“Tian Anxiu? I remember this woman. She was on Liu Jiayi’s anti-apparition squad back when Liu was still in Dajing.” After Little Seven’s reminder, Shen Ge also recalled where he had seen that face.
“That’s correct, Master. They were the ones assisting your operation at the time. Your main contacts were Liu Jiayi and Fang Mingyue, so your impression of her is probably not that strong. I have already retrieved Tian Anxiu’s relevant file…”
After Little Seven finished speaking, a screen projected from Shen Ge’s wristwatch displayed Tian Anxiu’s confidential file from the Special Measures Department.
Tian Anxiu, formerly a soldier in the Dajing Special Forces, was transferred to the Special Measures Department in 2020 due to outstanding performance. In 2023, she joined Liu Jiayi’s anti-apparition squad.
After Liu Jiayi was transferred to Rong City to take over the Information Department, Tian Anxiu was promoted to deputy squad leader. She was among the many people who came to greet Shen Ge at the airport during his recent visit to Dajing.
This was the information related to Tian Anxiu in the real world Shen Ge came from.
It was now confirmed that the Dream World was a distorted reality born from the chaos of numerous “endings” on Earth-2, a manifestation of a possible “future.”
In other words, the appearance of Tian Anxiu’s head inside this freakish creature meant that in the future, Tian Anxiu would at least survive until after the Shelter Project’s inception. Furthermore, she either became a freak after the shelter went out of control and was taken over by a parasitic apparition, or she willingly underwent the Freakification Project.
If it’s the former, it’s not surprising. As Shen Ge said before, a completely closed doomsday facility like a shelter will inevitably get out of control if there’s a problem inside.
Because apparitions and freaks couldn’t be kept out as completely as zombies or wasteland beasts. First, the intangible Apparition Energy permeating the air couldn’t be completely blocked. Second, non-human organisms had a chance of mutating after inhaling Apparition Energy. Rats and cockroaches appeared wherever there were people, let alone various parasitic apparitions.
Moreover, apparitions constantly mutated. No matter how sturdy the current high walls were, they couldn’t withstand fifth-tier, sixth-tier, or even higher-tier apparitions.
So once the shelter gets out of control, the number of humans decreases while the number of monsters increases, so it’s not surprising that parasitized people appear in restaurants and completely mutated monsters appear in stairwells.
If Tian Anxiu had become like this by accepting the Freakification Project, the problem was much more severe.
This would mean the Shelter Project was fundamentally flawed from the start and was even experimenting on anti-apparition agents. This wasn’t about being infiltrated by a freak organization; it was about becoming one outright!
“Can you analyze its freak type and collect data?” Shen Ge asked.
Little Seven extended several Rotten Blood tentacles to gather information on Tian Anxiu while reporting, “Master, based on the currently collected data, it doesn’t match any freak information in the current database. It should be a new type of freak born in this ‘future.'”
Little Seven’s freak database consisted of two parts: one from the research materials of the Rong City branch in the real world and information Shen Ge collected from various anti-apparition organizations; the other was information gathered from the “future” during the Japanese Apparition Disaster.
Little Seven’s analytical capabilities were unquestionable. If even it couldn’t find matching freak information, it meant this was indeed a “new breed” from the Dream World.
“Log it.” After assisting Little Seven with data collection, Shen Ge ended the life of the freak, Tian Anxiu.
[Host demonstrates unparalleled bravery, single-handedly slaying a Tier 4 apparition. Reward: 5000 System Points, 1 E-grade Recovery Item, 3 F-grade Recovery Items.]
[Apparition corpse can be sold—Value: 8000 System Points.]
Hearing the system’s prompts, Shen Ge felt torn between taking the freak’s corpse back for research or selling it for 8000 System Points.
If he took it back, his Apparition Sleeping Bag already contained two different new types of freaks. Throwing another, higher-tier one in risked feeding an even more terrifying entity.
If he didn’t take it back, this was the latest type of freak from the Dream World. If the Research Department could glean information on “future” freaks from it, it would greatly aid the Special Measures Department’s efforts against freaks.
Shen Ge thought for a moment, then took out the Apparition Sleeping Bag. Opening it, he was surprised to find that the “White Wax Freak” contained during the flight was showing signs of revival, much like an apparition.
On the surface of the other freak corpse stored in a containment bag, some areas were already covered in “white wax.” If discovered any later, the White Wax Freak might have secretly consumed the other corpse.
Reluctantly, Shen Ge poured both freaks out for another round of post-mortem punishment. After ensuring they were dead again, he “packaged” them using containment bags.
After much hesitation, Shen Ge finally decided to pack Tian Anxiu’s freak corpse as well and place it in the Apparition Sleeping Bag. Only items in the sleeping bag could be stored in the Bloodskin Backpack.
