Chapter 176: 【I】will be coming soon.
“Darling, do you hate him?”
01’s arm was wrapped around the young man’s waist, his nose nudging against his hair, his shallow blue eyes flickering as they landed on 02, not far away. He smiled happily, revealing beast-like, sharp white teeth, looking wild and bloodthirsty. “Great, I hate him too.”
In the other hand, he held a heavy axe, the back of his hand showing faint veins from the force exerted and the axe tip gleaming with sharp, bright light.
This was already a competition.
A war without gunpowder.
Dr. Reese had long anticipated this scene—the trend of division spreading among shared characteristics, born from a desire deep in the soul.
Before that moment arrived, chaos and slaughter would be unavoidable.
They had no personality, no self, only desires and cravings stemming from instinct, each fragment of nature inclined toward self-devouring—
Only those who gained pity were eligible to win the fruit of victory.
However, before 02 could act, there were sharp sounds of “crackling” and sharp marble spearheads pierced through the air, piercing through 02’s body.
The air rippled like water, and 02’s body dissipated.
This ability was…
Wen Jianyan turned his head to look in the other direction.
04 had somehow already approached.
He still had that cold and polite demeanor, but his eyes were no longer hidden; a faint flicker of darkness burned deep in his shallow gray eyes.
The man elegantly bent down, planting a kiss on the back of his hand.
His cold fingertips pressed into Wen Jianyan’s palm, sliding up his wrist, caressing, both subtle and suggestive.
He lifted his grey eyes, staring firmly at the young man before him, as if brewing some unknown storm.
“Those not favored by God are not worthy of survival.”
Unfortunately, 02 didn’t die; he just vanished before their eyes like smoke.
Wen Jianyan’s prediction was correct; 02’s ability was enough for self-preservation, perfectly suited for delaying time.
“Find him.”
Wen Jianyan calmly commanded.
He didn’t withdraw his hand; in the other’s palm, his wrist turned, his warm fingertips gently stroking 04’s cheek, fleeting, like a dragonfly skimming the water, “Whoever kills him first…”
The corner of his lips curled, his faint red lips parted, revealing crimson inside, his moist tongue resting against his white teeth, slowly pressing and releasing, his voice carrying a loose smile, like a golden apple of temptation scattered in myth, effortlessly igniting the flames of war:
“Whoever gets rewarded.”
At that moment, Edward’s body tensed suddenly behind him. Wen Jianyan could clearly feel the other’s rapid breath and the sudden blaze in 04’s eyes, almost effortlessly tearing apart the elegant facade on him, revealing the same greedy and frenzied interior.
The manipulative liar lightly gave the final push, leaving behind the roaring flames.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Ah! Reward! What reward?! Is it the reward I’m thinking of!]
[Damn, who can handle this! I can’t handle it!]
[Steady, steady, this wave is steady!]
[Although… I really want to see the scenes that cannot be broadcast in that live room… Who knows…]
[Sob, me too, I’m really happy and sad at the same time!]
Suddenly, a change occurred!
“Dang-dang-dang…”
The familiar sound of a bell rang out.
Perhaps due to being on the ground floor of the hall, this time the bell sounded particularly loud, its heavy tone spreading in waves, echoing layer by layer in the darkness.
Wen Jianyan’s pupils contracted, and three big words slowly floated into his mind:
This is bad.
The audience in the “Integrity First” live room was also shocked by this sudden change:
[!!!]
[Oh no!!]
[Hahaha, this timing of the bell is too damn coincidental. The anchor was almost getting away, and then this happens!]
[Disastrous, it’s really hard to say whether it’s just bad luck or if the instance is targeting him.]
[Hilarious, is this what they call snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?]
[So, does this mean… there’s hope to see the scenes I thought were already impossible to see? Fans of chaos rejoice!]
This was the second bell after the alienation occurred in the instance.
After the last bell, when there was a change in the Ping An Asylum, Wen Jianyan was searching for clues in the data room and the director’s office, so he didn’t know exactly what happened in the entire instance to cause such a big change. He was completely clueless about what might happen next in the instance.
If the surface world became so mysterious and bizarre, then what kind of changes would happen in the inner world?
How terrifying would the control of these high-risk patients develop?
Everything was pure unknown.
Before he could get answers, a familiar voice came from behind—
“Ah, I never expected, you guys are all here,” The boy’s voice was gentle with a smile, seemingly harmless but hiding a terrifying danger and restlessness, “Are you… discussing something we shouldn’t know?”
