After Skyfall

Inside the abandoned building, darkness pervaded, with only occasional beams of light filtering in through the windows as one passed by.

The air was thick with a musty, decaying odour.

From the depths of the silent corridors came the faint, rhythmic sound of dripping water.

As soon as the group entered, an inexplicable chill gripped them, as if the temperature had suddenly dropped several degrees. The eerie silence was unnerving, with only the echo of their footsteps echoing softly around them.

“According to Crow’s intel, the item we’re looking for is on the second basement level of this building. That area was originally the parking lot, but due to the building’s damage, there are currently only two confirmed access points to the underground parking lot: the east-side emergency staircase and Elevator Shaft One in Zone B1.”

“For us, the only viable entrance is the east-side emergency staircase. Climbing the elevator shaft isn’t practical—it’s too dangerous and slow for us ordinary people. So, everyone, please memorise the escape route. If something goes wrong and we get lost in the second basement level, it could very well mean death.”

“Crow’s latest intel also mentions that the danger starts on the first basement level. However, since we are ordinary people, the dangers are probably avoidable. So, the real deadly threats are on the second level, and the closer we get to the source, the more dangerous it becomes.”

Dr. Wei Li spoke as he walked.

His tone was calm, his words were clear, and his expression was extremely serious.

“I say we just take a stroll on the first basement floor and then head back. Stumbling upon fifty thousand for free doesn’t sound bad, does it?” Zhang Kaiwen’s eyes lit up as he thought of a lazy solution.

Li Yi immediately countered, “They’ve probably anticipated that. The mysterious woman with medium abilities is likely already watching us. If we try to slack off, we’ll probably be killed as soon as we leave this building.”

“I heard that those with medium abilities can see things that normal people can’t. Whether it’s true or not, if it is, then we’re definitely being watched. So your suggestion isn’t quite realistic,” Liu Yan whispered.

“A bunch of cowards. I’m ashamed to be working with you. If we can reach the second basement floor, it means fate has given us a chance to seize the Artifact. Once we get it, two million will be nothing. I want that woman outside to kneel before me, kowtow* her head on the ground three times, and lick my shoes clean.”

Wang Hu spoke boldly, not hiding his inner thoughts in the slightest.

However, no one opposed his words.

Deep down, who doesn’t want to change their fate?

“Hey, you’re right. My life’s already a mess, so if I’m going to gamble, I might as well go all in. Even if I do get fifty thousand, it won’t change much. But if I do manage to get my hands on an Artifact, from now on, I’ll be one of the most influential figures in the world. A lifetime’s fate will become eternal,” Zhang Kaiwen was immediately swayed by Wang Hu’s idea and changed his mind.

“If I get the Artifact, even if I choose to hand it over directly, I can still enter the Golden Academy and completely change my fate,” Liu Yan said softly.

Upon hearing their words, Li Yi could not help but feel a surge of excitement rise within him.

Because they were right.

Getting this sum of money would only solve the immediate crisis. Li Yi’s parents, as the Mute, require better medical pods and nutrient fluids to sustain their lives. The future expenses are astronomical. Fifty thousand yuan is a drop in the ocean, especially considering his lack of ability, background, or innate talent.

If I could really obtain the Artifact, everything could change.

Yet, as much as his heart desires it, reason tells him that perhaps the Artifact does not even exist here. There is only lurking danger in the darkness, and greed will only lead to his innocent demise here.

After a brief exchange, the group ventured deep into the collapsed skyscraper and soon spotted the staircase leading to the underground parking lot.

The stairs descended into darkness, growing denser like an abyss, unsettling those who tread upon them.

Everyone immediately switched on the flashlights prepared in advance by Crow.

As the flashlights illuminated the surroundings, much of the darkness dissipated.

After surveying the area and finding nothing unusual, the five of them proceeded down the stairs towards the underground second-floor parking lot.

On the way, everyone remained vigilant, even deliberately muffling their footsteps as they descended the stairs, fearing they might disturb something lurking in the darkness.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly, with no signs of danger.

The five arrived at the first underground floor.

However, they did not linger, as the first underground floor had already been explored by Crow. According to Crow, although it was dangerous, there was not anything valuable there. It was when they ventured into the second underground floor that they encountered danger and mishaps. Both times they returned empty-handed, with significant losses.

Therefore, Li Yi and the others’ task was to begin exploring from the second underground floor.

