Chapter 353: Chapter 353: Watch Out, There’s an Ambush

Waiting on standby below the Tower was a standard-issue hovercar. Matte black, sleek, and utilitarian, it was designed specifically for fieldwork. The members of the Ninth Squad boarded one by one and quickly took their seats. As the doors closed and the engine gave a low hum, the hovercar sped smoothly toward the suburbs.

The main city of the Capital Star was bustling with towering skyscrapers, but the further they went toward the outskirts, the sparser the buildings became, and the signs of human life gradually dwindled.

An hour later, the vehicle arrived steadily at their destination: the perimeter of an abandoned energy factory on the outskirts of the city.

The entire factory complex had been derelict for years. Old, massive equipment stood silently, their steel frames covered in mottled rust. Weeds grew wild all around, and the perimeter fences were in ruins, exuding an aura of desolate deathliness. Given its remote, unmonitored location, it was no wonder this place had become a hideout for the remnants of the Dark Nest.

"Everyone, disembark, gear up, and assemble on-site!" Lu Chen ordered in a deep voice, being the first to push the door open and step out.

The squad members moved with practiced efficiency. They quickly got out, fell into formation, and rapidly checked and calibrated their weapons and field equipment. The atmosphere instantly grew tense as they officially entered combat readiness.

A cold wind swept through the desolate factory grounds, carrying the dry scent of rust and dust, entirely blowing away the afternoon warmth of the city. The entire abandoned complex was terrifyingly silent. Rows of dilapidated workshop buildings were stacked upon each other, their rusted metal skeletons exposed to the elements. They blocked out most of the sunlight, creating an overlapping maze of tree shade and structural shadows that concealed countless obscure blind spots.

Several Sentinels raised their arms to activate their wrist-mounted detectors. Pale blue scanning beams slowly fanned out, conducting a preliminary sweep of the surrounding area. Blips of light jumped erratically across the screens of their devices. While no signs of energy were detected, there were subtle, unstable fluctuations—proof enough that suspicious personnel had indeed been active here recently.

Zhou Yi stood at the front and side of the formation, his tone serious. "The factory complex consists of three operational zones, so we will split into groups to advance. Our squad has five Sentinels and one guide. We’ll pair up and conduct a floor-by-floor sweep. Focus on the abandoned workshops, underground storage bins, and ventilation mezzanines. Don’t miss a single blind spot."

Having laid out the grouping rules, he quickly finalized the pairings in his mind. His gaze swept over the Sentinels before landing on the only guide, Yun Sheng. He paused in hesitation for a brief moment, then turned to look at the squad leader, Lu Chen.

"Captain Lu, let Yun Sheng team up with you this time."

Lu Chen immediately frowned at the suggestion. His expression darkened, his eyes filled with obvious reluctance.

Zhou Yi understood his resistance and didn’t beat around the bush, explaining directly and patiently.

"Captain Lu, I know what you’re worried about. But out of everyone in the squad right now, your mental state is the most unstable. Furthermore, you know the Dark Nest’s methods. Yun Sheng is a guide; having her in your group means she can help stabilize your condition at a moment’s notice. It will give me some peace of mind, too.

"Besides, Yun Sheng’s defenses are certainly not as strong as a Sentinel’s, and she lacks experience. Pairing her with anyone else is too risky. If an accident happens and she gets snatched by a lurking Dark Nest operative, none of us can bear that responsibility."

Lu Chen’s face remained taut as he fell silent for several seconds. He knew that Zhou Yi was telling the truth; he was just resisting it in his heart. Ultimately, however, he agreed.

"Fine. We’ll go with your arrangement."

Zhou Yi breathed a sigh of relief. "Then we’ll head out to conduct our respective sweeps. Contact us immediately if there’s any trouble."

After the other two groups departed, the entire core factory area instantly fell silent, leaving only Lu Chen and Yun Sheng.

