The hum of machinery filled the abandoned subway station where the team gathered to plan their next move. The Convergence loomed closer with every passing moment, and Jiang Xia could feel the weight of it pressing down on her. The anomalies were no longer isolated incidents; entire districts were succumbing to their influence, and reports of missing persons were escalating.
"This is it," Li Wen said, pointing at his tablet. "The central power grid. Gao's targeting it to amplify his lattice and complete the Convergence."
Jiang Xia leaned over the holographic display, her eyes narrowing. The grid's layout was complex, a web of interconnected conduits feeding energy throughout the city. If Gao gained control, he'd have the power to stabilize the anomalies permanently—and bring the Convergence into full force.
"We've got less than 12 hours," Xu Min added, scrolling through intercepted communications from Gao's network. "His people are already there, and they've reinforced the site. This won't be like the other hotspots."
"Good," Qin Chuan said, his voice calm but edged with steel. "We don't need surprises. We need to take him down."
Jiang Xia straightened, her jaw set. "Then we move now. We've fought too hard to let Gao win."
---
The City in Chaos
The drive to the central power grid took them through the heart of the city, but it no longer resembled the bustling metropolis they had known. Entire blocks were abandoned, their windows shattered and streets eerily quiet. Rift distortions rippled through the air, bending light and sound in unnatural ways. Time itself seemed to falter, forcing the team to experience brief moments twice.
"This is what's waiting for us if Gao succeeds," Jiang Xia murmured, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "A broken world."
"Not if we stop him," Xu Min said from the passenger seat, checking her weapon.
Li Wen sat in the back, his laptop balanced on his knees. "The energy readings at the grid are off the charts. It's not just another anomaly—this is the anchor for the entire lattice. If Gao stabilizes it, the Convergence will become inevitable."
"Then we make sure he doesn't," Qin Chuan said, his voice steady.
---
The Central Power Grid
The power grid was an enormous complex on the outskirts of the city, its towering transformers and humming machinery casting long shadows in the dim light. Tendrils of Rift energy snaked through the air, pulsing with a sickly glow.
"This place is a fortress," Xu Min muttered, peering through binoculars. Guards patrolled the perimeter in pairs, their weapons glinting under the harsh floodlights.
"Not just guards," Li Wen said, pointing to his screen. "They've got drones, automated turrets, and a layered security system. It'll take me a few minutes to get us in, and even then, we'll have to move fast."
"Do we have eyes on Gao?" Jiang Xia asked, scanning the area.
"Not yet," Xu Min replied. "But he's here. He wouldn't leave a site this critical to his plan undefended."
Jiang Xia nodded, formulating a plan. "Li Wen, disable the outer defenses. Xu Min and Qin Chuan, we'll take out the guards and create a path to the control room. Once we're inside, we'll overload the system and shut it down."
"And if Gao shows up?" Qin Chuan asked.
Jiang Xia's expression hardened. "Then we end this."
---
The Infiltration
Li Wen crouched behind a utility box, his laptop connected to the grid's network. His fingers flew across the keyboard, bypassing firewalls and disabling security systems one by one.
"Outer defenses are down," he whispered. "But it won't take them long to notice."
"Then let's not waste time," Jiang Xia said, motioning for the team to move.
They slipped through the perimeter, their movements precise and silent. Xu Min took out the first pair of guards with swift, calculated shots, while Qin Chuan disabled a turret with a well-placed EMP grenade. Jiang Xia led the way, her weapon at the ready as they advanced toward the main building.
Inside, the air was thick with tension. The hum of the machinery was louder here, almost deafening, and the glow of the Rift energy cast eerie shadows on the walls.
"The control room is up ahead," Li Wen said, his voice crackling through their earpieces. "You'll need to disable the power conduits manually before I can overload the system."
"Understood," Jiang Xia replied. "Stay sharp, everyone."
---
The Control Room
The control room was massive, its walls lined with monitors displaying live feeds of the grid's operations. At the center stood the core—a massive cylinder of glowing energy that pulsed with an unnatural rhythm. Technicians worked frantically at their stations, monitoring the core's output.
Jiang Xia raised her weapon, signaling for the team to fan out. "Take them out. Quietly."
One by one, the technicians were subdued, leaving the room eerily silent. Li Wen entered and immediately began working on the core's interface, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"This isn't just a power grid," he said, his voice tinged with awe. "Gao's transformed it into a stabilizer for the entire lattice. If we take this out, it'll disrupt the anomalies across the city."
"Then let's do it," Xu Min said, keeping watch at the door.
---
Gao Strikes Back
The sound of heavy boots echoed down the corridor. Moments later, the doors burst open, and Gao's guards stormed in, weapons blazing.
"Get down!" Qin Chuan shouted, firing back as the team scrambled for cover.
The room erupted into chaos. Jiang Xia and Xu Min returned fire, their movements precise as they held the guards at bay. Li Wen crouched behind the console, typing furiously.
"I need more time!" he shouted, his voice strained.
Jiang Xia gritted her teeth, firing at an advancing guard. "We'll give you as much as you need!"
The core pulsed violently, its energy output spiking as the battle raged on. Shadows flickered at the edges of Jiang Xia's vision, and the air grew heavier with every passing second.
"He's accelerating the lattice!" Li Wen yelled. "If we don't shut this down now, it'll trigger the Convergence early!"
---
A Shocking Revelation
The sound of slow, deliberate applause cut through the chaos. Jiang Xia turned to see Gao standing on an elevated platform, his expression calm and confident.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "But you're too late. The Convergence is already beginning."
Jiang Xia leveled her weapon at him. "Not if we stop you."
Gao smirked, raising a hand toward the core. "You still don't understand, do you? The Convergence isn't something you can stop. It's inevitable. And when it arrives, this world will be reborn."
Before Jiang Xia could respond, Gao disappeared into the shadows, leaving the team to face the growing instability of the core.
---
The Final Push
"Li Wen, now!" Jiang Xia shouted, her voice barely audible over the deafening hum of the core.
"I'm almost there!" Li Wen yelled, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "Just hold them off a little longer!"
Qin Chuan and Xu Min fought relentlessly, their movements synchronized as they took down the remaining guards. Jiang Xia joined them, her heart pounding as the air crackled with energy.
Finally, the core's energy began to destabilize, its light flickering wildly. Li Wen stood, his face pale. "It's done! We need to move—now!"
---
The Escape
The team sprinted through the corridors as the core collapsed behind them, sending shockwaves through the complex. Explosions rocked the building, and the ground beneath them shook violently.
They burst out into the open just as the power grid imploded, a massive fireball lighting up the night sky. The force of the blast knocked them to the ground, but they were alive.
Jiang Xia sat up, her chest heaving as she stared at the burning ruins. "Is it over?"
Li Wen checked his tablet, his expression grim. "The lattice is disrupted, but Gao still has other nodes. He's not done yet."
---
A Glimmer of Hope
As the team regrouped, Jiang Xia felt a flicker of hope despite the odds. They had dealt a major blow to Gao's plans, but the fight was far from over.
"We'll keep hitting him," she said, her voice steady. "Until there's nothing left for him to use."
Xu Min nodded. "We've got him on the run. It's only a matter of time."
Jiang Xia stared into the distance, her resolve hardening. "Then let's finish this."