The pale golden light beneath the pile of rubble gradually penetrated the crevices. As the Star Core Key was inserted into the slot on the pedestal, every time the runes on the sword flickered, a thread of light dove into the darkness below—it was attempting to lock onto the location of the Consciousness Core. Lin Ye braced himself with his uninjured left arm, his mechanical prosthetic eye flickering with a stream of light-blue data. A prompt scrolled across his lens: [Void Rift expansion rate increased to 2%/minute, current width 12 meters, Consciousness Core defensive layers remaining: 3, destruction countdown: 40 minutes].
"Su Li, can you hold on?" Lin Ye's right hand was numb from the crushing weight of the rubble, his knuckles bleeding, yet he still tightly shielded Su Li's back. Her Starlight Staff was wedged into a stone crevice, its light emitting only a faint golden glow. Her breathing became shallower, and her Star Core energy level displayed only 3%. [Void Erosion effect: Consciousness resistance -5% every 30 seconds, current 70%, 'Memory Purification' debuff triggered, skill accuracy reduced by 20%].
Su Li leaned against his shoulder, her fingertips lightly brushing the edge of his mechanical prosthetic eye—the temperature of the Star Core mark still lingered there. "I can... hold on for a little longer. Are Tang Xiaoqi and A'Kai... safe?"
Static suddenly erupted from the communicator, and Tang Xiaoqi's voice carried the harsh grinding sound of mecha metal. "Safe, my foot! Thirty meters above your heads is the Reapers' 'Void Driller'. I just used my last 5% energy to block an attack for you, and the mecha's left leg is completely trashed! A'Kai is awake; he says he can connect to the 'Player Mutual Aid Channel' in 'Journey to the Virtual Realm'. There are over 2,000 Awakened ones pouring consciousness energy this way, but it won't arrive for another 10 minutes!"
The mechanical prosthetic eye suddenly captured two trails of purple light erupting from the depths of the rift, landing on the piles of rubble on either side of the pedestal. As the light faded, two figures identical to Lin Ye and Su Li stood there—Consciousness Mirrors! The Mirror Lin Ye's Electromagnetic Longblade surged with dark red 'Blood Rage Wild Slash' energy, while the Mirror Su Li's Starlight Staff gathered a burning orb of 'Meteoric Impact'. The mechanical prosthetic eye popped up a warning: [Consciousness Mirror (Elite level), copies all current skills of the target, health equal to the original. Weakness: The mirror possesses no individual consciousness, skill release delay: 0.8 seconds].
"Watch out!" Lin Ye shoved Su Li toward the Star Core Key at the center of the pedestal—the 'Star Core Shelter' effect there could temporarily ward off mirror attacks. He pulled his own Electromagnetic Longblade from under the rubble. Just as the pale golden 'Memory Purification' blade took shape, the Mirror Lin Ye's blade swung down! The dark red energy grazed his waist, shattering stone into powder. [Hit by 'Blood Rage Wild Slash', health -18%, current 62%, 'Bleeding' debuff triggered, 3% health lost every 5 seconds].
Su Li struggled to stand on the pedestal, the light threads of her Starlight Staff lashing out toward the Mirror Su Li, but due to the 'Consciousness Blur' debuff, it missed its mark, catching only the other's wrist. The Mirror Su Li sneered (mimicking Su Li's cold tone, yet layered with the mechanical indifference of a Reaper), and the 'Meteoric Impact' orb smashed toward the center of the pedestal—the location of the Star Core Key. If hit, the key would be temporarily disabled!
"A'Kai! Can't you hurry it up!" Lin Ye roared as he charged at the Mirror Su Li, swinging his Electromagnetic Longblade horizontally to force it back, all while catching a glimpse of the Mirror Lin Ye's sword coming for him again. He wanted to activate 'Tactical Prediction', but because of the 'Consciousness Blur', his prediction delay had slipped from 0.3 seconds to 0.6 seconds. He barely avoided the blade, but his shoulder was still sliced open. Blood dripped onto the runes of the pedestal, causing them to glow with a faint red light.
[Detected resonance between 'Guardian's Blood' and the Star Core Rune, unlocking temporary skill 'Blood Sacrifice Seal'. Consumes 10% health to freeze Consciousness Mirrors for 15 seconds. Confirm use?]
"Use it!" Lin Ye pressed confirm without a moment's hesitation. A sharp pain tore through his chest as blood streamed through his fingers onto the runes. The red light spread instantly, and both Consciousness Mirrors were frozen in place; their dark red energy and burning orbs dissipated in their hands. [Consciousness Mirrors frozen, 12 seconds remaining. It is recommended to prioritize destroying Mirror Su Li, as its 'Meteoric Impact' poses the highest threat to the Star Core Key].
