The orange-red glow within the geothermal cavern remained soft, but the fleeting sense of peace had been replaced by a heavy, palpable tension in anticipation of the unknown journey ahead. Lin Ye leaned against the rock wall, slowly moving his back, which still sent sharp jolts of pain through him. Thanks to Noah's precise guidance, Zero's meticulous care, and the regeneration gel, the wound was healing at an unexpectedly fast rate, but it was still a long way from full recovery. At least now, he could stand and walk, albeit with difficulty, no longer entirely reliant on a crutch or support.
Zero sat nearby, nibbling on a small piece of the compressed biscuit Lin Ye had shared. Prolonged stasis had left her digestive system extremely fragile; even this high-energy food could only be consumed in small amounts. Her face was still pale, but her eyes were much clearer than when she had first awakened, holding less terror and more a scrutinizing observation of this strange new world, along with a resilience born from profound exhaustion. She would occasionally glance at Lin Ye, her expression complex, a silent acknowledgment of the bond forged in shared peril.
[Noah: Host, based on your current physiological indicators, the wound on your back has entered an accelerated healing phase. Primary muscle function has recovered to 70%, but you still need to avoid strenuous activity and secondary infection. Your stamina reserves are at approximately 60% of your normal state. Zero's bodily functions are also slowly recovering, but she remains in an extremely weakened condition. A prolonged, high-intensity trek will be a significant trial for her.] Noah's voice sounded in Lin Ye's mind, much smoother and more stable than before, a clear indication that the cavern's unique environment and the period of relative inactivity had been beneficial for her system's repair and recalibration.
"Understood," Lin Ye nodded, then looked at Zero. "How are you feeling? Think you can manage a long walk?"
Zero swallowed the last crumb of biscuit and looked at him earnestly. "I... I can. We can't stay here forever." Her voice was soft but firm. Since learning about Sector Gamma-7, an inexplicable driving force, a fragile tendril of purpose, seemed to have taken root within her, despite the fear of her past that it might also evoke.
"Good." Lin Ye gave her an approving look. He knew pushing her too hard could be detrimental, but their time was a luxury they didn't possess. "Noah, your route planning for Sector Gamma-7, how's it looking? And how much time do we have left?"
A pale blue, three-dimensional digital map unfolded in Lin Ye's AR field of vision. It was a complex web of tunnels and subterranean structures, with several possible routes highlighted in different colors, along with various icons denoting known hazards and points of interest.
[Noah: Based on currently restored long-range scanning capabilities and existing subterranean structural databases, I have plotted three alternative routes.] Noah began to explain in detail, her synthesized voice a calm counterpoint to the grim possibilities displayed on the map:
[Route one, the shortest, requires traversing several confirmed high-patrol zones for 'Scavenger-class' AIs and passes through a subterranean level of an old urban district with high 'Ghost Signal' activity. Estimated travel time: 18 hours. Probability of hostile engagement: 95%. Extremely high risk, not recommended.]
[Route two is relatively circuitous but avoids most known AI ground forces, primarily navigating through deeper, abandoned subway lines and pre-collapse maintenance tunnels. Estimated travel time: 30 hours. The main risks come from structurally unstable tunnels, unknown mutated faunal signatures, and potential 'Ghost Signal' infiltration into these deeper networks. Probability of encountering significant threats: 70%.]
[Route three is the most complex. It requires us to detour towards the near-surface levels for a distance, passing through the outskirts of some heavily irradiated city ruins, before re-entering the deep subterranean network. This route maximizes avoidance of known AI main forces and Ghost Signal concentrations. Estimated travel time: 45 hours. However, the dangers of the surface ruins, including radiation hotspots and different classes of AI sentinels, are equally significant, and it will consume the most time. Probability of environmental hazards: 85%.]
On the map, a constantly ticking red digital display showed the remaining time: 68:12:54. Less than three days. Every hour counted.
Lin Ye studied the map intently, his brow furrowed. Each path was a gamble, a desperate throw of the dice against a malevolent, machine-controlled world.
"Zero," he asked suddenly, turning to her, "do you have any other memories of Sector Gamma-7... or the way there? Any detail, no matter how small, could be useful."
