Over Long Island, heavy dark clouds obscured the moonlight. Under the cover of night, I quietly landed in a dead zone on the periphery of the TEC base. The defenses here were exactly as remembered-or rather, deliberately kept exactly the same.
"Scanning perimeter..."
The system began to analyze the surroundings.
[Defense system layout:
- Infrared detectors: 24
- Armed drones: 12
- Ground patrols: 36.
Special attention: High-energy response detected. Suspected Awakened.
Awakened? That's impossible. There's still time before the outbreak... Wait a minute!
"Ding! Danger alert:
We have detected a special energy signature in the target.
Analysis: suspected early awakening."
Elizabeth, what the hell did you do?
Activating the stealth ability of my Blood Angel form, I carefully approached the fence. My experience in my previous life told me that there was a surveillance dead zone in the southeast corner, but now...
"Warning! New sensors activated!"
Not good! The entire fence suddenly lit up with purple energy patterns, that's... Technology from the future!
"Welcome back, my angel."
Elizabeth's voice came through the speakers, elegant and cold.
"I knew you'd come. To be precise, I knew you would land at this location at 11:47 tonight. Because... This is the echo of history."
A piercing alarm sounded, and a dozen heavily armed guards rushed out of the shadows. But what stood out the most was the faint violet light that glowed from their bodies - these people were experimental subjects that had been forcibly awakened!
"Blood Domain!"
I immediately unfolded the Blood Energy Domain, sensing the energy fluctuations of each enemy.
These people... Their awakening was very unstable, the energy in their bodies was flowing wildly and could collapse at any time.Elizabeth was using them as experiments!
"Target analysis complete.
- Number of subjects: 14
- Energy level: Class A (unstable)
- Special ability: Unknown
Recommendation: fight quickly to avoid energy resonance"]
The first experimental subject rushed up, his arm transforming into some sort of crystalline substance. This awakening ability... Was extracted from a purple crystal!
"Blood Wing: Blade Form!"
The energy plume instantly transformed into a sharp blade and collided with his crystallized arm.
Boom!
The collision of energy produced a violent explosion. However, I noticed a detail: these experimental bodies, despite their unstable power, worked together as if they were commanded in unison by some kind of consciousness.
"System, analyze their battle patterns!"
[Analyzing...
Warning: Quantum entanglement detected.
These subjects are being controlled by the same signal source.
Signal source: Sixth basement level
"Enjoying the reunion, Liam?" Elizabeth's voice sounded again, "Look at my work... It's not perfect, but it's enough to slow you down."
Damn it! It's a trap! She's trying to drain my power!
But there's no way back anymore. Quickly switching to attack mode, I decided to make quick work of it.
"Blood Storm!"
Countless blood-colored energy feather blades formed a storm in the air, knocking down the three nearest experimental subjects. But just then, their bodies suddenly began to disintegrate, turning into purple energy particles.
"Ding! Warning:
Energy transformation phenomenon detected!
Their energy is being collected!"
I finally understood Elizabeth's plan. These experiments weren't used to block me, but... Some kind of energy harvesting device!
"Clever, isn't it?" Elizabeth's laughter came, "Using your power for the final calculation. It's ironic, isn't it? The truth of Doomsday will be revealed by your own hands after all."
The ground suddenly shook, and a huge metal circle rose from the center of the base and began to collect the purple energy particles that filled the air.
"That's... A time resonator!"
I sucked in a breath of cold air. This device didn't appear in the previous world until five years after the end of the world!
"Ding! Emergency warning:
Temporal energy fluctuation detection
Location: 6th basement level of the lab
Countdown: 30 minutes
Warning: if the resonator completes recharging, it will cause the timeline to break!"
The defense must be breached immediately! But there are still ten experimental subjects in the way, and... I feel the blood energy in my body starting to destabilize.
"There's only now, Liam. go ask that high and mighty Elizabeth all those questions you've been wanting to ask her while you can still see her. But..." The system suddenly said in an almost mocking tone, "Are you sure you want to know the truth?"
Raising his eyes, purple energy particles formed an eerie aurora borealis in the night sky. Time was running out...
It was time to throw in the towel.