《Devil》 Chapter 1: The Malevolent Spirit Realm It was an empty hospital ward, with a flickering incandescent light overhead. Alexander''s gaze was vacant as he stood at the center of a corridor''s crossroads, trying to regain his senses. ¡°Where am I?¡± He realized he was wearing a thin blue hospital gown and was barefoot, without even shoes. ¡°So cold¡­¡± Alexander hugged his arms, feeling the night air chilling him to the bone. Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from not far away. ¡°What happened?¡± Startled, Alexander quickly calmed down and cautiously walked toward the source of the scream. The atmosphere around was eerie, with scattered papers on the floor occasionally rustling in the wind. Though Alexander considered himself fairly brave, a cold sweat trickled down his forehead as an unshakeable fear gripped his heart. He hadn''t walked far when he caught the nauseating scent of blood. He knew this smell all too well, having graduated from forensic science and worked in the medical college''s evidence identification department, occasionally visiting crime scenes. The sickening stench unmistakably indicated that there was a corpse nearby, one that had died from massive blood loss. Turning a corner, he stumbled upon a gruesome body¡ªor rather, a mass of flesh. ¡°Was it attacked by a large predator? How could it die like this¡­¡± Alexander was dumbfounded. The body was in shambles, with viscera and intestines spilling out in a heap, the abdominal cavity torn open. What on earth had happened? Why was he here? How did this person die? A flood of questions raced through his mind. ¡°No, I can''t stay here. If there''s really a murderer, or a large beast capable of attacking an adult male, I¡¯m defenseless.¡± The structure of the pelvis and certain "parts" led him to conclude it was an adult male corpse. Regardless of what caused the death, Alexander knew he shouldn''t remain there. Perhaps he shouldn¡¯t have come at all. This thought suddenly popped into Alexander''s mind, but it was too late. "Pant...pant..." A rapid breathing sound approached slowly from behind him. Unable to resist, he turned his head. From the dark shadows, something emerged. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Alexander turned pale as he saw a bizarre creature. It had a humanoid form, with twisted limbs and sharp claws like a spider, crawling on the ground. Its body was split open from the skull, exposing its entire chest cavity, as if its torso had been sliced vertically. ¡ªInside the split body were rows of sharp teeth, resembling the maw of a giant monster. The next moment, Alexander did the only sensible thing¡ªhe ran! Without a second thought, he dashed away. This creature was undoubtedly supernatural, or some product of black technology; such an aberration couldn¡¯t exist in nature. ¡°That person must have been killed by that thing¡­¡± As Alexander ran, he glanced back, and his heart nearly stopped. The horrifying creature leaped onto the ceiling, defying physics, and quickly chased after him, barely half a foot away. ¡°Roar!¡± The monster let out a howl, pouncing from the ceiling, its clawed hands swiping down. ¡°Watch out!¡± A figure suddenly rushed out from the side, knocking Alexander aside, helping him narrowly avoid the attacking creature. ¡°Run¡­¡± The figure was a strong middle-aged man who pulled Alexander along, running deeper into the corridor. They rushed into a staircase and quickly shut the iron door behind them. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± A few knocks later, silence resumed. ¡°The monster won''t come in; they don''t seem to enter stairwells¡­¡± The middle-aged man patted Alexander''s shoulder and said in a deep voice, ¡°Let''s quickly head up one floor; there¡¯s a safe zone there.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Safe zone!¡± Alexander exclaimed, surprised. The middle-aged man didn¡¯t explain further, simply making his way up the stairs. Though bewildered, Alexander had no choice but to follow. Upon reaching the short flight, he looked up to see a sign at the landing that read ¡°Safe Zone.¡± ¡°Come in; this entire floor is a safe area, free from monster attacks.¡± The middle-aged man pointed upwards. ¡°As for the floor above, it''s shrouded in darkness, an untouchable zone. Enter at your own peril!¡± Alexander looked up to the next floor, where darkness swallowed everything beyond a few steps up the stairs. ¡°What is this place?¡± Alexander couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°If I told you it¡¯s hell, would you believe me?¡± The middle-aged man threw out this line and walked inside. ¡°Hell, huh?¡± Alexander could only muster a wry smile as he followed him into the floor. ¡­ This floor was incredibly bright, every light on, bathing the surroundings in white. The space was astonishingly large, unlike any hospital. When Alexander and the middle-aged man reached a large hall, he was too shocked to speak. In the center of the hall stood a massive tower of televisions stacked on top of each other, two meters tall, with countless wires extending from it, though no signal connected them¡ªall screens displayed static. Besides Alexander and the middle-aged man, there were a few others here. ¡°Is this the last one?¡± A bespectacled young man leaned against the corner and asked. ¡°Three are dead; he¡¯s the last one I found.¡± The middle-aged man shook his head, sighing, ¡°With so few of us, I wonder if we can clear this¡­¡± ¡°Having fewer deadweights isn''t necessarily bad,¡± the young man coldly replied. ¡°Hey, one of you better explain what''s going on here.¡± A burly man stormed over, grabbing the young man¡¯s collar and shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t you know who I am? I know everyone in Binhai City''s underbelly. You¡¯re trying to mess with me? You¡¯re too green.¡± The young man gently pinched the burly man''s wrist, causing him to bend over in pain, unable to stand. ¡°Pinocchio, explain to these rookies!¡± the young man shouted after releasing him. In an instant, the static on the TV tower flickered, revealing a long-nosed puppet. Strings attached to its body, the puppet moved in a deliberate manner. ¡°Welcome to the Spirit Realm, dear ''patients.'' This is a chamber of chaos and delusion, a theater of blood and massacre. Here you will experience a wondrous time, akin to the most primitive chaotic nightmare!¡± The puppet named Pinocchio spoke with an abundance of words, each one laced with malice. ¡°Cut the crap and get to the point!¡± The young man with glasses snapped, veins bulging, clearly irritated by the puppet¡¯s chatter. ¡°Who are you? Please, let me go home. My husband and children are waiting for me!¡± A middle-aged woman dressed like a housewife pleaded tearfully with the puppet. ¡°Yes, do us a kindness, let this old bag of bones go. You see, I¡¯m no one special. There¡¯s no point in keeping me¡­¡± pleaded an elderly man, leaning on a cane, with a sorrowful expression. The burly man slammed a fist on the table with his fleshy belly. ¡°You want money? Just say the word. Why gather us here for this charade? What''s the point?¡± But despite his grumbling, the puppet Pinocchio ignored him, merely chuckling, before responding slowly. ¡°Let you go home? Sorry¡­ that¡¯s impossible!¡± What does that mean?! ¡°Because your lives no longer belong to you¡­¡± it drawled, word by word. ¡°You''re nothing but the dead!¡± In that fleeting moment, everyone recalled memories from before arriving here... Alexander finally remembered¡ªjust moments before, the taxi he was in had an accident. The windshield shattered, a sharp shard of glass pierced his eye, entering his brain, the pain as if his brain was being churned, vividly replaying in his mind. Meanwhile, the burly man began frothing at the mouth, his face turning ashen as a foul odor emanated from his mouth. The elderly man clutched his heart violently, as though it were about to burst. And the middle-aged woman bore a strangulation mark around her neck, her tongue protruding from her mouth, her face turning a ghastly shade of blue. ¡°How about that!¡± Pinocchio¡¯s sinister laugh brought these terrifying anomalies to a halt, leaving the occupants gasping as if rescued from drowning, exchanging silent looks of horror. ¡°Have you all remembered? You¡¯re already ''dead.'' Your survival is because you¡¯ve entered the Spirit Realm, where your thoughts, bodies, and lives continue by mere whim!¡± It warned them that their lives were in its control. ¡°Those who follow the rules can return to their lives; defiance means certain death!¡± As Pinocchio¡¯s words ended, Alexander felt a searing pain in his left hand, as if burned invisibly. His hand throbbed red and swollen, a flame-like mark appearing on it. This is! To his shock, a number appeared on the blazing emblem¡ªa zero! More intriguingly, as he stared at the flame mark, his mind displayed values and information, resembling a special interface. Name: Alexander Race: Ironborn Constitution: 10 Strength: 7 Agility: 5 Spirit: 40 Besides these visible stats, the rest were a series of question marks. ¡°This seems like some form of ability data. Why is it like a game?¡± As he looked up, he noticed everyone else was staring at their hands, but from Alexander¡¯s perspective, they didn¡¯t have similar marks. ¡°The mark on your hands is visible only to you¡­¡± the young man explained, easing Alexander''s mind. ¡°In a few minutes, we¡¯ll enter the first scenario world.¡± ¡°What is a scenario world? What exactly are we supposed to do?¡± Alexander quickly asked. The young man glanced at him, replying coldly, ¡°Have you seen movies, played games? The so-called scenario world is like them, with different plots and tasks. You must complete the plot to clear it. Failure means Bad End¡­¡± ¡°Simply put, complete the tasks and clear the scenario, but while it sounds easy, it¡¯s exceptionally difficult in practice. Surviving is a matter of luck¡­¡± the middle-aged man added. ¡°Who are you people, and why do you know so much¡­?¡± Alexander asked again. The young man pushed up his glasses, smirking, ¡°We¡¯re just like you¡ªa group of survivors struggling in this chaotic world. Here, no one can help you. To survive, you must rely on yourselves¡­¡± ¡°Xu Lin, don¡¯t say that.¡± The middle-aged man interjected sternly, ¡°I¡¯m Carmen, he¡¯s Xu Lin. Once we enter the scenario world, we¡¯ll do our best to help you, provided you follow our orders¡­¡± ¡°Hmph, pretending to be the good guy,¡± Xu Lin chuckled cynically. ¡°Helping one is better than none¡­¡± The middle-aged man sighed, while Xu Lin shook his head helplessly and addressed the others. ¡°Listen up, you all have a flame mark on your hand, the symbol of the Spirit Realm. It has many functions, but the main one is displaying your survival value. Rookies start at 0, and you must earn survival points within the scenario world. If you return here without 300 survival points, you will be eliminated.¡± Xu Lin continued, ¡°Besides, the mark has many functions, but time is short. Once in the Spirit Realm, I¡¯ll explain one by one.¡± ¡°When we¡¯re in the Spirit Realm, the ¡®strategists¡¯ will be grouped together, and we¡¯ll coordinate your actions,¡± Carmen reassured the group. ¡°Let us lead, and you¡¯ll survive.¡± Just then, the hall¡¯s lights dimmed, all illumination vanishing. Only the television remained lit, displaying several lines of large text. ¡°The scenario world is generating, countdown to commencement!¡± ¡°¡®The Shadow Over Innsmouth¡¯ auto-creating¡­ unlocking elements¡­ ten, nine, eight, seven, six¡­¡± (What, The Shadow Over Innsmouth? Does this mean it¡¯s the world of Cthulhu¡­) Alexander''s expression shifted. Though obscure, the name wasn¡¯t unknown to sci-fi enthusiasts. As thoughts raced through his mind, the timer on the screen counted down rapidly to the end. ¡°Zero!¡± In the next second, everything before Alexander plunged into the deepest darkness. Chapter 2: Arrival Innsmouth, Massachusetts, a small harbor town. This ancient harbor town is located at the mouth of the Manuxet River. During the War of Independence, it was known for its shipbuilding industry. In the early 19th century, it had a thriving maritime industry, and later, taking advantage of the Manuxet River, it developed into a modest industrial center. Around 1927, during Prohibition, the authorities burned down a large number of derelict waterfront houses¡ªsaid to be uninhabited, dilapidated, and infested with vermin¡ªto make way for new power facilities, arresting many people due to resistance activities. This was the only time in nearly a century the town made headlines outside of its own community. And now, it''s 201X, and those events have long since faded from public memory. ¡°Damn, is this really Innsmouth?¡± Alexander awoke to find himself alone, sitting on a bench in a small garden. He had nothing with him except a newspaper draped over his body. ¡°Didn''t Carmen say that everyone would be grouped together? Why am I here...¡± He was a bit confused. If what Carmen said was true, he was now in Innsmouth, a world belonging to the Cthulhu Mythos. ¡°If I encounter the Old Ones from the Cthulhu Mythos, I¡¯m definitely done for¡­¡± Alexander flipped through the newspaper in his hand, which contained trivial local news written in English, such as "Town elections proceed as scheduled" and "Cause of fire at Marsh Refinery ruins under investigation," reflecting how dull the local news reporters'' jobs were. He checked his surroundings and found himself wearing a casual jacket instead of a hospital gown, and his feet were shod. Upon checking his pockets, Alexander found a wallet containing a stack of green bills and some identification documents. At that moment, a series of tasks from the plot world "New Innsmouth Conundrum" began to unfold in Alexander''s mind. "Act One: Janet, a student at Miskatonic University, arrives in Innsmouth with friends to investigate the disappearance of her cousin Anantan. They will face a series of strange events and uncover layers of hidden mysteries..." "Task 1: Assist Janet in finding Anantan." "Side Task 2: Make contact with plot-relevant characters, build relationships, and gain their trust." Alexander''s mind sprang into action, quickly filling with the storyline of "New Innsmouth Conundrum." He felt like an actor who had to play his part according to the script. In this story, he was a background character with minimal involvement in the plot. "This means I have a lot of freedom to move around, but on the other hand, if I don¡¯t stick close to the main characters, there''s a high chance I¡¯ll get killed off, just like extras in movies." Extras in films often meet grim fates due to their peripheral involvement in the story¡ªthey have a high death rate. "I need to join the others as soon as possible and find the main characters to bask in the protagonist¡¯s aura!" It seemed that everyone was scattered; the plot suggested that players had been deliberately dispersed by the malevolent space. ¡°Looks like Carmen and the experienced members guessed wrong¡­¡± Alexander, calm and introspective, considered this before crumpling up the newspaper and tossing it into a nearby trash can, then heading out to the street.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Outside the small garden was a street where Alexander observed the passersby, noting no one with the peculiar narrow foreheads, flat noses, and bulging fish-like eyes, which reassured him enough to leave the garden. ¡°The script says it¡¯s 201X, and this is the newly established Innsmouth, which on the surface seems no different from other small northern U.S. towns¡­¡± ¡°It seems the Dagon cult hasn¡¯t dominated the whole town, so I won¡¯t immediately face a mass of Deep Ones.¡± Alexander recalled the stories of Cthulhu and Innsmouth. In the Cthulhu Mythos, the dark edges of the human world are ruled by powerful, indescribable deities. These outer gods differ entirely from the gods of our myths¡ªthey are chaotic, evil, and destructive. Their forms vary wildly, and mere exposure to their presence can drive humans mad. Yet, some alien races, ancient civilizations, and deranged cults worship them, hoping to gain their power. In the original "Shadow Over Innsmouth," the town¡¯s Esht family organized a secret cult, making deals with something beneath Devil Reef to produce offspring, creating many half-human, half-fish creatures. ¡°Descendants of the Deep Ones are not terrifying in small numbers, but they become a huge problem if they grow in number.¡± Alexander sighed with slight relief, as long as the town wasn''t overrun by Deep One hybrids, he wouldn''t be as worried as before. ¡°Though I don¡¯t know where Carmen and the others are, I can start by looking for the Gilman House.¡± While reading the script earlier, he noted that the main character Janet and her friends were staying in town. ¡°The newspaper mentioned the Ish family¡¯s gold refinery burning down; if that facility exists, the lodging might too¡­¡± Alexander''s English was decent. He stopped a passerby and quickly learned the location of the Gilman House, heading there promptly. In the original story, the Gilman House was a shabby inn, but in this new Innsmouth, it appeared to be a more formal youth hostel. Alexander used his identification to check in and secure a room. He also inquired with the reception staff about Carmen and the others, but the response was disappointing. ¡°If Carmen understands the script, she should think of the inn¡­¡± Alexander was slightly frustrated. This was his first time participating in a script world, and he hadn¡¯t expected this situation. Now he had to figure everything out himself. ¡°Damn, I told you before, those cops are idiots¡­¡± Just then, a group entered the hostel, led by a blond man, his face bruised, shouting loudly as if afraid others wouldn¡¯t notice him. ¡°That thing is Anantan¡¯s, and they took it by force. Damn it, without it, how can we find Anantan¡­¡± ¡°Roland, calm down. We all want to find Anantan.¡± A silver-haired woman beside him sighed, her gold-rimmed glasses lending her a sense of reason and sophistication. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have gotten physical with the police, Roland. They could throw you in jail according to federal law.¡± ¡°Cough, Linda, they might have just shot him instead, but thankfully, he¡¯s not me¡­¡± An African American man interjected with a joke. ¡°But now we¡¯re in trouble. We lost our lead. Anantan did leave a DV near the refinery, but we found nothing.¡± The silver-haired woman turned her gaze toward a quiet black-haired young man, who seemed lost in thought. ¡°Janet, what are you thinking?¡± ¡°Nothing, maybe I have a way to get the DV¡­¡± The black-haired young man rubbed his chin, as if an idea had struck him. ¡°Janet, that¡¯s the main group¡­¡± Alexander was startled but quickly masked his reaction, picking up a magazine from the nearby rack to cover his face as he moved behind the group. ¡°So, tonight... find Deep Web Communications¡­ if money isn¡¯t an issue¡­¡± ¡°No way¡­ if it¡¯s illegal¡­¡± ¡°Understand¡­ originally¡­ retrieve it¡­¡± As the four headed toward the stairs, Alexander couldn¡¯t catch all of their conversation. ¡°What are they planning?¡± Alexander wondered. Perhaps I should monitor these four; maybe I can help them find Anantan by following clues. The main task, marked in red, is the core storyline. According to the narrative, if the main task is completed, the plot ends immediately, typically spanning at least three acts or as many as four or five. Alexander only knew the first act of the story. However, if he could provide the main characters with extra clues, he might expedite the story¡¯s conclusion in the second or third act. Once the main task is completed, he would earn 900 survival points and safely return to the Necrospace. Failure, however, would result in immediate erasure. I died in a car accident. If erased, I¡¯d face that scene again. Recalling the horrific crash, Alexander shivered. Meanwhile, as Alexander encountered the main group, on the other side of Innsmouth, in the famed Elliot family estate, the bespectacled young man, Xu Lin, slammed his fist on the mahogany desk. ¡°Damn it!¡± This was the study of Mayor Lot Elliot, a private space now occupied by Xu Lin and Carmen. ¡°Don¡¯t be upset; plans never keep up with changes¡­¡± Carmen lit a cigarette for herself. ¡°The key issue is we haven¡¯t found the new patients from the ¡®audition¡¯ in time, which is quite troubling¡­¡± ¡°This is a deliberate move by the script. We were too careless, didn¡¯t consider this possibility.¡± Xu Lin calmed himself, pondering: ¡°The previous two scenarios were entirely different, so we didn¡¯t anticipate this situation¡­¡± ¡°Without help from experienced players like us, the newcomers will struggle to find a way to break the plot¡ªthey might just wander around like headless chickens.¡± Chapter 3: Appearance Carmen frowned, "What is the purpose of the Specter Space doing this? If real danger arises, won''t the rookies be wiped out?" "They might receive side quests, as ''The New Innsmouth Conundrum'' is just a Normal-level script world. In the first and second acts, the danger level isn''t too high. As long as they proceed carefully, it''s almost like handing out free points to these newcomers..." Xu Lin habitually chewed on her thumb, speaking with dissatisfaction, "But given the quality of these rookies, not only would they struggle to actively tackle the script, but they might also ''deviate'' before the final act even arrives!" "''Deviate!''" Carmen paused mid-smoke, her gaze growing serious. The so-called deviation is akin to a movie''s NG (No Good). However, unlike filming, in this script world, if an NG occurs, the only outcome is death! The Specter Space will sentence you to death immediately! However, the rules for deviation in Specter Space are rather lenient. The first rule is that you must not disclose information about the Specter Space or script matters to the plot characters. This rule is quite relaxed¡ªjust don''t actively mention the existence of the Specter Space, and you''ll generally be fine. The second rule is that you must not leave the designated area as outlined in the script. If the script specifies a particular setting for a story plot and you flee from the scene, Specter Space will erase you. Aside from these, there are several other rules that are very clear. As long as you''re not an idiot, these rules are essentially ingrained in your mind by the Specter Space. Yet, if someone is determined to dig their own grave, they will surely succeed. ... In the depth of night, Roger, a plump man, was speeding away from Innsmouth in a stolen sports car, attempting to escape the area. Roger was in his thirties or forties. In his early years, he was involved in many shady dealings, including car theft¡ªhis rise was steeped in a dark history. However, Roger had always been lucky. He seized the opportunity during times of upheaval, using his cunning to climb social ladders in the provincial capital, where he met several influential figures, allowing him to flourish and seemingly become omnipotent in his secondary city. Yet, his arrogance grew with his success, and in a few short years, he made countless enemies. One day, he drank a glass of Remy Martin laced with potassium cyanide at his home bar. "Damn it, those bastards think I''m an idiot, not knowing how they sent me to America..." Roger drove, cursing aloud, "Good thing I''m smart. Whatever beings you are, once I get back to Bin Hai City, you''ll pay." Suddenly, he noticed a peculiar almond smell lingering around him. "What¡¯s that awful smell? It stinks!" The almond scent was tainted with an extreme stench, filling the air, and he quickly realized it was coming from himself. Roger touched his ear and found a trickle of liquid oozing out¡ªit was a yellow, turbid fluid, occasionally leaking from his ear, and he could hear a gurgling, bubbling sound in his brain. Feeling nauseous, Roger gagged, vomiting a substantial amount of bile onto the windshield. The brakes screeched against the pavement, nearly crashing into a metal road sign. Staggering from the car, Roger vomited continuously, half his body covered in yellow vomit.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "I feel awful... so awful..." He felt suffocated, his esophagus burning, with blood and vomit incessantly spilling from his mouth. Rotting flesh even began ejecting from his stomach. "Help, someone help me..." Roger reached out with a trembling hand, horrified to see it dissolving before his eyes. His subcutaneous tissues were melting¡ªa sign of deep collagen breakdown. Soon, his legs gave way, and a torrent of yellow fluid and blood spewed forth... "I don''t want to die..." His voice turned to a whimper, growing weaker until it ceased. His body melted away like snow, becoming an unrecognizable mass of decayed flesh and pus. Outside the mist-covered town of Innsmouth, everything sank into a deathly silence. ... "Explorer Roger has been erased by Specter Space for violating the second rule..." Pinocchio''s voice resonated in the minds of every explorer, shaking their resolve. "Who is Roger?" Carmen and Xu Lin exchanged glances, shaking their heads in resignation. They hadn''t asked for everyone¡¯s names earlier, making it impossible to guess who it was now. Meanwhile, Alexander raised an eyebrow, following closely behind the protagonists on the street. He was taking a risk or gambling, analyzing that his best option was to hide in the Gilman House guest room and wait for Xu Lin and Carmen to join him. "However, analyzing the plot of the first act, danger won''t come so quickly, and sticking close to the protagonist team won¡¯t result in instant death..." The protagonist group included the male lead, Janet, and several companion characters: the mature and rational silver-haired, bespectacled Linda, her reckless boyfriend Roland, and the African-American man Alexander hadn''t yet identified. They were students from the general department of Miskatonic University in Arkham City. This Miskatonic University was a remarkable place, notably its departments of Mysticism, Ancient History, and Archaeology, routinely producing individuals of great power. Alexander didn¡¯t know the detailed backgrounds of these people, so he couldn¡¯t determine if any were investigators or powerful figures in the occult. "Anyway, I don¡¯t need to take risks. As long as I follow them, I can observe what they''re up to..." Sneaking after them, Alexander saw them head to the slums on Northern Street, where they interacted with some rough-looking young men in black leather jackets. Soon, this group moved toward the center of town. For some reason, they weren¡¯t driving, which made it easier for Alexander to follow... They arrived at a scrapyard where a bearded middle-aged man approached them from a car, engaging in a conversation. "I warned you, don¡¯t come looking for me again!" The bearded man angrily slammed the car door. Janet stepped forward to talk to him. "Sorry, Tom, I didn¡¯t want to bother you, but Anantan disappeared here, and I must find him. You''re the only person I can trust..." "So, you want me to hack into the cops'' security system? You¡¯re trying to get me killed..." "The town¡¯s security system is managed by Deep Web Communications. As a former Deep Web engineer, you can do it..." Janet pleaded sincerely, "I know your daughter is ill. If it¡¯s just a matter of money..." "It¡¯s got nothing to do with money. Listen, this is the only time, don¡¯t ask again..." Tom, the bearded man, considered for a moment before seriously addressing them: "At 3 AM, I¡¯ll find a way to disable the outer system for you to sneak into the police evidence room. If you only take a DV, the cops might not notice, but make sure not to touch anything else, or no one can save you..." "They¡¯re planning to break into the evidence room; have they lost their minds?" Alexander was puzzled, but quickly understood¡ªthis was the world of Cthulhu, and being Innsmouth, ordinary logic didn¡¯t apply. He continued hiding in the shadows, sipping whiskey bought from the hotel to keep warm, watching the group until around 2 AM, when they left the scrapyard. He rubbed his hands together and followed them. The four reached the back of the police station, sneaking through a metal door into a building. Soon, they saw lights on in a guard room. "This won''t work. We can¡¯t get past the guard room..." Janet shook her head. "Who''s there!?" Linda sensed something, looking towards Alexander¡¯s hiding spot. Caught! With no other choice, Alexander stepped out of the shadows, hands open. Suddenly, Roland charged at him, grabbing his collar and preparing to strike. "Stop, or I''ll call the police." Alexander''s words froze the scene. "Who are you? Why are you here..." Janet gestured for Roland to release him. Roland''s strength easily swung Alexander to the wall, while the other three gathered closer. "Alright, listen up. I know you¡¯re looking for Anantan. In fact, I¡¯m looking for his DV..." Alexander motioned for the anxious group to let him finish. "I¡¯m an investigator from a foundation. Your friend Anantan got mixed up in some trouble, which I am unfortunately here to handle. I believe we have room for cooperation..." Janet and Linda exchanged glances before speaking in unison, "First, tell us, who exactly are you?" "Sorry, my employer doesn¡¯t allow me to disclose such details. I think we have more pressing matters to attend to, like retrieving Anantan¡¯s DV from the evidence room..." Alexander smiled at them, "Maybe I can help you!" "And how would you help us..." Linda asked skeptically. "I may not have much skill, but I can figure out a way to distract the guards, buy you some time." Alexander shrugged, "But I¡¯m very interested in the DV¡¯s content. I¡¯ll find you tomorrow, and you¡¯ll let me see what¡¯s on it..." Having said that, he poured whiskey over his head and headed towards the guard room. Chapter 4: Assembly With alcohol dripping down his body, Alexander boldly charged into the guard room. Before the guard could react, he shouted ¡°F**k you¡± and threw a punch. About five minutes later, the police who heard the commotion arrived and detained him, locking him up in the interrogation room. ¡°American cops are brutal!¡± he muttered, holding an ice pack to his swollen right eye and cheek. He felt foolish; the only reason they hadn¡¯t been harsher was that he reeked of alcohol, leading them to believe he was just drunk. Otherwise, he¡¯d probably be headed straight to the hospital. However, there was a silver lining. He received a message from the Specter Space. "Assisted Janet and her group in retrieving Anantan''s DV and initially gained their trust. Completed side task 2, rewarded 500 survival points..." ¡°I got beaten up like this and only got 500 survival points¡­¡± He thought the side task would yield more, but it turned out to be just a meager amount. If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have used such a stupid method. With some thought, he might have come up with a better approach. While he was wallowing in self-pity, the door to the interrogation room swung open, and Xu Lin walked in with a sour expression. ¡°You idiot, did you think getting yourself arrested was fun?¡± ¡°I figured that if I didn¡¯t know where you guys were, the best way was to make sure you knew where I was!¡± Alexander spread his hands, ¡°And this was the quickest way for you to find me.¡± ¡°Is your brain a toilet, only filled with useless paper and waste? Do you know if your method had failed, you might have been stuck in here from the first act to the last, and the penalties from Necrospace would be enough to kill you¡­¡± ¡°Necrospace deducts points?¡± ¡°Negative and malicious behavior in the plot can result in penalties, but it''s rare¡­¡± Carmen walked into the interrogation room. ¡°This wasn¡¯t a good idea. If you got injured while assaulting a police officer, we wouldn¡¯t be able to treat you quickly, and being unable to act in the plot is very dangerous¡­¡± ¡°I knew that, but I figured you two would have a way to get me out safely¡­¡± Alexander gave a wry smile, ¡°But I¡¯m already hurt.¡± ¡°You call this hurt?¡± Xu Lin dismissed it, reaching into his pocket to pull out a blue candy, handing it over. ¡°Take this; it works wonders for pain relief!¡± Alexander popped the blue candy into his mouth, and the pain vanished instantly. ¡°Incredible!¡± ¡°You can buy ''Pain Relief Candy'' from Necrospace¡¯s free shop for 10 survival points¡­¡± Carmen explained. ¡°Necrospace has many wondrous items. You can slowly explore them when you go back.¡± ¡°These items are useful but won¡¯t help us crack the plot. They only offer basic support.¡± Xu Lin led the two out, with the police in the station ignoring their presence. ¡°To solve the plot, strategy is crucial, or the ability to understand the narrative and find a way to survive through the death traps.¡± ¡°What are the survival rates in these plot worlds¡­¡± Alexander continued to ask. ¡°Necrospace doesn¡¯t create no-win scenarios, but nine-to-one odds are common. I can tell you survival rates are low. If three to four out of your twelve rookies survive, we¡¯d consider that a success¡­¡± Xu Lin replied calmly, though his demeanor had softened considerably.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Newcomers are important to us. Each time there¡¯s a script mission, Necrospace sends new people, but the death rate is too high, and there¡¯s just not enough new blood¡­¡± Carmen shook her head, sighing. ¡°I¡¯ve gone through four script missions, while Xu Lin has done three. After all these plot worlds, only the two of us have survived.¡± Xu Lin said nothing more, leading them into a fast-food restaurant. The three ordered food and sat down to talk, Xu Lin speaking quietly, ¡°Mayor Lot Elliot is under my control, and we can use Innsmouth¡¯s resources to our advantage. I¡¯ve located five rookies, including you. Apart from one who died, four are currently out of contact¡­¡± ¡°This time, twelve people entered the script world. It¡¯s a normal-level small plot. Though it¡¯s set in the Cthulhu universe, as long as we¡¯re careful, ensuring five or so return shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make it sound too easy. This is the Cthulhu world. Here, a rural wizard might summon extraterrestrial beings to destroy a city. If things go wrong, the plot difficulty could spike. On this planet, beings capable of destroying Earth¡¯s civilization abound, so we must avoid triggering increased plot difficulty¡­¡± Xu Lin and Carmen¡¯s conversation was high-level, and Alexander could only occasionally interject. ¡°Does the difficulty of the plot world adjust, becoming more challenging?¡± He frowned, thinking that if it were a game, it would be a sadistic one, with the plot automatically ramping up in difficulty¡ªdefinitely an evil touch by the creators. ¡°That¡¯s right. From what I know, plot worlds come in three difficulty modes: Normal, Nightmare, and the most dreadful, Hell. There¡¯s also a rumored highest difficulty, Abyss.¡± Carmen continued while eating, ¡°I¡¯ve experienced three normal plots and one nightmare plot, and the person who informed me about these difficulties died in that nightmare plot¡­¡± ¡°Enough about that. Cracking the plot is our top priority now. The first act is nearly over, and danger will increase from the second act on!¡± Xu Lin continued, ¡°Mayor Lot Elliot of Innsmouth is a complete scumbag, involved in bribery, corruption, and every vice imaginable. I used some tricks to win his trust. This town is about to hold an election, and if Lot loses, his downfall will be swift. His misdeeds will be attacked by political opponents, and he¡¯ll likely face a long prison sentence.¡± ¡°Lot Elliot lives in constant fear, and I demonstrated some ¡®miracles¡¯ to easily gain his trust. Using his authority, I found important information¡­¡± ¡°The Dagon cult that once plagued the town still exists, and its leader is Lot¡¯s political rival, Madanla of the Vite family. This person is the director of the town¡¯s only private hospital and holds significant influence and reputation, but he¡¯s likely a key member of the Dagon cult.¡± ¡°Though the town¡¯s law enforcement isn¡¯t bad, there are reports of human trafficking activity at the nearby port, which the police dismissed as a prank.¡± ¡°In reality, there have been several cases of tourist kidnappings around Arkham and Ipswich.¡± ¡°According to some records, all these incidents relate to Devil Reef¡­¡± Alexander asked, ¡°But the U.S. military and the Wells-Ma Foundation know so much about this place and even initiated the Kesler Plan in the past. If anything happens here, there¡¯s no way it would go unnoticed!¡± ¡°I have no idea. Maybe it¡¯s a parallel world. According to the original plot, Innsmouth might not even exist anymore, as the original inhabitants fled after several purges.¡± Xu Lin sneered, ¡°Never equate our derived plot worlds with the original works. The information we have must be interpreted based on current circumstances¡­¡± ¡°Next, let¡¯s discuss our strategy. Alexander, since you¡¯ve contacted Janet and her group, you¡¯ll be the liaison. Carmen will assist you. I¡¯ll investigate Madanla of the Vite family, who might be the BOSS we need to confront¡­¡± ¡°For now, we¡¯ll use the Elliot family¡¯s mansion as a base. Let¡¯s regroup there and coordinate everyone¡¯s actions¡­¡± He crossed his arms, speaking with interest, ¡°The main task doesn¡¯t tie us to the narrative, which provides us with some freedom to maneuver.¡± ¡­ At 2 PM, they returned to the mayor¡¯s house, finding the other four rookies waiting in a sitting room. Alexander recognized a few familiar faces: a middle-aged woman, an elderly man, a student, and a white-collar middle-aged man. ¡°Get acquainted, folks. We¡¯re allies now,¡± Xu Lin spoke coolly. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± The white-collar man coughed before speaking slowly, ¡°Hello, everyone, my name is Jin Jianshu. I work as a supervisor in a financial enterprise. The situation isn¡¯t great, but we still have a chance to save ourselves. It¡¯s best if we communicate, share our names, introduce ourselves, and then figure out what to do next.