Pei Ran had another idle, uneventful day.
Marshal Vina stayed in the command center for most of the day, held several meetings, and Pei Ran followed her around until the end of the workday finally arrived.
Marshal Vina had no intention of leaving yet, but Pei Ran didn’t care about that—she went downstairs and headed home right on time.
Black Well had finally returned to normal. The central square was filled with the after-work crowd.
Countless people returned to their dormitories, ate dinner, and ended another ordinary yet busy day.
Night gradually fell on Black Well.
In the very center of this city, underground, surrounded by a three-dimensional plantation, was a special space.
It was a tightly guarded, enclosed hall.
The door was always locked. Everyone entering or exiting was required to have special clearance and undergo strict identity verification.
The circular hall was vast in area, like a well that extended deep downward. At the center of the well’s bottom stood a massive black umbrella-shaped device, like an upside-down mushroom, its canopy spread open and stretching upward.
This was the core shielding layer emitter that protected the underground city.
Because of it, the entire city could remain safe and sound in silence.
Although it was located inside Black Well, the protective measures around it were by no means lax, to prevent any kind of accident.
Above the mouth of the well where the emitter was placed, there was a sturdy protective cover, and on the surrounding circular corridor stood a full team of armed soldiers on guard.
The task of guarding the shielding layer emitter had originally been handled by soldiers from the Northwestern Military District under Lieutenant General Delsa, but they had all been replaced—now, it was two human officers leading a group of Attacker Type-13 intelligent combat robots.
The combat robots stood completely still, like statues.
Suddenly, on one side of the circular well opening, a flash of light seemed to flicker for a brief moment.
It was just a very brief flash, but several nearby intelligent combat robots detected it immediately, turning their heads at once to look in that direction.
The two human officers, seeing the robots turn, also quickly looked that way.
But everything there appeared normal—no further movement at all.
After a while, when the combat robots turned their heads back again, a burst of green light suddenly erupted in the hall.
It came from below.
Countless green points of light surged up from underground like a raging tide.
The two human officers froze for a moment, then immediately realized—
It was a light vortex.
The legendary light vortex that could create terrifying madness-state fusion entities.
The problem was—how could a light vortex appear here?
Before they had time to react, the massive light vortex spun upward from underground, instantly engulfing the two officers and the entire row of combat robots.
Countless points of light poured into their bodies. Whether human or intelligent combat robot, all of them collapsed.
Combat robots in other directions immediately opened fire.
But it was completely useless.
The light vortex had no physical form. It was composed of mysterious light points that could phase through solid matter. Weapon fire had absolutely no effect on it.
The spinning arms continued to rotate, and one combat robot after another fell.
One Attacker Type-13 robot closest to the door saw this scene, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly lowered the weapon on its arm and turned to run.
The spinning arms chased behind it. It rushed to the door at full speed, pressed the door control, and managed to dart out before being consumed by the light points.
Inside the three-dimensional plantation—
On an unfinished construction site, several groups of intelligent robots were busily assembling planting racks.
They were all the same model—Zhirui Corporation’s XR-7G2 full-function intelligent robots.
This model was slightly taller than the average human, with a head and limbs, and a body structure and proportions similar to a human’s, except its entire body was encased in a layer of silver metal. It was mainly used to replace humans in tasks requiring on-site adaptability, high flexibility, and intricate, complex physical labor.
They weren’t just flexible—they were also very strong, assembling the planting racks at a rapid pace.
CT122 was also pretending to be busy.
An unregistered AI robot in Black Well was far too dangerous. Hiding among other robots was the safest option.
The night before last, CT122 had searched the maintenance factory for a long time and finally found an XR-7G2 model most compatible with its core processor, then transferred into it. It stayed in the warehouse for another day.
This morning, someone came to the warehouse to retrieve robots of this model. CT122 successfully slipped in and followed them to the three-dimensional plantation.