“My little rabbit, you’re really here!”
The voice of another boy with the same appearance trembled with excitement, carrying both excitement and nervousness, “I’ve been looking for you for so long!”
Niel and Lor.
After hearing these two familiar voices, Wen Jianyan’s heart sank halfway.
He slowly turned his head, expressionless, and looked in that direction—two familiar boys were slowly emerging from the corridor. Clearly, due to the ringing of the bell, the two different personalities had acquired separate bodies.
One had black hair and black eyes; the other had white hair and blue eyes. Although they had completely identical faces, their personalities and temperaments were vastly different. The only thing they shared was their fervent, passionate gaze.
“…”
Wen Jianyan felt a blackout before his eyes.
Now, almost everyone was present!!
His previous layout mainly targeted three people. Although the balance of power might be slightly uneven, this imbalance was necessary for Wen Jianyan’s escape. However, with five people, the power dynamics would change completely.
For him, this could be the worst-case scenario.
It meant that the challenges he threw out would be easily solved, and it also meant that his escape route would have one more person blocking it.
In other words, if things continued to develop in this way…
Wen Jianyan realized that the lies he had told for expediency’ sake would be completely turned into reality by these five high-risk patients.
The “sweet words” he had spoken to different people since entering the instance would all come back to haunt him…
It was the so-called reaping of what you sowed.
Was there anything more terrifying than this?!
As he recalled the promises he had made to different people, Wen Jianyan couldn’t help but feel his scalp numb, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.
Ah, no, no, no!
Help, help, help! This absolutely cannot happen!
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Hahaha, I’m dying of laughter. The anchor’s expression is like he’s seen a ghost; this is the first time I’ve seen him have such big emotional fluctuations before the situation is resolved!]
[Everyone’s panicking! Have you guys not thought about how many times he’s messed up since entering the instance? He promised to stay with Lor forever, promised to be 04’s muse, not only agreed to share but also promised rewards… If things go south, won’t this take several days and nights to resolve?]
[!! What’s with the tiger and wolf talk from earlier!… Let’s not beat around the bush; I really want to see.]
[Let’s not beat around the bush, me too!]
In the originally spacious hall, within a few minutes, five high-risk individuals had gathered. Perhaps due to the large number of people, this place didn’t seem to be classified into a specific high-risk mental world like before but temporarily maintained a delicate and fragile balance.
Perhaps it would be shattered in the next second, or perhaps not; no one could say for sure.
Drip, drip, drip, drip.
It seemed like some viscous liquid was flowing down, and the sound of water droplets falling echoed distinctly in the vast hall.
Suddenly, in the darkness, something eerie was shifting, and the air was filled with a pungent odor, the sticky, wriggling sound resounding once again in the spacious hall.
Wen Jianyan was startled and looked in the direction of the sound.
In the hall, those long, dormant, motionless black mounds came back to life in another strange way.
Drip, drip, drip, drip.
Wen Jianyan heard something moving under his feet.
He looked down.
The head, chopped off by 01, was rolling slowly. Under Wen Jianyan’s wide-eyed gaze, the pale and stiff face melted bit by bit, turning into a crimson mass as if made of neurons, softly oozing, it’s fine tendrils reaching toward Wen Jianyan.
Wen Jianyan’s pupils contracted.
It was the membrane from the laboratory!
He had guessed that this thing would become active after the bell rang, but what he didn’t expect was that it would invade so quickly… This was only the first time it had spread to this area, and it wasn’t even the third bell yet!
More importantly, Wen Jianyan knew what kind of impact this thing could have on people. Once he fell victim to it at this moment, there would be no hope of escape, and accepting his fate might even be quicker.
Someone bumped into his back.
The next moment, he was pulled into a cool and solid embrace, and a deep and elegant voice sounded in his ear: “Don’t worry.”
The heavy weapon made a swooshing sound.
The tumor was split in half and flung into the darkness.
The tall, blond man bent down and asked, “It didn’t touch you, did it, darling?”
01’s gaze fell on 04’s arm around the young man’s waist, and his pale blue eyes sparkled, as if contemplating how to chop off that annoying thing.
04 smiled slightly, tightening his arm even more, as if showing off.
“Let him go,” came the cold and murderous voice of the youth from behind. “Don’t you want your arm anymore?”
In just a few seconds, the strong smell of gunpowder permeated the air.