¡± Jin Jianshu was a successful middle-class man, often referred to as a ¡°phoenix man.¡± He had a common background but excelled academically, using his diligence and effort to study and work in the city. Over the years, he established himself in the metropolis, steadily climbing from an ordinary employee to a department supervisor, excelling in ability and performance and mastering interpersonal skills. In this environment, Jin Jianshu wanted to make an impression to earn points. He thought to himself, Xu Lin seems cold and unlikely to garner much following; that middle-aged man Carmen is just a nice guy¡ªthis group is disjointed... By nature, Jin Jianshu is calculating wherever he is, aiming to slowly establish his influence and step into the leadership role. However, when he glanced around, he noticed everyone seemed skeptical of his suggestion. Perhaps due to the strange environment, it took some adjustment, and no one spoke up. No choice, might as well give it another push! The white-collar man stroked his chin as he scanned the crowd, nodding slightly at Alexander. ¡°You¡¯re new here, right? I¡¯m Jin Jianshu. May I know your name?¡± Alexander pondered briefly before saying plainly, ¡°Alexander, just graduated from college. That¡¯s all¡­¡± ¡°Well then.¡± The middle-aged man was at a loss when Alexander folded his arms, not planning to say anything further. He was adept at reading the room and knew Jin Jianshu¡¯s intentions, but Xu Lin was the one in charge here. Though Xu Lin appeared aloof, only he, as the experienced one, could genuinely lead. As for Carmen, his personality had obvious weaknesses, making it hard for him to assert authority in front of others. Chapter 5: Video Since Xu Lin was present, Alexander felt there was no need to pay much attention to Jin Jianshu. Fortunately, after Alexander took the lead, the remaining three people introduced themselves. The middle-aged woman, surnamed Sun, worked as a nurse at a private clinic. The elderly man with a cane asked to be called Old Cheng and claimed to be a retired government official with heart problems who had spent a long time in the hospital. The middle school student scratched his head and introduced himself as Eric. ¡°Alright, here are four cards for each of you to take. These are ''Omnilingual Spell Cards.'' Using these cards, you can understand any language,¡± Xu Lin explained as he handed out the cards. ¡°Each card is worth 10 survival points. When we return to Necrospace, you will need to reimburse me. This isn¡¯t a gift; it¡¯s a loan.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, aren¡¯t we all companions? Can¡¯t you just provide the cards for free?¡± Jin Jianshu protested. As someone who calculated every detail meticulously, he forced a smile and said, ¡°You see, we¡¯re all rookies here, and you¡¯re the veteran. Providing us with some conveniences shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right? I mean, 10 survival points are quite precious to us, but it shouldn¡¯t be much for experienced people like you¡­¡± ¡°Yes, yes, please help us out. This is our first time here, and we¡¯re not familiar with this place,¡± the middle-aged woman, Sun, chimed in, her words reflecting a typical small-town mindset as she tried to bargain. Alexander remained silent, observing the situation. The old man beside him said nothing, and the middle school student, being straightforward and honest, didn¡¯t understand what was happening. Xu Lin¡¯s expression suddenly changed, ¡°Why should I give out benefits for free to you worthless rookies?¡± ¡°If I weren¡¯t protecting you, do you think you¡¯d survive this audition? Don¡¯t you know if you die, these cards become useless? Why should I waste my resources on something dumb like this?¡± ¡°Even in a rookie mission, your mortality rate is ridiculously high. Whether you survive is uncertain, and you still try to pull this stunt on me? Listen carefully, these are loans. Once we return to Necrospace, you''ll pay me back, and you¡¯ll all return the cards. This isn¡¯t a negotiation; it¡¯s an order¡­¡± ¡°What right do you have to do this?¡± Jin Jianshu¡¯s expression soured, his face flushing with anger. ¡°What right? The fact that you¡¯re even in this room is thanks to me. If you¡¯re unhappy, you can leave. You can tackle the main quest alone, solve it on your own. If you think you can, go now. If not, shut your mouth.¡± Xu Lin sneered, ¡°Do I need to teach you something so basic?¡± Jin Jianshu was fuming, ready to retaliate, but he glanced around, realizing that Carmen, who was silently standing by, definitely sided with Xu Lin. The middle-aged woman, Sun, was flushed and stood there helplessly. Meanwhile, Alexander and the old man remained silent, and the middle school student wasn¡¯t even a consideration. After much contemplation, Jin Jianshu had no choice but to suppress his anger, pretending as if he hadn¡¯t said anything, internalizing his frustration.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll assign tasks. Carmen, Alexander, and Jin Jianshu, you will engage with the protagonist team to handle the main storyline''s direct challenges. I¡¯ll handle the information gathering on Madanla of the Vite family solo, and the rest will be on standby.¡± This time, there was hardly any opposition because Xu Lin¡¯s arrangement was sensible. Moreover, no one else had the courage to object. Xu Lin¡¯s logic was sound. The three tasked with the main storyline were all adult men, better suited to handle danger than the elderly, children, or women. Moreover, the mayor¡¯s mansion was clearly a safe spot in the early stages of the plot. ¡°There are no absolutely safe places in the script world, so be cautious!¡± Xu Lin''s remark was clearly directed at Carmen, but only the two of them truly understood it among the group. ... ¡°My god, Roland, did you see that? Anantan, Anantan must have been taken by those creatures.¡± Janet and her group had retrieved the video and returned to the hostel. They inserted the damaged DV¡¯s memory card into a laptop and soon saw the footage Anantan had recorded. Watching the footage left them pale and bewildered, unsure of how to react. It wasn¡¯t their fault. Any sane person, upon seeing such things, would question if they were experiencing delusions or if the video was fake. ¡°Do you think Anantan might be playing a prank on us? The things filmed here, could they all be fake?¡± The African American guy¡¯s face was ashen, indicating how terrifying the video was. ¡°Those skinned corpses and the half-human, half-frog monsters¡ªdo you think those can be created with special effects?¡± Janet was the only one who remained relatively calm. ¡°This DV is the latest model, and I gave it to Anantan. He wouldn¡¯t use it to deceive us, and what would be the point?¡± Just as they were discussing this, there was a rapid knock on the door. Everyone was startled until a voice from outside said, ¡°It¡¯s me, the Asian guy from yesterday. I told you I¡¯d come to find you.¡± The voice belonged to Alexander, who entered the room with Carmen and the others. ¡°Who are they?¡± Janet and the others looked on guard. ¡°These two are also investigators from our organization. We¡¯re actually working for the federal government, but due to confidentiality laws, we can¡¯t disclose certain information¡­¡± Alexander lied smoothly. ¡°No wonder you weren¡¯t in trouble for assaulting an officer¡­¡± Roland looked at Alexander with admiration. ¡°I won¡¯t dwell on the situation. Judging by your expressions, it seems you¡¯ve watched the video!¡± Alexander continued, ¡°Let me guess, you must have seen some fascinating things, enough to change your perception of the world.¡± ¡°What exactly do you know¡­¡± Linda asked, surprised by his confidence. Alexander didn¡¯t elaborate and instead proposed watching the video first. The African American man brought over the laptop and showed Anantan¡¯s video to the three newcomers. Halfway through, Jin Jianshu couldn¡¯t take it anymore and bolted for the bathroom, soon followed by the sound of a flushing toilet. Having been through several script worlds, Carmen was more seasoned, but the video still disturbed him, causing him to take a drag from his cigarette with a frown. Although Alexander was mentally prepared and had a background as a forensic scientist, he didn¡¯t look comfortable. But he understood that this was the Cthulhu Mythos world, where encountering such things easily built pressure and caused mental strain. ¡°First, I¡¯ll explain some things about Innsmouth so you four can have some sense of what¡¯s going on.¡± Alexander exchanged glances with Carmen, who nodded for him to continue. Grateful for Carmen¡¯s silent approval, Alexander appreciated that the veteran recognized his abilities. Unlike Jin Jianshu, he didn¡¯t underestimate Carmen, thinking he was easy to deal with. Carmen wasn¡¯t just a veteran but a seasoned one who had survived four script missions, even more than Xu Lin, the leader. Such a person was certainly not easy to handle¡­ Chapter 6: Deep Dive Alexander turned to Janet, Linda, and the others on the sofa and briefly explained the origin of the town of Innsmouth. ¡°The source of those creatures is a type of hybrid known as Deep Ones. They are particularly frightening because, in the early stages of transformation, they aren¡¯t much different from humans. But once the transformation is complete, they become those half-human, half-fish or half-human, half-frog forms¡­¡± Linda asked, puzzled, ¡°Can¡¯t your government agencies eradicate these monsters?¡± ¡°We once bombed the area beneath Devil Reef, which caused a lot of trouble. Agencies like ours are incredibly bureaucratic and cumbersome, making it difficult to solve things once and for all. Plus, we have many potential enemies. It¡¯s only recently that we¡¯ve noticed signs of resurgence here¡­¡± Alexander was fabricating wildly, unafraid of his tall tales unraveling. ¡°It¡¯s strange¡ªyou¡¯re Miskatonic University students, yet you don¡¯t know about these things.¡± ¡°We are indeed Miskatonic students, but what does that have to do with our school¡­¡± The African American guy looked confused. Alexander and Carmen exchanged a glance but didn¡¯t say more. ¡°So, what are your plans? According to our intel, the old Marsh Refinery is actually a slaughterhouse for the Dagon cult, used for sacrifices and rituals. There are also some mutated Deep One hybrids lurking there¡­¡± As Carmen was about to light a cigarette and discuss the situation in detail, Linda, seemingly unable to stand the smoke, got up and walked to the window. Suddenly, she screamed. ¡°Who? Who¡¯s out there¡­?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong!?¡± Roland and Carmen reacted quickly and rushed over. With the curtain already drawn back, they came face to face with the person peering in from outside. It was a very ugly face belonging to a man with sparse hair and peculiar eyes, quietly perched outside the window. ¡°Bang!¡± He suddenly jumped off the ledge. ¡°This is the fourth floor! He just jumped without fear of getting killed!¡± Everyone rushed to the window and saw the man landing on the ground, quickly fleeing into the distance. ¡°I¡¯ll go after him¡­¡± Gritting his teeth, Roland climbed out the window. Since there was a fire escape ladder, he climbed down quickly. Apparently, he intended to catch up with the man¡­ ¡°According to the original plot, we didn¡¯t enter the house. Roland, despite jumping down to chase him, twisted his ankle¡­¡± Alexander watched below and saw Roland land effortlessly on the street, continuing his pursuit of the man.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Suddenly, without any warning, Alexander¡¯s body straightened, his eyes momentarily vacant. In that instant, Spirit Space transmitted the second act of the plot into his mind. ¡°Why is the second act like this?¡± Alexander almost shouted out loud. He had seen the second act of the script, and according to it, he would die in a chaotic battle. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why do you look so pale?¡± Jin Jianshu approached, frowning. ¡°Nothing,¡± Alexander replied, not saying a word. The plot given by Spirit Space varies slightly for each explorer. While the main storyline is generally the same for everyone, personal side plot elements are deliberately obfuscated or omitted for everyone else. Each explorer can only know their own side plot. For instance, if you¡¯re playing a minor character destined to die in a car accident in this act, only your script will note your side plot, while others¡¯ scripts will merely indicate ¡°the person left¡± or ¡°he had something to attend to.¡± Additionally, there is a strict rule: revealing your side plot to others will result in elimination by Spirit Space. ¡°Should we chase after him? Roland isn¡¯t following the script. Could our intervention have changed the plot? That would be disastrous¡­¡± Jin Jianshu, though visibly shaken by the video, quickly composed himself and spoke with Carmen. Carmen glanced at him and said, ¡°I understand your concern, but Roland¡¯s actions don¡¯t alter the main plot¡¯s course, only some side elements. This triggers a reactive subplot, akin to improvisation. In such cases, we needn¡¯t worry about increasing the script¡¯s difficulty¡­¡± As they conversed, Janet and the African American guy quickly descended the fire escape ladder. Alexander and the others reached the main entrance to meet up with them. When they arrived, Roland limped over. ¡°Oh, God, don¡¯t make me worry for you.¡± Linda, uncharacteristically moved, ran over to embrace Roland. ¡°That guy was crazy¡ªI almost got killed!¡± Roland had a minor leg injury, gritting his teeth as he spoke. ¡°I caught up to him and we struggled for a bit. He was surprisingly strong, and I got a bit injured falling to the ground.¡± He was once the MVP and the best running back in his high school football district league, with a very strong physique. Ordinarily, few adults could match him in a fight. Jin Jianshu and Alexander breathed a sigh of relief, realizing, as Carmen had said, this was just a minor subplot change that didn¡¯t affect the main story. ¡ªRoland¡¯s leg was still injured, and it seemed the plot would continue as originally intended. Spirit Space truly was all-powerful. ¡°Although he got away, I managed to get this¡­¡± Roland reported to the others, pulling out a silver watch, explaining he had taken it from the unusual man. ¡°Wow!¡± The African American guy took the watch and examined it casually. ¡°This is a Tituba vintage automatic chronograph, issued to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Salem¡¯s Tituba Watch Company. It¡¯s surprising for such a strange man to have something like this.¡± ¡°Tituba Watch Company? Abigail, can you find out who the owner of this watch is?¡± Linda quickly asked. Abigail was the African American guy''s name. He replied softly, ¡°This won¡¯t be easy. There are over seventy of these pieces out there. Tracing all the owners won¡¯t be simple¡­¡± He was an amateur watch enthusiast, connected to some collector circles. More importantly, he was a journalism major at MU, with access to a wealth of information, prompting Linda¡¯s inquiry. ¡°Narrow the search range. Since it¡¯s a limited edition, the search won¡¯t be too broad!¡± Alexander suddenly spoke, ¡°I¡¯ll find someone to assist as well, but we¡¯re short on time. Try searching through missing persons or items¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Linda looked at him quizzically over her glasses. ¡°Don¡¯t ask.¡± Alexander merely shook his head, seeming confident or having already thought things through. Meanwhile, Carmen was already calling the police station. Jin Jianshu found himself speechless, realizing he was of little use here. His work experience and life skills were completely irrelevant in this scenario. This realm was beyond his comprehension. Not to mention the seasoned veteran, Carmen, even the unassuming young man had unwittingly assumed a leadership role among the three of them. Chapter 7: Xu Lin Alexander naturally didn''t notice Jin Jianshu''s little thoughts; his brain had already entered a rapid processing mode. Since childhood, he had deliberately trained his mind, making him very adept at logical reasoning. Alexander''s mind was constantly summarizing and synthesizing information, drawing several relatively vague conclusions. ("Dagon Cult," "recent kidnappings nearby," "possible mastermind behind the scenes," "Annan''s whereabouts"...) By organizing all the information, he came up with about five or six general conclusions. By eliminating the weaker and less likely information, he arrived at an answer... "Bingo, found it! Come and take a look here..." The young black man jumped excitedly from the sofa and brought his laptop over to the mahogany table. "Right here, seven years ago, Brazilian millionaire Dupuis disappeared near Annie Cape. He was wearing a casual jacket and a plaid tie, carrying a gold-plated pen and a limited edition Tituba watch..." The information he found was from an old newspaper clipping, a missing person notice. "It''s clearly marked here. The watch was pre-ordered by the millionaire, and his initials were engraved on the back..." Everyone then realized and immediately turned the watch over, indeed finding the initials on the back. "This millionaire was probably murdered, and his watch ended up in the hands of that person we just saw..." "Not necessarily; it could have been picked up by someone after the millionaire disappeared." The group started discussing it but couldn''t reach a consensus. Alexander ignored them and continued to ask, "Could you check how millionaire Dupuis came here, and what he was doing?" "This isn''t mentioned in the newspaper. All we know is that he was en route to Plum Island for a vacation by boat, but it also mentions he once traveled through the Manuset River mouth by ship..." "Does the town have any operating boat services?" "There were several in the past, but the port was repeatedly shut down by the government, leaving just some fishermen and a small cargo terminal. A few boats travel to Newburyport, Arkham, and Boston..." Janet suddenly spoke up: "This was my cousin Annan¡¯s hometown. I visited here when I was young." "Small cargo terminal, what kind of goods do they transport..."This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "Fresh fish or seafood, I suppose. You¡¯d have to ask the locals here." Janet shrugged, indicating she knew very little. Alexander sat back on a chair, rubbing his temples to sort out his thoughts, feeling there were still things unclear. "I have a rough understanding now. By using elimination, I can infer some clues. Now, it depends on the situation on Xu Lin¡¯s side." To advance the storyline in their game, they needed to progress the main plot and understand the development trends ahead of time. Everything before the next scene unfolds is unknown, and they can only rely on themselves to find clues. Every seemingly insignificant clue often represents a hidden lifeline beneath the surface. ... Xu Lin stepped out of the dense, foggy cedar forest, approaching the legendary Marsh Refinery ruins. These ruins have a long history and remain today. Xu Lin¡¯s sharp gaze scanned the soot-covered, crumbling structures lurking in the shadows, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint. "Madara drove here in the middle of the night; something must be up!" He had followed Dr. Madara from the Vitt family from the town hospital, taking a long detour to finally reach this charred refinery. ¡ªIn the original "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," the Marsh family built this shell factory to cover up the gold obtained from the deep ones of the underwater city Y¡¯ha-nthlei beneath Devil Reef. "Annan went missing here. Could it be that the Dagon cult is using this place as a base?" The towering spire within the ruins glowed faintly in the dark, while tendrils of mist drifted around. In such a night setting, anyone would shiver, slowing their steps until they halted. But Xu Lin strode forward without hesitation. The ruins were strewn with charred debris, some wooden, others remnants of walls and roofs. He crossed the yellow police tape encircling the area and wandered through the interior of the damaged buildings. Suddenly, from within the mist came a series of guttural, chilling murmurs, accompanied by a rancid, fishy stench wafting from afar¡ªa dreadfully repugnant odor. Xu Lin stopped, listening intently as the whisper-like sound vanished, returning the world to silent stillness. "Was it an auditory illusion?" Despite his keen hearing, Xu Lin couldn¡¯t help but question if he was too anxious, leading to hallucinations in this quiet night. Just as he began to doubt himself, the flame emblem on his left hand pulsed as if igniting with every heartbeat. It was a warning sign. He grew alert, scanning the misty surroundings, suddenly noticing strange shadows moving within the fog. There were quite a few of them. So Madara set this bait to lure me into a trap. Those lurking "things" in the night mist growled like beasts, the fishy stench worsening his anxiety. Time to break out... Xu Lin sprang into action, leaping with the agility of a superhuman, bouncing off a low wall, and racing towards the edge of the ruins. Beastly clashes and roars echoed, followed by the patter of footsteps. He vaulted over the outer wall, as nimble as the wind, speeding towards the arbor forest, pursued by a throng of shadows. "Come forth, Sacrificial Blade!" Xu Lin shouted, drawing a weapon from the void with his right hand¡ªa medieval flail-like object. However, the head of the flail was half-composed of a skull, covered in dark red spikes. "Clang!" The black chain jingled in the air as Xu Lin hurled the iron ball, smashing heavily into a nearby shadow, the creature''s bones cracking under the massive force, throwing it to the ground. Without stopping, Xu Lin gripped the chain in both hands, swinging it in a circle. In an instant, the skull flail ignited with azure flames, sweeping through the air, crashing into several attacking shadows. As the numerous shadows caught fire, they howled in agony, the flames clinging to their bodies, consuming their half-human, half-fish grotesque forms. "Capture him..." Commands rang from afar, urging the other deep one hybrids to swarm towards him. Chapter 8: The Slumbering Cthulhu The flames on the chain ball lasted only a few seconds before extinguishing automatically. Xu Lin''s expression remained unchanged as he calculated his remaining life points. "The enchantment effect of the Sacrificial Blade roughly consumes about 20 life points each time it¡¯s used for a round..." Although there is no cooldown time for the skill, Xu Lin still carefully calculated his life points... He currently had more than 2,400 life points, but he couldn''t afford to waste them recklessly, as they were only in the second act of the story. There could potentially be two more acts to come, and wasting too many life points now might make it extremely difficult to complete later stages. He calmly assessed the situation, maintaining distance from the deep ones while swinging the heavy chain ball again. Without activating the enchantment effect, he simply smashed the chain ball into a hybrid''s face, causing the creature''s features to shatter. Then, he yanked the chain, spun it around, and tossed the entire chain ball along with the chain. Boom! The chain ball flew over ten meters, targeting a lurking hybrid. Designed as a throwing weapon, it was effective over short to medium distances. In an instant, the enchantment effect triggered, turning the skull chain ball into a burning skull. It nearly smashed the head of the command-giving man lurking in the shadows. Fortunately, a deep one hybrid stepped in front, and the enchanted blue flames instantly consumed it. The chain ball pierced through its chest and landed at Dr. Madara''s feet, whose face was pale and visible in the flickering firelight. "So it is Madara!" Xu Lin wasn''t surprised. He drew a police handgun, fired several shots, then deftly maneuvered around the enemies, hiding in the arbor forest. As he turned, he threw a flashbang; boom! The blinding light made the pursuers scream and growl in fury. Taking advantage of this, Xu Lin escaped effortlessly, driving away from the Mash Refinery in a borrowed car. ... Alexander was drawn into a dream¡ªno, the "dream" infiltrated his deepest consciousness. He was invaded by a nightmare chaotic and devoid of logic. The dream seemed like the deep sea, perhaps even an alien hell, or perhaps heaven and hell combined. Everywhere he looked lay a grand city made of immense stones and bricks, its walls covered in moss and sludge, every inch of soil imbued with an underlying sense of danger. This massive city resided in a black abyss, brimming with countless pillars. Deep within these damp, slippery, moss-laden regions, he sensed something incredibly terrifying lurking, something he dared not gaze upon directly.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. A colossal stone door, pyramid-sized, stood hidden in the shadows, with mist-like vapors trying to burst from an ancient cage. In Alexander¡¯s mind, a scene unfolded: a membranous creature, pulsing and writhing, curled behind the door in that eternal black domain. From the void, a nauseating sound echoed, reminiscent of countless voices whispering. ¡ªA sound akin to singing, chanting, or perhaps a ritualistic hum, endlessly resonating in his ears! "When it emerges from its deep-sea kingdom, the tides bend to its will, and the shores tremble at its presence." The voice was like a child''s chant, an old man''s whisper, or a mature woman''s sly laughter. "It slumbers at low tide. It devours at high tide." In the depths of darkness, there seemed to be an ancient door, occupied by a wrathful spirit, ceaselessly howling. "In R¡¯lyeh''s abode, Cthulhu waits dreaming for you to enter..." Unnameable terror seized Alexander; in an instant, he felt his soul nearly shatter. ¡ªThe door was about to open, and that green demon from the stars was waking from its slumber. The mere thought twisted his face in horror. Even within a dream, he was drenched in cold sweat, gripped by an indescribable fear. He shut his eyes, refusing to look upon that dark door, knowing that to continue would drive him insane and lead to death. Yet, even with eyes closed, the deep, ancient madness and horror of that extreme darkness etched into his mind, sinking deep into his soul... ... "Alexander, Alexander, wake up..." Suddenly, Alexander opened his eyes to find Carmen shaking his face. "What kind of nightmare were you having to look so disturbed?" "Nothing! Just a nightmare..." Upon waking, Alexander forgot everything from the dream, yet the lingering "post-nightmare feeling" enveloped every cell with a sense of survival. For ordinary people, such a feeling might be dismissed, as forgotten nightmares seldom provoke much thought. However, Alexander was no ordinary person; he was a strategist well-versed in the Cthulhu mythos. Though it didn¡¯t occur to him immediately, he realized a few seconds later what had transpired. "Damn, the worst-case scenario has happened. I might have formed a dream connection with ''Mr. C'' of R''lyeh, leading to a complete SAN drain!" Cthulhu, one of the Great Old Ones, could be sealed in the city of R''lyeh, a grand temple deep in the ocean, home of the evil god and his city. "Mr. C" slumbered within. In the twisted worldview of the Cthulhu mythos, both Outer Gods and Great Old Ones surpass human comprehension. Mere glimpses of them can drive humans mad, destroy sanity, or even cause death or blindness from brain overload. This interpretation by the original author, Lovecraft, amplifies the idea found in Christianity that seeing the true form of God is fatal: Exodus 33:20 states, "But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." The cosmic horror gods magnify this infinitely; it isn¡¯t just seeing them¡ªaccidentally touching their statues, reading a play or grimoire, or even dreaming of them might draw their wrath. In this twisted world, countless people suffer bizarre disappearances, deaths, or mutilations after inadvertently encountering such divine "miracles," with incidents happening too frequently to count... "It seems the part in the script where I die in the second act wasn¡¯t a joke. This is a death flag. If I don¡¯t find a way to counteract it, I may not avoid this outcome..." According to Carmen and Xu Lin''s analysis, the script world leads to a Bad End, with all characters meeting a fatal end. The evil spirit space aims to toy with them in these script worlds until they die. However, these death flags aren¡¯t unavoidable side plots, as they don¡¯t affect the main storyline. This means if you can find a way to escape certain death, you can survive. But... avoidance isn¡¯t enough; these death flags aren¡¯t unsolvable. There are often overlooked details or hidden paths for survival, and understanding these secrets is your chance to escape. "If I start from the main plot, why would I die so early..." he began attempting to deduce the reason. Chapter 9: Human Sacrifice Alexander began to contemplate the plot. This adaptation of "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" is based on the most famous storyline in the original tale. Innsmouth is a small settlement established in 1643 along the port, initially focused on shipbuilding as its main export industry, which later expanded to include fishing. After the War of 1812, the town fell into decline. However, due to alliances between a powerful local sea captain and the Deep Ones, a half-human, half-frog underwater race, human sacrifices were exchanged for gold and fish hauls. This eventually led to the locals interbreeding with the Deep Ones, who rose to the surface regularly. As a result, most locals began to show monstrous traits, and even those who appeared normal eventually developed these features with age. Ultimately, all hybrids transformed into Deep Ones unless they died before the transformation was complete, choosing to live in the sea. On July 16, 1927, a curious visitor to Innsmouth who was investigating its past was attacked by the locals. After narrowly escaping, the unusual happenings in the town caught the government''s attention. Following extensive investigations, the Innsmouth people were collectively arrested, turning the town into a ghost town. That''s roughly the story, yet it''s a significant event in the Cthulhu mythos. Alexander had also seen a famous cult film "Dagon" which reimagined this story, relocating the eerie Innsmouth to Spain. "If I have a death flag, it¡¯s probably because of my relationships with Janet and the others. According to the rules of the dark realm, I have gained their trust, which means from a narrative standpoint, I have transitioned from an extra to a supporting character associated with the protagonists..." It''s well-known that in most movies and TV series, the protagonist has a plot armor, but those around them aren''t as lucky. Extras like Alexander generally end up as cannon fodder. Moreover, the script vaguely mentions Alexander''s death, providing no details on the cause or manner¡ªonly that he unexpectedly encounters death and dies instantly... "There are too many gaps in the script. Beyond summarizing the main plot, it barely touches on later developments, making it hard to infer anything without clues..." The only clear detail Alexander knew was that they were heading to a club, and during entry, he died unexpectedly. It doesn''t specify whether he was killed by a Deep One, an evil god, or trapped and killed¡ªnothing at all... Even the club''s name was left vague, leaving no trail to follow. Alexander rose from the branded sofa. He was no longer in that shabby hostel but in a recreation room in the Elliott family villa, the private residence of Mayor Lott, which now served as their base. "An American being wealthy indeed, having such a large house and even this luxurious recreation room..." High school student Eric sat by a small bar, lifting bacon from a plate with a fork, while protagonist Janet and her friends found spots to rest in the recreation room.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The day before, they checked out of their accommodation and moved into the mayor''s house with Alexander and his group. Alexander looked up and noticed Xu Lin had arrived at some point, sitting in a chair, holding a cup of hot coffee, and flipping through relevant files brought by the police. "Did you discover anything new investigating Madara?" "No, I inadvertently alerted him, and he turned the tables on me. That''s why I had everyone move here to avoid trouble..." Xu Lin closed the folder, asking, "You don''t look well. Didn''t sleep last night?" "No, I had a nightmare, a terrifying one!" Alexander didn''t elaborate, confident that Xu Lin would quickly understand. "Describe it in detail..." Xu Lin became serious, sitting upright, and asked earnestly. "I can''t explain it; I don¡¯t remember the dream, but I am sure I encountered a Cthulhu dream." "I understand. I''ll have Carmen provide you with protection for the time being." Xu Lin folded his hands, resting them on his knees. "You might be the key breakthrough in our upcoming plotline. Don¡¯t die so easily." "I know, the script world doesn''t present unsolvable side quests, there must be a way to survive." As they discussed, Janet, Roland, Linda, and others woke up. They had slept late the previous night and got up early, just past six, each looking alarmingly pale. "Damn, I had a nightmare, a terrifying one, but I can''t remember it," said Janet, looking puzzled. "I also had a similar dream, can''t recall much, just remember feeling immense fear," Linda said, her face showing unease without her glasses. "No way, I also had a nightmare!" Roland chimed in, his face without a hint of humor. Even the young black man spoke up with a worried expression: "Hey, guys, you''re not teaming up to scare me, right? I dreamt I was in a horror movie-like nightmare, though definitely B-movie quality." "Sorry, everyone, this isn''t an ordinary joke or prank. It''s a sign of impending doom," Xu Lin declared, walking over firmly. "This is an abnormal response to supernatural phenomena, indicating you¡¯re all caught up in this matter, and don¡¯t think going home and sleeping will end it..." "But it¡¯s just a nightmare!" Janet shook her head, "A bit of fear-mongering, isn¡¯t it?" Alexander explained to them: "Evil gods are beyond our understanding. They can communicate with humans through mental connections, dreaming being one such method." "In the coming days, you''ll continue receiving messages from the evil god, and the nightmares will worsen, as will your mental state and sanity..." "Eventually, if you don¡¯t end your misery, you¡¯ll meet a worse fate. The only way to save yourselves is by resolving this issue completely." "And the most crucial matter now is finding Annan!" "That''s right, that¡¯s why we''re here... to find the missing Annan!" The four exchanged determined glances. "So, let''s talk about Annan''s situation..." Xu Lin gestured for everyone to sit. "Annan Williamson is a photographer for a website in Essex. He stayed in Innsmouth for a while as a child. Why did he come here?" "He was likely here to photograph something. He mentioned discovering something special here..." Janet pressed her hair down, shaking her head, "I should have warned him not to come to this damned place." "Annan is a friend of ours. Not just him, but all of us lived in Essex¡ªJanet, me, Roland, Annan¡ªwe were friends since high school and later attended the same college." Linda explained. "As for Abigail, we met her at university. Annan lived in Essex but often interacted with us due to work..." "Based on our previous deductions, Annan likely saw something he shouldn''t have at the Mash Refinery, leading to his abduction." Alexander had exchanged thoughts with Xu Lin, and with more information, his deduction became more accurate. "From videos and other investigations, it''s not hard to guess what he saw... human sacrifices." Chapter 10: Alexanders Deduction "Yes, Annan likely witnessed the Dagon cult''s sacrificial ceremony, which led directly to his capture." "Damn those bloody cultists!" Roland exclaimed angrily. "The members of the Dagon cult have moved underground from their once active presence, but their original evil intentions remain unchanged. They still use human sacrifices to conduct their dark rituals." Alexander explained loudly, "The Dagon cult is quite powerful. Not only do they kidnap nearby tourists for sacrifices, but they also secretly bring in deceived illegal immigrants from overseas, torturing and sacrificing them to the sea demon." "How is that possible?" Everyone looked incredulous. "It''s not baseless speculation." Xu Lin gestured with his hand, "The local Dagon cult engages in smuggling activities. They gather people from around the world, capture them, and sacrifice them directly. Some victims'' organs are even sold like commodities." "The town''s most famous doctor, Madara, acts as a middleman in this business. His current status and power come from these transactions. With the support of the Dagon cult, he even aspires to replace the mayor and become the de facto king of this town..." "Annan is definitely in Madara''s hands, and he might still be alive." "Then why are we waiting here? Let''s storm Madara''s place and rescue him now!" Roland shouted impatiently, but Linda interrupted him. "Roland, calm down and listen to what they have to say..." "Rest assured, we will rescue him, but we can¡¯t act rashly. If Madara decides to kill him and destroy evidence, we would be too late to regret it." Xu Lin calmed everyone down. Rescuing Annan was a main plot task, and since it was only the second act, Xu Lin didn¡¯t believe he could just charge into Madara¡¯s lair and save him single-handedly. Would the dark realm really set such a simple task? If Xu Lin thought like that, he would be too naive. Main plot tasks are crucial and are bound to be fraught with danger and difficulty. "I checked Madara''s background and found that the most likely place Annan is being held is the Innsmouth Maritime and Shipping Club..." Xu Lin revealed this name, and a flicker of worry crossed Alexander¡¯s eyes. As expected, the script indicated that the club''s name would be discovered by the group of four, and Alexander was required to act with them on the main plot, leaving him no choice.