The moment Yufei connected, a explosive bang erupted, and a haze of blood filled the air.
The image and the link vanished.
The speeding car screeched to an abrupt halt.
Leaving several skid marks on the ground, the driver stared in disbelief at Yufei beside him, equally stunned.
–Boss, that link just now suddenly turned into financing, Moxel transformed into that state, and Old Yuan seemed like…–
Yufei’s face was deathly pale.
–Yang Zicang…–
–How could Old Yuan die in such agony?–
After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and exhaled: –Let’s head back to the base. Old Yuan is already gone.–
–I want revenge for him!– someone roared in fury.
Yufei’s grip on the car door creaked as he squeezed it.
–Level A Crossland takes precedence this time; after all, those individuals must be allowed entry.–
……
Yang Zicang had already left via another path.
He weaved through buildings alone, and though he might encounter Nightmares, he was more wary of the people here than the nightmares themselves.
Over an hour later, on a desolate road devoid of traffic, Yang Zicang halted and gazed ahead.
–Ah, finally saw a living soul worth his salt!–
One of the three—a woman—caught sight of Yang Zicang in the distance and burst into tears of joy.
–Run, brother! The monsters behind will eat people.–
The last man, who possessed a Moxel, staggered over, exhausted, followed by two cube-like, pitch-black monsters.
–Run! Those monsters are terrifying—where’s the army? Only tanks or missiles could kill them!–
Whoosh!
A pebble streaked with a golden phantom flew from Yang Zicang’s hand, carving a sharp arc through the air.
With a cracking sound, one of the pitch-black monsters chasing them suddenly shattered into pieces.
The three stood dumbfounded.
No matter what attack they had used before, the monster had remained unscathed—an invincible presence. How could a single pebble now strike it dead?
The only difference was that this man had infused the stone with his mysterious ability.
–Your turn.–
Among the three, Zhao Bomin also had a Moxel, but he didn’t know how to use it. Under Yang Zicang’s guidance, he effortlessly killed the remaining Lesser Nightmare.
As the Nightmare that had transformed from a trash can collapsed, the trio’s gazes toward Yang Zicang filled with reverence.
–Dead? The indestructible monster that devoured two of us—just like that, it’s dead?–
[I have gained 31N.]
After sensing the lifespan he had acquired, Zhao Bomin looked at Yang Zicang, his eyes wide with shock.
He realized that these were likely the remaining lifespans of his two deceased companions.
The monster had devoured them, and after he killed it, he inherited a portion of their lifespans. He suddenly felt that this world held more than just peril.
–It was merely born from a garbage bin, hence so weak. But I doubt you’ve seen those indescribably horrifying monsters along the way,– said Yang Zicang.
Hearing this, the man and woman’s expressions turned terrified: –Where is this? Did a biological lab explode? What about the army? Have we been abandoned?–
Yang Zicang looked up at a nearby building that was beginning to exude a stale aura.
Because of the two who had not manifested Moxel, the cursed egg concealed within it was gradually starting to awaken.
After briefly explaining the information about this place, Yang Zicang pointed out the direction of Zuoming Avenue and prepared to leave.
–Wait, handsome. Can I go with you?– Zhao Bomin said.
–Ah, Bomin, you can’t abandon us.–
The middle-aged man pleaded urgently. Without Zhao Bomin, they wouldn’t survive.
But Zhao Bomin knew that meeting someone like Yang Zicang here was far rarer than encountering monsters in this world.
–I don’t have time.–
Activating his Deployment Ability, Yang Zicang quickly vanished from the trio’s line of sight. Saving these people was merely a matter of convenience for him.
……
Outside the rubble-strewn area, two figures completed a thorough patrol before temporarily leaving.
Sensing that his Chronos could finally be amplified again, Yang Zicang swiftly used it to form a protective barrier around himself, seizing the opportune moment to slip through a crack.
Inside these ever-deepening metal conduits, like a cellar, the air was eerily cold, permeated with a faint stench of decay.
According to the boy’s account, the first dozen meters of vertical descent were almost entirely safe, but after that, monsters would gradually begin to emerge.
{Bro, you really came? }
Liang Xi’s heart swelled with emotion, stirred to its very depths.
[I have a few friends; I need to prepare the Chronos to be deducted at the end of the month for them.]
{Bro, you’re such a good person. }
The light within this bizarre space was dim and bleak. Yang Zicang carefully assessed the surrounding terrain, pondering whether he might find himself without a proper foothold when it came time to climb back out.
He was about to enter the strange dimension alone. Suppressing the uneasy flutter in his heart, he pressed onward, delving deeper and deeper.
After descending several dozen meters, several large horizontal pipes appeared.
Rustle rustle~
Yang Zicang pressed himself tightly against the wall, straining to hear the faint sound emanating from the other end of the passageway.
The owner of those footsteps seemed to sense an aura that didn’t belong here, silently concealing themselves at the other end, waiting for prey to blunder in.
Suddenly, several whip-like objects shot down from the shattered, wrinkled metal partition above.
Crack! Crack!
Yang Zicang lightly pushed off with his toes and dove into the pipeline.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Several long whips lashed across his body, instantly stripping away decades of amplified Chronos.
