53: Chapter 53 Counterattack and Escape

The piercing alarm continued to blare frantically through the corridors of the Diamond Casino. Red warning lights, like the pupils of a dying man, flickered repeatedly against the walls, stretching everyone's shadows into twisted, hideous shapes. Lin Fan grabbed Michael's arm, with Kate and Franklin guarding either side. As the four of them rushed out of the laboratory's iron doors, a dense buzzing sound drifted from above, sounding like countless hornets approaching.

"Not good! It's a drone swarm!" Franklin snapped his head up, his gaze instantly freezing. From the casino's ventilation ducts, emergency exits, and even the gaps in the ceiling, silver-white drones were pouring out incessantly. Each drone's body bore a striking military insignia, and cold red dots flickered beneath their bellies—laser sights locking onto their targets.

Kate's fingers tapped rapidly on her tablet, her expression darkening. "All exits are blocked! The military has mobilized ground forces; armored vehicles and SWAT teams are at every entrance. We're surrounded!" She paused, her voice shaking with unbelievable shock. "The drone swarm is being controlled by Elizabeth's AI system. She's actually teamed up with Zero!"

Elizabeth, the military's chief AI engineer in Los Santos, controlled the city's entire security drone fleet. Lin Fan had seen her files when investigating New Era Technology. He hadn't expected this seemingly neutral tech fanatic to become Zero's accomplice.

"Heh, they certainly think highly of us." Lin Fan stopped and slowly let go of Michael's arm. His eyes swept over the dense crowd of drones as his fingertips instinctively tightened. The shock of seeing that clone in the lab hadn't faded yet, and now the oppressive weight of being surrounded by heavy forces hit him. His heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, making every breath a sluggish, painful effort.

[Damn it, I just escaped the jaws of death in Laboratory E-13, only to run into the military's dragnet. When will this dog's life end?] Lin Fan cursed inwardly, but he remained calm on the surface, with only a trace of imperceptible irritability hidden deep in his eyes. It wasn't that he wasn't afraid; he had just spent so many years struggling in Los Santos, going from a starting five-star wanted level to dealing with gangs and the FBI. He had long since grown accustomed to finding a way to survive in desperate situations.

"Nobody move! Drop your weapons and surrender immediately!" A cold, mechanical voice came through the loudspeaker—it was Elizabeth's AI-synthesized voice. "Lin Fan, you are suspected of illegal intrusion into military secrets, kidnapping key personnel, and endangering public safety. You are now officially listed as a top-priority wanted target. Those who resist arrest will be shot on sight!"

The drone swarm slowly closed in, the red dots of the laser sights falling thick and fast upon the four of them. Michael instinctively raised his gun, but Lin Fan pushed it down.

"Don't be impulsive!" Lin Fan whispered. "These drones are AI-controlled with dense firepower. We're no match for them in a head-on fight; we'd just be throwing our lives away."

[Dying is easy, but Michael was just rescued, Kate still has leverage against Zero, and Franklin is still waiting to go mod cars with Lamar... I can't let them die here.] Lin Fan's gaze darted around, landing on the sign for the server room at the end of the corridor. He had noticed it during the auction—the casino's core servers were concentrated there. Elizabeth's AI drone swarm would surely rely on signal transmissions from those servers for precision control.

"I've got it!" Lin Fan's eyes lit up as code energy began to coalesce at his fingertips. The cool energy spread from his fingers, slightly steadying his chaotic thoughts. [The hacking skills and Code Editing ability the system gave me aren't just for show. Since it's AI-controlled, don't blame me for showing off my skills.]

"Franklin, in a moment I'll disrupt the drone system. You go to the parking lot immediately and hijack an armored vehicle—the heavier the better!" Lin Fan issued orders quickly, his tone firm. "Kate, help me monitor the surrounding signal fluctuations to prevent Elizabeth from switching control modes! Michael, you cover us. If any drones slip through the net, shoot them down!"