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Main plot tasks, especially those known as red-letter main plots, cannot be defied. Actions must strictly follow the main plot... "The problem now is that we don''t have enough evidence; otherwise, we could have the police intervene, raid the club, and expose everything..." This was Xu Lin''s plan: to use the local authorities to target the Dagon cult, which would be far better than risking himself. He had seen the strength of the Deep One hybrids last night. Though he could handle them individually, their numbers would force him to flee. "We still don¡¯t have a clear understanding of Madara and the Dagon cult¡¯s power. The town has a limited population of 2,000 to 3,000 at most, yet there were about a hundred Deep Ones. How could they have such influence?" This was illogical. The Dagon cult of the past was formidable, but there weren¡¯t so many people then, and even with the town''s population having doubled, such a number of hybrids seemed impossible. Unless... there¡¯s something I¡¯ve missed! "Evidence? What evidence is needed? They''re all just a bunch of monsters!" Roland jumped up from his chair, glaring at Xu Lin. "True, but they''re still hiding in the shadows. If we want the police to get involved, we need at least a reasonable ''excuse''!" "We have an excuse; we''re investigating the watch. Catching that man who escaped would give us a chance to get involved with the club." Alexander proposed the idea: "This person must be a member of the Dagon cult and the murderer of the Brazilian millionaire Dupuis. He is likely a sailor or a boatman, giving us a lead to capture him..." "What do you mean?" Xu Lin asked, turning his gaze to him. "First, Dupuis disappeared near Annie''s Cape. He intended to go to Plum Island, and the last person he encountered before disappearing was most likely a sailor or boatman..." Fengse whispered, "After analyzing many times, the murderer must be part of the Dagon cult. Otherwise, anyone who found such an exclusive watch would sell it instead of hiding it. Not selling it shows fear of the murder being discovered. Perhaps he kept it as a trophy, a mentality possible in a twisted hybrid." "You make some sense, but you haven¡¯t identified the killer," Xu Lin adjusted his glasses. "I don''t know who he is, but we can use elimination to deduce. First, let''s list the clues: 1. The killer is a member of the Dagon cult; 2. The killer is a sailor or boatman; 3. The killer has the Innsmouth look, which everyone noticed¡ªthat¡¯s a hybrid trait..." Alexander continued speaking: "In retroduction, elimination is very useful. Combining what we know, we can deduce that the Dagon cult is closely linked to the club, and the club is connected to sailors and boatmen, some of whom are involved in smuggling activities and cult rituals..." "We''ll first exclude non-Dagon cult members, as they don''t fit all three characteristics. Next, exclude non-club sailors and boatmen. Finally, exclude club sailors and boatmen without the Innsmouth look. This makes it easier to find him, as his changed appearance is highly distinctive." "He''s still monitoring us, proving he¡¯s still active outside. This means he hasn¡¯t used ''faking death'' to abandon his real identity, or he couldn¡¯t move freely in Innsmouth streets. But this also means he can''t work or live normally, so he will remain incognito. Focus on crew and sailors recently given sick leave and haven¡¯t shown up for three or four months..." After his explanation, many present were taken aback. "Are there actual detectives who can deduce like this in the real world?" murmured the young black man, Abigail. Xu Lin suddenly laughed, and even Carmen chuckled. "Your reasoning is excellent. I''ll have the police investigate this. If we''re quick, we¡¯ll have news in a couple of days..." Carmen, who handled police communications, and the other veterans had methods unknown to Alexander and his group. They remained in Elliott''s villa, unaware that outside, an eye behind a sniper scope had everything in its sight. Chapter 11: Death Flag The group remained inside the Elliott family villa, unaware that outside, someone was peering through a sniper scope, watching everything unfold. "F-Cell ''Hunter Fox'' reporting to the command post, target in sight. Should I proceed with the daylight plan?" He was crouched on a dark canopy, holding a sniper rifle, and communicating with his command post via radio. "Hunter Fox, hold your position. Do not take action unless further orders are given by the command post," came the reply through his earpiece. The sniper lying in wait outside confirmed the order with a sharp voice, "Order received, entering standby mode now..." He shifted his keen gaze away from the scope, a cold smile forming on his lips. "You''re lucky for now, but you won''t have many good days left." ... As night fell, an Asian man huddled in a pile of garbage, shivering and trembling. Exhausted and in an unfamiliar place, he had been hiding for three or four days. His name was Lin Jun, a novice player from the dark realm who had come to this place. Because he had been hiding in secret locations, only venturing out to scavenge food from garbage, even Xu Lin''s police search couldn''t find him. After some homeless people robbed him of his wallet, Lin Jun was left penniless, enduring days of misery. Just as usual, after grabbing some scraps from wild dogs and barely filling his stomach, he soon fell into a groggy sleep. "I just want to go home. This must all be a dream. Once I fall asleep, everything will go back to normal." He mumbled to himself, as if trying to convince himself. Perhaps from hunger and exhaustion, Lin Jun quickly fell into a deep sleep. His dreams were silent and peaceful, as if sinking into the abyss of the sea. Lin Jun didn''t know how long it took before he woke from the dream. "What¡¯s happening, why am I here again?" He saw a city, submerged in the sea, full of towering pillars, its eerie atmosphere enveloping him. "When it emerges from its deep-sea kingdom, the tides bow to its will, and the shores tremble and flee upon seeing its form." "It slumbers at low tide. It devours at high tide." "In R''lyeh''s abode, Cthulhu waits dreaming to enter yours..." The sound of the ritual echoed as endless darkness spread from the deep sea, sinister forms emerged, drawing Lin Jun into a cold and malevolent dreamscape. Minutes later, a stray cat leapt atop a trash can, finding no food, it leapt back down. It soon discovered a pile of clothes in the garbage, yet their owner was nowhere to be found... This wasn''t an isolated incident. Besides Lin Jun, three other players disappeared silently in this small town. "Player Lin Jun, Luo Dezhang, Xiao Qi dead. Four players have died in ''The New Shadow Over Innsmouth!''"If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The voice of the Death Space''s Pinocchio echoed in every player''s ear. Alexander awoke from a nightmare, startled by the message. He rubbed his eyes, realizing he couldn''t sleep anymore. "Things have gotten complicated..." Just as Alexander muttered to himself, it indeed became more troublesome. Unknown to him, not only did others share his fate, but throughout Innsmouth, more people began experiencing the same dream¡ªR''lyeh''s dream. In their nightmares, a dark presence beneath the ocean roared continuously. "When it emerges from its deep-sea kingdom, the tides bow to its will, and the shores tremble and flee upon seeing its form." "It slumbers at low tide. It devours at high tide." "In R''lyeh''s abode, Cthulhu waits dreaming to enter yours..." ... Bang! Bang! Bang! After several gunshots, bullets whistled through the indoor shooting range, piercing the targets accurately. Xu Lin took off his ear protection, turning to the group: "This is the basic handgun shooting stance, always use both hands. Most TV shows get it wrong..." "The Weaver stance is a fundamental shooting posture, using your strong hand to hold the gun, locking your elbow and wrist, utilizing your skeleton and body weight to counter recoil. The weak hand supports, with thumbs un-crossed; push with the strong hand, pull with the weak hand to stabilize the gun." "When using a handgun, be cautious, especially indoors. Don''t aim at the floor, walls, or ceiling, so control your gun-handling stance. Also, if you''re in an open environment, avoid stray shots that might hit innocent bystanders; bullets can fly off wildly, easily injuring ordinary people." "Pay attention to shooting distances as well. Effective lethal range is about 50-60 meters, but beginners should be thankful if you can strike a target within about five meters..." Xu Lin instructed the group on using handguns as they stayed at the Elliott family villa. Two days had passed, and the police search was underway, but even quickly, it couldn''t be completed instantly. Seizing this chance, Xu Lin reinforced the group''s understanding of the script world and taught them how to use weapons. ¡ªThey had acquired some firearms through special connections. Since several newcomers had never handled a gun, Xu Lin led them to the indoor shooting range at the Elliott villa to teach them firearm handling. "Those hybrid Deep Ones aren''t particularly powerful creatures. With more firepower, can''t we handle them easily?" Jin Jianshu toyed with an FN-45 handgun, speaking softly. Unfamiliar with the Cthulhu mythos, he didn''t grasp the real situation, relying on information shared by Xu Lin and Alexander. Such a view was unrealistic here... "Your thinking is too simple. Remember, this isn''t the real world. Many situations can''t be measured by common sense. I''ve faced those hybrid Deep Ones; a single one matches a strong adult male in strength, speed, and has a certain level of brute force..." Xu Lin adjusted his glasses: "Most of you are novices with limited combat capability. Facing one or two hybrids may be manageable, but if there are many, no one can escape." "Our main task isn''t to fight monsters, but to survive. Each of you needs to earn 300 survival points..." Carmen continued, "In this ordinary-level script world, main tasks offer only 200 survival points. If you don''t earn an additional 100, even if you return to the dark realm alive, you''ll still face erasure!" "What should we do then?" An elderly man with the surname Cheng, leaning on a cane, asked: "Given my condition, how can I independently earn those so-called 100 survival points?" "Don''t worry, sir. Earning survival points doesn''t necessarily rely on force; strategy is key..." Alexander reassured kindly. "Correct, earning survival points involves several aspects. First, complete main tasks; second, complete side tasks; third, avoid death flags." Xu Lin looked at the group seriously, speaking slowly: "Side tasks are divided into personal and group ones. Higher risks yield higher rewards. I advise against rushing into personal side tasks; these are unique to each script, unseen and unknown to others..." "You should focus on two points: complete group side tasks when possible. The first act''s group side task was building relationships with the protagonist''s group. Alexander did well and got 500 survival points, enough for the next..." Carmen glanced at Alexander, who quickly understood her implication. He addressed the group, "Yes, I completed the first act''s group side task. It wasn''t difficult or dangerous..." Hearing this, the group''s eyes reflected complex emotions towards Alexander. "The second act''s side tasks haven¡¯t appeared yet, or someone may have triggered personal ones; that''s not the focus. We are a team, and the goal is for more people to survive." Carmen surveyed the group, a solemn expression on his face. After a pause, he exhaled, turning to Xu Lin: "Xu Lin, it''s about time. They should learn more now." Chapter 12: The Sacrificial Blade "It makes sense that Carmen and Xu Lin are concerned about the personal side quests. They must be worried that a newcomer might undertake a personal side quest on their own, disrupting their main quest strategy," Alexander mused, holding a Glock 18, a well-known self-defense pistol praised for its ease of use and trigger safety. At that moment, Xu Lin glanced around at everyone and spoke in a somber tone, "Next, I''m going to show you something very important, so pay attention." Xu Lin extended his hand as if grasping the air. "Come forth! My Sacrificial Blade!" In an instant, a weapon appeared in his hand¡ªa chain ball entwined with a black chain. "This is the Sacrificial Blade, a powerful weapon obtained from the dark realm, and one of the strongest tools at our disposal as players..." Xu Lin explained with an unusual seriousness. "You just asked why we can''t rely solely on modern firearms to deal with those hybrids. The truth is, this method is unreliable, especially since this is a modern Earth script world. With each new script world opened by the dark realm, the setting differs. If we''re thrown into ancient China, medieval Europe, or prehistoric times, we wouldn''t be able to use any modern firearms..." "Moreover, if we encounter enemies that aren''t hybrids but demons, spirits, or ghosts, would our firearms still work?" "Even in this Cthulhu mythos world, there are special races and extraterrestrial beings impervious to human firearms. Then what do we do...?" "At times like these, the special weapons provided by the dark realm are our only hope!" He gripped the chain ball, a weapon made from a skull fused with lead, its spikes gleaming with cold metal light. "This is the Sacrificial Blade, a weapon forged within the dark realm, possible only through their crafting methods..." "The Sacrificial Blade has a unique property: no matter the enemy, it inflicts damage, even on ghosts and spirits. Such ethereal entities can be harmed, let alone hybrid Deep Ones. I suspect it could even hurt a Great Old One, though the extent of the damage is uncertain..." "You mean it''s specialized equipment from the dark realm, meant for leveling up?" Eric compared it to online gaming terms for understanding. Xu Lin continued, "Something like that, but there''s a difference: to forge such a weapon, you must return to the dark realm and perform a sacrifice..." "Sacrifice!?" The group was bewildered, exchanging puzzled looks. "Yes, the weapon is called the Sacrificial Blade for a reason. You must make a contract with the dark realm and sacrifice something of your own to obtain such a weapon."Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Xu Lin''s explanation left the group frowning, too abstract for full comprehension. Alexander alone appeared deep in thought. "If you''re willing to pay the price, you can turn bone to sword, flesh to shield, and convert soul and will into strength. But what you sacrifice, you lose¡ªa form of equivalent exchange!" Xu Lin spoke with a deeper meaning, though no one caught on. Alexander was considering another matter: if Xu Lin had such a "special weapon," did Carmen also have a trump card of her own? Yet no one else had raised this question. "Besides this, you can enter the dark realm''s free market to purchase special items, assuming... you return alive..." Carmen raised her left hand, pointing to the back of it. "Everyone has a flame emblem on their hand, known as the dark contract. It not only confirms our status as players of the dark realm but also has special functions!" "Its primary function links us to the dark realm and can provide warnings when danger approaches..." "It has other unique abilities, but our understanding of the dark realm is limited. If you''re capable, you can explore it yourself!" Xu Lin and Carmen had briefed them to this extent and said no more. At that moment, Carmen received a call from the police, reporting that the suspect had been apprehended swiftly and efficiently. "These cops aren''t as incompetent as I thought," Jin Jianshu remarked with surprise. "Old Li, could you liaise with the police? Once we confirm the suspect''s identity, we can proceed directly to raid the club..." Xu Lin commanded. Hearing this, Alexander felt a stir within, knowing he''d soon face his death flag. "Will I survive this crisis?" Facing the unknown danger, he could only sigh helplessly. ... Three hours later, Carmen returned from the police station. "The suspect has been found. His name is Gordon, a boatman. Seven years ago, he and a group of sailors murdered the millionaire Dupuis. He''s also a member of the Dagon cult and one of their minor leaders¡ªwe''ve caught a big fish this time..." Carmen downed a glass of water, announcing loudly, "He confessed to a lot, including human trafficking operations stretching from Southeast Asia. Part were sold into slave markets worldwide, and others were brought here for living sacrifices..." "They aren''t the original Dagon cult members but a criminal network of sailors and smugglers from various countries. Their connection to the town''s old Dagon cult is minimal, sharing a similar origin but not the same organization." "So it''s not closely tied to the original myth," Xu Lin mused aloud while stroking his chin. "What do we do next?" "Let the town¡¯s police handle it. It¡¯d be foolish not to use them to our advantage," Xu Lin stated nonchalantly, knowing that tackling those cultists wouldn''t be easy, even for experienced players like him and Carmen. To them, the police were potential cannon fodder, minimizing their own losses in confronting the Dagon cult. ... Innsmouth police quickly surrounded the Innsmouth Maritime and Shipping Club. "Listen up, everyone. These thugs are dangerous. To protect our townspeople, don¡¯t hold back if they resist..." The police chief instructed through a radio, warning his officers about the potential resistance as they stormed the club. There were about thirty or forty officers, a regular security unit but adequately armed. Fifteen minutes later, a series of gunshots rang out from the club, followed by a voice over the radio, "There''s hardly anyone here. A few cultists resisted, but we subdued them quickly. However, the basement... oh God, what have they done..." Xu Lin, Janet, and their group heard the transmission and moved towards the club immediately. Chapter 13: The Club The interior of the club was already empty; Madara was cunning and had left with his subordinates, and the police found that he was already nowhere to be found even when they went to the local town hospital. "However, we''ve captured their accomplice, and it''s only a matter of time before we find them. The key is whether Annan is here." The group pinned their hopes on the latest findings. The police had discovered something in the club''s basement, but upon entering, they were disappointed once again. Inside the basement, they found yet another bloody slaughterhouse. Large, hollowed-out skins hung from the ceiling, the organs tossed aside in piles, and the floor etched with blasphemous symbols and magic circles. Candles were placed around, with what seemed to be heart-like offerings. ... The first few police officers who entered couldn''t bear it and quickly vomited. Alexander and Xu Lin walked in, both beginning to inspect the surroundings, but they found no useful signs. "Let''s check upstairs. There¡¯s probably nothing more to find here..." Carmen realized that the newcomers who accompanied them were visibly shaken, likely overwhelmed by this horrific scene. Bringing them along was meant as a form of training; after all, this was only the second act. Entering the third and fourth acts would likely present even bloodier scenes. If they couldn''t adapt now, what would happen later? However, considering the unique nature of this world, it''s best not to let the newcomers experience too much mental disturbance, lest they lose their sanity. Meanwhile, Alexander felt an unsettling emotion growing within him¡ªa seed of unease had taken root in his mind. The death flag was probably triggered, and he still didn''t know from where it would come... Upon reaching the second-floor corridor and encountering the first room, he noticed a window. It was as if a flash of lightning struck his mind; a segment of the script containing red text raced through his thoughts. It related to the main plot and the details of his death flag! On the third day, Alexander (you) and Janet''s group entered the club. When Alexander (you) approached a window, he suffered a fatal blow, instantly losing consciousness and dying. Besides stating it was the third day, there was no date, no time, and no additional clues. "Wait a minute, why does this script specifically emphasize the window? It could have been written more simply, like being attacked unexpectedly upon entering the club and dying on the spot..."The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Could it be that this death flag inherently contains some informative aspect... A window¡ªwhy a window? Could my cause of death relate to the window? If this is a hint in the script, or perhaps a way out... Mentioning the window might be a warning that the danger comes from outside. If it were from inside the room, there would be no need to emphasize the window, especially using the phrase "approach the window." A sudden realization struck him¡ªshould he take a gamble? No, he no longer had the luxury of time; he must approach the window. Alexander began to survey the surroundings and discovered other windows in the room, but they were all sealed shut, except for the one before him, which was open. Meanwhile, a tense interrogation was underway in the next room. They had captured one of Madara''s accomplices and were interrogating him in an empty room nearby. "You bastard, you''d better tell me quickly where Annan is!" yelled the hot-headed Roland, grabbing the collar of the bald man seated on the chair, but two policemen quickly pulled him back. "This scumbag has a tight lip, no matter how we press him, he won¡¯t speak. It''s frustrating!" A policeman frowned. They had caught this bald man before, but he just sat there silently after capture. He kept his head down, not saying a word. However, if Xu Lin and the others had observed more closely, they would have noticed the man''s lips incessantly moving, as if he were reciting something. Meanwhile, Alexander was preparing himself. He searched the room and quickly found what he was looking for¡ªtwo large floor mirrors. "I don¡¯t know if this will work, but I must try." Following his thought process, he swiftly set up the arrangement. The interrogation in the next room continued, but the bald man remained tight-lipped, seemingly muttering something to himself. Initially, his voice was soft, but then it grew as if possessed, rapidly reciting something with uncanny speed. "Something''s wrong. He''s chanting something¡ªa spell, or a summoning incantation..." Xu Lin, who had been standing with his arms crossed, initially had no suspicions. The bald man and his accomplices were all restrained, with hands cuffed and tied to the chair. Though he was just a hybrid yet to transform, there were limits to his strength. But at that moment, Xu Lin felt a sharp, burning pain on his left hand where the dark realm contract was, warning of impending danger... "The kingdom is coming, the hell is coming, the stars are coming, the world is coming, Ph''nglui mglw''nafh Cthulhu R''lyeh wgah''nagl fhtagn!" The bald man let out a howl¡ªan incredibly piercing sound unimaginable to come from a human throat. Not only did Xu Lin feel it, but so did Jin Jianshu, high schooler Eric, and Cheng''s wife; their dark realm contracts emitted a red glow, the burning pain piercing their brains, transmitting through the nervous system and into the central pain processing cells. "This is bad!" The thought or premonition arose in everyone''s mind. Suddenly, the bald man¡¯s throat convulsed, and he raised his hands to clutch his neck, his eyes rolling back. "What''s happening¡ªis he having a seizure or muscle spasm? Why does he look like he''s suffocating?" one policeman shouted in surprise, moving forward to check. "Don''t go near him, this man is dangerous!" Janet warned out of goodwill. But tragedy struck¡ªthe bald man threw back his head and opened his mouth wide, dislocating his jaw with a cracking sound, twisting downwards. A pale hand reached out from his throat, grabbing the face of the policeman attempting to approach. "Help, help!" The policeman tried to cry out, but it was useless; his mouth was covered, and the pale hand tore away half of his face, yanking the skin and brain tissue into the bald man''s throat. The next instant, the bald man''s abdomen swelled as if pregnant with a child. "Open fire!" Jin Jianshu, reacting swiftly, drew his gun and fired quickly. The bullets tore into the bald man''s abdomen, releasing a torrent of green liquid. But it was futile; the bald man forcibly stood, snapping his handcuffs, staggering forward with his swollen belly toward everyone. Chapter 14: Conflict "Keep him away, keep firing..." Xu Lin shouted, snapping everyone back to their senses as they began to shoot in unison. At that instant, something was thrown through the window, flashing once before exploding, engulfing the room in a blinding light. It was a flashbang, expertly thrown into the building. ... "Alright, begin, Hunter Fox!" The sniper known as "Hunter Fox," Span, was perched on the opposite building of the club. Calmly assembling his Barrett rifle and adjusting the scope, he crouched in a corner and muttered to himself, preparing to take aim. Simultaneously, he glanced around with his left eye, noticing that a large team had already taken control of the Innsmouth police department, though the people inside were oblivious. It was likely a command from the headquarters; Span was well-acquainted with his boss''s capabilities. They were part of the NRO Delta, a national reconnaissance unit with deep roots in the country''s infrastructure. Span was a typical soldier, uninterested in aligning with any big power but admired his commander, Adolph Lepus, for his ruthless efficiency and his willingness to use any means necessary to achieve operational goals. "At least here, I won''t be court-martialed for accidentally shooting a few prisoners..." One night, slightly tipsy, Span whistled and shared this truth with a colleague who replied with a wry smile. Hiding in a corner of the building, he saw the special operations team member rappel outside the window, tossing in a flashbang, which signaled that it was time for him to act. "Alright, finally I can move..." he said, picking up his sniper rifle, whistling a tune from an old country ballad as he got into his sniper stance. "Bang!" The bullet fired without hesitation, but as it struck the window, Span''s eye twitched¡ªa miss. ¡ªThe figure that stood by the window was shot through the head but shattered into scattered glass. "Damn, it¡¯s a mirror. That bastard used mirrors to create a decoy..." Realizing his mistake, Span stood up, his face pale with frustration. Meanwhile, Alexander, positioned by a closed window, also turned pale upon hearing a gunshot. "If I had entered that room or approached the window, that sniper might have killed me..."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. This was the script''s design for his death flag. With the sniper''s vantage point, most of the internal corners were covered. It meant that... even staying near that window could be fatal. "But the script stated to approach a window. Then, it must mean finding another window..." However, did the script specify that it had to be an open window? What about a window on the parallel wall? In a split second, an idea struck him. He positioned himself by a sealed window and, using the principle of a periscope with two angled floor mirrors, projected his image, creating the illusion of standing under the window. Thanks to the overcast weather and dim lighting inside, the sniper, Span, hadn''t noticed the deception... "This death flag is temporarily resolved. Put simply, as long as you know its source, there''s nothing to fear." As he pondered this, Pinocchio''s voice echoed in his mind. "Congratulations, newcomer Alexander. You''ve evaded a death flag and earned 300 survival points..." With an additional 300 survival points, his luck seemed to be holding! Just as Alexander allowed himself a moment of satisfaction, a loud explosion sounded from the adjacent room. "What happened?" He drew his Glock 18, his expression growing serious. Xu Lin had control of the situation, so why had an explosion occurred now? "Impossible. This scene wasn¡¯t in the script. Could it be a triggered task?" Just as he approached the doorway, a loud crash sent the door flying open, and a swollen, monstrous mass surged out of the room. It barely retained a human shape, with a massive, pockmarked belly, covered in bullet holes and abrasions. Foul, pus-like fluid seeped from within. A pitch-black stag rammed the monster, forcing it out of the doorway. The creature stumbled, rolling down the stairs. Alexander stood there, bewildered¡ªwhat in the world had just happened? "Return, Shadow Familiar!!" Carmen''s voice came from nearby. Dressed in a long coat, he waved his hand, and the ebony stag dissolved into shadows, blending back into the dark at his feet. "This is a Shadow Familiar, another power bestowed by the dark realm..." His brow furrowed as he watched the creature recede down the stairs. The situation had been incredibly perilous; had he not summoned his personal "Shadow Familiar" in time, everyone might have perished on the spot. In such a confined space, even Xu Lin¡¯s Sacrificial Blade would have been difficult to wield effectively, as striking others was a real concern. However, his "stag" was both robust and agile, capable of switching between shadow and corporeal forms, allowing it to move unimpeded even in tight conditions. "How did military personnel infiltrate here? Thankfully, that creature dealt with them for us..." Xu Lin emerged, looking disheveled, his clothes speckled with blood. In the chaos, he had reacted fastest, holding off two assailants, while the creature had brutally crushed two adult men. Meanwhile, Carmen coaxed his Shadow Familiar, the shadows swirling into a powerful stag twice the size of a person, raising its head high to ram the monster, miraculously pushing it out the door. This was the scene Alexander had witnessed. "We can''t stay here. Those who attacked us will be here soon. Let''s go..." Xu Lin offered no explanations to Janet and the others, urging them to follow him out. "What the hell is going on? If you''re with the government, where did these military forces come from?" Roland, though brash, wasn''t stupid and quickly raised this question. "Where''s Janet? Janet¡¯s gone?" the young black man suddenly realized something significant¡ªJanet, who had been with them, was now missing. Gunfire erupted at the stairwell¡ªthe creature clashed with the advancing squad. A cacophony of crashing glass echoed as the strike team launched their assault, bursting in through the windows. Chapter 15: Main Plot Change Numerous members of the National Reconnaissance Office Delta Force (NRO Delta) stormed in while Carmen summoned his Shadow Familiar once more. He sighed deeply and muttered to himself, "Each time I use the Shadow Familiar, it costs 120 survival points, and it can only stay for thirty minutes before additional points are deducted. The dark realm is really a rip-off..." This ability wasn''t easy to use; otherwise, Carmen would not have kept it hidden. The high cost alone deterred many, but the power of the Shadow Familiar was undeniable. For instance, Carmen''s "stag" had triple his strength. Most familiars had a strength roughly three times that of the summoner''s, making their combat power nearly surpass human limits. The stag leapt out of the shadows on the ground, crashing into two assault team members who tried to approach, sending them flying. The stag''s antlers were strong and sharp, capable of piercing through concrete with ease. Alexander saw one of the assault team members get impaled through the chest. "Take the back door..." Xu Lin wielded the Sacrificial Blade, spinning the chain ball in his hand, with a blue flame erupting from the eye sockets of the skull. This was the enchantment effect of Xu Lin''s Sacrificial Blade¡ªBlue Flame! The intense blue flame could melt anything and had greater thermal radiation than normal fire, making it highly flammable and quick-burning. He swung the chain ball, striking the corridor walls, sending blue sparks flying everywhere. After doing all this, the group moved downstairs under his cover. They traversed a long hallway and finally reached the club''s back door, while terrifying howls echoed from within the club. As Mrs. Sun was walking, a gunshot rang out; her head exploded. It was a subsonic bullet from a Barrett rifle. In fact, her head had been shot before anyone heard the sound. This was the nature of the script world in the dark realm¡ªdeath came so swiftly and cruelly, leaving no choice, resistance, or preparation. Lives were as fragile as grass... "Take cover, quickly take cover..." Alexander suddenly remembered that the sniper was still nearby. He had thought the sniper might not have a chance to target them, but he hadn''t expected the sniper to be aiming at their group. He hid under a van while Carmen, beside him, punched through a car window, reached in to unlock the door, and jumped into the driver''s seat. "Bang!" A bullet shattered the window, and Carmen quickly drove off, summoning the stag to shield the car.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "Hurry, get in..." Carmen swung the car around to pick everyone up, then drove away with the black stag providing cover. However, gunfire continued along the way, and Roland suddenly cried out, having been shot in the shoulder, blood pouring out. "No good, Roland''s hurt¡ªwe need to get to a hospital." "We can''t go to the hospital. Old Li, give him a painkiller candy and something to bandage him." "Understood!" Carmen was well-versed in such situations. He quickly pulled out a roll of bandages and gave Roland a painkiller candy. These items were likely miraculous artifacts from the dark realm. After Roland took the candy, the pain quickly subsided, and Carmen managed to bandage him up. "Who exactly are you people? Those were clearly military¡ªwhy did they attack us?" Linda, having calmed down, voiced her and the others'' questions. "And why is Janet missing?" the young black man was still puzzled by this. "Let us out, let us out..." Roland, having regained some strength, shouted. "Enough!" Alexander suddenly roared. The car came to a screeching halt. He addressed the three: "Now is not the time for us to argue. Janet''s disappearance and the military''s appearance suggest Innsmouth may be in a very peculiar situation..." "We''ve told you everything. We are part of a special agency connected to the government, but things have changed, and we don''t know exactly what''s happening. If you don''t trust us, you''re free to leave here. Just remember that those soldiers will fire indiscriminately. The implications of who''s backing them should be clear!" "They''re likely from the NRO Delta Force, probably MJ-12 members..." Xu Lin bit his finger, his excellent memory recalling some related details about Cthulhu. "''MJ-12'' was established on September 24, 1947, officially known as Majestic-12, composed of key figures from the military, intelligence, and academia. It reports directly to the National Security Council, though that''s just a formality. Presidents after Johnson weren''t even aware it existed. ''MJ-12'' maintains extreme secrecy, even assassinating former member Secretary of Defense James Forrestal on May 22, 1949, to keep its existence hidden. It''s a terrifying organization, and in terms of influence, we might not be able to match them..." "If this organization is here, there must be something to gain. If it were just about wiping out the Dagon cult, we''d see their subordinate ''Blue Butterfly'' unit, not the NRO Delta Force filled with killers..." At this crucial moment, the script for Act 3 surfaced in their minds, accompanied by a horribly bad piece of news. "Plot point triggered... New main storyline initiated... Overwriting original project... System change commencing¡ª" "Directive A, new main storyline successfully overwriting project, initiating Nightmare Mode!" Everyone''s expressions changed¡ªdeath was beckoning, and the main storyline had shifted... "Damn it!" Even Xu Lin couldn''t help cursing, punching the seat, causing Alexander to glance at him. "It looks like we''ve entered Nightmare difficulty." "You''re surprisingly calm!" Xu Lin commented, glancing at him. "I see you''ve passed the first checkpoint." His counterpart was indeed sharp; it seemed his earlier actions hadn''t gone unnoticed. "I suppose so. I guess in a normal difficulty script, each player''s death flag initially happens once. The flags multiply only when the script difficulty changes..." Alexander didn''t bother hiding it from him. Xu Lin looked at the few remaining newcomers and then said, "Even without a death flag, you could still die, but without a death flag, at least you won''t need to take on dangerous tasks specifically!" "What are you planning to do? How will we rescue Janet..." Linda grabbed Alexander, making a snide remark, "You haven''t forgotten about this, have you?" "Sorry, but we can''t go back to town now," Alexander said, having skimmed through the script. "Head to Mash Refinery. It¡¯s likely safer there," Xu Lin suggested, touching his chin as he thought about the layout of the Mash Gold Refinery, feeling it might be a good place. Chapter 16: Out of Control Here''s the translation of the provided text: The scene rewinds to the chaotic moments when Alexander and the others left the club. Inside the club, bedlam reigned as the massive, grotesque creature rampaged around. Seven or eight team members fired frantically, 7.62mm bullets raining down like a storm, and it took a tactical grenade to barely suppress the situation. A squelching sound echoed as the massive, honeycombed flesh transformed into a swirling vortex of black ooze¡ªa shapeless, dark mud-like substance. It stretched like a tornado, opening a portal from deep within the vortex, where a pitch-black void and starlight shimmer emerged. An inexplicable fear gripped the hearts of those present, a primal instinct of animals, unavoidable for any living being. Something was trying to squeeze out from within... Once it emerged, no one would survive... It was a lethal malevolence, the most primordial darkness... At this perilous moment, a footstep echoed from outside. Then, a calm yet intense voice resonated within the room. ¡°dfarxxxxr423rfsdafdsf!