"This isn't an infection," Jason said, his voice steady but firm.
Qi Shan carefully examined the scratch on Jack's arm. "You're right. It's just a minor scrape, treated with some kind of ointment." She shone her flashlight on the wound, revealing a smooth, bluish sheen.
Jack explained through Jason, "It's a traditional Chinese herbal remedy our team doctor gave us. He said it's good for minor injuries. The cabinet shook during the explosion on the roof, and a metal hook fell and scratched me."
Relief washed over the group.
"Let's regroup and count everyone," Li Yi said.
After a quick tally, there were thirteen survivors who had escaped the underground hall: Wang Wei, Li Yi, Zhang Lei, Xu Peng, and Qi Shan, along with three security guards, two janitors, a vendor, and a mother with her young daughter. Adding Jack and Jason, the total came to fifteen.
"Have we checked all communication devices?" Xu Peng asked. "Does the team have a radio transmitter?"
Jason hesitated before speaking. "Actually... I have something that might help." From his pocket, he produced a palm-sized black device that looked like a modified signal receiver. "This was for monitoring the other team's tactics. It can emit low-frequency signals, making it hard to detect."
Li Yi inspected the device. It was a professionally modified signal relay equipped with advanced spectrum-spreading technology, capable of long-range communication at very low power. The frequency it used was entirely different from standard devices. He examined its intricate construction, noting the precision engineering. The device incorporated quantum encryption chips and adaptive frequency-hopping technology, ensuring stable performance even under extreme electromagnetic interference.
"This isn't just a tactical listening device," Li Yi remarked, looking at Jason. "This signal processor module alone is worth millions."
Jason looked uneasy. "I… I just operate it. I don't know the technical details."
"This might be our way to contact the outside," Li Yi said to the group. "But we need to find a suitable access point for the signal."
"The underground environment could interfere with the signal," Xu Peng added thoughtfully. "But the broadcasting room on the fifth floor should work. Its signal amplifiers might still be operational. If we can connect this device to their antenna…"
"Wait," Zhang Lei interrupted, gesturing for silence.
Everyone froze, straining to listen. Beyond the concrete ceiling, the sound of gunfire and explosions had settled into a rhythmic pattern, almost as if following a prearranged tactical sequence.
"They're systematically clearing the area," Zhang Lei analyzed. "The military must have found an effective way to combat the infected."
"We need more supplies," Li Yi said. "Then we have to get the signal out. For now…"
Before he could finish, a violent tremor shook the ceiling. Dust fell in thin streams, and the emergency lights flickered wildly.
"The broadcasting room is on the fifth floor," Xu Peng said, sketching the building layout on a piece of paper. "The main stairs are overrun, but there's a maintenance ladder that leads directly to the broadcast level." He pointed to a symbol in the corner. "If the door access system is down, we can open it with a mechanical key."
"We should scout ahead," Zhang Lei said, scanning the remaining locker room surveillance feeds. Most cameras were offline, but a few flickered to life, showing infected shambling through the hallways.
"We have to send the signal out as soon as possible," Li Yi said, studying the evacuation diagrams. "The broadcast room amplifier is our best shot."
The group quickly devised a plan: Wang Wei and Zhang Lei would handle security, Xu Peng would navigate, and Li Yi would operate the device. Armed with radios and flashlights, they set off lightly equipped.
The stairwell door creaked open, revealing an eerie chorus of snarls and hisses that made their skin crawl. In the dim emergency lighting, they could see the stairwell teeming with infected. Twisted shadows danced on the walls, grotesque and unnerving.
"There's no way we're getting through this," Xu Peng whispered.
"What about the elevator?" Wang Wei asked, pointing to the hallway.
"The VIP elevator has independent power," Xu Peng hesitated. "In theory, it should still work, but…"
"We don't have time to second-guess," Zhang Lei said. "The stairs are impossible."
The elevator's button panel still glowed brightly in the darkness. The group quickly piled into the glass-walled car, which gave them a clear view of the horrors outside. As they ascended, they passed scenes of carnage on every floor, each more gruesome than the last.
Soon, they reached the fifth floor. Miraculously, the area was free of infected for the moment. They carefully entered the broadcast room, easing the door open.
The broadcasting equipment was still operational. A wall of high-definition monitors displayed footage from across the stadium. On one screen, two heavily armed special forces soldiers were battling a group of infected. Their weapons weren't standard rifles but some kind of high-temperature projectile launcher.
Through the massive glass window, the stadium's interior came into full view. It was a dystopian tableau: every seat in the stands was filled with infected, their bodies swaying unnaturally. In some areas, special forces units were locked in fierce combat. Gunfire and explosions echoed constantly. The court's hardwood floor and basketball hoop were shattered and charred.
"Don't signal yet," Zhang Lei warned, stopping Wang Wei from lighting a glow stick. "We don't know their mission. If it's to wipe out everything…"
He didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
Li Yi quickly located the signal amplifier and connected Jason's device. The device hummed to life, but the monitor displayed a series of cryptic hexadecimal codes before locking up entirely:
47 2E 6C 61 62 5F 31 37...
"What the hell is this? Just gibberish?" Xu Peng said.
"Write it down," Li Yi handed him a notebook. "We'll figure it out later."
They prepared to return, carefully retracing their steps to the elevator.
As the elevator descended, the silence outside shattered with the sudden burst of gunfire. Through the glass, they saw the two special forces soldiers looking up at the elevator. The tactical flashlights mounted on their weapons illuminated the silhouettes of the group inside.
"They've spotted us!" Wang Wei whispered.
But the soldiers didn't pursue. A flood of infected surged out of a nearby hallway, forcing the soldiers to turn and engage. The elevator continued its descent, leaving the chaos above.
Back in the locker room, the group relayed their findings. The mysterious hexadecimal code sat on a piece of paper, meaningless to everyone present.
"This is hexadecimal encoding," Li Yi said, studying the note. "It looks like encrypted communication. Without a cipher, it's impossible to decode."
Qi Shan, who had been silent until now, suddenly stood up, her eyes fixed on the sheet.