The ocean stretched out endlessly as Jiang Xia and her team approached the harbor. The air smelled of salt and decay, the remnants of Rift energy lingering like a specter over the once-thriving docks. The stabilizer they sought was hidden beneath the water's surface, housed in an underwater facility that Gao had repurposed to amplify Rift energy.
"This place feels wrong," Xu Min muttered, scanning the eerie silence of the docks. "Too quiet."
"Perfect place for Gao to hide something," Qin Chuan replied, his weapon ready.
Li Wen's scanner beeped softly. "The stabilizer is directly below us. The entrance is submerged, but I found a maintenance hatch on the docks that leads to the underwater tunnels."
Jiang Xia nodded, her gaze sweeping the area. "Let's move. But stay alert—this feels like a trap."
---
The Submerged Entrance
The team reached the maintenance hatch, its surface rusted and covered in barnacles. Li Wen connected his tablet to the control panel, bypassing the outdated security system.
"It's old tech," he said, frowning. "But someone's been keeping it functional. Gao's people, no doubt."
The hatch opened with a loud creak, revealing a narrow shaft leading into the depths. The team descended cautiously, the air growing colder as they moved deeper into the underwater facility.
---
The Underwater Facility
The facility was dark, lit only by the faint glow of Rift energy seeping through the walls. Water dripped from the ceiling, and the distant hum of the stabilizer resonated through the tunnels.
"This place is falling apart," Xu Min said, stepping over a collapsed section of flooring. "It's a wonder it hasn't flooded yet."
Li Wen's scanner beeped again. "The stabilizer is up ahead. But the energy levels are… erratic. It's unstable, like it's on the verge of overloading."
"Then we don't have much time," Jiang Xia said, quickening her pace.
The team reached the central chamber, where the stabilizer stood at the center of a large, waterlogged room. The cylindrical device pulsed with light, surrounded by conduits that snaked across the walls and ceiling. The air was thick with tension, the energy almost palpable.
"This is it," Li Wen said, setting up his equipment near the stabilizer. "But it's more unstable than I thought. If I shut it down the wrong way, it could trigger a chain reaction."
"Do it carefully," Jiang Xia said. "We'll handle whatever comes."
---
The Remnants' Assault
As Li Wen worked, the stabilizer emitted a low hum that grew louder with each passing second. The Rift energy in the room pulsed violently, and shadows began to coalesce into remnants.
"They're here," Qin Chuan said, raising his rifle.
The remnants were faster and stronger in the confined space, their forms shifting erratically as they attacked. Jiang Xia and Xu Min fought back-to-back, their movements precise as they held the line.
"Li Wen, how much longer?" Jiang Xia shouted, dodging a swipe from a remnant.
"Almost there!" Li Wen replied, his voice strained. "But the stabilizer is fighting me—it's like it doesn't want to shut down."
---
The Flood Begins
The stabilizer pulsed violently, and a loud crack echoed through the chamber. Water began to seep through the walls, the pressure causing cracks to spread rapidly.
"We've got a problem!" Xu Min yelled. "This place is flooding!"
"I just need another minute!" Li Wen shouted, frantically typing into his tablet.
Jiang Xia gritted her teeth, slashing through a remnant that lunged at her. "You've got thirty seconds. Make it count."
The water rose quickly, reaching their ankles as the stabilizer emitted a high-pitched whine. The remnants dissolved into streaks of light, their forms collapsing as the stabilizer's energy began to destabilize.
"Got it!" Li Wen shouted. "But the whole system is going to collapse. We need to move now!"
---
Escape from the Depths
The team sprinted back through the tunnels as the facility began to collapse. Water surged around them, and the walls shook violently. Jiang Xia's lungs burned as she climbed the maintenance shaft, the rising water lapping at her heels.
They burst out onto the docks just as the facility imploded, sending a massive plume of water and debris into the air. The ground beneath them shook, but they were safe—for now.
---
A New Revelation
As the team regrouped, Li Wen stared at his tablet, his face pale. "I managed to download some of the stabilizer's data before it collapsed."
"And?" Jiang Xia asked.
Li Wen hesitated. "This stabilizer wasn't just amplifying Rift energy. It was testing something—some kind of new energy signature."
"New energy?" Xu Min asked, frowning. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know yet," Li Wen admitted. "But whatever it is, it's not natural. Gao's up to something bigger than just the Architects."
Jiang Xia's jaw tightened. "Then we figure it out. We've got one stabilizer left. Let's finish this."
As the team prepared to leave the harbor, Jiang Xia couldn't shake the feeling that Gao was always one step ahead. The final stabilizer would be the most dangerous yet—and whatever waited for them underground could change everything.