¡± ...It was an unexplainable intonation, more like a whistle or an insect-like sound. Under the hurried incantation, the eerie vortex gradually ceased spinning and vanished with a sizzling sound. A severely mutilated corpse fell down¡ªonce the bald man''s human form. "Apologies, Commander. We didn''t anticipate needing heavy equipment before coming, so we didn''t carry much..." A sergeant saluted the newcomer. "Handling paranormal phenomena isn''t NRO Delta''s specialty. No need to worry about it!" The newcomer laughed coldly. He was young but authoritative, which commanded respect from the sergeant. He didn¡¯t stop at the entrance but quickly approached the bald man''s corpse, inserting a gloved hand into the abdomen. He fished around and retrieved a thin parchment. "What I found in the caverns below is exactly what haunts my dreams. That thing, bloated and hideous, carries an indescribable ancient evil from the sunken kingdom of R''lyeh, serving the mad Cthulhu; and the great beast, neither dead nor alive, is held in the death dream by a simple stone engraved with a star and burning eye." Flipping through the pages, the young man revealed a sinister smile.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. "Just as I thought, it''s the ''Confessions of the Mad Monk Clithanus!¡¯" This manuscript, written by a monk named Clithanus around 400 AD in Latin, was first published in 1675. Clithanus lived in Lynwold Monastery on England''s northeast coast, where he discovered a series of sea caves. Exploring them, he encountered a massive entity which he called "the mad Cthulhu''s servant." Attempting to use magic to interfere with this beast, he inadvertently released it. The creature began slathering the surrounding land. Terrified, Clithanus fled to seek help from the wise Saint Augustine¡ªthen visiting Lynwold¡ªwho utilized a star-shaped sigil to rebind the beast within the sea cave. Clithanus went mad from this ordeal and vanished after being sent to Rome. The young man looked wickedly at the parchment, a smile twisting his face. "With this, everything is complete." Turning around, he revealed a face that Xu Lin and Alexander would find astonishing¡ªit was none other than Janet himself. ... "Could there be something wrong with Janet?" Before leaving town, the group took a risky trip into town to buy some supplies and then drove towards the Mash Refinery. Fortunately, no pursuers followed them. In reality, the unit wasn¡¯t after them and cared little about their situation. "Why do you say that?" Alexander was puzzled by Xu Lin''s suspicion but trusted his judgment, so he probed for an explanation. "There''s one thing we overlooked¡ªdark realm never mentioned anything about Janet, and even we don¡¯t know his full name." Xu Lin was driving a minivan swiftly along the mountain road. "I asked Linda and the others, and finally learned Janet¡¯s full name is the same as his cousin Annan Williamson¡ªJanet Williamson..." "How is that possible?" "Annan takes his mother''s name, while Janet Williamson is a true member of their lineage." Williamson isn''t a particularly unique surname, but in Innsmouth''s context, if you trace it back, you find its origins in the protagonist of that famous story, ¡®The Shadow Over Innsmouth.¡¯ His family is indeed the Williamson clan, and tracing it further back reveals deep ties with Innsmouth''s Marsh family... "The protagonist in that novel eventually exhibited the Innsmouth look, almost transforming into a Deep One, intent on becoming a Cthulhu devotee returning to the underwater city." Alexander understood: "In our script world, titled ''The New Shadow Over Innsmouth,'' it suggests the possibility that Janet could eventually betray us..." "If that''s the case, we need to find Annan before he does!" Xu Lin asserted. By now, they had driven back to the Mash Refinery, a dilapidated site but once a stronghold of the Dagon cult. "The key is finding Dr. Madara. Locate him, and we might find Annan. Finding Annan could help us break through the current situation." Xu Lin pressed on: "Even with the main story changed, the main task remains. This means the storyline clues still exist, and we must persist in solving this task..." "Why insist on this if the main task has changed?" Jin Jianshu asked, puzzled. "Because, for now, the change in the main storyline hasn¡¯t introduced new plot tasks. If it hasn¡¯t, it¡¯s best to pursue the previous main task. There¡¯s precedent¡ªit''s an opportunity to earn rewards for two main tasks..." Carmen added: "The survival points for a nightmare-level main task are substantial, around 400 points, nearly double a normal main task. Completing two main tasks could yield 600 points, which is a fortune for newcomers!" ¡ªGreat in theory, but where is Madara? The newcomers pondered this, gathered in a secluded corner of the ruins, avoiding Linda and Roland, discussing their next move. At that moment, Xiolan, the high school student accompanying Linda and Roland, staggered over, his forehead stained with blood. "Bad news, Roland and Linda drove off!" Chapter 17: Injection "What?" Everyone''s faces changed simultaneously; they truly hadn¡¯t expected something like this to happen. Upon closer thought, it wasn''t entirely impossible for the three of them to have escaped. First off, after experiencing the situation at the club, they no longer trusted them completely, though knocking out Eric was a bit excessive. "I was knocked out by Roland. I just woke up to discover they took the car and left!" As Eric finished speaking, everyone¡¯s faces turned even paler because at that moment, they received a group side mission. Main Task 1: Find Anandon and survive until Act Four safely! Side Mission 2: Protect Janet, Linda, Roland, and Abigail to survive until Act Four. For each one who survives, everyone receives a 100-point survival reward. "It seems like everything is scripted. The script already stated that tonight, most of the townsfolk of Innsmouth will rapidly transform into Deep Ones overnight..." Xu Lin shook her head, "This makes things harder. Since there''s a task to survive until Act Four, the coming scenes will definitely be tough!" "The danger level will also increase exponentially!" Carmen added, "Someone among us might have already triggered a death flag, and the rescue plot ahead could very likely lead us into danger." The main story script is like a biochemical crisis erupting in the town, with most ordinary people turning into Deep One hybrids, a phenomenon rapidly spreading to Arkham and Newburyport, causing a terrifying large-scale incident. The main storyline typically follows a similar pattern, and side missions can¡¯t be revealed, so everyone had to discuss based on the main storyline. "When we enter the town, we must first get a vehicle, and our actions need to be swift. Just finding those few people will be troublesome..." "The side mission doesn¡¯t say we must rescue them; it says we get a reward if we do. In other words, we can still complete the story without saving these people..." Jin Jianshu had now set aside other concerns, focusing on researching the plot and cracking the main storyline. Being a smart person, he temporarily discarded the bad habits cultivated from years of scheming, showing a much more solid performance now. "We can¡¯t think like that. Although the main task is to last until Act Four, it might still involve those people. Since it''s a group side mission, it can''t be that simple. I still believe we should rescue them." Alexander thought in reverse, believing they shouldn''t discard the rescue option.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Carmen and Xu Lin exchanged glances, realizing that in this bloody mission world, only these two were likely to survive and become true strategists. "A group side mission isn''t issued for no reason. People indeed need to be saved, but since each survivor brings a 100-point reward, we don¡¯t have to exhaust ourselves to save everyone." Xu Lin maintained the decision-making power within the team. "We must return to the town''s dock and port, even the hospital, to find Madden''s whereabouts and figure out Anandon''s movements." "But the whole town will become ''Deep Ones.'' Our journey will certainly face obstacles..." The elder surnamed Cheng, who had seldom spoken, expressed his deep concern. "Yes, that''s true, but given the main storyline, we strategists are powerless." However, Alexander considered why such a setting suddenly emerged. In the original works, a person¡¯s transformation into a Deep One wasn¡¯t absolute; even those with special bloodlines wouldn¡¯t change so quickly, especially in a large town like this. Moreover, there was another puzzling matter¡ªwhy the main storyline had changed. If anything seemed suspicious, it was the club¡¯s incident and the appearance of the military... "If I''m not mistaken, the town''s transformation into Deep Ones will happen by midnight. It''s still early, so we have time," Xu Lin, with a wisp of worry in her brows, spoke steadily, concealing any anxiety, as was her nature. ... "How could you do this, Roland!" "Listen, Linda, now isn''t the time to argue. We can''t rely on those people, and they might have hidden something from the start. Didn¡¯t you notice they always gathered together, plotting something and deliberately avoiding us?" Roland was talking while driving, addressing Linda in the back seat. "Now even Janet is missing, yet they won¡¯t tell us anything. Honestly, I¡¯m fed up. I want to go back to town to find them." "How? Like headless chickens running around town..." The black guy shook his head, "If we run into that special forces group, we''re done for. They might not hesitate to kill us to silence us." As Roland was driving, a large truck suddenly sped from the roadside, seeming intent on ramming into them. "What?" He hurriedly tried to steer away, but it was too late. With a loud crash, their car was spun around. Luckily, they weren''t hurt, just shaken and pale with fear. At that moment, several burly men jumped from the truck, seizing the trio and dragging them out. Roland and Abigail tried to resist but were quickly beaten to the ground. "Who are you, and why are you doing this?" Linda was about to scream when a drug-soaked handkerchief was shoved over her mouth. Her eyes rolled back, and she lost consciousness. ... Half an hour later, Alexander''s group descended the mountain, soon finding the wrecked car. "This is bad; it looks like they''ve been captured. But who on earth took them?" Xu Lin frowned, seeing the car''s smashed doors. "It looks like we¡¯ll have to use that." Carmen reluctantly shook his head, extending a hand to produce a syringe filled with a blue liquid from nowhere. "What¡¯s that?" Jin Jianshu eyed the syringe with an uneasy expression. The liquid inside was a bizarre shade of blue, its glow unsettling. "Old Li, I remember your survival points are running low too." Xu Lin looked at Carmen seriously. "Yes, just over 700 left, but I¡¯m the only one whose ''fragment magic'' can come in handy for this." Carmen shook his head, aiming the needle at his arm for an intramuscular injection. Chapter 18: The Worst Outcome The mysterious blue liquid quickly merged into his body and moved like a living thing, swiftly traveling through the blood vessels to the right atrium. Carmen¡¯s heart was unlike any other¡ªa half-mass of flesh, half a tome wrapped in rusted iron chains. This book-like heart appeared similar to a human heart, shaped like a coconut. Its cover was crafted from unknown animal materials and strange metallic substances, with a dense network of arteries and veins attached to its surface, pulsing slightly with each beat, mimicking the function of a real heart. As the blue liquid flowed in, the book-heart reacted violently, swelling and pulsating like it was alive... ¡ªImprint activation, the "Past Sight" fragment¡ªthe Singing Bones¡ªinitiated!! The fragment Carmen possessed activated instantly, his eyes rolled back, showing only the whites. His twisted heart released an invisible power, causing a cascade of words and images to reverberate in his mind and trigger a resonance within his brain. In a moment, his consciousness transcended its original form, breaking through the boundaries of time and space to reach another dimension. It recorded everything that had happened here within the past half-hour. This was Past Sight, one of the most powerful trump cards held by Carmen as an experienced strategist. Sacrificial Blades and Shadow Beasts were some of the methods available to seasoned strategists like him. Moreover, each possessed abilities not easily revealed in front of others, enabling them to survive complex scripted worlds. His fragment magic¡ª"Past Sight: The Singing Bones"¡ªwas one such ability. As the name suggests, Past Sight allowed one to see events that had already transpired. It had proven invaluable for solving mysteries and making deductions in complex script worlds, often helping him and Xu Lin overcome numerous challenges. Using it this time was no different, as Past Sight successfully revealed what he needed. Carmen first witnessed the event where Linda and Roland¡¯s car was crashed, followed by the figures from the large truck, but more importantly, he noted the license plate and the advertisement logo on the truck. ¡°Nact Logistics Company!¡± he murmured. It took a while for the white haze in his eyes to clear. ¡°It seems they were taken by people connected to this Nact Logistics Company,¡± Xu Lin stated confidently, knowing Carmen¡¯s capabilities.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Indeed, that appears to be the case,¡± Carmen agreed. Armed with this accurate information, they continued toward the town. By the time they arrived, it was around ten or eleven at night. ¡°Nact Logistics is located here. Should we just storm in?¡± They didn''t have many weapons with them; their ammunition came from the police, and after the earlier battle, they hadn¡¯t had a chance to fully restock. They were nearly out. ¡°I¡¯m just saying¡­ what if it¡¯s a trap specifically set for us?¡± Alexander drew out his Glock 18, lowering his voice. ¡°What do the four of us do then?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve considered this. Old Li and I will go in together. As long as it¡¯s not Cthulhu himself, we should be able to escape. But in case we don¡¯t make it, you must prepare for the worst, find a place to hide, and just hold out until Act Four ends.¡± Xu Lin explained to Alexander that there was a final option, or rather, a last-resort plan. ¡°Running and hiding is also a strategy. You have a twenty percent chance of safely lasting through Act Four. If you make it, you can loan some survival points so that Jin Jianshu and the others can make it back to the Ghost Space alive.¡± ¡°Once back in Ghost Space, they have a chance to repay the survival points in the next script world. Having an experienced veteran will make future missions much easier for you.¡± ¡°Only a twenty percent chance, meaning an eighty percent chance of dying here¡­¡± Alexander smiled bitterly. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. How you proceed is ultimately up to you¡­¡± Xu Lin whispered these words to Alexander. Without Xu Lin¡¯s revelation, Alexander wouldn¡¯t have known that survival points could be transferred or traded. ¡°He kept this information hidden before, likely using it as a bargaining chip,¡± Alexander wasn¡¯t naive. He recognized Xu Lin¡¯s goodwill in informing him, essentially giving him control over Jin Jianshu, Eric, and the others'' fate. If they couldn¡¯t complete the mission successfully and Alexander wasn¡¯t willing to lend survival points, then the other three would face death upon returning to Ghost Space. Surviving the basic main storyline only rewards 200 survival points, insufficient for the necessary 300-point threshold. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve faced dangerous situations before and made it through. You guys stay here for now!¡± Carmen smiled, patting Alexander on the shoulder, showing confidence. He and Xu Lin quickly infiltrated the Nact Logistics Company building while Alexander and the others waited outside. It wasn¡¯t long, perhaps ten minutes later, when gunfire erupted from the building. This was quickly followed by a massive explosion that almost blew the roof off the building. A message arrived from Ghost Space¡¯s Pinocchio: ¡°Strategist Xu Lin has been killed¡­¡± ¡°No, it can¡¯t be, they¡­ they¡¯re just dead like that!¡± The old man named Cheng gaped in disbelief. ¡°Why? Why didn¡¯t Carmen return either¡­¡± Alexander said nothing, his face ashen. This was the worst outcome¡ªnot only was Xu Lin dead, but Carmen hadn¡¯t returned. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here. We have to leave¡­¡± Alexander took a deep breath, realizing nightfall was near. Based on Xu Lin¡¯s words and his deductions, once night arrived, the townspeople would complete their transformation into Deep Ones. (The source of this must be the influence of dreams. If there¡¯s any force capable of causing such widespread abnormality, it must be Cthulhu himself¡­) The power of the Old Gods defies estimation, with abilities to invade dreams and warp human minds. It seemed the town¡¯s transformation stemmed from this dark influence. Chapter 19: The Lament Configuration If we turn back time a little, to before the explosion occurred, during the time Xu Lin and Carmen entered the building. They didn''t proceed immediately but instead took out syringes filled with the blue liquid and injected them into their muscles. ¡°This ¡®magic¡¯ is ridiculously expensive¡ªone injection costs 180 survival points. ¡®Fragments¡¯ are things you can buy but can hardly afford to use!¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing cheap and effective in Ghost Space. Whether it''s the Sacrificial Blades, Shadow Beasts, or Fragment Magic, each comes with inherent flaws or requires a significant cost to use¡­¡± Xu Lin sighed with a wry smile. ¡°I still have three vials of magic serum. How many do you have left?¡± ¡°Less than you¡ªonly two bottles left, and they¡¯re from what I earned in the last script world. But I still have over 700 survival points, and using Fragments doesn¡¯t consume them. My Past Sight can let me reuse the magic effect until it¡¯s depleted with just one vial!¡± Honestly, despite its costs, Fragment Magic is quite useful. For example, Carmen¡¯s ¡°Singing Bones¡± allows him to view scenes using the spell three times per vial, effectively engaging it without pause. The only thing to watch out for is the usage time, roughly twenty minutes. After that, whether or not you use it, the magic effect dissipates. After injecting the serum, Carmen began to activate Past Sight by focusing on the building, which allowed him to trace the whereabouts of Roland and the others. ¡°They were indeed taken into this building; we need to get inside quickly¡­¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The two quickly moved, darting through the doors into the interior of the building. Inside, there were two elevators leading directly to the top floor. Carmen activated his magic again, unraveling the traces of past events, which replayed themselves before his eyes. ¡°Seventeenth floor. From the lip movements in the conversations I saw, it seems they were moved to a place resembling a detention cell¡­¡± To augment this ability, Carmen had learned some basic lip-reading, only managing to grasp partial conversations. They ventured into the elevator, checking it carefully before ascending. ¡°Remember the last script world we crossed, the one based on ¡®Hellraiser¡¯?¡± Xu Lin pulled out an odd-looking puzzle box from his pocket¡ªa cubic contraption with a box-like shape. ¡°If you can solve it correctly, Hell¡¯s Gate will open for you, and the last person to open this puzzle box was me¡­¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°The Lament Configuration!¡± Carmen drew a sharp breath, recalling their previous harrowing experiences in the script world based on ¡®Hellraiser,¡¯ involving a crucial prop. ¡®Hellraiser¡¯ tells the story of the mysterious ¡°Lament Configuration¡± box, which, when opened, drags individuals into hell to suffer horrific tortures and transformations by Cenobites. They barely escaped with their lives from that script, and Carmen never imagined Xu Lin managed to bring the Lament Configuration back from that world. ¡°In different versions, the Lament Configuration exhibits varied capabilities, sometimes revealing astonishing powers, like resurrecting the dead¡­¡± ...or more precisely, not a resurrection of the dead, but those entrapped within the box¡¯s hellish domain¡ªa living purgatory of endless bloody torment dealt by the Cenobites. ¡°Remember how this box¡¯s power once demonstrated the ability to resurrect a soul tormented within it? Though, resurrection demands a sacrifice¡­¡± This was one of the script world¡¯s unique rules regarding the Lament Configuration. ¡°You mean¡­¡± Carmen asked, puzzled. ¡°Exactly as you think. Should I perish, perhaps that¡¯s when it will be useful!¡± Xu Lin replied cryptically. At that moment, the elevator doors opened, revealing the seventeenth floor. The hallway was eerily silent, with not a whisper of light. However, a familiar voice echoed from a short distance away¡ªJanet¡¯s voice. In the darkness, numerous undefined shadows stirred, producing a flute-like ¡°Tekeli-li¡± sound. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, gentlemen¡ªabout nine hours and twenty minutes, to be exact¡­¡± Janet sat in the shadows, perched on a chair with legs crossed, wearing an odd mask. ¡°Janet, what kind of game are you playing?¡± Xu Lin demanded loudly, sensing something strange about Janet. He whispered to Carmen, ¡°Use Past Sight to figure out what trick he¡¯s up to!¡± Without hesitation, Carmen employed his Past Sight, his trump card. Quickly, he frowned and spoke, ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be anything wrong; Past Sight didn¡¯t reveal any flaws¡­¡± ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s just capture Janet first¡­¡± Xu Lin felt a twinge of unease but maintained confidence in his abilities. After injecting the magic serum, his powers reached their peak, allowing him to combat the weaker creatures of this world effectively. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, gentlemen. This is merely a small game to test if you can survive this death trial¡­¡± Janet made no movements, but the lurking creatures charged at them. They were miniaturized Shoggoths, aberrant organisms crafted by the ancients, resembling tar-like amoebas, each no bigger than a cat. These creatures sported glowing eyes, looking like a blend of viscera and soft body tissues. ¡°Janet, I¡¯m giving you one last chance. Tell us where Linda and the others are, or don¡¯t blame me for what happens next!¡± Both Xu Lin and Carmen had closed their eyes, not directly observing the sanity-fraying forms of the creatures. Janet kept silent, sneering continuously. ¡°So stubborn!¡± Xu Lin scoffed, opening his palm to unleash his Fragment. ¡ªCurse of the Stone Eye: Turandot, activate! An exotic rune materialized in his palm, rotating slowly, emitting a blinding radiance. This petrifying light held immense power with the Fragment known as ¡°Turandot,¡± boasting magical forces capable of turning objects to stone. In an instant, all the small Shoggoths solidified, freezing into stone blocks. This was Xu Lin¡¯s true ace; his heart, like Carmen¡¯s, had been transformed into a book form, acting as a magic furnace. Once the blue-liquid magic serum was injected, it activated the stored Fragments. Fragments are phenomena modeled after tales, prophecies, and stories. When a strategist wields a Fragment, their mind plays incantations that boil their brain matter, unleashing various supernatural abilities with a wave of their hand. Chapter 20: That Is Not Dead Which Can Eternal Lie The petrifying light spared Janet but swept across all other areas, turning every small Shoggoth to stone without exception. ¡°Shadow Familiar!¡± Carmen summoned his Shadow Familiar, which emerged from the twisted shadow of a sturdy stag, charging at the petrified Shoggoths. These creatures were indeed formidable; each amorphous cell possessed a unique ability to self-evolve, allowing the bubbling cells to reorganize instantly, mimicking various forms and organs. The ancients used them as slaves, laborers, and soldiers. Even a full battalion of ordinary humans couldn''t stop a true Shoggoth. Even in their diminished form, Carmen and Xu Lin had to struggle against them. However, once turned to stone, they posed no threat. The stag''s sharp antlers easily shattered these stone forms, and in no time, a large number of Shoggoths were destroyed. They rushed to Janet¡¯s side, only to find he hadn¡¯t moved at all. Upon removing the mask from his face, they were shocked to discover that it was actually Abigail, the young Black man. Abigail was bleeding from all his orifices, slumped lifelessly in the chair, his body cold¡ªhe had been dead for some time. ¡°We¡¯ve been deceived. In the Past Sight, Abigail was just walking to the chair like this. I didn¡¯t notice anything wrong. It seems he must have been bewitched or hypnotized.¡± ¡°You¡¯re cleverer than I imagined, Mr. Carmen. Very impressive¡­¡± A voice spoke from Abigail¡¯s pocket, where a radio transceiver was hidden. ¡°I¡¯m also surprised that you possess such extraordinary abilities, even my summoned Shoggoths couldn¡¯t withstand you, which forces me to accelerate my plans¡­¡± Shoggoths are immensely powerful creatures, originally created by ancient races as slaves. Before life appeared on Earth, the ancients used Shoggoths for building. Shapeless Shoggoths could morph into any form as commanded, performing various tasks. Eventually, the Shoggoths rebelled against their creators and aligned with the Old Gods. If they were larger, they would be even more troublesome¡ªcapable of smothering or consuming their enemies, most often appearing as shape-shifting black ooze, disgusting in every way. But Janet apparently couldn¡¯t summon large Shoggoths, or they¡¯d be even harder to deal with! ¡°But this is as far as it goes!¡± Janet¡¯s voice sneered through the radio as an explosion blasted from beneath their feet.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°We walked into a trap. They planted explosives below before leaving, undetectable by my Past Sight¡­¡± Carmen hadn¡¯t anticipated such cunning, with explosives buried under the floor. The explosion rocked them, and they couldn¡¯t resist the force; they fell from the floor¡¯s height. Not just the seventeenth floor exploded; Janet had also rigged the sixteenth and fifteenth floors to collapse, intending to bury them completely. Coughing up blood, Xu Lin was critically injured, a broken steel rod protruding from the ground piercing his lung. ¡°Damn, if only I¡¯d been more cautious.¡± Regrettably, there¡¯s no remedy for regret; even as a veteran strategist, Xu Lin was caught in dire straits. On the other hand, Carmen¡¯s injuries were slightly less severe, though he lay with a broken leg and couldn¡¯t easily move. ¡°Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!¡± An eerie fluted sound emanated from the rubble, causing Carmen and Xu Lin to smile bitterly. ¡°Looks like this is the end for us.¡± Carmen lit a cigarette. ¡°No, there¡¯s still a chance to fight.¡± Xu Lin looked at his old comrade and asked softly, ¡°Old Li, how many times have you saved me since entering Ghost Space?¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your plans and strategies before, we¡¯d be long dead.¡± Carmen took a drag from the cigarette. Despite his strength, blood loss alone could kill him. He spoke softly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to just sit here and wait to die. Even if I can¡¯t move, my Shadow Familiar can still fight. Use whatever means you have.¡± ¡°Alright, come over to me.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Carmen summoned his stag, which used its mouth to drag him by his collar over to Xu Lin. Xu Lin handed him three vials of magic serum. ¡°These are the last three vials¡ªenough for some time.¡± Xu Lin passed his items to Carmen. ¡°Old Li, I owe you too much. I won¡¯t have a chance to repay you in the future, but at least I want you to live.¡± He suddenly grabbed Carmen¡¯s head, and with Carmen staring in shock, turned him to solid granite in just seconds. The magic serum allowed two consecutive uses of the "Turandot¡± Fragment Magic within twenty minutes, and this was Xu Lin¡¯s final use. ¡°In forty minutes, you¡¯ll return to normal, and the petrification will temporarily stop the bleeding. Though Shoggoths are known for eating humans, they aren¡¯t known to eat granite, so Carmen would be safe for at least forty minutes... Looking at Carmen as a granite statue, Xu Lin sighed deeply. ¡°Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!¡± Masses of shapeless, bubbling creatures began converging on their location from the rubble, forming a cordon. Xu Lin calmly pulled out his Sacrificial Blade, picking up Carmen''s fallen cigarette and placing it in his mouth. After a long drag, he couldn¡¯t help but cough. ¡°This isn¡¯t too bad¡­¡± Bracing himself, he gazed at the encroaching Shoggoths. In his last moments, he allowed himself a fearless smile and spoke: ¡°Thatisnotdeadwhichcaneternallie, Andwithstrangeaeonsevendeathmaydie.¡± (That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die.) ¡­ ¡°Let me drive this time!¡± Jin Jianshu suggested. They found an old car, smashed the window, and hot-wired it by pulling out the wires under the ignition and connecting the spark and hot wire, before starting it up. Jin Jianshu took the driver¡¯s seat, assuming the responsibility of driving. The town was now entrenched in deep night, eerily quiet without a single sound, creating an exceedingly strange atmosphere. ¡°What do we do now?¡± The middle schooler Eric asked uneasily. ¡°Head straight to the fishing port. If I''m not mistaken, Maldan must be hiding somewhere nearby!¡± Alexander rubbed his temples, trying to stay calm. ¡°The plot has reached a crucial stage, becoming more pivotal, and our danger level has increased accordingly.¡± Chapter 21: Nightmare Night Xu Lin had informed Alexander that if things became impossible, their only hope was to survive until the end of Act Four... "Xu Lin''s idea is good, but there are still many problems when it comes to putting it into practice." Would the script world really allow them to constantly avoid the main plot? If the Ghost Space penalized them for "passively engaging in the storyline," what would they do then? "Where is our way out, our path to survival?" As he analyzed the entire plot, a sudden flash of insight struck him. If the main mission given by Ghost Space was interpreted differently, could it mean this? ...Remember, before the main storyline changed, the task was to assist Janet in finding Anandon, but now Janet seems to be a character like a puppet master behind the scenes. "If this world were a movie, it¡¯s certain Janet betrayed us because he¡¯s an antagonist, a shadowy figure opposing the protagonists. Ostensibly a lead, he merely exists to drive the plot forward..." "From a detective novel¡¯s point of view, Janet is a character using narrative tricks to create obstacles and add complexity for the reader¡¯s judgment, concealing the straightforward truth..." "More importantly, the main storyline never declared Janet to be the protagonist of ''The New Innsmouth Mystery.'' The task given by Ghost Space may have been misleading us strategists from the start." ¡ªThe spark of thought ignited in Alexander''s mind, gradually unveiling the true nature of the script world and grasping crucial insights for strategy. "Yes, that''s it. I understand now; the setup of the main storyline is such that I need to..." He finally realized how to proceed strategically. "Janet is definitely not the protagonist of this script world; there is another..." "And I, I must replace him and become the true protagonist of this script world!" ... "Linda, what do you think of my proposal..." Janet stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall. "If our plan succeeds, this world will undergo a fundamental transformation. The mundane will be utterly twisted. The once-ruling ''Black Pharaoh of Egypt,'' ''The Elder Goat,'' ''Father of All,'' ''Emperor of All China,'' ''Holy Tsar,'' ''President of the New Continent,'' and ''The White Lady of the Antarctic Eternal Freeze'' will return, bringing new gospel to the world..."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. "You''re talking about those evil gods and monsters, Janet. I can''t believe you would kill Abigail. You''ve gone insane." Linda was locked in the room, her hands handcuffed to a chair. Janet approached, stroking her hair as he felt her gaze of loathing and hatred, and smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯ve liked you for a long time, and the reason is simple: you¡¯re smart. I¡¯m attracted to a woman with brains, especially one who¡¯s both intellectual and empathetic¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind, Janet. Every word you say disgusts me.¡± Linda gazed at him coldly. Janet shrugged, unfazed. ¡°There¡¯s one thing I just can''t understand¡ªwhy would you date someone like Roland, all brawn and no brain?¡± ¡°Janet, aside from sex, you¡¯ve never had a relationship with a woman, have you? You clearly don¡¯t understand others, only obsessing over your own wants.¡± Linda shook her head. ¡°A woman needs someone who loves her, understands her, and is willing to care for her, not a self-centered fool using her to prove his taste.¡± ¡°Janet, you¡¯re that fool, and Roland, whom you scorn, is far superior to you!¡± Janet smiled and clapped his hands. ¡°As expected, my ideal partner¡ªyour thoughts are unique. Still, after seeing Roland now, what do you think¡­¡± He snapped his fingers, and a large iron cage was pushed in front of Linda, containing a ragged man inside. "Roland, how did you become like this?" Linda screamed. Her boyfriend Roland had undergone a terrifying transformation, his face distorting as he shifted into a Deep One form. His body¡¯s change was even stranger; his muscles bulged, doubling his height. Originally a burly football player in his school days, Roland now exceeded two meters, with a half-fish face that struck terror into the heart. Captured by Janet, he was caged, bound hand and foot, lying helplessly on the ground. ¡°Linda, this is the outcome of opposing me. You¡¯re a smart woman, and I trust you¡¯ll make the right decision¡­¡± Janet glanced at Roland and laughed coldly, turning to Linda and whispering, ¡°You should think it over.¡± With these words, he left them and exited the building. ¡°It¡¯s almost time to launch the attack on the Order of Dagon.¡± Janet pondered as Mardalla''s ritual neared its climax, and he needed to act. ... ¡°Damn it, I didn¡¯t expect even the people here to become Deep Ones!¡± Alexander fired his Glock 18 for the first time, a bullet piercing through a servant of the Elliott family. Their group was small and underarmed, so the middle schooler Eric suggested returning to the Elliott mansion. Lott Elliott was a classic tycoon, with a personal shooting range in his home, which Xu Lin and Carmen had used. He must have some firearms, and Xu Lin and Carmen had gathered weapons quickly upon arriving in this world, leaving some at the mayor¡¯s house. ¡°Supplies, food, drinking water, and I need a detailed map of all of Innsmouth!¡± Alexander gave instructions to the group; after the incident with Xu Lin and Carmen, he emerged as the leader of their small team. Even Jin Jianshu had no objections, recognizing Alexander¡¯s competence since entering the script world. He remained exceptionally calm, making several keen predictions to help Xu Lin navigate the plot. ¡ªAlexander¡¯s actions had earned him the trust of everyone at this moment. As they drove back from Nact Logistics, the entire town erupted like an epidemic. The massive ¡°Deep One transformation¡± continued to ferment, with numerous residents converting into Deep Ones in their sleep, quickly succumbing to the power of the Old Gods and becoming devotees of evil. This concentrated ¡°transformation¡± resulted in many newly-formed Deep Ones becoming disoriented, acting like zombies in horror films, attacking any non-Deep Ones they encountered. Chapter 22: The Sword of Physics Their numbers were vast, often overwhelming, able to tear a grown man to pieces in minutes. Alexander and his group were fortunate to reach the Elliott mansion before the "plague" outbreak. Unfortunately, they were met by the family members who had already transformed into Deep Ones. A gardener, a cook, and several servants had completed their transformation and lunged at the four of them. Without hesitation, Alexander pulled the trigger of his Glock 18, shooting down three of them. He remained calm, showing none of the physiological discomfort often portrayed in movies and TV when someone kills. