Chapter Twenty-Five: The Countdown’s Ultimate Gambit

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Countdown: 00:05:00
A deafening alarm echoed through Sahara Experimental Station Zero. Red warning lights strobed incessantly, and the air was thick with a suffocating tension.
At the console, Cain’s gaze was icy, a sardonic smirk playing on his lips. "Xu Yunchuan, do you really think you can stop us by triggering the self-destruct sequence? The core system of Project Obsidian has already entered lockdown. You... have no chance left."
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Freezing the Self-Destruct
"Ling Yun, hold them off!" Xu Yunchuan commanded in a low voice, his eyes rapidly scanning the data interface on the console. He knew that the core of Project Obsidian had been completely locked down by Cain, and with Zhao Ming’s remote intervention interrupted, this was their only hope.
"We must force a restart of the core system and bypass their firewall!" Ling Yun shouted while returning fire.
Xu Yunchuan worked the console calmly, his fingers flying across the keys as he searched for a backdoor. But Cain was clearly prepared; every backdoor and auxiliary channel had been sealed.
"We're running out of time!" Ling Yun yelled.
Countdown: 00:03:30
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Zhao Ming’s Desperate Counterattack
Meanwhile, at the Shen Group headquarters, Zhao Ming and his technical team were still struggling to reconnect to the core system of Experimental Station Zero.
"Hurry! Try that auxiliary channel again!" Sweat beaded on Zhao Ming’s forehead.
"The auxiliary channel is locked; we can’t get in," the technician reported anxiously.
Suddenly, a technician cried out in surprise: "Found an unencrypted communication channel! It’s an administrative override left by one of their internal engineers!"
Zhao Ming’s face lit up. "Connect immediately! Initiate a direct interference sweep; we must delay the core system’s startup!"
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Cain’s Trump Card
At the console, Cain watched the data fluctuations on the panel, his expression shifting. "They’re interfering with the system remotely. Cut the communication line at once."
But just then, the lights in Experimental Station Zero flickered, and the system interface began to glitch with massive data errors.
"It worked!" Ling Yun exclaimed excitedly.
Xu Yunchuan studied the console, his eyes sharp. "The core self-destruct program is partially unlocked, but there is one final security lock. We have to trigger it manually."
Cain sneered, "Even if you trigger the self-destruct, you won’t make it out alive!"
Countdown: 00:02:00
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Life-or-Death Duel
Cain waved his hand, and the surrounding soldiers charged forward. Gunfire echoed through the control room. Ling Yun and the other team members fought back desperately; bullets grazed the console, sending sparks flying.
Xu Yunchuan moved quickly to the core self-destruct switch. Looking at the dense, complex control interface, he took a deep breath.
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"Ling Yun, cover me!"
"Understood!" Ling Yun threw a flashbang grenade, and the room was instantly filled with white mist.
In the chaos, Cain drew his pistol and aimed directly at Xu Yunchuan. "It’s over!"
Bang!
Ling Yun lunged forward, shielding Xu Yunchuan from the shot. Blood surged from his chest.
"Ling Yun!" Xu Yunchuan’s eyes turned bloodshot.
"Hurry... finish it!" Ling Yun gasped with difficulty.
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The Final Five Seconds
Countdown: 00:00:05
Xu Yunchuan pressed the final self-destruct button with a trembling hand. A piercing alarm wailed throughout the station.
"System self-destruct initiated. Please evacuate immediately!"
Cain’s face turned ghastly. He roared, "Stop them! Stop them now!"
However, the self-destruct sequence was irreversible. The control center began to shake violently, and the reinforced concrete overhead began to crack and crumble.
"Ling Yun, let’s go!" Xu Yunchuan pulled the fallen Ling Yun up and struggled toward the exit.
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The Great Escape
Explosive fire erupted from the corridors as the interior of Experimental Station Zero began to collapse.
Amidst the hail of bullets, Xu Yunchuan dragged Ling Yun toward the outskirts of the station. Less than 50 meters from the exit, a massive steel beam crashed down, blocking their path.
"Yunchuan, leave me behind!" Ling Yun said weakly.
"No, I won’t leave you!" Determination flashed in Xu Yunchuan’s eyes.
Just then, a helicopter descended slowly. The voice of Eileen Hall came through his earpiece: "Mr. Xu, hurry up and get on!"
At the final second, Xu Yunchuan dragged Ling Yun toward the helicopter. As the aircraft lifted off, flames and explosions billowed out behind them.
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The Fall of the Station
In the distant sky, a massive fireball soared upward. Experimental Station Zero was reduced to rubble.
Xu Yunchuan sat in the helicopter, his face covered in dust and blood. He watched the explosion in the distance and let out a long, ragged breath.
Ling Yun lay on a stretcher, pale, but a glimmer of victory shone in his eyes.
"Did we... win?" Ling Yun asked faintly.
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"Yes, we won," Xu Yunchuan said firmly.
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Global Shock
News of the explosion at Experimental Station Zero spread rapidly across the globe. Major media outlets scrambled to report the story, exposing the conspiracy of the Abyss Consortium. The international community condemned their dangerous actions.
"The Sahara Tragedy: Abyss Consortium Conspiracy Exposed"
"Turning Point for the New Energy Revolution: The Victory of the Shen Group"
Simultaneously, multiple nations announced a joint investigation into the Abyss Consortium and the freezing of its assets worldwide.
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Epilogue: A New Beginning
In the hospital ward, Ling Yun lay in bed, a weary yet satisfied smile on his face.
"Yunchuan, we won this battle."
"But the war isn’t over yet." Xu Yunchuan stood by the window, watching the city lights. His expression was calm but resolute.
"The power of the Abyss Consortium hasn’t been completely eradicated. They will return."
"But this time, we have the Global New Energy Alliance as our backing. They won’t be able to topple us so easily again."
Shen Qingwan entered the room and said softly, "The third phase of the Zero-Carbon City project has launched smoothly. Our future is already within reach."
"Yes," Xu Yunchuan said, his gaze unwavering. "This is a new starting point, and we must keep moving forward."
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Chapter 25 Summary
Project Obsidian was successfully stopped, and Experimental Station Zero was destroyed.
Ling Yun was wounded but survived.
Global public outcry pushed the Abyss Consortium to the brink.
The third phase of the Zero-Carbon City project launched, bringing a new dawn to the new energy industry.
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The remnants of the Abyss Consortium launch a counterattack.
The restructuring and rebuilding of the global new energy market.
The full-scale implementation of the Zero-Carbon City’s third phase.
The future of new energy remains fraught with challenges...
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