NOVEL WEB Chapter 181
Chapter 181: The Boundless Dark Realm Part 36
Kui Xin awoke from Remover 4’s memory, taking a little time to organize the information.
The Remover named Wu Yingzhuo left home to make a living after turning eighteen. He was often active in Jinshui City.
When the case of the cultist murderer broke out a few weeks ago, he was extremely excited. He practiced his abilities for several days consecutively, eager to kill Fang Zhi. Unfortunately, Fang Zhi rushed off to Tonglin City, and Wu Yingzhuo couldn’t carry out his plans, leaving him frustrated. One night while wandering around after drinking heavily, a rowdy troublemaker irritated him, resulting in him breaking the guy’s bones…
Originally this week, Wu Yingzhuo had planned to go back home. He held a grudge against his adoptive parents who raised him and intended to use this opportunity to take revenge on them. If not for the event of the dark realm’s descent, he might have already gone back.
He was too impulsive and relied on lowly tactics.
Given his character and style, even without Augus’ instigation and Kui Xin as an obstacle, something like this would have happened sooner or later.
Wu Yingzhuo could survive in the Second World, perhaps due to luck. After all, a player’s starting identity was incredibly important. For example, being someone without proper documentation could help them evade a search by the Federation.
From what Kui Xin could discern from the memories she accessed, the only interaction between Wu Yingzhuo and Augus was through internet communication; there wasn’t anything special. As for other Removers and Augus’s possible deeper interactions, Kui Xin couldn’t be certain.
She mulled over the question of Augus’s ultimate goal: Is it to summon a deity? Or to eliminate all players and strengthen himself? Either way, her objective seemed crazily ambitious.
Kui Xin temporarily set aside her doubts. She found some meat in the refrigerator and fed it to the white mouse in the bathroom.
Mouse No. 3 was still agitated, whereas the surviving mice appeared normal compared to ordinary rats, lively and energetic. Kui Xin took a closer look at the captured mouse and noted that its claws seemed significantly longer and sharper. Its tail also appeared thicker…
Was it beginning to mutate?
Mouse No. 3 exhibited intense hunger and a strong demand for food. Could sufficient nourishment provide enough energy to accelerate its mutation process?
After pondering for a moment, Kui Xin picked up more food from the refrigerator and fed it to Mouse No. 3.
As for the remaining mice, if they continued to stay alive without mutating, it might indicate that diluted xenomorphic blood did not pose contamination risks, thus reducing the dangers first-worlders faced.
Kui Xin checked her game board.
The investigation progress on the “Dark Realm Descent” mission remained at zero. Generally, any advancement would slightly increase the progress, though under unique circumstances, even an uncompleted task could reach a hundred percent progress.
For instance, the task related to investigating the cultist murder case marked completion once the target was eliminated, resulting in the progression immediately reaching one hundred percent.
So far, Kui Xin had received four missions: investigate the port explosion in Hei Hai City; the cultist murder case; detach from Mechanized Dawn, Resistance Army, and Investigation Bureau; and the “Dark Realm Descent”.
Two out of these four had been completed; the last two were ongoing.
The task with seventy-five percent completion involved regaining freedom, but the progress stalled without further increases.
Initially unclear why, after accessing Annie Schalit’s memories, she understood her incomplete dissociation from the Resistance Army organization—her mental coordinates were still intact.
If removing a metal skull symbolized her separation from Mechanized Dawn, then eliminating mental coordinates would equate to her separation from the Resistance Army, truly granting her freedom and full task progression.
Thus, the “Mental Immunity” capability obtained from Remover 4 was crucial to her. At this moment, she felt slightly regretful. If she hadn’t merged “Deception Skill” with “Hypnotic Sound,” maybe she could have elevated “Mental Immunity” to Level A?
Additionally, she obtained another crucial skill called “Void Hand” from Remover 4.
It was another spatial capability, albeit with moderate attack capabilities, but classified as a C-grade skill.
After examining her own skills, Kui Xin attempted to fuse them. The system displayed a message: “…After the fusion, your extraordinary ability, ‘Shadow Transition,’ will become invalid, and your ‘Void Hand’ level will rise to B-grade.”
But what about integrating “Void Hand” into “Shadow Transition”? Fusing a higher-level ability into a lower one seemed to involve a significant loss in experience…
“…After the fusion, your extraordinary ability, ‘Void Hand,’ will become invalid, and ‘Shadow Transition’ level will rise to C-grade.”
No matter which skill to forsake, Kui Xin found it challenging.
