Seeing the situation, the enemy quickly turned to confront. In an instant, the cries of battle shattered the silence of the base, initiating an intense close combat. Shen Jingqi and the others charged into the enemy ranks like tigers descending the mountain, fearlessly engaging in a life-and-death struggle. The flash of blades and swords flickered, the sounds of fists and feet clashing were ceaseless, as the air filled with the pungent smell of smoke and blood.

During the fierce battle, Lin Yu was caught off guard and his arm was viciously slashed by an enemy's dagger. Blood instantly stained his sleeve crimson, and piercing pain attacked him, but he just gritted his teeth, his gaze revealing determination and resolve, continuing to wield his weapon against the enemy, showing no signs of retreat.

"Lin Yu, are you okay?" Xu An shouted anxiously, maneuvering against the enemy in front while glancing towards Lin Yu. His eyes were full of concern, yet his actions didn't pause as he punched an enemy, causing them to stagger back.

"I'm fine, this minor injury is nothing!" Lin Yu responded loudly, with a hint of bravado in his voice. He endured the pain, increasing the force of his attacks, each strike filled with the belief in victory.

After a fierce battle, Shen Jingqi and the others finally repelled the enemy. Back to back and panting heavily, their eyes were filled with the joy of victory. Yet, the joy was fleeting as their hearts were filled with questions—what exactly were these devices for? What were the mysterious organization's schemes?

"These devices are absolutely not simple; we must figure them out as soon as possible," Shen Jingqi said, frowning, his gaze sweeping over the devices emitting an enigmatic glow, filled with worry.

"But we know nothing about them; where should we start?" Lin Yu asked, clutching his wounded arm, his face pale but his gaze still determined.

As they prepared to further investigate these devices, suddenly a violent tremor shook the base. The entire base seemed gripped by an invisible hand, shaking fiercely, as tables and chairs fell over, equipment dropping, creating a harsh sound. Shen Jingqi and the others were startled, not knowing what had happened.

"Quick, go see what's happening!" Shen Jingqi shouted urgently, his voice revealing urgency. He ran swiftly towards the direction of the tremor, his steps rapid and determined.

The group closely followed behind him, struggling through the shaken base. Along the way, things kept falling from above, and they dodged left and right, narrowly avoiding danger. Finally, when they reached the source of the tremor, the sight before them was shocking.

A huge hole had appeared underground at the base, its edges continuously collapsing as if a giant mouth was trying to swallow everything around it. A mysterious force was surging out from the hole, as if alive, twisting and tumbling in the air, emitting a low roaring sound.

"What... what's going on?" Xu An asked in surprise, his eyes wide open with disbelief. He instinctively took a step back, a surge of inexplicable fear rising in his heart.

Shen Jingqi frowned, his heart filled with unease. He cautiously approached the hole, trying to see inside. The mysterious force seemed to sense his approach, suddenly growing more violent, as a strong air current pushed him back.

"Everyone be careful!" Shen Jingqi shouted, stabilizing himself before looking at the hole again. He knew this was likely another scheme by the mysterious organization; they must quickly uncover the truth to prevent this disaster.

"Shen Jingqi, what should we do?" Lin Yu asked, clutching his wound tighter, his face growing paler, yet his gaze still showed determination. He knew they couldn't retreat now and must face the unknown danger together.

Shen Jingqi pondered for a moment and said, "We can't act blindly; let's first observe the situation. Xu An, check the surroundings for any other anomalies; Lin Yu, you're injured, rest for now but stay alert."

The group obeyed, each taking action. Xu An carefully examined the surroundings, his eyes scanning every corner, not missing the slightest clue. Suddenly, he noticed strange symbols carved on a stone beside the hole.

"Shen Jingqi, come quickly!" Xu An shouted excitedly, his voice tinged with tension.

Shen Jingqi swiftly arrived, squatting down to study the symbols. They were crooked, appearing like ancient script, or perhaps a mysterious cipher. He frowned, trying to recall his knowledge and decipher their meaning.

"These symbols... I've seen them somewhere before, but I can't remember," Shen Jingqi murmured, filled with confusion.

At that moment, the mysterious force in the hole changed. The rolling air current began to coalesce, forming a massive whirlpool. A low roar echoed from the whirlpool, as if a terrifying creature was about to wake.

"Not good, everyone move back!" Shen Jingqi shouted, pulling Xu An and Lin Yu quickly away. Just as they left the vicinity of the hole, a strong suction force emerged from the whirlpool, drawing soil and rocks inside, creating a screeching sound.

The group watched in terror, their hearts filled with fear. They didn't know what the whirlpool concealed, nor what would happen next.

Meanwhile, in a dark corner, the leader of the mysterious organization coldly observed. A sinister smile appeared on his face, as if everything was under his control. "This is only the beginning..." his voice echoed in the dark, full of an evil aura.

Shen Jingqi and the others looked at the mysterious hole, their hearts filled with unknown terror. But they knew they couldn't retreat and must bravely face it all. Their adventure was far from over, as greater crises quietly unfolded.

"We cannot just sit and wait; we must find out the secret of this hole," Shen Jingqi said firmly, his gaze radiating fearlessness.

"But we don't know what's inside; acting rashly is too dangerous," Lin Yu said worriedly, brave but not wanting everyone to fall into despair.

"But we have no other choice. If we don't find out, the mysterious organization's scheme may succeed, and the consequences would be unimaginable," Shen Jingqi said, with an unmistakable determination.

Silence engulfed the group; they knew Shen Jingqi was right, but the fear in their hearts was hard to dispel. Just then, Xu An suddenly said, "I just discovered some footprints around here; they look like someone has been here."

"Footprints? Where? Take us to see them." Shen Jingqi's eyes lit up, as if he had grasped a ray of hope.

Xu An led the group to the location of the footprints. The footprints were disordered, but it could be seen they headed towards the hole. Shen Jingqi squatted down, carefully examining the footprints, trying to extract more information.

"These footprints are fresh; they must have been left recently. It seems someone was here before us; perhaps they know something about the hole's secret," Shen Jingqi said, excitement rising in his heart.

"Should we follow the footprints to find them?" Lin Yu asked.

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