Passage

October 4th, 3:30 in the afternoon. A convoy of heavy vehicles drove out from the branch of Lianwei Heavy Control Company, guided by multiple conscious entities toward a designated Confluence passage. Passages leading to the Confluence were generally divided into three types: public government passages, dedicated company passages, and emergency internal passages. Lianwei Heavy Control was taking a dedicated company passage. A quarter of an hour later, near four o'clock, the convoy arrived at the designated location. Most passage entrances leading to the Confluence were established near train stations, and this location was no exception. The area had been evacuated and cleared in advance, granting them a twenty-minute passage clearance. After stepping out of the vehicles, the middle-aged female assistant walked at the forefront. Flanking her were two Black Steel tier fighters, "Raptor" and "Eel," both clad in heavy protective suits that even concealed their heads and faces. Following behind them were three White Iron tier fighters and one Brass tier fighter brought in as reinforcements. In Lianwei Heavy Control's internal ranking system, third limit fighters were categorized into three tiers: White Iron, Brass, and Black Steel. A White Iron tier fighter possessed the capability to operate solo within the Confluence; a Brass tier fighter could independently handle ordinary commissioned warriors; and a Black Steel tier fighter had experience contending against titled commissioned warriors. Because Lianwei Heavy Control wielded substantial influence within the industry, this rating system had also been adopted and utilized by several mercenary organizations, effectively serving as a semi-universal standard. Beyond them, the team included more than twenty logistical support and technical personnel. On the surface, owing to the presence of two Black Steel tier fighters, the group's overall combat strength was slightly superior to a standard execution squad from the Defense Department, but not by an overwhelming margin. Given their numbers, they opted not to take the elevator, instead heading down via the security stairway. The group walked down the open, elongated descent ramp, every footstep echoing distinctly. At that very moment, Yang Ling quietly followed behind the rear of the convoy, utilizing Shuixian's cloaking capability. Though this physical shell of hers was quite large, her movements were remarkably light and agile. Even the squad members within arm's reach were completely oblivious to her presence. After clearing the ramp, the female assistant offered an apparently casual reminder: "The inspection passage is just ahead. Go through one by one." She then made deliberate arrangements, directing everyone into a single-file line before they entered the inspection passage. In an instant, a biological field descended, sweeping over each person. Because the members maintained considerable distance between one another, by the time the first person emerged from the passage, half the team had not even entered. Right at that moment, Yang Ling suddenly lowered her body and darted swiftly forward. Her path was meticulously calculated: she stayed flush against the side of each squad member, matching her field with theirs upon proximity to blur and conceal her presence. Although biological fields varied in intensity from individual to individual, her transit was extraordinarily swift, and coupled with the active conscious entity's anti-interference field, she slipped through before any feedback signal could register the disparity. She lingered in the thirty-meter passage for less than a second, her specialized outer anatomy producing not the faintest superfluous sound. When everyone had cleared the passage, no field alarm was triggered. Seeing that everyone had made it through and that the inspection passage had remained silent, the female assistant raised her head, clearly assuming this hurdle was behind them. Yet when she led her personnel around the corridor and stepped out through the security gate, her expression froze slightly. Right in front of a parked train stood Chen Chuan. He wore a peaked cap and a protective overcoat, projecting an intimidating presence. Behind him stood Yuan Qiuyuan and Qin Qingque, both fully armed as well. Other Disposal Bureau operatives were lined up in a row behind them, manning machine guns mounted behind the station's preexisting fortifications, while additional gun barrels could be seen aimed outward from the train. In an open space like this and at such close range, once those machine guns—already calibrated for optimal firing angles—opened fire, even Black Steel tier fighters in protective suits would struggle to withstand such concentrated barrages. The female assistant raised a hand, signaling her group to halt. Stepping forward alone, she offered Chen Chuan a slight curtsy and spoke with utmost courtesy: "Supervisor Chen, we have obtained approval from Center City and are en route to the Confluence to fulfill our company's obligations. May I ask why you are here...?" Chen Chuan replied, "We appreciate your company's support for the Confluence. I have already reviewed your company's application roster. Given the current tension, numerous armed elements seeking to disrupt Center City's security have entered the metropolis. Consequently, we must re-screen and verify all personnel entering or exiting the Confluence. I hope you will understand." The female assistant expressed her comprehension: "Of course. Lianwei Heavy Control has always respected and upheld the laws of Center City, and we will fully cooperate with your bureau's inspection." She gestured to the side, her demeanor remarkably sincere and composed. Chen