The tunnel behind them rumbled again.
A low, metallic roar rolled through the dark like thunder trapped underground.
Chen Gu stopped running and turned, face draining of color.
"No… no, no—
That sound—"
Kai already knew.
"They breached the station entrance."
Thorne screamed into the ceiling:
"WHY DO THEY KEEP FINDING US?!
WHY ARE WE SO FINDABLE—?!"
Kai ignored him and stepped in front of the group, raising her pistol, her breathing slow and steady.
Her injuries stung.
Her arm trembled slightly from the tranquilizer burn.
Blood trickled from her lip.
But her eyes were sharp.
Focused.
Calm.
She listened to the echoes in the tunnel.
Boots.
Dozens of them.
Fast.
Synchronized.
No hesitation.
Reinforcements.
A full squad.
Maybe more.
Chen Gu whispered desperately:
"Kai… we can't outrun them. They'll reach us in a minute."
Kai didn't answer.
Because she already knew.
She looked at Yin Lie slumped across her back.
His head hung against her collarbone, still unconscious.
Pale.
Barely breathing.
Then she looked at Qin Mian, whose eyes were still swollen from crying, her hands gripping Yin Lie's limp arm with trembling fingers.
Qin Mian whispered:
"Kai… please… don't let them take him…"
For a moment, Kai's breath caught.
Qin Mian looked impossibly small.
Like a child who had only just learned what the world was—and already feared losing all of it.
Kai clenched her jaw.
She gently lowered Yin Lie into Chen Gu's arms.
He nearly fell back.
"WOAH—hey—he's heavy—!
He's heavier than he looks—!"
Kai ignored him and took a step back toward the echoing darkness.
Qin Mian's voice broke:
"Kai?
Where are you going…?"
Kai locked her gun into her forearm holster.
She cracked her neck.
Then her knuckles.
"The squad chasing us?" she said calmly.
"I'll handle them."
Thorne blinked.
"H-handle, like… distract them? Hide? Talk to them?"
Kai turned, and her voice turned cold steel.
"No."
She faced the darkness.
"I'm going to stop them."
The Stand
Chen Gu grabbed Kai's shoulder.
"Kai, no.
You're injured.
You're outnumbered.
And you just betrayed the Directorate—if they catch you—"
Kai smirked slightly.
"I've betrayed worse."
"Kai, LISTEN—!" Chen Gu hissed.
She shook off his hand.
"I made my choice."
The tunnel rumbled louder.
Boots echoed like rolling thunder.
They were close.
Qin Mian took a shaky step toward Kai.
Her voice was soft and broken.
"Y-you'll die…"
Kai paused.
Not turning.
But her shoulders lowered just slightly.
"…Maybe."
Qin Mian clutched Yin Lie's sleeve.
"Please don't die…
Not for me…"
Kai finally turned her head and met Qin Mian's frightened eyes.
Her voice was strangely gentle.
"I'm not doing this for you."
Qin Mian blinked.
Kai nodded toward Yin Lie.
"I'm doing it for him."
Qin Mian's breath caught.
Kai inhaled deeply, shoulders straightening, posture shifting into perfect combative balance.
"Chen Gu," she said without looking back, "take the side tunnel. Get her out. Protect Yin Lie."
Chen Gu swallowed hard.
"…And you?"
Kai smiled faintly—
a tired, dangerous, almost peaceful smile.
"I'll slow them down."
The tunnel behind her suddenly exploded with shouts.
"MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!"
"LIGHTS UP!"
"SECTOR THREE—TARGETS IN RANGE!"
Blinding white flashlights illuminated the passage behind Kai.
Dozens of armored soldiers flooded the tunnel—
another Psi-Containment squad, maybe two.
Thorne shrieked and hid behind Chen Gu.
"Oh no oh no oh no WE ARE DEAD—"
Kai stepped forward.
One step.
Two.
Her shadow stretched long under the flashing lights.
Her coat rippled behind her like the wing of a descending hawk.
She whispered to herself:
"Lie.
You better survive."
Then she raised her weapon.
And walked into the light.
The first shots came fast—
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG!!
Kai dove sideways, rolling behind a cracked support beam.
Bullets sparked violently off the stone.
The captain of the reinforcement squad shouted:
"AGENT KAI!!
SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY!!
DROP YOUR WEAPON—!!"
Kai popped out of cover—
BANG!
She shot the captain's visor directly—
Cracking it instantly.
The squad froze for a second in shock.
Kai fired again—
BANG-BANG!!
Two soldiers went down with armor hits that knocked them unconscious.
The rest roared forward.
"Neutralize traitor!"
"Push the line!"
Kai ran straight toward them.
A shock-lance swung at her head—
She ducked, slid across the ground on her knee, and swept the soldier's legs—
THUD—!!
She grabbed his lance—
Spun—
And slammed the electrified end into another soldier's chestplate—
ZZZRT—KRAK!!
He convulsed and fell.
Three soldiers rushed her with riot shields.
Kai leapt onto the center shield—
Used it as a stepping platform—
Jumped behind them—
And kicked one square in the spine.
CRACK—!!
He collapsed.
The other two spun—
Too slow.
Kai struck both with rapid punches—
CRACK-CRACK—!!!
Two helmets snapped sideways.
Down they went.
But more soldiers were already pushing forward.
A whole wave.
Kai was panting now.
Her arm trembled.
Blood from her shoulder wound dripped down her sleeve.
But she held her ground.
One soldier swung a heavy stun baton—
Kai blocked—
But her knees buckled briefly under the force.
She gritted her teeth.
"I'm not… done!"
She ducked another blow—
Stabbed the lance into the ground—
Electricity surged outward—
Three soldiers were shocked off their feet.
But Kai was breathing raggedly now.
Her body slowing.
Her strength fading.
The captain pointed at her.
"ENGAGE FULL FORCE!"
Twelve soldiers rushed all at once.
Kai clenched her teeth.
"…Alright."
She pulled out her second gun.
Her very last.
And whispered:
"Let's finish this."
Her world narrowed to pure instinct.
A soldier lunged—
She shot him in the knee.
Another swung—
She blocked with her wrist plates and counterattacked.
Three soldiers tackled her from behind—
She smashed her head backward, breaking one visor—
Grabbed a fallen baton—
Electricity burst outward.
KRAK—ZZZT—!!
More soldiers dropped.
But Kai was slower each moment.
Her arms heavy.
Her ribs aching.
Her breath sharp and painful.
A soldier struck her across the back—
She fell to one knee.
Another soldier kicked her in the side—
She rolled and barely avoided the finishing blow.
Her vision blurred.
Still—
She stood again.
She wiped blood from her mouth and spat onto the floor.
"Is that… all you've got?"
The captain roared:
"TAKE HER DOWN!"
They rushed again—
Kai swung her baton—
Knocked another soldier out—
Then collapsed to one knee, gasping.
Her legs shook violently.
She couldn't feel her left hand.
Her right arm was numb.
The baton fell from her fingers.
She tried to rise—
Her legs gave out.
She fell to both knees.
The soldiers surrounded her.
One aimed his rifle at her head.
The captain stepped forward, breathing hard behind his broken visor.
"Agent Kai," he said coldly.
"Your betrayal ends here."
Kai lifted her eyes.
Her voice was faint.
But steady.
"If you want them…
you'll have to go through me again."
The captain raised his weapon.
"Gladly."
The Last Second
Just before he pulled the trigger—
A sound echoed through the tunnel.
A soft, single step.
Then another.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Cold.
A voice followed it.
Bright.
Calm.
Terrifying.
"You idiots."
The squad turned.
Kai's breath caught.
Her eyes widened.
Because stepping out of the shadows was—
Yin Lie.
Barefoot.
Covered in dirt.
Eyes half-open.
Still bleeding.
Barely alive.
But standing.
Holding himself against the wall.
He spoke again, voice a hoarse whisper:
"Didn't I say…
I'm not going anywhere…?"
Every soldier froze.
Kai stared at him like she was seeing a ghost.
"Lie… you… idiot…"
Yin Lie staggered forward.
The blue glow of Qin Mian's power flickered faintly from behind him, supporting his steps like invisible hands.
Yin Lie wiped blood from his mouth.
Then pointed at the squad.
"I'm not done yet."
The tunnel trembled.
Ice crawled across the floor.
And the next battle began.
Chapter 81 Completed