Wen Jianyan, caught in the middle: “…”
Save me.
The air stirred, and 02, who had disappeared just now, reappeared.
He seemed to have forgotten the close call when he was almost killed by several people before. He still had a casual smile on his lips and spoke in a cheerful tone:
“Hey, hey, you guys, can’t you see it’s not the right time?”
“That guy is on his way.”
Drip, drip, drip, drip.
More, denser droplets of liquid were falling from all directions, becoming more urgent.
The wriggling sound became clear and piercing.
It seemed like something terrifying was squeezing in from the cracks in the brick walls, trying to invade this area. All the strange and terrifying things had come to life again.
The five high-risk patients looked in different directions.
Wen Jianyan keenly seized the opportunity.
…There’s no more time to wait.
If unsuccessful, it’s better to die honorably.
【Holy Infant Remains: Awakened】
In that moment, almost without hesitation, Wen Jianyan activated the prop.
This was his contingency plan prepared for the 02 illusion, but he didn’t expect that instead of creating an illusion, the other party summoned the other high-risk individuals. This was indeed unexpected for Wen Jianyan, but it didn’t mean that this backup plan couldn’t be used.
This prop was quite exceptional. Not only did it bring short-term invincibility, but it also had a suppressive effect on ghosts and monsters. Besides the extremely short duration of use and long shaking before activation, it had almost no other drawbacks.
So, no matter how critical the situation was before, Wen Jianyan had never thought of using it, just to let it come into play at a critical moment.
—Just like now.
The pure white infant appeared in the air. It opened its eyes with the same-colored pupils, looking affectionately at Wen Jianyan.
“Mommy.”
Its mouth opened and closed, emitting a silent call.
As if sensing something, every high-risk patient suddenly froze, turning their heads in the direction of the anomaly.
【Identity of the Mother of the World has been obtained. Duration: 30s】
“Let me go.”
Wen Jianyan ordered succinctly.
Veins bulged from 04’s forearm to the back of his hand, as if exerting great force, but he was still unable to resist the almost compulsory rules enveloped in the opponent’s voice, gradually loosening his arm.
Seemingly realizing something, several voices sounded from different directions in the hall.
“Darling…”
“My little rabbit!”
“Stop.”
Wen Jianyan held the pure white baby in one hand, commanding coldly.
After speaking, he activated the acceleration item without hesitation, turned around swiftly, and then ran madly along the dark hall towards the exit!
He didn’t even look back, showing no hint of nostalgia.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[D*mn! He’s running too fast!]
[Haha, it’s like a completely irresponsible scumbag!]
“Hahaha, the anchor is really like a rabbit let loose, gone in the blink of an eye!”
[I forgot about this item! It’s amazing, activating the 30s of invincibility in a situation where everyone else can’t react—it’s truly an escape tool!]
The rushing wind brushed past his ears. Wen Jianyan gritted his teeth, giving himself three more speed buffs as he ran!
Now was not the time to save points!
By turning and running, he had basically marked his stance of “not ready to cooperate,” completely revealing his position, which also meant that all the promises he had made before were lies.
If he didn’t run faster, if he were caught, those few people would definitely not be as easy to deal with as before!
He dashed on his two legs, almost leaving a blur behind him.
In just a few moments, he rushed out through the half-opened door at the back of the hall.
From afar, he saw Su Cheng and Blond standing on the path between the church and the Asylum, seemingly waiting for him.
“Come on! Run faster!”
Wen Jianyan screamed in panic.
“!!!”
Su Cheng and Blond were startled by Wen Jianyan rushing toward them like a tornado.
They never expected to encounter their teammate under such circumstances!
“Quick, go to the church!!!”
Wen Jianyan shouted desperately.
He looked completely panicked; his previous ease among the high-risk individuals vanished, leaving behind only a pathetic scammer who was afraid of being caught after the accident.
“Hurry up!”
“…”
In the darkness, all five people stared tightly at the young man not far away, watching him disappear from their sight, dark golden threads silently appearing in their different-colored pupils.
The golden color gradually became dominant.
It was as if… a truly evil and dark presence was slowly awakening and reviving within their bodies.
The duration of the “Mother of the World” buff was thirty seconds, short but enough for someone who was already prepared to escape.
Time passed, second by second.
Silence spread in the dark hall, spreading.
At the twenty-fifth second, the control began to fail.
