Global Ability Awakening, I Awakened the Ability to Seize Powers - Chapter 1

The sun was close to setting, and the noisy campus of Xiahai High School finally quieted down, students successively returning to their classrooms for self-study.

“Alipay received—one hundred thousand yuan.”

A mechanical female electronic voice suddenly echoed in the silent classroom. Everyone simultaneously looked towards the source of the sound—Chu Ran, who was sitting in the corner. His best friend, Wang Yu, was the first to let out a strange yell: “Holy crap! Chu Ran, did you win the lottery? Or did our dad strike it rich?”

The classroom instantly erupted. Some cursed, some cheered, and a few girls huddled together, whispering:

“He’s usually so low-key, isn’t he? How did he suddenly get so much money?”

“Could it be a scam? Scammers have so many tricks now…”

Chu Ran himself was bewildered. He quickly pulled out his phone, and a line of text prominently displayed on the screen:

Alipay received 100,000.00 yuan

Payer: Anonymous

“Who transferred it by mistake?” He frowned, quickly checking his account, but besides this money, there were no messages or clues.

Just then, his phone vibrated.

A new text message (unknown number):

“Meet me behind the school after class. This money is just the beginning.”

Chu Ran’s heart tightened. He immediately replied, “Who are you?”

But the other party didn’t respond again.

After class, Chu Ran walked alone towards the school’s back mountain. The sun had completely set, leaving only a faint twilight shrouding the woods.

“You’re here.”

A clear, cold female voice came from behind him. Chu Ran sharply turned his head, seeing a girl in a Xiahai High School uniform standing under the shadows of the trees.

Her long hair was slightly curly, and her amber eyes glowed with an eerie light in the dimness.

“Did you transfer the money?” Chu Ran asked warily.

The girl didn’t answer. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

“Chu Ran, 17 years old, Class 3, Grade 11, lives alone, parents work abroad.” She slowly said, “Three months ago, you discovered you could manipulate objects with your mind, right?”

Chu Ran’s entire body stiffened, his fingers unconsciously clenching.

—His ability was an absolute secret.

“Who are you?” Chu Ran’s voice grew cold. The air around them seemed to solidify, and a few fallen leaves mysteriously hovered in mid-air.

The corners of the girl’s lips curved slightly. She raised her hand, and a ball of faint blue flame suddenly appeared in her palm.

However, the moment the flame ignited, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and Chu Ran’s breath even condensed into white mist.

“Ice flame?” His pupils constricted slightly.

“My name is Lin Xia.” She extinguished the flame, her tone calm, “Like you, I’m an ‘Awakener’.”

“Awakener?” Chu Ran frowned, “So it seems I’m not the only one with this ability.”

“More than you imagine.” Lin Xia leaned against a tree trunk, her gaze sweeping towards the distant darkness, “But recently, someone’s been hunting us.”

“Hunting?”

“Within a month, three Awakeners have died nationwide.” Her voice was low, “Official reports say it was accidental, but their bodies… their abilities were drained.”

A chill ran down Chu Ran’s spine.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because the Hunters have already set their sights on Xiahai High School.” Lin Xia looked directly at him, “The next target could be you—or me.”

The night wind suddenly picked up, tree shadows swayed, and in the distant darkness, something seemed to be watching them.

Chu Ran suddenly felt a sense of being spied upon and sharply turned his head.

But there was no one there.

“So what should I do?” Chu Ran asked.

Lin Xia pulled out a phone from her pocket: “To prevent us from being defeated one by one, we’ve teamed up with a few other Awakeners here. We need your ability.”

She tossed the phone to Chu Ran, “Since we don’t know the Hunters’ abilities, you can’t use your phone for now.”

Chu Ran took the phone, his brows furrowed even tighter, and asked the question he’d wanted to know earlier: “How did you know I was…”

“Because Awakeners release a special energy fluctuation when they awaken.” Lin Xia interrupted him, “That’s how it works.”

Chu Ran nodded slightly and unlocked the phone.

The screen displayed a chat group named “Safe House” with only five members.

“Only five people?” Chu Ran asked.

“Tomorrow morning, on the rooftop.” Lin Xia suddenly became alert, her gaze constantly sweeping the surrounding woods, “Someone’s here now, and it’s not our people.”

Chu Ran immediately sensed an anomaly—about fifty meters away, three metal objects were moving quickly. They weren’t small items like phones or keys, but some kind of… weapons?

“Run!” Lin Xia whispered, grabbing Chu Ran’s wrist and rushing towards the other side of the woods.

Chu Ran was dragged, running wildly, while simultaneously using his telekinesis to erect a “barrier” behind them—he gathered all movable metal fragments, stones, and even branches to form a moving obstruction.

“Left!” Lin Xia suddenly changed direction, simultaneously throwing a ball of ice flame backward. The blue flame exploded in the air, forming an ice wall that temporarily blocked the pursuers.

The two rushed through the woods, scaled the school’s back wall, and hid in a small alley. Chu Ran leaned against the wall, panting, his heart pounding.

“Were those Hunters?” he whispered.

Lin Xia nodded, beads of sweat also glistening on her forehead: “They track Awakeners’ energy fluctuations with special instruments. Your ability just awakened not long ago, you don’t know how to suppress it, so your signal is strong, and they’ve clearly locked onto this area.”

Chu Ran remembered the one hundred thousand yuan transfer: “What about the money? Was it a test?”

“A deposit.” Lin Xia said frankly, “I needed to confirm you were truly an Awakener, and not a trap set by the Hunters. Ordinary people’s first reaction to unexpected money is surprise or doubt, but Awakeners immediately become wary—because we have secrets we need to hide.”

Chu Ran had to admit her strategy was clever: “So what now?”

“Tomorrow morning, bring this.” Lin Xia handed him what looked like an ordinary button, “It’s an anti-tracking device that can temporarily block your energy signal. See you on the rooftop.”

With that, she turned and melted into the night. Chu Ran clutched the button, suddenly realizing his life had completely changed. He was no longer that unknown high school student, but an Awakener being hunted by a mysterious organization.

On the way home, Chu Ran constantly looked back to confirm if he was being followed.

His abilities were fully engaged, sensing the location and movement of every metal object around him.

When he passed a hardware store, he even considered “borrowing” some more convenient weapons.

His apartment was empty—his parents worked on research projects abroad and only sent living expenses regularly. In the past, Chu Ran had enjoyed this freedom, but now he felt an unprecedented loneliness and danger.

He locked all doors and windows, drew the curtains, and then opened the phone Lin Xia had given him. There were already a few unread messages in the chat group:

[White Raven]: New member?

[Bedrock]: Welcome, what’s your ability?

[Shadow Dancer]: If Lin Xia found him, he should be reliable.

Chu Ran hesitated for a moment, then typed a reply: [Telekinesis, up to five kilograms, ten-meter range.]

[White Raven]: Not bad, a very versatile ability.

[Bedrock]: We’ll see tomorrow.

[Shadow Dancer]: Be careful tonight, Hunters like to operate at night.

Chu Ran was about to reply when he suddenly heard a faint metallic clinking sound from outside the window.

He immediately turned off the screen, while simultaneously using his telekinesis to levitate the scissors on his desk, aiming them at the window.

One second, two seconds… no further movement. Chu Ran slowly approached the window, peering out through a gap in the curtains.

There was no one under the streetlights, but a small metallic object glinted on the ground—it looked like… a tracker?

He was about to use his ability to retrieve it when his phone suddenly vibrated. Lin Xia sent a private message: Don’t touch it! It’s bait, Hunters are nearby. Turn off the lights, stay quiet.

Chu Ran immediately retreated, turned off all lights, and held his breath. A few minutes later, he heard rustling from the bushes downstairs, followed by faint metallic scraping sounds slowly fading away.

He let out a long breath, only then realizing his back was drenched in sweat. His phone lit up again, a new message from Lin Xia: They’ve pulled back for now, but they might return. Stay vigilant.

Chu Ran typed a question: How can you see here?

Lin Xia: White Raven can share your perspective through the phone I gave you.

Chu Ran: What, so I have no privacy?

Lin Xia: You can refuse if you want. Alright, alright, don’t overthink it, get some sleep, there’s still a lot to do tomorrow. With the anti-tracking device, they won’t find you easily.

Chu Ran lay in bed, but sleep wouldn’t come.

He constantly practiced his ability, making objects in the room silently float and move.

The five-kilogram limit was too weak. If he truly wanted to fight the Hunters, he had to become stronger.

Outside the window, a bright moon quietly rose. On the other side of the city, in a dilapidated high-rise building, three dark figures surrounded a flickering instrument.

“The signal’s gone,” one of them said, “but the range has been narrowed to within two kilometers of Xiahai High School.”

“We can’t let this person grow. Keep looking!” another said.

“Yes!”

The night passed without incident, and the sun was high in the sky.

A rapid phone call rang.

A groggy Chu Ran fumbled for his phone and answered.

The voice on the other end immediately said: “You idiot, Chu Ran, how long are you going to sleep? Why aren’t you at school yet?”

Chu Ran instantly jolted awake upon hearing this. He quickly scrambled up and checked the time—9:50 AM, two classes had already passed!

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Chu Ran hung up, brushing his teeth and getting dressed in a frantic hurry.

At the school rooftop, three boys in Xiahai High School uniforms sat on the edge of the building. One of them said, “Lin Xia, why isn’t the new guy here yet? Did he run into trouble?”

Upon hearing the question, Lin Xia’s eyes rolled back. “That guy overslept, he’s on his way now.”

“More than that, I want to ask, this Chu Ran, does his ability really have growth potential?” another asked.

Lin Xia’s brows furrowed. “I don’t know either. The Doctor just told me to find him no matter what.”

Chu Ran almost sprinted into school just as the class bell rang.

He took the stairs two steps at a time, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Last night’s terrifying experience had kept him from sleeping much, and coupled with oversleeping, he felt a bit disoriented.

“Chu Ran!” Wang Yu’s voice came from behind. “What the heck’s wrong with you today? Old Ban just called roll, I said you went to the infirmary with diarrhea.”

Chu Ran panted, patting his best friend’s shoulder: “Thanks, I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”

“Wait,” Wang Yu grabbed him, “Why do you look so bad? Did you stay up all night gaming?”

Chu Ran forced a smile: “Something like that.”

He glanced at his watch—9:55 AM, only five minutes left until his appointment with Lin Xia. The rooftop was on the fifth floor, and they were still on the second.

“I have something urgent, gotta go!” Chu Ran shook off Wang Yu’s hand and hurried towards the stairs.

“Hey! Next period is math!” Wang Yu shouted behind him.

Chu Ran waved without looking back, thinking: Sorry, brother, there’s something more important than math class right now.

When he breathlessly pushed open the iron door to the rooftop, the dazzling sunlight made him squint. Four figures already stood in the center of the rooftop, all looking at him.

“Seven minutes late.” Lin Xia said, arms crossed, her tone cold. She had changed her hairstyle today, her long hair tied into a high ponytail, making her look more capable.

“Sorry, overslept.” Chu Ran wiped away sweat, his gaze sweeping over the other three.

A burly boy leaned against the railing, his muscles almost tearing through his school uniform; a tall, thin boy wearing glasses fiddled with a tablet; and another boy with a buzz cut squatted on the ground, playing with a small knife.

“Let me introduce them,” Lin Xia pointed to the burly boy, “‘Bedrock’, real name Zhao Tie. His ability is body reinforcement, and his skin can reach steel-level hardness.”

Zhao Tie grinned, casually picked up an iron rod from the rooftop, and tapped it against his arm twice, producing a metallic clanging sound.

“This is ‘White Raven’, real name Zhou Ming,” Lin Xia pointed to the boy with glasses, “Electronic device control and hacking abilities.”

