Chapter One: Forced Login at Midnight

“Lin Yao. Marksman. I see seven seconds ahead.” “Zhou Heng,” said the blind man. “Support. I hear electronic signals.” “Su Wanqing. Front line. Pain makes me stronger.” Pei Jin smiled. “Assassin. I can escape any enclosed space.” “Gu Chen. Shot-caller. Ability unknown.” Five red figures swept across the rooftops toward the blue core. Gu Chen read the unfamiliar map: three suspension bridges, a signal tower, thirty seconds before the core shield opened. “Zhou Heng, what signals are in the tower?” “Lift, lights—and bridge detonators.” “Pei Jin, get inside and kill the lights. Wanqing holds west bridge. Take their first burst, don't chase. Lin Yao, look ahead and tell me which bridge falls.”