Chapter 58

Chapter 58: The Sea Without Light Part 58

The instant Kui Xin raised her gun, she pulled the trigger, moving faster than Thorn Rose!

She had to do this.

Kui Xin had long been patrolling along the coastline. On each patrol, she would be as cautious as humanly possible. If she encountered thugs without firearms, she would issue verbal warnings. However, in the face of armed assailants, she never wavered or warned; she shot immediately.

This was not just her habit; it was also the norm for most security officers patrolling the ports. Yet, Kui Xin had nerves of steel and reacted quickly.

If Kui Xin and her squad happened upon an armed individual, she would always be the first to fire—especially to maintain her identity as an undercover agent and to avoid her teammates noticing anything amiss.

Bang! The gunshot rang out.

Immediately after Kui Xin fired, Thorn Rose retaliated!

At that moment, a thin water curtain appeared before Thorn Rose, deflecting Kui Xin’s bullet while also stopping one from Thorn Rose.

Silverface’s forehead suddenly broke out in cold sweat as his heart almost leaped up his throat.

If he delayed even slightly, both participants in this shoot-out would have been hit!

Wearing combat gear, Kui Xin had a robust skull. She only needed to avoid lethal shots. Although Thorn Rose’s clothing had some bulletproof properties, Kui Xin aimed directly at her left eye. A direct hit there meant instant death.

Every patrol entailed monitoring devices. Her combat suit’s button was actually a camera, a kind of recording device. Should Kui Xin intentionally let off easy, a keen observer could doubt her aim by reviewing the patrol footage.

Kui Xin had to stay true to form and show no mercy.

Kui Xin was betting on whether Silverface could deploy the water curtain in time. Even if she lost, it didn’t matter; her own survival was more important than others’. Keeping her undercover role secret justified any action taken.

Besides, even if Thorn Rose died, Mechanical Dawn would suffer the consequences, not her. Reporting to headquarters, Kui Haidong wouldn’t blame her too harshly—a lone Thorn Rose and a new infiltrator were no match for established members like her.

“Fall back! The enemy has extraordinary abilities! We need reinforcements!” Xueyao Shu exclaimed, his face grim as he watched the water curtain.

Reasonably, Kui Xin paused her attack and withdrew with her team.

“Damn, so close. Thanks, Silverface,” Thorn Rose said calmly. “That woman’s shooting is unusual.”

Thorn Rose had replaced her mangled right hand with a mechanical one since her last injury. The silver metal shimmered under the sunlight, exuding a chilling aura. Her mechanized arm could morph into various forms: a knife, a dagger. The mechanical experts at Mechanical Dawn had designed these prosthetics meticulously. Though she had lost her right hand, her combat capabilities hadn’t diminished; they had perhaps even improved.

Her extraordinary ability, “Blazing Blade,” thrived through this mechanical limb.

“Thorn Rose, we should…” Silverface began, but cut off as Thorn Rose whipped her glowing iron lock towards Kui Xin.

Xueyao Shu and Jiang Ming responded immediately by shooting; Silverface resorted again to deploying water curtains for defense.

The fight couldn’t be avoided this time…

He strained to think within the limited capacity of his brain—don’t injure Lady Fortune; target her teammates instead. Yes!

Silverface’s pink eyes narrowed on Xueyao Shu and Jiang Ming, considering whom to strike first.

An enthusiastic and fierce fighter, before joining Mechanical Dawn, she was a professional assassin. While her methods had become less flashy post-enlistment, her temperament stayed unchanged. Kui Xin reignited her competitive spirit.

With blazing iron lock, Kui Xin flipped and dodged, hiding behind the streetlights. The lock hit the light, scorching the posters glued onto it.

“Silverface, withdraw your water curtain completely. It’s interfering with my attack!” Thorn Rose demanded.

Silverface hesitated, “No, it’ll hurt us.”

The water curtain wasn’t just for their protection, but also shielded Kui Xin. Disastrous if Kui Xin fell prey.

During his assignment to protect Kui Xin, the boss emphasized her importance over other members, even hinting it to Red.

“Chicken-wuss!” Thorn Rose glared at Silverface, knowing it wasn’t time to bicker, hence didn’t continue the argument.

