Chapter 407: Betrayal and Treachery |
In the office of the person in charge.
Zhang Minglu handed the summary report from the second experiment to Gao Liangwei for review.
Gao Liangwei looked at it for a moment and quickly identified the key point: "The parasitized forms are actually unaffected by the Scarlet Fear? This seems to share the same principle as why we can't extract intelligence from them through interrogation."
"Correct." Zhang Minglu nodded. "The spores have altered the host's brain and nervous system, causing the parasitized forms to 'ignore' factors detrimental to the spores on a mental level... But this doesn't mean they are completely immune to the Scarlet Fear, just that they are not as severely affected as humans."
"That's not good news for humanity."
Gao Liangwei thought of something, his expression darkening.
"What does the person in charge mean?"
"If the parasitized forms exploit this to launch a counterattack, the consequences would be severe."
Gao Liangwei came from a military background and always considered problems first from a military perspective.
Hearing this, Zhang Minglu was stunned. He hadn't even thought of that point.
Now that Gao Liangwei mentioned it, he realized the matter was indeed of great significance.
If the parasitized forms used this rule to engage the Joint Force in night combat...
"Person in charge, should we inform the Joint Force of this intelligence? However, today is already the 8th, a week has passed since the rule took effect, and the parasitized forms haven't launched a counterattack yet..."
"If you are engaged in a war with an enemy, you must never rely on the hope that the enemy will make a mistake."
After saying this, Gao Liangwei made a call to report the situation.
Then, he returned to reading the report.
"Your experiment this time also gained deeper insights into that 'unknown'... that red halo, you believe it's... brainwaves?" Gao Liangwei's expression turned odd. "Brainwaves... are they something visible to the eye?"
"Person in charge, in fact, the test subjects didn't 'see' those terrifying images either. According to dozens of experts and scholars from related fields analyzing the various data collected from the two experiments, those images were generated directly in the human brain through brainwave interference."
"Generated by the human brain... Is that also why the images each person saw were different?"
"Most likely. That 'red halo' is, without a doubt, the source of the interference. It enters the human brain and begins to interfere, causing the brain to generate terrifying imagery. Therefore, we have named it the 'Source of Fear'."
"Did any test subject manage to capture it?"
Zhang Minglu shook his head regretfully. "Although the use of mental stability items ensured the safety of the test subjects, preventing them from falling into brain death or a frenzied state, that was all we could achieve. The test subjects reported that their Mind Power was almost entirely consumed just to counteract the influence of the terrifying images, leaving them unable to muster the willpower to approach that Source of Fear."
"...If they can't even get close, how can they capture and study it?" Gao Liangwei put down the report.
Zhang Minglu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Currently, it seems that to approach and explore it, ordinary high-upper-limit Mind Power Ascendants are not enough. We need the absolute top-tier individuals to participate in the experiment. For example, people like Dragon Soul and Bai Xuewu from our base... But they are all key personnel under intensive training..."
Gao Liangwei understood Zhang Minglu's meaning. The latter was struggling with whether it was worth risking top-tier Ascendants to explore the unknown within this rule.
Even with item assistance, accidents could still happen.
Furthermore, this was currently a time of many troubles. The war against the Fire Thief Worship Cult and the parasitized forms was not over, and the combat power of every top-tier Ascendant was indispensable.
"Person in charge, what is your opinion?" Zhang Minglu couldn't make up his own mind and had no authority to decide.
Gao Liangwei countered with a question: "Where is the next experiment?"
"In Luruiguo. The experts from Luruiguo plan to have some patients who cannot perceive fear due to physiological or psychological factors act as test subjects."
"Using patients for experiments? Is that feasible?"
"Opinions are divided. I don't know how effective it will be either. We can only wait and see the experimental results."
Gao Liangwei pondered for a moment. "Then let's wait for the results of the third experiment. If Luruiguo's plan succeeds and they capture that 'Source of Fear,' that would naturally be best. If the experiment fails, I will propose at the Human Consortium meeting that each member state contribute one top-tier Ascendant for the experiment."
Zhang Minglu nodded in agreement. Before leaving, he curiously asked, "Person in charge, how is the investigation into that incident of spreading Scarlet Fear through the game progressing?"
"Section Chief Li Meng is investigating. Not long ago, he transferred Li Liang to assist."
"Li Liang? That Internet Celebrity Ascendant with the hypnosis item... It seems Section Chief Li Meng suspects internal personnel at the game studio. But what would their motive be?"
"That is precisely what Section Chief Li is investigating. We'll wait for his news. Dr. Zhang, don't forget the assassination mission against the Fire Thief Worship Cult scheduled for the latter half of this month. You need to pay more attention to the Ascendants participating in the operation."