Lu Chen remained silent the entire time. His expression was frighteningly cold, exuding a distinct sense of alienation as he walked straight toward the depths of the complex. Yun Sheng was tactful enough not to initiate a conversation. She followed quietly behind him, maintaining a safe half-step distance.

The two of them conducted their search in silence, carefully sweeping through the abandoned workshops, rusted equipment, and piles of scrap along the way. The whole area was lifeless. The wind passed through the broken window frames, letting out a low WHOOSH that mingled with the crunch of gravel underfoot, making the atmosphere exceptionally oppressive.

Lu Chen habitually relied on his own perception and the detector to conduct the sweep, focusing most of his attention on potential hidden dangers in their surroundings. As they ventured deeper, a faint, imperceptible trace of agitation welled up in his eyes, and his brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

He didn’t notice it himself, but Yun Sheng caught the anomaly immediately. She could sense that the restless, chaotic spiritual power surrounding Lu Chen was slowly being triggered and intensified. Yun Sheng said nothing to Lu Chen. Instead, she quietly raised her hand and silently sent over a wisp of gentle, pure spiritual power.

This gentle spiritual power acted like a soft barrier, firmly suppressing that surging hostility. It instantly relieved the heavy tightness in Lu Chen’s chest and the mental agitation plaguing him.

Lu Chen’s footsteps faltered slightly. The roiling discomfort abruptly dissipated, and his tense nerves instantly relaxed. The familiar, tearing pain of backlash vanished without a trace. He turned his head and cast a glance at Yun Sheng.

Yun Sheng’s expression was calm, her serious gaze fixed on the dark corners ahead. She was entirely focused on checking for hidden dangers, not sparing him even a single passing glance.

The two guides previously assigned to the Ninth Squad had been incredibly delicate. Unable to help in actual combat, they had only been a drag. But along the way, Yun Sheng had remained quiet and composed the entire time. She hadn’t complained, nor had she dawdled. Not only did she firmly keep up with his pace, but she could also release her spiritual power to help stabilize his condition before he even noticed any anomalies himself. Her meticulousness and composure completely exceeded his preconceived notions of those rookie guides.

The deep-rooted prejudice in Lu Chen’s heart quietly loosened a bit. The cold hardness on his face dispersed slightly. Although he still didn’t speak, the aura of resistance surrounding him, previously directed at Yun Sheng, had noticeably relaxed.

The pair continued to advance. Just as they passed a row of large, abandoned machinery, a faint vibration suddenly came from the ground ahead. The next second, several dark figures lunged out of the nearby abandoned warehouse!

The attackers had clearly been hiding there all along, patiently lying in wait for isolated squad members. Moving with ferocious speed and bringing a thick aura of darkness, they charged straight at the duo in a sudden ambush!

"Watch out! It’s an ambush!"

Lu Chen’s pupils constricted as he instantly shouted a warning, his reaction speed pushed to the absolute limit. Almost the moment his words fell, the spiritual power around him erupted. With a flash, he charged forward, meeting the lunging shadows head-on.

The crisp CLANG of clashing metal instantly pierced the dead silence of the factory. Moving with sharp agility and unleashing a fierce offensive, Lu Chen forced back the two leading enemies in just a few strikes. But the remaining figures coordinated seamlessly, flanking him and relentlessly engaging without giving him a moment to breathe.

Amid the melee, one of the dark figures suddenly hurled a vial of pale blue liquid, smashing it violently onto the ground. An indescribably strange odor instantly filled the air.

It was a Spiritual Induction Agent!

Caught completely off guard, Lu Chen inhaled a bit of the scent, and a sharp pain immediately pierced his spiritual landscape. A dull, churning ache gripped his chest, and a wave of stiff weakness spread through his limbs.

His face paled. Covering his nose and mouth, he hastily retreated, trying to escape the smell of the Spiritual Induction Agent. However, the dark figures pursued him relentlessly, launching vicious attacks aimed straight for his vitals!

At this critical, life-or-death juncture, a slender figure rushed forward, placing herself directly in front of Lu Chen.

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