Deep inside an abandoned municipal water supply station, within the forge workshop of the geothermal terminal, sparks flew in all directions, and the deafening clang of sledgehammers reverberated through the air. The atmosphere was thick with the smell of engine oil, sweat, and an indescribable sense of exhilaration. Massive electromagnetic coils were hoisted into place, while thick power cables snaked across the ground like giant pythons. Every member of the Fire Cult moved with the precision and efficiency of screws locked into gears.
Kim Man-jo stood before a huge blackboard, his fingertips dancing with "flames" as they raced across dense formulas and structural diagrams. The blueprints transmitted to his mind by the Whispering Fang were now merging like never before with the rail train schematics provided by Wrench and a portion of the Resonance Crystal transport plan deciphered from the data core. He intended to forge all of this into a blade sharp enough to tear through the iron curtain of the Black Steel Council!
"Lao Zhong, the insulation material here isn't strong enough. A high-temperature electromagnetic pulse will vaporize it in an instant," Kim Man-jo said without turning, pointing to a critical node on the board. "We need three layers of high-temperature-resistant alloy heat shields, plus liquid helium for auxiliary cooling. This thing can't fail me halfway."
Lao Zhong pushed his greasy, worn glasses up his nose, his cloudy eyes glinting with fanatical light. "Rest easy, Brother Man-jo! I rounded up a dozen old pals. We melted down every alloy plate we could find in the terminal and hammered them repeatedly. I even tore out the old condensation units once reserved for the nobles in the Upper District. We've got more than enough liquid helium!"
Nearby, Ah Huo was directing several workers to carefully mount the newly cast electromagnetic coil onto the massive launch frame. Focus etched across his rugged face, every movement precise and powerful. Hearing Lao Zhong's words, he grinned. "This thing's way more exciting than my steam gauntlets! Can't wait to see what a mess it makes of that armored train with one shot!"
"This isn't about making a mess," Kim Man-jo said, his voice steady and forceful. "This is for our Resonance Crystal, and for all our oppressed brothers and sisters. It has to work. There will be no second chance."
Ah Huo's grin faded, and he nodded heavily. He could feel the conviction burning inside Kim Man-jo, hotter than the forge fire itself—a conviction that infected everyone. In the workshop, the workers' drive intensified. They were no longer struggling merely to survive, but fighting for a shared cause.
Kim Man-jo's inner "flame" blazed fiercely. He could "see" the faint fires within every worker, now linking together into a mighty torrent, pouring into the war machine. This was not his power alone. It was the will of everyone, the hope of everyone!
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the Seventh Viaduct, the night was ink-black, and the wind howled. The massive electromagnetic anchor launcher lay dormant like a steel behemoth on one side of the viaduct, perfectly camouflaged amid the abandoned structures.
Kim Man-jo wore a crude protective helmet and lay crouched by the edge, binoculars in hand. The "flame" within him raged violently, illuminating the surrounding night as if it were broad daylight. In his eyes, every steel bar, every rivet on the viaduct stood out clearly. He could "see" the railway tracks hundreds of meters away, glinting with a cold metallic sheen in the darkness.
"Brother Man-jo, all checks complete. All lines secure, fully charged," Ah Huo's voice came from behind, tinged with suppressed excitement. His knuckles whitened around the launch controller.
Lao Zhong, too, wore a protective mask, staring tensely into the distance. Little Axing huddled behind them, clutching a toolbox, his face pale but his lips pressed firmly shut, not making a sound.
They waited. On the viaduct, only the howling wind remained, and the faint, distant wail of sirens from deep within the city. The entire Lower District seemed to have fallen asleep, holding its breath for the gamble about to unfold.
Kim Man-jo abruptly lowered his binoculars.
In the far distance, at the edge of the night, two piercing lights blazed like a monster's eyes, closing in fast. They were the blinding headlights of the armored train, cutting through the darkness with a low rumble as it sped toward them.
"Stand by!" Kim Man-jo's voice was quiet but unshakable, radiating unyielding authority.
Ah Huo took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the controller. Lao Zhong's body trembled slightly, but there was no fear in his eyes—only ignited fervor.
The train drew closer, its massive wind pressure and thunderous roar sweeping over them.