Zhou Ming pushed up his glasses. Chu Ran’s phone suddenly unlocked automatically, the screen rapidly flashing various codes, then returning to normal. “Your phone is safe, I’ve helped you block all tracking signals,” Zhou Ming said, his voice as calm as if discussing the weather.

“Finally, ‘Shadow Dancer’, Li Shun,” Lin Xia pointed to the boy playing with the knife, “Short-range teleportation, maximum five meters.”

As if to demonstrate, Li Shun’s figure suddenly vanished, reappearing behind Chu Ran a second later, the tip of his knife gently resting on Chu Ran’s nape. “Don’t be nervous, rookie.” He whispered in Chu Ran’s ear, then instantly teleported back to his original spot.

Chu Ran’s throat bobbed, cold sweat seeping into his palms. These people’s abilities… were they all this strong?

“As for you,” Lin Xia looked directly at Chu Ran, “‘Object Manipulation’ ability, currently rated D-class.”

“D-class?” Chu Ran frowned, “What does that mean?”

“Classes are divided based on ability strength and practicality,” Zhou Ming explained, his fingers sliding across the tablet, “From F to S class. Lin Xia’s ‘Ice Flame’ is B-class, Zhao Tie is C+, I’m C, Li Shun is C+.”

“So I’m the weakest?” Chu Ran mumbled with some reluctance.

“Theoretically, yes,” Lin Xia said unceremoniously, “But the Doctor believes your ability has special growth potential, which is why he insisted on bringing you into the team.”

“Who’s the Doctor?” Chu Ran keenly caught this keyword.

The four exchanged glances. Lin Xia sighed: “It’s too early to tell you now. Let’s talk about what happened last night—”

Her words were interrupted by a sudden alarm. Zhou Ming’s tablet flashed red, emitting an urgent “beep beep” sound.

“Not good!” Zhou Ming’s face changed dramatically, “Three high-energy responses have appeared around the school, moving extremely fast. They’re Hunters!”

“How is that possible?” Li Shun jumped up, “We clearly set up a jamming barrier!”

“What do we do now?” Zhao Tie was already in combat mode, his skin glinting metallically.

“Evacuate the students, lure the Hunters away,” Lin Xia decided immediately, “Li Shun, you pull the fire alarm; Zhou Ming, hack into the school’s broadcast system; Zhao Tie, guard the first-floor entrance; Chu Ran, come with me!”

Everyone moved swiftly.

Li Shun instantly vanished from the rooftop; Zhou Ming sat cross-legged, his fingers flying across the tablet; Zhao Tie directly jumped from the rooftop edge, landing on the awning below with a loud thud.

Chu Ran followed Lin Xia rushing towards the stairs, his heart pounding: “Where are we going?”

“The library,” Lin Xia said without looking back, “There’s a temporary safe house we set up there.”

Just then, the entire building’s intercom suddenly blared a piercing fire alarm, followed by Zhou Ming’s voice, disguised as the principal: “Attention all teachers and students, evacuate immediately to the playground, I repeat, evacuate immediately to the playground…”

The teaching building instantly erupted. Classroom doors swung open, and students poured into the stairwell. Chu Ran and Lin Xia moved against the flow, struggling to get towards the library.

“Wait!” Chu Ran suddenly grabbed Lin Xia, “Wang Yu’s still in the classroom, he’s my best friend, I can’t leave him behind!”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Lin Xia’s eyes, but she quickly firmed her resolve: “No time. The Hunters won’t harm ordinary people for now, but your friend will be in danger if he’s with you!”

Chu Ran gritted his teeth, finally nodding.

The two continued forward. Suddenly, Chu Ran felt a strange sensation—the coins and keys in his pocket began to vibrate slightly.

The students evacuated quickly. Soon, the hallway was completely quiet.

“Metal objects are approaching fast!” he growled.

Almost simultaneously, the window glass at the end of the corridor shattered, and three dark figures leaped in. They wore black uniforms similar to SWAT teams, full-face helmets, and carried strange firearms.

“Target spotted!” The lead Hunter raised his weapon, the muzzle flickering with an eerie blue light.

Lin Xia reacted incredibly fast. With a wave of her hands, an ice flame barrier instantly formed in the corridor. The blue light hit the ice wall, emitting a “sizzling” corrosive sound.

“Run!” She yanked Chu Ran and turned to flee.

Behind them came the sound of the ice wall shattering and the Hunters’ shouts: “Stop them!”

Chu Ran ran, simultaneously using his telekinesis to throw fire hydrants, metal trash cans, and other objects from the corridor behind them, trying to obstruct the pursuers. One Hunter was hit by a flying fire extinguisher and stumbled but quickly regained his footing and continued the chase.

“Their equipment is special!” Lin Xia panted, “Regular attacks are useless!”

The two turned a corner, and the library’s large door was within reach. Suddenly, a Hunter burst through a side window, blocking their path.

“Chu Ran, 17 years old, ability rating abnormal,” the Hunter’s mechanical voice came from inside the helmet, “Recommended for live capture for research.”

Lin Xia blocked Chu Ran, her hands igniting with ice flames: “Get out of my way!”

The Hunter raised his weapon, but before he could pull the trigger, a figure suddenly appeared behind him—it was Li Shun! A small knife sliced across the Hunter’s wrist, and the weapon clattered to the ground.

The Hunter roared in anger, throwing a punch with his other hand, but Li Shun had already teleported away.

“Get in!” Li Shun appeared at the library door, pushing it open with force.

The three rushed into the library, where Zhou Ming and Zhao Tie were already present. Zhou Ming quickly locked the door, while Zhao Tie moved several heavy bookshelves to block the entrance.

“The safe house is in the basement,” Zhou Ming led everyone deeper into the library, “but the Hunters have already locked onto our position. The barrier will only last ten minutes.”

“Ten minutes is enough,” Lin Xia said, “We just need to activate the teleportation device…”

Before she finished, the entire building suddenly vibrated violently, and bookshelves began to collapse. A piercing metallic tearing sound came from above—the Hunters were attacking the roof with some kind of heavy weapon!

“They’re trying to break through directly!” Zhao Tie roared, “Everyone, be careful!”

The ceiling collapsed with a crash, sunlight and dust pouring down together. Three Hunters descended from above, the leader aiming his weapon at Chu Ran:

“Target confirmed, execute capture protocol!”

“Get down!”

Lin Xia’s scream and the gunshot sounded simultaneously. Chu Ran felt a blast of hot air graze his cheek. The bookshelf behind him was hit by the blue light, instantly corroding into a large hole.

“Disperse!” Li Shun’s figure flickered continuously throughout the library. Each time he appeared, he left a knife mark on a Hunter. But their uniforms seemed to have special protection; the blade only left shallow white marks.

Zhao Tie roared, his entire skin glinting metallically. Like a human tank, he charged the nearest Hunter. The two collided, emitting a muffled metallic thud.

Chu Ran hid behind a fallen bookshelf, his heart pounding like a drum. He could feel all the metal objects in the entire library—lamp fixtures, doorknobs, computer parts—vibrating within his perception. But the five-kilogram limit was too fatal; these scattered objects simply couldn’t cause substantial harm to the well-equipped Hunters.

“Chu Ran! Catch!” Zhou Ming suddenly threw a small device, “Frequency jammer, it can temporarily paralyze their weapon systems!”

Chu Ran reached out to catch it when a Hunter suddenly turned his gun. Time seemed to slow down. He watched helplessly as the blue light shot towards Zhou Ming.

“No!”

An unprecedented power erupted from Chu Ran’s body. He felt some kind of constraint break, and all metal objects within his perception suddenly became incredibly clear. The metal brackets on the bookshelves, window frames, even the metal components on the Hunters’ equipment—all were under his control.

The blue light eerily froze in mid-air—Chu Ran had used his telekinesis to form a barrier of countless metal fragments in front of Zhou Ming.

“What?” The Hunter showed a shocked expression. “This person is strange, we must catch him!”

Lin Xia’s ice flame and Chu Ran’s metal storm erupted simultaneously. The temperature inside the library plummeted, and the Hunters’ movements began to slow.

Li Shun seized the opportunity, teleporting repeatedly, precisely inserting his small knife into a Hunter’s helmet seam.

“Ah!” Blood seeped from under the helmet, and that Hunter stumbled backward.

Zhao Tie took the chance for a heavy punch, directly sending another Hunter flying, crashing through the library wall.

“Chu Ran, you can control larger objects now?” Zhou Ming looked in astonishment at the metal storm hovering in mid-air.

Chu Ran himself was also shocked, but there was no time to think: “It seems so, but I can’t last long!”

The last Hunter suddenly pressed a device on his wrist. A piercing high-frequency sound wave swept through the entire library. Everyone painfully covered their ears, and Chu Ran’s metal storm instantly lost control and fell.

“Go!” Lin Xia pulled Chu Ran, “They’re calling for reinforcements!”

The five stumbled towards the depths of the library. The Hunters didn’t immediately pursue, but more footsteps could be heard from afar.

Zhou Ming pushed open a hidden door disguised as a bookshelf, revealing a downward staircase: “The safe house is down there!”

As soon as they entered the passage, an explosion sounded from above. The entire library was shaking, dust and debris falling from the ceiling.

“They’re going to blow up the entire building!” Zhao Tie cursed, “These madmen!”

The underground safe house was a space of about twenty square meters, with walls covered in monitors and electronic equipment. Zhou Ming quickly activated a program, and school surveillance footage appeared on the monitors.

“At least six Hunters have entered the campus,” Zhou Ming rapidly typed on the keyboard, “They’re evacuating ordinary students… It seems they’re indeed only targeting Awakeners.”

“The teleportation device needs three minutes to warm up,” Lin Xia checked a ring-like device, “We must hold them off here.”

Chu Ran slumped into a chair, his hands trembling uncontrollably. The power he had just unleashed was rapidly fading, followed by a severe headache and muscle soreness.

“These are symptoms of ability overexertion,” Lin Xia handed him a tube of blue liquid, “Drink this, it can alleviate the side effects.”

The liquid tasted bitter, but it took effect almost immediately. Chu Ran’s headache lessened considerably.

“My ability… why did it suddenly get stronger?” he asked, panting.

“I told you, your ability has special growth potential,” Lin Xia stared intently at the surveillance screen.

Li Shun suddenly pointed to one of the screens: “Look! They’ve found the entrance!”

On the screen, three Hunters were inspecting the hidden door. One of them held an instrument that scanned it, and the lock immediately made a “click” sound.

“Damn it, they have a universal decoder!” Zhou Ming gritted his teeth, “It’ll take at least two minutes to teleport!”

Zhao Tie stood at the stairwell entrance, his muscles tensed: “I’ll hold them off, you guys prepare to teleport.”

“No!” Lin Xia sharply stopped him, “They have special weapons against Awakeners, you can’t hold them alone!”

Chu Ran struggled to stand, though his legs were still shaking: “I… I can help. I feel much better.”

Lin Xia hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: “Li Shun, you and Zhao Tie hold the first line of defense; Chu Ran, you interfere with their equipment from the back; Zhou Ming, speed up the teleportation; I’ll prepare ice flame traps.”

Everyone quickly took their positions. Chu Ran concentrated. While he couldn’t replicate the metal storm from before, he could at least sense the metal components on the Hunters.

The hidden door was violently kicked open, and battle erupted again. Zhao Tie, like an iron wall, blocked the middle of the staircase, directly taking the Hunters’ first wave of attacks. Li Shun flickered around him, disrupting the Hunters’ aim.

Chu Ran gritted his teeth, using his telekinesis to interfere with the energy cells of the Hunters’ weapons. One Hunter was surprised to find his gun suddenly jammed. In that instant of vulnerability, Li Shun’s knife pierced his shoulder joint.