However, as they continued down the stairs, the foremost, Wang Hu, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He shone his light ahead.

As the darkness ahead dissipated, they were startled to find a corpse lying on the steps. The body was ghastly pale, devoid of life, with a stiff neck and arms rigidly raised in a strange posture, as if struggling to escape from something behind it in the underground parking lot, yet unaware of what had caught it, ultimately meeting a grim demise here.

“What bad luck, a dead body,” Wang Hu remarked.

With that said, he paid no further attention and calmly stepped over the body, continuing forward.

The others took a brief look, cautiously avoiding the body, then followed behind Wang Hu.

However, Dr. Wei Li suddenly whispered, “That body doesn’t look quite right.”

“It’s just a dead body. Are you scared?” Zhang Kaiwen retorted.

“Don’t forget, I’m a doctor. I’ve encountered more corpses than you guys. I noticed something about that body just now. There was no livor mortis*, no signs of decomposition. It’s very unusual. Also, the position where the body appeared just now wasn’t normal. It didn’t seem like it had died on the stairs initially; it looked more like it had been moved there from somewhere else,” Dr. Wei Li said seriously.

“Wei Li, you should’ve said that earlier,” Zhang Kaiwen said, immediately shining his flashlight towards the body behind them.

He wanted to see if there was indeed something wrong with the corpse, as Dr. Wei Li suggested.

But soon, his face froze.

The corpse they just saw was gone.

“The body, it’s gone,” Zhang Kaiwen’s eyes widened. “What kind of joke is this? It was just there a moment ago. Did that thing disappear on its own in the blink of an eye?

Seeing the empty steps, everyone felt a wave of horror.

“Perhaps it wasn’t a corpse; maybe it was a ghost. Don’t forget, Crow had mentioned before that this building is haunted. That’s probably why they were afraid to venture deeper into the second underground floor.”

Li Yi stated the horrifying reality, his expression extremely grim.

They had probably encountered a ghost just now.

“Did you know, in fact, ghosts didn’t exist in our world originally? It was only after the Skyfall incident that the legends of ghosts and monsters were proven true. But ghosts can only linger in certain special areas because they need a certain kind of power to sustain themselves; otherwise, they’ll dissipate. The presence of ghosts here means there’s something providing them with that power.”

After a brief moment of fear, Liu Yan’s expression turned eager. “That source of power could very well be the Artifact.”

“What are we waiting for then? They’re merely filth; how could they scare me?” Wang Hu strode confidently towards the basement’s second floor.

“Today will determine whether I can defy fate or not. I, Zhang Kaiwen, just need this one opportunity to turn over a new leaf. What’s there to be scared of about ghosts? Poverty is even scarier.”

Zhang Kaiwen grinned, ignoring the hidden dangers, and swiftly followed.

Li Yi took a deep breath and followed without hesitation.

Similarly, neither Liu Yan nor Dr. Wei Li hesitated.

At this point, there was absolutely no possibility of backing down.

Soon enough, they entered the second underground floor.

However, the situation here was completely different from what they had imagined.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of mud, with many unknown dried yellow weeds growing in the soil. These weeds emitted a faint glow in the darkness, resembling the flickering lights of graves, scattered around like stars. In the distance stood several wooden houses that had mostly collapsed. These houses had an ancient style, completely unlike modern structures, more akin to abandoned villages from ancient times.

If it were not for the many half-buried abandoned cars around, they would have thought they had entered an unfamiliar world.

“Let’s split up. Whether we survive or find the Artifact depends on our own abilities,” Zhang Kaiwen said, then headed off in a direction without looking back.

“That makes sense.” Wang Hu glanced around and chose a direction as well.

“It’s very dangerous here. It might be better to stick together,” Li Yi thought for a moment before speaking up.

Dr. Wei Li smiled faintly. “Young man, you should understand, it’s better that we haven’t found the Artifact yet. If we do find it, there will be internal conflicts when we gather. No one wants to be stabbed in the back. It’s better to split up; at least it’ll save each other some face.”

After saying this, he also left.

Liu Yan remained silent, then, after a moment of hesitation, also started moving alone.

Soon, the five-person team quickly disbanded, each going their separate ways.

(End of chapter)

——

*TL’s note:

Kowtow is to kneel and touch the ground with the forehead in worship or submission as part of Chinese custom.

Livor mortis, or lividity, refers to the bluish-purple discolouration of the skin after death.

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