It had once been human, but metal plates had replaced most of its skin. Black cables extended from its spine and entered the chamber walls, connecting it to the particles beneath the base.
Its human eye moved toward Leng Pan while the other glowed silver.
"You destroyed the Passage," it said through a damaged throat.
Leng Pan created a water blade. "We also sent one of your zombie armies through it. Did they enjoy the welcome?"
The creature's mouth opened in what might have been a smile. "That world was never our only home."
Lu Zhen's flames covered both hands. "You can explain after we remove the controller."
"You cannot remove it. I am the controller."
A powerful signal passed through the chamber.
Above them, hundreds of affected survivors turned toward the unaffected crowd.
Captain Wei shouted through the communicator, "The network has reached full strength!"
The controlled survivors attacked.
