When Luoshu pushed open the door, he saw a square metal container placed in the center of the auditorium, surrounded by Barbie and a group of Mobile Task Force operatives standing guard.
He immediately noticed these weren't Achilles' Heel members—he didn't recognize any of them.
Moving closer cautiously, he finally identified them.
Their insignia depicted a hand emerging from an eye-painted box, holding the Greek letter Ω (Omega).
Undoubtedly, this was MTF-Omega-7, "Pandora's Box"!
During his call with Waiter yesterday, he'd learned the Foundation had sent Able after him.
And Pandora's Box was Able's handler.
Their presence here made perfect sense.
Which meant the container they were guarding had to hold SCP-076-1—Able's resurrection chamber.
And Able himself was inside.
Luoshu wasn't intimidated.
In his Unobservable State, only area-of-effect attacks could threaten him.
No matter how strong Able was, he couldn't hit what he couldn't perceive.
Confidently, Luoshu approached Barbie, preparing to use Cult Leader Charisma to convert her.
Of course, as a Level-4 Reality Bender, her personal Hume index was sky-high—success wasn't guaranteed.
But it was worth a try.
Just as he activated the ability—before he could even whisper a word—a guttural growl erupted from the container.
Like a prehistoric predator stirring from slumber.
Able was awake.
Everyone's attention snapped toward the noise, tension thick in the air.
With Barbie too distracted to listen, Luoshu held off, observing instead.
After 30 seconds of ominous shifting, silence returned.
Then—
BANG!
The container's one-ton steel door was kicked clean off, hurtling toward Barbie and Luoshu like a freight train.
Luoshu teleported behind a Pandora's Box operative just in time.
Turning back, he saw Barbie raise a single hand—
The door froze mid-air, then pixelated into fragments, raining harmlessly to the ground.
Luoshu's throat went dry.
Underestimating a Level-4 had been stupid.
Even with global Scranton Anchors suppressing reality warping, she was terrifying.
Had she used that on him earlier, he'd be mincemeat.
He was lucky he'd avoided direct confrontation since killing "Cupid."
But Barbie wasn't the only threat here.
From the shattered container emerged a towering figure—
Over two meters tall, olive-skinned, covered in tribal tattoos, radiating killing intent.
SCP-076-2—Able.
The ultimate warrior, living up to his legend.
His gaze swept the room like a scalpel, the sheer malice in his eyes making Luoshu's skin prickle.
The Pandora's Box commander barked, "Why'd you wake up? We were supposed to activate you!"
Able ignored him, still scanning.
"Something dangerous approached me."
Dangerous?
The team's eyes landed on Barbie.
Who else here could unsettle Able?
The commander gestured at her. "You sensed her? This is Barbie, Achilles' Heel's leader—"
Able snorted. "Not her."
Barbie's face darkened.
Nearly decapitated by a flying door, then dismissed like trash?
Unacceptable.
With no teammates to restrain her, she snapped.
"Who the hell do you think you're looking down on? Fight me, you bastard!"
Able's eyes lit up.
"A duel? Gladly."
He raised his hand—
"Sword, come!"
A spatial rift split the air, revealing the hilt of a black greatsword.
As he grasped it, the Pandora's Box commander shouted, "Able! Stand down! Remember the agreement!"
Able rolled his eyes, lowering the blade.
Just as Luoshu thought the show was over—
The sword suddenly pointed at him.
"There you are."
Luoshu blurted out, "How the hell—?"
Able grinned. "A warrior's instinct."
The blade swung.
A spatial fissure tore toward Luoshu!