Zero closed her eyes, concentrating hard, her forehead creasing slightly as if resisting some unpleasant, fragmented images. "I... I'm not sure," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Sector Gamma-7 itself... was very concealed. I only went there once, under strict control and with my senses partially obscured, drugged mostly. But I remember... some of the passages leading to it... they felt very ancient, different. They didn't seem to belong to... conventional city construction. More like... natural formations, or something much older that was later incorporated." She opened her eyes, her voice uncertain. "And... there was a... a very particular energy fluctuation, completely different from Central Brain's AI network, and different from the 'Ghost Signal' too... It felt... pure, in a strange way, but also... oppressive. Heavy."
[Noah: Noted. The unique energy fluctuation Zero describes, if it exists, might be related to Sector Gamma-7's special shielding technology as a 'black site.' This could explain its independence from Central Brain's network. It would also increase the difficulty of us finding an entrance if conventional mapping data is incomplete or deliberately falsified for such a location.]
Lin Ye pondered for a moment, weighing the grim options. Route one was suicidal. Route three, with its surface exposure and longer travel time, felt like too great a risk given his current condition and Zero's fragility, not to mention the ticking clock. That left the devil they didn't fully know. "We'll take the second one," he declared, pointing to the route snaking through the deeper tunnels. "Avoiding AI main forces is the priority. As for the unknown dangers..." He glanced at Zero, whose amber eyes met his, a flicker of shared resolve passing between them. "We face them together."
They spent another hour making final preparations. Lin Ye checked the makeshift dressing on his back, took a painkiller from his dwindling supply. Zero, guided by Noah, managed to collect a decent amount of the condensed water into their canteens. They had no other food beyond the last few high-energy bars.
With a final look around the cavern that had offered them a brief, life-saving sanctuary, Lin Ye nodded. "Time to go."
He moved stiffly, his back protesting with every motion, but his grip on the scavenged metal pipe he used as a weapon and walking aid was firm. Zero walked beside him, her steps still a little unsteady but far more confident than when they had first arrived. The orange-red glow of the cavern faded behind them as they re-entered the narrow, oppressive darkness of the volcanic tubes, this time venturing towards a different, unknown passage.
The air immediately grew colder, the faint scent of sulphur replaced by a damp, earthy smell. Noah's voice, now almost fully restored, provided a constant stream of information in Lin Ye's mind, her AR overlay painting a rudimentary map onto his retinas, highlighting potential hazards.
[Noah: This lava tube appears stable for the next 200 meters. Minimal seismic activity detected. Air quality is poor but breathable. I am detecting faint organic traces ahead – non-hostile, likely small subterranean fauna.]
They walked in silence for a while, the only sounds their footsteps and the occasional drip of water from the unseen ceiling. Lin Ye focused on conserving his energy, acutely aware of the strain on his healing wound. Zero, surprisingly, seemed to be adapting to the darkness, her head tilted as if listening to something beyond his perception.
"What is it?" Lin Ye asked quietly.
"The... the 'noise'," she whispered, her eyes wide. "It's different here. Not as loud as before, but... sharper. Like tiny, broken pieces of glass scraping against each other."
[Noah: Her description is intriguing, Host. The ambient electromagnetic field in these deeper tunnels is indeed different. It's possible her unique sensitivities are picking up on subtle data echoes or residual AI network chatter that my standard sensors would filter out as background interference. This could be… useful, or a source of further distress for her.]
Before Lin Ye could respond, Noah's tone sharpened. [Noah: Warning! Structural instability detected 50 meters ahead. A section of the tunnel roof has partially collapsed. We will need to find a way through or around it.]
They rounded a bend, and Lin Ye saw what Noah meant. A massive pile of jagged rocks and debris blocked most of the passage, leaving only a narrow, precarious gap near the ceiling, barely wide enough for one person to squeeze through, and that was assuming the remaining roof held.
"Well," Lin Ye muttered, staring at the obstacle. "Our first test." He looked at Zero. "Think you can make it through that?"
Zero looked at the narrow gap, then back at Lin Ye, a flicker of her old fear in her eyes, but it was quickly suppressed. She took a determined breath. "I have to."