"Understood!" the three responded in unison, a hint of confidence finally appearing on their tense faces.

Lin Fan took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused all his mental energy on the code energy. Countless strings of virtual code flashed through his mind like a surging river. His consciousness followed the signal waves, rapidly infiltrating the drone swarm's control system.

"Elizabeth, thanks for sending such great 'toys'." A mocking smile played on Lin Fan's lips, though he was complaining wildly inside. [This AI's firewall is too perfunctory; it's simpler than the cheat programs I used to crack while staying up late gaming. It seems military tech is only so-so.]

In the next second, the drone swarm, which had been poised to strike, suddenly froze. The red dots under their bellies stopped flickering. Then, all the drones simultaneously adjusted their posture, their wings swaying slightly as if preparing for some kind of movement.

Elizabeth noticed the anomaly through the loudspeaker, her voice turning sharp. "Lin Fan! What are you doing?! Stop interfering with my system immediately!"

"What am I doing? Putting on a show for you, of course!" Lin Fan opened his eyes with a smile, his fingertips exerting force as he input the pre-prepared commands into the control system. [They say art comes from life, but I never thought I'd get to be a dance troupe director in this lifetime—and for drones, no less. No one would believe it.]

Following Lin Fan's command, the melodious strains of "Swan Lake" suddenly erupted from the drones' speakers. The soothing and beautiful melody was completely at odds with the current tension. Even more absurdly, all the drones began to dance in perfect unison to the rhythm—wings flapping up and down, bodies spinning and leaping, even performing tiptoe and gliding movements. Though the motions were slightly stiff, they were unexpectedly synchronized, like a well-trained drone dance troupe.

"Holy shit?!" Franklin watched, dumbfounded, nearly dropping his gun. "What... what kind of crazy move is this? Kid, you actually have this kind of skill?"

Kate was also full of bewilderment. Watching the drones perform ballet, she couldn't help but rub her forehead, yet a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "I have to say, they're quite synchronized."

Michael grinned even wider, the frustration of his recent imprisonment vanishing. "Lin Fan, this move is brilliant! I bet Elizabeth's face is turning green with rage right now!"

[You bet. Anyone would be fuming if their drones were hijacked to dance ballet.] Lin Fan chuckled inwardly, but his hands didn't stop. While maintaining the drone performance, he shouted to Franklin, "Don't just stand there! Go grab the armored vehicle! Move fast, I can't hold this for long!"

"On it!" Franklin snapped out of it and sprinted toward the parking lot. His Extreme Running privilege came in handy now as his figure quickly vanished at the end of the corridor.

Elizabeth's exasperated roar came through the loudspeaker: "Bastard! How dare you humiliate my drone swarm! I'll kill you!"

Immediately after, Lin Fan felt a strong resistance signal within the control system. Elizabeth was forcibly trying to retake control. Code energy collided violently in his mind, feeling like countless needles stabbing his nerves. The pain caused fine beads of cold sweat to break out on his forehead.

"Hold on, Lin Fan!" Kate immediately stepped forward and held the tablet in front of him. "I'll help you distract her signal! You focus on keeping the drones steady!"

[This hurts like hell! Elizabeth's obsession is really deep. It's just a dance, is it worth this much effort?] Lin Fan gritted his teeth, the cold sweat from his forehead sliding down his cheek and dripping onto his collar, leaving a chilly sensation. He could feel his code energy depleting rapidly, and his vision even began to swim with slight dizziness, but he didn't dare stop—once the drones regained control, they would all be turned into Swiss cheese.

"Michael! Two drones on the left are about to break free!" Lin Fan shouted, his voice hoarse from the strain.

Michael immediately raised his gun and aimed at the two drones that were starting to twitch. With two bangs, he precisely hit the core components under their bellies. The drones instantly lost power and slammed heavily onto the floor with a dull thud.

"Don't worry! With me here, not even a fly will get close!" Michael said in a low voice, his eyes sharp as a hawk as he watched the surrounding drones.