"I understand. I will have individual talks with them in the coming days to ensure they have no lingering concerns."
At 9:50 AM on the 8th, Shi Jingyi walked from the academy to the South Street Sports Stadium.
She had just arrived at the stadium entrance when Guan Tong's voice sounded in her mind through the Mind Network.
"Shi Jingyi, I've checked inside and outside the stadium. There's no ambush. But if Lu Cheng has hostile intentions, we can't rule out the possibility of him using a teleportation-type item to summon help."
Hearing this, Shi Jingyi looked around. "Thank you for the trouble. Has Lu Cheng not arrived yet?"
"Not yet. Look down at your left hand. Don't use Mind Power to defend against my shadow."
Shi Jingyi looked down as instructed and saw a thin shadow line rising from the ground, landing on the palm of her left hand.
Then, the shadow line quickly wrapped around her wrist several times, resembling an inconspicuous thin cord tied there.
"What is this?" Shi Jingyi smiled. "Making a bracelet for me with your shadow?"
"Just an insurance measure. If anything goes wrong, I will immediately swap positions with it to be by your side."
"Oh? That's a truly convenient ability. But don't underestimate me either."
"How dare I underestimate a martial arts expert like you," Guan Tong said. "It's just that if the enemy doesn't play fair and gangs up on you, I certainly won't let you fight alone."
"...Mm."
Shi Jingyi took a deep look at the shadow bracelet on her wrist, then lowered her arm.
She entered the sports stadium and stood waiting in the lobby.
At 9:58 AM, the shadow Guan Tong had placed outside the stadium saw Lu Cheng appear.
He wore a trench coat and a mask, looking somewhat furtive. His eyes were resolute yet betrayed a trace of unease.
He entered the sports stadium and immediately spotted Shi Jingyi in the lobby.
It had been quite some time since he left the academy. Seeing this lecturer again now, her attire hadn't changed, but her demeanor seemed to have undergone some indescribable transformation.
As soon as Lu Cheng entered, Shi Jingyi saw him and spoke, "Lu Cheng?"
Lu Cheng removed his mask, his expression complex. "Lecturer Jingyi."
"Where have you been all this time?"
"I..." Lu Cheng wanted to say something but didn't, falling silent instead.
Shi Jingyi frowned slightly.
After a moment of silence, Lu Cheng took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Lecturer Jingyi. I just want you to know, I hold no personal grudge against you... It's just, I don't want to lose myself, to become a walking corpse manipulated by the spores!"
As his words fell, light began to shimmer around him.
Shi Jingyi, who originally intended to speak, saw the light around him and her eyes sharpened. "Lu Cheng, whatever you plan to do, it's not too late to stop now. Don't make a grave mistake. I can help you contact the relevant departments to seek assistance, to find a way to solve your spore addiction problem."
"No, it's too late." Lu Cheng laughed self-mockingly. "It was too late from the moment I left the academy, and it's even more so now."
Figures were already flickering within the light surrounding him, the effect of a teleportation-type item.
"You..."
"No need to waste any more words on him."
Guan Tong's voice sounded, not from the Mind Network, but from beside Shi Jingyi.
Lu Cheng's eyes widened. Staring at the suddenly appearing figure, he blurted out, "Teacher Guan Tong?! Why are you here?!"
At that moment, the individuals arriving via the teleportation item manifested around Lu Cheng, ten people in total.
Guan Tong's passive ability, [Killing Intent Perception], allowed him to clearly sense the intense killing intent emanating from these people.
"I wouldn't dare be your teacher," Guan Tong said sarcastically. "Being your teacher comes with a risk to one's life."
"..."
Lu Cheng didn't know why Guan Tong had suddenly appeared, but it seemed he had come with Shi Jingyi, just hadn't revealed himself until now.
This made Lu Cheng realize he had been deceived. He angrily said to Shi Jingyi, "It seems you never trusted me from the beginning!"
Guan Tong said coldly, "The facts prove you indeed don't deserve that trust."
"Attack!"
At that moment, the ten people who had teleported to Lu Cheng's side all struck simultaneously, their target being Shi Jingyi.
Their abilities and the effects of their items were instantly laid bare in the eyes of Guan Tong, who wore the [Civilization Observer] title.
Shi Jingyi stamped her foot, using the Mind Power Martial Arts movement technique, Repelling Pole Step, to actively engage. With one punch, she sent the nearest enemy flying.
Guan Tong instantly expanded his Shadow Domain. The entire stadium was plunged into darkness in an instant.