“Effective! Keep going!” Lin Xia shouted, her hands pressed on the stair railing, a thin layer of ice rapidly spreading towards the Hunters.

But the Hunters quickly adjusted their tactics. One of them pulled out a spherical device and threw it at Zhao Tie. The sphere exploded in mid-air, releasing countless needle-like metal pins.

“Watch out!” Chu Ran instinctively used his telekinesis to alter the trajectory of some of the needles, but there were too many. Although Zhao Tie’s skin was hardened, his eyes were still a weak point, and he had to close them and retreat.

The Hunters seized the opportunity to rush past the defensive line, heading straight for the safe house. Lin Xia’s ice flame surged forward but was blocked by a Hunter using some kind of force field barrier.

“The teleportation device is ready!” Zhou Ming shouted.

“Everyone fall back!” Lin Xia commanded.

Li Shun instantly appeared beside Zhao Tie, teleporting him back to the safe house. Chu Ran unleashed his ability with all his might, throwing a pile of metal parts at the Hunters from the safe house entrance, temporarily blocking their advance.

The five gathered around the teleportation ring. Lin Xia quickly entered coordinates, and the ring began to glow blue.

“Hold hands, don’t let go!” she shouted.

The moment the Hunters broke through the last obstacle, the blue light enveloped the five. Chu Ran felt a dizzying sensation, the last thing he saw were the angry eyes beneath the Hunters’ helmets.

When the dizziness subsided, Chu Ran found himself in an unfamiliar room. It was a spacious laboratory, with walls covered in complex electronic equipment and various instruments he didn’t understand.

“Welcome to ‘Lighthouse’.” A gentle male voice sounded.

Chu Ran turned, seeing a middle-aged man in a white coat standing in front of a control panel. The man was about fifty years old, with neatly combed graying hair, and his eyes behind his glasses sparkled with intelligence.

“Doctor.” Lin Xia and the others said respectfully.

So this was the Doctor they spoke of. Chu Ran warily observed this stranger.

“Don’t be nervous, everyone who comes here is a comrade.”

The lab lights were a bit harsh. Chu Ran squinted, trying to adjust to the unfamiliar environment. The air was filled with a faint smell of disinfectant and the peculiar ozone scent characteristic of operating electronic equipment.

“Relax, you’re safe now.” The Doctor’s voice was gentle and steady. He approached Chu Ran, handing him a steaming cup of liquid, “Drink some of this, it’ll help you recover your strength.”

Chu Ran hesitantly took the cup. The liquid inside was a peculiar blue-green color. He glanced at Lin Xia, who nodded slightly, and then he carefully took a sip. The taste was unexpectedly good, like honey-mint tea. After drinking it, a warm current immediately spread from his stomach throughout his body, significantly alleviating the exhaustion from overexerting his ability.

“This is a specially formulated energy supplement,” the Doctor explained with a smile, “The recipe was found by me in ancient texts from a strange temple in Tibet, and improved with modern biological technology.”

Chu Ran put down the cup and looked around. The lab was larger than he first realized, divided into several functional areas. The most striking was a transparent cylindrical tube in the center, inside which luminous particles floated, constantly changing shape.

“That’s the ability testing chamber,” noticing Chu Ran’s gaze, the Doctor explained, “Used to measure Awakeners’ energy fluctuations and potential levels.”

Zhao Tie was already slumped on a nearby sofa, the metallic sheen on his body fading; Zhou Ming went straight to a control panel, beginning to check equipment; Li Shun leaned against the wall, still playing with his knife, warily scanning his surroundings; only Lin Xia stood beside the Doctor, her posture neither humble nor overbearing.

“So,” Chu Ran looked directly into the Doctor’s eyes, “can you tell me what’s really going on with all this? Why are those Hunters chasing us? Why did my ability suddenly get stronger? And who are you?”

Questions poured out like a barrage. The Doctor didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked to the main control panel and pressed a few buttons.

The lab walls suddenly became transparent, revealing the view outside—they seemed to be located in a building on a mountain peak, and through the glass, they could see distant rolling mountains and a sea of clouds.

“This is a secret base deep in the Qinling Mountains. ‘Lighthouse’ is our code name for it.” The Doctor’s voice became serious, “As for your other questions… Lin Xia, how much have you explained to them?”

“Only the necessary parts,” Lin Xia replied, “The existence of the Hunters, and the recent hunting of Awakeners.”

The Doctor nodded, turning to everyone: “Then it’s time to tell you more. Please sit down.”

After everyone was seated, the Doctor manipulated a holographic projector. A 3D Earth model appeared in the air, marked with dozens of red dots.

“These are the locations of Awakeners recorded globally over the past five years,” the Doctor said, “Each red dot represents an awakening event. Do you notice anything?”

Chu Ran observed carefully: “They’re increasing… and becoming more dense.”

“Correct.” The Doctor zoomed in on the projection, “Five years ago, there was an average of 1.2 Awakeners per month globally; last year, that number became 17.3; and in the first four months of this year, it has reached an astonishing 43 cases per month.”

“Why is that?” Zhao Tie frowned and asked.

The Doctor pushed up his glasses: “We’re not sure of the exact reason, but one theory suggests it’s a manifestation of humanity’s collective consciousness evolving. Like the ‘Cambrian explosion’ in biological evolutionary history, some kind of critical point has been breached.”

The projection switched to another screen, showing photos and data of several people.

“These are the known Awakeners who have been hunted,” the Doctor’s voice lowered, “Their commonality is that their abilities have reached B-class or above, and their bodies show… their abilities were extracted in some way.”

Chu Ran’s stomach churned. The victims in the photos looked like drained husks, their skin an unnatural grayish-white, their eyes wide open, filled with terror.

“The Hunters belong to an organization called the ‘Purifiers’,” Lin Xia added, “They believe Awakeners are beings that violate natural laws and must be ‘purified.’ But in reality…” She looked at the Doctor.

“In reality, they are collecting Awakeners’ abilities,” the Doctor interjected, “We have evidence that the ‘Purifiers’ are developing a weapon that can merge the abilities of multiple Awakeners.”

A brief silence fell over the lab. Chu Ran remembered the cold eyes under the Hunters’ helmets and involuntarily shivered.

“So,” he broke the silence, “why me? My ability is clearly very weak.”

The Doctor suddenly smiled mysteriously: “This is the most interesting part. Lin Xia, please take Chu Ran to the testing chamber.”

The testing chamber was larger than Chu Ran expected, big enough to hold an adult. When he walked in, the inner walls immediately lit up with a soft blue glow.

“Relax, don’t resist,” the Doctor said through the chamber’s communicator, “This is just a routine check.”

A faint electric sensation spread throughout his body. Chu Ran felt his ability seemingly awaken, but it didn’t spiral out of control. The light in the chamber turned a pale gold, then began to pulsate, its frequency gradually increasing.

“Incredible…” The Doctor muttered to himself, staring at the data screen. “Zhou Ming, did you see that?”

Zhou Ming pushed up his glasses, his eyes wide: “This energy curve… I’ve never seen a pattern like this.”

“What do you mean?” Chu Ran asked with some unease.

The Doctor turned off the testing chamber and gestured for him to come out: “Chu Ran, your ability appears to be simple telekinesis, but it’s actually much more complex. The test shows that your ability possesses ‘adaptive evolution’ characteristics.”

Seeing Chu Ran’s bewildered expression, the Doctor patiently explained: “Simply put, when faced with a threat, you can temporarily evolve ability traits to counter that threat. For example, when facing the Hunters yesterday, your telekinetic ability suddenly broke through its original weight and range limits.”

“This… how is this possible?” Chu Ran looked at his hands, disbelief written on his face.

“Not only that,” the Doctor brought up a set of data charts, “Your ability also displays a certain ‘learning’ characteristic. Each time you come into contact with another Awakener’s ability, your energy signature shows subtle changes, as if it’s… absorbing information.”

Chu Ran suddenly remembered the metallic vibrations he had sensed before, that unprecedented clarity: “So I could sense the details of the Hunters’ equipment…”

“Exactly,” the Doctor nodded, “Theoretically, as you come into contact with more types of abilities, yours might evolve in unpredictable directions.”

This information was too shocking for Chu Ran to process at once. He looked at Lin Xia, whose face held a complex expression—both surprise and a hint of… wariness?

“Doctor,” Zhou Ming suddenly interjected, “Do the ‘Purifiers’ already know about Chu Ran’s special ability? Those Hunters yesterday were clearly after him.”

The Doctor’s expression became grim: “I’m afraid so. Intelligence suggests there’s a precognitive Awakener within the ‘Purifiers’ who may have foreseen Chu Ran’s potential. That’s why I had Lin Xia find him as quickly as possible.”

A precognitive Awakener? Chu Ran felt things were becoming more and more beyond his comprehension. Just yesterday, he was just an ordinary high school student, worried about math tests and his crush; now, he was suddenly a crucial pawn in some kind of superhuman war.

“So what do we do next?” Zhao Tie asked the question everyone was concerned about.

The Doctor walked to the main control panel and brought up a map: “First, you all need some rest. ‘Lighthouse’ has complete living quarters and training facilities. In a week, we will move to another safe house to meet with more Awakeners.”

“More Awakeners?” Li Shun raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” the Doctor nodded, “We are forming a special operations team, with the goal of taking proactive action to destroy the ‘Purifiers” key facilities.”

Chu Ran suddenly remembered something: “Wait, my family… and my friends at school… they’ll think I’ve disappeared!”

“It’s already been handled,” Lin Xia said calmly, “According to the Doctor’s arrangements, your phone has sent messages informing your family that you’re participating in an overseas exchange program; school leave procedures have also been arranged.”

Chu Ran’s eyes widened: “You forged my decision?”

“Necessary protective measures,” the Doctor said gently but firmly, “The ‘Purifiers’ are likely to monitor your relatives and friends. Suddenly disappearing would arouse suspicion, but a reasonable reason for going abroad would not.”

Though he understood it logically, Chu Ran still felt a surge of anger and helplessness. His life had just been taken over, without even a chance to say goodbye.

As if sensing his emotions, the Doctor approached and patted his shoulder: “I know this is hard to accept, but trust me, it’s to protect them, and to protect you. Once the crisis passes, everything will return to normal.”

Chu Ran nodded reluctantly, but the unease in his heart lingered. He looked at these strangers in the lab—now his comrades, realizing he had stepped into a new, dangerous world.

And this world was far more complex than he had imagined.

Chu Ran never thought he’d wake up in a secret base.

He blinked, taking three seconds to remember where he was. The room was more comfortable than he’d expected—a single bed, a desk, a wardrobe, even a small bathroom, like a compact university dorm.

The only difference was the flickering blue indicator light on the wall, reminding him this was no ordinary residence.

On the nightstand was a neatly folded set of clothes and a note: “After breakfast, to Training Room B3. – Lin Xia”

The clothes were tailor-made training gear, dark gray, light yet exceptionally tough. Chu Ran put them on and found a small lighthouse logo on the left chest, with “Telekinesis” embroidered below it.

“They even printed my codename…” he mumbled, yet a strange sense of belonging welled up inside him.

The corridor was empty, only soft lighting guiding the way. The base was larger than Chu Ran had imagined, with various passages and rooms like a maze. Luckily, there were directional signs on the walls, and he quickly found the cafeteria.

Unexpectedly, the cafeteria smelled of fried eggs and toast. Zhou Ming was sitting in a corner, with three tablets laid out in front of him, his fingers sliding back and forth between two of them.

“Morning,” Chu Ran greeted tentatively, “Where’s everyone else?”

Zhou Ming didn’t look up: “Zhao Tie’s in the gravity chamber, Li Shun likes to do morning exercises on the roof, Lin Xia…” He paused, “She’s probably preparing a ‘surprise’ for you.”