Just then, the roar of an engine drifted from the distance, growing closer and closer until the corridor began to vibrate slightly.

"It's here! Franklin is here!" Lin Fan's eyes brightened, and half the weight on his heart finally lifted.

Soon, a pitch-black heavy armored vehicle smashed through the wall at the end of the corridor and came barreling toward them. The body was riddled with bullet holes and the front was stained with blood, clearly having survived a fierce firefight. Franklin poked his head out and shouted at them, "Get in! I worked hard to hijack this thing!"

"Retreat!" Lin Fan abruptly withdrew his code energy. The drones that had been dancing to "Swan Lake" instantly lost control and crashed to the ground one after another with a series of clatters. He grabbed Kate and Michael, sprinting toward the armored vehicle.

Elizabeth's voice rang out again, filled with towering rage. "Trying to leave? It won't be that easy!"

From the rooms on both sides of the corridor, a large number of military SWAT teams suddenly burst out, armed with automatic rifles, and opened fire frantically. Bullets hit the armored vehicle with a metallic clatter but could not penetrate the thick plating.

"Get in, quick!" Franklin opened the door and shouted at them.

Lin Fan and the other two scrambled into the armored vehicle. As soon as the door closed, Franklin floored the accelerator. The armored vehicle, like a wild horse off its leash, charged toward the server room.

"Lin Fan, what are you doing? The server room is a dead end!" Kate asked in confusion. She didn't understand why Lin Fan was charging into a trap.

Lin Fan leaned back against the seat, panting heavily. Controlling the drones had consumed too much of his code energy; his whole body felt weak, and he barely had the strength to lift his hand. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his gaze remaining firm. "The server room has what we need—Zero's secrets, and Michael's true identity."

[When I saw the clone in the lab earlier, I knew something was wrong. Why would Zero clone me? What exactly is the E-13 Experiment? And Michael—Zero didn't kill him immediately after capturing him, there must be a reason. These questions must have answers in the server room.] Various thoughts swirled in Lin Fan's mind. The anger from seeing Michael imprisoned, the shock of the clone, and the desperation of being hunted by the military had all transformed into a singular obsession—he had to uncover the truth.

"My identity?" Michael froze, his eyes full of confusion. "I'm just an ordinary Los Santos citizen. My parents were both working-class. What kind of identity could I have?"

"You think you're an ordinary citizen?" Lin Fan glanced at him, his tone heavy. "Zero caught you not because you were spying on his secrets, but because you are a product of the E-13 Experiment. I saw your files in the lab earlier. You are an early Consciousness Fusion Failure."

"Consciousness Fusion Failure?" Michael was completely stunned, his face a mask of disbelief. "What does that mean? I don't understand."

"Don't worry. Once we get to the server room and find the data, you'll understand." Lin Fan patted his shoulder, his heart full of mixed emotions. Having spent so much time with Michael, their relationship was no longer that of a simple NPC and a transmigrator; they were brothers-in-arms. He couldn't imagine how Michael would feel upon learning he was merely an experimental subject.

The armored vehicle smashed through layer after layer of obstacles until it finally reached the entrance of the server room. The door was a specially made alloy door, incredibly sturdy. Without hesitation, Franklin floored the accelerator again, and the armored vehicle slammed hard into the alloy door.

Bang! With a loud crash, the alloy door deformed, revealing a gap. Franklin hit it twice more, and the door was completely forced open. The armored vehicle drove straight into the server room.

The room was filled with rows of server cabinets, their indicator lights flickering green and red with a humming sound. Countless network cables were tangled together like a spider's web, appearing chaotic yet possessing a sense of precise order.

"Nobody get out! Franklin, drive the armored vehicle between the cabinets to block the door! Kate, you hack the server's encryption system; I want all the data on the E-13 Experiment! Michael, you stay on guard to prevent anyone from coming in!" Lin Fan issued orders rapidly. Having recovered some energy, his gaze became sharp once again.

