Through the stone forest, Alex, Lina, and Leona's footsteps became faster and faster, with the enemy in hot pursuit behind them. The drone hovered above them, and the beams of searchlights kept sweeping past, as if the eyes of death were fixed on them. Alex knew there was no turning back and they had to find a way to get away from their pursuers and find safety.
"We don't have time," Lina gasped, clutching her device. "The drones are locking on to our coordinates, and they could send more at any moment."
"Hold on," Alex said, keeping his cool as he looked back at the pursuing enemy. "We still have a chance."
Leona has started jamming with the device in her hands. As a mechanical expert, her skills always come to an unrivalled advantage in critical moments. She quickly gained access to the drone's systems and tried to cripple its signal.
"I need a few minutes to disrupt the drone's control system." Leona said in a deep voice, her eyes fixed and determined.
Alex nodded, praying that they would finish the operation before the enemy closed in. He knew that once the enemy sent in more support teams, the situation would get completely out of control.
They crossed a narrow path through the stone forest, surrounded by trees and rocks that seemed to provide a natural barrier, but the drone's hum was still overwhelming. Just then, a loud thunder cut through the sky, and distant clouds quickly gathered, indicating that a storm was coming.
"That's a good thing," Alex's eyes suddenly lit up. "The storm can mess with their equipment signals."
"But it also puts ourselves in more danger." Lina looked anxiously at the sky, where lightning flashed through the dark clouds as if to tear the land apart.
Alex did not answer, but his expression was determined. They have come this far, and no matter how dangerous the road ahead may be, they have no choice.
At the end of the stone forest, a steep cliff appeared before them. Below was a raging sea, billowing against the rocks. Alex looked at the distance. This was the only way they could survive.
"We have to get down here." He pointed to the edge of the cliff, his voice firm.
Lena's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? This is a cliff tens of meters high!"
'It's our only option,' said Alex in a deep voice. 'The enemy won't think we'll jump off the cliff. We can escape by the sea.'
Leona has successfully jammed the drone's systems, and the signal on the screen starts to flicker. She quickly shut down the device and followed Alex to the precipice: "It's now or never."
Alex looked back. In the distance, the man in black had broken through the stone forest and was speeding toward them.
"Are you ready? Alex held Lina's hand, feeling her tension and fear.
Lina took a deep breath, glanced at the enemy behind her for the last time, and nodded. "We have no choice."
Alex nodded and jumped, taking Lina and Leona into the raging waters below.
The cold water immediately submerged their bodies, and the strong impact made them gasp for breath. The choppy waves beat against them, pulling them into the underwater undercurrent. Alex struggled desperately in the water, trying to stay calm and find his way up.
Lina clung to Alex's hand, and though the water kept pushing them in different directions, they never let go of each other. At last, in the gap between the waves, they struggled to the surface and hurried for fresh air.
"We must swim to the shore!" Alex shouted, almost drowned out by the storm's wind and waves.
Leona also made it to the surface and quickly joined Alex, and the three of them swam as fast as they could toward shore. The waves were pushing them hard, and the rocks and eddies in the current made swimming extremely dangerous, but they dared not stop, and there was no turning back.
At last, as they neared the shore, an outcrop of jagged rocks came into view. Alex pushed Lina as hard as he could against a flat stone. He climbed up after her and lay panting to the ground. Leona followed, and the three were soaking wet, as if they had just been through a fight to the death.
"We... It worked." Lena said weakly as she coughed, fatigue creeping over her.
"For the time being." Alex forced himself to stand up and looked out to the horizon. The storm was approaching in full force, and the enemy was temporarily left behind, but they knew that the danger was far from over.
Suddenly, a familiar shadow appeared in the distant sea -- a ship.
'That's our ship! Leona shouted excitedly, pointing to the small expedition boat approaching on the surface. It was the vehicle with which they had come, and now it was slowly approaching the shore, like their last hope in a desperate situation.
"Quick, we must board the ship before the enemy catches us!" Alex made a quick decision to lift Lina and Leona off the rocks and run in the direction of the boat.
The crew of the expedition ship had apparently seen them and quickly lowered the rope ladder. Alex climbed first, followed by Lina and Leona. The crew helped pull them onto the deck, saw their discomfated appearance, and immediately prepared towels and hot water.
"Are you all right?" 'asked the captain, frowning.
"Safe for now, but we're being followed." Alex gasped in reply, his eyes still alert.
The captain nodded and gave a quick order: "Get out of here now."
The boat starts and slowly pulls away from the shore, picking up speed and heading for the safety of distant waters. As the crew scrambled to shift the ship to the best course, storm clouds were already hovering overhead, heralding greater trials to come.
Alex sat on the deck and looked at the receding stone forest and cliffs with mixed feelings. He knew that this escape was only temporary and that the real battle lay ahead. But for now, at least, they're still moving forward with clues.
Lina leaned against the deck railing, tired but relieved: "At least we found the coordinates."
Alex nodded, "Yes, but we must decipher these clues and find the next site as soon as possible." The enemy will not give up easily. We must move faster."
Leona removed her device from her carry-on bag and began examining the data and symbols they had recorded in the relic. The winds of the storm had ruffled her hair, but her hands remained steady, analyzing the symbols that held the secrets of Atlantis.
"The symbols and star maps are very complex and we need more time to interpret them," Leona said, "but I'm sure they point somewhere further out to sea, probably deep in the Atlantic Ocean."
Alex listened and pondered, the sea breeze beating on his face and a new determination burning inside him. "We'll find it. No matter who the enemy is, no matter how many dangers lie ahead, we will uncover the final secrets of Atlantis."
In the distance, the thunder of the storm came closer, but Alex's eyes grew more determined. He knew that the real adventure was just beginning.