A chill ran down Chu Ran’s spine: “What kind of surprise?”

“Good question,” Zhou Ming finally looked up, pushing up his glasses, “But I’m more curious why you recovered so quickly after overexerting your ability. Based on the data, you should have been laid up for at least twelve hours.”

Chu Ran shrugged, pouring himself a glass of orange juice: “I don’t know, maybe I have a special constitution?”

“Or your ability includes a self-healing property,” Zhou Ming mused, “That’s interesting…”

After breakfast, Chu Ran followed the instructions to Training Room B3. The door slid open automatically, revealing a space the size of a basketball court. Lin Xia stood in the center, surrounded by dozens of hovering metal spheres.

“Punctual, good,” she nodded, motioning Chu Ran to enter, “Ability training starts today. The Doctor believes you need to master basic control techniques quickly.”

“Those spheres are…?”

“Test targets,” Lin Xia waved her hand, and all the metal spheres suddenly moved in different trajectories, some flying in straight lines, others tracing complex arcs, “First stage, static control.”

She snapped her fingers, and all the spheres instantly froze in mid-air.

“Use your telekinesis to simultaneously control three spheres, keep them still for ten seconds.”

Chu Ran concentrated, selecting the three closest metal spheres. At first, it went smoothly, but when he tried to stabilize the third, the first two began to wobble slightly.

“Don’t be greedy,” Lin Xia instructed, “Feel the ‘weight’ of each object, like holding different sized stones in your hand.”

After several attempts, Chu Ran finally managed to stably control three spheres for ten seconds. But before he could even be happy, Lin Xia increased the difficulty.

“Now, make them move in a triangular trajectory, maintaining a consistent speed.”

The training lasted for two hours, gradually increasing in difficulty from static control to coordinated movement of multiple objects. Fine beads of sweat trickled down Chu Ran’s forehead, and his temples began to throb faintly.

“Ten minutes break,” Lin Xia finally announced, “Then we’ll move on to the second stage.”

“What’s the second stage?” Chu Ran asked, panting.

The corner of Lin Xia’s mouth curved upwards: “Combat simulation.”

The break passed in a flash. As Chu Ran returned to the center of the training room, the floor suddenly vibrated. The surrounding walls slid open, revealing dozens of mechanical arms, each equipped with different weapons—from simple rubber bullets to energy weapons similar to those used by Hunters.

“What the heck—” Chu Ran’s words were cut short as the first wave of attacks struck.

He instinctively rolled to dodge, while simultaneously using his telekinesis to deflect a few rubber bullets. But more attacks poured in from all directions, and soon he was hit in the shoulder by an energy beam. A jolt of numbness instantly spread through half his body.

“Too slow!” Lin Xia’s voice came from a hidden speaker, “Remember, controlling objects isn’t just about using your hands, it’s about sensing with your entire body!”

Chu Ran gritted his teeth and struggled to his feet, adjusting his breathing. This time, he closed his eyes, no longer relying on sight, but completely on his ability to sense the surrounding metal objects. The world in his “vision” transformed into a network of metal points and lines.

When the next wave of attacks came, he moved his body as if dancing, simultaneously manipulating all metal components within the training room to form dynamic barriers. Rubber bullets were deflected, energy beams were refracted by metal plates, and he even managed to seize control of two mechanical arms.

“Not bad,” Lin Xia’s voice held a hint of approval, “Now, third stage.”

All mechanical arms retracted, and suddenly five holographic projections of Hunters rose from the floor, their movements and reactions indistinguishable from real people.

“Simulated combat, last five minutes to pass.”

Chu Ran hadn’t recovered from the previous exertion, but there was no time to complain. The first projection already raised its weapon, blue light converging at the muzzle.

The next five minutes were the longest three hundred seconds Chu Ran had ever experienced. He used every trick in the book: using metal fragments to interfere with the projections’ “weapons,” treating training equipment as projectiles, and even attempting to directly twist the metal components within the projection devices.

When the timer finally rang, he knelt on the floor, drenched in sweat, but all five projections had been “eliminated.”

The training room door slid open, and Lin Xia walked in, holding water and a towel.

“Better than expected,” she handed them to Chu Ran, “Especially the direct interference with the projectors at the end, very innovative.”

Chu Ran drank deeply, his throat burning: “Were all these… your training designs?”

“Partially,” Lin Xia sat beside him, “I also went through similar training, just different programs.”

Chu Ran secretly observed her. Under the base’s lights, Lin Xia’s amber eyes seemed even more mysterious, her eyelashes casting shadows that gently fluttered as she blinked.

He suddenly realized that, besides being an “Ice Flame” user and a teammate, he knew almost nothing about Lin Xia.

“How… did you awaken?” he tentatively asked.

Lin Xia’s brow furrowed for a moment, then returned to calm: “A fire. When I was thirteen, our house caught fire, and I unintentionally unleashed ice flames to protect my sister.”

“Your sister is also…?”

“An ordinary person,” Lin Xia stood up, clearly wanting to end the topic, “Rest enough, let’s continue training.”

The afternoon training was even more brutal. Chu Ran was required to maintain ability control under various interferences—including noise, strong light, and sudden temperature changes. The most difficult was operating in an electromagnetic interference environment; it felt like trying to pick up a needle while wearing thick gloves.

At dinner, Chu Ran could barely hold his fork. He slumped in a cafeteria chair, watching other members gradually arrive. Zhao Tie was drenched in sweat but in high spirits; Li Shun was as quiet as ever, but his left hand was bandaged today.

“New mechanism on the rooftop training ground?” Zhou Ming glanced at Li Shun’s hand.

Li Shun nodded: “The Doctor’s ‘little surprise’.”

Zhao Tie ate a large bite of steak, turning to Chu Ran: “Heard you took out five simulated Hunters today? Not bad, rookie.”

“Lucky break,” Chu Ran forced a smile, “Lin Xia almost tortured me to death.”

“She was gentle with you,” Zhao Tie grinned, “I remember when I first started training, she directly froze me into a statue with ice flames.”

Lin Xia snorted softly: “You were too arrogant back then, needed to cool down.”

Zhou Ming pushed up his glasses: “Data shows that while Lin Xia’s training methods are extreme, their efficiency is 37% higher than the Doctor’s gentler approach.”

“Thanks, Zhou Ming,” Lin Xia said, “But have you finished your data analysis for today? The Hunters’ weapon report the Doctor wanted.”

Zhou Ming’s face changed. He quickly wolfed down the rest of his food, grabbed his tablet, and hurried out: “Damn it, I forgot about the time differential algorithm…”

Everyone laughed, even the usually aloof Li Shun’s lips curved slightly. Chu Ran suddenly realized that, despite only knowing them for a few days, this small team had formed a certain camaraderie and… warmth?

After dinner, Chu Ran intended to go straight back to his room to rest but got lost in the corridor. Turning a wrong corner, he found himself in front of a half-open metal door, from which the Doctor’s voice emanated.

“…Progress must be accelerated, time is running out.”

Chu Ran instinctively stopped. Through the crack in the door, he saw the Doctor standing in front of a giant holographic projection, displaying some complex structural diagram. Lin Xia stood beside him, her expression grim.

“Chu Ran’s ability does have potential, but it’s still far from the ‘key’ standard,” the Doctor continued, “If the prophecy is accurate, we have at most two months.”

“I will intensify his training,” Lin Xia said, “But his physical endurance…”

Chu Ran quietly retreated, not hearing the rest of the conversation. Back in his room, he lay on the bed, his mind racing. “Key”? What prophecy? What would happen within two months?

Outside the window, the artificial landscape displayed night and starlight.

Chu Ran reached out, using his telekinesis to slowly lift the water glass on his desk.

Compared to two days ago, his control was much more precise. The water glass moved in an elegant arc through the air, not a single drop spilled.

Training continued for a week. Chu Ran almost always fell asleep exhausted and woke up with sore muscles every day. But the effort paid off—his ability control range expanded to fifteen meters, the maximum weight he could manipulate increased to eight kilograms, and he could precisely control ten independent objects simultaneously.

On the morning of the seventh day, Chu Ran walked into the cafeteria and immediately noticed the unusual atmosphere. Everyone was already there, including the rarely seen Doctor, gathered around the central holographic projection, discussing something.

“Ah, Chu Ran,” the Doctor smiled and waved, “Perfect timing, we just received important intelligence.”

The projection displayed a 3D map of an industrial park, with several buildings highlighted in red.

“The ‘Purifiers” disguised facility in the suburbs,” Zhou Ming explained, his fingers sliding across the tablet, zooming in on one of the buildings, “According to an informant, they’re conducting ability extraction experiments here.”

Chu Ran’s stomach clenched: “Like those drained Awakeners?”

“Yes,” Lin Xia’s voice was as cold as ice, “And they captured a new Awakener yesterday. Their ability is ‘sound wave manipulation’, rated C+.”

The Doctor’s expression became serious: “We must stop them. The operation is at midnight tonight, to rescue that Awakener and destroy the experimental equipment.”

“I… I’m going too?” Chu Ran’s heart raced. Although his training had progressed quickly, he wasn’t ready to face real Hunters.

“Of course,” the Doctor patted his shoulder, “Your ability is crucial. According to intelligence, the laboratory contains a large amount of metal structures, making it an excellent battlefield for you.”

Zhao Tie grinned, slamming his fist into his palm: “Finally, some action!”

“Operation code ‘Dawn’,” Lin Xia began assigning tasks, “Zhao Tie, frontal breakthrough; Li Shun, reconnaissance and rapid support; Zhou Ming, remote interference with enemy communications and electronic equipment; Chu Ran and I will lead the main assault on the laboratory area.”

She turned to Chu Ran: “You need to practice a new skill—metal sensing. Not control, but sensing the subtle vibrations of metal objects.”

“Like… sonar?” Chu Ran guessed.

“Similar. This will help you locate enemies and equipment in complex environments.”

For the next few hours, Chu Ran was confined to a simulated training room filled with metal pipes. Blindfolded, he relied solely on his ability to perceive the surrounding environment. At first, he could only vaguely sense the location of large metal objects, but with practice, he gradually learned to distinguish different materials, shapes, and even slight vibrations.

“Very good,” Lin Xia’s voice came through the earpiece, “Now, try to locate the moving objects in the room.”

Chu Ran concentrated, and the world of metal in his mind gradually became clear. He could “see” a subtle vibration on the fourth pipe to the left, the metal brackets on the ceiling were slightly warmer, and…

“There’s a metal object moving in the southeast corner,” he said, “Small, cylindrical… is it Zhou Ming’s energy detector?”

“Correct,” Lin Xia sounded a little surprised, “Your learning speed… is truly extraordinary.”

As night fell, the team gathered in the equipment room. Chu Ran received a black combat suit, lightweight yet tough, with a built-in bulletproof layer. Most notably, the gloves and boots were embedded with special metal plates to enhance his ability conduction.

“Remember,” the Doctor instructed before departure, “The primary objective is rescue, followed by destroying the equipment. If the situation changes, retreat immediately.”

Lin Xia handed each person a small earpiece: “Encrypted communication, effective range two kilometers. Zhou Ming will monitor the whole time.”

Li Shun had already checked his gear—six knives of different shapes, two guns, and various small devices Chu Ran didn’t recognize. Zhao Tie chose an alloy shield and a heavy pulse rifle that looked like it could blast through a wall.

“Rookie,” Zhao Tie shoved a small metal ball into Chu Ran’s hand, “Crush this in an emergency, it’ll release an electromagnetic pulse and temporarily paralyze the Hunters’ equipment.”

Chu Ran nodded gratefully, putting the small ball into his chest pocket.

Four specially modified vehicles, disguised as ordinary cars, silently left the base. Chu Ran and Lin Xia rode in one, remotely driven by Zhou Ming.

