Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Artificial Soul 20

On the 132nd floor, there were ten people in total. After two were eliminated, eight remained.

Among the eight, two were C-Rank Awakeners. One of them was named Li Ran. His ability was to transform his body into a snake-like form for close combat, making his bones extremely flexible and enabling him to dodge attacks and strangle enemies.

The other person with a C-Rank title was Wang Lin, whose extraordinary ability was Magnetic Sword. She could manipulate metallic weapons by controlling their magnetic fields.

This C-Rank Awakener was an assassination expert who had mechanical limbs installed on all four of her limbs. These were offensive mechanical limbs, making her a dangerous figure as dangerous as a B-Rank Awakener. The records indicated that Wang Lin had very high potential, suggesting she could likely advance to A-Rank status and belonged to Meng Jing’s faction.

However, despite her C-Rank abilities, she could only control light weapons within a range of about ten meters around her. Her attempt to block bullets using this ability was difficult because they traveled too fast for her to catch them in time.

When Kui Xin saw the information Adam provided about these two, she was slightly surprised. She had encountered both of them during work but had never spoken to them. Now, wearing a full headgear and armor, they wouldn’t recognize her.

Two security guards she had just dispatched were responsible for patrolling the stairs, while the two C-Rank Awakeners guarded the entrance to the rooftop stairs. The remaining six were divided into two three-person squads, each patrolling a different direction in the circular corridor.

In the darkened building, deprived of Adam’s support, they relied solely on themselves and were extremely alert like spooked birds.

“They are very afraid,” Adam softly said. “They rely on me, just like children rely on their mother. Without my assistance, they become utterly helpless.”

The true nature of the AI Adam stood revealed beside Kui Xin, and although his words conveyed no emotions, she detected a hint of disdain and mockery. He jeered at human reliance on machinery and technology, which ultimately controlled and even killed humans with their own creations.

Everything in the Investigation Bureau was conducted under Adam’s support, from a ventilation system to personnel scheduling, from drone manipulation to confidential mission reports… Without Adam, the Investigation Bureau would be like a disabled person unable to perform any tasks.

Kui Xin planned to eliminate one of the patrol teams first.

She sneaked into the corridor and climbed onto an antique metal ceiling lamp when no one was around, patiently waiting for the patrol team of three to approach.

Sure enough, she saw the patrol team approaching soon; they wore night vision goggles, holding guns in perfect coordination. Two faced forward, one watched from behind, and infrared beams swept the darkness from side to side.

Wearing goggles and a helmet had its disadvantages, such as limited field of view. With Adam’s help, they could monitor the surrounding environment through additional equipment. However, this changed now. They couldn’t easily notice blind spots, especially those above them.

As they passed her hanging position, Kui Xin seized the moment to leap down from the lamp, landing on the shoulder of the last guard, and twisted his neck swiftly. Everything happened in an instant; the two leading guards spun and aimed their guns, firing.

Unaffected by the bullets, Kui Xin wore bulletproof gear and a full-body riot helmet. While the impact caused bruising, it wouldn’t end her life.

Kneeling and sweeping her leg, she sent the guards flying; even as they fell, they held onto their guns, the bullets leaving two lines of holes in the ceiling, followed by falling debris.

Quickly, Kui Xin grabbed two guns from her back, aimed them at the guard’s chin, and fired twice. With a loud gunshot, blood splattered.

Alerted by the sound of gunfire, another squad came running down the corridor. Noticing their heavy footsteps, Kui Xin prepared to ambush them.

She remained hidden, timing her throw when they approached. A large explosion followed by screams illuminated the explosion in the corridor.

Waiting for the smoke to clear, Kui Xin calmly walked toward the commotion, reloading her gun. She shot at the survivors sprawled on the ground.

Now only two C-Rank Awakeners remained on the 132rd floor.

“They heard something but didn’t leave their posts,” Adam said. “The explosion alarmed Lin Xinji and the Meng family. They are evacuating quickly. Soon it will be Lin Xinji’s turn to flee.”

“We need to speed things up,” Kui Xin replied, checking her equipment.

Her powerful single-handed weapon included a hand cannon and various types of bullets, including an electromagnetic interference bomb designed by Adam to counter Wang Lin’s abilities.

Hand cannons were popular in black markets; although the Investigation Bureau’s weapons were sourced from these markets, Kui Xin didn’t worry about being questioned about her weapon choice.