As a heavy thud sounded behind him, three figures, each about the size of a calf, charged forward rapidly, bringing with them a rumbling boom.
So many rats! Yang Zicang watched in shock as the rats pounced at him. So, this was the monster’s nest that guy dared to enter alone?
[Elect: Liang Xi wishes to perform an Invest for me.]
[Liang Xi has Invested 200N into me.]
Yang Zicang ran, pulling out a few round, smooth stones he had prepared, clutching them in his hand. A glow flashed from his chest as several Quad phantoms enveloped him.
–Fourfold Amplification!–
The two hundred years of Chronos Liang Xi had invested were instantly poured into these stones, turning them a silvery hue.
–Thud! Thud! Thud!–
The three charging figures collapsed in rage.
[Total gains: 46.2N received.]
A gust of wind swept from behind. Yang Zicang, who had just finished off three monsters, was tackled to the ground, with a sharp, foul stench of giant fangs sinking toward his neck.
–Bang!–
Clenching his teeth, Yang Zicang swung his fist, a shimmering golden phantom overlaying his strikes. The punch smashed into the rat’s skull, splattering red and white everywhere.
–So disgusting.–
He quickly scrambled to his feet and fled through the pipeline.
He really had no idea how that kid, A-Liang, managed to stay in a place like this for a whole day and night—he had only been in for a few minutes and danger had already struck.
No wonder the first few dozen meters of vertical descent showed no signs of anomaly. They must have been mustering their forces, planning to ambush him.
{You’re freaking amazing, Brother Yang, you’re like a super soldier from a movie.}
You could break through every armor except flattery. Hearing these words, even in the midst of that heart-stopping moment, Yang Zicang felt a hint of satisfaction inside.
At least some of his wariness toward that kid had temporarily faded.
[I, the great Quad, have received sincere praise from an Investor person.]
–A-Liang, do you even know where you are right now?– Yang Zicang muttered as he ran.
Through the sensory feed, he could see the kid huddled inside a narrow crevice, seating a sharp piece of metal at the tunnel entrance, ready to stab whenever a monster poked its head out.
–I’m not sure, but Brother Yang, if you keep walking and pass through the areas I’ve already been through, I should be able to find the route.–
The insides differed from expectations, so Yang Zicang could only absorb the experience Liang Xi imparted, shake off a few pursuing rats, and grope his way forward.
……
At the entrance of the monster den.
The man in sunglasses waited a few minutes. When Yang Zicang still hadn’t emerged, he silently spoke to the person at the other end of his telepathic link:
–That guy has entered the alternate dimension formed by a B-grade intersection—it’s crawling with mutant rats. Matt Chao, your plan to claim his life with your own hands will likely fall through. Surrounded and swarmed by a horde of monsters, even with thousands of years’ worth of Chronos capital, he’s bound to die.–
–Shaomin, don’t underestimate Quad like those fools. I believe he won’t die so easily in there, because the one to take his life must be me.–
The sunglasses man chuckled softly, offering no reply to this somewhat irrational statement.
He knew that for someone with such abilities, possessing unwavering conviction was a prerequisite for sustaining that power.
A faith that defies the rules of reality, an absolute belief in oneself, and an unyielding tenacity of spirit—this was what it took to forge a being who could freely traverse this bizarre city.
Within Shao Minxin’s mind, Matt Chao’s voice continued to echo.
{I can see his throwing range far exceeds that of ordinary people. If he controls it well, that dimensional rift will be like a fish in water to him. Hah, I can’t wait to come over right now and crush him to avenge Zhang Fei!}
[No, this place is still Luo Xin’s territory after all. Once I plant the ‘seed’ you gave me inside him, you can have your way with him tonight. What a pity about Zhang Fei, falling at the hands of such a greenhorn.]
Matt Chao fell silent for a moment, then said calmly:
–It’s also my fault for trusting Zhang Fei too much. Not only did I not go with him to take that beast’s life, I didn’t even bring my weapon. Aghhh, just thinking about it makes my heart bleed. Before entering the A-level Cross Zone, I swear to tear him into pieces so I can explore in peace.–
[With me here, your wish will come true.]
After the sunglasses-wearing man cut off his connection with Matt Chao, he took off his glasses, crouched behind an obstacle, and braced his hands on the ground.
In Shao Min’s eyes, it was as if two spinning pictures were twirling—two cartoon characters.
A triangular glow flickered from his chest.
[I am the Mysterious Triangle!]
–The power of a double-door refrigerator… Cold air storage, activate!–
Frost crystallized within his eyes, forming two icy mists.
The mists twisted as they drifted out from his hollow pupils, which seemed to open left and right.
After emerging from both eye sockets, the two cold auras intertwined in the void ahead, transforming into two cartoonish silhouettes embracing each other. In their hands, they held a tiny simulated moon platform formed from gathered mist.
–Go, throw it onto that person I saw just now.–
They floated up and swiftly surged into the gaps of the collapsed buildings, leaving only a faint thread of shadow connecting to the man’s eye sockets.
In the distance, a slightly plump figure, who had been watching through a telescope, retracted their head.
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