Multiple Personalities

When they woke up again, they found themselves in an unfamiliar place. Surrounding them was a pristine white space, devoid of impurities, seemingly a world of nothingness. There was nothing else, only the two of them standing alone, feeling so small and helpless.

Shen Jingqi looked around, trying to find some clues, but there was nothing but white walls.

Their eyes were filled with confusion and doubt. Shen Jingqi's heart was full of questions; he did not know what that beam of light was or why it brought them to this strange place. Was this some kind of self-protection mechanism of the machines? Or was there an even more astonishing secret hidden behind this tunnel?

Lin Yue also felt a deep unease. She recalled the insane mechanical monsters and the various dangers they had faced in order to uncover the secret.

Shen Jingqi started searching around for a possible exit, gently touching the walls with his hand, feeling the texture of the walls. The walls were smooth and cold, without any cracks, as if they were one entire piece.

Lin Yue struggled to suppress her inner fear, followed Shen Jingqi in their search. She looked around, hoping to find something unusual. Suddenly, she noticed a small protrusion on the wall ahead, which stood out against the white wall.

"Look there!" Lin Yue pointed to the protrusion, her voice tinged with a bit of excitement.

Shen Jingqi followed her finger's direction, his eyes brightened. He quickly walked to the protrusion and examined it closely. The protrusion looked like a button, but he was not sure. He hesitated for a moment and then reached out to press it lightly.

As he pressed the button, the entire space began to shake violently. Cracks appeared on the white walls, as if the space was about to collapse. Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue watched in horror, unaware of what would happen next.

Suddenly, a beam of light shot out from the cracks, even more dazzling than before. The light gradually converged into a tunnel, and the other end of the tunnel was pitch black, with no end in sight.

"Is this... the exit?" Lin Yue asked doubtfully, her gaze filled with both anticipation and fear.

Shen Jingqi took a deep breath and said, "Whether it is or not, we have to go in and check. Staying here leads only to a dead end."

They exchanged a glance, then gathered courage and walked towards the tunnel. As they stepped into the tunnel, a strong suction force pulled them in.

When they regained consciousness, they found themselves in a giant room. Various instruments were placed around the room, their lights flashing in myriad colors, making 'beep-beep' sounds. In the center of the room was a giant glass container filled with blue liquid, in which a strange object floated.

The object looked like a sphere, its surface shimmering with mysterious brightness. Within the light seemed to flow some strange symbols, inspiring awe.

"What is this thing?" Lin Yue asked curiously as she cautiously approached the glass container, eyes fixed on the sphere.

Shen Jingqi also followed, his heart full of puzzlement. He circled the glass container, trying to see the sphere's full appearance. Suddenly, he noticed a small groove on the sphere identical in shape to a key he held.

"Could this key be the way to unlock this sphere?" Shen Jingqi's heart stirred as he took out the key from his pocket. They had found this key in their prior adventures, never knowing its use.

Holding the key, he slowly reached towards the groove. When the key was inserted into the groove, the sphere emitted a strong light, illuminating the entire room. The glass container began to shake violently, with blue liquid creating ripples.

"Jingqi, be careful!" Lin Yue shouted loudly, her eyes full of worry.

Shen Jingqi tightly gripped the key, not daring to relax. The light grew stronger, nearly forcing him to close his eyes. Suddenly, the sphere emitted a loud bang and then slowly opened.

From the sphere, a mysterious aura emerged. The aura seemed to contain immense power, imparting a vague sense of oppression. Following that, an ethereal figure appeared before them.

The figure was an old man, his face carrying a kindly smile, yet his gaze reflected profound wisdom.

"Welcome, brave adventurers." The old man's voice echoed in the room, as if coming from distant reaches of the sky.

Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue watched the old man in surprise, unsure of who he was.

"Your arrival here signifies your connection with the tunnel's secret." The old man said slowly, "Behind this tunnel lies a grand secret, a secret tied to the fate of the whole world."

"What secret?" Shen Jingqi asked eagerly, his heart filled with anticipation.

The old man glanced at him and said, "This secret involves ancient civilization and mysterious power. Long, long ago, there was a highly developed civilization in this world. They mastered technology and energy beyond human imagination but disappeared due to a disaster. This tunnel is one of their relics."

"What was this disaster? And what power did they leave behind?" Lin Yue asked, her gaze full of curiosity.

The old man sighed and said, "The exact cause of the disaster is untraceable, but it is said to be related to an evil force. The power they left behind is one that can change world order. But if obtained by those with ill intentions, it would bring immense disaster to the world."

"What should we do?" Shen Jingqi asked, a sense of responsibility rising within him.

The old man looked at them and said, "Your task is to find this power and protect it from falling into evil hands. But the process will be fraught with danger and challenges. Are you ready?"

Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue exchanged a glance, then nodded resolutely.

"We are ready." Shen Jingqi said, his eyes filled with determination.

The old man nodded in satisfaction and said, "Good. I will give you some hints to help you find this power. But ultimately, whether you succeed depends on you."

Speaking, the old man conjured a map. The map marked strange locations, seemingly clues leading to the power.

"This is the map leading to the power's location, but many dangers and puzzles lie hidden within. You must proceed with caution." The old man handed the map to Shen Jingqi.

Shen Jingqi took the map and examined it carefully. The marks on the map were intricate and dazzling, but he knew this was the key to uncovering the secret.

"Thank you, old man," Shen Jingqi said gratefully.

The old man smiled and nodded, then his figure gradually became blurred.

"Remember, courage and wisdom are your greatest weapons. Good luck," The old man's voice grew faint, finally disappearing into the air.