“Nervous?” Lin Xia suddenly asked, her eyes still on the tactical tablet in her hand.

Chu Ran honestly nodded: “A little. Training is one thing, actual combat…”

“Remember your training, trust your ability,” Lin Xia looked up, her amber eyes shimmering in the night, “And, stick close to me.”

The industrial park lay like a sleeping giant in the night. Cameras on the high walls slowly rotated, and searchlights occasionally swept across the empty plaza. The team disembarked two hundred meters from the park, using Zhou Ming’s jamming device to silently breach the outer security.

“Hunters usually patrol at the intersection of Zone B and Zone C,” Zhou Ming’s voice came through the earpiece, “The laboratory is on basement level two of Zone C, but the entrance is inside Building 3 in Zone B.”

Li Shun’s figure flickered, already having teleported into the shadows of the front wall. A few seconds later, his calm voice came through the earpiece: “Two patrols, northeast corner, will reach your position in thirty seconds.”

“Deal with them,” Lin Xia ordered, “Don’t trigger any alarms.”

Chu Ran hadn’t even seen what happened before Li Shun was back with the team, nodding subtly to indicate completion.

“Clean and efficient,” Zhao Tie praised, “Let’s go.”

The team quickly moved through the outer area, reaching the back door of Building 3. Zhou Ming remotely hacked the electronic lock, and the group silently infiltrated.

The interior of the building was more complex than expected, with corridors crisscrossing like a maze. Chu Ran concentrated, sensing the surrounding metal structures, trying to build an internal map.

“Something’s wrong,” he whispered, “There are large metal structures underground, but their arrangement is strange… like some kind of cage?”

Lin Xia frowned: “Not a standard laboratory layout?”

“More like… a prison.” Chu Ran felt a chill.

Zhou Ming suddenly spoke urgently through the earpiece: “Situation! Thermal imaging shows over twenty humanoid targets underground, but intelligence said there should only be one prisoner and a few guards!”

“A trap?” Zhao Tie immediately raised his shield, warily looking around.

Lin Xia quickly made a decision: “Change of plan. Li Shun goes to scout first, others hold their position.”

Li Shun nodded, his figure vanishing instantly. After two long minutes, his voice came through the earpiece, uncharacteristically tense: “The underground is a prison for Awakeners… at least fifteen of them. The laboratory is on a deeper level, and some kind of extraction procedure is underway.”

“Damn it!” Lin Xia cursed, “They transferred the prisoners here early. Doctor, requesting instructions.”

After a brief silence, the Doctor’s voice came through: “Plan changed. Priority is to rescue all prisoners. But be careful, this is clearly a trap.”

“Agreed,” Lin Xia quickly assigned tasks, “Zhao Tie, guard the entrance; Zhou Ming, prepare to jam signals; Li Shun, handle the locks; Chu Ran and I will go down to rescue the people.”

Chu Ran followed Lin Xia, moving quickly, his heart pounding. The elevator required a keycard, so they chose the emergency stairs. As they descended to the second basement level, faint groans and the humming of electronic equipment could be heard from behind the metal door.

“Three guards,” Chu Ran confirmed through metal sensing, “Two at the end of the corridor, one in the room on the right.”

Lin Xia made a gesture, and Li Shun instantly appeared at the end of the corridor, two throwing knives accurately hitting the guards’ necks. At the same time, Chu Ran used his telekinesis to twist open the lock of the room on the right, and Lin Xia’s ice flame surged in, freezing the third guard in place.

The cellblock was even more grim than expected. Two rows of transparent energy cages lined both sides of the corridor, each holding a weakened Awakener. Some were already unrecognizable, their skin grayish-white, eyes blankly staring at the ceiling.

“Oh my god…” Chu Ran’s throat tightened. In the cage closest to them, a girl who looked no older than fifteen was curled in a corner, her wrist connected to some kind of extraction device.

Li Shun quickly began unlocking the cages, while Chu Ran and Lin Xia checked the status of each prisoner.

“Still alive, but their ability has been half-drained,” Lin Xia said grimly after checking the girl, “We must get them out quickly.”

Chu Ran suddenly felt a strong metallic vibration coming from the floor: “Below! Something’s coming up!”

No sooner had he spoken than the floor suddenly burst open, and three fully armed Hunters leaped out of the hole, their weapons already charged.

“New models!” Lin Xia shouted, simultaneously releasing ice flames to block the first wave of attacks. “Zhou Ming, what about the jamming?”

“Trying! Their defenses have been upgraded!” Zhou Ming’s voice was clearly tense.

Chu Ran instinctively spread his ability field, controlling the metal components in the corridor to form a barrier. But the Hunters’ new weapons seemed to be able to penetrate metal; a blue light grazed his shoulder, immediately bringing a burning pain.

“Chu Ran! Concentrate!” Lin Xia stood in front of him, “Don’t block directly, change the attack trajectory!”

Chu Ran gritted his teeth and nodded, changing his strategy. He no longer tried to block the energy beams but subtly deflected their direction with his ability. A beam aimed at Lin Xia’s head was successfully refracted onto the wall.

“Good job! Keep going!” Lin Xia seized the opportunity, clasping her hands together, a spiral ice flame rushing towards the nearest Hunter. The man tried to dodge but was stabbed in an armor seam by Li Shun from behind.

Zhao Tie’s voice suddenly came through the earpiece: “Reinforcements at the front door! At least ten! I can’t hold them for long!”

The situation rapidly deteriorated. Chu Ran looked at the half-unlocked cages and the constantly surging Hunters, feeling a surge of despair. Just then, his ability perception caught sight of a massive metal structure deeper underground—a cylindrical container filled with unstable energy.

“There’s something big below the lab,” he said urgently, “Like… an energy storage device?”

Lin Xia’s eyes lit up: “Can you detonate it?”

“Theoretically… yes, but it would affect the entire underground area!”

“Li Shun, hurry up!” Lin Xia ordered, “Chu Ran, prepare to detonate, but wait for my signal!”

The next two minutes were a nightmare. Chu Ran assisted in defense while using his telekinesis to delve deeper underground, searching for the device’s weakness. He could “feel” its structure—a central core encased in thick protective layers, but with tiny gaps at the connections.

“Found it!” he shouted, “But it requires precise control, I… I’m not sure I can do it!”

“You have to,” Lin Xia met his gaze, her eyes filled with absolute trust, “I believe in you.”

These simple words gave Chu Ran an inexplicable strength. He took a deep breath, focusing all his attention on that tiny gap, using his telekinesis to guide an incredibly thin metal wire into the device…

“Everyone evacuate!” Lin Xia suddenly shouted, “Chu Ran, now!”

Li Shun had already unlocked all the cages, and Zhao Tie and Zhou Ming were covering the retreat of the prisoners. Chu Ran closed his eyes and used all his strength to twist that metal wire.

A muffled roar came from underground, followed by violent shaking of the entire building. The lights flickered a few times before dying completely, only emergency lighting providing a faint glow.

“Go!” Lin Xia pulled Chu Ran, rushing towards the exit.

As soon as they reached the stairwell, a series of explosions erupted behind them. A wave of heat swept over them. Chu Ran instinctively activated his ability field, deflecting the flying metal fragments.

The team and the rescued Awakeners stumbled out of the building, with towering flames and continuous explosions behind them. Sirens could already be heard in the distance; they had to evacuate immediately.

“Disperse and retreat, gather at the designated point!” Lin Xia commanded.

Chu Ran followed Lin Xia into a waiting car. It wasn’t until they had driven several kilometers away that his heart rate slowly began to return to normal.

“You did it,” Lin Xia smiled, a rare expression for her, “You saved everyone.”

Chu Ran looked down at his trembling hands, unable to believe everything that had just happened: “That device… what was it?”

“Energy accumulator,” Lin Xia’s expression became serious again, “The ‘Purifiers’ used it to store energy extracted from Awakeners. You not only saved those people but also destroyed hundreds of ability samples they had collected.”

Back at the base, the Doctor personally greeted them, congratulating them on the successful mission. But Chu Ran noticed that when Lin Xia reported privately, the Doctor’s expression became unusually grim.

That night, Chu Ran tossed and turned. The number of prisoners found in the mission severely contradicted the intelligence, the Hunters’ new equipment, and that massive energy storage device… everything indicated that the “Purifiers'” strength far exceeded the Doctor’s estimates.

Even more unsettling was that during the chaotic evacuation, he vaguely “felt” an even deeper structure underground, some kind of colossal, suffocating metal construct…

The next morning, Chu Ran was urgently summoned to the conference room. Everyone was there, the atmosphere so heavy it could almost be cut with a knife.

“The situation has changed,” the Doctor said directly, “Based on the rescued prisoners’ testimonies and last night’s data analysis, the ‘Purifiers’ are accelerating their ‘Harvest Plan’.”

The projection displayed a map, marked with over a dozen red dots across the globe.

“These are the known ‘Purifier’ main facilities,” the Doctor continued, “They plan to activate all facilities’ energy extraction devices simultaneously on the next full moon night—which is two weeks from now.”

“What’s their objective?” Zhao Tie frowned and asked.

The Doctor was silent for a moment: “To create a global ability suppression field. Once successful, all Awakeners’ abilities will be temporarily suppressed, and the ‘Purifiers’ will launch a full-scale purge.”

The conference room fell into a dead silence. Chu Ran felt a chill crawl up his spine—if they lost their abilities, they would be completely defenseless.

“So what do we do?” Zhou Ming pushed up his glasses, his voice trembling slightly.

The Doctor brought up another image—a complex device design.

“‘Ark’ project. We need to build a counter-device that, upon the ‘Purifiers” activation of their suppression field, releases a reverse wave, not only neutralizing its effect but also permanently destroying their technological foundation.”

“What resources do we need?” Lin Xia cut to the chase.

“Three key components,” the Doctor raised three fingers, “A high-frequency energy converter, a quantum synchronization core, and… a special ability catalyst.”

Chu Ran noticed the Doctor’s gaze subtly sweeping over him when he said the last item.

“The first two we can procure from ‘Lighthouse’ reserves,” the Doctor continued, “But the catalyst requires an Awakener with adaptive evolution characteristics to act as a medium.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Chu Ran.

“Me?” Chu Ran’s throat tightened.

“Your ability can learn, adapt, and integrate other energy patterns,” the Doctor explained, “Theoretically, you can become a ‘bridge’ connecting all Awakeners’ abilities, amplifying the effect of the ‘Ark’.”

Chu Ran felt a wave of dizziness. This all came too suddenly—he had just mastered basic abilities, and now he was to bear such a heavy responsibility?

“Are there any… risks?” he asked cautiously.

The Doctor’s expression flickered with hesitation: “The process will involve some pressure, but it’s theoretically safe and controllable.”

Lin Xia suddenly stood up: “Doctor, I need to speak with you privately. About Chu Ran’s preparation.”

After the two left, the remaining team members exchanged glances.

“Don’t worry, rookie,” Zhao Tie patted Chu Ran’s shoulder, “The Doctor knows what he’s doing.”

But Chu Ran couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. The Doctor’s hesitation, Lin Xia’s sudden interruption… what were they hiding?

A few hours later, Lin Xia appeared outside Chu Ran’s room. She looked exhausted, with noticeable dark circles under her eyes.

“We need to talk,” she whispered, “Not at the base.”

They went to a small grove of trees outside the base. The early summer sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. After confirming they were alone, Lin Xia finally spoke:

“The Doctor didn’t tell you the whole truth. The ‘Ark’ project… the risks are far greater than you imagine.”

Chu Ran’s heart pounded: “I knew it. What’s going on?”