The four of them performed their duties. Franklin parked the armored vehicle between the cabinets, firmly guarding the entrance; Michael held his gun, alertly watching the door; Kate sat before her tablet, fingers tapping rapidly as she began to crack the server's encryption; and Lin Fan walked to the core server cabinet, code energy gathering at his fingertips as he directly accessed the server's core database.

[E-13 Experiment, come out!] Lin Fan chanted in his heart as countless strings of code flashed rapidly through his mind. Information from the database surged like a tide—files, data, experimental reports—making his head spin.

Soon, a folder labeled "E-13 Experiment Classified" appeared before his eyes. Lin Fan opened it without hesitation, and the contents sent a shock through his entire body. His heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, aching so much he could barely breathe.

[So that's how it is... so that's how everything happened...] Lin Fan's fingers trembled slightly. Looking at the dense experimental data, a storm of emotions surged within him.

The experimental report read: E-13 Experiment was a consciousness fusion experiment initiated by New Era Technology in collaboration with Zero. The goal was to fuse the consciousness of humans from the real world into the bodies of NPCs in the game world, thereby creating "perfect vessels" with autonomous consciousness and superhuman combat power. And Michael was one of the first batch of experimental subjects ten years ago. Because a rejection reaction occurred during the consciousness fusion process, the experiment failed. He was deemed a "reject" and exiled to the streets of Los Santos, becoming an ordinary NPC.

The report also included Michael's experimental file, which contained photos of him as a child, surveillance footage from the experimental process, and a doctor's diagnostic report—failure of consciousness fusion, resulting in partial memory loss and a tendency toward irritability, but possessing tenacious vitality and extraordinary combat talent.

[No wonder Michael's past was always a blur, no wonder his combat talent is so strong, and no wonder Zero captured him but didn't kill him... It turns out that from the very beginning, he wasn't a real NPC; he was an abandoned experimental subject.] Lin Fan felt a lump in his throat. He turned to look at Michael, who was staring warily at the door, the sunlight through the window outlining his resolute features. This brother, who was always so carefree and loyal, actually bore such a tragic past.

"Lin Fan, how is it? Did you find the data?" Kate's voice interrupted Lin Fan's thoughts. She had already cracked most of the encryption systems and turned to look at Lin Fan, her eyes full of urgency.

Lin Fan took a deep breath, took the tablet, pulled up the data for E-13 Experiment, and handed it to Kate and Michael. "See for yourselves. This is the truth about E-13 Experiment, and it's also Michael's origin."

Michael took the tablet in confusion. As he saw the contents of the experimental report, the smile on his face gradually vanished. His expression shifted from confusion to shock, then from shock to disbelief, until finally, only deep bewilderment and pain remained.

"No... this is impossible..." Michael's voice trembled, his fingers gripping the tablet so hard his knuckles turned white. "How could I be an experimental subject? I have parents, I have friends—I'm clearly a living, breathing person!"

He suddenly looked up at Lin Fan, his eyes full of pleading. "Lin Fan, tell me this isn't true. This is Zero's conspiracy, these are forged documents, right?"

Seeing the pain in Michael's eyes, Lin Fan's heart felt as if it were being pricked by needles. He stepped forward and patted Michael's shoulder, his voice low and gentle. "Michael, I know this is hard to accept, but this is the truth. But remember, you aren't some reject or an experimental subject. You are Michael, our brother—the Michael who dares to fight gangs and challenge the police. Your origin doesn't define you; the things you've done and the people around you are who you truly are."

[Yeah, what does one's origin matter? In this game world, we are all people with no way back. Although Michael is an experimental subject, he lives more honestly and with more passion than many so-called 'normal people.' He saved me, fought gangs with me, and escaped five-star wanted levels with me. This friendship is more important than anything.] Lin Fan was filled with emotion. When he first arrived in this world, he thought everyone was a cold NPC, until he met Michael and Franklin and felt warmth and bonds.

