Jun Xin shifted his stance, gripping his weapon tightly. The synthetic workers, now hostile, advanced with deliberate precision, their glowing eyes fixed on him. Each movement they made was synchronized, as if controlled by a single mind.

"System, I need options—fast," he muttered, glancing around for an escape route.

"Recommended action: Disable primary control unit to deactivate all hostiles. Location: Central processing hub, 20 meters northwest."

Jun Xin spotted the hub, a cylindrical structure glowing faintly in the center of the camp. Between him and the hub, however, was a wall of advancing drones and mechanical guards.

"Of course, it's never easy," he muttered, taking a deep breath.

The first drone lunged at him, its metal arms extending like claws. Jun Xin sidestepped, slashing at its joint. Sparks flew as the limb detached, but the drone kept coming, now using its remaining arm to swipe at him.

"Persistent little things, aren’t you?" he quipped, dodging another attack.

He pivoted, using the severed arm of the first drone as a makeshift shield against a second. The impact sent vibrations through his arm, but he held firm, driving his weapon into the second drone’s core. It collapsed in a heap of metal, but three more were already closing in.

"System, any shortcuts to the hub?"

"Negative. Path remains obstructed. Recommend elimination of immediate threats."

"Figures," Jun Xin grumbled, gripping his weapon tighter.

He darted toward the hub, weaving through the chaotic swarm of attackers. Each step required precision, each swing of his weapon timed perfectly. His stamina was wearing thin, but adrenaline pushed him forward.

One of the synthetic workers, larger and more armored than the others, blocked his path. Its reinforced plating glinted ominously as it raised a heavy, piston-like arm. Jun Xin ducked as the arm crashed into the ground, leaving a crater where he had stood.

"System, weak points?"

"Analyzing... Detected: Joint connections at shoulders and lower back."

"Got it," he said, circling the massive worker.

The synthetic swung again, but Jun Xin anticipated the move, rolling to the side and landing a precise strike to its shoulder joint. The arm dropped with a metallic thud, sparks flying from the severed connection. Before it could retaliate, he plunged his weapon into its lower back, severing the power core. The worker collapsed, lifeless.

Jun Xin didn't waste a second, sprinting toward the hub. The drones were relentless, but he managed to outmaneuver most of them, relying on the system’s constant guidance.

Finally, he reached the base of the hub. The structure towered above him, its surface covered in intricate, glowing patterns.

"System, how do I shut this thing down?"

"Access panel located at the apex. Manual override required."

Jun Xin groaned. "Let me guess—I have to climb it."

"Affirmative."

He glanced at the swarm of drones converging on his position. There was no time to argue. He jumped, grabbing onto the ledge of the hub’s base. The surface was smooth and cold, but small grooves provided enough grip to climb.

The drones reached the hub, their metallic arms clawing at its base. One managed to grab his ankle, pulling hard. Jun Xin kicked it off, nearly losing his balance in the process.

"System, any chance these things will give up?"

"Unlikely. Hostile protocols will persist until the control unit is disabled."

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"Right," he muttered, continuing his climb.

The ascent was grueling. Each pull strained his muscles, but the glow of the access panel above spurred him on. Below, the drones began scaling the hub, their movements mechanical yet disturbingly agile.

Jun Xin reached the panel just as the first drone grabbed the ledge below him. He smashed the control interface, revealing a complex array of symbols and circuits.

"System, guide me through this. Fast."

"Input sequence required: Green, blue, red, then hold the central node for three seconds."

Jun Xin’s fingers worked quickly, pressing the glowing symbols in the correct order. The final node pulsed under his touch, and a low hum resonated through the structure.

"Stabilization restored. Hostile protocols deactivated," the mechanical voice announced.

The drones below froze, their glowing eyes dimming as they collapsed. Jun Xin exhaled, leaning against the panel as relief washed over him.

"That was way too close," he said, his voice shaky.

"Mission accomplished. Area secure," the system replied.

Jun Xin climbed down cautiously, his legs trembling from the ordeal. The camp was eerily silent now, the deactivated drones scattered across the ground like discarded toys.

As he reached the ground, he noticed a faint light emanating from a chamber behind the hub. Curious, he approached, his weapon ready just in case.

The chamber was small and circular, its walls covered in glowing symbols similar to those on the hub. At its center was a pedestal, on which sat a strange device—a small, crystalline sphere that pulsed with a soft, rhythmic glow.

"System, what is this?"

"Artifact identified: Energy core. Potential functionality: Enhanced system capabilities."

Jun Xin hesitated. The last time he interacted with an unknown artifact, it had nearly gotten him killed. But this one seemed different—calmer, almost inviting.

"Will it cause another lockdown?" he asked.

"Negative. Energy core is compatible with current system configuration. Integration will improve efficiency and analytical capabilities."

"Alright," he said, stepping forward. He placed his hand on the sphere, and a warm energy flowed through him. The system’s voice grew clearer, more refined.

"Integration complete. New functionalities unlocked."

Jun Xin felt a strange sense of clarity, as if his thoughts were sharper and his surroundings more vivid.

"Not bad," he said, pocketing the sphere. "Now, let’s find a way out of here."

As he exited the chamber, a faint sound reached his ears. His body tensed as he scanned the shadows, every sense on high alert.

The faint hum of drones still echoed in the distance, but their activity seemed erratic. Jun Xin didn’t trust it. His grip tightened on his weapon, his gaze sweeping the area.

"This place doesn’t let up," he muttered under his breath. "Stay sharp."

The corridor ahead grew narrower, forcing him to slow down and tread carefully. The faint glow from the structure behind him faded into darkness, leaving him to rely on his instincts. His hand brushed against the cool, uneven wall as he moved forward.

Each sound felt louder than the last—the scrape of his boots, the hum of distant machinery. He couldn’t afford to stop. Whatever security measures he had triggered wouldn’t give up easily.

A sudden tremor beneath his feet startled him. The drones were reactivating, their lights coming to life with a harsh red glow. Jun Xin gritted his teeth. He didn’t waste time thinking—he ran, weaving through the narrow passage as the metallic clatter of pursuit grew louder.

"Not today," he muttered, his mind working quickly to calculate his escape.

He rounded a sharp corner and reached an intersection of corridors. Without missing a beat, he activated the system interface.

"System, show me the way out!"

A glowing map appeared, faint but clear enough to guide him. A single route stood out—a service hatch leading to an exterior section of the Gate.

"That’s my ticket," he muttered, pivoting sharply toward the highlighted path. Behind him, the drones drew closer, their mechanical voices cutting through the air.

"Unauthorized entity detected. Eliminate target."

Jun Xin pushed his body to the limit, jumping over scattered debris and ducking under a beam that collapsed just inches above him. His breath came in short bursts, but he pressed on, his eyes locked on his goal.

When he reached the hatch, he slammed his hand against the control panel. Sparks flew as the system fought against his unauthorized access.

"Come on, work!" he growled, his voice sharp with urgency.

The hatch hissed open just as a blast from one of the drones struck the wall beside him. Jun Xin dove through the opening and slapped the control panel to seal it behind him. The door closed just in time, muffling the sound of the drones.

He rolled to his side, breathing heavily. His surroundings shifted to a wide, open space, the air cool and heavy with an unnatural stillness. Above him, the sky churned with colors that didn’t belong in any natural world.

Jun Xin sat up slowly, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath. He glanced around, taking in the eerie calm. Despite the pounding in his chest, a flicker of relief crept in.

"I’m not done yet," he muttered to himself, determination steady in his voice. He wiped his brow and got back on his feet. The fight wasn’t over, but he had made it one step further.