Lin Xia took a deep breath: “According to the prophecy, the ‘Purifiers” suppression field is just the beginning. What they truly want is to trigger a global energy resonance, forcibly accelerating the evolution of all Awakeners’ abilities—those who can’t adapt will die, and those who survive will become their weapons or test subjects.”

“This… this is insane,” Chu Ran said, shocked, “But what does it have to do with the ‘Ark’?”

“The ‘Ark’ isn’t just a counter-device,” Lin Xia’s voice was almost a whisper, “It’s also a catalyst. The Doctor wants to preemptively trigger a controlled evolutionary wave, allowing Awakeners to collectively break through current limitations. But the cost is… the person acting as the medium might be burned out by the overloaded energy.”

Chu Ran felt his legs turn to jelly: “The Doctor wants to sacrifice me?”

“Not entirely,” Lin Xia shook her head, “He believes you have a unique ability adaptability and can survive. But… the probability is only 37%.”

That number hit Chu Ran like a sledgehammer. He turned and walked a few steps, holding his head, trying to process the information.

“Why are you telling me this?” he finally asked, “You could have stayed silent and let me die ignorantly.”

Lin Xia walked up to him, her amber eyes looking directly into his: “Because I believe you have the right to know the truth. And… I believe there’s another way.”

“What way?”

“We find the ‘Purifiers” main control facility and destroy it directly,” Lin Xia said, “No need for the ‘Ark’, no need to sacrifice anyone.”

Chu Ran gave a bitter smile: “Just the few of us against an entire organization?”

“No,” Lin Xia shook her head, “We unite with other Awakeners. Those who have been persecuted by the ‘Purifiers’, those hiding, and everyone who doesn’t want to be dragged into this war. Your ability is key—you can sense other Awakeners, right? Even when they’re suppressed?”

Chu Ran looked at her in surprise: “How did you know?”

“A guess,” Lin Xia smiled slightly, “These past few days, I’ve noticed you always anticipate people approaching, even before they come into sight. And the rescued prisoners said you seemed to sense everyone’s location in the cells.”

Chu Ran nodded in affirmation: “It’s a recent development… I can feel the energy fluctuations of nearby Awakeners, like different…’colors’.”

“That’s why the Doctor values you so much,” Lin Xia said, “But we can use this ability to do something different—not as a medium for the ‘Ark’, but as a bond between Awakeners.”

Chu Ran considered the possibility. Compared to the Doctor’s grand and dangerous plan, Lin Xia’s proposal seemed more feasible, but the risks were equally immense.

“If we do this, we’re betraying the Doctor,” he slowly said, “And time is tight. We need to find enough Awakeners and organize an attack within two weeks…”

“I know,” Lin Xia admitted, “But I’d rather take proactive action than wait passively. The choice is yours, Chu Ran. Follow the Doctor’s plan, or… trust me.”

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on Lin Xia’s face. Chu Ran looked at her determined eyes and suddenly realized he had already made a decision.

“I need more training,” he said, “If I’m going to use my ability to connect with other Awakeners, I have to master it completely.”

Lin Xia broke into a genuine smile, the first time Chu Ran had seen such an expression from her: “I’ll help you. But we have to be careful not to let the Doctor notice.”

“One more question,” Chu Ran remembered something, “That prophecy… who made it? The precognitive Awakener the Doctor mentioned?”

Lin Xia’s expression grew serious again: “Yes. An Awakener ‘protected’ by the Doctor. It’s said that all major decisions are based on that person’s prophecies. But I’ve never seen him. That part of the base is off-limits.”

“Do you think… the prophecy is reliable?”

“I don’t know,” Lin Xia shook her head, “But I don’t like putting my fate entirely in someone else’s interpretation, even a prophet.”

The two reached a secret agreement. From that day on, in addition to regular training, Lin Xia privately helped Chu Ran develop new uses for his ability—sensing and establishing faint mental links with other Awakeners.

At first, Chu Ran could only vaguely perceive the presence of a few people within the base. But with practice, he gradually became able to discern more distant fluctuations, even occasionally catching fleeting images or emotions.

Late one night a week later, Chu Ran suddenly woke from a dream—he sensed a strong and painful fluctuation emanating from deep within the base. The sensation was so intense, it was as if someone was screaming, yet there was no sound.

He tiptoed to Lin Xia’s room and found she was already awake, her face pale.

“You felt it too?” Chu Ran whispered.

Lin Xia nodded: “That direction… it’s the restricted area.”

The two exchanged glances, tacitly deciding to risk exploring. Using Chu Ran’s ability and an electronic jammer Zhou Ming had previously given him, they bypassed the surveillance system and infiltrated the lower levels of the base.

Passing through a hidden door disguised as a storage room, they entered a corridor they had never seen before. A faint blue light emanated from the room at the end, and the painful fluctuation came from there.

Chu Ran gently used his telekinesis to examine the door lock, finding it was a purely mechanical structure, without electronic components. He carefully manipulated the internal mechanism, and the door silently slid open a crack.

The sight before them froze them in place—

In the center of the room was a transparent cylindrical container, inside which floated a gaunt young man, connected by dozens of tubes. His eyes were covered by a black blindfold, but his mouth twitched constantly, as if he were in some kind of pain. The instruments around the container flickered with eerie lights, displaying constantly changing waveforms and data.

Most chillingly, the Doctor stood beside the container, holding a clipboard, calmly observing everything.

“Try again, Aiden,” the Doctor’s voice was gentle yet cold, “I need to see the exact image from three months from now.”

The man in the container trembled violently, and the liquid in the tubes turned a blinding red. A mechanical female voice calmly reported: “Pressure level exceeds threshold, recommend termination.”

“Continue,” the Doctor ordered, “Until a clear image is obtained.”

Chu Ran felt a wave of nausea. This wasn’t some “protected” prophet, but a prisoner being tortured and experimented on.

Lin Xia’s hand gripped his arm tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh. Cold fury burned in her eyes, but reason prevented her from rushing in.

The two quietly retreated. Back in a safe area, Lin Xia punched the wall.

“That b******…” she gritted her teeth, “I always suspected, but I never imagined…”

“We have to save him,” Chu Ran said, “Aiden… he’s in unimaginable pain.”

Lin Xia took several deep breaths to calm herself: “Not now. We need a plan, we need to ensure a successful strike. And… I want to know what prophecy the Doctor got from him.”

In the following days, Chu Ran and Lin Xia outwardly continued to cooperate with the Doctor’s “Ark” project preparations, but secretly they were planning their own operation. Chu Ran’s ability progressed rapidly; he could now briefly establish mental links with multiple Awakeners within the base, transmitting simple images or emotions.

At the same time, the Doctor became increasingly agitated, often spending long hours in the restricted area. The atmosphere in the base was as tense as a taut bowstring; everyone could feel that something major was about to happen.

Late one night, two days before the operation, Chu Ran once again sensed that intense wave of pain. But this time, there was something else… a clear distress signal, directly targeting his consciousness.

“He sensed me,” Chu Ran said to Lin Xia, shocked, “Aiden… he’s asking for my help.”

Lin Xia immediately became alert: “This is an opportunity. If he can communicate, maybe he can tell us crucial information.”

The two once again infiltrated the restricted area, this time with more thorough preparations. Chu Ran brought the electromagnetic pulse device Zhao Tie had given him, and Lin Xia prepared a vial of medicine that could temporarily enhance abilities—the Doctor had originally prepared it for the “Ark” operation.

As they quietly opened the door to the prophet’s room, they found the situation had changed. Aiden, in the container, was no longer floating but was strapped to a chair, his blindfold removed, revealing hollow white eyes. More unsettling, the Doctor was not in the room.

Aiden’s head suddenly turned towards the doorway. Despite his blindness, he seemed to be accurately looking at their location.

“You… finally came,” his voice was hoarse, as if he hadn’t spoken in a long time, “He went to get the last component… time is running out…”

Chu Ran and Lin Xia exchanged surprised glances. Lin Xia quickly stepped forward: “You knew about us?”

“I’ve seen it… many times,” Aiden said with difficulty, “Different futures… different outcomes…”

Chu Ran noticed the restraints on Aiden’s wrists and ankles: “Can we get you out?”

Aiden shook his head: “It doesn’t matter anymore… Listen, the Doctor’s plan… isn’t just the ‘Ark’… he wants to use the global Awakener resonance… to open some kind of portal…”

“What portal?” Lin Xia pressed.

Aiden’s expression suddenly became extremely painful: “Those who see him… will go insane… don’t let him… complete it…”

Just then, the alarm suddenly blared. Aiden’s body stiffened violently: “He’s back! Go! But remember… the key isn’t a tool… the key is a choice…”

Chu Ran wanted to ask more, but Lin Xia was already pulling him out. They had just hidden in a side passage when they saw the Doctor, accompanied by two guards, hurrying towards the prophet’s room.

Back in the safe area, both were filled with questions. Aiden’s warning, the mysterious “portal,” that riddle about the “key”… everything pointed to a situation far more dangerous than they had imagined.

“We must accelerate our plan,” Lin Xia decided, “Tomorrow, we’ll contact the other team members to gain their support. In two days, when the ‘Purifiers’ act, we’ll simultaneously deal with the Doctor and the ‘Purifiers’.”

Chu Ran nodded, but Aiden’s painful expression and the words “the key is a choice” echoed in his mind.

Two days before the operation, at dawn, Chu Ran was sweating profusely in the training room.

Metal spheres hovered around him, tracing complex trajectories. Since learning of Aiden’s warning, he had been almost obsessively training his ability, trying to understand the meaning of “the key is a choice.”

“You should rest.” Lin Xia’s voice came from the doorway. She held two energy drinks, and there were noticeable dark circles under her eyes. “Twelve consecutive hours of training will be counterproductive.”

Chu Ran slowly let the metal spheres drop, took the drink, and gulped it down. “I feel like I’m close to grasping something… it’s like there’s a layer of paper, but I just can’t break through it.”

“Aiden’s words?”

Chu Ran nodded: “My ability… it’s not just about manipulating objects or sensing Awakeners. There’s something deeper, but I can’t quite grasp it.”

Lin Xia was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: “Can you see the ‘colors’ of abilities?”

“Colors?”

“Every Awakener’s ability has a unique energy signature,” Lin Xia explained, a cluster of icy blue flames dancing between her fingers, “For me, it’s visible. Zhao Tie’s ability is iron gray, Zhou Ming’s is silver-white, Li Shun’s is light cyan… and yours…”

“What color is it?” Chu Ran asked curiously.

Lin Xia looked directly into his eyes: “Changing. Sometimes it’s gold, sometimes deep blue, occasionally flashing with rainbow-like colors. I’ve never seen an ability like it.”

Chu Ran remembered the blurry color patches he sensed when feeling other Awakeners: “So Aiden said I’m the ‘key’… because my ability can adapt and connect to other abilities?”

“Perhaps.” Lin Xia extinguished the flame, “But more importantly, he said ‘the key is a choice’. The Doctor sees you as a tool, but Aiden seems to be saying… the key lies in how you use your ability.”

The training room door suddenly slid open, and Zhou Ming rushed in, his eyes wide behind his glasses: “Something’s happened! The Doctor’s summoned everyone to the conference room, immediately!”

The atmosphere in the conference room was so tense it could almost be cut with a knife. The Doctor stood in front of the holographic projection, his face more serious than usual. The projection displayed a three-dimensional image of an unfamiliar building, marked with numerous red dots.

“The ‘Purifiers’ have moved early,” the Doctor began, “They will activate the global suppression field in 48 hours. We must implement the ‘Ark’ project before then.”

Zhao Tie frowned: “But the components aren’t all assembled yet, right? Isn’t the quantum synchronization core still being debugged?”

The Doctor’s expression flickered unnaturally: “I’ve already obtained an alternative solution. The problem is, we need to immediately move to a safer location to implement the plan. ‘Lighthouse’ is no longer safe.”