If there were cameras from the live broadcast pointing here, the audience would surely be speechless—after all, the “Holy Infant Remains,” such an exceptional item, should have a stable usage duration. Thirty seconds should be thirty seconds—an aura of immense power bestowed by the system.
However…
These seemingly ordinary NPCs belonging to a certain instance unexpectedly possessed a terrifying power that could almost resist the system’s compulsion.
Tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps echoed in the darkness.
It seemed like someone was slowly approaching from the depths of the hall.
Soon, a slender figure appeared before them.
In a meticulous white coat, gloves still on, he showed almost no skin except for the neck, refined and unthreatening facial features, and a perpetually faint smile on his lips.
Under the thin lenses resting on the bridge of his nose were cold, emerald-green eyes.
He came to a slow stop.
His gaze swept over the few “companions” in front of him.
“…”
Silence enveloped them.
The air was filled with a palpable sense of imminent danger.
“You let him escape,” Dr. Reese said, smiling gently, his voice carrying a hint of regret. “Just as I suspected.”
The eyes beneath the lenses gleamed cruelly in the darkness.
“But this is a good thing, isn’t it?”
Whether it was 01, 02, 03, or 04, they all looked particularly alike at this moment.
The golden glow brewed, corroded, and grew within the depths of different people’s eyes.
“You’ve felt it too, haven’t you?”
“The familiar breath of God.”
Dr. Reese raised his hand, and a gleaming surgical knife appeared between his slender fingers. The blade, facing downward, gently and ruthlessly cut open his own wrist.
Deep enough to reveal bone.
However, what surged out was not blood but a dark, semi-fluid substance.
The others’ pupils contracted, simultaneously looking down at the same spot on their own bodies, as if experiencing similar pain.
As if substantial darkness churned, automatically repairing the damage inflicted on their bodies. Soon, the darkness dissipated, leaving Dr. Reese’s wrist smooth and unblemished.
His voice was low, akin to a chant from ancient times:
“Haven’t you noticed?”
“Our souls are one.”
Dr. Reese smiled, the sharp golden light in his eyes deepening:
“Don’t worry, 【I】 will be coming soon.”
“He belongs to us.”
“He can’t escape.”
***
The small chapel rapidly enlarged in their field of vision.
“What’s happening?!”
Blond and Su Cheng, both buffed by Wen Jianyan with acceleration, followed each other’s backs, panting heavily, nearly exhausted.
“How long do we have to keep running?” he shouted.
Thirty short seconds had passed, and with the disappearance of the holy infant turning into light particles, the effect of the “Holy Infant Remains” item had vanished.
“Just keep running.”
Wen Jianyan replied without looking back.
With the disappearance of the item’s effect, he had no means of defense now. Therefore, he had to seize every opportunity and absolutely not be caught at the last moment.
Soon, the doors of the church appeared before them.
It was a very classical architectural style, with light gray brick walls and a pointed roof shaped like a cross. The lower doors were not closed but wide open, revealing the interior of the church hall in an undefended manner.
Just before charging in, Wen Jianyan suddenly halted his steps.
Breathless, he turned his head to look behind him.
Above his head was the crimson sky, presenting a color akin to congealed blood.
Under the azure sky loomed the towering structure of the Ping An Asylum, its exterior almost entirely covered by the membrane-like substance. This biological presence writhed and spread, seemingly expanding its occupied territory in the direction of the church. The door through which he had run out earlier was now completely out of sight.
The only somewhat positive news was that those high-risk individuals indeed had not caught up.
Could it be… they were unable to leave the confines of the Ping An Asylum? Or had some unexpected event occurred?
Countless speculations raced through his mind, yet he couldn’t find answers at this moment.
Su Cheng and Blond were exhausted, bending over and panting, supporting themselves on their knees.
“Is… is it safe now?” Su Cheng managed to ask between breaths.
“Not entirely sure,” Wen Jianyan replied slowly, “but the situation should be manageable.”
“I was just about to ask,” Su Cheng caught his breath, struggling to straighten up, “What’s up with your hair?”
“What?” Wen Jianyan was taken aback.
“Huh?” Su Cheng blinked, looking puzzled, “Don’t you realize?”
Wen Jianyan seemed to grasp something. He paused for a moment, then reached up and grabbed a strand of his own hair, casting a sidelong glance—what had been soft and jet-black strands had now turned into radiant, almost dazzling silver-white under the blood-colored sky, shimmering with a divine-like brilliance.
Translator’s Note:
His hair has finally turned white. I was wondering when it’s going to happen.
