173: A sense of despair pervaded the air.

The vehicle was still rocking after landing, but Chen Wang's hand was already pressed against the screen of the kindling system.

A red light flashed; the power system was locked, and the countdown showed it would take six more minutes to restart.

A low whistling wind came from beneath the vehicle as the ice vortex pulled it downward.

"It's not working," Lin Wei said, pressing the manual power button. "I tried the backup heating coils, but the ice outside is too thick. The heat dissipates too quickly, and the temperature inside the vehicle has dropped by two degrees."

She looked up at the oxygen data. It was dropping by 0.8% per minute; the cockpit and medical pod could last for another three minutes, but the power was already cut in other areas.

Su Wan shouted from the medical pod, "The carbon dioxide levels are too high. If we don't ventilate soon, everyone will pass out within ten minutes."

She took off her mask and injected the last stabilizer into Star Pupil's vein. The empty syringe dropped to the floor.

Star Pupil leaned back in her chair, her face pale. The mechanical parrot suddenly fluttered its wings and let out a sharp cry.

The connection cable had loosened; her body trembled, and her eyelids flickered rapidly.

"I... I saw it," she said, opening her eyes, her voice trembling. "Twelve signals, coming from different directions, moving very fast."

Before she could finish, blood flowed from her nose, dripping onto the detection screen. The blood covered half of the coordinate map.

Chen Wang held her shoulders and wiped the blood off the screen with his hand. The number became clear: 12.

"They aren't human," he said.

Lin Wei immediately checked the data from the electromagnetic pulse. After the last launch, the system had captured a trace of brainwave activity. The biological frequency of the Adapters had been recorded.

"Turn off the lights," Chen Wang whispered. "And nobody speak."

The lights went out. The alarm was still sounding, but the volume was turned down to the minimum. The wind and snow scraped against the ice shell, making a rustling sound.

Through the frosted windows, the ice in the distance cracked, spreading toward them like a spiderweb.

Twelve pairs of blue eyes appeared.

Sharp claws dug into the ice, sending ice chips flying. Low growls mixed into the wind and snow, getting closer and closer.

Su Ling shoved the last armor-piercing round into her sniper rifle; her hands were very cold. She didn't speak, only aimed the muzzle forward.

Amy Chen sat in the corner, clutching credit notes in her hand. She tore them one by one, her movements slow.

Paper scraps fell onto her knees, then slid to the floor. She no longer calculated probabilities, nor did she look at anyone.

Lin Wei stared at the charging bar of the electromagnetic cannon. 17%, flashing very slowly. She wanted to connect the backup power, but the system indicated a conflict. The energy core was too hot to take on any more load.

"It can't melt the ice," she said. "The outer layer of ice is three fingers thick; the heating coils aren't enough."

Chen Wang looked at the steering wheel, his fingers gripping it until they turned white. He had calculated the escape time—four minutes. Now, only two and a half minutes remained.

But the power still hadn't recovered, and the vehicle was stuck in the ice vortex, unable to move at all.

The ice shell shook once.

An ice wolf jumped onto the platform, its front paws stepping on the roof of the vehicle. The metal screeched as it was scratched.

It lowered its head, sniffing the body of the vehicle, and let out a low growl from its throat. The other eleven slowly surrounded them, standing in a circle and blocking all exits.

Star Pupil's body slid downward. Chen Wang pulled her back up and fastened her seatbelt. Her breathing was very weak, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

The mechanical parrot lay on her shoulder, unmoving.

Su Wan leaned against the door frame of the medical pod, looking at the unconscious girl. She said softly, "If we don't live to see tomorrow... at least we never gave up on anyone."

No one responded.

Amy Chen finished tearing the last note. She opened her hands; there was nothing left. Her gaze was vacant, staring at the floor.

Smoke began to rise from the interface of Lin Wei's mechanical arm. She ignored it and continued trying to restart the electromagnetic cannon. Her fingers tapped on the console, slower and slower. The charging bar was still at 17%, unchanged.

Su Ling pressed her left hand against her old injury on her left shoulder. It had been frostbitten there, and it ached whenever the weather turned cold. She bit her lip to keep from making a sound. Her right hand rested near the trigger, ready to fire at any moment.

The wolf pack howled in unison outside.

The sound cut through the wind and snow, and the instruments inside the vehicle hummed. The alarm lights flickered on and off. Oxygen was at 1.2%. One minute and eighteen seconds remained.

Chen Wang glanced at Star Pupil, then at the kindling system. Power unlock countdown: 3 minutes 12 seconds. Too much of a difference.

He reached out to touch underneath his seat. The switch for the nuclear reactor was still there, welded shut. He couldn't use it. Once activated, it would blow up the entire ice layer, the vehicle would be overturned, and might even fall into an underground cavern.

The wolf pack began to move. Three circled to the rear of the vehicle, clawing at the wreckage of the tracks. The other nine crouched, unmoving, their eyes fixed on the windows.

One wolf stood up and howled at the sky.

The others followed suit immediately. The twelve voices overlapped, and the vibration transmitted to the ice shell. Fine cracks appeared on the surface, and ice chips fell.

Lin Wei looked up abruptly. "They are testing us! Once the cracks connect, they will all pounce at once!"

Chen Wang didn't move. He knew she was right. He also knew they had no way to fight back. The electromagnetic cannon was out of power, the frozen pork chop launcher was jammed, and there was only half a tank of liquid nitrogen left; throwing it out wouldn't stop twelve wolves.

Su Ling switched the gun to her left hand and reached for the ice pick at her waist with her right. This was her last weapon. She knew she couldn't kill them all, but at least she could pierce the neck of the first one that charged in.

Amy Chen finally looked up. She watched Chen Wang's back, her lips moving, but no sound came out.

Su Wan bent down to pick up the empty syringe. Her fingertips trembled when they touched the floor. She put it into the medical kit and zipped it up. Then she sat down, leaning against the cabin wall, and closed her eyes.

Star Pupil's fingers suddenly twitched.

The mechanical parrot's wings lifted slightly, emitting a short "beep." It seemed to have received something.

Chen Wang noticed and turned to look at her. Her eyelashes were trembling, and her mouth was slightly open, as if she wanted to say something.

At that moment, the ice shell vibrated violently.

A triangular piece of ice fell from the top, hitting the roof of the vehicle with a loud bang. Cracks spread rapidly, covering the entire observation window.

The wolf pack went quiet.

Twelve pairs of blue eyes stared into the vehicle simultaneously.

The leader slowly stood up, its front paws leaving the ground, muscles tensed, preparing to pounce.

Lin Wei's hand hovered over the electromagnetic cannon button. The charging bar was still at 17%.

Amy Chen closed her eyes.

Su Ling gripped the ice pick tight.

Su Wan opened her eyes and looked at Star Pupil.

Chen Wang stared at those approaching eyes, his throat dry. He heard his own heartbeat, each beat heavier than the last.

At the edge of the ice shell, the first claw mark was carved. Metal and sharp claws scraped together, a spark flashing.