Acai's Sky

Chapter 986: Embers of Night Corridor: Ghosts on the Stage 1

The piercing red alarm lights spun wildly in the command cabin of the Chinese military camp, and the alarms sounded one after another like trapped beasts.

The holographic projection flickered violently, and Deputy Team Leader Qu's face was cut into irregular fragments by the scarlet alarm light, looking as if it was about to break free from the virtual screen.

The air in the command cabin seemed to freeze, and all the team members' eyes were fixed on the holographic projection.

"Captain Liu, fellow comrades!"

Adjutant Qu's voice was filled with a clear sense of urgency. "Just now, the intelligence shows that the night pearl crown deep in the theater in this red fragment light group is no ordinary treasure. It contains the core of the ancient star track defense system. Once activated, it can reconstruct the energy field of this area and completely disintegrate the enemy's damn light group offensive!" At this point, Deputy Team Leader Qu paused, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

There was a sudden commotion in the command cabin, and the team members whispered to each other, their eyes flashing with excitement and anticipation.

He Youxing couldn't help but boast: "Wow! If we can get this thing, won't we become the masters of the battlefield?"

"Don't get too excited just yet. Several teams that entered previously couldn't get this red fragment, and several groups of dungeon members also returned empty-handed!"

Adjutant Qu's voice suddenly dropped, and the atmosphere suddenly became solemn. "That theater has been corroded by resentment for a full millennium. Every time the hour of the dog arrives, the line between reality and fiction blurs. All the teams sent there before have been lost in this intertwined space of reality and illusion. Those who enter not only face unknown dangers, but also the risk of cognitive disruption—simply put, everything you see may not be real."

He Xin pushed his smart glasses, and a series of data streams immediately popped up on the lenses. "Cognitive subversion? This is more difficult than I imagined."

"The more difficult things are yet to come."

Adjutant Qu pulled up several fragmented reports, the screens filled with distorted images and harsh noises. "According to the scattered information sent back by the previous failed teams, the wronged souls in the theater have a special obsession with ghost money and gold and silver ingots. These seemingly useless props may become your lifeline in a critical moment. But how and when to use them is entirely up to your judgment."

At the tactical table, Liu Fengqi said nothing, his slender fingers sliding rapidly across the holographic screen.

The commander, wearing silver-gray tactical armor, had an angular face beneath his helmet. The light blue interstellar glasses on his left eye were constantly flashing with data streams, as if hiding countless secrets.

"Mission difficulty: Nightmare level."

Liu Fengqi's voice was low and calm. "We recommend forming a team of no less than 10 people. The mortality rate is 87%."

His tactical gloves tapped out a regular rhythm on the metal table. His eyes swept over the piles of ghostly banknotes with a strange glow and the golden ingots in the system backpack, secretly calculating various possibilities in his mind.

"What are you afraid of! We are all level 80 veterans!" Wang Changming suddenly stood up, swung his muscular arms, and slammed the special psychic weapon mace heavily on the table.

The loud bang caused ripples to form on the holographic projection. "Think back to when we soloed the boss in Lava Canyon, it was much more exciting than this! What kind of waves can a broken stage create?"

As he spoke, he grabbed a few ingots of gold from the table and stuffed them into the storage bag at his waist, muttering, "These precious gems might really come in handy."

He Xin sneered, "Wang Dachui, don't let the little ghost scare you so much that you throw your gold ingots around like rocks."

His fingertips tapped rapidly on the terminal on his wrist, and the circuit interface on the tactical armor flashed blue light. "According to my data analysis, as long as we can break the three layers of the theater's barrier, the probability of obtaining the Night Pearl Crown can be increased to 63.7%. However..."

He pulled out a stack of ghost money and stuffed it into the equipment slot. "I haven't fully understood the principles of these ghost money yet. It feels like I'm dealing with an unknown weirdness."

Qi Kai turned the alloy double swords in his hands, and the blades reflected a cold light, casting dancing shadows on the wall: "Who cares about the principle! I just don't believe that ghosts or monsters can be harder than my sword? Maybe these money-loving ghosts will pounce on the gold ingots like dogs seeing bones when they see the gold ingots. Then I will just use "Sword Rain Meteors" to wipe them out!" After he said that, he hung a bag of gold ingots around his waist, and the sound of metal collision was crisp and pleasant.

Liu Jialiang smiled innocently and patted the energy shield at his waist, which was as thick as a city wall. "Just charge forward, and I'll take care of your back! I think these ghost money and gold ingots might be good for 'protection money'. Let's make a deal with the wronged souls and each get what they need. How great!"

As he spoke, he carefully folded the paper money and put it into his pocket, as if he was treasuring some treasure.

He Youxing pushed his headphones up his head, and a holographic map unfolded before his eyes, but from time to time, strange shadows flashed by. "I'm responsible for reconnaissance and route planning. But..."

His expression suddenly grew serious. "The mission interface shows that the strangeness inside the theater seems to have developed a sense of its own. Also, I found some cleared cases in the database. Ghostly money has a special effect in places with strong yin energy. The records are vague about what exactly this effect is, so I guess we'll have to try it ourselves."

Liu Fengqi looked around at everyone, his eyes sweeping over every familiar face.

These comrades who have fought side by side for many years now have the same fighting spirit and determination shining in their eyes.

"In any case, this fragment is crucial."

His voice was steady and powerful, carrying a reassuring authority. "Check your equipment, and we'll set off in fifteen minutes. Remember, allocate your ghost money and gold ingots wisely; they could be the difference between success and failure."

As he spoke, he took out a large stack of ghost money and distributed it to his teammates. At the same time, he called up the equipment list: Set the anti-interference device to the highest level and the neural shielding system to be on standby at all times.

This mission is difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood, so everyone must remain clear-headed."

"The ghost money given by the inviter has finally been put to good use!"

He Youxing grinned, his eyes filled with nervousness. "Come to think of it, I really have to thank the inviter. I don't know how she knew we would need these things."

Wang Changming laughed heartily and patted He Youxing's shoulder vigorously: "Who cares! Once we get the Night Pearl Crown, let alone the underworld money, I won't be afraid even if I'm allowed to take a trip to the underworld!"

He Xin rolled his eyes: "Boasting is not taxable."

Liu Fengqi watched the team members banter with each other, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. The more dangerous the mission, the higher the morale. This was the spirit of the Chinese military camp, and it was the confidence that had kept them going all this way.

"There are still ten minutes." Liu Fengqi reminded.

The team members nodded one after another, and the atmosphere gradually changed from relaxed to serious.

Everyone began to make final preparations: debugging psychic weapons, checking protective equipment, and confirming the number of props.

Inside the command cabin, there were only the sounds of equipment debugging and occasional whispered conversations.

When the time came, Liu Fengqi stood in front of the command cabin door and shouted, "Let's go!"

Following the command, the team members filed out and stepped into the battlefield full of unknowns and dangers.

A red ball of light flickered in the distance, as if mocking their arrogance; and the mysterious theater was quietly waiting for new challengers.

But Liu Fengqi knew that they were not fighting alone.

As long as the team is united, there will be no difficulties that cannot be overcome and no tasks that cannot be completed.