Chu Ran and Lin Xia exchanged glances. This was a lie—the Doctor was clearly unprepared, why the hasty action?

“Specific arrangements?” Li Shun asked calmly, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the hilt of his knife.

“We’ll split into two groups,” the Doctor brought up a map, “Group A, led by me, will escort key equipment to the new location; Group B, led by Lin Xia, will create a diversion to mislead the ‘Purifiers’ and cover our transfer.”

Chu Ran noticed he was assigned to Group A, while Lin Xia’s team was composed entirely of combat-oriented members. The Doctor was intentionally separating them.

“Chu Ran’s ability is vital to the ‘Ark’, he must come with me,” the Doctor added, as if reading his thoughts, “Everyone else will follow Lin Xia’s command. Preparation time: one hour.”

After the meeting, Lin Xia grabbed Chu Ran’s arm, pretending to be giving instructions, but quietly said: “He’s in a panic. Aiden must have prophesied something. Be careful, don’t be alone with him.”

Chu Ran nodded imperceptibly, his heart pounding. He remembered Aiden saying “portal” and “those who see him will go insane,” and a chill crept up his spine.

An hour later, the base was in chaos. Technicians hurriedly packed equipment, and guards destroyed sensitive files. Chu Ran was stationed near an armored transport vehicle, with two heavily armed guards beside him.

“Where’s the Doctor?” he asked.

“He’ll be here soon,” one guard replied, “Get in the vehicle first.”

Chu Ran had just stepped onto the vehicle’s running board when he suddenly sensed a strong metallic vibration from deep within the base—it was that familiar, painful fluctuation, but stronger than ever before. Aiden was calling for help.

“Wait, I forgot something!” Chu Ran pretended to pat his pockets and turned to go back.

The guards immediately stopped him: “Orders are to get you directly into the vehicle, no exceptions.”

Just as they were in a standoff, the base suddenly vibrated violently, and an explosion sounded in the distance. Alarms blared sharply: “Security breach! Zone B infiltrated!”

The guards were momentarily distracted. Chu Ran seized the opportunity, using his telekinesis to forcefully push them away, and rushed into the base. Shouts and gun cocking sounds came from behind him, but he had already turned the corner.

The corridor leading to the restricted area was empty, emergency lights flickering red. Chu Ran ran at full speed, simultaneously fully extending his ability perception—Aiden’s fluctuation grew stronger and stronger, mixed with an unprecedented fear.

The guards at the restricted area door were gone, the lock already broken. Chu Ran cautiously pushed open the door, and the sight before him froze his blood—

The prophet Aiden’s container was shattered, light blue liquid everywhere. Aiden himself was slumped in front of the control panel, his hands cuffed to the panel, his eyes wide open, shedding two trails of blood. And the Doctor knelt before him, holding some kind of syringe, his face so contorted it looked inhuman.

“No… it shouldn’t be like this…” the Doctor mumbled, completely unaware of Chu Ran’s arrival, “The prophecy clearly showed success… the portal would open… why did it change…”

Chu Ran’s gaze shifted to the control panel screen, which displayed a blurred image: countless figures bowing before a glowing portal, with something vaguely squirming within the portal… Just a glance, Chu Ran felt a wave of dizziness and nausea, and had to look away.

“Doctor!” He forced himself to shout, “The ‘Purifiers’ are attacking, we have to go!”

The Doctor sharply turned, his eyes glinting with madness: “You! You changed the prophecy!” He staggered to his feet, “Aiden’s last vision… the key’s choice… it’s all because of you!”

Chu Ran stepped back, simultaneously using his telekinesis to probe for usable metal objects around him. Aiden weakly lifted his head, his white eyes looking directly at Chu Ran, his lips moving but no sound came out.

“I won’t let you ruin everything!” The Doctor suddenly pulled out a device from his pocket and pressed it.

Chu Ran felt a sharp pain erupt from the back of his neck—the tracking chip implanted in him was activated. He knelt to the ground, his ability control instantly collapsing.

“Did you think I didn’t know about your little tricks with Lin Xia?” The Doctor sneered as he approached, “It was too easy to monitor your every move. Luckily, I have a backup plan.”

He raised the syringe, the liquid inside glowing with an eerie purple light: “Since you won’t willingly become the medium, then I’ll forcibly modify your ability.”

Chu Ran struggled to stand, but the chip’s current made his muscles spasm. The Doctor came closer and closer, the syringe needle glinting coldly…

Suddenly, the entire room was filled with icy blue light. An ice flame surged in from the doorway, directly hitting the Doctor’s arm. The syringe fell to the ground and shattered, the purple liquid evaporating into a toxic mist.

Lin Xia stood in the doorway like a goddess of vengeance, her hands blazing with fierce ice flames. Behind her were Zhao Tie and Zhou Ming, all armed to the teeth.

“It’s over, Doctor,” Lin Xia’s voice was as cold as absolute zero, “We know the truth. The ‘Ark’ was never meant to save Awakeners, was it?”

The Doctor covered his arm and retreated, his face alternating between fury and fear: “Fools! You don’t understand what’s about to happen! The portal must open, it’s the only salvation!”

Zhao Tie stepped forward and knocked the Doctor unconscious with a punch. Zhou Ming quickly checked Aiden’s condition, his face growing increasingly grim: “He’s dying… over-extracted ability…”

Chu Ran struggled to crawl to Aiden’s side. The prophet’s breathing was faint and shallow, but when Chu Ran held his hand, those white eyes suddenly focused.

“You… saw it…” Aiden whispered, barely audible, “The portal… and Him…”

Chu Ran nodded: “What is it? What does the Doctor want to summon?”

“Ancient… existence… hungry…” Aiden’s voice grew weaker and weaker, “The key… choice… stop…”

His body suddenly convulsed violently, and a strong energy fluctuation erupted from within him. Everyone was thrown back a few steps. When the fluctuation subsided, Aiden had stopped breathing. But strangely, a faint smile of relief lingered on his lips.

The image on the control panel screen suddenly became clear for a moment—the entity within the portal seemed to turn its “gaze”, looking directly at everyone in the room. Chu Ran felt an indescribable horror strike his soul, and countless mad whispers echoed in his ears…

“Turn it off!” Lin Xia shouted.

Zhou Ming immediately cut the power. The image disappeared, but the feeling of being watched lingered.

“We have to leave immediately,” Lin Xia helped Chu Ran to his feet, “The entire base is no longer safe. The ‘Purifiers” attack is only a matter of time.”

“What about the others?” Chu Ran asked, the pain in his neck still persistent.

“Li Shun is creating chaos, buying us time,” Zhao Tie hoisted the unconscious Doctor onto his shoulder, “But it won’t last long.”

Zhou Ming pulled a data chip from Aiden’s control panel: “There might be important intelligence here. Let’s go, I have the safe house coordinates.”

The team quickly evacuated the restricted area. In the corridor, they could already hear distant gunfire and explosions. They exited the main building through a hidden passage and arrived at a small hangar behind the base.

Inside the hangar were several flying motorcycles and an armored transport vehicle. Zhou Ming quickly hacked into the system and started the engine of one of the flying motorcycles.

“Plan changed,” Lin Xia quickly assigned tasks, “Zhao Tie takes the Doctor in the transport vehicle, as a decoy; everyone else follows me on the aerial route. The rendezvous point is here—” she marked coordinates on everyone’s tactical tablet, “An abandoned weather station, twenty kilometers away.”

Zhao Tie nodded, stuffing the Doctor into the back seat of the transport vehicle: “Be careful, those Hunters have aerial units.”

“So do we,” Zhou Ming smiled mysteriously, pressing a button. The hangar ceiling slowly opened, revealing the dawn sky.

Before parting, Lin Xia handed Chu Ran a small device: “Electromagnetic pulser, it can temporarily paralyze your tracking chip, but it can’t completely remove it. We need professional equipment.”

Chu Ran took the device and pressed it against the back of his neck. After a tingling sensation, the pain lessened considerably: “Thanks. But why is the Doctor so obsessed with me? Why am I the ‘key’?”

“No time to explain now,” Lin Xia helped him onto the flying motorcycle, “Hold tight, the first flight might be a little—”

Her words were cut off by a loud crash. The hangar’s large door was blasted open by some kind of heavy weapon, and three fully armed Hunters rushed in.

“Go!” Zhao Tie shouted, driving the transport vehicle directly into the Hunters, buying them time.

Lin Xia immediately started the flying motorcycle, the engine roaring as it ascended vertically. Chu Ran hugged her waist tightly, feeling a rush of weightlessness. Zhou Ming, piloting another motorcycle, followed closely behind.

The two flying motorcycles roared out of the hangar, intense gunfire sounding from behind them. Chu Ran looked back, seeing the entire “Lighthouse” base on fire in multiple places, with several Hunter aircraft circling in the air.

“Duck!” Lin Xia suddenly shouted. An enemy aircraft spotted them, its machine gun spitting fire.

Chu Ran instinctively activated his ability field, using his telekinesis to deflect most of the bullets, but a few still grazed the edge of the motorcycle, sparking.

Zhou Ming flanked them, throwing several miniature electromagnetic pulse grenades. One hit an enemy aircraft, causing it to briefly lose control and crash into another.

“Good job!” Lin Xia praised, simultaneously maneuvering the motorcycle into a sharp turn, dodging the pursuit of a third enemy aircraft.

Chu Ran concentrated, sensing all metal objects in the surrounding airspace. He found his perception range was unusually clear in the air, as if freed from ground interference. When another enemy aircraft approached, he not only sensed its position but could even “see” the Hunter’s movements inside the cockpit.

“Turn left 45 degrees, then climb!” he suddenly shouted.

Lin Xia executed without hesitation. The moment they changed direction, a high-energy beam sliced through their original position—if they hadn’t dodged in time, they would have been hit.

“How did you know?” Lin Xia shouted over the wind.

“I… felt it,” Chu Ran was equally surprised, “Not just metal, but the charging pattern of their energy weapons too!”

This new ability saved them multiple times during the subsequent chase. Chu Ran could anticipate every attack, guiding Lin Xia and Zhou Ming to perfectly evade. Finally, they shook off their pursuers and flew towards the distant mountains.

After flying for about half an hour, an isolated, abandoned weather station on a mountaintop appeared in their view. Lin Xia lowered her altitude, carefully circling the building once to confirm it was safe before landing on the rooftop platform.

The three quickly entered the building. Although the weather station was old, its structure was intact. Zhou Ming immediately began setting up a simple defense system and communication jamming devices.

“Zhao Tie will take at least another hour to arrive,” Lin Xia checked the weapon reserves, “If he hasn’t been captured, that is.”

Chu Ran walked to the window, gazing at the black smoke rising from the distant horizon—the direction of “Lighthouse.” In just a few days, his entire world had turned upside down. A trusted mentor had become a madman, Awakener comrades were scattered, and he himself might be the “key” to preventing some kind of apocalyptic disaster…

“Can you tell me now?” he turned to Lin Xia, “About the Doctor’s true plan, that ‘portal’, and why I’m the ‘key’?”

Lin Xia sighed, motioning him to sit down: “Based on the intelligence we found, the Doctor believes that ‘awakening waves’ periodically appear on Earth, and behind each wave, there’s some kind of… external force intervention.”

“External force?” Chu Ran frowned, “You mean aliens?”

“Not exactly,” Zhou Ming interjected, bringing up the data he had saved, “More like a trans-dimensional entity. The Doctor calls it the ‘Primal Source’, believing it to be the origin of all abilities. And the ‘portal’ is a gateway connecting our world to its dimension.”

Lin Xia continued to explain: “The Doctor believes this awakening wave is a signal that the ‘Primal Source’ is about to return. He wants to proactively open the portal, contact it before the ‘Purifiers’, and gain its power.”