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just naturally cold-blooded.¡± Perhaps the appearance of the Deep Ones reduced his sense of unease. Alexander felt no guilt as he fired, calculating his bullets and directing the others with a steady and efficient command. Jin Jianshu, Eric, and the old man surnamed Cheng rallied under his leadership, assisting in the clearing operation. Through their sweep, they found a small-caliber hunting rifle, some ammunition, and some pistols, bullets, and flashbangs left by Xu Lin and Carmen. Jin Jianshu also found a Mossberg M500 bullpup shotgun, along with tear gas. ¡°This is¡­¡± Alexander himself found a sharp, robust, and extremely powerful new weapon¡ªa crowbar! Yes, the legendary weapon known as the "Sword of Physics"! Stab, pry, repair a car, lift objects, dig, climb, make a stand! Convenient to carry, versatile in function. Cheap and readily available. Grasping the ¡°Sword of Physics,¡± Alexander felt a twinge of emotion as he quickly transformed from an ordinary forensic science graduate into a strategist surviving within a script world. He took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the master bedroom, which was Lott Elliott¡¯s chamber. At this moment, the mayor, like the others, had also transformed into a Deep One. It rushed from the corner of the bedroom, its large mouth full of sharp teeth, attempting to bite. Alexander responded calmly, swinging the ¡°Sword of Physics¡± as Lott Elliott attacked.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Thud!¡± With a dull thud, Mayor Lott Elliott was knocked to the ground. Alexander pulled out his pistol and, at close range, easily shot through his head. ¡°I found the map!¡± Eric ran over, carrying a map of the entire town. ¡°Well done¡­¡± Alexander patted his shoulder and quickly convened a short meeting in the previous activity room. ¡°Based on the map, reaching the docks requires crossing a large portion of the town, which is highly dangerous. I¡¯d like to hear your opinions.¡± Alexander briefed the group on their situation and asked for their input. Everyone generally agreed with Alexander. Evading the main storyline to survive seemed unreliable; if it came to that, the only one likely to return to Ghost Space alive would be Alexander. Moreover, the three others were unaware of Xu Lin¡¯s revelation to Alexander¡ªsurvival points could be traded directly¡­ ¡°Then we have to start from the highway outside town. We could circle around to reach the docks.¡± Jin Jianshu quickly thought of this plan, concluding it might be viable. ¡°No, young man, that route is too roundabout. It¡¯ll take a lot of time, and I noticed the car¡¯s fuel gauge¡ªwe might not have enough to make it.¡± The elderly man surnamed Cheng gave his perspective. Alexander didn¡¯t plan to share the news about survival points just yet; he intended to tackle this script since the clues had appeared, and he was 80% sure his theory was correct. ¡°We need a new car. Going to the docks is a must, but it¡¯s likely very dangerous. The military that attacked us earlier will definitely go there as well¡ªthey¡¯re also targeting Mardalla and the Order of Dagon.¡± He explained, ¡°This group is a third-party force in this script world with their motives. The abnormalities in the town are likely Dagon¡¯s Order¡¯s doing to counter them.¡± ¡°Seems like the Order of Dagon found themselves unable to compete directly and resorted to these tactics.¡± Jin Jianshu rubbed his nose, finding Alexander¡¯s theory somewhat puzzling. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the details, but during my few days here, I¡¯ve been having strange dreams, and so have others. Thinking back, it might have been a warning sign!¡± Alexander thought for a moment before speaking to the group: ¡°This will be our plan. We¡¯ll head into town first, see if we can find another vehicle. If we do, we¡¯ll detour to the docks. If not, we¡¯ll cut straight through the town.¡± Everyone agreed, nodding in approval of Alexander¡¯s decision. ... Pitch-black, unlit, and shrouded in darkness¡ªa faint light projected from an irregular cube in the room. Janet stood next to the cube, gazing at the holographic image it projected. The hologram revealed a dark-skinned, tall, lean man with a bright smile, wearing a neat suit, sitting behind a mahogany office desk. ¡°Long time no see, Janet!¡± ¡°Yes, sir, I¡¯ve completed your instructions. We¡¯re about to secure the ¡®item,¡¯ and I will eliminate Mardalla and the Order of Dagon. Then we¡¯ll move to the final stage.¡± ¡°Excellent. The MJ-12 members congratulate you on bringing us a step closer to our great achievement,¡± the dark-skinned man smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll keep a close eye on this matter. Don¡¯t disappoint us¡­¡± The hologram vanished, plunging the room back into darkness. ¡°Now, let''s begin¡­¡± Janet murmured to himself, stroking the magical book in his palm, ¡°Confessions of the Mad Monk Clithanus,¡± a cold smile curling on his lips. ... ¡°Damn! Damn! Damn! What the hell is going on here!¡± Sergeant Spain cursed, firing his weapon repeatedly. The situation was dire. After they used heavy weapons to conquer a monster-infested dock and entered a building, things turned bizarre. Their squad seemed to have entered a chaotic alternate world. The interiors transformed into a monstrous nest, with chaotic corridors and passages like a weird maze without end or exit. Chapter 24: Whose Scheme ¡°No way, we can¡¯t get through up ahead.¡± Jin Jianshu took his hands off the steering wheel, a look of despair on his face. A burning tree had fallen, blocking the only road leading to the docks. The buildings beyond the blockage were completely ablaze, making it nearly impossible to pass. ¡°Damn it,¡± Alexander gritted his teeth, pounding his thigh. Nothing seemed to go right, and reaching the docks had become unexpectedly difficult. ¡°If there''s no other choice, we''ll have to abandon the car.¡± He thought for a moment and made the decision. ¡°That means we¡¯ll have to leave all this stuff behind,¡± Jin Jianshu frowned. ¡°That means most of the supplies we gathered will be useless.¡± ¡°Take a few essential supplies, and carry all the ammunition and firearms we can. We¡¯re running out of time.¡± Having anticipated such a scenario, they each packed a hiking backpack with some essential supplies and set out on foot. Their pace was slow, and they proceeded cautiously, fearing an encounter with the terrifying Deep Ones. Alexander held a crowbar in one hand and a pistol in the other. After about half an hour, they heard the sound of gunfire not far ahead. ¡°There¡¯s a fight with Deep Ones!¡± Eric raised an eyebrow. A gleam flashed in Alexander¡¯s eyes as he sternly said, ¡°Let¡¯s go check it out¡­¡± ... Bullets were flying as Spain and his squad faced off against several fierce creatures hunting them down. These were small Shoggoths summoned by Janet, amorphous and glowing with eerie eyes moving across the ground. Ordinary bullets were almost useless against these creatures. Fortunately, Janet couldn''t summon full-sized Shoggoths, which, after numerous evolutions, had become much more powerful, with a diameter of about 15 feet, capable of driving one mad. The small Shoggoths were about the size of cats or dogs, early versions designed by the ancients as slaves and food. Through evolution, they eventually became akin to giant excavators and high-end laborers.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Shoggoths¡¯ amorphous bodies could constantly transform, and some powerful Shoggoths could even mimic human forms. Though these small Shoggoths didn¡¯t have such abilities, their bizarre bodies made them difficult to hit, and even when hit, it was largely ineffective. They sprouted numerous limbs from their slime-like bodies, sliding across the ground towards the group, or swelling like yeasted dough, extending arm-like appendages to attack. In reality, it was futile to fight such creatures. The mere courage to not flee was extraordinary for an ordinary person. Spain and his men were hardened American soldiers, accustomed to the battlefield¡¯s cruelty, with stronger mental resilience than most. Those with weaker minds had already broken down upon seeing the ¡°Star Spawn.¡± ¡°Damn Janet, trying to silence us. What kind of mission did we get involved in¡­¡± Spain, who never bothered with mission details before, felt regret for the first time. ¡°Tekeli-Li! Tekeli-Li¡± The small Shoggoths emitted ominous sounds, using limbs to leap from nearby trash cans. Suddenly, a flashbang was thrown, landing perfectly on a small Shoggoth. The explosion of light and heat forced it to retreat, a rare occurrence, while Spain, though at a distance, was still affected, feeling dizzy and falling to the ground. Luckily, his comrades quickly pulled him to safety. In his blurred vision, he saw someone rushing over to join the battle against the Shoggoths. ...Soon, his vision faded into darkness. Spain awoke later, unsure how much time had passed, to find his old partner Pete sitting nearby, smoking. ¡°How long have I been out¡­?¡± ¡°About twenty minutes¡­¡± Pete exhaled a smoke ring. ¡°Now that you¡¯re awake, we can talk.¡± Alexander leaned against the door. Spain instinctively reached for his gun but was stopped by Pete''s quick reflexes. ¡°Stop it, Spain, he saved us¡­¡± ¡°Why did you do it?¡± asked the recently awakened Spain, eyeing him with suspicion. ¡°Because we need each other to survive this mess.¡± Alexander spoke confidently, ¡°I know who you are¡ªNRO Delta from MJ-12. Unfortunately, the renowned NRO Delta is just a pawn to MJ-12 now¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been sold out, discarded like trash. Those who betrayed you aim to blame you for everything, branding you as terrorists, stripping away your dignity, turning you into enemies of the state.¡± ¡°Even if you die, there won¡¯t be compensation, no honorable funeral, no grieving family¡ªyou¡¯ll be like rats dying in a ditch, without a trace!¡± ¡°Say that again!¡± Spain snapped, flipping off the safety of his gun and pressing it against Alexander¡¯s head. ¡°But, I can change all that¡­¡± Alexander spoke persuasively, ¡°I know a way to turn the situation around. Not only can you escape, but you can also counterattack.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Spain was confused. ¡°This whole thing is a ¡®scheme¡¯ to obtain something the masterminds both fear and value greatly!¡± Alexander asked, ¡°I believe you know something, which is why you¡¯re being hunted.¡± Spain and Pete exchanged glances before speaking to Alexander: ¡°We don¡¯t trust you, and what could you possibly do to change this situation?¡± ¡°Reversing this nightmare is ultimately up to you, not us¡­¡± Ignoring the gun to his head, Alexander slowly moved to find a chair and sat down. ¡°You¡¯re the ones they want silenced. Even leaving here won¡¯t change that unless you draw the trump card to turn the tables. My goals differ, but our path is the same.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you. The item is called ¡®Nemesis,¡¯ and it¡¯s just a tape.¡± Chapter 25: The Nemesis Tape Spain thought for a moment, contemplating for about half a minute before finally compromising and mentioning the name. ¡°You know what this thing is, right? Janet went to great lengths, fighting those monsters to acquire it.¡± ¡°Nemesis!¡± Alexander was initially taken aback, for he had indeed heard of this name. Nemesis is the goddess of retribution in Greek mythology, also known as ¡°the goddess of Rhamnous¡± (Rhamnousia/Rhamnusia), with her temple located in Rhamnous, north of Marathon. According to Hesiod''s "Theogony," she was born of the night goddess Nyx and often served the goddess Hera. In English, the word also means "retribution." ¡°Goddess of Vengeance, Retribution, Arbiter, personified as a cold and unyielding goddess of vengeance, and the tape¡ªwhat could its purpose be in all this?¡± ¡°¡®Retribution,¡¯ right, it¡¯s retribution. If I¡¯m not mistaken, it must be that.¡± ¡°G''harne, yes, it¡¯s the one¡ªthe maleficent Outer God in the Cthulhu Mythos, appearing as a rust-red comet, drifting through the void and chanting a song akin to an air raid siren¡ªthe ¡®Music of the Spheres.¡¯ As it passes through the orbits of numerous celestial bodies, the sleeping Old Ones or alien gods residing there are awakened into action¡ªthe most common result being the annihilation of all other life on the celestial body, and in severe cases, the destruction of the body itself.¡± Alexander, mimicking Xu Lin¡¯s habit, bit his thumb and began to think. ¡°G¡¯harne is a highly malevolent entity in the Cthulhu Mythos. Its appearance can trigger the revival of numerous evil gods. Originally, the gods could only awaken when ¡®the stars aligned,¡¯ but perhaps G¡¯harne¡¯s Music of the Spheres can achieve the premature release of these deities.¡± ¡°The tape¡ªcould it be a recording of G¡¯harne¡¯s Music of the Spheres? Damn, that would make it a terrifying tool capable of destroying this world.¡± ¡°Why do you look so distressed? Just how terrifying is this Nemesis?¡± Pete and Spain exchanged glances, sensing something ominous. ¡°In simple terms, it¡¯s something that can directly destroy our world, hundreds of times more powerful than nuclear weapons,¡± Alexander explained the situation to them. Kevin A. Ross¡¯s Cthulhu novel, "The Music of the Spheres," describes the origin of this tape¡ªit was a recording by several scientists at Miskatonic University who, upon finding G¡¯harne, captured its radio signal, essentially the Music of the Spheres, a sound that could bring about world destruction, on a tape. The Dagon cult in this world somehow got hold of this tape, presumably to awaken Cthulhu, who lies dreaming in R¡¯lyeh.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°For some reason, someone doesn¡¯t want this to happen. Naturally, it¡¯s not to save the world but rather for personal desires. Perhaps they intend to use it for even greater evil¡­¡± Alexander shook his head; he could somewhat guess the mastermind¡¯s intent, but whatever it was, it couldn¡¯t be good. ¡°So what do we do?¡± Pete and Spain continued to ask. ¡°It¡¯s simple, retrieve that tape. Once you have it, you¡¯ll have leverage to bargain with those pulling the strings¡­¡± Alexander then outlined his plan to them. ¡°Is this plan feasible?¡± The two were skeptical. ¡°It might not be the best option, but it¡¯s the most practical one right now.¡± Alexander said seriously, ¡°Innsmouth can¡¯t be saved, but there are sure to be boats at the docks. We can seize the chance to leave. Only by retrieving the tape will you have the leverage to negotiate with the mastermind. Otherwise, even if we escape here, we¡¯ll still be hunted down.¡± Innsmouth was already doomed. Whether MJ-12, the mastermind, or the U.S. government itself, none would allow the ¡°plague¡± and its hidden truths to be exposed. It was highly likely they would employ a powerful means to erase the town from the map completely. ¡°Fine! I think at this point, even if we escape the town, Janet will continue to hunt us. I¡¯m fed up with being chased by that brat¡ªit¡¯s time to show him what we¡¯re made of.¡± Spain snorted coldly; as an ace sniper, this flight without a stance was intolerable. Alexander finally breathed a sigh of relief. Without encountering Spain¡¯s group, his plan wouldn¡¯t have been so easy to execute. ¡°By the way, how did you manage to escape from the docks?¡± He asked Spain a few questions. ¡°There¡¯s a drainage pool near the docks connected to the town¡¯s sewer system. My squad moved through the sewers.¡± Spain produced a military map and handed it to Alexander. ¡°So that¡¯s it. I guess that explains how you managed to attack the club so stealthily!¡± Alexander smiled to himself, realizing that entering the docks wasn¡¯t a problem, but another challenge remained¡ªdealing with Janet. This guy could single-handedly storm the Dagon cult and take down a group of Deep Ones with powerful supernatural abilities. With just them and a few guns, that seemed nearly impossible! ¡°Have you noticed why Janet has become so powerful so quickly?¡± Alexander wondered about questions he couldn¡¯t figure out. ¡°Janet shouldn¡¯t have been this formidable originally. If he had such strength from the start, he would have acted against the Dagon cult much earlier. His power must have a reason and a catalyst.¡± Alexander believed that Janet¡¯s ¡°disguise¡± was a narrative device, a hidden clue in the script¡¯s setting. ¡°Now that you mention it, it does seem odd. Our squad was hastily assembled, contrary to regulations. But given our unique nature, it wasn¡¯t entirely out of the question.¡± Pete suddenly recalled something: ¡°Speaking of which, there¡¯s one thing I noticed¡ªevery time Janet performs sorcery, he takes out a strange book, retrieved from a monster¡¯s stomach in the club.¡± ¡°A book? What kind of book?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember much, but it was filled with evil power.¡± Pete shook his head; he had little memory of the book, only feeling an intense malevolent aura around it. There were too many magical books in the Cthulhu Mythos for Alexander to identify, but a revelation struck him¡ªeverything began with that moment at the club. (I finally understand why the main storyline changed, why the difficulty increased. The reason lies here¡­) Originally, in the standard difficulty, Janet¡¯s betrayal was probably supposed to occur in the final act. Here, however, because Janet unexpectedly obtained that magical book, his power surged, leading to later plot changes. Chapter 26: Carmens Return ¡°If his power comes from the book, then severing his connection to it might weaken him¡­¡± Alexander thought excitedly. He realized that conquering this script wasn''t impossible after all, and he could see a faint glimmer of victory ahead. Indeed, it was a faint glimmer, but not entirely out of reach¡­ Hope, however small, must be fought for with all one''s strength! Alexander made a silent vow to himself: he would return to the Ghost Space alive. ... Am I still alive? Carmen came out of his petrified state. In front of him lay a scene of ruins, and he found himself lying alone on the cold ground. ¡°Xu Lin, Xu Lin, how is he?¡± A bad premonition rose within him as Carmen turned his head to find nothing where Xu Lin had been, only a torn piece of fabric left behind. ¡°Are you dead too?¡± Tears did not flow from his eyes, as they were long dry. ¡°Again¡­ I¡¯m the only one left.¡± Why is it that every time, he is the one who survives? He silently gazed at the exploded ceiling above and let out a heavy sigh. At that moment, he realized he was holding something in his hand. The Lament Configuration, yes, the small box was still in his pocket. ¡°Haha, I can still use this trick. I almost forgot.¡± A glimmer of redemption flashed in Carmen''s eyes. ... The sewer was dark, with water just reaching ankle height, as the group trudged through the darkness. ¡°There¡¯s a fork ahead. Once we reach it, the water will become very turbulent. Be careful not to be swept away, or you¡¯ll be flushed out to sea¡­¡± Pete warned. They moved slowly, having noticed that the water was becoming increasingly fast. At the same time, the monsters Janet had stationed in the sewers detected their presence and began to converge for an attack. ¡ªAmidst the roar of gunfire, a battle between humans and monsters commenced.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Spain¡¯s squad had eleven members left, all battle-hardened. After forming a ¡°partnership¡± with Alexander, they became his strongest asset, while Jin Jianshu and the others nearly became a burden. The number of small Shoggoths was considerable, yet they weren¡¯t without weaknesses. The group discovered that these creatures couldn¡¯t remain in the ¡°real world¡± for long. ¡°Perhaps they lack power, or maybe they simply can¡¯t be summoned and stay in the real world for too long¡­¡± Whatever the reason, it meant Shoggoths weren¡¯t entirely insurmountable foes. In such a cramped setting, using explosive grenades was out of the question, so they relied on firearm attacks to delay the creatures while moving. This made for a perilous journey, and the elderly man named Cheng was the first to falter. ¡°I can¡¯t keep up. You go on without me¡­¡± Mr. Cheng stumbled and fell, struggling to rise. ¡°Hold on a little longer, we¡¯re almost there.¡± Alexander spoke with a bitter voice, knowing Mr. Cheng was the most likely to die here. His age and lack of stamina meant survival to the third act was mostly luck, but the coming trials required more than just a bit of luck. ¡°Enough, I won''t make it to the end of Act Four. Give me a grenade¡ªI don''t want to die in a monster''s maw¡­¡± Mr. Cheng shook his head. After the long, grueling journey, he was exhausted. ¡°Sir, I give you this. May you have a safe journey!¡± Pete handed Mr. Cheng a grenade, saluted him briefly, and quickly moved on. Alexander said nothing more. He wasn¡¯t a god, unable to save everyone, and at this time, such hard decisions had to be made¡­ Yet, deep inside, there was still a flicker of reluctance. Even so, he resolutely left, and seconds later, a violent explosion echoed through the tunnel they had just vacated¡­ ¡°Strategist Cheng Yiming, deceased!¡± Pinocchio¡¯s voice announced once more. This was the harsh reality of the Ghost Space. The script world harbored no mercy; everyone was equally subject to ¡°death,¡± regardless of who they were! The struggle was ceaseless, more akin to a journey of escape. Most encounters with monsters ended in flight rather than combat. A crisis soon emerged when they found themselves surrounded by Shoggoths, stuck with no path forward or back. ¡°Are we¡­ really going to die here?¡± Jin Jianshu''s voice trembled with despair. ¡°FUCK, I should¡¯ve never listened to you¡­¡± Spain was equally regretful but maintained, ¡°Without you, I¡¯d still come after Janet for payback.¡± What more could Alexander say? He could only shake his head with a wry smile. It wasn¡¯t a flaw in his strategy¡ªhis group was simply too weak to overcome this hurdle. ¡°Oh, if it¡¯s about settling scores with Janet, would you mind bringing me along?¡± A strong, steady voice emerged from behind them. A man with one leg propped on a crutch stepped forward. With a gesture, he summoned a large stag from the shadows, intercepting a Shoggoth charging towards them. Carmen had returned, battered and missing a leg, yet standing resolute. ¡­His appearance rekindled a spark of hope within the strategists. ¡°Defeat them, my shadow beast!¡± Carmen roared, commanding the stag-shaped shadow beast to transform. Its antlers enlarged like heavy swords, sweeping through the Shoggoths. This was the innate ability of the ¡°shadow beast,¡± requiring no additional survival points, though it could only be used once a day. Thus, every user was exceedingly judicious about employing this skill, never squandering their one daily use. ¡ªThe equipment, ¡°Great Antlers of the Stag,¡± acted like a heavy sword or a spear, sharing characteristics with the sacrificial blade, dealing massive damage to aberrant creatures such as Shoggoths. In under three minutes, Carmen carved a path for the group¡­ ¡°Come on, the time for the final showdown is near!¡± Their hearts surged with anticipation, for at last, the script for the final act appeared in their minds. Chapter 27: Forced Execution The fourth act is the finale, where everything returns to the beginning. The overall plot of the fourth act is as follows: the group enters a massive building at the docks. After a fierce battle, and losing several companions, they finally confront Janet, along with Linda, who has been kidnapped by him. Janet has grown stronger, and this place has become his palace, his throne... He commands a horde of monsters to attack the group, resulting in many tragic deaths, leaving only a few to face him. However, none can withstand the might of Janet, who ultimately summons a powerful entity... That unnamable pillar of an evil god¡ªonce it appears, everything concludes. No one survives!! All who witness the unknown deity perish in an instant. It is an entity beyond human reach, and mere contact leads to the immediate collapse of the physical body. ¡°So, if Janet completes the summoning, it¡¯s all over!¡± Alexander''s heart was heavy with dread upon reading the script. Looking at Jin Jianshu and the others, their expressions were equally grim. Alexander understood that their death flags had likely been raised. After all, this is the final act, and by this point, the script begins clearing the stage. Any remaining strategists not yet dead will face death flags to facilitate a smooth clearing. ¡°The plot will only become more difficult from here. Alexander, do you have any ideas?¡± asked Carmen, looking weary after recalling his shadow beast. ¡°To be honest, we can only take it one step at a time.¡± Alexander replied slowly, ¡°Janet has shifted from being the ¡®protagonist¡¯ to the ¡®villain,¡¯ and the key role has moved from Janet to Linda, meaning the protagonist spot is now vacant.¡± ¡°You mean to replace Janet as the main character? But even so, it doesn¡¯t guarantee we¡¯ll win!¡± ¡°No, with Janet as the antagonist, there must be a corresponding protagonist role, aligned with Linda. If we save Linda, we¡¯ll be seen as the protagonists by the Ghost Space, thus shedding our supporting cast status¡­¡± With the main plot at this stage, things had become clearer. Janet was their greatest survival threat because even if Alex and his group escaped, as long as Janet summoned the ¡°Unnamable Evil God,¡± everything would be Game Over!If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Everyone present understood this; each step they took was a direct path to the reaper''s domain. Eric, the high school student, was trembling all over. The sewer was cold and damp, like the devil''s cellar, with every dark corner seemingly hiding a dreadful monster. From the script, he had received a death flag notice, indicating he would face a terrifying encounter and then die tragically. ¡°What do I do? I¡¯m doomed. This damn script gives no clues, not even when I die, only mentioning a scene named ¡®Interlude,¡¯ and the subplot information marked in red cannot be disclosed to others; revealing it means death¡­¡± At this moment, he noticed an iron ladder appearing to one side, leading up from the sewer. It¡¯s here!! Eric¡¯s anxiety peaked, knowing this was a critical marker within the scene, triggering his death flag as soon as he saw the ladder. He now had to follow the script¡¯s arrangement and recite his lines. According to the script, the scene played out as follows¡ª Eric found the iron ladder leading up to the docks and exclaimed joyfully, ¡°Here, I found the exit.¡± Then, without waiting for his companions to join him, he climbed the ladder alone to scout ahead. He quickly ascended, entering a space like an air shaft, and through it, found himself in a dark building. He had barely stepped out of the vent when shadows loomed over him from above. In the next instant, Eric felt his head separate from his body, witnessing his blood-soaked torso with blood gushing from the neck, painting his vision red¡­ ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to go!¡± Eric¡¯s voice caught everyone¡¯s attention, but none immediately understood what was happening. Eric had lost control, ordinarily collapsing in tears, yet suddenly, his movements were no longer his own, overtaken by some unseen force. ¡°Here, I found the exit!¡± He turned his head slowly, speaking in a stiff voice, and then began to move, his body performing extraordinary feats as he climbed the ladder. ¡°This isn¡¯t good; it¡¯s the script¡¯s ¡®forced execution.¡¯ Let¡¯s catch up¡­¡± Alexander and Carmen exchanged glances and quickly climbed up the ladder. ... Forced Execution! This is a mechanism within the script world to forcibly progress a subplot when strategists become too passive to complete the script on their own. It often manifests in death flags. When strategists break down due to encountering one and delay the ¡°shooting,¡± the script forcibly progresses, pushing the strategist into the subplot. ¡°This makes things worse. Forced execution takes you directly to your death flag, where you lose control over your body and follow the script¡¯s directive, even if it leads you to jump into a volcano¡­¡± Carmen explained as they climbed. ¡°Does this mean Eric is doomed?¡± Alexander asked. ¡°Not necessarily!¡± Carmen replied decisively, ¡°After all, I gave him a safety net!¡± ... Eric was like most ordinary high school students, leading a normal life mainly revolving around the dorm, classroom, and cafeteria. His grades were decent, though he didn¡¯t consider himself particularly smart. In fact, he was slower than his peers, appearing more introverted and honest. He often learned a beat behind others. His strength lay in recognizing his shortcomings, working diligently to improve. While he didn¡¯t top the class, he was among the better students. Perhaps because he invested most of his time in studying, he had little left for activities that interested his peers, such as socializing and gaming, resulting in limited social interaction and a more introverted personality. He climbed the ladder, gradually regaining control of his body, standing confused and unsure of what to do next. ¡°I¡¯m doomed, I¡¯m totally doomed this time.¡± He kept muttering to himself, completely out of courage to act. Chapter 28: Dangerous Species This place seemed to be part of a building, but now the building was unrecognizable, having transformed into a monster¡¯s nest. The floor, ceiling, and walls were covered in fungus-like growths, seemingly nurturing ground for monsters. Darkness dominated everything, with ominous shapes lurking in the shadows¡ªor maybe it was just his imagination. ¡°Thump!¡± Eric thought he heard something. He looked around but felt the sound came from behind him. ¡°Eric, are you okay?¡± The voice brought him a sense of relief¡ªit was Carmen and Alexander, emerging from the ventilation duct. ¡°Watch out! Behind you¡­¡± Alexander suddenly shouted, sending a shock through Eric¡¯s already tense nerves. Slowly, Eric turned his head, and a cold gleam cut through the darkness¡ªa steel axe swung down at an angle, deadly and decisive. It was almost a death sentence, but just then, Eric¡¯s shadow twisted, and a robust stag leaped forth¡ªCarmen¡¯s shadow beast. ¡°Block it¡­¡± Carmen shouted, and the shadow beast nimbly moved, its antlers catching the axe. Sparks flew at the moment of impact. The shadow beast was a special entity in the form of a ¡°stag¡± or perhaps not even a biological creature. Its essence was shadow-like material, capable of lurking in shadows. Carmen cleverly utilized this trait, keeping the shadow beast hidden in Eric¡¯s shadow. ¡°I guessed he might receive the first death flag, and I was right¡­¡± ¡°Besides me, the last three standing are you, Jin Jianshu, and Eric. Compared to you, the seasoned one, the first death flag was likely to befall one of them¡­¡± Alexander gave a wry smile. It wasn''t hard to guess, but Carmen¡¯s foresight was impressive, even something he hadn¡¯t fully considered. ¡°Roar!¡± The attacker was a humanoid monster with the appearance of a Deep One, but larger, standing about two meters tall, wielding a massive axe. Its muscles were knotted and its stature tall and imposing, unlike typical Deep Ones.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! It swung its axe again, but the stag held strong, its powerful antlers thrusting the creature away and even injuring it. The antlers sliced the Deep One¡¯s right arm, spilling greenish blood that glowed faintly in the dark. The Deep One cried out in pain, clutching its wound as it limped away. ¡°Huh, why is it limping?¡± Alexander, ever observant, quickly noticed and started thinking rapidly. ¡°Let¡¯s follow it and see.¡± Spain, Jin Jianshu, and the others soon climbed up, and Pete surveyed the area. ¡°There¡¯s another entrance here¡ªwho would have thought¡­¡± ¡°We found something new; can you come and help?¡± Alexander called to them. He explained the situation and admitted, ¡°That monster seemed like someone we knew. I plan to follow and find out.¡± ¡°With the trail still fresh, it should be easy to track¡­¡± As a sniper, Spain was also a tracking expert. He quickly followed the blood trail, with the group close behind. For some reason, what was once a monster-infested ¡°nest¡± had emptied. Perhaps the failed ritual had caused the summoned Dagon cult monsters to vanish. They navigated the dark labyrinth, following droplets of glowing blood that gradually faded. ¡°It¡¯s healing; it has some degree of self-regenerative ability¡­¡± Carmen muttered, assessing the opponent¡¯s strength and realizing this was his first encounter with a creature nearing ¡°dangerous species¡± status in this script. Even the Shoggoths they faced earlier were merely ordinary monsters. ¡°If we defeat it, we might obtain a Spectral Ember!¡± he murmured. Though the trail nearly vanished, Spain¡¯s tracking prowess didn¡¯t falter, leading them to the Deep One standing guard outside a room. As they approached, it growled menacingly, raising its axe. ¡°Is that¡­ Roland? Don¡¯t you recognize me?¡± Alexander advanced a few steps, speaking softly: ¡°How did you become like this?¡± This Deep One differed from the rest. From the first encounter, Alexander felt something, especially noticing its limp. These features swiftly clicked in his mind, prompting his question. The Deep One regarded Alexander with a deep look before suddenly leaping to swing its massive axe. ¡°Watch out, shoot now¡­¡± Spain and Pete ignored Alexander''s ¡°don¡¯t shoot¡± plea and opened fire, filling the air with bullets. The Deep One was incredibly strong, its skin covered in tough scales deflecting the bullets. ¡°As expected, only my shadow beast can bypass such defenses and injure it¡­¡± Yet Carmen refrained from summoning his shadow beast again, having already spent a lot of survival points. He needed to conserve his resources for the future. Their bullets proved ineffective, and the Deep One leaped towards them. If it reached them, they would be in grave danger, given the hand-to-hand combat capabilities of a two-meter-tall Deep One. Just then, Jin Jianshu, who had been quietly observing, suddenly raised his riot gun and fired a gas grenade. The grenade struck the Deep One, releasing a thick cloud of tear gas. This gas caused intense irritation, especially to sensitive areas like the eyes and nose, leading to excessive tearing, coughing, sneezing, and severe discomfort. Though nearly invulnerable to conventional weapons, the Deep One was overwhelmed by the gas, coughing and convulsing. Realizing it couldn¡¯t withstand it, the creature bolted, casting a significant glance at Alexander as it left. ¡°It really is Roland. Judging by its look, it remembers me¡­¡± Alexander caught the sorrowful gaze of the Deep One, convinced it was Roland, likely transformed by Janet¡¯s treachery. ¡°Roland, do you have something you want to tell me?¡± Alexander clenched his fist, unable to resist pondering. Chapter 29: Annandons Confession Of course, the Deep One glanced at Alexander before swiftly departing, but Alexander was convinced it was Roland. ¡°It was definitely him. Clearly, Roland seems to be under Janet''s control, which explains the attack on Eric¡­¡± However, Roland seemed to retain some degree of will; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have given me any indication. ¡°Come over here, we found someone in this room.¡± While cleaning up the battlefield, Spain and the others stumbled upon a discovery. They found a man in the room. The man was wearing tattered clothes, sitting in a corner with drool at the corner of his mouth, and he kept giggling foolishly. The room reeked of a foul stench, with traces of excrement in the corners. His eyes were sunken, and he was emaciated, as if he had been seriously ill. His face held a vacant, silly grin, clearly indicating he had gone mad. ¡°He¡­ could he be the Annandon we¡¯re looking for?¡± Eric, still somewhat shaken, glanced at the man with suspicion. Alexander had the same thought as Eric. He crouched down and asked, ¡°Are you Annandon? Annandon Williamson? You¡¯re a photographer from Essex?¡± The mention of ¡°photography¡± seemed to ignite a spark in Annandon¡¯s eyes. ¡°Who are you? Were you deceived by Janet Williamson, too?¡± The ragged man who seemed insane had a sharp look in his eyes¡ªhardly the gaze of a madman. He¡¯s pretending to be mad!? Carmen and Alexander exchanged glances, understanding the meaning in each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mr. Annandon, you¡¯ve been pretending to be mad all this time, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Heh, if I didn¡¯t pretend, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d have survived until now¡­¡± Annandon gave a cold laugh, his voice calm as he said, ¡°If I weren¡¯t pretending, my cousin Janet would have killed me by now.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Alexander pressed on, sensing that Annandon held vital information. ¡°A cigarette? Does anyone have a smoke?¡± Annandon said little more, his brow furrowed and mood visibly unstable. ¡°Quick, a cigarette¡­¡± Alexander hurriedly asked an adjacent soldier for one. Among Spain''s group, getting a cigarette wasn¡¯t difficult. Annandon took a few drags and his tension eased. ¡°Both Janet and I are descendants of the Williamson family. Our family is closely allied with the Marsh family, so we share certain blood ties. Every few generations, some descendants suffer a peculiar hereditary condition, causing their bodies to undergo bizarre changes¡­¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°That¡¯s likely not a disease but a curse, originating from the Innsmouth curse, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Exactly. According to an elder¡¯s research in our family, it is the curse of the Innsmouth bloodline. Members of our family under certain conditions transform into half-fish-like monsters. Some are imprisoned by the family until death, others vanish without a trace, and more cannot endure this fate, choosing suicide instead.