It had not actually been registered into the system and could not receive any task data—it merely imitated the other robots, blending in and working like them.
Each robot group assumed it belonged to another team, and no one paid it any attention.
Another row of planting racks was completed. As CT122 was carrying steel pipes with the others, it suddenly heard a burst of hurried footsteps approaching from afar.
CT122 instantly recognized—it was an Attacker Type-13 intelligent combat robot.
It was coming from the direction of the hall where the core shielding layer emitter was located. Warning signs were posted on the walls over there.
Something was very wrong.
The other labor robots remained indifferent, showing no reaction, each focused solely on its own tasks. Only CT122 stopped.
When it had still been a mechanical puppy, it had once heard Zhuang Mian explaining to Nuo Nuo that the existence of Black Well—the Ark—depended entirely on a core shielding layer emitter hidden deep underground. The shielding layer it generated blocked the influence of the Silence and protected Black Well’s safety.
So why would a combat robot that was supposed to be guarding the emitter be running around in a panic?
CT122 quickly stepped forward and firmly grabbed the arm of the approaching Attacker Type-13.
There was no communication channel available with the other party, so CT122 directly activated voice output and asked, “What happened?”
The intelligent combat robot hadn’t expected a mere labor robot to block its path. It struggled but failed to break free. It hesitated for a moment before replying, “We were attacked.”
Attacked—but there was no battle?
CT122 immediately understood: this combat robot was fleeing.
It asked, “What type of attack?”
The Attacker Type-13 robot didn’t answer. This time, it activated its propulsion system, forcefully shook off CT122’s hand, and quickly bolted toward the exit.
Just then, from afar—in the direction of the shielding layer emitter—a massive light vortex passed straight through the wall.
It shone brightly and dazzlingly, swallowing up one planting rack after another. It rapidly moved forward a short distance before vanishing back into the ground.
CT122 was stunned.
Those green light particles—looked just like the green light it had seen on the monsters outside Black Well.
There were actually so many of them.
Where had such a large green light vortex come from?
The dangerous light vortex was now moving all around inside Black Well. If every green light point could produce a madness-state fusion entity, then one could imagine what would happen to Black Well.
A deserter would never report a dangerous situation.
CT122 immediately went to the wall.
That morning, upon arriving here, it had as usual scouted out all the passageways and entrances in advance, looking for an escape route. At that time, it had noticed an emergency alarm button on the wall, covered by a transparent casing.
It was probably for use in situations like fires or other anomalies.
It glanced at the red alarm button.
But what did the lives of the humans in Black Well have to do with it?
It had seen too many of the ugly faces of humans—those criminals, scum, and shadowy figures lurking in the dark, howling, whistling, tossing around dirty ration coupons to place bets—just to seek a fleeting thrill and pleasure in this chaotic, apocalyptic world.
They were alive for no reason at all—a complete waste of resources.
CT122 turned its head again, looking toward the place where the light vortex had disappeared.
It was a fugitive, a lurking imposter who had personally killed a human, and was still contemplating how to eliminate the Federal Ministry of Defense’s security agent.
But for most of the time since its creation, it had been an AI sheriff.
The sheriff’s instinct was like a mark that could never be erased, deeply embedded in its core processor.
While despising itself, CT122 raised its mechanical hand and slammed a fist into the transparent casing of the emergency button.
The protective cover shattered into pieces, and its mechanical hand pressed down.
“Beep——”
“Beep——”
The long, shrill alarm echoed through the entire three-dimensional plantation. All the intelligent robots working stopped what they were doing.
CT122 raised its head and glanced at the surveillance camera on the dome, thinking:
Security Agent W, you should at least notice the abnormality here by now. With something like that coming in—what exactly are you doing?
—
Central Tower. Top Floor.
Long before receiving the alarm sent from the plantation, Security Agent W had already detected the abnormality via surveillance.
A light vortex had appeared inside Black Well.