Chapter 176: 【I】will be coming soon.
“Darling, do you hate him?”
01’s arm was wrapped around the young man’s waist, his nose nudging against his hair, his shallow blue eyes flickering as they landed on 02, not far away. He smiled happily, revealing beast-like, sharp white teeth, looking wild and bloodthirsty. “Great, I hate him too.”
In the other hand, he held a heavy axe, the back of his hand showing faint veins from the force exerted and the axe tip gleaming with sharp, bright light.
This was already a competition.
A war without gunpowder.
Dr. Reese had long anticipated this scene—the trend of division spreading among shared characteristics, born from a desire deep in the soul.
Before that moment arrived, chaos and slaughter would be unavoidable.
They had no personality, no self, only desires and cravings stemming from instinct, each fragment of nature inclined toward self-devouring—
Only those who gained pity were eligible to win the fruit of victory.
However, before 02 could act, there were sharp sounds of “crackling” and sharp marble spearheads pierced through the air, piercing through 02’s body.
The air rippled like water, and 02’s body dissipated.
This ability was…
Wen Jianyan turned his head to look in the other direction.
04 had somehow already approached.
He still had that cold and polite demeanor, but his eyes were no longer hidden; a faint flicker of darkness burned deep in his shallow gray eyes.
The man elegantly bent down, planting a kiss on the back of his hand.
His cold fingertips pressed into Wen Jianyan’s palm, sliding up his wrist, caressing, both subtle and suggestive.
He lifted his grey eyes, staring firmly at the young man before him, as if brewing some unknown storm.
“Those not favored by God are not worthy of survival.”
Unfortunately, 02 didn’t die; he just vanished before their eyes like smoke.
Wen Jianyan’s prediction was correct; 02’s ability was enough for self-preservation, perfectly suited for delaying time.
“Find him.”
Wen Jianyan calmly commanded.
He didn’t withdraw his hand; in the other’s palm, his wrist turned, his warm fingertips gently stroking 04’s cheek, fleeting, like a dragonfly skimming the water, “Whoever kills him first…”
The corner of his lips curled, his faint red lips parted, revealing crimson inside, his moist tongue resting against his white teeth, slowly pressing and releasing, his voice carrying a loose smile, like a golden apple of temptation scattered in myth, effortlessly igniting the flames of war:
“Whoever gets rewarded.”
At that moment, Edward’s body tensed suddenly behind him. Wen Jianyan could clearly feel the other’s rapid breath and the sudden blaze in 04’s eyes, almost effortlessly tearing apart the elegant facade on him, revealing the same greedy and frenzied interior.
The manipulative liar lightly gave the final push, leaving behind the roaring flames.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Ah! Reward! What reward?! Is it the reward I’m thinking of!]
[Damn, who can handle this! I can’t handle it!]
[Steady, steady, this wave is steady!]
[Although… I really want to see the scenes that cannot be broadcast in that live room… Who knows…]
[Sob, me too, I’m really happy and sad at the same time!]
Suddenly, a change occurred!
“Dang-dang-dang…”
The familiar sound of a bell rang out.
Perhaps due to being on the ground floor of the hall, this time the bell sounded particularly loud, its heavy tone spreading in waves, echoing layer by layer in the darkness.
Wen Jianyan’s pupils contracted, and three big words slowly floated into his mind:
This is bad.
The audience in the “Integrity First” live room was also shocked by this sudden change:
[!!!]
[Oh no!!]
[Hahaha, this timing of the bell is too damn coincidental. The anchor was almost getting away, and then this happens!]
[Disastrous, it’s really hard to say whether it’s just bad luck or if the instance is targeting him.]
[Hilarious, is this what they call snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?]
[So, does this mean… there’s hope to see the scenes I thought were already impossible to see? Fans of chaos rejoice!]
This was the second bell after the alienation occurred in the instance.
After the last bell, when there was a change in the Ping An Asylum, Wen Jianyan was searching for clues in the data room and the director’s office, so he didn’t know exactly what happened in the entire instance to cause such a big change. He was completely clueless about what might happen next in the instance.
If the surface world became so mysterious and bizarre, then what kind of changes would happen in the inner world?
How terrifying would the control of these high-risk patients develop?
Everything was pure unknown.
Before he could get answers, a familiar voice came from behind—
“Ah, I never expected, you guys are all here,” The boy’s voice was gentle with a smile, seemingly harmless but hiding a terrifying danger and restlessness, “Are you… discussing something we shouldn’t know?”