“But what was in that image…” Chu Ran shivered, remembering the squirming entity within the portal, “It didn’t look friendly at all.”

“Aiden’s prophecy showed that once the portal opens, humanity will face utter devastation,” Lin Xia nodded, “And your ability… the Doctor believes only the ‘adaptive evolution’ characteristic can withstand the ‘Primal Source”s energy, becoming the ‘key’ to opening and maintaining the portal.”

Chu Ran processed the information, suddenly understanding Aiden’s words: “So ‘the key is a choice’… meaning I’m the one who ultimately decides whether to open the portal?”

“Precisely,” Zhou Ming pushed up his glasses, “But the Doctor clearly intended to force or control you into making his desired choice.”

The sound of an engine outside interrupted their conversation. The three immediately went on alert, relaxing only after confirming it was Zhao Tie’s transport vehicle.

Zhao Tie walked into the weather station alone, his face grim: “The Doctor woke up and tried to escape on the way. I had to… deal with him.”

A moment of silence. Although the Doctor had become an enemy, he had once been their respected leader.

“Did he say anything in the end?” Chu Ran asked.

“‘He’s awake now’,” Zhao Tie shook his head, “And ‘the key cannot stop what is inevitable’. Delusional ramblings.”

Lin Xia looked at the time: “We can only rest here for a few hours, then we must keep moving. Both the ‘Purifiers’ and the remnants of the Doctor’s forces will be tracking us.”

“Where to?” Li Shun asked, having appeared in a corner of the room at some point, as elusive as ever.

Lin Xia brought up a global map: “According to the last clues Aiden left, the ‘Purifiers” main control facility is here—an ancient structure beneath the Greenland ice sheet. If we want to stop the global suppression field and the possible portal opening, we must directly attack the core.”

“Just the few of us?” Zhao Tie raised an eyebrow.

“No,” Chu Ran suddenly said, feeling the new power surging within him, “I can contact other Awakeners. Those persecuted by the ‘Purifiers’, those in hiding… if we unite…”

He closed his eyes, releasing his perception. In the distant reaches, countless faint fluctuations flickered like stars—they were Awakeners all over the world, fearful, angry, desperate… but all harboring power.

“I can guide them,” Chu Ran opened his eyes, his voice firm, “Not as tools or weapons, but as a choice… our own choice.”

Lin Xia placed her hand on his shoulder, her icy blue eyes sparkling with determination: “Then let’s begin. Time is running out.”

Chu Ran and his team stealthily moved in the shadows of the temple, every step taken with utmost caution. Since leaving the weather station two days ago, they had contacted twenty-seven Awakener resistance organizations worldwide, simultaneously launching feint attacks on “Purifier” facilities. Here, however, was the real battlefield.

“The black crystal is the core of the suppression field,” Zhou Ming whispered, data streams reflecting on his glasses, “But according to the architectural scan, there’s something else below… an even larger energy source.”

Chu Ran’s hand pressed against the cold ground, his ability fully unleashed. He could feel the colossal entity sleeping deep beneath his feet—it wasn’t a machine, not a device, but some kind of living being. Every faint heartbeat caused the temple to tremble slightly, as if the entire ice sheet was breathing with it.

“It’s waking up,” Chu Ran’s voice was hoarse, “I can feel… it’s calling all power back.”

Lin Xia’s hand rested on his shoulder, the cold touch calming him slightly: “How much time do we have?”

“No more than an hour,” Chu Ran looked up at the “Purifier” members bustling around the altar, “They’re preparing the final ritual.”

Zhao Tie checked the pulse gun’s energy readings: “Direct assault?”

“No,” Li Shun uncharacteristically spoke, pointing to a side passage almost entirely obscured by shadow, “There. Guards change shifts every seven minutes, there’s a nine-second window.”

A plan was quickly formulated. Seven minutes later, the team, like ghosts, passed through the警戒线 and infiltrated the temple’s core area. The deeper they went, the stronger Chu Ran’s sensation became. The calling was no longer an external sound, but a resonance echoing from the depths of his bones, as if every cell in his body was responding.

“You look terrible,” Lin Xia said, worried, “Is it too close?”

Chu Ran shook his head, unable to stop his body from trembling: “It’s not just closeness… It knows me. My ability… is a part of It, a more core part than anyone else’s.”

The main hall of the altar was within reach. Through a narrow observation window, they saw a chilling sight—dozens of imprisoned Awakeners encircled the area. In the center stood the “Purifiers'” leader, a tall, bald man, his hand placed on the black crystal. As he moved, the prisoners collapsed one by one, their skin grayish-white, their eyes hollow, identical to the bodies Chu Ran had seen before in the “Purifier” facility.

“He’s draining their abilities into the crystal!” Zhou Ming exclaimed.

Chu Ran suddenly clutched his head, a sharp pain shooting through him. In that instant, he saw—the black crystal was merely a conduit, energy flowing through it into the ground, feeding the slumbering entity. And as the energy accumulated, ancient seals were breaking, layer by layer.

“Now!” Lin Xia commanded.

Zhao Tie kicked open the metal door, pulse gun blazing. Li Shun flickered like a specter among the guards, each strike precisely hitting a vital point. Zhou Ming unleashed the prepared electromagnetic pulse, paralyzing the equipment on the altar.

Chu Ran, however, stood rooted to the spot, unable to move. His ability was completely out of control, surging outward like a tide, yet also drawn to the black crystal like a magnet. More terrifyingly, he felt a consciousness awaken, peering into this world through his ability.

“Chu Ran!” Lin Xia’s voice seemed to come from far away.

He painfully lifted his head, seeing Lin Xia fighting two Hunters, ice flames dancing in her hands. Zhao Tie was trapped by some kind of energy net, roaring repeatedly. Zhou Ming tried to restart the system but was electrocuted, collapsing to the ground. Li Shun…

A blinding red light erupted from the altar, sending everyone flying from the shockwave. Chu Ran barely remained standing, seeing the “Purifiers'” leader hovering in the air, the black crystal now embedded in his chest, fused with flesh and blood.

“Foolish resistors,” the leader’s voice became inhuman, multiple tones overlapping, “You are merely accelerating the inevitable. The Primal Source has awakened, and all borrowed power shall return!”

The entire temple vibrated violently, and huge fissures appeared in the ground. From the abyss, something indescribable slowly rose—not a solid entity, not a phantom, but a manifestation of pure concept. Just seeing its outline made Chu Ran’s eyes bleed, his brain almost overwhelmed by the flood of information.

That was “It”—the ancient deity, the source of all extraordinary abilities.

Lin Xia crawled to Chu Ran’s side, grabbing his hand: “Chu Ran… the key… Aiden said…”

Chu Ran suddenly understood. The key wasn’t meant to open, but to lock. His ability could connect all Awakeners, could adapt to any form of energy… he could become the new seal, but the cost was…

“No!” He instinctively resisted the thought.

The temple walls began to collapse, and piercing sunlight shone through cracks in the ice sheet. In the sky outside, strange bands of light danced like living things—the fabric of reality was disintegrating.

“It’s taking back all power,” Chu Ran murmured, “But if I don’t stop It, the Awakeners will die, and ordinary humans will also be affected…”

Lin Xia seemed to read his decision in his eyes, shaking her head in horror: “No, Chu Ran, there must be another way!”

Chu Ran gently stroked her face, his fingers wiping away the bloodstains: “Remember what Aiden said? ‘The key is a choice’… This is my choice.”

He closed his eyes, releasing all his power. No longer controlling or connecting, but attracting, drawing in. Awakeners all over the world simultaneously felt a tug—not a compulsion, but a request. Some instinctively resisted, while others chose to trust, letting go of their control over their own abilities.

Power, like myriad rivers flowing into a vast ocean, flowed through Chu Ran, the “key,” to the same destination. His body began to glow, brighter and brighter, almost transparent.

“Stop! You won’t be able to bear it!” Lin Xia shrieked, trying to pull his hand away, but she was pushed back by the energy.

Chu Ran could no longer hear her voice. He felt himself expanding infinitely, every cell filled with external energy. The pain was indescribable, but stronger than the pain was a sense of mission—he was the vessel, the bridge, the last line of defense.

The “Purifier” leader let out an inhuman shriek, and the black crystal burst from his chest. The ascent of the ancient deity stopped, beginning to be pulled back into the abyss. It let out a deafening roar, and the entire Greenland ice sheet trembled.

“No!!!” Lin Xia lunged at Chu Ran again, but only caught a wisp of light.

Chu Ran’s body began to disintegrate, starting from his fingertips, turning into specks of light. He turned to look at Lin Xia.

“This is my true awakening,” he said softly, his voice already an echo, “It was good to meet you.”

In the last moment before completely dissipating, Chu Ran leaned forward, silently gazing at Lin Xia’s face.

Then, like a golden snow, he completely transformed into countless specks of light, surging towards the struggling ancient deity.

Light and darkness collided above the abyss, erupting in a silent explosion. When the strong light dissipated, the abyss had closed, and the ancient deity was sealed once more. The temple returned to silence, with only the sunlight filtering through the ice sheet cracks bearing witness to everything.

Lin Xia knelt in place, her hands futilely grasping at the light specks lingering in the air. Her throat was hoarse from screaming, yet she continued to sob silently.

Perhaps even she didn’t realize that she had already fallen in love with Chu Ran.

When did it happen?

Was it at their first meeting behind the school, or watching Chu Ran desperately train to save everyone? Or was it the unspoken understanding of her own origins?

Zhao Tie struggled to crawl over, covered in wounds: “Lin Xia… we have to leave… this place is going to collapse…”

She ignored him, only staring at her empty palms. Chu Ran’s hand had been there once, warm and firm, now only a faint golden wisp remained, like dying embers.

Zhou Ming and Li Shun helped each other walk over. Zhou Ming’s glasses were shattered, but his data pad was still working: “The global suppression field is down… all ‘Purifier’ facilities have lost power… the Awakeners… they’re alive! Their abilities weren’t drained!”

This news should have brought joy, but there was only dead silence among the four. The cost was too great.

A massive ice stalactite fell from the ceiling, crashing onto the altar. The temple was rapidly collapsing.

“Lin Xia!” Zhao Tie almost carried her up, “We have to go!”

This time, she didn’t resist. But as she was dragged away, her eyes remained fixed on the spot where Chu Ran had vanished, clutching the faint light that refused to dissipate in her hand.

As they stumbled out of the temple, bathed in the rare Greenland sunlight, a strange sight appeared on the distant ice plain—countless specks of light rose from the ground, drifting towards the sky like fireflies. That was the liberated Awakener energy, returning to its respective owners.

Lin Xia watched the scene, tears welling up again. She slowly opened her tightly clasped hand. The golden light suddenly became active, swirling a few times in her palm, gently touching her lips like a farewell kiss, then flying into the distance.

“Chu Ran…” she whispered, her voice so broken it was barely audible.

Zhao Tie and Zhou Ming turned away, unable to bear her grief. Only Li Shun, always calm Li Shun, suddenly pointed to the distant sky: “Look.”

In the far horizon, almost merged with the blue sky, was a particularly bright golden light. It flickered a few times, like a heartbeat, then slowly dissipated.

But Lin Xia knew—deep in her heart, she knew—that it wasn’t a true disappearance. As Aiden said, the key isn’t a tool, it’s a choice. And Chu Ran’s choice would forever change this world.

The ice sheet vibrated beneath their feet. The team hastily boarded the waiting aircraft. Lin Xia took one last look in the direction of the temple, pressing her hand to her chest, where there was a strange warmth, as if someone had left a tiny sun there.

As the aircraft ascended, she didn’t look back again. Ahead lay a long night, but after the night, there was always dawn.