Hunter’s Signal
The temporary safehouse sagged under the weight of battle. Smoke curled from shattered walls, and the acrid scent of burned circuitry mixed with dust. Outside, the night hung heavy over the ruined streets. The city seemed asleep, but every flicker of a shadow or reflection could be hiding eyes that watched them. Gu Tingche leaned against the side of the mobile command vehicle, eyes glued to the holographic map projected in midair. Each light pulse was a heartbeat. Each heartbeat a potential trap. The faint hum of drones outside blended with the low vibration of distant traffic, a rhythm that was both soothing and unsettling. Lin Xia stepped closer, fingers grazing the console. “The LX-02 signal—it’s… irregular,” she said. Her voice was calm, but her eyes were sharp, scanning every fluctu
- Writer
