Chapter 51: Thunder (Part Three)

Chapter 51: Thunder (Part Three)

The air was filled with the scent of gunpowder from the explosion, mixed with the odor of overturned experimental potions and a heavy stench of blood.

The captain of the guards tossed a laser pistol to Rong Mi. The lion leaped over both of them, taking the lead at the forefront.

The electricity in the floor had gone out. Beyond the range of the searchlights from their aircraft, darkness prevailed.

Silence reigned within the level, except for the sound of their footsteps and the faint hum of the wheels of the robots that had just entered from afar.

"Captain, all emergency exit doors in the building have been reported closed and sealed," flashed a notification on the guard captain's communication screen. "Authorization for safety clearance has failed. We're attempting to break through."

A sinking feeling took hold of the captain. "Authorization failed?"

"That's correct. Someone has reset the safety lock."

The captain cursed under his breath. "The administrator for the safety lock is someone from the Director's office."

"The Security Bureau should already be here," he said gravely. "Inform them first."

"Crumble!"

A muffled thud echoed from below, signaling the guards' attempt to force their way in.

However, the intense explosion had activated the building's highest-level emergency security measures. Sealed doors at every floor and corridor entrance had slammed shut, making it a time-consuming task to breach them all.

"What's the point in wasting time breaking down doors!" The captain, exasperated, cursed as he heard the commotion. "Everyone, get your hovercrafts up here! Bring all your equipment and first assess if there's a risk of secondary explosions in the surrounding area!"

As he spoke, he hurriedly followed the lion forward.

Sander was swift in his movements.

He wriggled through the crevices amidst the collapsed metal, his fur brushing against protruding spikes, leaving scratches behind. Rong Mi turned to glance at the hole in the outer wall, aware that Sander had emerged from such gaps.

In the area where the explosion was most intense, walls, corridors, and safety doors were utterly demolished, with even the floors and ceilings torn open.

"Beep... Beep... Beep..."

The scent of blood grew stronger, followed promptly by the alarm of a medical robot echoing ahead.

Several medical droids glided across the exposed steel spines of the devastated hall, branching off to extend their mechanical limbs and laboriously shift the mountains of metal formed by collapsed walls in the corners.

The lighting was poor, but through his mental perception, Rong Mi could discern far more detail than his eyes alone could capture.

Rong Mi turned towards the heap of metal, his pupils constricting slightly.

He sensed faint energy vibrations emanating from beneath the metallic pile.

In the next instant, a medical droid peeled back a corner of the debris, revealing a bloodied arm.

Wrapped in tattered cloth, it wore the black uniform of the First Legion.

Silent as a shadow, Silver Wolves leapt from Rong Mi's embrace and rushed towards the metal mountain to lend assistance.

The great lion anxiously circled on the spot, clawing at Rong Mi, attempting to prevent him from following the wolf. It then turned its head, gesturing in another direction.

"Sander, take the captain of the guards to have a look first," Rong Mi patted the lion's shoulder, acknowledging the guard captain, before joining the medical droids in their rescue efforts.

Equipped with both healing and rescue capabilities, these droids, though compact in appearance, possessed ample strength. They swiftly moved aside the obstacles atop the metal mountain.

Rong Mi casually tossed aside the brick, revealing the person beneath, mangled by the explosion and barely clinging to life.

It was Sun Tong, the first squad's deputy leader and main spaceship pilot.

Medical robots hastily administered healing injections into his neck. With his chest collapsed and breathing labored, Sun Tong seemed to sense something and, with a tremor, forced his eyes open.

His gaze fell upon Rong Mi. And the wolf still digging through the ruins beside Rong Mi.

"..." Sun Tong's eyes lit up, and with great effort, he moved his fingers to signal to Rong Mi.

Bending down, Rong Mi whispered, "It's alright now. I'll take you to the infirmary."

Sun Tong: "..."

"...Huh...huh..." A rattle echoed from within his chest. Following his gaze, Rong Mi noticed the mecha badge hanging on Sun Tong's chest.

"....Take... it..." Sun Tong struggled to speak. Frowning, Rong Mi, at Sun Tong's indication, carefully removed the badge from around his neck and held it in his hand.

Under Sun Tong's solemn gaze, Rong Mi realized something significant.

This was not an armor space button but a transportation space button carrying the remains of Ada.

It was something that should have been on Ellen's person for safekeeping and transfer.

The first squad was highly vigilant, so all the transfer procedures were handled by Ellen. However, the actual item had always been in Sun Tong's possession.

Rong Mi exchanged his own armor space button with Sun Tong and patted him on the shoulder, whispering, "I understand. Don't worry, focus on your recovery first."