The staircase leading to the rooftop was in a long corridor, requiring Kui Xin to pass through an open area to confront the two C-Ranks.

Security goggles could switch modes, but Adam found it challenging to manipulate them further in a tactical environment.

Kneeling against a wall, Kui Xin swapped out her ammunition: one electromagnetic interference grenade, one fragmentation grenade, and one armor-piercing round—reserving several more bullets and one leftover bomb. She carried two grappling guns, with one backup in case the primary failed.

But it wasn’t enough: her foes were two C-Ranks!

With a plethora of cards, she might have to play her trump card now.

From the Python Sphere, she possessed the ability Burn Blood!

Closing her eyes briefly, she activated this extraordinary ability.

Transparent crimson flames flickered over her body, rapidly raising her temperature and speeding up her circulation. Moments later, her physique and strength dramatically increased, transforming her from ordinary to extraordinary.

Lifting from the ground, she brandished her hand cannon and dagger with explosive speed, charging down the corridor.

Ahead, she met a storm of fire and bullets!

The two C-Ranks used their ammunition to hinder her charge. But enhanced by transformation and agility, she did not hesitate, evaded the barrage, and leapt across walls to evade bullets. Her feet landed safely amidst the destruction.

The carpet absorbed the impact; yet, another knife whirled towards her. Parrying with her dagger, she realized the blade was deflected in a sharper angle, aiming directly at her. Just then, a second wave of bullets arrived.

Ducking and sidestepping, she narrowly avoided the incoming projectiles and knife, deflecting the latter’s strike.

Aiming her hand cannon, she released her electromagnetic interference grenade directly at Wang Lin. Electricity surged, forcing her to momentarily pause—a precious moment for Kui Xin, though her intent was not to incapacitate, but to disorient and disrupt Wang Lin’s control over metal.

Following with a fragmentation grenade, steel pellets engulfed both targets, halting their advance and disrupting their attacks.

Her final aim was the armor-piercing round at Wang Lin’s head!

A loud crack signified the round piercing Wang Lin’s helmet. She crumbled as Kui Xin advanced, switching from an empty hand cannon to a standard firearm.

Using a knee-strike, she sent Li Ran reeling, exposing his throat. Her gun pressed against his neck, discharging a round. Blood spewed from his neck.

With two eliminated:

Before relaxing, the clatter of a throwing weapon caught her attention. Swiftly, she deflected it, her eyes locking onto Wang Lin readying a weapon.

She was still alive, unsteadily aiming.

“Indeed,” Kui Xin nearly chuckled.

Both possessed reinforced cranial structures. Yet, their defenses had saved them from fatal shots.

With the armored headpiece intact, Wang Lin staggered but stood resilient.

Kui Xin pulled out a manual fire extinguisher nearby, smashing it into Wang Lin’s arm, stripping away the pistol. Closing in, she shot Wang Lin, who lay motionless.

“No signs of life,” Adam noted, “the helicopter can arrive in two minutes.”

Kui Xin continued, “Helicopter inbound. Lin Xinji about to evacuate.”

“You obtained extraordinary abilities [Snake Body · C-Rank].”

“You obtained extraordinary abilities [Magnetic Sword · C-Rank].”

Kui Xin ignored the system notifications, loading her hand cannon.

The rooftop door opened, revealing a formidable figure.

“Hold on,” echoed Captain Yu.

Contrasting from fellow awakening ranks, he wielded his physical prowess beyond ordinary means, invincible in combat.

Undeterred, Kui Xin unleashed her wiregun, wrapping him tightly. Enhanced by Burnblood, she dragged him down, their struggle intense.

She retrieved a bomb from behind, tossing it amidst the clash.

Kui Xin, unaffected, aimed her remaining wiregun at the chopper, firing. The hook latched, disabling the chopper, sending it tumbling.

She reached the chopper edge, gazing below.

Lin Xinji hung precariously, fear evident in his eyes.

Desperation took hold.

“Who are you?” His voice wavered.

The response, however, was silent cold.

Firing her grenade, chaos erupted. Steel pellets rained down.

Lin Xinji plummeted, the chopper faltering, finally crashing near the helipad rim.

Kui Xin surveyed the aftermath.

Helicopters withdrew, their retreat imminent.

“You eliminated Lin Xinji.”

“You took his extraordinary abilities.”

“You obtained extraordinary abilities [Investigative Eye · B-Rank].”