At exactly five in the morning, the sharp, synchronized chime of Team A's tracking beacons echoed softly through the massive, multi-layered insulation of the luxury thermal tent, signaling the official start of their high-value five-hour head start.
Chen Ying's eyes flicked open instantly. The heavy, disorienting fog of the midnight stress fever had completely vanished, leaving her mind clear. Her body felt entirely recalibrated, the lingering cellular and muscular fatigue down to an optimal minimum thanks to the seamless, attentive nursing care she had received during the dark hours of the night.
As she sat up, checking the slight structural stiffness in her bound left arm, a familiar voice sounded in her ears.
[System: Ding! System upgrade complete! Missed me, Host? I bet without my brilliant, top-tier commentary felt like an absolute, agonizing eternity. Go ahead, you can admit you felt totally lost in the dark without me!]
