Deep within the cavern, the air seemed soaked with the icy touch of seawater, carrying a damp, salty stench.

Li Chuan slowed his pace, scanning the surroundings. He had read about wonders like this in books, but witnessing it firsthand left him speechless.

This cavern, hidden within the seabed’s fault lines, had been repurposed by the Awakened as a secret base. Ahead of him, Suna abruptly stopped, turning to look at him, her brows furrowed slightly, as if debating how much more she should reveal.

Li Chuan sensed her complex emotions—a mixture of expectation and, perhaps, a trace of worry.

A cold shiver crawled up his spine, sending his thoughts spiraling. If I really am one of the Awakened, why have I never sensed anything abnormal? And why is the Order hunting me?

He hurried to catch up to Suna, while Old Zheng trailed behind silently, carrying that mysterious box in his arms. The blue light flickered along the cavern walls, casting shifting shadows over the jagged rock, as if something unseen was watching their every step.

In one corner, a faded poster caught Li Chuan’s attention. The paper was curled and torn at the edges, but the words on it were still clear: "Rebuild the World Order, Harness Extraordinary Power."

Li Chuan muttered under his breath, "Extraordinary power? What does that mean?"

Suna halted abruptly and turned back, her gaze cold. "That’s something you weren’t taught."

Li Chuan quickened his steps, a persistent edge to his voice. "Could you explain it more clearly? What exactly is this power?"

Suna hesitated for a moment, a trace of doubt in her eyes. "It’s... the Order's secret weapon. A force that can manipulate space itself."

Li Chuan's brow furrowed, the unease in his chest deepening. "Manipulate space? That’s impossible."

Suna’s gaze hardened, a warning in her tone. "It’s not the kind of power you think. You haven't been through those experiments. You don’t understand the danger. The more you know, the more trouble you’ll be in."

Li Chuan's expression was resolute. "But this is about me. I have the right to know the truth."

Suna sighed, her tone softening slightly. "You really want to know? Fine. The Order has harnessed technology that goes beyond our comprehension, and you... you might be the key to it all."

Li Chuan followed closely behind her, but the questions swirling in his mind lingered like shadows. A few steps later, something caught his eye—an old book on a nearby table.

The cover read, Light of Technology—The Rise of the Order's Tech.

He flipped it open, squinting under the dim light to make out the faded text. "In the wake of global disasters, the Order's technology, powered by an unknown force, solved the energy and food crises, eventually taking control of the world’s fate."

Li Chuan’s fingers trembled slightly as he read the phrase "unknown force." It echoed in his mind, contradicting everything he had learned from history.

"The upper echelons of the Order have kept the origin of this power a closely guarded secret, claiming it was developed internally while monopolizing global resources…"

Slowly, he closed the book, waves of realization crashing over him. The Order's rise to dominance had been built upon this hidden power. This wasn’t just some obscure historical detail—it was the very key to their rule.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

A sense of dread settled in his chest. He realized he was brushing up against a secret that had been carefully concealed.

Taking a deep breath, the unease inside him only grew heavier. He stared at the closed book, as if each page was peeling back a layer of darkness within the Order's history.

The cavern ahead grew colder, and instinctively, Li Chuan slowed his pace. His gaze landed on a map pinned to the wall.

Scattered across the borders of seven nations were several red dots. His heart tightened as recognition dawned. These were the hidden bases of the Awakened.

The Awakened had been forced into hiding across the nations, drifting like ships in a storm, struggling to survive under the Order’s relentless watch.

In the corner, an old machine sat rusting in silence, its seams consumed by corrosion. Li Chuan speculated that perhaps these outdated devices were what allowed the Awakened to evade the Order's surveillance.

His thoughts drifted deeper into the fog of uncertainty. These outposts weren’t just the Awakened's last refuge—they were also a testament to their long struggle against the Order.

With communication cut off and modern technology failing, Li Chuan suspected the Awakened had to rely on these relics just to maintain some fragile connection to the outside world.

Old Zheng was examining a device, his voice steady. "Li Chuan, your... physiology. The Order never fully understood it. They ran countless tests, but..." He paused, choosing his words carefully, "some questions remain unanswered."

Li Chuan frowned, his confusion deepening. "What did I do? Why can’t I remember anything?"

Old Zheng glanced at him, holding his silence for a moment before speaking. "Your memories were wiped intentionally. In their plans, you're more critical than you realize."

Li Chuan's heartbeat quickened. "How critical?"

Old Zheng's voice lowered. "They need you—your abilities—to complete their experiment."

"My... abilities?" Li Chuan asked, still confused. "What abilities?"

Old Zheng sighed, his tone somber. "We're not entirely sure either. But they believe you’re the only key." He hesitated, his expression conflicted. "The most important thing is... you need to survive."

Li Chuan's mind swirled with confusion, but he didn’t press further. He knew the answers wouldn’t come easily.

Old Zheng approached the table and opened the box. A faint blue light flickered to life, carrying a sense of ominous power.

Li Chuan’s voice wavered. "What is that?"

Old Zheng avoided his gaze. "You don’t need to know all the details."

"But can it save us?" Li Chuan asked, tension in his voice.

"Let’s hope so," Old Zheng replied calmly, his fingers deftly embedding the core into the machine's center. A moment later, the device hummed softly, gently hovering in the air.

More questions filled Li Chuan’s mind, but he chose silence. He understood that some things wouldn’t be revealed so easily. Suna glanced at the tidal timer, her brow furrowing as she quickened her pace.

Her expression was tense, and Li Chuan could feel the urgency in the air. From a distance, the sound of the tide grew louder—low and relentless, like the pounding of a war drum. They needed to leave before the passage closed.

Li Chuan scanned the surroundings quickly, his eyes landing on the map. The blue light illuminated the red dots like the last hope for the Awakened. He clenched the map tightly, his earlier confusion giving way to determination. He was now part of the Awakened Alliance.

They had to move faster. Li Chuan stared at the map’s destination—Yuanxiao Nation. They had to reach it quickly. The Awakened were waiting for them there.

Old Zheng remained at the table, carefully inspecting the Rupert’s Tear. Li Chuan knew Old Zheng would stay behind to continue his research, but time was running out.

Without looking back, Suna walked toward the passage. Li Chuan took a deep breath and followed closely. They had no other choice. The path ahead was set. Each step led them further into the unknown.

Their footsteps echoed through the cavern as the blue light gradually dimmed. The sound of the approaching tide grew louder, urging them to pick up their pace. Li Chuan glanced back at the base, a newfound resolve settling in his heart.

On the massive screen behind Luke, a blurred face stared at him coldly. "Luke, this operation cannot fail. They’ve run out of patience."

Luke’s expression was grim. "Li Chuan is our only hope. Without him, the experiment will never succeed."

Standing tall, Luke’s eyes locked onto the infrared images on the screen. Behind him, the commander’s voice was sharp. "Don’t let them escape. Time is running out."

"All routes have been blocked. The drones are already in action," Luke replied in a low voice.

The commander let out a chilling laugh. "This time, they won’t get away."

Luke stared at the screen, his face expressionless, but a cold dread crept into his thoughts. "Li Chuan isn’t like the others. He’s more dangerous than you think," he said coldly.

The commander frowned slightly. "Dangerous? He’s just another Awakened."

Shaking his head, Luke replied, "He’s more important than you realize. If we fail this time, the consequences will be catastrophic."

Red lights flashed on the screen, where the figures of Li Chuan and Suna moved swiftly across the beach. Their escape route was becoming narrower by the second.