"Su Li, use 'Energy Resonance'!" Lin Ye shouted at her, charging toward the Mirror Su Li with his Electromagnetic Longblade, condensing a silver-white blade of 'Dimensional Fission'—the only skill currently capable of rapid armor-breaking. Gritting her teeth, Su Li funneled the last 3% of her Star Core energy into the Starlight Staff, light threads wrapping around the mirror's staff to forcibly disrupt its energy flow.
"Dimensional Fission!" Lin Ye's blade struck the chest of the Mirror Su Li. The pale golden blade pierced through its body, and the mirror dissipated into purple smoke. [Destroyed Mirror Su Li, obtained 'Consciousness Energy Fragment' x1, Star Core energy +2%, current 5%].
Just then, the freeze duration ended, and the Mirror Lin Ye lunged at Su Li with its blade! Lin Ye tried to rush over, but Li Na’s frantic roar came through the communicator: "Lin Ye! The East District of the City of Hope has been breached! The Reapers have deployed 'Consciousness Solidification Bombs', and already 50 Awakened have turned into statues! We can't hold much longer, you must hurry!"
The Mirror Lin Ye's blade was already inches from Su Li. Her Starlight Staff's threads had just reached the Star Core Key when a sudden burst of brilliant light erupted—it was the first batch of consciousness energy sent by A'Kai! [Obtained 'Player Consciousness Energy Pack' x1, Star Core energy +15%, current 20%, 'Consciousness Blur' debuff removed, consciousness resistance restored to 80%].
Su Li's eyes cleared instantly. Her Starlight Staff executed 'Star Path Prophecy', and in the 3-second future vision, the Mirror Lin Ye's next blow was aimed at her staff! She stepped aside immediately, simultaneously lashing her light threads around the opponent's wrist and yanking it toward Lin Ye: "Lin Ye! Its skill delay is still there!"
Lin Ye seized the opening, plunging his Electromagnetic Longblade under the mirror's arm, the 'Memory Purification' light pouring into the blade to shatter the mirror's body: "This is... the consciousness... of a Guardian..." Before the mirror vanished, it actually uttered words Lin Ye had spoken five years ago in the refugee camp. Another 'Consciousness Energy Fragment' floated out from the purple smoke, merging into the Star Core Key.
[All Consciousness Mirrors destroyed, Star Core Key 'Armor-Pierce' effect unlocked, damage to Consciousness Core increased by 30%. Tang Xiaoqi succeeded in breaking the first defensive layer. 2 layers remaining, next consciousness energy pack expected in 5 minutes].
Su Li leaned against the Star Core Key, her breathing finally smoothing out. She looked at the wound on Lin Ye’s waist, her light threads carefully weaving over it, the pale golden energy slowly knitting the flesh back together. "Don't... push yourself so hard anymore. We... still have a team."
Lin Ye held her hand, his mechanical prosthetic eye scanning the depths of the rift—the purple light there was growing brighter, and the second defensive layer of the Consciousness Core began to rotate. [Detected defensive layer activating 'Void Ray' attack, fires every 10 seconds, coverage range 15 meters, recommend finding cover].
In the communicator, A'Kai's voice held a timid yet firm resolve: "Big Brother Lin Ye, I... I found a hidden quest in 'Journey to the Virtual Realm'. As long as we destroy the Consciousness Core, we can obtain the 'Void Barrier' item to protect the City of Hope! Also... Big Sister Tang Xiaoqi is tearing apart the mecha's energy core, saying she's going to make 'temporary energy bombs' for you..."
Lin Ye looked up at the crevices in the rubble above, where he could see the wreckage of Tang Xiaoqi's mecha stuck there, the red light of its electronic visor still blinking—she was using her last bit of strength to dismantle the energy core and throw it down through the gaps. Su Li followed his gaze and offered a faint smile: "Look, we... have never been alone."
The Star Core Key suddenly shuddered violently, and every rune on the sword lit up. [Countdown to cracking the second layer of the Consciousness Core: 10 seconds. The third layer is the 'Maze of Consciousness', which must be entered to destroy it from within. Danger level: S+]. A roar from the higher civilization echoed from the depths of the rift, more intense than ever before, as if in fear of the impending destruction.
Lin Ye tightened his grip on the Electromagnetic Longblade, shielding Su Li behind him. On the lens of his mechanical prosthetic eye, the prompt [Player consciousness energy pack arriving, temporary energy bombs expected in 3 minutes, destroy the Consciousness Core, save the City of Hope] intertwined with the voices of his companions, becoming the brightest light in the face of despair.