Kate also stepped forward and comforted him softly, "Michael, don't be sad. Zero's experiment is evil, but you are innocent. We will definitely destroy this experiment and liberate all the experimental subjects like you."

Franklin also lowered his gun, walked to Michael's side, and grinned. "Hey, brother, who cares about experimental subjects or whatever? You're still you. At worst, we'll take on the world together from now on. If anyone dares say anything bad about you, I'll be the first to deal with them!"

Looking at his companions, Michael's eyes gradually reddened. He nodded vigorously, clutched the tablet tightly to his chest, and spoke with a choked voice, "Thank you... thank you all." He was silent for a moment, his gaze suddenly becoming determined. "Zero treated me as an experimental subject, as a pawn. I won't let him get away with it! I will personally destroy his experiment and make him pay the price!"

[That's right, that's the Michael I know.] Lin Fan smiled with relief, the heaviness in his heart lightening considerably. He knew that although Michael was temporarily struck down, the resilience in his bones would never let him stay down.

"Alright, we've got the data. It's time to go." Lin Fan glanced at the time. "Elizabeth's army will be catching up soon. We can't stay here long."

Just then, the door to the server room was suddenly blown open. Amidst billowing smoke, Elizabeth's voice came through a loudspeaker, carrying cold killing intent: "Lin Fan, Michael, Kate, Franklin, you have nowhere left to run! Hand over the data and surrender, and I might give you a quick end!"

Immediately after, a large number of military SWAT officers rushed into the server room, firing wildly at them. Bullets struck the armored vehicle with ear-piercing clangs, and the server racks were riddled with holes. Indicator lights flickered out, and the alarms in the server room blared once again.

"Go! Through the back door!" Lin Fan shouted. When he had accessed the server earlier, he had discovered a hidden back door in the server room leading to the casino's underground parking lot.

The four of them immediately scrambled into the armored vehicle. Franklin slammed on the gas, and the vehicle charged toward the back door, crashing through countless server racks and carving out a path by brute force.

The back door indeed led to the underground parking lot. The lot was filled with various luxury cars. Franklin drove the armored vehicle, ramming through the traffic, and soon reached the parking lot exit.

The exit was already blocked by military armored vehicles. Several armored vehicles were lined up in a row, forming a solid defensive line. The heavy machine guns on their roofs were pointed right at them, ready to fire at any moment.

"Damn it, even the underground parking lot is blocked!" Franklin cursed, slamming on the brakes. The armored vehicle stopped dozens of meters away from the defensive line.

[This is trouble. Blocked in front and pursued from behind—are we really going to fall here?] Lin Fan's brow furrowed tightly. He quickly scanned the surroundings, his gaze landing on several fuel tankers in a corner of the parking lot, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Franklin, see those fuel tankers?" Lin Fan pointed at the tankers in the corner, his voice excited. "In a moment, I'll use Code Editing energy to detonate the tankers and create chaos. You take the chance to charge through!"

"Good idea!" Franklin's eyes lit up. "No problem! Leave it to me!"

Lin Fan didn't hesitate. A large amount of Code Editing energy condensed at his fingertips and surged toward the fuel tankers. He quickly hacked into the tankers' electronic control systems. He only needed one command to detonate them.

"Ready? Three-second countdown!" Lin Fan shouted.

"Ready!" Franklin gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

"Three! Two! One! Detonate!"

At Lin Fan's command, the fuel tankers instantly exploded. Massive fireballs rose into the air, and a scorching shockwave swept through the entire parking lot. The military's armored defensive line was overturned by the blast, and several armored vehicles were blown away. The firelight dyed the entire sky red.

"Go!" Franklin seized the opportunity and floored the accelerator. The armored vehicle, like an arrow released from a bow, charged toward the opening created by the blast. It smashed through layers of obstacles and finally burst out of the underground parking lot, arriving on the streets of Los Santos.

The streets were still brightly lit, but they were now in total chaos. Police cars and military vehicles were everywhere. Sirens, explosions, and gunfire intertwined like a grand disaster.

