The night was alive with a thousand lights as Shen Yuchen, Su Wan Ning, and Jiang Tianyou approached the towering Fate Tower. The structure loomed over the city like a monolith, its exterior a gleaming combination of glass and steel. At its apex, a pulsing red beacon flashed rhythmically, as if marking its dominance over the city below.
Inside Shen Yuchen's arms, Su Wan Ning stirred, her strength slowly returning. "Yuchen," she whispered, her voice still faint but steadier than before, "we don't have to do this right now. You don't have to push yourself so hard for me."
He glanced down at her, his expression soft but resolute. "I'm not just doing this for you, Wan Ning. This is for both of us—for everyone who's suffered because of them."
Jiang Tianyou, walking a few steps ahead, stopped and turned to face them. "We need to move carefully from here. Fate Tower isn't just a corporate headquarters—it's a fortress. The closer we get, the more resistance we'll face."
"How do you know so much about this place?" Shen Yuchen asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"I used to work for them," Jiang Tianyou admitted, his tone tinged with regret. "I was part of their inner circle before I realized what they were really planning. I betrayed them to protect what little humanity I had left."
Su Wan Ning's gaze softened, but her voice was firm. "Then you know their weaknesses. Tell us what we're up against."
Jiang Tianyou nodded. "The tower is protected by layers of AI-driven surveillance and automated defense systems. The higher we go, the more dangerous it gets. But there's a hidden maintenance shaft on the east side. If we're careful, we can bypass most of their security—at least until we reach the central control hub."
The Infiltration Begins
The trio approached the base of the tower, slipping through the shadows to avoid detection. The streets around Fate Tower were eerily quiet, as if the area had been deliberately cleared. Cameras scanned the perimeter in slow, methodical arcs, their mechanical hums blending with the distant sounds of the city.
"There," Jiang Tianyou whispered, pointing to a narrow access panel partially hidden behind a cluster of parked vehicles. "That's the maintenance shaft."
Shen Yuchen set Su Wan Ning down gently, ensuring she could stand on her own. "Can you manage?" he asked softly.
She nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. "I'll be fine. Let's do this together."
Jiang Tianyou pried open the panel with a compact tool, revealing a dimly lit ladder descending into the bowels of the tower. "Stay close and keep quiet," he instructed before climbing down first.
Shen Yuchen helped Su Wan Ning onto the ladder, following close behind her. The descent was long and tense, the sound of their movements echoing faintly in the confined space. Finally, they reached a narrow corridor lined with exposed pipes and flickering lights.
"We're inside," Jiang Tianyou said, his voice low. "From here, we can access the lower levels of the tower."
A Sudden Encounter
As they moved deeper into the tower's infrastructure, a faint mechanical whirring sound reached their ears. Jiang Tianyou froze, raising a hand to signal for silence. "Motion sensors," he whispered.
Before they could react, a sleek, spider-like drone rounded the corner ahead, its glowing red eyes locking onto them instantly.
"Get back!" Jiang Tianyou shouted, drawing a compact EMP device from his coat and hurling it toward the drone. The device detonated with a sharp crackle, sending a pulse of energy through the corridor. The drone shuddered and collapsed, its lights flickering out.
But the damage was done. An alarm blared through the corridors, the sound sharp and piercing.
"They know we're here," Su Wan Ning said grimly, gripping Shen Yuchen's arm.
Jiang Tianyou cursed under his breath. "We need to move. Quickly!"
Racing Against Time
The trio sprinted down the corridor, the alarm's wail growing louder with every step. Automated turrets emerged from the walls, swiveling toward them with lethal precision.
Shen Yuchen acted on instinct, drawing his pistol and firing precise shots at the turret sensors, disabling them before they could lock on. Su Wan Ning, though still recovering, managed to throw a small explosive device she had hidden in her jacket, clearing the path ahead.
Jiang Tianyou led them to a service elevator concealed behind a sliding panel. "This will take us directly to the central control hub," he said, frantically pressing a sequence of buttons on the control pad.
The elevator doors slid open, and they hurried inside. As the doors closed, the alarms faded into muffled echoes.
"This is it," Jiang Tianyou said, his expression tense. "Once we reach the hub, there's no turning back."
Revelations Await
The elevator ascended with a quiet hum, the tension in the air growing heavier with every passing moment. Su Wan Ning leaned against the wall, her breathing steady but her eyes sharp with focus.
"Yuchen," she said quietly, "when we get up there… if things go wrong, promise me you'll get out alive. Promise me you'll survive."
Shen Yuchen turned to her, his expression fierce. "I'm not leaving you behind. Whatever happens, we face it together."
Her lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile. "You've always been stubborn. But that's one of the things I love about you."
Jiang Tianyou cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the moment. "We're here."
The elevator doors slid open, revealing a vast, dimly lit chamber filled with rows of glowing monitors and intricate machinery. At the center of the room stood a sleek console, its surface pulsing with faint blue light.
But they weren't alone.
A figure stood by the console, clad in a tailored black suit that exuded authority and menace. His face was partially obscured by a high-tech visor, and his posture radiated cold confidence.
"Welcome," the man said, his voice smooth and chilling. "I've been expecting you."
Shen Yuchen stepped forward, his hand resting on his weapon. "Who are you?"
The man removed his visor, revealing a face that was eerily familiar.
"I am the Architect of Fate," he said with a faint smile. "And you, Shen Yuchen, are the missing piece of my masterpiece."