"We need to set clear priorities," Li Yi said, spreading the blueprint across the tactical table in the locker room. "Right now, we're facing three main issues: power supply, communication breakdown, and resource shortages."
Zhang Lei took over, "From a tactical perspective, I suggest splitting into three teams. One team secures the power source; another searches for survivors and supplies; the last team stays here to manage communications and analyze intel."
"I'll go with Xu Peng to locate the backup generators," Li Yi pointed at a marked section on the B3 level. "There's a separate machine room here connected to the stadium's emergency power system. It's likely to have functional backup generators."
"I'll lead two security personnel to scout a safe route to B3," Zhang Lei added. "Our priority is to find a path free of heavy infected activity."
"You stay here," Wang Wei interjected. "I'll go with Xu Peng to the generators. You focus on analyzing the communications data and supporting us through the surveillance system." He then turned to Jack and Jason, "Can you two check if there are other potential exits nearby?"
Jack nodded, and Jason translated his agreement.
After further discussion, the team finalized their assignments. Zhang Lei, along with two security officers, would explore a path to B3 through the east-side emergency stairwell. Wang Wei and Xu Peng would head to the generator room to secure power, while Li Yi and the remaining group stayed back in the locker room to monitor and support remotely.
"Remember," Zhang Lei gave a final reminder, "report your position via walkie-talkie every five minutes. If you encounter infected, retreat immediately. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary."
The teams prepared their equipment: high-powered flashlights, walkie-talkies, and improvised weapons. These everyday tools had now become essential for survival.
"I'll check the adjacent areas for additional exits with Jack," Jason volunteered.
As the teams prepared to depart, Qi Shan suddenly called out to Wang Wei and Zhang Lei, "If you find Professor Zhou... even if he's already infected, do your best not to harm him unless necessary. He might hold the key to solving this crisis."
The two nodded before leading their teams into the dark corridors. The groups chose separate routes to B3. Zhang Lei's team took the eastern fire escape, while Wang Wei and Xu Peng opted for the maintenance passage near the freight elevator shaft. Their destination was the same—B3, which housed the parking lot, machine rooms, and other critical facilities.
When they reached the reinforced doors to the B1 ticket hall, Xu Peng signaled Wang Wei to stop. Through the observation window, they saw a chilling sight: the stadium's central court had collapsed into a massive crater. Debris from the stands, concrete, and rebar spilled down, transforming the ticket hall into a wasteland.
More disturbingly, amidst the wreckage, countless infected were still active. Trapped beneath rubble, their twisted limbs clawed at the air, while a faint blue bioluminescent glow illuminated the area.
"Look over there," Xu Peng pointed to a tilted metal panel, his hand trembling. "The infected... are they merging?"
Indeed, on the edges of their vision, several infected individuals were undergoing a grotesque process of amalgamation. Their bodies fused in a way that defied biological logic, with blue energy circuits interlinking to form what appeared to be a new, monstrous entity.
"Fall back. Now!" Wang Wei pulled Xu Peng away. He activated his walkie-talkie, "Li Yi, do you read me? We've discovered something new on B1. The infected are exhibiting collective evolution—forming some kind of larger organism."
"Copy that," Li Yi's voice came through amid static. "I'm pulling up the surveillance feeds. My god, what are these things turning into?"
Wang Wei and Xu Peng quickly moved away from the observation window and down the corridor.
The walkie-talkie crackled again, this time with Zhang Lei's voice: "We've reached B2. Lots of infected here, but they seem to be following some sort of search pattern. They're ignoring us for now."
Wang Wei responded, "We're seeing similar behavior—task-oriented infected with apparent roles." Xu Peng led the way with his flashlight, the hum of water pipes echoing ominously in the underground passage. They were nearing the machine room.
"Interesting," Li Yi muttered as he documented the updates.
Meanwhile, Li Yi noticed Qi Shan intensely analyzing a new stream of data. "Anything new?" he asked.
"These data streams are strange," Qi Shan pointed at the numbers flickering on the screen. "It looks like a neural network restructuring itself. Professor Zhou's research focused on quantum biological computing. Could it be..."
She was interrupted by Zhang Lei's voice over the walkie-talkie: "Found survivors! B3 east side. Five people trapped in the elevator control room. We can't open the doors on our side, and the other entrance is swarming with infected!"
"Don't act rashly," Li Yi replied quickly, "Wait for us... hold on, the signal..." The walkie-talkie suddenly emitted a burst of harsh static.
Simultaneously, Wang Wei and Xu Peng encountered their own obstacle. The machine room's heavy steel door was locked tight. Without specialized tools, it was nearly impossible to open. Infected sounds echoed in the distance.
Suddenly, it felt as if the entire stadium came alive. The walls trembled, pipes groaned, and the infected's howls echoed incessantly. Amid this chaos, both teams found themselves facing dire challenges.
Back in the locker room, Jason and Jack returned with news. "We found a passage connecting the player showers to the adjacent locker room," Jason reported.
At that moment, the communications receiver displayed a new flurry of scrolling codes:
[QUANTUM_SECURE_PROTOCOL]
ACCESS: LEVEL_OMEGA
SOURCE: TIANHAI_CENTRAL_LAB
INIT_QUANTUM_GATE {
0xF7 0xE2 0xD9 0xC4 0xB1 0xA8
ENTANGLE_STATUS: CRITICAL
}
EMERGENCY_OVERRIDE_SEQUENCE
cmd: TERMINATE_ALL_PROCESSES
auth: THI-QC-17-OMEGA
validation: [ACCEPTED]
NANOSWARM_SHUTDOWN_PROTOCOL:
{
phase_1: NEURAL_NETWORK_DISSOLUTION
phase_2: QUANTUM_DECOHERENCE_FORCED
phase_3: COLLECTIVE_CONSCIOUSNESS_TERMINATION
status: EXECUTING...
warning: UNEXPECTED_RESISTANCE_DETECTED
}
ERR_LOG:
[17:42:13] Connection_Loss: Lab_17
[17:42:14] Control_Override: FAILED
[17:42:15] System_Response: NEGATIVE
[17:42:16] Emergence_Detection: CRITICAL
SYSTEM_ANALYSIS:
Nanoswarm_Evolution: BEYOND_PARAMETERS
Quantum_State: AUTONOMOUS
Collective_Intelligence: SELF_SUSTAINING
FINAL_WARNING:
CONTAINMENT_BREACH_IRREVERSIBLE
SYSTEM_ACHIEVING_CONSCIOUSNESS
INITIATING_FACILITY_PURGE
Qi Shan stared at the screen, her fingers trembling slightly. "This is from Tianhai Central Laboratory. They're trying to remotely terminate the program..."
"What does that mean?" Li Yi pressed.
"It means the nanoswarm has evolved autonomous consciousness," Qi Shan's voice trembled with fear. "And it's no longer responding to control signals. This is the emergency termination protocol. If it fails, we'll face an even more aggressive backlash."