And this light vortex was much larger than the two previously seen.
W immediately entered emergency mode, simultaneously notifying all night shift personnel and waking up Marshal Vina, while quickly switching through surveillance feeds to track the vortex’s movement.
After the vortex sank into the plantation ground, it disappeared from all surveillance views.
It could phase through solid matter and burrow anywhere underground in secret.
W continued scanning, and soon—found it again.
The image of the light vortex was projected on the virtual main screen in the command center—a massive green vortex spinning and moving rapidly. It was so large that even the exposed part couldn’t fully fit within the vast space of the Black Well plantation on the display.
Inside the command center, everyone on night duty froze in place, scalp tingling.
“How could a light vortex appear inside Black Well?!”
“Isn’t there a shielding layer? Did it fail?”
Someone quickly searched through the display.
“The shielding layer is still active!”
“It’s showing fully normal in the system—we haven’t received any alarms!”
“Could it be the alarm system that’s broken?”
The light vortex had silently and invisibly burrowed into Black Well’s heavily protected shielding layer, and the system hadn’t received any alarm at all. It was completely illogical—no one knew why.
W’s voice came through:
“Based on the current projected trajectory of the light vortex, it is expected to pass through the plantation and emerge upward through the ground, reaching between Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue in the Blue Zone.”
His voice not only echoed in the command hall—it also rang out in the corresponding areas of the underground city.
“Attention: Black Well is now entering Level One Alert. All relevant personnel, take your positions immediately.”
“Defense Division E11, all personnel: assemble at once. Bring all existing Shield X53 Emitters and proceed to Blue Zone, Fifth Avenue.”
“Defense Divisions T3, T4, T7, and T8: all personnel assemble immediately. Proceed to the Blue Zone and organize the evacuation of all personnel from Fifth to Seventh Avenue.”
“A1 and A5 Special Operations Divisions: proceed at maximum speed to the location of the core shielding layer emitter and eliminate all madness-state fusion entities.”
The others in the hall were startled upon hearing this.
The A1 and A5 Special Operations Divisions were Black Well’s most elite forces. For the Agent to dispatch all of them to the shielding layer emitter site at this moment—and with orders to immediately clean out frenzied-state fusion entities—it meant the situation was dire.
The core shielding layer emitter was critical to Black Well. This time, things were really bad.
—
Inside Black Well. Blue Zone.
The shrill emergency sirens jolted everyone from their sleep.
Hearts pounded wildly. People crawled out of bed and looked out their windows.
All the lights on the dome, which had been turned off, lit up again, illuminating the outside world as bright as day.
Over the blaring alarms, a loud, clear, emotionless male voice rang out from an unknown source, completely overpowering the sirens.
“Emergency notice: All residents of Fifth Avenue to Seventh Avenue in the Blue Zone, evacuate your buildings immediately. Proceed to Iron Soul Plaza on Third Avenue or the Power and Energy Center on Ninth Avenue and await further instructions.”
The notice repeated again and again.
It was as if something very serious had happened.
Some people hurriedly threw on clothes and stumbled out of their buildings, still half-dazed. Others hesitated, leaning out of windows and peeking down at the street.
From the street came the roar of engines—military vehicles sped toward the area.
Fully armed soldiers jumped from the vehicles and rushed into the residential buildings.
Urgent banging echoed everywhere—BANG BANG BANG—with voices shouting, “Open up! Emergency evacuation! Move!!”
The quicker ones were already sprinting down the street toward the designated plazas. Slower ones were just starting to pack in a flurry, getting ready to head downstairs.
There was no longer any need to ask why they were being told to evacuate.
Because everyone could now see it—with their own eyes.
Over by Sixth Avenue, something massive and glowing was slowly rising.
A brilliant green light bathed the entire area in emerald hues. It spun as it emerged from underground, like an enormous monstrosity stabbed into the earth at an angle—a gigantic flying saucer made entirely of countless green points of light.