He straightened up and surveyed the scene in the hall.

The members of the first squad who had been buried were rescued by medical robots. The explosion must have been sudden, as everyone seemed to be severely injured. Apart from the squad members, a few researchers from the Academy of Sciences were also trapped beneath the rubble, with scattered fragments of security robot limbs nearby.

This was a confidential lab floor, and there were quite a few security robots, but they had all been destroyed in the explosion.

Rong Mi scanned the debris in the collapsed level back and forth. Despite everyone being rescued, he didn't see Ellen.

Squad Leader Ellen had been taken away by the attacker.

...From where?

Rong Mi frowned, swiftly turning around and heading in the direction Sandel was just about to lead him.

There, they found the emergency elevator lobby. The exit passage ahead had been affected by the explosion, but the elevator shaft behind them remained intact.

The captain of the guards stood in front of the elevator, his expression grim. Sandel was violently pounding and scratching at the elevator doors, denting them inward.

Rong Mi's gaze lingered on the numbers displayed on the elevator panel, "103A…"

He furrowed his brow, "After the explosion, all emergency elevators still have power… understandable. But why is the safety door here unlocked?"

"The doors were left open intentionally," the guard captain whispered, "Damn it. If we could've entered the building sooner…"

"Which floor is 103A?" Rong Mi interrupted him.

Rong Mi had a general idea why Sandel had sealed off the building.

Because the space button containing Ada's remains was still in Sun Tong's possession.

Allen had demanded that Sandel ensure no further intrusion and that no one enters the premises.

"The Spatial Jump Device Research Laboratory," the captain of the guards said with a somber tone. "If they executed a spatial jump... The attacker has most likely fled."

Rong Mi raised an eyebrow. "So it seems your Academy's security systems have quite a few loopholes."

As he spoke, he patted the lion's head and instructed, "Step back, Sandor."

"I'll assist you."

"Roar!" The lion took a step to the side, making space for Rong Mi.

The young man approached the elevator and pressed his hand against the indentation on its door.

Rong Mi remarked, "Nice choice of materials."

The elevator doors were made from incredibly sturdy construction metals. No wonder Sandor couldn't budge them.

Focusing slightly, spiritual energy burst forth from Rong Mi's palm.

With a deafening crash, the elevator shaft's entrance seemed to be struck by a flaming hammer of immense weight, cracking open several fissures.

Captain of the Guards: "W-wait..."

His words were cut short as Rong Mi's mental energy surged forward once more, forcefully reopening the elevator door from the outside.

A rain of metal shards plummeted down the shaft, echoing with dull thuds.

The Captain gasped, wondering what kind of monstrous mental power this was!

Its force was on par with the bomb that had just exploded inside the Science Institute building!

Captain of the Guards: ...But what good does it do to open the elevator shaft door? They're currently on level 308E!

"Three artificial levels span the Science Institute building," the Captain said hastily. "We're over a thousand meters above level 103A... I'll dispatch the guard team to take the external elevators down to the first level and attempt entry from there..."

"It'll be too late then."

The emergency shaft was narrow and seemed bottomless. Rong Mi peered down, "No aircraft can enter here, nor can ordinary mechas descend. Summoning specialized mechas would also take time. However, there are maintenance platforms on either side of the shaft."

The maintenance platforms were tiny, barely enough for one person to stand on.

Rong Mi gazed at the lion, lost in thought. "Sander," he inquired, "have you ever studied acrobatics?"

The captain of the guards: "…?"

Sander: "…Roar?"

Ayin: "…"

Ayin brushed against Rong Mi's ankle and looked down.

Without a word, the wolf leapt nimbly downward.

Rong Mi: "…Ah!"

The wolf's small frame seemed to vanish into the abyss of the elevator shaft, evoking a jolt of alarm in Rong Mi's heart.

Wolf: "Awooo!"

It landed precisely on the first maintenance platform ten meters below, looking up.

Silver specks shimmered, like a lantern illuminating the scene below for Rong Mi with striking clarity.

Wolf: "Awooo."

All was safe.

Rong Mi: "..."

"I see," he chuckled. "Let our dashing Wolfie pave the way for us."

Sander: "Roar!"

The lion, now realizing the intent behind Rong Mi's question, obediently lowered itself to the ground, prostrating.

The young man exerted force with his arms, leaping upward and straddling the lion's back. He gently stroked its mane.

"Let's go!" he commanded succinctly, "Jump!"

Sander: "Roar!"

The Thundering Lion leaped down, landing with a gust of wind by the side of the Silver Wolves.

