三天后.
Three days later.
风带着尘与铁的气味,从南方荒原掠过.
The wind carried the scent of dust and iron as it swept across the southern wasteland.
夜尘第五基地的临时营地里,焰队整装待发.
In the temporary camp of Nightdust Base Five, Team Flame prepared to depart.
他们要前往新的目标——E.DEN 的外围研究带.
Their next destination: E.DEN's outer research zone.
黎明前的天色灰得像旧铁.
The sky before dawn was gray as rusted steel.
---
"确认物资."苏黎快速检查通讯与能源模块.
"Confirm supplies," Su Li said, swiftly checking the comms and energy modules.
夜尘指挥官里昂站在外头,目光沉重.
Nightdust's commander, Leon, stood outside, his gaze heavy.
"前线还没完全稳住,我们会继续抵抗.
如果需要增援——随时发信号,我们会赶过去."
"The front line's not stable yet. We'll keep holding them off.
If you need reinforcements—send the signal, we'll be there."
凌焰伸出手,与他紧握.
Ling Yan reached out and clasped his hand.
"谢谢你们,夜尘."
"Thanks, Nightdust."
"别谢我.只要有一个人还在抵抗,E.DEN 就赢不了."
"Don't thank me. As long as one of us keeps fighting, E.DEN won't win."
---
凯恩抬头望向远方,风中卷着枪油味.
Cain looked toward the horizon, the wind thick with the smell of gun oil.
他回头对艾琳娜说:"准备好了吗?"
He turned to Elena. "Ready?"
艾琳娜点头,手指紧紧抓着医疗包,眼神坚定.
Elena nodded, gripping her medical kit tightly, her eyes firm.
"我会尽力救下每一个人."
"I'll save everyone I can."
"还有你自己."凯恩低声.
"And yourself," Cain added quietly.
艾琳娜愣了一下,轻轻应了声:"嗯."
Elena hesitated, then softly replied, "Mm."
---
[出发 | Departure]
焰队的车队驶出第五基地.尘沙在车轮下滚动,视野里尽是残垣断壁.
Team Flame's convoy rolled out of Base Five, dust swirling around broken ruins.
莱恩一边调整狙击仪,一边感叹:"这些地方...以前都是城市吧."
Ryan adjusted his scope. "These places... they used to be cities, huh?"
尤娜轻声回答:"是啊.直到 E.DEN 开始建造'白塔网络'."
Yuna murmured, "Yeah. Until E.DEN started building the White Tower Network."
苏黎转头望着窗外:"那不只是塔.那是他们在分布能量控制节点——还有人类意识的实验场."
Su Li gazed out the window. "They're not just towers. They're nodes for energy control—and human mind experiments."
车厢陷入短暂的沉默.
The cabin fell silent.
---
三天的路程,一切都太平得不正常.
Three days of travel—and everything was too quiet.
直到那一刻,通讯忽然响起——是赛拉斯.
Until then—the comms crackled to life. It was Sylas.
那熟悉而冷淡的声音,从静电中传出:
That cold, familiar voice came through the static:
"...艾琳娜."
"…Elena."
艾琳娜一震:"赛拉斯?你——为什么联系我?"
Elena froze. "Sylas? Why are you contacting me?"
"我无意与你争斗.只是想告诉你一件事."
"I don't intend to fight you. I just came to tell you something."
短暂的沉默后,那声音缓缓道:
After a pause, his voice lowered.
"你的导师,玛莉安——还活着."
"Your mentor, Marian—she's alive."
艾琳娜猛地起身,瞳孔放大.
Elena's eyes widened.
"你说什么?她...她不是——"
"What? She… she wasn't—"
"被处决?不,她被'保留'了."
"Executed? No. She's been 'preserved.'"
"保留...什么意思?!"
"Preserved—what does that mean?!"
通讯那头传来一阵低笑:"也许有一天,你会亲眼看到她的'新生'."
A faint chuckle came from the other end. "Maybe one day, you'll see her rebirth with your own eyes."
信号被切断.
The signal cut off.
---
艾琳娜的手在发抖.
Elena's hands trembled.
凯恩一把抓住她的肩膀:"冷静.别让他扰乱你."
Cain grabbed her shoulder. "Calm down. Don't let him get to you."
"凯恩...玛莉安真的还活着?!"
"Cain… is Marian really alive?!"
"也许是圈套.E.DEN 从不会说真话."
"Maybe it's a trap. E.DEN never tells the truth."
苏黎转头,声音低沉:"我们先前进,到安全区再判断."
Su Li's voice was steady. "We move first. Decide later."
艾琳娜咬唇,强忍泪意,只点了点头.
Elena bit her lip, holding back tears, and simply nodded.
---
车外的风呼啸,尘沙拍打着装甲.
Outside, the wind howled, dust striking against the armor plates.
那一刻,谁也没说话.
只有心底的预感在低语——这趟路,不会平静.
No one spoke again.
Only that quiet feeling in their hearts whispered—this journey would not end peacefully.