The safe house buzzed with quiet intensity. Li Wen hunched over his laptop, scanning the newly decrypted data from the financial district raid. Xu Min was on her comm, speaking in clipped, hushed tones to one of her intelligence contacts. Jiang Xia and Qin Chuan stood near the window, surveying the darkened streets below. The city was on edge, and the growing anomalies had created a tension that hung thick in the air.
"Anything?" Jiang Xia asked, breaking the silence.
Li Wen shook his head, frustrated. "The energy readings are consistent with what we've seen at the other sites, but this is bigger. Gao isn't just trying to extract residual energy anymore—he's weaponizing it."
Xu Min ended her call and approached them. "He's moving faster than we anticipated. My contacts report increased activity in the west sector. He's consolidating resources and personnel."
"What's in the west sector?" Qin Chuan asked.
Xu Min hesitated. "There's an old Envision facility. It was abandoned years ago after a failed experiment, but it's still operational. If Gao's targeting it, there's a reason."
Jiang Xia frowned, her mind racing. "What kind of experiment?"
"Dimensional compression," Xu Min replied. "The facility was designed to test the Rift's potential to condense space and matter. If Gao gains control of that technology…"
"He could turn the entire city into a singularity," Li Wen finished, his face pale.
Jiang Xia's jaw tightened. "Then we can't let him succeed. Let's move."
---
The West Sector
The west sector was a stark contrast to the bustling financial district. The streets were empty, the buildings crumbling with neglect. The air carried a strange stillness, broken only by the occasional hum of distant machinery. As the team approached the Envision facility, the remnants of the Rift's energy became more apparent—shimmering distortions in the air, faint echoes of voices that didn't belong.
"This place is a nightmare," Li Wen muttered, clutching his laptop tightly. "The anomalies are stronger here. Gao's definitely using this site."
Jiang Xia scanned the area, her weapon at the ready. "Stay sharp. We don't know what we're walking into."
They entered the facility through a side entrance, the door creaking ominously. Inside, the halls were dark and cold, the faint glow of Rift energy casting eerie shadows on the walls. The team moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the silence.
"This way," Xu Min said, leading them toward the main chamber. "The energy readings are strongest here."
---
The Dimensional Chamber
The main chamber was massive, its walls lined with towering machines that pulsed with energy. At the center was a platform surrounded by glowing conduits, each one feeding into a swirling vortex of light. The air was thick with tension, and Jiang Xia felt the familiar pull of the Rift.
"That's the dimensional core," Li Wen said, his voice low. "It's amplifying the anomalies, creating a localized Rift."
"And Gao's trying to stabilize it," Qin Chuan added, pointing to a group of technicians working frantically at the control panels.
Jiang Xia's eyes narrowed. "Not for long."
---
The First Strike
The team moved quickly, catching the technicians off guard. Jiang Xia fired the first shot, taking out a guard near the control panel. The room erupted into chaos as alarms blared, and more guards poured in.
"Take out the conduits!" Xu Min shouted, firing at the nearest one. "If we disable them, we can destabilize the core!"
Jiang Xia and Qin Chuan split up, targeting the glowing conduits. The air crackled with energy as each one was destroyed, the vortex growing more unstable with every hit.
"Li Wen, how's it looking?" Jiang Xia called out, ducking behind a console as a guard fired at her.
"Almost there!" Li Wen replied, frantically typing on his laptop. "Just keep them off me!"
---
The Core's Collapse
As the last conduit was destroyed, the vortex began to collapse, its light flickering erratically. The ground beneath them shook violently, and the air grew heavier, making it harder to breathe.
"We need to get out of here!" Qin Chuan shouted, pulling Jiang Xia toward the exit.
"Wait!" Li Wen yelled. "There's one more thing—I need to download the data from the core! It might be the key to stopping Gao for good!"
Jiang Xia hesitated, torn between the need to escape and the importance of the data. "How long?"
"Two minutes!" Li Wen said, already working.
"Make it fast," Qin Chuan said, positioning himself to cover Li Wen.
---
A Desperate Escape
The room was falling apart, the machines sparking and exploding as the core's energy spiraled out of control. Jiang Xia fired at the approaching guards, her movements precise despite the chaos around her.
"Got it!" Li Wen shouted, yanking the drive from the console. "Let's go!"
The team sprinted toward the exit, the building collapsing around them. Jiang Xia's lungs burned as she pushed herself forward, the sound of explosions ringing in her ears.
They burst out into the night just as the facility imploded, the ground shaking beneath their feet. Jiang Xia collapsed onto the pavement, gasping for air.
"Everyone okay?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
"Barely," Qin Chuan replied, helping her to her feet.
Li Wen held up the drive, a triumphant look on his face. "We've got it. Everything we need to stop Gao."
---
The Truth Revealed
Back at the safe house, Li Wen decrypted the data, his face growing more serious with each passing moment. "This isn't just about the anomalies," he said, his voice grim. "Gao's plan goes deeper than we thought."
"What do you mean?" Jiang Xia asked, leaning over his shoulder.
"He's building a new Rift," Li Wen explained. "One that doesn't rely on the original's energy. If he succeeds, it'll be self-sustaining—and unstoppable."
Xu Min cursed under her breath. "How close is he?"
Li Wen hesitated. "Closer than we'd like. But this data gives us an edge. We know where he's building it."
"Where?" Qin Chuan asked.
Li Wen pointed to the map. "An underground facility outside the city. If we hit it now, we might have a chance to stop him."
---
A New Mission
Jiang Xia stood, her resolve hardening. "Then we go. We end this."
The team exchanged determined looks. They knew the road ahead would be dangerous, but they were ready to face whatever came next.
As the first light of dawn crept through the windows, Jiang Xia felt a spark of hope. They had the data, the plan, and the will to fight. Now, it was time to strike.