Its size was somewhat too large for the maintenance platform. Its four paws were squeezed together, with half of its hindpaws hanging off the edge. The landing was a perilous sight.

The wolf gave the lion a cold glance and, turning disdainfully, continued its descent.

Ayin: "When it returns to its original size, it can run and play with Rong Mi every day! It'll definitely be more stable than that lion!"

It could sense that the time for it to regain its original form was drawing near.

The wolf, the person, and the lion moved swiftly. Before the captain of the guards could react to what had happened, their voices had faded downward, leaving him alone, staring in disbelief.

There was nothing he could do about his astonishment; he couldn't descend.

Guard Captain: "...Dispatch a team to breach Level 103A."

Over the communicator, he asked, "Have you verified the list of personnel working overtime tonight?"

"Audit complete," a team member promptly replied. "All members of the laboratory that received Ya Die's corpse, except for Dr. Ural, are on the injured list from the explosion on that level."

"All other personnel from the laboratories have been evacuated and accounted for. Everyone who registered to enter the building tonight is present, no one is missing."

The head of the guards grunted softly, "Search the ventilation system inside the building... This is going to be troublesome. Expand the lockdown perimeter outside the building! Block off the first and second subterranean levels as well!"

"Boom—"

A muffled sound echoed distantly from below an adjacent elevator shaft.

Guard Captain: "…Rong Mi?!"

He peered down but could only discern a faint glint of silver.

The distance between the two floors was too great, so Rong Mi could only vaguely hear the voices above and guessed that the Guard Captain must have heard the previous disturbance.

The young man then gestured upwards, igniting a few purple flames of mental energy that shot up, flashing a signal of safety.

Immediately after, he crouched and entered the elevator shaft that the Silver Wolves had blasted open, descending to Level 103A.

In emergency mode, the entire floor was shrouded in darkness.

The Sandel Lion meticulously sniffed the ground, unable to detect Ellen's scent, and swished its tail in agitation.

Floor 103A was also a confidential experimental level. In the corridors, numerous security robots stood in formation along the walls. After the building entered a state of alert and lockdown, the robots went into standby mode, standing motionless, awaiting orders from the security team.

The head of the security detail had already added Rong Mi and her group to the access list. The robots' electronic eyes reflected their images without any response.

The young man observed the surroundings in the corridor.

On one side of this passage were metal-glass windows, while on the other were rows of space laboratories. Due to the attack alarm, power had been cut to each lab, and doors were locked, making entry difficult.

After walking for a while, they found nothing.

"Let's go further in," Rong Mi suggested, pointing to the left and right corridors. Using her mental powers, she broke through the entrance doors. "Ayin, Sandel, we'll split into three groups. You two check those two passages for any leads."

"Roar!" The Thundering Lion was anxious and immediately obeyed, dashing into the passage on the right.

The Silver Wolf paused for a second, looking at Rong Mi.

The wolf appeared hesitant.

"Relax," Rong Mi crouched down, rubbing the wolf's head affectionately.

Ayin let out a soft growl and started walking towards the left passage.

The footsteps of the two Star Beasts faded gradually.

Rong Mi proceeded forward, his gaze sweeping across the laboratories on either side. He observed meticulously, yet his pace was unhurried.

As the young man passed by a laboratory, a faint rustling sound emerged from Damon Rabbit, nestled safely in his pocket.

Rong Mi acknowledged it with a soft hum and reached to pat the rabbit.

Simultaneously, a fierce gust of wind brushed past the youth's back.

Someone had leaped down from an upper floor's catwalk with remarkable speed.

The newcomer's movements were swift, launching a punch directly at Rong Mi's neck.

To evade detection by the Spirit Realm's energy scans, he didn't employ any weapons or equipment; instead, he wore a sturdy metal gauntlet on his palm.

The cold metal had grazed Rong Mi's neck, but in the next second, the young man tilted his head slightly.

An utterly ordinary gesture, as if one had merely turned back upon hearing a familiar greeting.

It just so happened to evade the gust of the punch, creating distance between them. Simultaneously, the young man raised his arm.

"Stay still." To conceal any sign of having noticed the unusual activity around him, he didn't hold any weapon in his hand.

With his index finger extended and thumb raised, he formed a casual gun gesture.

Only when the dancing spark of spiritual energy reached the person's forehead did Rong Mi see their face clearly, causing his brow to arch in surprise.

"It's you," he said, genuinely astonished. "You're already out?"

"You're from the Ice Butterfly Symbiosis Association, aren't you?"

"How did you manage to run so fast in the Ice Butterfly Cocoon arena during the mecha competition?"