¡± Annandon took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaling a long stream of smoke. ¡°Janet and I have known about this curse since we were young because my father committed suicide, and Janet and I happened to witness it¡­¡± ¡°From then on, we were terrified, fearing the same fate, so we joined forces early on to investigate the curse¡¯s origin.¡± ¡°Ultimately, we discovered Innsmouth and met Madanra, a distant relative. He revealed the truth behind the curse, explaining it wasn''t a curse but a blessing¡ªan immortal blessing. Becoming a Deep One, a descendant of Father Dagon and Mother Hydra, serving the Great Old One Cthulhu, is the highest honor!¡± ¡°Heh, but neither Janet nor I could accept such an ¡®honor¡¯¡­¡± Alexander was surprised; this part of the story went beyond his previous assumptions, introducing significant twists. For example, he hadn¡¯t expected Annandon and Janet to know Madanra. This knowledge would have altered many of their strategies. ¡°Madanra didn¡¯t trouble you?¡± Carmen asked, puzzled by the historical context. ¡°Of course not. By seniority, Madanra is one of our elders. He understood our perspective but believed that our Innsmouth blood was strong enough to ensure we would one day become part of the cult. He said he would wait for us because that day would surely come¡­¡± At this point, Annandon shivered, his eyes filled with an intense, unshakeable fear¡ªthe fear of Madanra¡¯s prophecy, which he believed deep down. ¡°I forced myself not to believe him, though subconsciously I knew he spoke the truth.¡± ¡°Yes, Janet probably felt the same. We both knew it was our fate, our inevitable end¡ªto either transform into a Deep One or take our own lives.¡± ¡°But Janet was stronger than me. He refused to accept this fate and sought to change it. Over the years, he¡¯s been trying everything, even enrolling at Miskatonic University to access its forbidden library, convinced it held the answers¡­¡± ¡°One year passed, then two, or perhaps three, he continued searching and trying various methods, even resorting to witchcraft¡­¡± ¡ªClearly, Janet eventually discovered something. Alexander¡¯s eyes reflected this understanding. Annandon seemed to read his mind and nodded. ¡°About half a year ago, I started showing strange signs, just like my grandfather and ancestors¡ªsigns of Innsmouth. It marked the beginning of our transformation¡­¡± At this, he suddenly removed his shirt, revealing an astounding sight¡ªAnnandon¡¯s back was covered in dense fish scales. ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m already transforming, but Janet was worse off. His transformation was more advanced, even distorting his body into something hideous.¡± ¡°Wait, but Janet now shows no signs of transformation?¡± ¡°Let me finish...¡± Annandon took another drag of his cigarette. ¡°About six months ago, when his condition worsened, Janet took a long leave, retreating to his countryside vacation home. Secretly, he found me and said he finally had a solution.¡± ¡°It was a horrific ritual. Don¡¯t ask about the details¡ªit¡¯s something I wish to never remember, an exceedingly vile ceremony.¡± He seemed lost in thought, his face pale before finally recovering. ¡°The ritual was successful; we truly encountered something, especially Janet, who seemed to receive enlightenment. He was muttering incessantly, as if communicating with someone.¡± ¡°What exactly did you encounter?¡± ¡°I truly don¡¯t know; it seemed like an abyssal evil¡­¡± Annandon tossed the cigarette butt and stomped it out. ¡°Strangely, the signs of Innsmouth in us soon vanished¡­¡± Afterward, Janet became increasingly bizarre. He followed the instructions of an unnamed evil god, leaving for a while, then returning to tell Annandon that the deity required him to retrieve something from Innsmouth¡ªa tape of Nemesis accidentally obtained by the Dagon cult. Chapter 30: Xu Lins Return Sure enough, everything ultimately revolved around the Nemesis tape. However, Alexander did learn something valuable¡ªJanet''s manipulation seemed linked to some evil deity. ¡°Janet has gone mad. I always felt that the entity we contacted through the ritual merely plunged us from one abyss into a deeper one, yet he believes it''s divine revelation¡­¡± Annandon shook his head and said, ¡°I was instructed by him to steal the tape from Innsmouth, but I reported the situation to Madanra, who sent people to meet me. On the way, Janet sent someone to ambush me, but Madanra¡¯s men killed them and brought me here for protection.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s what happened.¡± Alexander nodded, understanding how some plot elements fit together. ¡°Do you think Janet intends to kill you? Why would he want you dead? And how did pretending to be mad help you avoid his wrath?¡± ¡°I don''t know for sure. I just guessed that if he thought I was insane, he wouldn¡¯t bother to kill me.¡± Annandon¡¯s explanation was vague. Alexander gave him a meaningful look but said nothing more. ¡°Any other findings?¡± Carmen approached. ¡°No, let¡¯s keep moving¡­¡± Just as Alexander spoke, the wall in front of them exploded, sending concrete and debris flying. A gigantic arm reached through the wall, belonging to a massive creature known as a ¡°Star Spawn.¡± ¡°Damn, a dangerous-level elite monster¡­¡± Carmen roared these words, immediately spending another 120 survival points to summon his shadow beast. A giant stag emerged from the shadows of the ground, leaping effortlessly onto the massive arm, charging along the limb of the Star Spawn. Suddenly, countless filthy tentacles shot out¡ªit was the Star Spawn¡¯s appendages attacking swiftly, with one piercing the stag¡¯s body. Carmen cried out in agony, clutching his abdomen and falling. At the same moment, the stag dissolved like a shadowy fluid, disappearing¡­ ¡°The shadow beast¡¯s injury has affected Carmen¡ªwhat¡¯s happening?¡± Alexander had a sudden flash of insight, crucial information connecting in an instant. ¡°Watch out!¡± Jin Jianshu tackled him to avoid the monster¡¯s hook-like claws. ¡°Carmen is injured, and the shadow beast is gone. Alexander, what should we do?¡± Jin Jianshu noticed and felt urgent concern.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Alexander realized the situation was dire, but it was already too late¡ªCarmen, a key combatant, was gravely wounded and down. Spain and the others fired desperately, but the massive creature, towering over ten meters, was unrelenting. In the grand building, its movements were somewhat constrained, making it cumbersome. In truth, the monster could grow larger, with a body capable of reaching over forty meters. Its rubbery, writhing muscles could expand and contract at will; its massive claws shredded a soldier instantly. In a critical moment, the stag reappeared, covered in wounds yet defiantly facing the monster. ¡°Get out of here, take Annandon with you. Leave this thing to me!¡± Carmen tossed aside his cane, gripping Alexander¡¯s shoulder and speaking softly, ¡°Give me your right hand¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Alexander had no time to comprehend before Carmen transferred something through the Spectral Covenant. ¡°The Spectral Covenant can store some items. I¡¯ve transferred my remaining survival points and some items to you. I¡¯m going to use an item to bring Xu Lin back from the dead. With him, you have a chance to survive¡­¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± Alexander heard but couldn¡¯t process what Carmen meant. Carmen didn¡¯t respond, only gave a sorrowful smile and took out the Lament Configuration. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of living, really enough, but at least in the end, let me trade a life for a life.¡± He turned the Lament Configuration, moving it rapidly into place, and with a click, the box opened. The void twisted, and chains shot from the darkness, impaling Carmen and anchoring him in place. With a struggle, he was pulled back into the darkness, disappearing in an instant. The stag fighting the Star Spawn roared and vanished like a shadow. At the same time, the Lament Configuration fell to the ground with a small thud. A hand suddenly reached out and picked up the box. It was a skinless hand, and its owner was a figure cloaked in gray. ¡°Who¡­ who are you?¡± Alexander couldn''t fathom who might arrive at this moment¡­ ¡°Me!¡± The figure in the gray cloak revealed his face¡ªit was the resurrected Xu Lin, appearing again before Alexander. ¡°I gave the Lament Configuration to Old Li, hoping he¡¯d find someone else to open it, not sacrifice himself. I underestimated his desire for death¡­¡± Xu Lin didn¡¯t look like a dead man. He bore no marks of serious injury, though he was wrapped in thick bandages, and the cloak emanated an odor of burnt flesh. He gripped the Lament Configuration with his skinless hand, his eyes a bit unfocused. Drawing from the ¡°Hellraiser¡± space, a dimension ruled by hellish Cenobites, where every entrant became a twisted toy and puppet. Unlike the original, the Lament Configuration in this scenario held a peculiar resurrection ability¡ªwhen a holder used it and was dragged into its world, they could be released when the next holder opened it. Such variations align with different comic versions of ¡°Hellraiser,¡± explaining these diverse interpretations. ¡°Boom!¡± The Star Spawn resumed its assault, extending a hook-like claw to smash a pillar. Gunfire and bullets couldn¡¯t hinder its power; Spain¡¯s team retreated desperately. ¡°Give me the magic elixir¡­¡± Xu Lin summoned his sacrificial blade, instantly entering combat mode. ¡°Magic elixir?¡± Alexander was confused. ¡°It must have been transferred to you, likely through the Spectral Covenant¡¯s space. Check inside; besides the magic elixir, there should be Spectral Embers. Check how many, but give me the elixir first.¡± ¡°Consume one Ember, activate the basic function of the Covenant, take out the elixir for me¡­¡± Xu Lin swung his chain mace, activating its enchantment effect, delivering a heavy strike. He hit a spot on the ceiling, triggering a collapse¡ªcaused by the Star Spawn smashing the pillar, leading to cracks. His keen eyes caught this detail. Chapter 31: Enhancement ¡°Left hand¡¯s Spectral Covenant!¡± Alexander realized it was the item Carmen had passed to him. He checked the interface of the covenant and indeed found additional items. It showed he had received several items, including three bottles of magic potion left by Carmen¡ªoriginally given to him by Xu Lin. Besides the magic potion, there were three flame-like lights known as Spectral Embers, according to the interface. ¡ªSpectral Ember: A hellish seed obtained after defeating a dangerous species. It has various uses, such as repairing or reforging a sacrificial blade, feeding a shadow beast, or enhancing one¡¯s Spectral Covenant. In addition to the Spectral Embers, there were miscellaneous items, a few auxiliary cards, and some support tools, though none were particularly useful for combat strategies. A message from the covenant interface indicated that consuming one Spectral Ember would unlock the basic functionality of the interface. ¡°Hurry up, activate the function!¡± Time was of the essence; there was no room for delay. With a shout, Alexander watched as the interface quickly consumed a Spectral Ember, enabling the basic features. (Basic functions unlocked¡ªSpectral Covenant upgraded to Lv0¡ªDeep Link initiated¡ªCoordinates confirmed¡ªIndividual stats logging¡ªInitial enhancement starting...) Alexander felt a flow of unseen energy coursing through him, a mysterious power forcing subtle changes in his body. When he looked at his personal stats, he noticed something remarkable. Name: Alexander Race: Iron Constitution: 20 Strength: 17 Agility: 15 Spirit: 50 All his stats had increased by 10 points¡ªthis must be the initial enhancement he heard about! A brief joy filled Alexander''s heart, followed by sorrow, knowing this was Carmen''s legacy, a gift from a seasoned veteran. ¡ªHe vowed to repay Carmen¡¯s kindness if given the chance. Alexander, being someone who valued gratitude, made this resolution, though he wasn''t sentimental. He quickly retrieved a magic potion and tossed it to Xu Lin.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Xu Lin deftly caught the potion while engaging the Star Spawn, leading it away as he injected the elixir. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll distract this monster and find an opportunity to defeat it. You need to take Annandon and find Linda, then figure out how to complete this mission.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± He threw the remaining two bottles of magic potion, sprinting forward. Spain and the others had already retreated, but judging by the gunfire ahead, their path wasn¡¯t smooth. Regardless of the obstacles, Alexander was determined to push forward. Armed with a crowbar and a pistol, he dashed into the fray. ... ¡°I curse you, Janet, you traitor!¡± Madanra roared in fury, ceaselessly cursing. ¡°Madanra, your words are useless; they can¡¯t harm me in the slightest!¡± Janet descended from Robert Marsh¡¯s stone throne, casting a glance at Madanra on the ground. Enveloped in a mass of green liquid, most of Madanra''s body was dissolved, leaving only his head. Numerous other heads floated in the liquid, grotesque and eerie. This creature seemed summoned from elsewhere, resembling a grotesque Shoggoth or perhaps a Shoggoth hybrid, formed from numerous Deep Ones and Shoggoths. Janet sneered, slowly descending the throne. ¡°They''ve come, as expected, even ¡®he¡¯ was found¡­¡± Janet held a scroll in his left hand¡ªit was ¡°The Confession of the Mad Monk Crittanus,¡± the source of his power. With it, he could forcibly summon the Star Spawn. Linda was imprisoned beside the stone throne, stripped of her glasses and dressed in a gaudy Gothic gown, a product of Janet¡¯s whim. Her wrists were shackled, rendering her pitifully helpless. The cuffs were linked to a black box containing the Nemesis tape. ¡°No need to hide; I know you¡¯re here already.¡± Janet closed his eyes, speaking softly: ¡°With my great power, I can sense everything here. This is my kingdom, my throne¡­¡± ¡ªHis words were met with a barrage of bullets. ¡°Roar!¡± A Deep One wielding a long axe charged forward, shielding Janet. Bullets bounced off its iron-like scales, unable to harm its steel-like body. After being transformed into a Deep One, Roland seemed to possess extraordinary strength, wielding a heavy axe as he charged at the hidden attackers. ¡°Grenade!¡± Pete signaled Spain, who immediately understood and threw a grenade toward Roland. Boom! The explosion forced Roland to retreat momentarily. Seizing the chance, Jin Jianshu bravely stepped forward, firing his riot gun. But Roland, the Deep One, didn¡¯t plan to give him another chance. Using its incredible strength, Roland hurled the axe, which spun through the air, slicing off most of Jin Jianshu¡¯s head in an instant. ¡°Strategist Jin Jianshu has died. Only three survivors remain. Fight for your lives, show us more exquisite deaths and gore, for it is your sole reason to survive!¡± Pinocchio¡¯s voice echoed in every strategist¡¯s ears. Alexander arrived just in time to witness Jin Jianshu¡¯s brutal death, losing his composure. ¡°You bastard¡­¡± Unable to hold back, he cursed and sped towards Jin Jianshu¡¯s body¡ªhis target was the riot gun! Roland moved faster, but Spain and the others wouldn¡¯t give him the chance. Spain, already with his sniper rifle at the ready, fired a shot aimed at Roland''s face. Meanwhile, Pete and the team unleashed a barrage, trying to pin down Roland¡¯s movements. ¡°Bang!¡± With his sharpshooter prowess, Spain hit Roland in the left eye, causing the monster to howl for the first time. Despite its impenetrable skin, its eye lens couldn¡¯t be protected by scales. Alexander discarded the ¡°Physics Holy Sword¡± he held. His physical stats and other attributes had all received a boost, each increased by 10, effectively enhancing his overall physical capacity by 0.2 times. Do not underestimate this 0.2 times¡ªit elevated Alexander from an average human to someone with the endurance and physical prowess of a person who has trained rigorously for decades. Chapter 32: Threat Almost instantly upon receiving the enhancement, Alexander felt light and agile, moving swiftly as if flying. He sprinted and lunged toward the riot gun. ¡°Bang!¡± The sound of gunfire echoed as a tear gas grenade detonated in front of the Deep One, Roland, enveloping him in a thick smoke. The irritants from the gas overwhelmed Roland¡¯s mucous membranes, forcing him to crouch down. Faced with this opportunity, no one present would let it pass. Ammunition poured down mercilessly. This time, even if Roland wasn¡¯t injured, the intense barrage knocked him over. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you managed to make it here¡­¡± Janet sneered, issuing a command, and the Shoggoth amalgamated with numerous Deep Ones began to undulate. The massive black gelatinous mass rolled slowly like jelly across the ground toward the group. Numerous appendages extended from the mass, reaching four to five meters, branching out like a tree, dense and overwhelming. ¡°Run¡­¡± Spain shoved Pete aside as their hiding spot was pierced by countless appendages. ¡°What the hell is this thing?¡± Alexander couldn¡¯t identify the creature but sensed it was formidable, far more challenging than smaller Shoggoths. Reloading the riot gun, he fired another tear gas grenade, yet the black mass was unaffected, continuing to roll forward. Zoom! A figure swiftly approached from afar, hurling a skull-shaped flail that shattered many of the appendages. Though the impact didn¡¯t damage the remaining appendages, the Shoggoth¡¯s liquid material quickly reformed, returning to the main body. But it didn¡¯t end there¡ªazure flames erupted from the chain, incinerating the writhing liquid. ¡°This monster has self-healing capabilities, making its body nearly invulnerable,¡± Xu Lin remarked. He had miraculously repelled the Star Spawn, seemingly returning with ease. In reality, it wasn¡¯t simple; he had consumed one magic potion and deployed his powerful fragment, ¡°Turandot,¡± twice to finally defeat the formidable Star Spawn. ¡­The Star Spawn was already a top-tier dangerous species.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. In the script worlds of the Spectral Realm, monsters had hierarchies¡­ The lowest were ordinary creatures with no ranking, while more formidable ones were termed ¡°dangerous species.¡± Typical dangerous species, like the Deep One Roland, possessed unique traits such as immunity to conventional gunfire, with only heavy weaponry able to harm them. As for proper dangerous species like the Star Spawn, ordinary human weapons were ineffective against them; only a strategist¡¯s sacrificial blade or summoned shadow beast could deal damage to these creatures. Eliminating a dangerous species like the Star Spawn could earn bonus points and a ¡°Spectral Ember.¡± Spectral Embers, a special item only obtained by killing dangerous species, appeared as bronze-colored flames. These were highly valuable and rare among strategists. ¡°Only two magic potions left, meaning I can use ¡®Turandot¡¯ four times, so I must exercise caution¡­¡± He swiftly retrieved a syringe, injecting the magic into his bloodstream, supplying his fragment. The ¡°heart¡± within him pulsed, invigorated by the magic. Xu Lin extended his hand, forming a rune in his palm, unleashing a petrification spell. The spell hit the massive Deep One, steadily turning half of its body to stone. ¡°Good, keep petrifying it!¡± The petrification spread, but just as it was about to cover the other half, it halted. What¡¯s going on? Xu Lin widened his eyes as bubbles appeared on the Deep One¡¯s skin, indicating internal changes that resisted the petrification. This dangerous species was even more troublesome than the Star Spawn! ... While Xu Lin battled the Shoggoth, Eric quietly took a long detour, sneaking toward Linda. He aimed to rescue Linda during the distraction, as per Alexander¡¯s instructions. He moved quickly, and with everyone¡¯s attention on Xu Lin and the Shoggoth, he, the smallest and least noticeable among them, went unnoticed. ¡°Compared to us, you¡¯re less likely to draw enemy attention. To survive, we need your help¡­¡± Alexander¡¯s words echoed in his mind. ¡°I want to survive too. I want to be stronger. If I die here, what will happen to my parents and family¡­¡± Even Eric held onto this unwillingness to accept his fate. In the script world designed by the Spectral Realm, death was unjustly arbitrary. ¡­Surviving was equally a tough ordeal. He crawled on the ground, mustering every bit of strength to move slowly forward. At this moment, a massive figure spotted Eric sneaking in the dark¡ªit was the wounded Deep One, Roland. He glanced at Eric heading toward Linda, pretending not to see anything. Despite being blind in one eye, the bleeding had stopped, and the irritation to his mucous membranes had subsided. Frankly, Spain and the others¡¯ attacks had little effect on him initially. Now, the towering Deep One stood, stretching his two-meter frame, baring sharp teeth as he marched toward Spain¡¯s concealed firing position. Of course, he didn¡¯t forget to pick up his massive axe, which had decapitated half of Jin Jianshu¡¯s head. ¡°We¡¯re out of tear gas grenades. Do you have any ideas on dealing with this creature?¡± Alexander realized the riot gun was empty and discarded his Mossberg M500 bullpup shotgun. ¡°Ideas?¡± Spain chuckled with a cigarette in his mouth, ¡°If you could cast a few spells like your companion, then maybe I could send this monster to the moon. Otherwise, we¡¯re just waiting to die here.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go with that.¡± Alexander noticed Annandon had been dragged over by a few people. ¡°Can I leave now¡­¡± Annandon asked in panic, but Pete brandished his gun, sneering, ¡°Shut up if you don¡¯t want to die.¡± It was time to make use of him. Staring at Annandon filled with fear, Alexander stood up decisively, pressing his Glock 18 to Annandon¡¯s head and pulling him out. ¡°Stop right there, Janet, or I¡¯ll blow this guy¡¯s head off¡­¡± He shouted towards the distance, restraining Annandon tightly. Chapter 33: Symbiosis Alexander''s action left everyone present stunned, practically dropping their jaws. He pointed a gun at Annandon¡¯s head and pushed him forward. Originally moving forward, the Deep One Roland was stopped by Janet with a gesture. ¡°Mr. Alexander, you intend to threaten Annandon and, by extension, me. I¡¯m curious how you could be so foolish!¡± Janet spread his hands: ¡°Did you think such a clumsy tactic would force me to change my mind?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not so sure!¡± Alexander replied firmly, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, we can test it.¡± He pointed his Glock 18 downward and fired a shot at Annandon¡¯s right foot. ¡°Ah!¡± Annandon¡¯s leg buckled as the bullet hit his foot, and he let out a pained scream, dropping to his knees. Janet, who was standing at a distance, wavered in sync, his right leg giving way, veins pulsing on his face as if he were in great pain. ¡°As I suspected, you and Annandon underwent some kind of ritual to escape the Innsmouth curse. But what was the purpose of this ritual, and why did it make Annandon so fearful, suspecting you¡¯d kill him¡­¡± Alexander spoke calmly, ¡°Annandon¡¯s fear itself is problematic. If you intended to kill him, pretending to be insane would be futile. The contradictions in these small details caught my attention. Firstly, you don¡¯t actually want to kill Annandon. In fact, you¡¯re protecting him. Secondly, although Annandon fears you, he has intentionally misled us with his information¡­¡± Alexander was someone who habitually noticed minute changes and derived conclusions from every detail. ¡­The attitudes of Janet and Annandon puzzled him, but he discerned some clues from their behaviors, unsure if his assumptions were correct. He noticed that Janet didn¡¯t wish to harm Annandon, but this wasn¡¯t out of kindness; otherwise, Annandon wouldn¡¯t be so afraid. ¡°This shows that while Janet doesn¡¯t want to harm Annandon, he also doesn¡¯t intend to help him. His protection of Annandon resembles imprisonment more than anything!¡± During his conversation with Annandon, Alexander noticed clearly that Annandon and Janet had escaped the ¡°Innsmouth¡± curse.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. He hypothesized extensively, questioning if such a scenario was possible. Based on Janet¡¯s attitude toward Annandon, perhaps the ritual they performed solved their issues at the cost of creating a bond. This ¡°bond¡± was likely a special state compelling Janet not only to forego harming Annandon but also to protect him. For Annandon, Janet posed a genuine threat, prompting him to flee as much as possible. Annandon¡¯s confession was likely filled with lies, but mingled within were some truths. ¡°Considering the ritual¡¯s properties, the answer is likely this: Janet and Annandon performed a ritual negating hybrid traits. Post-ritual, they share a unique relationship, forcing Janet not only to protect Annandon but ensuring they share harm equally.¡± If one dared to speculate, it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine the reason, especially when Alexander recalled how Carmen was affected when his shadow beast was attacked. This led to the realization of what kind of ¡°relationship¡± this might be. ¡°Mutual symbiosis, exactly. You and Annandon share a symbiotic link, injuring him harms you; if Annandon dies, you would likely die too.¡± Alexander held the gun to Annandon¡¯s head, announcing loudly, ¡°Janet, I¡¯ll continue testing, first by breaking Annandon''s other foot, then his hands, to see how far your symbiosis goes!¡± ¡°Wait!¡± A cold sweat broke out on Janet¡¯s forehead. He frowned deeply and then managed a bitter smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to figure it out, although you¡¯re only half-right. Yes, our ritual involved the ¡®Wretched Twins¡¯ Lloigor and Zhar. As someone versed in the arcane secrets of the gods, Alexander, I¡¯m sure you know their origins.¡± ¡°Arcane secrets of the gods¡± refers to those familiar with the Cthulhu Mythos. In this world, only a few scholars, cultists, or heretics and sorcerers possess the secrets of the Great Old Ones. Thus, Janet showed some appreciation for Alexander¡¯s knowledge of the Cthulhu Mythos. ¡°Yes, they are the spawn of the wind, antagonistic to the water lineage of Cthulhu, seeing each other as enemies. That¡¯s precisely why you received the twins¡¯ blessing and divine favor!¡± Alexander thought for a moment and understood¡ªLloigor and Zhar serve Hastur, the King in Yellow, which naturally puts them at odds with Cthulhu. ¡°Mr. Janet, the circumstances have changed. I hope you¡¯ll be wise. If you meet my conditions, we¡¯ll leave immediately. But first, stop your pets¡¯ actions¡­¡± He threatened Janet, demanding he cease controlling the ¡°Deep One Roland¡± and the ¡°Mutated Shoggoth.¡± ¡°Hand over your magical book! Or don¡¯t blame me for what happens next¡­¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Janet snorted coldly, gesturing for the Deep One Roland and the Mutated Shoggoth to halt, but he didn¡¯t hand over the magic book and chose silence instead. ¡°I¡¯ll give you three minutes to consider, or face the consequences!¡± Alexander inwardly wiped a cold sweat from his brow, honestly admitting he was mostly guessing without full confidence, especially regarding details. ¡°Alright!¡± After about two minutes, Janet slowly spoke, ¡°Handing over the book isn¡¯t impossible, but you must give up Annandon. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have Roland and the Shoggoth attack with full force. I might not survive, but taking you all with me is easily done.¡± His cold voice echoed through the empty building, sending chills down their spines. Meanwhile, Eric had already reached Linda. At that moment, Janet raised his magic book and tossed it toward Alexander. The book fell to the ground, and Spain hurried to pick it up. ¡°Watch out!¡± Xu Lin sensed something wrong and suddenly shouted. Chapter 34: Delusions Before Spain could even touch the magic book, something strange occurred: the book began to bubble, its shape shifting rapidly as countless liquid tentacles erupted from it, some wrapping around Spain''s arm. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Spain cried out as his right hand quickly went numb. ¡°It¡¯s a Shoggoth, a small Shoggoth!¡± Xu Lin and Alexander immediately realized. The magic book in Janet¡¯s hand, ¡°The Confessions of the Mad Monk Crittanus,¡± was actually a small Shoggoth in disguise. It''s said that powerful Shoggoths can alter their form, and surprisingly, they can even mimic objects like books. Meanwhile, the mutated gigantic Shoggoth let out a whistling cry, unleashing countless appendages that spread in all directions, each capable of piercing human flesh with ease. At the same time, the previously motionless Deep One Roland leaped up, swinging his giant axe toward Eric¡¯s head. ¡ªThe situation had suddenly and dramatically shifted, catching everyone off guard! ¡°You fools dare to threaten me!¡± Janet suddenly darted forward with lightning speed, displaying astonishing physical prowess, intervening just as Alexander was about to fire. However, instead of attacking Alexander, he grabbed Annandon by the throat and lifted him up. ¡°You think he¡¯s truly my weakness? What a joke. My cousin, Annandon Williamson, is nothing but a fool in my eyes!¡± Crack! Without giving the terrified Annandon a chance to speak, Janet snapped his neck with a single motion. ¡°Alexander, you foolish idiot, thinking you¡¯d identified my weakness¡ªthis was never a weakness for me.¡± Janet¡¯s face began to change, sprouting scales as he transformed into a Deep One. Simultaneously, his physical abilities surged, much like the Deep One Roland, his body thickening into a powerful frame. ¡°Boom!¡± With a single hand, Janet snapped Annandon¡¯s arm and charged forward to deliver a devastating punch. Alexander felt this punch was beyond human strength. Even though his body had been enhanced by 0.2 times, he knew trying to block it head-on would result in serious injury.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Reacting with his impressive adaptability, he rolled to Janet¡¯s right side, coming into a crouch and ready to fire. This was a tactical maneuver; Alexander felt his body move smoothly and lightly, rolling agilely before firing continuously¡­ Bang, bang, bang! Three shots hit Janet¡¯s right side, but his skin was covered with scales like armor, and he remained unfazed. ¡°Just like Roland? Our bullets can¡¯t hurt them!¡± Alexander felt a deep sense of frustration. Even if he¡¯d foiled the opponent¡¯s scheme, he felt powerless against Janet''s strength. No, I can''t give up so soon. The sacrifices of Jin Jianshu, the elder, Carmen, and others can¡¯t be in vain. ¡°Their deaths cannot be meaningless!¡± ¡°No one should die so brutally and pointlessly in a world without rhyme or reason!¡± ¡°I will reject this existence¡­¡± His eyes burned with a small flame, a spark that might one day ignite into a blaze and consume everything. Janet could feel the fire in Alexander¡¯s heart, a look that made him inherently uncomfortable, hateful, and disgusted. ¡°Die!¡± His body grew larger, his face contorting with ugliness. Yet what was more grotesque than his appearance was his twisted heart, willing to trample anyone, be it family, friends, or innocent people, to fulfill his desires. Janet was now intent on killing him. His fingers sprouted webbing and sharp claws, forming hook-like appendages aimed at Alexander¡¯s head. ¡°Thunk!¡± A flail came swinging through the air, hitting Janet squarely, azure flames bursting with a sizzling noise. It was Xu Lin; in a critical moment, he had thrown the flail over ten meters, striking Janet directly. ¡°You deal with Janet; I¡¯ll handle this¡­¡± Xu Lin rolled up his sleeves and injected himself with more magic potion, quickly unleashing his fragment magic¡ªTurandot. The petrification beam emitted an icy blue glow, spreading outward to continue suppressing the large Shoggoth. ¡°This guy never had the magic book in hand; that means our assumption was wrong. Could it be that he can still cast powerful spells without the book?¡± Alexander¡¯s mind raced, recalling everything that had happened since entering the cave. ¡°No, he¡¯s still using the magic book; it¡¯s just hidden nearby.¡± He quickly surveyed the battlefield, noticing something surprising: Janet always maintained a deliberate distance from the large Shoggoth. ¡°It¡¯s that large Shoggoth; the magic book is hidden inside it. Deep One Roland can move freely, but since appearing, that large Shoggoth has stayed close to Janet¡­¡± The reason was clear: Janet needed to maintain a certain proximity to the magic source to use it effectively. Without a doubt, this was a prime opportunity to take advantage. ¡°Right, the core of that giant Shoggoth is likely the magic book¡­¡± Alexander realized something: perhaps Xu Lin¡¯s petrification beam couldn¡¯t affect the Shoggoth because of the magic book inside. As he considered this, Roland¡¯s axe came crashing down toward Eric. Eric couldn¡¯t help but scream, but the axe slid past his face, cutting through Linda¡¯s chains with precision. ¡°Snap!¡± The chain was severed, and Deep One Roland set down the axe, grabbing Linda¡¯s hands and yanking hard, breaking the handcuffs as well. ¡°Roland, how dare you defy me!¡± Janet screamed furiously, pointing at Roland, who suddenly showed a pained expression, collapsing to one knee. ¡°Do you think you can resist my control? That¡¯s a delusion!¡± Chapter 35: The Finale ¡°No, you can¡¯t control me. Your connection with the book is weakening¡­¡± The Deep One Roland let out a heart-wrenching scream as he fought against the power in his mind, the immense magic of Janet that almost felt like it was churning his brain. The pain was unrelenting, but he held on because he knew Janet''s connection with the "book" was weakening, giving him a rare chance to fight back. With incredible willpower, he endured the agony, and his eyes cleared once more. ¡°Boom!¡± He lifted the heavy axe from the ground and, with a mighty stomp, leaped towards Janet, axe in hand. ¡°How dare you!¡± Janet''s transformation into his Deep One form was complete, matching Roland''s imposing height and build. He caught the descending axe with both hands. ¡°Janet, you bastard, die!¡± The two of them were locked in combat, buying Alexander and the others some time. Xu Lin was fully focused, unleashing a new wave of petrifying light. He aimed to completely petrify the Deep One, but its massive size and some mysterious internal power resisted his fragmentation magic. ¡°Focus all firepower on the Shoggoth¡ªits power comes from the magic book inside. If we take down the Shoggoth, Janet will lose his strength!¡± Alexander shouted, and gunfire erupted from all directions, the crossfire of Spain''s team. Spain was down to one arm, his wrist severed by the small Shoggoth, leaving only a bandaged stump as he continued firing with his remaining hand. Their team had suffered heavy losses¡ªonly four remained, all fighting desperately alongside Xu Lin. ¡­With everyone fighting for their lives, even Xu Lin wasn¡¯t spared from exhaustion. Using fragment magic took a tremendous toll, and even a strategist couldn¡¯t continuously wield such power without rest. He had already used three magic potions, his entire body weary and struggling to support itself. His brain felt like it was constantly contracting and shaking, almost to the point of exploding. Before him, the glowing rune reappeared, like an eye, the deep blue halo forming a powerful radiating force field that completely engulfed the Shoggoth.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°If one attempt isn¡¯t enough, then I¡¯ll use two, casting two ''spells'' simultaneously¡ªcan you withstand this?¡± Alongside the first petrifying beam, Alexander unleashed a second, the deep blue glow strengthening until it nearly devoured the entire Shoggoth in its radiating force field. The Shoggoth¡¯s shell was repeatedly petrified and ¡°thawed,¡± with both sides constantly clashing in a struggle of energy consumption. As Xu Lin pushed his petrification beams to their limits, a flaming flail was thrown from the distance! It was his sacrificial blade, hurled by Alexander from afar. With his strength enhanced by 0.2 times, such a feat was now possible. Still, only Alexander would think to do something like this simultaneously! (Good job, didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be on the same page as me!) Xu Lin internally praised Alexander while immediately spending survival points to activate the enchantment effect of his sacrificial blade. Blue flame erupted, forming a heavy force that impacted the Shoggoth''s petrified shell, creating a penetrating force that shattered much of its body. Even if the petrification field couldn¡¯t immediately subdue the Shoggoth, it turned its shell into a brittle stone; combined with the flail¡¯s force, it shattered what modern firearms couldn¡¯t. ¡ªIndeed, only sacrificial blades could deal absolute damage to such ¡°monsters.¡± With the added effect of the blade¡¯s enchantment, the two combined to unleash maximum power. The Shoggoth''s shell was pierced, with the flail¡¯s massive impact reaching deep inside, setting the magic book ¡°The Confessions of the Mad Monk Crittanus¡± aflame, reducing it to ashes. ¡°No!