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墨書 Inktalez
The air in the underground tunnel was damp and oppressive, with thick moss covering the walls. Only the occasional flicker of a red warning light above provided a meager illumination for the path ahead. Chen Rui and Erin quickened their pace, and despite their efforts to keep their voices low, the sound of their footsteps echoed in the empty tunnel. Each step felt like a pulse of time, with tension and danger looming at every turn.
"Where does this lead?" Erin whispered, though she already knew that the end of the tunnel would not be simple.
Chen Rui furrowed his brow, his gaze piercing through the darkness ahead. He remembered the layout of this tunnel; it was an emergency evacuation route, but its exit remained a mystery. They had heard that this tunnel had served as a temporary secret passage during the first large-scale evacuation from the Special Zone, but it had been abandoned since then, known to very few.
"It should lead to some hidden location in the city center," Chen Rui replied. "But we need to find the exit quickly. Once Old's pursuers lock onto this route, we're done for."
Erin remained silent, but she could feel the pressure in Chen Rui's tone. She knew that the situation was far more dire than they had anticipated. Despite their best efforts, those pursuing them had not given up; in fact, they were getting closer. Even though this tunnel took them far from the urban area, enough to bring them to the other side of the city, they understood that without finding an exit, they could not escape capture.
As they approached the end of the tunnel, a heavy steel door gradually came into view, covered in thick rust and appearing as if it hadn't been used in a long time. Chen Rui reached the door and placed his hand on its cold surface, feeling an inexplicable chill emanating from the cracks. He took out his tools, attempting to pry open the lock.
"This door seems sealed tight; I can't get it open," Chen Rui frowned and said. "It looks like this passage has been completely blocked off."
Erin stepped closer to him, scanning their surroundings. Suddenly, she stopped and pointed at a vent beside the door. "There's an air duct here; maybe we can get through."
Chen Rui followed her finger and noticed that part of the wall was covered with special metal plates, with some loose seams along the edges that seemed pried open. The two worked together seamlessly; Chen Rui pulled out his tools while Erin kept watch. After some effort, they finally managed to pry open a gap large enough to squeeze through.
"Get in quickly," Chen Rui whispered before being the first to crawl into the duct.
Erin followed closely behind. Although her heart was filled with unease, she knew that moving forward was their only option if they wanted to find a way out. They moved slowly and cautiously through the dark duct, each step requiring precise control; any lapse could lead to unforeseen consequences.
However, their luck seemed to have run out. Just as they crawled halfway through, a deafening explosion echoed through the duct, followed by a violent tremor that shook the entire tunnel. Chen Rui suddenly stopped and grabbed Erin's hand. "Someone set off a bomb!"
They quickly turned back in an attempt to retreat, but the previous tremor had made the duct even more unstable. Cracks began to form in the metal walls as debris fell with a sharp clatter, filling the air with dust and smoke. Erin looked at Chen Rui with anxiety and anger in her eyes. "We need to find another way!"
Chen Rui gritted his teeth without responding. He knew time was running out. The blockade of the underground passage and the presence of traps made their situation increasingly precarious. Each attempt could plunge them deeper into danger; yet without this route, they would be caught by Old's pursuers.
"Don't stop! Stay close to me!" Chen Rui urged through clenched teeth.
Erin nodded, taking a deep breath before continuing alongside Chen Rui.
Suddenly, ahead of them, the duct opened up into a larger space. After navigating through twists and turns, they finally arrived at a massive ventilation shaft connecting to an underground warehouse that appeared to be part of an abandoned Area. Chen Rui quickly climbed down into the shaft and led Erin into the warehouse.
The lighting inside was dim, surrounded by old items and machinery that clearly hadn't been used for years. Yet because of this neglect, it also became their glimmer of hope.
"This should be an old cargo warehouse," Chen Rui said softly as he surveyed their surroundings. "We can hide here for now. Let's take a moment to rest and organize our materials."
Erin nodded but remained vigilant. "But we can't stay too long; Old's people will definitely be searching closely."
"We need to come up with our next plan quickly," Chen Rui said with a wry smile as he glanced toward a corner of the warehouse. "If all goes well, Old should also be looking for us."
A complex emotion flickered in their eyes as tension and alertness intertwined. Chen Rui understood that their real challenge was just beginning. To completely overthrow Old, they needed more evidence; this plan was like a seed buried in darkness that was beginning to sprout quietly.
However, far away in the night sky, a flash of lightning split across the horizon as if heralding an impending storm.
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