"What was that sound?"
Dan Heng raised his head alertly, peering into the deep, dark tunnel ahead.
In front of the scorching fiery shield, a thick mist permeated the air, obscuring everyone's vision. But the sharp-eared Dan Heng had detected a noise cutting through the fog and darkness.
"What is it, Dan Heng?"
Wende walked to Dan Heng's side, his gaze following Dan Heng's into the gloom.
"Listen carefully."
Dan Heng didn't say much, only speaking softly to Wende.
"...."
Closing his eyes, Wende listened intently to the sounds within the tunnel. The hiss of the fiery shield… the sizzle of water vaporizing against the heat… and…
"An alarm?"
Wende looked up at Dan Heng, puzzled.
"That's right, an alarm."
Dan Heng nodded with certainty. Besides that, he could also faintly hear some kind of roaring…
"It seems to be that hacker organization hidden within the reservoir. Could they be under attack?"
Himeko lowered her eyes, a flurry of thoughts flashing through them.
Is this a coincidence… or was it premeditated? Could this be another move on the chessboard aimed at the Express?
One couldn't blame Himeko for being overly cautious. As the navigator of the Astral Express, her and Welt's foremost duty was to protect the safety of the [Nameless]. Although being a [Nameless] was an inherently dangerous profession, still…
"Himeko, what are your thoughts?"
Dan Heng shifted his gaze to Himeko, as if seeking her opinion.
"Hmph… Let's keep moving forward. Although we don't know what's happening, exploring the unknown is part of the [Trailblaze]," Himeko concluded after a moment of thought. She was not one to be tied down by uncertainty.
"Stelle, you clear the way in front. Jingliu and I will cover you. Everyone, be ready for battle at any moment."
Wende decisively moved to Stelle's side, standing with Jingliu on either flank to prevent any attacks from the side.
"Got it!"
Stelle nodded with a very serious expression, continuing to maintain the fiery shield as she advanced with her lance at the ready.
"Why does it feel like I'm being carried…" March muttered under her breath, holding her longbow as she watched the three at the front.
"Little March shouldn't think that way. If we're talking about being carried, then this little lady is the one truly being carried," Tingyun said, looking at Wende and Jingliu with a somewhat regretful expression.
"Ah, Miss Tingyun, that's not what I meant…"
"Hehe, there's no need for that, March. You'll have to protect me well in a bit, okay?"
"Mhm! Leave it to me!"
March nodded confidently. When it came to protecting people, little March was no pushover!
"ROAR!!!!"
After the group had cautiously advanced for another kilometer, a piercing, monstrous roar suddenly erupted from ahead, followed by the sound of rapid footsteps!
Clang… Clang… Splash!
The light yet heavy steps splashed through the puddles on the ground, sending water scattering in all directions.
Clink… Clank…
Seemingly sensing the wave of heat ahead, the footsteps appeared to slow considerably, but the sound of metal on metal continued to draw closer to the group.
Clank…
About a hundred meters away from them, the footsteps ceased.
"Stay alert. It's coming."
Jingliu held her ice sword in one hand, her posture relaxed as she stood behind Stelle. At the same time, she didn't forget to remind Stelle, whose attention had just briefly wavered.
"Ah… right."
Shaking her head, Stelle refocused her concentration on the path ahead.
Fzzt!
From within the darkness and mist, a pair of deep, ghostly green eyes materialized in the gloom.
And then…
"ROAR!!!"
A massive mechanical wolf suddenly leaped through the mist and darkness, its gaping maw snapping viciously at Stelle's shield. Through the fiery barrier, they could faintly see ghastly white bones and a few mechanical parts hanging from its metal mouth.
"Hah!"
Stelle's brow furrowed. She planted her feet firmly, and the flame lance in her hands shot forward!
BOOM!!
The sharp tip of the lance instantly pierced the mechanical wolf's throat. Then, the entire flame lance thrust forward, impaling the wolf completely. Mechanical parts flew everywhere.
"Watch out!"
WHOOSH!
Seeing another mechanical wolf lunging swiftly toward Stelle from the darkness, Wende quickly shouted a warning.
In the next instant, a sword flash as pure as moonlight grazed past the tips of Stelle's hair, cleaving the attacking mechanical wolf in two with a single strike.
"When facing an enemy, never be careless."
Jingliu stood with her sword in hand, arms crossed behind her back. A faint ice mist swirled around her. The dim light of the tunnel seemed to bathe her in a pale moonlight, making her look like an ethereal, exiled immortal.
"Don't get distracted."
Seeing Stelle staring entranced at Jingliu, Wende stepped in front of her. The Yin-Yang Sword materialized in an instant, then shot from his hand, pinning another mechanical wolf that was attempting a sneak attack to the tunnel wall.
"Ah? Oh…"
Looking at Wende, who had just saved her and now wore a helpless expression, Stelle nodded in embarrassment. Then, as if realizing something, she stared at the fiery shield in front of her, and her expression changed.
Don't I have a shield? her golden eyes seemed to say to Wende.
"Why are there so many mechanical wolves here? Don't they rust?"
March asked in confusion as she applied her Six-Phased Ice shield to the four of them.
"Awoooo!!"
With a long howl, countless pairs of dark eyes emerged from the darkness. Then, one mechanical wolf after another burst forth, charging toward the group!
"Hmph. Mere beasts."
Jingliu twirled her ice blade, and a greatsword forged of ice materialized in her hand. A hint of madness flashed in her crimson eyes.
SWISH!!!
Dozens of cold sword auras sliced through the air, dicing the oncoming mechanical wolves into metal fragments.
Seeing Jingliu's great display of power, Wende naturally wasn't going to be outdone. The Yang Sword crackled with the might of ten thousand thunderbolts!
"Wow… it's like watching gods fight… Stelle, hurry up! They're going to steal all the kills!"
"Flame Lance… Charge!!"
A fiery red meteor shot through the underground tunnel, rampaging wantonly. Any monster caught in its path was obliterated into a shower of mechanical fragments, as if it had been hit by a truck.
"Huh? Dan Heng, you're not joining in?" March nudged Dan Heng beside her, asking curiously.
"With them here, there's no need."
Dan Heng shook his head. Watching Wende and Jingliu practically competing—"one wolf for you, two for me"—he decided it was best not to spoil their fun.
"I feel like all the tension from before has completely vanished," Himeko said, spreading her hands helplessly.
"If it's only these mechanical wolves, then they're no threat. But if there are other enemies…"