¡± Janet cried out in agony, as Deep One Roland seized the opportunity to launch a fierce attack. Without the magic book, the Shoggoth couldn¡¯t maintain its size and quickly shrunk, much of its body turning to stone while the remaining portion separated, morphing into a small Shoggoth that desperately tried to escape. Alexander pursued, recognizing the small Shoggoth was at its end, firing repeatedly until it diminished to a black foam and exploded. From the disintegrated shell, a glowing bronze sphere emerged, which upon close inspection bore the face of a ghostly skull. This was a Spectral Ember, a bronze-level ember. Alexander extended his hand, and the ember¡¯s glow suddenly intensified, threads of light streaming into his left-hand Spectral Covenant. He realized the Spectral Covenant contained a special space for storing items, but without activating it with an ember, its functions remain dormant. ¡°Another Spectral Ember acquired!¡± This ember was his own acquisition, not one given by Xu Lin, holding significant personal meaning for Alexander! Meanwhile, Deep One Roland and Janet''s battle neared its conclusion. Ultimately, Roland, armed with a weapon, had the upper hand. He swung the axe powerfully, knocking Janet down, his body sprawling on the ground. ¡°Perish!¡± For this villain, Deep One Roland had nothing more to say. With a decisive blow, Janet¡¯s head was severed, rolling twice on the ground before the headless body became still. ¡°Main storyline completed. Transmission will begin in one hour!¡± Pinocchio¡¯s voice echoed from the Spectral Realm, signaling the end of the script. The group, long under intense pressure, finally had a moment to catch their breath. But then, with a loud bang, the entire building shook with an explosion. This was only the beginning, as the ceiling began to collapse amidst continuing blasts. Everyone began to scatter, fleeing as the building erupted into flames and neared total destruction. ¡°FUCK, bombers dropping bombs overhead¡ªthey¡¯re planning to destroy this place¡­¡± Spain recognized the familiar roar of approaching bombers. ¡°We need to leave immediately. It seems the U.S. government intends to eliminate this town for various reasons,¡± Xu Lin adjusted his glasses, deducing the obvious cause. Chapter 36: Decision "To the dock!" Alexander moved swiftly without hesitation, first retrieving the box from Linda''s hands. "This dangerous thing will be handled by us." Alexander took back the box, and Xu Lin gave him a meaningful look. The group quickly retraced their steps, using the ventilation shaft to enter the sewers. "The original paths have collapsed; there¡¯s no way back. We can only slip through the flood discharge opening to get to the dock..." Pete and the others suggested this, and they had no choice but to continue forward, planning to escape through the sewer outlet. At that moment, a huge stone block fell from above, and suddenly, Deep One Roland shouted, blocking the massive rock. "You... go quickly, I can''t hold it for long!" Deep One Roland struggled to support the boulder, and everyone could see he was having a hard time. "Roland, I won¡¯t leave..." Linda cried, insisting on staying. Pete sighed, quickly knocking Linda out with a blow. "Sorry for knocking her out. We¡¯ll get her out safely..." Deep One Roland didn¡¯t say much, giving the group a solemn look, nodding for them to leave quickly. In this life-or-death moment, there was no time for sentiment. The group hurried away, hearing a huge collapse behind them. Without stopping, they escaped from the crumbling sewers and eventually found a fishing boat at the dock that could take them out to sea. ... On the boat, Xu Lin fiddled with the Lament Configuration, glancing at Alexander with a peculiar smile. "What were you doing?" "I gave the Nemesis tape to Pete and the others and instructed them to be cautious and never to try listening to it..." The celestial sounds on the Nemesis tape weren¡¯t meant for human ears; they were like an apocalyptic siren wailing a destructive symphony from the evil gods. "Heh, when did you switch it and produce a fake? No, rather, where did you get the fake tape!"Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Xu Lin pushed his glasses back up his nose. "Of course, I figured you¡¯d notice. I took it from an old car¡¯s radio. I suspect the Nemesis tape has a special use, so I couldn¡¯t help but swap it." Alexander shrugged. The Nemesis tape was a world-destroying item; he had his reasons for keeping it and not handing it to Spain or Pete. "Can items from this world be taken into the Spectral Realm?" Alexander''s thoughts were prompted by the existence of the Lament Configuration. "Yes, but each strategist is strictly limited to carrying one special item related to the storyline¡ªothers can be stored in the Covenant space if they fit." Xu Lin crossed his arms, speaking softly: "And remember, all items are weakened upon entering the Spectral Realm, and their use might be limited in other worlds. Don¡¯t overestimate their significance." "For example, my Lament Configuration, which originally opened the gates of hell to summon Cenobites, has become a resurrection tool in this script world." "Moreover, many items can be sold to the Spectral Realm. Your tape won¡¯t be very useful later; trading it for a significant amount of survival points would be more practical." He offered his advice readily. "You could ask Carmen about the details when you return to the Spectral Realm. He knows more about it than I do." "What do you mean by that?" Alexander felt uneasy. "Nothing, I just hate owing people favors, especially several times over." Xu Lin summoned his sacrificial blade, handing the flail to Alexander. "Soon, I¡¯ll open the Lament Configuration to summon Carmen back; then you''ll help me smash the box, ending this cursed cycle..." "Wait, if you do that, what will happen to you?" "I¡¯m 80% sure that when the box is broken, I¡¯ll disappear with it and won¡¯t return to that world to be tormented by the Cenobites." He lifted part of the bandages covering his severely burned and tortured body. "On the other hand, Carmen could return alive, no longer suffering in that world." "I can¡¯t do that!" Alexander shook his head. "You will, because that¡¯s who you are." Xu Lin looked directly into his eyes. "You¡¯re more suited to this script world than Carmen or I. Maybe you¡¯ll have a chance to earn enough survival points to leave this world truly." Leaving the Spectral Realm required 100,000 survival points! Xu Lin''s words revealed an important piece of information. "This is just some of what we know about the Spectral Realm. It holds many mysteries waiting for people to explore and solve..." He didn¡¯t elaborate, simply adjusting the Lament Configuration into position and vanishing from Alexander''s sight. But his final words echoed in Alexander''s ears. "Of course, you could do nothing. The sacrificial blade capable of destroying the box will only last a few more seconds after I disappear. Once Carmen revives, this vicious cycle will continue¡ªyou decide!" Alexander closed his eyes, raising the flail left by Xu Lin. "Crash!" He smashed the Lament Configuration, and as it broke, the flail in his hands vanished too, as if it never existed. Simultaneously, Pinocchio''s voice resounded in his mind. "Transmission commencing..." In the next moment, he realized his legs were disappearing¡ªthe transmission had begun! ... As Alexander left this world, in a secret meeting room on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., thousands of miles away from Massachusetts, A tall, slender black man stood with his hands on a large circular conference table. Behind him was a massive 3D projection map. "Gentlemen, the terrorist biochemical attack has erupted in the town of Innsmouth, Massachusetts, affecting several nearby towns. This is war, an act of aggression against our nation, aimed at the Federation. I urge you to cast your crucial vote for Plan B..." Chapter 37: Bitter Return The passionate voice of the Black man echoed as he delivered his speech. "You must understand, this is unequivocally an act of terrorism, an assault on the freedom and democracy of our federation. Who can tolerate such acts? We have identified the roots of these wicked people as originating from that malevolent nation which has been shielded all along." Behind him, a holographic map displayed a small nation deemed the source of evil by the federation. "In order to uphold justice and protect our citizens, I believe this plan is necessary." The Black man snapped his fingers, and a series of videos and recordings appeared on the holographic map. "These evildoers have begun developing nuclear weapons. Very soon, they will possess the power to threaten us. We cannot delay; we must preemptively strike..." "Wait, Mr. President, implementing Plan B will cause an international upheaval, and other countries will scrutinize this plan critically." An elder with graying hair sighed heavily, "This is no trivial matter; I hope you consider it carefully." "We cannot wait. While we hesitate, our enemies are already enacting their heinous deeds. They will swiftly destroy our cities and unleash biochemical weapons on our citizens. This is intolerable to Washington." The Black man shook his head. "I, like you, abhor war, yet this is a necessary evil, a righteous act to prevent a greater catastrophe. Remember the first and second atomic bombs in history¡ªthey killed over a hundred thousand people, yet ended a war that cost that country 2.1 million lives. We are not starting a war; we are creating peace, wielding the hammer of justice to spare countless innocent lives." ... Dizziness overwhelmed Alexander as he awoke from the script world to find himself back in the vast hospital ward of the Necrospace. Beside him lay Eric, the middle school student, with the flickering static of the TV mountain not far away. Before them, something even more bizarre unfolded¡ªa skeleton mysteriously appeared, seated and still showing signs of activity. Flesh then began to regrow on the bones, organs writhing into place from within the cavity. In less than a minute, the skeleton became a complete human form.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Carmen, having experienced death, had returned to Necrospace once more. This was his fifth consecutive survival from the script world. Resurrected, Carmen immediately lunged at Alexander, lifting him up. "What about Yulin? What did you all do?" "He sacrificed himself, breaking the cycle of the Lermontov box to save you from that world," Alexander sighed. "He said he hated owing his life to others, so he''d repay you with his life." "Why didn''t you stop him?" Carmen''s eyes were bloodshot with anger. Alexander shook off Carmen''s grip and glared back. "Do you think I could have stopped him? Once someone like him makes a decision, it can''t be obstructed. He even forced me to destroy the Lermontov box to prevent you from sacrificing yourself to summon him back..." Hearing Alexander''s words, Carmen slumped to the ground in defeat. The TV mountain screens flickered, revealing Pinocchio''s face once more. "Congratulations, you three have returned alive to the Evil Spirit Space. However, delightful lives will continue. Now, let''s announce your points. Unfortunately, all of you surpassed 300 points; I expected someone to be eliminated, how disappointing." "Shut up!" Alexander crossed his arms, speaking coldly. Pinocchio''s attitude was grating; it was frustrating to hear. "Don¡¯t be so angry; it¡¯s just a joke. First, Alexander: completed the standard main quest, 200 points; nightmare main quest, 400 points; side quest, 500 points; death flag evasion, 300 points; defeated a dangerous entity, 600 points, totaling 2000 survival points." "Only 2000 points, that¡¯s shockingly low!" Alexander shook his head, realizing Yulin''s kill had been counted toward his own total. "Next, Carmen: completed the standard main quest, 200 points; nightmare main quest, 400 points; personal side quest ''Reunite with Team,'' 500 points, totaling 1100 survival points." Carmen remained still, head drooped, indifferent to Pinocchio''s words. Yulin''s death had clearly hit him hard. "If not for unforeseen circumstances, Carmen would have earned more points. Fortunately, veteran players like him usually have deep resources..." Alexander sighed, seeing Carmen''s distress from Yulin''s loss. "Lastly, Eric..." Pinocchio smirked, pausing dramatically while the middle school student Eric swallowed hard, waiting tensely for his results. "Completed one main quest, 200 points; nightmare main quest, 400 points; protected Yulin through the fourth act, 100 points; death flag evasion, 300 points, totaling 1000 points." Eric breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like the biggest winner for surviving and earning 1000 points. "Pinocchio, I have a tape from the script world. Can it be exchanged for survival points?" Alexander asked, holding the "Nemesis Tape" from the script world. "Yes, the Nemesis Tape can be exchanged for 1000 survival points. Would you like to redeem it?" Surprisingly high! Alexander considered the low survival points provided through the main and side quests in Evil Spirit Space, likely due to the standard difficulty of the script. However, killing dangerous entities and retrieving script items offered substantial rewards. Was Evil Spirit Space implying that risks bring great rewards? Alexander smirked coldly. "After your first script mission ends, you have a three-month rest period in the real world. A kind reminder: revealing any information about Evil Spirit Space will lead to immediate execution." Pinocchio chuckled sinisterly. "But before you leave, Evil Spirit Space will provide some beginner benefits." Chapter 38: Free Market Shop Alexander''s heart skipped a beat; he knew the real benefits were about to be unveiled. "You can choose between two power systems to enhance your chances of survival in the script space," Pinocchio announced. "The first is the Sacrificial Blade. By sacrificing an item, you can obtain a ''Sacrificial Blade'' produced by the Evil Spirit Space. The second is the Shadow Beast. By sacrificing your shadow, you can nurture a ''Shadow Beast.'' It will be your shadow, your guardian, and your sword." "What are the advantages and disadvantages of these two systems?" Alexander inquired, seeking to confirm what he''d heard from Yulin and Carmen. ¡°Well, the Sacrificial Blade is quite powerful, with each blade having an enchantment effect that can greatly amplify its power. The Shadow Beast is your shadow transformed into a beast, drawing strength from your own body, making it extremely powerful. However, any damage it takes also affects your physical body,¡± Pinocchio explained. "So, the Shadow Beast seems more powerful!" Eric mused aloud. "Let me add something," Carmen interjected, standing up, his leg fully restored after reincarnation. In the Evil Spirit Space, any injury, as long as you still breathe, can be healed. Despite his recovery, Carmen appeared visibly weary. "While the Shadow Beast is indeed powerful, its drawbacks are significant. Not only does any damage it sustains transfer back to you, but if it gets killed, you will die as well." "What?" Alexander''s face fell, concern etched across it. "In this Evil Spirit Space," Pinocchio continued coldly, "all power acquisition methods require an equivalent exchange, or, you might call it¡ªThe Law of Balance!" "You want power, you must pay the price and take the risk, isn''t that only natural?" The trio lapsed into silence, until Alexander finally spoke. "I understand. But what is the cost for the Sacrificial Blade?" "In essence, the blade itself is the price. You know, Yulin sacrificed something of great personal cost for his Sacrificial Blade." Carmen informed them that Yulin had sacrificed part of his skull to create that weapon. "His own skull?" Alexander and Eric exchanged a look, rendered speechless. "But I would still recommend choosing the Sacrificial Blade. The Shadow Beast is exceedingly costly to maintain. Besides these two choices, there''s another benefit for newcomers¡ªa Fragmented Magic. It doesn''t cost points, but magic potions are 180 points each. If you choose the Shadow Beast, your costs will double..." Carmen explained quietly. "By the time you enter the script world again in three months, without sufficient survival points, you''ll be at a severe disadvantage."If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "That makes sense," Alexander mused. "Given that, Eric, you go for the Shadow Beast, and I¡¯ll choose the Sacrificial Blade," Alexander decided. "Wait!" Both Carmen and Eric expressed surprise. "It''s okay. Don''t forget we''re a team. Evil Spirit Space tasks us with earning 100,000 points to escape, but alone, that''s impossible. It''s a team mission¡ªwe must cooperate closely to achieve this." Alexander had decided. "Eric, with the Shadow Beast, you''ll be stronger and survive longer in the scripts. If your points run low, I''ll lend you some in the script world. The same goes for you, Carmen. I''ll exchange the tape for survival points, that¡¯s an additional 1,000 points. I''ll give each of you 500 for emergencies..." "Are you sure about this?" Carmen asked skeptically. "Absolutely. To survive, one person''s power isn''t enough. Only by banding together can we hope to succeed." Alexander resumed his inquiry with Pinocchio about the other newcomer benefit¡ªFragmented Magic. "Fragmented Magic is a magical sigil that must be implanted in your heart. The ritual is random, and each person¡¯s heart can only host one Fragmented Magic. The first implantation is free, but if you want to change it later, you''ll have to buy another from the free market." "You indeed can purchase ''magic'' from the free shop, but each seal costs over two thousand survival points¡ªaffordable for few," Carmen noted wryly. "However, the free shop does host some useful gear and special cards. You can explore and see for yourself. Pinocchio, open the free shop, please." Following Carmen''s request, the scene in the hall shifted as if fast-forwarded through various settings. They stood still as the surroundings morphed from a hospital ward into a factory workshop, an office, a garage, a large supermarket, a caf¨¦, a restaurant, a library, and a warehouse, continuously transforming until finally settling into a large shop. "Wow, this is possible?" Eric''s mouth dropped open, while Alexander''s expression twitched, both equally stunned. "The origins of Evil Spirit Space are indeed mysterious and wondrous. What you see now is just a small facet," Carmen, a seasoned veteran, explained. "This is the Free Shop. It offers a vast selection of items for you to choose from." Rows of shelves automatically moved toward them, displaying various goods. ¡°Cursive Card: Universal Speech. ¨C To prevent humanity from constructing a tower to heaven, God confounded their speech, scattering them across the earth. Before this, humanity spoke a universal language. This card grants knowledge of all known and unknown human languages.¡± Alexander picked up a card labeled as a skill-type card, priced at 10 survival points. "This is incredible. If it''s true, it''s like a universal translator." Such a card seemed essential, and Alexander resolved to buy several, considering they would re-enter the script world in three months. These could prove invaluable. Although proficient in English, linguistic barriers in countries with less common languages could pose serious challenges. Apart from this card, he found many other types: ...Cursive Card: Dim Vision, granting some degree of night vision. Costs 20 survival points. ...Cursive Card: Basic Riding, instantly granting skills for various modes of transportation, modern included. Costs 20 survival points. ...Cursive Card: Enhanced Physique, increasing physical strength by 20% for 30 minutes, single-use. Costs 30 survival points. Chapter 39: Return to Reality Alexander''s heart chilled at the sight of the green cards, knowing they were not skill cards but special ones meant for use in the real world. The green spell cards were generally more powerful than their yellow counterparts, boasting strong abilities but confined to real-world application. "Is this a deliberate design by the Evil Spirit Space? Perhaps they fear the power of these items might disrupt the difficulty of the script worlds..." he pondered. The fact that these green cards could be used in the real world gave him a worrying thought. "Wow, this invisibility card can be used in real life. That''s amazing," Eric exclaimed, astonished at his discovery. "Is it necessary? This invisibility card costs just 100 points¡ªcheap and efficient. With it, you can become invisible in the real world, do whatever you want, and no one will ever find you," Pinocchio''s face appeared on a television suspended from the ceiling of the free shop. He chuckled, "Even if you get into trouble, we have cleansing cards to wipe away any record, allowing you to leave the police station easily." "Alright, put it back," Carmen intervened, taking the card from Eric''s hand. "These green spell cards are very expensive, and our survival points are limited. Spending them here could make surviving the next script world much harder." "Oh, I understand," Eric replied, putting the card back, his thoughts more innocent and straightforward. "The money card could be useful¡ªexchange some for it," Alexander suggested, supporting Carmen''s practical idea. Eric looked confused until Carmen elaborated. "Indeed, Eric, no one can ensure they survive every script world. It¡¯s prudent to use money cards to prepare for your family..." Eric paused for a moment, contemplating, before lowering his head in thought. "Pinocchio, exchange the tape for points and give me four money cards," Alexander decided. Each money card cost 50 points for $100,000, totaling 200 points for $400,000 USD. Given the current exchange rate, that equaled roughly 2.47 million RMB, which would cover his needs. ...to prepare for the worst. "No problem," Pinocchio promptly responded. After choosing the four money cards, Alexander refrained from spending more on the green cards. Instead, he picked several "Universal Speech" cards, spent 30 points on an M1911 pistol and nearly a hundred rounds of ammunition, along with pain relief candy and some medical supplies, totaling another 200 points. Including the money cards, he spent a total of 400 points.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. "The items in the free shop are expensive. I need to save the rest for mana potions!" Mana potions were vital, each costing a hefty 180 points, but could become potent weapons with a strong fragmented magic. With the tape exchanged, Alexander had 3,000 points. After spending 400, he had 2,600 left. He planned to give 1,000 points to Carmen and Eric, as they were core members of their team. He would be left with 1,600 points himself, earmarking 540 for three mana potions, leaving a reserve of 1,060 points. Looking at the array of tempting items, Alexander felt a pang of reluctance. "Alexander, you still have my Evil Spirit Seed. Could you return it to me?" Carmen requested. "Of course." Alexander had no intention of keeping a teammate''s item. Carmen took his two remaining Evil Spirit Seeds and immediately handed one to Eric. "Use this to unlock your Evil Spirit Contract. It has many functions, including internal storage space for carrying items." "Thank you," Eric replied gratefully. "Alexander, the Evil Spirit Seeds have special uses. Once you''ve chosen your items, get ready to select your power system. To survive in this harsh world, we need to strengthen ourselves," Carmen advised. He then waved and vanished from the free shop, returning to the real world. "Eric, it''s our turn to make our choices," Alexander stood, resolutely prepared to choose the Sacrificial Blade. ... His vision cleared, and Alexander found himself lying in a garbage pile, surrounded by bins in a dim alleyway. His entire body ached¡ªa result of the "sacrifice" and "modification" procedures he had undergone. To obtain the Sacrificial Blade, Alexander had offered part of his body, much like Yulin, with his heart also being modified. He felt the mechanical rhythm of his heart, now transformed into a book brimming with gears, embodying a steampunk aesthetic. Clutching his chest, Alexander recalled the nightmare-like ordeal. Dragged into a surgery room alone, he was restrained on the table by tall, shadowy figures whispering before they proceeded to dissect him. Though he wasn''t anesthetized, he felt no pain, as though some power had robbed him of sensation. The faceless, lanky shadows worked on his heart and body with brutal precision, ultimately extracting a piece of his anatomy and fully transforming his heart. Despite gaining significant power, the experience was harrowing, akin to surviving a nightmare! He wondered if Eric had faced similar misfortune or if choosing the Shadow Beast spared him such anguish. Struggling up, Alexander felt an inexplicable pain in his chest that hadn¡¯t been present during the surgery. It was only now returning. Checking himself, he realized he wore the same clothes from before the accident¡ªa reminder that none of this was a dream, confirmed by the Evil Spirit Contract on the back of his hand. The sky had already darkened; his phone showed it was around ten at night. "The time is still the same day. I vanished for about four hours," Alexander noted. He had disappeared during the accident on his way home. According to Carmen¡¯s earlier briefings, upon returning to the real world, everything would be reset as if he had vanished from the crash site. No one would remember the incident. Chapter 40: The Secret Room Alexander boarded the last bus of the night, pulling out his phone to check the news. As Carmen had said, there was no trace of the accident, as if it had been just a figment of his imagination. The bus ride took about half an hour before he arrived at the Anping community, where he had lived for decades. Climbing the stairs to his apartment, Alexander retrieved his keys. As he opened the door, a sliver of light escaping from the inside made him cautious. "A burglar?" No one lived here besides him, especially not at this hour. Who could it possibly be? Still on edge from his recent return from the Evil Spirit Space, Alexander stealthily pushed open the door, a short dagger silently slipping into his hand from his sleeve¡ªhis Sacrificial Blade. He crept inside, moving quietly in the dimly lit 92-square-meter apartment, heading towards the light source. "If it''s two people, there''d be more noise. This ''burglar'' is likely alone, though the unbroken lock is odd..." His enhanced physical abilities gave Alexander confidence in subduing an intruder, especially if they were alone. Silently, he slipped into his kitchen and found the "burglar''s" true identity: a petite girl in a beige jumper dress. "Xiaoru, what are you doing here?" The girl, Xiaoru, jumped, startled by his voice. She was about eighteen or nineteen, her demeanor was like a small animal¡ªpsychologically younger than her appearance suggested. ¡ªNo wonder that person asked Alexander to take good care of her. "Brother Feather, I''m sorry. I wanted to call you but couldn''t get through..." Whenever Xiaoru was near Alexander, her face would flush red, and her behavior would become erratic. "It''s fine. You''re... making soup." Alexander was puzzled, not expecting Xiaoru to be cooking. She had always seemed to lack basic life skills. Xiaoru blushed deeper, her hands clasped behind her back and her toes slightly raising. "I just made a bit more, Brother Feather, you can have it as a late-night snack." "Thank you, Xiaoru." Alexander felt slightly embarrassed. "You just moved nearby, and I haven''t found time to look after you, yet you¡¯re taking care of me. This won¡¯t look good when I report to our senior..."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. "No need, no need, I know Brother Feather, you are busy with work, so it''s okay..." Flustered by his praise, Xiaoru''s face reddened further, nearly biting her tongue as she spoke. She habitually crossed her arms nervously, revealing a bandaged hand that she quickly hid. "I''ll leave you to it then." Seeing Alexander''s lack of reaction to the bandage, she nervously bid farewell and hurried out. "Wait, Xiaoru." Alexander suddenly stopped her. "Did you clean around the house?" "Yes, I''m sorry, Brother Feather, I acted without asking." "It''s fine, but you didn''t enter that locked room, did you?" Alexander asked casually. "No, it was locked, so I didn''t go in." "Okay, no worries. Do you need me to walk you home?" The girl-next-door demeanor on Xiaoru''s face turned even redder. If there were sound effects, it would be like a steam engine. "No, no, I can go by myself." She scampered out, footsteps light and quick down the stairwell. Alexander chuckled wryly, closing the gas and setting the soup on the table. However, his expression soon darkened. "Didn''t enter, huh?" He moved past the dining area to a small, inconspicuous room. Using a special key, he unlocked the black door. This room was one of his secrets. Alexander entered, locking the door behind him, switching on the light. The dim old-fashioned chandelier cast uneven light across the room. All the wallpaper had been stripped, and the walls were covered with various photos. Most were gruesome crime scene photos¡ªbackgrounds, murder weapons, and victims'' bodies. There were also black-and-white photographs, and yellowed newspaper clippings pinned to the walls. To the right was a large blackboard with a map, pinned with colored thumbtacks, each marking a crime scene with accompanying photos. On the opposite side was a bookshelf stuffed with files, containing reports on various cases¡ªsome belonged to Alexander''s foster father, the rest accumulated over the years. The sources were varied: some collected through conventional means, others from hacking police databases, and a few from illicit methods. A table overflowed with dossiers. As he opened his laptop and flipped through a thick file, book-marked in several places, he reviewed the contents as he did nightly before exhaustion took over, and he fell asleep at his desk. The next morning, he was awakened by his phone''s alarm. "Damn, it''s Sunday..." He regretted setting the alarm, wishing he could sleep in. Fatigue from the script world had drained him, especially in that Cthulhu-like environment, where even resting felt like torment. Back in the real world, he yearned to relax and relieve his strained nerves. Since he was awake, Alexander decided not to go back to sleep. He picked up his phone and called his best friend, Ran Xiuheng. The line quickly connected, and a lazy, magnetic male voice came through. "Who¡¯s the idiot calling me this early..." "It''s me." Alexander saw no need to introduce himself; they were close enough to recognize each other''s voices instantly. "Oh, it''s Han Shao. What''s up?" The voice sounded freshly awake, accompanied by feminine murmurs¡ªa sign his friend had been indulging in nightlife. "You jerk, you gave my keys to Xiaoru, didn¡¯t you?" "How was your night life yesterday?" "Shut up." "You mean you didn''t make a move? Are you even a man?" "My masculinity doesn''t need to be proven through breeding activities. A DNA test can confirm it, so save your concern, you stud." "A gentleman like me, called a stud pig? The city''s fair maidens would weep." "Eat, sleep, repeat, and piston motions in between. What else would you call it?" "At least a stallion, not a pig!" "You do realize pigs are smarter than horses, right?" Their banter continued in this vein, a typical exchange between them. "If you have time, I¡¯d like to meet. I¡¯ve got something to discuss." "Sure," Xiuheng agreed without hesitation. Chapter 41: Return to the Ghostly Realm About half an hour later, Shang Xiuheng arrived at the foot of Alexander''s building in a police car. "Han Shao, whatever you need, just say the word." "You drove a police car here on a Sunday?" Alexander sighed, feeling a headache coming on. "Using the work car doesn''t cost me fuel," Shang Xiuheng replied with a smug grin. "Misusing public property, don''t get reported," Alexander warned. "Don''t worry, I''ll take responsibility myself." Always the smooth talker, Shang Xiuheng''s rise to the police force had surprised his classmates, and his swift promotions in the criminal investigation department were even more shocking. "To Baxialing Park." "That far and secluded? What do you have planned?" he asked, crossing his arms with a mock fearful expression. "Less talk, just drive," Alexander couldn''t be bothered to explain. They drove to the outskirts, with Alexander sipping canned coffee to stay alert, finding a particularly secluded spot. He retrieved an M1911 pistol, and to Shang Xiuheng''s amazement, attached a silencer to it. "I want to practice shooting. That''s why I asked you to come," Alexander explained as he loaded bullets into the M1911''s magazine. "Are you planning a murder spree or setting something on fire?" Shang Xiuheng joked, but with a trace of unease. "Enough joking. I need you to teach me combat techniques and how to handle weapons. But you can''t ask me why. I can''t reveal anything." "It''s not illegal, is it?" "Certainly not." "And you''re not going to tell me more..." "No questions. If I''m not saying, there''s a reason," Alexander gave him a meaningful look. "You''ve competed in several shooting championships, won two, learned martial arts since childhood, and recently started MMA. Your skills are not lacking, which is why I want to learn from you." With only three months, Alexander couldn''t afford to waste time. He needed someone to teach him quickly and effectively, improving his combat readiness. "You really know how to make trouble," Shang Xiuheng said, scratching his chin, but didn''t press for details.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "In three months, I need to develop a meaningful level of combat proficiency." "That''s a tall order. Three months isn''t much time," Shang Xiuheng shook his head, sighing. "I know your stubborn nature. You won''t tell me, and I won''t ask. But just remember not to do anything illegal. I can''t cover for you." "Don''t worry." Alexander smiled, patting his friend''s shoulder. Xiuheng''s willingness to help proved their friendship was well-founded. "I''ll create a comprehensive training plan for you. You''ll need lots of equipment. Get ready, because this coach won''t go easy on you," Shang Xiuheng grabbed the M1911, glancing at Alexander. "You can''t practice shooting here; it''s too risky. I''ll find you a better spot." Alexander could only respond with a wry smile. ... Carmen sat, covered in blood, beneath a massive locust tree; in the distance, flames engulfed a private villa. The blood wasn''t his own. With the power he had harnessed from the Evil Spirit Space, he was a force no ordinary person could withstand. "Xiaoyu, Ah Ye, I''ve avenged you by taking down those beasts. Soon, I''ll join you." Quietly, he lit a cigarette, sitting silently under the desolate night sky. ... Alexander''s days turned routine, almost mundane, yet occupied. By day, he worked at the forensic laboratory. In his spare time, he focused intensely on training¡ªshooting, practicing combat techniques, learning to use equipment, and engaging in extensive basic training. Shang Xiuheng found him an abandoned factory for shooting practice¡ªspacious, empty, and isolated, equipped with makeshift gear like barbells and sandbags. "My dad invested in this project, but it tanked. At least we secured the land. It might turn into a mall someday, but for now, it''s perfect for your needs." Shang Xiuheng''s father was one of the wealthiest in the city, with a heritage rooted in overseas Chinese connections, many relatives still abroad. Xiuheng, the "capricious" wealthy kid, had no interest in family business, opting instead for the police force¡ªa move that stunned many. However, three months was a short time. Generally, it wouldn''t suffice to learn much, yet the Evil Spirit Seed boosted Alexander''s physical capacity by 0.2 times, allowing him to endure rigorous training. Though not massively accomplished, the progress was better than nothing. During these three months, he arranged his affairs. He transferred funds from the money cards directly via banking (peculiarly, the cards functioned like credit cards). The 2.47 million RMB was split into two accounts: one for his foster father''s savings, the other for his uncle and aunt who had cared for him¡ªthey were his foster father''s older brother and wife, a childless couple living on modest pensions. Orphaned early, Alexander had a reclusive nature, few friends beyond close ones like Shang Xiuheng. His existence was largely solitary. "Pity, I still can''t clear my dad''s name." Sitting at home, Alexander reviewed the Evil Spirit Space interface, noting the precise timing for the next entry. "Tent, sleeping bag, backpack, canned food, headlamp, canteen, magnesium rod, windproof matches, flashlight, compass, water purifier, sleeping bag, insect repellent, antidiarrheal medicine, iodine, band-aids, climbing rope, plus hook rods and fishing line¡ªthese filled the internal spaces." The Evil Spirit Space''s internal storage was limited to small cabinet-sized compartments. Recently, he¡¯d read some infinite-genre novels where characters had large storage rings or space backpacks¡ªhis current capacity paled in comparison. "I wonder if this Evil Spirit Contract can upgrade. If the space expanded, I could carry more." As he idly pondered in these final waiting moments, a beam of light materialized before him, forming a radiant portal. "It''s here." He felt no fear; instead, anticipation thrilled him, as if born with a spirit to seek adventure and excitement. No, his heart had long been replaced by cold gears and an enigmatic "fragmented" tome. With a cold, confident smile, Alexander stepped firmly into the portal of light. Chapter 42: Rib Blade As Alexander stepped through the portal of light, he found himself in the familiar hospital ward hall. He noticed that Carmen and Eric had arrived before him. Eric, in particular, was waving at him. "Good to see you here!" Carmen, looking more unkempt than ever, seemed even more worn down. "Yeah," Alexander nodded to both of them and asked, "Do we have new companions for this mission?" "Newcomers don''t arrive so quickly," Carmen explained. The ward had an emergency light that, once illuminated, indicated that the new "patients" had arrived downstairs. Without intervention from the veterans, these newcomers were unlikely to survive their first encounter. "Are the monsters in the lower ward very powerful?" Alexander inquired, knowing that both Yulin and Carmen were quite capable¡ªthat even they couldn¡¯t always rescue the newcomers was concerning. "They''re dangerous, but your Sacrificial Blade should be able to fend them off, though not kill them. It¡¯s basically a trial for the newcomers." "I see, that makes sense," Alexander nodded in understanding. "Alexander, what''s your Sacrificial Blade and Fragmented Magic like? If it¡¯s convenient, could you tell us in advance? That way, we can allocate tasks after entering the script world." "Sure," Alexander replied. With a gesture, he summoned his Sacrificial Blade from the void¡ªthree gleaming short daggers. "These were forged from three of my ribs and take the form of short blades. They''re exceptionally sharp, almost unbreakable." He held the blades between his fingers, showing them to Carmen and Eric. The blades were slender, nearly transparent, and extraordinarily sharp. Alexander had seen the legendary Iron Dagger from "The Deer and the Cauldron" slice through iron like mud; his daggers were similarly formidable. Once, he accidentally dropped one, and it cut straight into the floor as if it were butter. His old house, built in the last century, was not a shoddy construction, with solid cement floors, but the dagger pierced it effortlessly. The daggers were just under seven inches long, lacking guards, with a Gothic design¡ªcold and eerie, etched with Latin inscriptions that read: "God created man from a rib, I forge blades from the same." Seeing these daggers, Carmen and Eric looked contemplative. "So this is a Sacrificial Blade, not quite what I imagined," Eric scratched his head, unsure of what to say.