Just as the Omega energy fluctuations reached their peak, several Alpha entities emerged from the darkness. They were surrounded by a blinding, eerie blue light, and their energy tentacles thrashed violently in the air—a harbinger of the time reset.
"Alpha is attempting to initiate a reset procedure!" Pilar reported urgently. "Abnormal fluctuations in spacetime curvature have been detected!"
"Execute the interference protocol!" Maine immediately ordered.
Sasha and Kiwi were already prepared. They quickly launched specially designed electromagnetic interference munitions, which exploded in mid-air in the passage, releasing interference waves of a specific frequency.
"The jamming is effective!" Sasha stared intently at the sensor readings. "Alpha's signal transmission has been partially blocked!"
The Alpha entities within the passageway were clearly in disarray. The blue light surrounding them became unstable, and the swaying of their energy tentacles lost its rhythm. However, this disturbance obviously could not last.
"The interference effect will only last for thirty seconds!" Kiwi warned. "Their system is adapting!"
Dorio and Rita seized the opportunity and charged forward. Explosive gauntlets and precise shots simultaneously rained down on the nearest Alpha instance. Under the interference, the Alpha's energy shield was noticeably weakened, and Dorio's powerful punch successfully pierced its defenses.
"First Alpha cleared!" Dorio reported.
But the other Alphas had already begun their counterattack. They abandoned their large-scale reset attempts and instead concentrated their energy on localized defense and attacks. A beam of energy grazed Dorio's shoulder armor, leaving a scorching mark.
"Their attack pattern has changed!" Rita shouted as she dodged.
Rebecca's plasma cannon roared again, but this time the Alphas were on guard. They skillfully dodged the direct hits of the plasma beams while retaliating with energy beams.
"This can't go on!" Jackie shouted, his Iron Guard having just withstood an electromagnetic shock with its armor.
Maine quickly analyzed the situation. The interference was weakening, and the Alphas still outnumbered the Maine. If they couldn't eliminate these Alphas before they regained their reset ability, the entire mission would be a failure.
"Change tactics!" Maine decided. "Sasha, Lucy, prepare the capture device! We must capture at least one Alpha alive!"
The technical team acted immediately. The capture device was deployed from the transport platform, and the targeting system locked onto the nearest Alpha.
"Target locked!" Sasha reported, "but its movement is too unpredictable!"
Just then, Cage suddenly spoke up: "Let me do it! I know their movement patterns!"
Before Maine could respond, Cage had already charged out. Thanks to his familiarity with Alpha's behavior honed through countless cycles, he accurately predicted the target's trajectory. His exoskeleton operated at full power, allowing him to perform incredible maneuvers within the confined space.
"Now!" Cage shouted, forcing Alpha to move in his intended direction with precise shots.
Sasha seized the opportunity and immediately activated the capture device. The specially designed restraint net accurately hit the target, and the cryogenic coolant took effect instantly, freezing Alpha in place.
"Capture successful!" Lucy reported excitedly.
But at that very moment, a chilling energy fluctuation emanated from the depths of the passage. Omega seemed to be completely enraged, and the entire underground space began to tremble violently.
"Warning! An unprecedented energy reaction has been detected!" Falco's voice was unusually tense. "Omega is about to take action personally!"
——
The joy of successful capture lasted only a fleeting moment. The imprisoned Alpha struggled violently within the energy shield, emitting piercing, high-pitched screams. At the same time, the vast energy source deep within—Omega—was utterly enraged.
The entire underground reservoir began to distort and tremble, with debris raining down from the dome. A malevolent mental wave, far more powerful than the Alpha individual, swept in like a tangible tsunami.
"High-intensity psychic attack detected!" Sasha's voice was filled with pain. "It's attempting to directly interfere with our consciousness!"
Dorio and Rita were the first to be hit, both letting out a muffled groan and their movements noticeably slowed for a moment. Even the Iron Guard's sensor interface showed a brief period of static.
"It's protecting the core! These Alphas are just bait!" Maine immediately saw through Omega's tactics. Sacrificing one Alpha to draw their attention, the real killing move was this indiscriminate mental crushing and the resulting physical destruction.
Deep within the passage, countless crimson points of light illuminated the once-dark waters—these were more of the awakened mimic guardians, surging forth like a boiling tide. Even more terrifying, the massive shadow of Omega's true form began to emerge from the center of the waters; it no longer concealed itself, but prepared to personally crush these audacious intruders.
"Sasha! Lucy! Make sure the samples are safe!" Maine ordered under mental pressure. "Valerie, Jackie, provide cover fire! Dorio, Rita, protect the flanks! Rebecca, blast a path through me!"
The plan must be changed. Capturing an Alpha is already a pleasant surprise, but facing the enraged Omega and its all-out army, holding the position will only lead to certain death.
"It's going to destroy the entire underground space!" Falco analyzed the structural stress data. "We must evacuate immediately!"
Rebecca's plasma cannon roared again, its blazing white energy beam shooting towards Omega's main body, attempting to interrupt its charging. However, the energy was deflected and dissipated by a distorted force field as it approached the massive shadow, achieving little effect.
"Conventional attacks are ineffective!" Rebecca shouted.
Maine's processor was operating at breakneck speed. The power Omega was displaying far exceeded expectations; continuing the engagement would not only prevent them from completing the mission, but they might also lose the captured Alpha sample.
"Everyone evacuate!" He made the difficult but necessary decision. "Evacuate along the pre-set route B! Ensure sample priority!"
The squad immediately switched to a defensive retreat formation. The two Iron Guards took turns firing, using a dense barrage to block the pursuers.
Dorio and Rita protected the technical team carrying the Alpha sample and retreated quickly, while Cage continuously threw smoke grenades and explosives to disrupt the mimic swarm's pursuit.
Omega seemed to sense their intentions, and the mental impact became more focused and sharp, while the collapse of the entire underground structure began to accelerate.
"Move quickly!" Maine brought up the rear, his incendiary gun firing in bursts, turning the mimics trying to flank him into burning torches.
This is a race against time and destruction. They successfully captured the crucial sample, but in doing so, they awakened the slumbering behemoth and triggered its most ferocious retaliation. Escaping this collapsing lair and safely returning the Alpha sample became their sole and paramount objective.