“My little rabbit, you’re really here!”
The voice of another boy with the same appearance trembled with excitement, carrying both excitement and nervousness, “I’ve been looking for you for so long!”
Niel and Lor.
After hearing these two familiar voices, Wen Jianyan’s heart sank halfway.
He slowly turned his head, expressionless, and looked in that direction—two familiar boys were slowly emerging from the corridor. Clearly, due to the ringing of the bell, the two different personalities had acquired separate bodies.
One had black hair and black eyes; the other had white hair and blue eyes. Although they had completely identical faces, their personalities and temperaments were vastly different. The only thing they shared was their fervent, passionate gaze.
“…”
Wen Jianyan felt a blackout before his eyes.
Now, almost everyone was present!!
His previous layout mainly targeted three people. Although the balance of power might be slightly uneven, this imbalance was necessary for Wen Jianyan’s escape. However, with five people, the power dynamics would change completely.
For him, this could be the worst-case scenario.
It meant that the challenges he threw out would be easily solved, and it also meant that his escape route would have one more person blocking it.
In other words, if things continued to develop in this way…
Wen Jianyan realized that the lies he had told for expediency’ sake would be completely turned into reality by these five high-risk patients.
The “sweet words” he had spoken to different people since entering the instance would all come back to haunt him…
It was the so-called reaping of what you sowed.
Was there anything more terrifying than this?!
As he recalled the promises he had made to different people, Wen Jianyan couldn’t help but feel his scalp numb, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.
Ah, no, no, no!
Help, help, help! This absolutely cannot happen!
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Hahaha, I’m dying of laughter. The anchor’s expression is like he’s seen a ghost; this is the first time I’ve seen him have such big emotional fluctuations before the situation is resolved!]
[Everyone’s panicking! Have you guys not thought about how many times he’s messed up since entering the instance? He promised to stay with Lor forever, promised to be 04’s muse, not only agreed to share but also promised rewards… If things go south, won’t this take several days and nights to resolve?]
[!! What’s with the tiger and wolf talk from earlier!… Let’s not beat around the bush; I really want to see.]
[Let’s not beat around the bush, me too!]
In the originally spacious hall, within a few minutes, five high-risk individuals had gathered. Perhaps due to the large number of people, this place didn’t seem to be classified into a specific high-risk mental world like before but temporarily maintained a delicate and fragile balance.
Perhaps it would be shattered in the next second, or perhaps not; no one could say for sure.
Drip, drip, drip, drip.
It seemed like some viscous liquid was flowing down, and the sound of water droplets falling echoed distinctly in the vast hall.
Suddenly, in the darkness, something eerie was shifting, and the air was filled with a pungent odor, the sticky, wriggling sound resounding once again in the spacious hall.
Wen Jianyan was startled and looked in the direction of the sound.
In the hall, those long, dormant, motionless black mounds came back to life in another strange way.
Drip, drip, drip, drip.
Wen Jianyan heard something moving under his feet.
He looked down.
The head, chopped off by 01, was rolling slowly. Under Wen Jianyan’s wide-eyed gaze, the pale and stiff face melted bit by bit, turning into a crimson mass as if made of neurons, softly oozing, it’s fine tendrils reaching toward Wen Jianyan.
Wen Jianyan’s pupils contracted.
It was the membrane from the laboratory!
He had guessed that this thing would become active after the bell rang, but what he didn’t expect was that it would invade so quickly… This was only the first time it had spread to this area, and it wasn’t even the third bell yet!
More importantly, Wen Jianyan knew what kind of impact this thing could have on people. Once he fell victim to it at this moment, there would be no hope of escape, and accepting his fate might even be quicker.
Someone bumped into his back.
The next moment, he was pulled into a cool and solid embrace, and a deep and elegant voice sounded in his ear: “Don’t worry.”
The heavy weapon made a swooshing sound.
The tumor was split in half and flung into the darkness.
The tall, blond man bent down and asked, “It didn’t touch you, did it, darling?”
01’s gaze fell on 04’s arm around the young man’s waist, and his pale blue eyes sparkled, as if contemplating how to chop off that annoying thing.
04 smiled slightly, tightening his arm even more, as if showing off.
“Let him go,” came the cold and murderous voice of the youth from behind. “Don’t you want your arm anymore?”
In just a few seconds, the strong smell of gunpowder permeated the air.