Chuan gave a slight nod, and Qin Qingque stepped forward immediately. Comparing the personnel against the original roster, she began scanning each member of Lianwei Heavy Control with her boundary credential. Yang Ling was quietly clinging to a wall off to the side. Although she had cleared the field inspection, a sense of unease gripped her ever since arriving here. The long, sharp claws at the ends of her slender limbs tapped restlessly. Spotting Qin Qingque showing signs of approaching her direction, she carefully crept to the other side, making no sound throughout the entire movement. She did not dare look toward Chen Chuan. Even though she possessed no combat experience as a fighter, the active conscious entity stored vast amounts of data regarding fighters, granting her a clear understanding of how sharp their senses were. The slightest minute shift in the surrounding environment could draw their attention. Certain fighters skilled in field perception were especially sensitive to biological fields. Fortunately, Shuixian was an active conscious entity capable of perfectly concealing its own field. Because there were not many people present, Qin Qingque finished all verifications in less than half an hour. She walked back and rendered a salute toward Chen Chuan. "Supervisor, all present personnel have been verified. They match the provided roster." Standing nearby, the female assistant maintained a neutral expression, only tilting her chin up slightly upon hearing the report. Chen Chuan turned his gaze to the female assistant. "Ms. Ling, let me ask you directly: aside from the personnel on the list, has Lianwei Heavy Control added any extra personnel or combat organisms?" The female assistant's heart gave a slight jolt. She shook her head. "No, we have not." Chen Chuan's gaze was calm and deep. "Are you certain?" He looked toward the seemingly empty space off to the side and asked in an even tone, "Then why has this active conscious entity appeared here?" A tempest surged in the female assistant's heart, yet her exterior projected feigned astonishment. "What active conscious entity? Are you joking, Supervisor Chen?" Chen Chuan paid her no heed. His eyes were fixed on that empty space, a glint flashing in his pupils as a wave of spirit power radiated outward. The next moment, in the direction his gaze fell, an invisible ripple emerged in the air, revealing the outline of a large creature that was now discernible to the eye. An active conscious entity could fool biological fields, but it could not elude his spirit power. Particularly now, having merged with his second self, his spirit power was exceptionally acute; no abnormal fluctuation in his surroundings could escape him. Yang Ling had intended to keep up the concealment, but the spirit impact instantly destabilized her field. The cloaking effect vanished, laying her massive outer husk bare to the open air. Seeing this, the Disposal Bureau members behind Chen Chuan raised their weapons one after another, training every muzzle squarely on her. Yang Ling felt an immediate threat. Simultaneously, a directive surfaced in her mind, instructing her to execute the backup plan without delay. The company's original plan was for her to travel with the team; entering the Confluence smoothly this way would have been ideal. However, if they encountered an obstacle or were detected in advance, they were to implement the secondary approach: Break through on her own. Her spirit power could locate gaps leading into the Confluence and even the other world. After fusing with the active conscious entity, her spirit power had expanded drastically; once she drew near the convergence boundary of the Confluence, she could smash open a fissure large enough to pass through without needing to physically reach the entrance. As long as they failed to capture her, Lianwei Heavy Control would still have ways to evade responsibility and shift blame. And even if things went awry, so long as she entered the Confluence, there remained a possibility of seizing the relic. With a light leap, her form abruptly blurred, leaving only an afterimage in her wake. In that instant, the clatter of machine gun fire erupted alongside a barrage from other firearms, all directed squarely at her. Yet she moved with such extreme speed that not a single bullet found its mark. In truth, with Shuixian's resilient carapace, she could contend against hazardous Confluence creatures and had no real fear of bullet impacts. However, the concussive force of concentrated rounds would inevitably hinder her speed and mobility, so evading them remained the safer course. She was not a fighter herself and had no actual combat experience. Left to her own devices, no matter how capable, she would have been overwhelmed and unable to react in the face of sudden crisis. But fused with the active conscious entity, none of that posed an issue. Aided by the active conscious entity, any hesitation or weakness was thoroughly suppressed, allowing her to assess the situation coolly and execute the most optimal decision in a flash. After leaping back and forth twice, her speed accelerated further, weaving cleanly through the gaps between bullets as she charged toward the train. As she bounded forward, the ribbon-like fins along her back began to shimmer. Simultaneously, the surrounding air seemed to tremble. The empty space ahead suddenly melted open into a deep, cavernous void. In the very next instant, she would pass right through it. Yet her body suddenly froze in midair. She glanced back, only to see one of her hind legs gripped tightly in a powerful hand. Then came a dizzying whirl, and with a resounding crash, her massive body was slammed violently into the ground! …… ……