Then, numerous eyes opened within the Shadow Domain, absorbing the Mind Power of the enemies trapped within.
"Dammit, is that Shadow?!"
"Why is Shadow here?!"
"Lu Cheng! What have you done?!"
The parasitized forms that had teleported in, after being trapped in the Shadow Domain, immediately realized the enemy wasn't just Shi Jingyi, but also Shadow.
The latter, a combatant of a caliber sufficient to change the situation, was completely outside the scope of their considerations for this operation.
Lu Cheng also wore a look of utter bewilderment.
Teacher Guan Tong was actually the legendary Ascendant, the famous "Shadow"?
Dealing with Shi Jingyi alone, he and the helpers sent by the Prophet didn't have absolute confidence. How could they possibly handle Shadow on top of that?
"These people are all parasitized forms," Guan Tong communicated with Shi Jingyi via the Mind Network.
After the Shadow Domain was deployed, his Mind Power had come into contact with every individual within the domain. When he attempted to connect using the Mind Network, he received responses from them all.
"What about Lu Cheng? Is he also a parasitized form?" Shi Jingyi asked.
"He is not," Guan Tong said. "That makes him even more despicable."
"..."
While still human himself, he actually helped parasitized forms attempt to kill his former teacher... This wasn't something that could be described merely as a "human traitor," but rather a "betrayer, a treacherous human traitor."
For such a person, Guan Tong naturally would not let him go.
But before finishing him off, an extra step was necessary.
Shi Jingyi was also not someone prone to indecision. The moment Lu Cheng chose to use an item to teleport parasitized forms to deal with her, she would no longer acknowledge any teacher-student bond.
She decisively said, "Kill these parasitized forms. Capture Lu Cheng alive for interrogation."
"My thoughts exactly."
Guan Tong looked coldly at the parasitized forms trapped and floundering in the Shadow Domain. They might not be weak in strength, but within the significantly enhanced Shadow Domain, they were no different from lambs to the slaughter.
Returning Shadow Kill Array!
Guan Tong activated this ability he had only recently mastered. The already expanded Shadow Domain rapidly contracted. During the process, countless Shadow Blades cut through the bodies of these parasitized forms from every angle, like a harvester.
Several of them died instantly. A few others tried to protect themselves with defensive items, but were soon breached and slain by the Shadow Blades.
By the time the Shadow Domain was completely withdrawn, the ten teleported parasitized forms had become ten unrecognizable corpses scattered on the ground.
Only Lu Cheng, standing there dumbfounded, remained completely unharmed, as Guan Tong had deliberately directed the Shadow Blades to avoid him.
Seeing the corpses of the parasitized forms, Shi Jingyi also gave Guan Tong a somewhat surprised look. She hadn't expected him to almost single-handedly wrap up the fight, hardly needing her to act.
Coming to his senses, Lu Cheng had no courage left to fight. He turned and ran towards the stadium exit.
But he had only taken two steps when a white blur caught the corner of his eye. Then he felt a heavy blow to his head. His body thudded heavily onto the ground, and his consciousness instantly became blurred.
How is this possible... Why is my body so fragile...
Lu Cheng couldn't believe it. He thought his Mind Power upper limit was not low, and combined with the spore modifications, his physical fitness had surpassed that of the vast majority of Ascendants.
So why was he so utterly helpless before Shi Jingyi? The latter had almost knocked him out with just one move.
In his dazed state, he heard Guan Tong's voice.
"Why did you hold back?"
"...I was afraid I might accidentally kick him to death directly."
And this was the result of holding back???
Lu Cheng could no longer bear this disparity. His consciousness completely vanished as he fainted.
Shi Jingyi looked at the unconscious Lu Cheng, her brow tightly furrowed.
"Why did Lu Cheng bring parasitized forms to kill me?"
"That's what I'm curious about too." Guan Tong squatted down, searched Lu Cheng's body, found his phone, unlocked it using his fingerprint, and began checking the messages.
"Any clues inside?"
"None. It seems we'll have to interrogate him separately." Guan Tong looked at Shi Jingyi. "Hand him over to me. I'll make him talk."
"..."
Shi Jingyi's expression was not good.
Even though she had basically faced no danger, the entire incident still left her deeply puzzled.
She believed Lu Cheng's statement, "I hold no personal grudge against you," was true. But...
"He just said he doesn't want to become a parasitized form," Shi Jingyi said. "That seemed to imply that killing me would stop his transformation."
"I caught that implication too. But what the exact connection is, we still have to ask him." After saying this, Guan Tong lifted Lu Cheng up. "I'll come find you after I get the results from the interrogation."