Wen Jianyan, caught in the middle: “…”
Save me.
The air stirred, and 02, who had disappeared just now, reappeared.
He seemed to have forgotten the close call when he was almost killed by several people before. He still had a casual smile on his lips and spoke in a cheerful tone:
“Hey, hey, you guys, can’t you see it’s not the right time?”
“That guy is on his way.”
Drip, drip, drip, drip.
More, denser droplets of liquid were falling from all directions, becoming more urgent.
The wriggling sound became clear and piercing.
It seemed like something terrifying was squeezing in from the cracks in the brick walls, trying to invade this area. All the strange and terrifying things had come to life again.
The five high-risk patients looked in different directions.
Wen Jianyan keenly seized the opportunity.
…There’s no more time to wait.
If unsuccessful, it’s better to die honorably.
【Holy Infant Remains: Awakened】
In that moment, almost without hesitation, Wen Jianyan activated the prop.
This was his contingency plan prepared for the 02 illusion, but he didn’t expect that instead of creating an illusion, the other party summoned the other high-risk individuals. This was indeed unexpected for Wen Jianyan, but it didn’t mean that this backup plan couldn’t be used.
This prop was quite exceptional. Not only did it bring short-term invincibility, but it also had a suppressive effect on ghosts and monsters. Besides the extremely short duration of use and long shaking before activation, it had almost no other drawbacks.
So, no matter how critical the situation was before, Wen Jianyan had never thought of using it, just to let it come into play at a critical moment.
—Just like now.
The pure white infant appeared in the air. It opened its eyes with the same-colored pupils, looking affectionately at Wen Jianyan.
“Mommy.”
Its mouth opened and closed, emitting a silent call.
As if sensing something, every high-risk patient suddenly froze, turning their heads in the direction of the anomaly.
【Identity of the Mother of the World has been obtained. Duration: 30s】
“Let me go.”
Wen Jianyan ordered succinctly.
Veins bulged from 04’s forearm to the back of his hand, as if exerting great force, but he was still unable to resist the almost compulsory rules enveloped in the opponent’s voice, gradually loosening his arm.
Seemingly realizing something, several voices sounded from different directions in the hall.
“Darling…”
“My little rabbit!”
“Stop.”
Wen Jianyan held the pure white baby in one hand, commanding coldly.
After speaking, he activated the acceleration item without hesitation, turned around swiftly, and then ran madly along the dark hall towards the exit!
He didn’t even look back, showing no hint of nostalgia.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[D*mn! He’s running too fast!]
[Haha, it’s like a completely irresponsible scumbag!]
“Hahaha, the anchor is really like a rabbit let loose, gone in the blink of an eye!”
[I forgot about this item! It’s amazing, activating the 30s of invincibility in a situation where everyone else can’t react—it’s truly an escape tool!]
The rushing wind brushed past his ears. Wen Jianyan gritted his teeth, giving himself three more speed buffs as he ran!
Now was not the time to save points!
By turning and running, he had basically marked his stance of “not ready to cooperate,” completely revealing his position, which also meant that all the promises he had made before were lies.
If he didn’t run faster, if he were caught, those few people would definitely not be as easy to deal with as before!
He dashed on his two legs, almost leaving a blur behind him.
In just a few moments, he rushed out through the half-opened door at the back of the hall.
From afar, he saw Su Cheng and Blond standing on the path between the church and the Asylum, seemingly waiting for him.
“Come on! Run faster!”
Wen Jianyan screamed in panic.
“!!!”
Su Cheng and Blond were startled by Wen Jianyan rushing toward them like a tornado.
They never expected to encounter their teammate under such circumstances!
“Quick, go to the church!!!”
Wen Jianyan shouted desperately.
He looked completely panicked; his previous ease among the high-risk individuals vanished, leaving behind only a pathetic scammer who was afraid of being caught after the accident.
“Hurry up!”
“…”
In the darkness, all five people stared tightly at the young man not far away, watching him disappear from their sight, dark golden threads silently appearing in their different-colored pupils.
The golden color gradually became dominant.
It was as if… a truly evil and dark presence was slowly awakening and reviving within their bodies.
The duration of the “Mother of the World” buff was thirty seconds, short but enough for someone who was already prepared to escape.
Time passed, second by second.
Silence spread in the dark hall, spreading.
At the twenty-fifth second, the control began to fail.
