Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Sea Without Light 52

“Rumble – rumble – rumble!”

The tightly sealed deck door above the stairs repeatedly emitted loud sounds but remained immobile—dead set, completely still!

During the early design of the Kraken, various factors were considered to prevent high-tech equipment from invading the vessel’s electronic devices; some doors used old-era mechanical structures and could only be opened with antique keys. They were also extraordinarily thick, made of high-strength alloy, which made breaching them virtually impossible.

While waiting for the deck door to open, they found several fire extinguishers in the rooms, but to their dismay, these were dry ice extinguishers. Using them in closed spaces would cause a significant risk of carbon dioxide poisoning.

Lacking other firefighting equipment, they were helpless as water valves were shut off, fire suppression systems failed, and the deck door was firmly barricaded, leaving them at a dead end.

Time ticked by second by second. Gui Xin, Shu Xueyao, and Liu Kangyun kept retreating, lying prone to avoid inhaling the thick smoke billowing from above, but even so, their state was precarious.

Exposed skin was scorched red from the flames; any accidental contact with metal walls caused painful blisters; the entire corridor was engulfed in heat, turning them into roasting pork.

Gui Xin wiped sweat from her brow, her hair damp and face blackened by smoke.

“Boom!”

This time, instead of from the deck door, the sound came from behind!

Seconds after the explosion, Gui Xin felt a shudder through the ship and an ominous tilt.

The trio covered their mouths and noses, looking back in terror and horror—they found the corridor behind them ablaze too, putting them under simultaneous attack.

Worse, the fire behind was larger than that before, erupting violently like a volcanic eruption.

“Damn it…” Liu Kangyun muttered dazedly.

Both the front and back exit paths were blocked. The soaked bath mats on their bodies were nearly dried out by flames—once the fire reached them, they would ignite completely; oil stuck to their clothes, which could easily catch fire.

Shu Xueyao and Liu Kangyun were forced into an employee dormitory, closing the door to evade floating sparks.

Scarcely had they retreated when another thunderous explosion erupted, louder and more intense than previous ones!

It sounded distant initially but faded to faint echoes as it reached the corridor. The ship shook again severely, displacing furniture in the crew quarters, and objects dropped with continuous clatters. Gui Xin and the others barely held onto nearby walls to stand firm once more.

“This ship is about to sink!” said Gui Xin, struggling to utter the words.

“Augus,” Shu Xueyao anxiously said, “provide real-time updates.”

His forehead glistened with sweat, partly from heat and partly from distress over dire situations.

“Captain, the Kraken’s engine room has been detonated,” reported Augus after a moment, “slight ship tilting, escort ships distancing from Kraken, avoiding blast waves. Helicopters cannot approach due to blast-generated air currents and debris. Predict further explosions; Kraken will sink.”

Augus’ voice remained coolly mechanical as always, devoid of emotion. In extreme circumstances, humans might lose sanity, but machines did not.

Shu Xueyao pursed his lips and asked, “What about our fellow team members outside?”

“They’re desperately rescuing us,” Augus replied. “Eight security officers are trying to break down the door, and armed helicopters are making a concerted effort to get closer, but they will prioritize retrieving officers trapped on the deck. If they can’t complete the mission soon, they might have to decide between saving them or themselves.”

“Are we being abandoned, then?” Liu Kangyun’s voice was hoarse, “Dying bravely?”

“I apologize, but this is necessary—the Investigation Bureau cannot abandon many for few,” said Augus. “Captain Shu, recommend recording final messages in advance. Security Officer Gui Xin hasn’t made any last wishes yet. I suggest doing so now. I will store all recordings.”

Gui Xin frowned?

“Is this already routine?” She said firmly and coldly, “I won’t do it!”

Even if everyone else died on the ship, she would not die—she could repeat her life, this was why she risked exposure to gain the ability of “Death Rebirth.”

In this game world, saving and loading gave her more leeway to make mistakes. This increased her chances of completing the game.

“I won’t either, I’m not even forty yet!” Liu Kangyun exhaled deeply, attempting to expel bad luck. He removed his helmet to reveal his short, wet dark hair clinging to his scalp.

Shu Xueyao remained silent, whispering to Augus, “If I die, my personal assets should go to my mother… and tell her I support her divorce, hoping she remains forever healthy and happy… That’s all I want to say.”

“Yes, recorded.” Augus replied. “Your message is legally valid now, you can rest assured.”

Among them all, only Shu Xueyao had recorded his will.

Gui Xin realized… So Shu Xueyao was actually a pessimist deep down.

His polite demeanor had stayed long in her mind, leading her to think he was a wise, gentle, and reliable leader; she overlooked the universal truth that every person has multiple facets.

This experience made her reconsider deeply.

