heads, Ning Xuan with her mechanical wings and Ning Yu and Shen Yiyue on the Blood Kite flew silently past the soldiers.

They smoothly reached the small transport door above the mechanical gate.

Ning Xuan stepped forward, one of her hands transforming into a mechanical tool, ready to unlock the door's security.

But just then, the door lit up, vibrated slightly, and slid open.

"Click."

The door suddenly opened.