If there were cameras from the live broadcast pointing here, the audience would surely be speechless—after all, the “Holy Infant Remains,” such an exceptional item, should have a stable usage duration. Thirty seconds should be thirty seconds—an aura of immense power bestowed by the system.
However…
These seemingly ordinary NPCs belonging to a certain instance unexpectedly possessed a terrifying power that could almost resist the system’s compulsion.
Tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps echoed in the darkness.
It seemed like someone was slowly approaching from the depths of the hall.
Soon, a slender figure appeared before them.
In a meticulous white coat, gloves still on, he showed almost no skin except for the neck, refined and unthreatening facial features, and a perpetually faint smile on his lips.
Under the thin lenses resting on the bridge of his nose were cold, emerald-green eyes.
He came to a slow stop.
His gaze swept over the few “companions” in front of him.
“…”
Silence enveloped them.
The air was filled with a palpable sense of imminent danger.
“You let him escape,” Dr. Reese said, smiling gently, his voice carrying a hint of regret. “Just as I suspected.”
The eyes beneath the lenses gleamed cruelly in the darkness.
“But this is a good thing, isn’t it?”
Whether it was 01, 02, 03, or 04, they all looked particularly alike at this moment.
The golden glow brewed, corroded, and grew within the depths of different people’s eyes.
“You’ve felt it too, haven’t you?”
“The familiar breath of God.”
Dr. Reese raised his hand, and a gleaming surgical knife appeared between his slender fingers. The blade, facing downward, gently and ruthlessly cut open his own wrist.
Deep enough to reveal bone.
However, what surged out was not blood but a dark, semi-fluid substance.
The others’ pupils contracted, simultaneously looking down at the same spot on their own bodies, as if experiencing similar pain.
As if substantial darkness churned, automatically repairing the damage inflicted on their bodies. Soon, the darkness dissipated, leaving Dr. Reese’s wrist smooth and unblemished.
His voice was low, akin to a chant from ancient times:
“Haven’t you noticed?”
“Our souls are one.”
Dr. Reese smiled, the sharp golden light in his eyes deepening:
“Don’t worry, 【I】 will be coming soon.”
“He belongs to us.”
“He can’t escape.”
***
The small chapel rapidly enlarged in their field of vision.
“What’s happening?!”
Blond and Su Cheng, both buffed by Wen Jianyan with acceleration, followed each other’s backs, panting heavily, nearly exhausted.
“How long do we have to keep running?” he shouted.
Thirty short seconds had passed, and with the disappearance of the holy infant turning into light particles, the effect of the “Holy Infant Remains” item had vanished.
“Just keep running.”
Wen Jianyan replied without looking back.
With the disappearance of the item’s effect, he had no means of defense now. Therefore, he had to seize every opportunity and absolutely not be caught at the last moment.
Soon, the doors of the church appeared before them.
It was a very classical architectural style, with light gray brick walls and a pointed roof shaped like a cross. The lower doors were not closed but wide open, revealing the interior of the church hall in an undefended manner.
Just before charging in, Wen Jianyan suddenly halted his steps.
Breathless, he turned his head to look behind him.
Above his head was the crimson sky, presenting a color akin to congealed blood.
Under the azure sky loomed the towering structure of the Ping An Asylum, its exterior almost entirely covered by the membrane-like substance. This biological presence writhed and spread, seemingly expanding its occupied territory in the direction of the church. The door through which he had run out earlier was now completely out of sight.
The only somewhat positive news was that those high-risk individuals indeed had not caught up.
Could it be… they were unable to leave the confines of the Ping An Asylum? Or had some unexpected event occurred?
Countless speculations raced through his mind, yet he couldn’t find answers at this moment.
Su Cheng and Blond were exhausted, bending over and panting, supporting themselves on their knees.
“Is… is it safe now?” Su Cheng managed to ask between breaths.
“Not entirely sure,” Wen Jianyan replied slowly, “but the situation should be manageable.”
“I was just about to ask,” Su Cheng caught his breath, struggling to straighten up, “What’s up with your hair?”
“What?” Wen Jianyan was taken aback.
“Huh?” Su Cheng blinked, looking puzzled, “Don’t you realize?”
Wen Jianyan seemed to grasp something. He paused for a moment, then reached up and grabbed a strand of his own hair, casting a sidelong glance—what had been soft and jet-black strands had now turned into radiant, almost dazzling silver-white under the blood-colored sky, shimmering with a divine-like brilliance.
Translator’s Note:
His hair has finally turned white. I was wondering when it’s going to happen.