After Shu Xueyao said his goodbyes, he returned to Gui Xin and Liu Kangyun and apologized twice, once for himself and once for his shortcomings.

“No, you’re an excellent captain,” Gui Xin replied. “I’m lucky to have you as a leader, unlike anyone else.”

She spoke the truth, in the Second World, Shu Xueyao was a beloved NPC; he acted as her guide here.

Believing Gui Xin’s words as trust and praise, he expressed gratitude.

“We’ve been partners for two years, Captain,” Liu Kangyun said awkwardly smiling, “you’re the most trustworthy person I know, a close ally who deserves confidence.”

For now, all they could do was wait. Each second dragged by as if an eternity.

Amidst waiting, the ship continuously exploded, metal plates shaking, reflections of flames in the corridor, and the oxygen depleting, suggesting an impending disaster.

Gui Xin’s heart turned serene amidst the turmoil.

She refrained from using Shadow Transition, knowing that Security Officers were outside waiting to apprehend her if she fled. Their extraordinary abilities did not match records, thus she’d be treated as an experimental subject or a suspect, given her numerous exceptional powers.

Moreover, running out wouldn’t change her fate; she’d still need to use the Bureau helicopter and boat for an escape, unable to swim hundreds of kilometers in the sea.

“All three, prepare for the door opening,” Augus declared with a robotic tone. “When the deck door opens, rushing air will ignite the corridor flames. Hold your breath, use the dry ice extinguishers, and exit within 15 seconds. The cargo ship is tilted 30 degrees with potential to capsize.”

Ming Yun lit up hopefully, “We’re saved!”

He grabbed the dry ice extinguisher, wrapping his almost empty bathrobe around him and securing his helmet.

Fifteen seconds, said Shu Xueyao, readying his own extinguisher.

Gui Xin attached her firearm to her waist, pulled the pin from the extinguisher.

With a collective surge of adrenaline, a deafening explosion rang out from deckside, the fire bursting from the influx of fresh air.

With no hesitation, taking a deep breath, she held her breath, kicked the door, and charged forward while pressing the extinguisher switch.

Her boots stuck to the scorching floor slightly, her soles melting under extreme temperatures while searing pain radiated through her skin. The heat curled her exposed hair.

Beside her, Shu Xueyao and Liu Kangyun fought through with extinguishers, creating a gap to race toward the deck entrance.

Gui Xin reached first, leaping on steps, seeing a group of agents surrounded the exit, fellow agents of the Investigation Bureau.

Hearing Jiang Ming’s voice among unfamiliar speakers.

“Quick, they’re coming! Use the extinguishers!” someone shouted.

A few hands caught Gui Xin, pulling her up, a flurry of dry powder extinguishers sprayed her.

Second up was Ming Yun, his clothes burning worse than Gui Xin’s, oil on his attire making it hard not to ignite despite holding the extinguisher.

Security officers similarly helped Ming Yun, treating burn injuries on his face, arm, and leg.

Shu Xueyao ascended slowly, about to reach safety when the staircase broke with a cracking sound just as his weight was fully bearing on it. It snapped away from his foot.

The stairs were several meters long, steel-framed spirally designed, less sturdy than the deck doors. Swaying dangerously, it finally collapsed as Shu Xueyao stepped on it, the inferno at its base reaching up.

Swiftly, Shu Xueyao gripped the handrail, security uniforms allowing bare fingertips for handling firearms better. Contact with the hot steel sizzled, smoke rising.

The tubing endured intense heat, blistering and searing any flesh it touched.

苍白的脸色，握持钢管的手指逐渐向下弯曲。

“嘎吱——”

钢管连接处断裂！

就在他即将坠落的下一秒，另一只戴着手套的手猛然伸过来，握住了断开的钢管。

又是滋滋声响，被灼烧的血肉冒出白烟，桂欣抓住了舒旭垚握住钢管的手。

几乎被烫红的钢管两端，分别握住了桂欣和舒旭垚的双手。钢管连接着他们，两端分别象征着同僚和生命。紧紧握住钢管，就像握紧了同僚的手和生存的希望。

“队长，另一边的手！”桂欣咬着牙，提起钢管，握住舒旭垚的空闲的手，许多安保人员合力把他拉了上来，举起灭火器对着烧焦的衣服一阵猛喷。

舒旭垚的手在颤抖，他和桂欣的手被粘在钢上。

要有多大的意志力，才能在关键时刻紧握住炽热如烙铁般的钢管不放手？

长痛不如短痛，桂欣疼得脸抽搐，冷汗直流，猛地撕下了粘在钢上的手，一层皮留在了钢管上。滴滴落下的血像是沸腾的水，冒着泡。

“谢谢你，桂欣。”舒旭垚也忍着剧痛撕下了自己的手。

桂欣勉强说道：”不用谢。”