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. "True, since they appear as daggers or short blades, they might not seem impressive. But ultimately, a weapon''s power lies with its wielder." Alexander didn''t elaborate further. His daggers indeed seemed less formidable than Yulin''s chain hammer, but he had chosen bones from his rib cage for a reason. Yulin had warned him that the Sacrificial Blade came with a cost, but compared to the Shadow Beast, which could lead to the user''s death if killed, the Sacrificial Blade seemed to have no inherent drawback. If Yulin''s warning was accurate, any issues with the Sacrificial Blade would likely relate to the part of himself he sacrificed. Therefore, Alexander chose ribs¡ªsince biologically, people can function normally without a few ribs, ensuring no impact on his health. That''s why Alexander used his ribs to craft his Sacrificial Blade. As Alexander stored his blades away, the emergency light flickered red, indicating that newcomers had arrived downstairs. "Alexander, you head down the left staircase, I''ll take the right. Eric, stay here to assist us¡­" Carmen spoke with familiarity, then sprinted towards the right stairwell. Alexander, knowing time was of the essence, also dashed down the left stairwell. His months of training had significantly enhanced his physical abilities, allowing him to sprint effortlessly down the stairs. He moved swiftly and gracefully, like a darting swallow, his pace quickening. Upon entering the hallway, he immediately heard a woman scream. "Head towards the sound¡ªthat''s where I''ll find them." This floor was larger than the upper one, with numerous corridors and twists. Alexander moved quickly, heading toward the source of the scream. The scream was closer to him than to Carmen, suggesting he''d reach the newcomers first. Moving swiftly, he found a man and a woman in blue hospital gowns rushing past him in panic. "Run behind me, head back upstairs. Avoid the shadows; seek out lit areas." Alexander merely pointed the way, stepping aside. He needed to save more newcomers. After they dashed past, Alexander continued toward the scream, soon encountering a bloody corpse and a creature feasting upon it. In that moment, he drew two pistols: an M1911 and a Glock 18, one brought from the script world and the other purchased at the free shop, along with 6,000 rounds of ammunition. Bang, bang, bang¡ªhe fired relentlessly, causing the creature to stagger but not die. "Trouble, how do I deal with them?" Alexander found it vexing. Just then, unexpectedly, the creature growled lowly and leapt to the ceiling, retreating swiftly. "It ran away in fear, good!" He sighed in relief, holstering his pistols, and proceeded down the corridor, where he found another newcomer. This was a woman, quite attractive, with wavy hair hanging over her shoulders. She sat pale and terrified on the floor, seemingly frozen. "Get up." Alexander understood talking wouldn''t help; he pointed a gun at her directly. "Don''t, don''t shoot, don''t kill me," the woman shakily stood, trembling. "Still afraid? Good. Run behind me, avoid the shadows, head upstairs. The light is your exit." He gestured with his gun, letting the frightened woman pass. Then, a young man with golden glasses, looking hesitant, peeked from a doorway. "Excuse me¡­" "No time for explanations, head upstairs now. I''ll explain later¡­" Alexander instructed the man. As he spoke, shadows emerged from the dark corridor. "They''re coming, wait, how are there so many?" He glanced over, realizing the "monsters" had returned stronger. The one he''d shot at earlier came back with five or six companions. "Damn, they''ve brought reinforcements." Alexander found it both amusing and frustrating. The creature hadn''t fled in fear but had gone to gather more. Chapter 43: Newcomers and Weapons Facing at least six monsters, Alexander did what any sensible person would do¡ªhe ran. Even with all the potential power in his arsenal, these creatures could easily rip him apart. Using his Sacrificial Blade, he turned while firing shots and then pulled out one of his thrown daggers, launching it like a throwing knife. With a whistle, the dagger became a streak of silver, piercing a monster''s left eye. It howled, collapsing as black smoke billowed from the wound, and that part of its flesh vanished silently. So the Sacrificial Blade could indeed hurt these creatures! Realizing its potential, Alexander cursed himself for not using it earlier. "Activate Enchantment: Recall!" He willed, paying 10 points to trigger the blade''s enchantment¡ªRecall. Recall allowed him to spend 10 points per round to have his Sacrificial Blade, wherever it was, return to his hand in milliseconds. The next moment, the incredibly sharp dagger was back in Alexander¡¯s hand. Recall was a not particularly powerful but incredibly convenient ability, akin to rewinding time and space, allowing the blade to "teleport" back to him instantly. By using it, he managed to topple one monster and cause the others to slow their advance. Seizing the opportunity, he and the man with glasses sprinted upstairs. "We''re lucky those things didn''t chase us," the bespectacled man panted, while Alexander remained calm as they continued upward. "Where is this place? Who are you?" the man queried. "I''ll explain once we''re up there. Others should have arrived by now." "Others?" The man, tall and handsome, thought quickly and asked, "So there are multiple victims?" "Victims? No, we¡¯re usually called attackers." "Attackers." "Come on, let¡¯s not keep everyone waiting," Alexander said, leading him upstairs. By the time they reached the top, most of the fortunate newcomers were already there, still shaken from their experiences. Seeing everyone gathered, Alexander didn¡¯t bother with explanations. He handed out a stack of printed pages to each person.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. He had grown tired of repetitive explanations, so he laid everything out in text for them to read. "What does this even mean¡­?" "Everything that needs explaining is on the paper." In the chaotic ward, Alexander found a sofa and sat down, spreading out his hands. "That''s the gist of it. If you don''t believe it, it''s easy to verify." He shouted into the static-filled television mountain. "Pinocchio, it¡¯s your turn to explain to these newcomers." The screens flickered, eventually settling on Pinocchio''s face. The wooden puppet began speaking through the speakers. "Welcome, newcomers. I am your loyal yet unreliable friend, Pinocchio. This is the Evil Spirit Space, a delightful death game, a true-to-life reality show. Each of you is a carefully selected actor. Paint our extravagant stage with your blood, viscera, and flesh¡­" Pinocchio''s verbose introduction was about as expected, leaving newcomers bewildered yet instilling a palpable sense of foreboding. "I don¡¯t believe this. You must be lying..." A short-haired woman shook her head vigorously, unwilling to accept her circumstances. "There must be cameras around here. This is some hidden camera show. Let me out! I have a press conference to attend!" "You¡¯re a film star! Oh my god, you¡¯re Ji Ningyan! Can I get your autograph?" exclaimed the man Alexander had helped, recognizing the short-haired woman. Ji Ningyan flicked her hair, disinterested in the man who recognized her. Her attention shifted to Alexander and the others, identifying them as not wearing hospital gowns but regular clothes. ¡ªIn truth, this was the most obvious distinction between veterans and newcomers. Facing Ji Ningyan¡¯s challenging gaze, Alexander and Carmen ignored her, while Eric simply smiled foolishly. "How much time until the teleportation?" Alexander asked. "Usually about ten minutes. We should give them the Universal Speech cards. I also prepared the tracking devices you mentioned to prevent any newcomers from getting lost." "Good. I¡¯ve packed plenty of food. Eric, did you handle the drinking water?" "Ah, yes. I bought the cheapest bottled water, and my Evil Spirit Contract space is full." Ignoring the newcomers, the three veterans exchanged updates on their supplies. After the last script world ended, they had discussed not spending all their resources in Evil Spirit Space. The free shop''s items, tools, and cards were exorbitantly priced, so it was best to conserve their precious survival points. "What about those guns I mentioned?" "I secured twenty old rifles. That¡¯s the best I could manage domestically." "That¡¯s sufficient. If the next script is set in ancient times, firearms might not be usable, and a bunch of newcomers can¡¯t learn to use them quickly." Alexander nodded, lowering his voice. "If it comes to it, we¡¯ll improvise when we arrive." Previously, in the free shop, Alexander had bought an M1911 and a lot of ammunition, which had cost him a significant amount. After realizing the malicious price hikes in Evil Spirit Space, he avoided focusing on weaponry. Yulin and Carmen had previously avoided focusing on firearms for similar reasons. They had been too broke to buy weapons from the free shop. As for weapons acquired in the script world, Yulin¡¯s own experiences suggested that firearms were often restricted or less useful in certain script environments, leading him to believe they were limited in Evil Spirit Space. Moreover, Yulin felt that arming newcomers without firearms skills was dangerous. Who knew if they might panic or despair and shoot recklessly during a mission? Besides, Yulin and Carmen had their own ways of acquiring needed armaments within a script world, as they had done in the past. They had managed to control the Innsmouth police department, acquiring weapons to arm some newcomers during one mission. Chapter 44: Limits Alexander was not one to rely solely on his own subjective judgment. Instead, he preferred to rely on his observations to make decisions. Even though he pretended to be engaged in conversation with Carmen and deliberately ignored the newcomers, he was actually observing them closely. There were more newcomers this time, about twelve in total. However, Alexander knew that only a few would likely survive the script world. "I need to ally with those who could be valuable teammates," he thought to himself. As harsh as it was, Alexander wasn''t a saint. In the script world, his actions would prioritize his own safety first, then the welfare of his team. With Yulin gone, the role of the strategist and leader naturally fell to him. "Hey, is everything you said true?" A young girl who looked like a college student approached him timidly, questioning him. "The information I handed out to you explains everything clearly. It is all true. Of course, if there are any parts of the information you don''t understand, feel free to ask me," Alexander replied. The demeanor of the college girl was much more agreeable than that of the nearby celebrity, Ji Ningyan, who remained dismissive. So, Alexander chose to respond to her rather than completely ignore her. "Cut the crap! I''m calling my lawyer to make sure you all get sued for this nonsense," Ji Ningyan scoffed, still under the impression that she was on a film set, having participated in many bizarre reality shows before. Deep down, she suspected it was some elaborate prank with hidden cameras. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." A middle-aged woman clung to a rosary, holding hands with a girl who appeared to be in middle school, fervently reciting prayers. "Don''t dawdle, Xiaolan, recite with me. We must hold our faith; our relationship with God, through Jesus, begins now and continues into eternity..." "Yes, Mom," the girl muttered, her eyes dull and slightly gloomy, joining her mother in the prayer. "Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen..." "Ah, shut the hell up!" A thug with yellow hair and earrings stood up.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "As soon as I got here, you''ve been babbling your prayers nonstop. It''s so damn annoying!" The thug was sleazy, with yellowed teeth, and spat vulgarities with every word. The rest of the room frowned at his outburst. "Stay away from us, you sinner. Peter said, ''Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.''" The middle-aged woman shielded her daughter, pointing at the thug. "God protects me and those justified by faith. You cannot harm me, for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. But the wicked will stumble into calamity." "Screw you!" The thug, not understanding the religious ramblings, moved to grab the woman but was stopped by the bespectacled young man who had been quietly observing. "Hey, this isn¡¯t the place for that," the man with gold-rimmed glasses said calmly, holding onto the thug''s arm. "Don''t butt in. Want me to beat you too?" The thug, accustomed to conflict, angrily shoved the bespectacled man to the floor. "Enough!" Carmen could no longer stand by and intervened before a fight broke out. "Everyone, stop, or you''ll regret it," Alexander commanded, using the situation to assert leadership¡ªespecially when a troublemaker like the thug made an appearance. "Who the hell are you to command me?" the thug sneered, stepping towards Carmen. Alexander shot Carmen a glance, and in an instant, Carmen leaped five to six meters forward, landing a whip-like kick. Unlike Alexander''s 0.2-enhanced physique, Carmen''s body was strengthened to 0.4, making him significantly more powerful. In the "New Innsmouth Mystery" script world, Carmen had moved with one leg broken, showcasing not just his resilience but also his remarkable strength. Standing tall and broad, Carmen was imposing. His roundhouse kick was fierce, sending the thug sprawling, spitting out yellow teeth and blood. The violent spectacle shocked everyone. As the thug struggled to rise, Carmen delivered another kick, doubling him over like a cooked shrimp, causing him to vomit stomach acid. "That''s enough, Li," Alexander approached and whispered, "By the way, doesn''t Evil Spirit Space have any protection measures for newcomers? What if I decide to kill one¡ªwould Pinocchio ignore that?" "There¡¯s only one rule: you can''t directly kill teammates. Doing so will cost you 1,000 points," Carmen replied tersely, but the implications were vast. The rule''s wording¡ª"directly"¡ªgave Alexander much to ponder, including Yulin''s prior mention of liabilities: "deadweight." Indeed, for seasoned veterans, inexperienced newcomers were more hindrance than help. Yet, was he really about to lead these liabilities through the script world''s dangers? As rational as Alexander was, he couldn¡¯t entirely shake the headache-inducing prospect. ¡°Alright, everyone. You may have gaps in your memory, but you''re all effectively dead,¡± Alexander announced, stepping forward to the center of the hall. ¡°But that doesn''t matter. What matters is that we''re about to enter a death trial. I have several tracking devices and about a dozen old rifles. Take these with you because soon we''ll be transported to a script world.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a request¡ªit¡¯s an order. If you¡¯re unwilling, you can sit out. But you won¡¯t get another chance to join my team.¡± ¡°Opportunity comes once. Choose wisely!¡± With a nod from Alexander, Carmen placed guns and trackers on the floor. ¡°Help yourselves, or get out...¡± Chapter 45: Kyoto è·¯ Tales of the Land of Oz "Just three of you in your team?" mocked a young man with a trendy hairstyle, standing with arms crossed. Alexander didn''t bother to reply, just shot him a cold glance. Pinocchio, instead of showing off his incredible abilities like last time, stayed in the screen, chuckling strangely, as if watching a good show. "Can I join you guys?" The young man with gold-rimmed glasses massaged his shoulder and stood up. "If what you say is true, then I believe my chances of survival are much higher by sticking with you." "A wise decision." Alexander assessed him briefly and handed over the old rifle he had received. This rifle was smuggled through a second-hand deal from the Yalu River border by Carmen, and it seemed like a Type 53 Mosin-Nagant. Alexander wasn''t well-acquainted with firearms, so this was his best guess. The young man with gold-rimmed glasses expertly pulled back the bolt and checked the rifle, clearly familiar with handling firearms. "I''ve had occasional encounters with firearms abroad; this type of old rifle is not difficult to operate. Even an ordinary person could safely handle it after several hours of training." "If you know how to use a gun, your chances of survival are much higher than the average person," Alexander nodded. It seemed that inspired by the young man with glasses, a few more people came over to pick up guns from the ground. Among them was a middle-aged man, strong and stocky, built like an inverted triangle, sporting a simple and honest smile. Another was a girl with long hair covering half her face, wearing headphones, who astonishingly brought her MP3 player into the spirit space. However, her attire was the same patient uniform as everyone else''s. There were also two dark-skinned men, wearing safety helmets, who seemed to have been teleported from a construction site. "Hey, Blackie, this seems like a real gun. It''s my first time holding one." "Stop talking, just put it away for now." Their actions were stealthy, and it seemed they didn''t intend to join Alexander''s group. They were simply opportunists, unable to resist grabbing a gun when they saw it. "Well, this time all fifteen script world participants are here. The recording officially begins," announced Pinocchio, starting the countdown. "See, I told you it was all a hoax," actress Ji Ningyan sneered, still skeptical. "The script world has been generated, ''The Mad Land of Oz'' is auto-creating... unlocking all elements... ten, nine, eight, seven, six..." All the lights dimmed, creating an unsettling darkness. A scream pierced the silence, though it was unclear which frightened woman it came from. The only light source was the countdown on the TV hill, which quickly reached the final digit, displaying zero.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Everyone was plunged into utter darkness, and soon, they vanished into the void. ... Beep beep¡ª The sound of a honking horn jolted Alexander back to reality. Beside him were Carmen and Erik, and even the newcomers were nearby; they had been teleported together. (That''s a relief, it seems we''ve been transported together, so there''s no need to worry about being separated from the newcomers.) Alexander sighed in relief, realizing the teleportation had gone relatively well. However, the spirit space had transported them to a busy traffic area, with cars zooming by in all directions. Fortunately, they stood on a zebra crossing amidst a crowd of business-suited commuters and sailor-suited high school girls rushing past them. "This is Japan, but wait, I thought the script world should be ''The Mad Land of Oz''?" Erik mused, confused. "What on earth is going on? How did we end up here?" Actress Ji Ningyan exclaimed in disbelief, as though she had witnessed something impossible. "Hey, that''s Kyoto Tower! We''ve somehow ended up in Kyoto," the headphone-wearing girl blurted out, her tea-colored long hair covering half her freckled face. Her hospital attire had transformed into a school uniform, more British-style rather than the typical sailor suit. "I... I just came here last month, how could this be?" Ji Ningyan was utterly baffled, the strangeness of it all making Alexander and the others'' words seem eerily plausible. "Put the guns in here first." Alexander tossed a leather bag. Holding rifles in their hands in the middle of traffic would inevitably draw attention, but he quickly realized this wasn''t necessary, as passersby seemed oblivious to their sudden appearance in the road. "No worries, the spirit space provides a cloaking effect to mask our presence initially," Carmen signaled. "But it lasts only five minutes, so we can''t stay here too long with all these people around." "I understand." As the two spoke, Pinocchio began announcing the tasks. "It''s time to reveal your tasks, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to ''The Mad Land of Oz.'' Main Task 1: Find the protagonist, Saeki Dorothy, and protect her from harm until the play is complete and you can return. Side Task 2: Hunt the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion Man." "So, we really are in Kyoto, Japan. Wonderful! Now we can visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle, Heian Shrine, Momoyama Castle, and Shugakuin Imperial Villa," exclaimed a woman from the couple group, seemingly still unclear about the reality of the situation, caught up in excitement. "Let''s go!" Alexander pulled a backpack from the spirit contract, slinging it over his shoulder as he moved forward quickly. Carmen and Erik followed suit, each hoisting a duffel bag and striding swiftly ahead. "Wait, where are you going?" Ji Ningyan called out, panicked and helpless. "Those who grabbed a gun, follow me. The rest of you, feel free to do as you wish¡ªwhether sightseeing or whatever else you have in mind, it''s none of my business," Alexander replied, a cold smile on his face as he moved on. "You really don''t care about them?" Erik asked hesitantly. He thought Alexander was decisive but not necessarily indifferent. "Unfamiliar territory, plus they don¡¯t speak Japanese. Do you really think they¡¯ll act on their own?" Alexander chuckled, confident in his read on the group''s mindset. Hardly any of them could speak Japanese, and even asking for directions would be a challenge; inevitably, they''d rely on him. Of course, the young man with glasses and the headphone-wearing girl seemed more perceptive, able to adapt better than the others. For a team of only three, Alexander needed newcomers, but not ones who wouldn''t listen. Even if he explained the script world''s dangers, the untested newcomers wouldn''t understand or appreciate it. Everyone was from the modern world, used to a lack of oversight, and expecting them to suddenly obey orders was unrealistic. Yet, environmental pressure would force a change in behavior. Alexander believed in the human capacity to adapt to new environments. The famous Stanford prison experiment demonstrated how environmental extremes could turn an average person into a cold-hearted guard. He needed external pressure to make these newcomers submit. Without outside help, they would have no choice but to follow him. Chapter 46: The Stanford Prison Experiment Psychology professor Philip Zimbardo, along with his colleagues, set up a simulated prison in the basement of a university and recruited 24 mentally sound and physically healthy volunteers. Among them, 12 served as guards and the other 12 as prisoners, to mimic a real prison environment. The prisoners were "arrested" and taken to the prison, where they were searched, stripped, washed, disinfected, clothed in prison uniforms, and had their right ankle shackled. During the experiment, as participants quickly assumed their roles, the guards became increasingly brutal. They stripped prisoners naked, subjected them to hours of solitary confinement, confiscated pillows and mattresses, canceled meals, forced them to clean toilets with their hands, perform push-ups or other meaningless activities to humiliate them, deprived them of sleep, and dragged them out at night for head counts and humiliating exercises. Psychological strategies were also used: compliant prisoners were given privileges, better cells, and meals. The experiment lasted about six days before being halted, as it became apparent that everyone involved was deeply entrenched in their roles. Guards and prisoners passively accepted their identities, with guards believing they were truly "wardens" and prisoners accepting their roles. All 24 participants were well-educated and had no criminal records, but as soon as the environment changed, they became brutal and cold. Even the experiment''s organizer, Zimbardo, didn¡¯t realize this, nor did anyone withdraw because they had become part of the situation, trapped in a cage of reason and science, unable to extricate themselves, only obeying and playing their roles. Hearing about this psychological experiment, Alexander was deeply convinced that human nature is easily distorted, and people are not as strong-willed as they believe. "Alexander, where are we going now?" Carmen asked. "The plot task has been given. We need to find Saeki Dorothy. Right now, that surname is our only clue." Alexander contemplated Pinocchio¡¯s main task: protect a woman named Saeki Dorothy and hunt the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion Man. "Ordinary side missions. As long as the main plot doesn¡¯t change, there shouldn¡¯t be any powerful monsters." Without powerful monsters like the dangerous species, Alexander could relax a bit. After all, this was his second time participating in a script world in the spirit space. He had just acquired the Sacrificial Blade and Fragment Magic, and his strength was still insufficient to handle formidable threats. "We should have some identification on us. In any case, let¡¯s find a place to settle down first," Alexander thought that at least the spirit space would assign them character identities since the script had already appeared in their minds.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. After browsing through the script, Alexander couldn¡¯t help but curse. He found an extremely troubling situation: large portions of the script were blank. "This isn¡¯t right. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen something like this," Carmen also shook his head, never having encountered a blank script before. This was truly baffling. Alexander stopped, thinking as he took a sack from the contract space, whispering to Carmen: "There''s some gold inside, worth about 300,000 to 400,000 yuan. Can you find a way to exchange it for yen?" "I¡¯m not sure, but I could try finding a way," Carmen shrugged. He whispered back to Alexander, "Actually, it¡¯s not that complicated. I have a US dollar card. These cards can be exchanged at local banks in parallel worlds similar to Earth." "Alright, let¡¯s find a hotel to settle down." Alexander planned to find a place to stay before proceeding. At this moment, the group of newcomers caught up with them. They quickly realized the problem: they were in a foreign place, didn¡¯t speak Japanese, and couldn¡¯t survive on their own. The only person they could rely on was this young man. "Hey... buddy, could we talk?" The stylish-haired young man approached sheepishly. "Could you lend me some money? You see, we¡¯re in a foreign place, and I¡¯m a bit tight on cash." "Lend you money? Why would I do that?" Alexander found it amusing. Did this guy think he was stupid, or was he assuming Alexander was? "We¡¯re all Chinese here, and since we''re abroad, it would be right to help each other." "Sorry, I do have money, but I don¡¯t support freeloaders. I only fund my team." Alexander pointed to the young man with gold-rimmed glasses, the girl with headphones, and the burly middle-aged man with an honest face. "He, he, and she¡ªthey¡¯re considered my team members. I¡¯ll provide them with money and accommodations, but you¡¯re not, so it doesn¡¯t concern me." "Um, do my brother and I count?" one of the men resembling construction workers asked. Both men looked uneasy, feeling helpless in Kyoto. Alexander glanced at them and nodded, "You took the guns and followed my lead, so yes, you count." The brothers exchanged a look, their expressions easing considerably. "How can you talk like that?" The stylish young man got angry, but a glare from Carmen quickly subdued him. At this moment, actress Ji Ningyan and others caught up. "Can my girlfriend and I join your team now?" The young man and his girlfriend finally realized the severity of their situation and hastily followed. "I gave you a choice earlier, and you didn¡¯t choose. Now you want to follow us¡ªhow annoying," Carmen squinted, scanning the group. His gaze made them avert their eyes nervously. Seeing this, he sighed internally, knowing his role as the ''bad cop'' was firmly established in their minds. Still, this wasn¡¯t his first time doing this. When working with Xu Lin, they would switch roles, one playing the ''good cop'' and the other the ''bad cop,'' to manage newcomers. "I have something to say, but I don¡¯t know if I should..." The young man with gold-rimmed glasses cautiously interjected. "Could you give them another chance? After all, nobody knew what was happening initially. Even I wouldn¡¯t have completely believed you without my recent experiences." Smart guy! Alexander chuckled internally. He was considering how to ease the newcomers into the group, and the young man with glasses conveniently provided an opening. Chapter 47: The Dark Side of the City He couldn''t entirely turn away the newcomers, as the main task in the script world required a sizable group to participate effectively. There are several reasons for this; to put it harshly, cannon fodder is still manpower. If there are dangerous tasks, Alexander and valuable assets like Carmen and Erik can''t risk participating directly¡ªthey need expendable members to scout. Additionally, if they encounter danger and need to escape from being pursued by dangerous entities, splitting up with a larger group offers a better chance of survival compared to just a few people. Moreover, Alexander was also testing the newcomers, looking to identify potential team members, much like Xu Lin had once done with him. "Alright, I''ll give you another chance on his behalf," Alexander said, nodding towards the young man with glasses. "But let me be clear: if you join my team, you follow my orders; otherwise, you''re free to leave at any time." "Sure, sure, we''ll do whatever you say," the couple nodded eagerly. "The rest of you, it''s the same deal. If you agree with my terms, follow along, and I''ll arrange a temporary place for you to stay. If you disagree or plan to cause trouble later, don''t blame us for not being polite." Carmen exuded a particularly intimidating aura, making the newcomers nod repeatedly in agreement. Once they managed to gather the newcomers, Alexander and Carmen found a nearby hotel and arranged accommodations for everyone. ... Alexander stood on the hotel balcony, his mind full of thoughts about the plot. The spirit space had given them the first act of the script, which included many blank chapters. This might mean that they don''t have designated roles in the script world. However, he couldn''t reach that conclusion just yet. He noted that everyone had been assigned roles within the script, otherwise, they wouldn''t have been able to check into the inn. They were now staying at a historic Kyoto inn, over a hundred years old, with rooms that exuded Japanese charm¡ªwooden corridors, indoor screens, and a small, serene Kyoto-style courtyard outside. The courtyard''s filled water feature, a shishi-odoshi, emitted a "thump" as the bamboo water catcher bounced back, striking a stone, bringing Alexander back to reality. "So late, and you still don''t plan to sleep?" Carmen approached from the side. "I can focus better at this time," Alexander replied. "Want a smoke?" Carmen offered a cigarette. "No, thanks. Besides, smoking is prohibited in the inn," Alexander shook his head, not having the habit of consuming nicotine or alcohol, as it would affect his thinking. "Fine!" Carmen put away the cigarette from his mouth, speaking softly, "Sometimes, overthinking won''t help; just take things one step at a time."Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. "I know." "Don''t put too much pressure on yourself. Erik and I are responsible for our own lives. You never know when you might die in the script world." "I understand that too," Alexander responded seriously. Carmen furrowed his brows, sensing a stubborn streak in the young man before him. Maybe he was used to handling everything by himself. It''s not necessarily a bad trait, but it could lead to overburdening himself. No one should carry too heavy a psychological burden. That said, he wasn''t really qualified to lecture on this. Age was making him sentimental. "If you don''t mind, can I share an old story with you?" Carmen suddenly asked. "A story?" Alexander glanced at him. Carmen began slowly: Once upon a time, there was a man who was very happy because he had a good wife and a lovely daughter. However, he didn''t care about any of that as much as his career. For his career, he seemed willing to risk everything in his life. He was neglectful of his family, which eventually led them to leave him. Yet, the man remained indifferent, believing his career was everything. So, he did something foolish that led to his career''s downfall and implicated his wife and daughter, causing them to be killed by his enemies. The story ended with the man filled with regret, recalling how he worked tirelessly throughout his youth for his career, simply hoping for a happier life with his wife. He had spent so many years and made so many efforts but forgot his original intention. "The story ended..." Alexander noticed there was no conclusion. "There isn''t any. The man is already dead," Carmen said, glancing at him. "This story shows that you should never forget your original intention in anything you do. All processes serve that initial purpose. If the result deviates from that intention, it remains a failure regardless." "Perhaps the man didn''t really err; he might have just failed during the process," Alexander offered his view. "You''re right, but had he remembered his original intention sooner, he might not have regretted it so deeply at the end," Carmen sighed. "It''s a pity there''s no remedy for regret," Alexander thought, knowing Carmen had stories of his own and understanding the point he was trying to make, but also knowing he himself couldn''t truly absorb those words. At that moment, a strange occurrence unfolded. Alexander and Carmen''s vision blurred as if a TV had lost its signal. After a series of chaotic distortions, a scene unfolded before their eyes. It was a little girl with two braids, holding a plump little dog as they walked down the street. Suddenly, the leash slipped from her hand, and the dog ran a few steps forward, directly into the road as a speeding truck failed to brake in time. The screeching sound of tires on the ground filled the air. "Toto!" The braided girl shrieked as she rushed towards the halted truck. The scene darkened, and Alexander and Carmen returned to reality. "Fushimi City, Ruihui Kindergarten, Class 7, Saeki," Alexander stood up, his eyes gleaming. He had seen the girl''s name tag in the scene. "We need to find her." ... Beautiful Kyoto, even at night, was adorned with poetic and brilliant lights. But every city has two faces¡ªone splendidly bright for outsiders, and the other hidden in shadows, showing its ugly, dark side. This city was no exception. In a quiet park on the outskirts of Kyoto, unexpected shouting broke the silence. It was hard to imagine such chaos in this location at night. Though frequently visited during the day, at night it became deserted due to the nearest residential area being ten kilometers away, rendering it isolated and tranquil. For this reason, many homeless people would choose this park as a place to reside, calling them ''free people,'' a euphemism for vagrants and homeless folk. At this moment, a homeless man named Sarutahiko panted heavily, forced to run desperately. Behind him, shouts echoed. "Chase, he''s over there!" "Don''t let him get away!" "Kill him, finish him off!" Under the night sky, a sinister scene gradually unfolded.