Xu An clenched his fist tightly, "Jingqi, what... what exactly is going on here?"

Shen Jingqi took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. His eyes revealed a hint of determination, yet one could also see the disorder within: "Don't panic, Xu An. We must find a way to survive. But, in this situation, we have no idea what to do."

The two hesitated for a moment, their eyes meeting as if seeking courage and direction from each other. Then, they slowly stepped out from behind the rocks, their steps somewhat faltering, with each step feeling so heavy.

The leader stood at the front of the group, tall and upright, dressed in a black tight suit, with a silver mask covering his face, only exposing a pair of sharp hawk-like eyes. He looked at Shen Jingqi and Xu An, his eyes full of caution, as if seeing two suddenly intruding dangerous figures. He took a step forward, his voice deep and cold: "Who are you? Why are you here?"

Shen Jingqi took another deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calmer. His hands clenched unconsciously, his knuckles making a slight cracking sound due to the force: "We... we don't know why we came here. We were just normal passersby, suddenly attacked by a group of Mechanical Giants. Those Mechanical Giants are terrifying; they're incredibly strong and equipped with various weapons. We're no match for them. We desperately ran away until we got here."

The leader listened quietly, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. He stared intently into Shen Jingqi's eyes, as if trying to discern if he was lying. Shen Jingqi met his gaze unflinchingly, although filled with tension inside, his eyes still retained firmness.

After a while, the leader slowly nodded: "So that's how it is. We are an organization specifically dealing with Mechanical Giants. These Mechanical Giants have been appearing frequently lately, causing great disasters to the surrounding cities and villages. We've been tracking them, trying to find their origin and completely eliminate them."

Shen Jingqi and Xu An exchanged glances, a trace of surprise and hope flashing in their eyes. Xu An couldn't help but ask: "Then... do you have a way to deal with them? We really don't want to be hunted by them anymore."

The leader remained silent for a moment, then said: "We have certain ways, but these Mechanical Giants are very cunning and powerful. Completely eliminating them is not easy. However, now there is an opportunity before you. Are you willing to join us? Fight alongside us against the Mechanical Giants. There's strength in numbers, and only by uniting can we possibly defeat them."

Shen Jingqi and Xu An were filled with hesitation. Joining this organization would mean facing more dangers. They didn't know what the organization was like, nor what challenges awaited them in the future. But if they didn't join, they didn't know how to rid themselves of the threat of the Mechanical Giants. Those Mechanical Giants were like Ghosts, ready to reappear at any moment to devour them.

"We... we'll think about it." Shen Jingqi hesitated for a moment, then said.

The leader nodded, his voice still calm and cold: "Alright, think it over and let me know. But be careful, the Mechanical Giants won't easily let you off. They have strong tracking abilities; once they lock onto a target, they'll stop at nothing to pursue it. Now, even though you've temporarily escaped them, it doesn't mean they've given up. Perhaps, at this very moment, they're somewhere waiting to strike again." With that, the leader turned and left with the mysterious figures. Their silhouettes gradually disappeared in the smoke-filled battlefield, leaving behind a dead silence and endless confusion within Shen Jingqi and Xu An's hearts.

Shen Jingqi and Xu An stood there as if frozen. Their eyes vacantly watched the direction in which the mysterious figures left, their hearts filled with fear and unease. Everything around them turned so unfamiliar and terrifying, as if the whole world had become a giant trap, and they were deeply ensnared, inextricably.

"Jingqi, what should we do?" Xu An's voice carried a hint of sobbing, his body trembling slightly as if he might collapse at any moment.

Shen Jingqi gritted his teeth, struggling to stay calm. He patted Xu An's shoulder, saying: "Don't panic, Xu An. We must stay composed. Let's find a safe place first to discuss it properly."

The two dragged their exhausted bodies, arduously searching for a shelter in the ruins. Finally, they found an abandoned little hut. The walls of the hut were dilapidated, and the roof had several big holes, but it barely sufficed to shield them from the wind and rain. They cautiously entered the hut and closed the shaky door.

Sitting on the ground, Shen Jingqi and Xu An both fell into deep thought. The light in the hut was dim, with only a few weak rays of sunlight streaming through the roof's holes, forming patches of mottled light and shade on the ground. The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only their heavy breathing and occasional squeaks of mice breaking the silence.

"Jingqi, I think we shouldn't join that organization." Xu An broke the silence, his eyes filled with concern, "We don't really know them or whether they're truly fighting against the Mechanical Giants. If they have some hidden agenda, joining them would be walking into a trap ourselves!"

Shen Jingqi frowned, saying: "But if we don't join them, what can we do? Those Mechanical Giants could reappear at any moment; we are no match for them. Joining this organization, at least, gives us a sliver of hope. Moreover, they seem to indeed be combating the Mechanical Giants, maybe they can truly help us out of this predicament."

Xu An shook his head, saying: "But by joining them, we'd have to face those Mechanical Giants with them. It's too dangerous; we could lose our lives at any time. I don't want to die. I want to go home, live a normal life."

Shen Jingqi was silent. Who didn't want to go home, lead a normal life? But, the current situation had already left them with no choice. He took a deep breath and said: "Xu An, I know you're scared. I am too. But we have no other choice. If we don't join them, those Mechanical Giants will eventually find us, and we'll die just the same. Rather than waiting for death, it's better to fight. Maybe, by joining this organization, we can truly find a way to defeat the Mechanical Giants and safely return home."

After listening to Shen Jingqi, hesitation flickered in Xu An's eyes. He knew Shen Jingqi made a good point, but the fear inside him still made it hard to make a decision. He lowered his head, gripping his head in his hands, plunged into a painful struggle.

At that moment, a sudden burst of noise came from outside. Shen Jingqi and Xu An's hearts immediately tensed. They exchanged a nervous glance, then cautiously moved to the door, peering outside through the crack.

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