桂欣的手很快复原，而舒旭垚却没有这种超凡力量。他匆忙从身上摸出一瓶治疗药剂扎在了自己身上，但这种药物至少要几个小时才能治愈他们的伤口。

“船体倾斜35度。”奥古斯的广播语速加快，“请所有安保人员立即撤离！请所有安保人员……”

天空中的直升机终于降至预定高度，二十米长的绳索抛下众人的面前。

“不要慌，一个接一个地上！”第十一小队的队长勉力维持镇定。

安保人员敏捷有序地行动，一人攀爬一段，另一人随即跟上，每架直升机容纳五到六人。

刘康云伤势严重，作为伤员被优先照顾，第一个沿着绳子向上爬行。尽管脸上和身上的烧伤仍在破裂出血，他的动作却丝毫没有迟缓。

第二位是江明，因为舒旭垚坚持要留到最后。

第三位是桂欣。

江明刚刚爬下一个位置，桂欣准备接替，但意外发生了。

甲板上只听到烧灼声和轻微爆炸声，突然传来枪响。枪口刚抬起，桂欣的直觉就疯狂预警，但瞄准的目标不是安保人员，而是直升机上的激光红点出现了！

射手利用精准的狙击技巧，通过敞开的舱门锁定了驾驶员！

砰的一声，驾驶员的头颅上出现了一个弹孔，鲜血溅到玻璃上，直升机立刻失去控制，撞上了另一架更近的直升机。两辆直升机化为火球砸落在甲板上。

登机的安保队员被燃烧的飞机残骸吞没，随之而来的是连绵不绝的爆炸声，直升机燃油箱也爆炸了。

桂欣扑倒在地，爆炸气浪几乎毫无阻碍地冲击到她身上。她感到胸口疼痛，一口鲜血吐出，鼻子的血液涌出，背部被飞溅的玻璃碎片和铁片划伤，一根尖锐的铁刺扎入了她的皮肤，差点刺穿内脏。

桂欣抬头时，看到了驾驶室顶部瞭望台上的一个黑影——蓝兰。

狙击手竟然是蓝兰！不……那其实也不是蓝兰，是幕后黑手以蓝兰的形象出现了！

他摧毁了直升机，导致船上的安保人员伤亡惨重，失去了最后的逃生工具。

桂欣怒火中烧，伸手到身后，拔掉背上的铁刺。下一刻，激光瞄准的红点出现在她身上，瞄准的是心脏。

桂欣翻滚躲过子弹，子弹在地上留下一个清晰的弹坑。

她从地上跳起，躲在掩体后方，大喊：“队长！江明，快！”

但她的队友没有任何反应，只是安静地躺在甲板上，随着倾斜的身体向下滑落。

仅剩几名安保队员躺在夹板上呻吟……能够站立自由活动的只有她一个人。

“要冷静……你只能依靠自己。”桂欣盯着甲板上缓缓滑落的武器。

她的枪刚才不小心掉在了地上，手里没有趁手的武器。

等到身上的伤口差不多愈合，桂欣翻身而起，飞快地蛇形冲刺到枪支处，一把抓起枪藏在怀里，再次躲入掩体。

子弹紧跟她身后，却只射中地面，并未击中她。狙击手总是慢她一点点行动。

躲在掩体后拿起枪支的瞬间，桂欣整个人气质完全改变。

变得格外犀利，杀气四溢。

她拉开弹匣一颗颗清点子弹，然后从容不迫地重新装填，咔嗒咔嗒的上弹声中，货轮上燃烧的火焰无声地照亮了她的脸。

“你还在吗？奥古斯。”桂欣面无表情地说道。

“通讯设备有信号时，我随时随地在线。”奥古斯说道。

“为什么要隐瞒？”桂欣说道，“帮我接通部长或蔚芝组长的通讯，我要质问他们！”

“抱歉，安检员桂欣，我无法为您接通他们的通讯。”奥古斯说道，“这是指令。”

“Kraken号到底运载了什么？告诉我。”桂欣问道，“他们为了些不明货物而丧生，我快要死去，我也想知道答案。”

奥古斯沉默了。

“……”桂欣冷笑，“人工智能就是人工智能，果然指望不了你说什么。”

“……反正你都要死了，为什么不亲自去看一看呢？”奥古斯说道，“桂欣，你现在唯一能做的就是继续反抗。毫无意义地死去还是带着反抗死去，以你的个性，你一定会选择后者，这是我的判断。”

桂欣握枪的手僵住了。

“我会注视你反抗的，桂欣。在你死去之前，我会像朋友一样为你送行。”

奥古斯说完，切断了通讯。