Silverface, struggling under pressure, maneuvered the water currents for defense. Meanwhile, he tried to hit Xueyao Shu and Jiang Ming.

His focus was mainly defensive, hence his offensive water manipulations remained weak, often evaded by Shu and Ming.

Yet, they were still pushed to the limit, drenched in cold sweat, evading attacks in the narrow streets. Their formation disbanded.

“Back-up will arrive soon!” Lulan announced in the comms channel.

Thorn Rose wielded the iron lock with one hand and a large-caliber pistol with the other. The clinking of the red-hot iron lock pierced the air, while Kui Xin primarily evaded, knowing her bullets could be obstructed. Thus, she conserved ammunition.

Taking advantage of brief openings, Thorn Rose swung her iron lock.

Silverface frantically adjusted the water curtain, thwarting Thorn Rose and Kui Xin in battle.

Finally, exploiting a moment when the water curtain was incomplete, Thorn Rose fired, narrowly hitting Kui Xin’s armor, causing a slight sting upon impact.

Kui Xin didn’t show mercy either. Utilizing the water curtain’s opening, she fired three consecutive shots, striking Thorn Rose’s unprotected leg, spewing blood, turning her face pale.

Police motorcycles roared toward them from the end of the street; Lulan and Liu Kangyun arriving promptly.

Silverface seized the chance to ensnare Jiang Ming’s leg with water and twisted it brutally.

Snap after snap echoed like popping corn; Jiang Ming howled, his lower leg fractured into pieces.

“We retreat,” Silverface wrapped Thorn Rose with water rope and leapt to the building.

Before departing, Thorn Rose glanced coldly at Kui Xin, mouthing silently, “I’ll remember you.”

“Wang Ming!” Kui Xin and Shu rushed over.

“No, we need to call for rescue,” Shu remarked calmly.

Augus replied, “We’ve dispatched a police car; expected arrival in ten minutes. A rescue vehicle, due to distance, requires longer. Joining via motorbike with the rescue is quicker. Suggest immediate emergency blood loss control for Officer Wang Ming’s leg.”

Kui Xin swiftly grabbed a syringe from her kit, injecting it into Jiang Ming’s leg.

“It’ll ease the pain shortly,” Kui Xin observed Jiang Ming’s injured leg.

His leg was twisted, bones jutting out, signifying complete fracture; possibly requiring artificial limbs post-surgery.

Kui Xin tied a bandage, securing Jiang Ming’s knee tightly to prevent blood flow.

Jiang Ming, deathly pale, commented half-jokingly, “Looks like I’ll get artificial legs now… how about you?”

“Don’t worry, modified ones work better,” Kui Xin comforted him, “Look at her, her mechanical limbs are cool, can switch form…like wheel legs?”

Jiang Ming groaned, “Both legs then?”

Motorcycle roars approached, Lulan skidded to a halt, removing her helmet, “Old Jiang!”

Liu Kangyun followed closely behind, decelerating without dismounting. Noticing Jiang’s injured state, he looked tense. Amidst concern for his colleague, Liu Kangyun was preoccupied with another pressing issue.

“Where are they?” Liu Kangyun asked.

“Maybe they got spooked and fled assuming reinforcements arrived. Don’t chase, they’re highly able, likely superior Awakened.” Shu said solemnly, suggesting reporting to headquarters for a dedicated task force.

Liu Kangyun finally stepped down, scanning cautiously for potential ambushes.

“…Awakened…” Lulan whispered, “How many Awakened do we even have? Encountering two on patrol!”

Kui Xin pondered, “Since the harbor bombings, things have been strange. Xenomorphs increasing, Awakening in public spaces… Could these be connected?”

“It does seem amiss,” Shu noted with worry.

Seventh Squad exchanged grim glances, sensing unease in each other.

Invisible shadows loomed over Hei Hai City. Frequent personnel shifts within the Investigation Bureau hinted at escalating tensions. Coincidence might explain past coincidences but not today’s encounter with Awakened in the streets.

A hovercar descended; Kui Xin and Shu supporting Jiang Ming by shoulders; Lulan and Liu Kangyun took his legs, positioning him gently in the rear seat.

Jiang Ming faintly muttered, “Last time it was Kui Xin… This time it’s me in the back.”

[Silverface:] I am not a coward!