Lost in the Otherworld

The black hair that bound the portly Jun flung him into the air before plummeting rapidly, dragging him toward the dry well. At that moment, Prince Kai, with astounding reflexes and an incredible leap, soared into action. His muscular arms bulged, becoming thick and rigid, as he seized Jun’s large belly from behind, hurtling toward the well alongside him.

*Thunk.* Just in time, Prince Kai's legs anchored onto the edge of the well, halting their descent. “Aaaaaah!” Jun’s agonized scream pierced the air. If not for his 200-plus-pound frame, cushioned by layers of fat, his bones would likely have shattered under the immense pull of two opposing forces.

The black hair, unable to drag Jun into the well, hurled him high once more, with Prince Kai refusing to release his grip, soaring alongside him. With a powerful fling, *Boom!* Jun and Kai crashed heavily into a nearby building, sending splinters and dust flying in every direction. Yet, the relentless black hair continued to wrap around Jun, dragging him across the ground in circles. *Bam! Bam! Boom!* The two of them, like a giant wrecking ball, smashed through doors, shattered windows, snapped beams, and even demolished the carved railing on the second floor. Within seconds, the entire ancestral hall was reduced to rubble, barely standing. Fortunately, Kai, like an indomitable shield, protected Jun from the brunt of the damage; otherwise, Jun would have been crippled, if not dead.

Gao Yang and Officer Huang stood frozen at the entrance, guns raised but fingers immobile on the triggers. Not that it would have made a difference—whether pistols or submachine guns, none of their firearms would affect the black tendrils. If there was any weapon to use, it would have to be a flamethrower.

Their only hope now was Qing Ling, who was already well aware of the situation. She had long since drawn her sword, crouching low, waiting for the opportune moment. It soon came. She dashed forward, slashing with precision when the black hair slowed. *Swish.* In a flash of blade, hundreds of thin black strands fell, drifting in the air. The tendrils around Jun began to fall away, and just as everyone thought salvation was at hand, more black hair surged from the well, attacking Qing Ling.

Startled, Qing Ling swung her sword to cut through the strands, but one slipped through, binding her wrist. Soon, more tendrils ensnared her, and in moments, she was cocooned like a human mummy. *Bang, bang, bang!* Gao Yang fired his gun, but as expected, the bullets passed through the hair like they were shooting into water, causing no damage whatsoever.

The black tendrils, no longer interested in a prolonged battle, began pulling both Jun and Qing Ling toward the well. Qing Ling, however, twisted her body, bending her legs and planting them firmly against the well’s edge, just as Kai was still holding onto Jun, his legs bracing against the well’s exterior.

"Help!" Jun wailed in terror. Gao Yang and Officer Huang rushed over, grabbing hold of Qing Ling and Kai.

And then, a bizarre scene unfolded: five people, locked together in a twisted embrace, their bodies tangled in the dense black hair, forming a grotesque “three-headed, six-armed” monstrosity that was jammed at the mouth of the well. The black hair continued its relentless tugging, tightening inch by inch.

From a distance, it appeared as if time had stopped. In truth, the forces between the two sides had reached a delicate equilibrium.

Gao Yang swore it was the longest and most excruciating tug-of-war he’d ever experienced. Three seconds passed. Five seconds. Ten seconds… As the strongest of the five, Kai was beginning to falter. "Damn… I can’t… I’m about to let go…" “No! Don’t let go!” Jun cried in desperation. “I don’t want to die!” “Fatso, sacrifice yourself for the four of us. It’s a good deal. We’ll avenge you later…” “Why me?!” Jun screamed. “Why not let go of Gao Yang? This is his test! I’m just collateral damage…” “Shut up, idiot! I’d rather die than abandon my brother!”

*Boom!* Before Kai could finish, the ground around the well collapsed, and all five of them plummeted into the depths. “Aaaaaaah!”