The “Void Hand” temporarily compensated for Kui Xin’s lack of weaponry in the First World; it was genuinely useful. But “Shadow Transition,” a killer assassin-type skill, allowed shadow-movement, instant teleportation, and partial immunity to physical damage. It helped Kui Xin avoid peril countless times. However, its drawback was limiting the amount she could carry during transitions, even prohibiting thick clothing.
Integrating “Void Hand” into “Shadow Transition” would enhance it significantly, increasing the number of items Kui Xin could carry during transitions. Indeed, upgrading it was essential, as otherwise, she’d need to discard extra equipment before combat.
After considering both options, Kui Xin settled on discarding “Void Hand,” opting instead for the survival benefit of “Shadow Transition.”
Lacking combat methods could be supplemented by other means, like utilizing spatial vortices creatively. But discarding the life-saving “Shadow Transition” felt wasteful.
Kui Xin chose fusion.
“Your extraordinary ability, ‘Shadow Transition,’ has upgraded.”
[Shadow Transition]: “You can use shadows for limited-range spatial teleportation.”
Kui Xin stood up and experimented with “Shadow Transition,” moving effortlessly across the room within a longer range. However, it was daytime and the space was limited; hence, further testing was deferred. She estimated the range improved to around ten meters.
Holding her old schoolbag from high school, she activated “Shadow Transition.” A black mist floated, and she stopped at the kitchen door.
The fusion increased the volume she could carry, no problem for a packed schoolbag, ensuring she could carry a small suitcase-size object.
Satisfied, Kui Xin tested further, finding it capable of transporting items no larger than 20 inches in diameter.
She decided to continue upgrading until it could support transporting individuals.
After finishing the tests, Kui Xin rested for a bit and performed some simple exercises.
This night promised many events. Xenomorphs might emerge from the dark gates, and vigilance was necessary.
At ten PM, the city was quiet.
Kui Xin sent Su Rong a message to gather, ready to depart on time.
Meanwhile, He Kangshi disguised himself and contacted the newly met Night Patrol partner.
Dozens of drones hovered over the old industrial zone, each equipped with night vision cameras. Some had flamethrowers and weapons.
The drones surrounded the tobacco factory, forming the first line of defense.
Outside, the second line of defense prepared for battle. Song Tingshuan and Li Wanran sat in their car, watching the situation via monitors.
Based on yesterday’s experience, though cameras capturing open gates were destroyed, recordings before damage could still be crucial sources of intelligence.
At half past ten, Kui Xin reached the vicinity of the old industrial zone.
She sat on the rooftop of a building, surveying the distant area with glowing lights from the old industrial zone.
Soon, she perceived a peculiar gaze. Turning her head, a familiar stranger stood on the neighboring rooftop, fully equipped with a telescope.
He spotted Kui Xin, hesitated, and waved politely.
Kui Xin paused, waving back in response.
Receiving a friendly signal, the player retrieved a spare telescope and threw it.
The thrown telescope followed a diagonal trajectory but Kui Xin couldn’t catch it. Just as the telescope headed for the ground, the shadow double elongated dramatically, catching the telescope with dexterity.
Adjustments ensured, the shadow double handed it to Kui Xin.
Kui Xin stared in surprise, nodding and thanking the player. Checking the telescope, she focused on the distant scene in the tobacco factory.
Though unnecessary for viewing, it maintained appearances; many here cooperated, which was beneficial.
Seconds ticked by. Much later, Kui Xin’s phone buzzed with an alarm. The zero-hour signal sounded!
Dismissing the alarm, she saw 23:59 on her screen.
Standing up with a grave expression, she waited.
00:00:00.
A sharp screech accompanied colorfully lit signals rockets ascending into the sky.
Under drone surveillance, the abandoned factory remained silent; no spatial distortions, nor monster rushes.
Everyone stayed vigilant.
Ten minutes passed with nothing happening.
Guardians began losing confidence. The dark gate never opened tonight!
Despite the missed intrusion, Kui Xin’s expression remained solemn; this unexpected turn was concerning.
On the fifth day, the night went undisturbed.
People waited and then left as dawn approached.
The sixth night, gatherings continued, but the dark gate still wouldn’t open.
Until seventh day, the return period.
After much consideration, deciding that returning to the Second World immediately was futile, Kui Xin returned to monitor the old industrial zone, as on the previous days.
Two nights had passed since the last opening, yet unease kept her alert.
Entering the night, she arrived at the familiar site.
The alarm sounded punctually at midnight.
Zero hour had come!
Just then, a colossal silhouette emerged!
A pitch-black portal appeared within the old industrial zone. This time, no monstrous roars emanated from inside. The atmosphere remained eerily silent as a distorted shadow silently crossed through.
Kui Xin missed seeing this as she was transported back, opening eyes in the safe house within White Whale City.