41: The Call of the Genesis Engine

Chen Wang's hand moved slightly.

Blood flowed down from his forehead, dripping onto the steering wheel. He blinked, his vision blurry, then forced his eyes wide open. The windshield was cracked, the fire outside was slowly dimming, and the sea surface was beginning to freeze. The engine was still running, the sound very low, as if it hadn't completely died yet.

He raised his left hand; there was a scratch on the copper watch on his wrist. His right hand gripped the steering wheel tightly, his fingers turning white. The dashboard was black, only the kindling system interface was still lit, blue light floating before his eyes, the taskbar reading: Activate the genesis engine.

"It's not over yet," he whispered, as if speaking to the Wuling.

Coughing sounds came from above. Su Ling leaned against the roof hatch, the clothes on her left shoulder soaked with blood. She wiped her face, her other hand feeling for the sniper rifle. The gun was still there, the safety already off. She looked down out the window; the sun was rising from the east, the light shining on the snow, very dazzling.

"The light... is real," she said softly.

This sentence wasn't loud, but it was heard clearly in the cabin.

Lin Wei's hand suddenly moved. She was lying on the ground, half her face pressed against the cold floor. She propped herself up, her head a bit dizzy, and reached out to the operation console. The screen flickered, the map still usable. She tapped a few times, her hand a bit shaky, but she still managed to pull up the coordinates.

Amy Chen was sitting in the passenger seat, holding a broken chip in her hand. She looked at the communication panel, a few wires exposed, sparking. She plugged the wires back in and pressed the start button. The radio emitted a short sound, then it connected.

"The signal is connected," she said. "I can send messages."

Su Wan leaned in the corner of the medical pod, her breathing very slow. She opened her eyes, first looking at the vital signs monitor, the numbers all in the normal range. She shifted her body, picked up the notebook by her feet, opened a page, and wrote a line: All members alive, injuries controllable.

Star Pupil didn't move. She lay in front of the central control screen, blood flowing from her forehead down her face to her neck. Her fingers suddenly trembled, and she abruptly raised her hand to cover her temple. Her body stiffened, her breathing quickened.

"I heard it..." she whispered, "It is calling us."

Lin Wei looked up and asked, "Who?"

"The genesis engine." Star Pupil opened her eyes, a flash of gold light in them. "It is at the end of the continental bridge. It has been waiting."

Lin Wei immediately opened the holographic projection. A red dot appeared on the edge of the map, flashing; its position was very far, almost at the very edge of the map. She stared at the red dot, confirming it was correct.

"The direction is right," she said. "That is it."

Chen Wang looked at that point, not speaking for a long time. He turned his head to look at the people in the Wuling vehicle. Su Ling was leaning against the hatch, her face pale; Lin Wei's hands were still shaking; Su Wan was sitting against the wall, her pen not stopping; Amy Chen was staring at the screen, a chip turning in her hand; Star Pupil was closing her eyes, her hand resting on the central console.

He took a deep breath, the taste of blood in his mouth.

"The genesis engine is on the new continent," he said. "hope must complete the mission."

No one spoke.

Lin Wei entered the course, the system emitting a prompt sound. The tracks of the Wuling began to turn, crushing over broken ice and wreckage, making a harsh sound. The vehicle body swayed, moving forward.

Amy Chen pressed the radio button: "All survivors, we are heading to the genesis engine. Repeat, we are heading to the genesis engine."

The signal was sent out, but there was no response in the channel.

Su Ling stood up, pulled open the sniper rifle's magazine, and checked the last bullet. She put the gun back on the rack, her hand on the hatch cover, ready to go up at any time.

Lin Wei removed a burnt circuit board and threw it into the waste bin. She took out a spare energy core from her backpack and inserted it into the main power slot. The system hummed, and the blue light of the kindling interface became steadier.

Su Wan closed the notebook and tucked it into the medical pod's compartment. She stood up, holding the wall, walked behind Chen Wang, and took a look at the kindling system's taskbar.

Star Pupil's hand gently tapped the central console, the rhythm slow, as if responding to something. She didn't open her eyes, but her lips moved slightly.

The Wuling continued to move forward. The dilapidated vehicle body cast a long shadow in the morning light. There were traces of explosions on the ice field, with charred metal fragments everywhere; in the distance, the wreckage of the "Xuanwu Modified" could be seen, half in the sea, half exposed above the water, no longer glowing.

Sunlight shone into the cockpit, falling on everyone's face.

Chen Wang never let go of the steering wheel. The right arm of his work clothes was torn, revealing a burn scar. He looked down at the kindling system; only 17 survival points remained, the space expansion module was offline, the weapon system was completely destroyed, and the Shield energy was at zero.

But he knew the vehicle could still move.

Lin Wei suddenly said, "Course is stable, expected to reach the target area in seventy-two hours. Provided nothing happens on the way."

"The road won't be peaceful," Su Ling said.

"But we have no choice," Amy Chen said. "Either move forward or wait for death."

Su Wan walked to Star Pupil's side and crouched down to check her pulse. It was a bit fast, but still regular. She took a sedative from the medicine box, hesitated, and put it back.

"Let her hold on a little longer," she said. "She can't sleep now."

Star Pupil's hand moved again. She slowly raised her head and looked at the kindling system's interface. The blue light flickered slightly, as if breathing. She reached out, her fingertips touching the projection.

"It knows us," she said. "It knew we would come from the very beginning."

Chen Wang looked at the ice field ahead. The sun rose higher and higher, the distant horizon gradually becoming clear. There was no obstruction across the continental bridge, just an expanse of white.

He pressed the accelerator.

The Wuling let out a muffled sound, its tracks accelerated, driving toward the point of light in the east.

Lin Wei stared at the map, the red dot still flashing. She suddenly discovered that the flashing frequency of that red dot was the same as the vibration of the wuling emblem.

Amy Chen organized the chips, putting the good ones aside and collecting the broken ones. She opened the resource list and began to calculate how much longer the remaining fuel and medicine would last.

Su Ling climbed onto the roof of the vehicle and pulled open the hatch. Cold wind blew in, and she squinted as she looked into the distance. The sky was gray, with no clouds and no birds. But she knew that this quiet wouldn't last long.

Su Wan walked back to her seat, leaning on the chairs. She picked up the silver scalpel, wiped it, and put it back in her pocket. The last page of the notebook had a sentence written on it: hope is not a result, it is a choice.

Star Pupil leaned against the central console, her hand resting on the interface. Her breathing gradually steadied, her eyes closed, and there was a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth.

Chen Wang kept his right hand on the steering wheel, his left hand holding the copper watch. He glanced at the rearview mirror, which reflected the faces of six people; all were injured, all were very tired, but all were alive.

The vehicle continued to move forward.

The tracks crushed over the ice layer, making a continuous friction sound.

The kindling system's interface was running steadily, and the taskbar had not changed.

Sunlight shone on the broken windshield, refracting a faint beam of light that fell on the back of Chen Wang's hand.