"Where to?" Franklin asked, his eyes full of anxiety.

"To the suburbs! We have a hideout prepared there!" Lin Fan said. He had long anticipated such a situation and had prepared a hidden cabin in the suburbs to evade pursuit.

The armored vehicle sped toward the suburbs. The pursuers were hot on their heels, with countless police cars and military vehicles following behind. Sirens wailed one after another, as if announcing their wanted status.

Lin Fan leaned back in his seat, watching the street scenery flash by outside the window with mixed emotions. In this battle, although they had obtained the data on E-13 Experiment and successfully fought their way out, they had also completely exposed their identities. They were now the common targets of the military and Zero. From now on, life would only get harder.

[Zero, Elizabeth, New Era Technology... the opponents are surfacing one by one. This game is getting more and more interesting.] A stubborn smile tugged at the corner of Lin Fan's mouth, his eyes filled with fighting spirit. [You want my life? You want to control this world? It won't be that easy! From today on, I will be the one to set the rules of Los Santos!]

He turned to look at the companions beside him. Michael's gaze was firm, Kate was still analyzing the data, and Franklin gripped the steering wheel with intense focus. Looking at them, Lin Fan's heart was filled with strength—he wasn't fighting alone. He had partners, he had brothers. Even if the road ahead was covered in thorns, he would walk it without hesitation.

The armored vehicle sped through the night. The pursuers were gradually left behind, the lights of Los Santos grew distant, and the darkness of the suburbs deepened. But Lin Fan knew this wasn't the end, but a new beginning. The ultimate showdown between him and Zero had only just begun, and the outcome of this confrontation would determine the fate of all Los Santos, and perhaps even affect the safety of the real world.

[Zero, wait for me. Next time we meet, I will personally destroy your conspiracy and make you pay the most painful price for your actions!] Lin Fan's gaze became incredibly resolute, and the Code Editing energy at his fingertips pulsed slightly, flickering with a faint light in the night.

The suburban cabin drew closer, and the armored vehicle finally came to a slow stop. After the four of them got out, Franklin immediately hid the armored vehicle in the nearby woods, covering it with branches and fallen leaves.

"Finally safe." Franklin breathed a sigh of relief, plopped down on the ground, and gasped for air. "That was too close just now. We almost bit the dust back there."

Kate also sat down and opened her tablet to begin organizing the data obtained from the server room. "This data is very important. It contains not only the details of E-13 Experiment but also secrets of New Era Technology's space project and some clues about Zero's movements. We can use these clues to plan ahead and deal with Zero and Elizabeth."

Michael sat to one side, silent. A hint of bewilderment still lingered in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by determination. He looked at Lin Fan and said seriously, "Lin Fan, thank you for telling me the truth. Although I can't fully accept it yet, I know I must pull myself together. From now on, whatever you want to do, I'm with you. We'll destroy Zero's experiment together and protect Los Santos together."

"Good brother!" Lin Fan patted Michael's shoulder, feeling a warmth in his heart.

As the night deepened, a faint light was lit in the suburban cabin. The four of them sat around the light, looking at the data on the tablet and discussing their next plan. Although the road ahead was still full of unknowns and dangers, there was no sign of retreat in their eyes—only fighting spirit and hope.

Lin Fan looked at the night outside the window and made a silent vow: [Zero, Elizabeth, New Era Technology... your end is not far off!]

This war spanning the virtual and reality had entered its most intense phase. Lin Fan would lead his companions to carve out a path through this war and become the true Guardians of Los Santos.

In the distance, the lights of Los Santos were still brilliant, but behind that brilliance lay countless conspiracies and crises. Lin Fan knew it wouldn't be long before he returned to that city to stir up an even greater storm. And this time, he would never give his opponents another chance.

He clenched his fist, and the Code Editing energy at his fingertips sparkled with a firm light under the lamp. That was his power, and it was also the hope of all Los Santos.