To prevent these three freaks from “reviving” and silently consuming the other corpses, Shen Ge instructed Little Seven to continuously monitor the Bloodskin Backpack.
The priority was to find a way out of the Dream World quickly. If that failed, he could always dispose of Tian Anxiu’s corpse later.
Shen Ge continued walking upstairs. Unlike the high-rise buildings in Doomsday Rong City, there wasn’t a Level 4 monster guarding every stairwell here. Instead, there was one every ten floors.
Tian Anxiu guarded the stairwell between floors 1 and 2. The second “freak” Shen Ge encountered was in the stairwell between floors 11 and 12, but the one on floor 11 was far more terrifying than Tian Anxiu.
Tian Anxiu retained half her human form. This monster’s body was completely mutated into a disgusting amalgamation of tumorous flesh and rotten meat.
A large, tooth-filled mouth at its center contained a sinister eyeball. The rotten flesh on its body transformed into numerous Rotten Flesh tentacles clinging to the ceiling and walls, completely blocking the stairwell.
While Shen Ge was still on the tenth floor, the monster seemed to sense his presence. Rotten Blood tentacles crept down the walls like vines.
Thud!
“Ahhh!!!”
Just as Shen Ge prepared to deploy his Apparition Domain to battle the freak, a loud crash followed by a woman’s scream suddenly came from below.
“Hu Tinglan?” Shen Ge immediately recognized Hu Tinglan’s voice. But Hu Tinglan was supposed to be hiding several kilometers away. How could she be here?
Leaving aside whether Hu Tinglan had hidden her strength, even if she had the power to fight apparitions, the sheer number of monsters between her hiding spot and the spire would wear her arms out from slashing.
Shen Ge’s powerful “mental strength” also ensured he wasn’t hallucinating from the Apparition Energy permeating the spire. So, Hu Tinglan must have come to the tower for some reason.
Compared to dealing with the super-freak ahead, Shen Ge was more curious about Hu Tinglan’s situation. Activating both “Formless” and “Traceless” traits, he rushed downstairs.
The tenth floor seemed to be a residential area, with doors neatly lined up on both sides of the corridor like apartments. However, Shen Ge had rushed up the stairs earlier to leave quickly and hadn’t explored each floor.
Shen Ge tried opening a few doors and took a quick look. Each room was a standard one-bedroom apartment, typical of the Special Operations Department. Although they weren’t large, only fifty or sixty square meters, they were considered very comfortable living conditions in the post-apocalyptic world.
Shen Ge searched several rooms. The entire tenth floor was empty. Not only was there no sign of Hu Tinglan, but there weren’t any freaks or apparitions either.
“Could it be an illusion caused by the freak on the eleventh floor?” Shen Ge recalled that during their previous joint operation, Hu Tinglan had been constantly affected by hallucinations from the Apparition Energy in the air.
Little Seven replied, “Master, I did not detect any signs of interference in your behavior earlier. I also heard Hu Tinglan’s voice.”
If Little Seven said so, it proved Shen Ge wasn’t hallucinating. Based on past experiences at East Ring Lake, when he was affected by illusions, Little Seven remained unaffected.
Considering this, Shen Ge quickened his pace to explore further. Since there weren’t even any monsters on this floor, he deactivated his traits to conserve Apparition Energy.
If an apparition or freak discovered him, it would save him time searching. Hu Tinglan’s scream suggested she had encountered a monster. Given the time that had passed without finding her, she had likely been devoured by a freak or apparition.
Shen Ge soon reached the end of the tenth floor. Strangely, the end wasn’t the double doors leading to the stairwell but a “black door” similar to the room doors along the way.
“Master, detecting strong Apparition Energy fluctuations ahead!” Little Seven suddenly warned.
Shen Ge also felt a strong sense of oppression at this moment, and the closer he got to the black door, the stronger this sense of oppression became.
Even more bizarrely, a voice seemed to urge him forward in his mind, compelling him to open the black door.
Something inside seemed to be calling to him as well.
Instinctively, Shen Ge activated the triple-trait state of “Formless + Soundless + Traceless.” Once the trait powers were active, the strange oppressive feeling weakened considerably.
But just like using his Apparition Domain to resist apparition and freak energy, his own Apparition Energy was depleting rapidly, seemingly resisting the oppressive feeling in the air. In the blink of an eye, Shen Ge’s Apparition Energy was struggling to hold on, forcing him to deactivate the traits.
Little Seven seemed to sense the danger too. Since Shen Ge was clad in full-body Red Mist Armor, Little Seven extended numerous Rotten Blood tentacles from the back. Using the “Unrelenting” trait of the Apparition Gloves, it wrapped them around nearby door handles and walls, preventing Shen Ge from being pulled toward the black door.
Influenced by the voice, Shen Ge moved forward unconsciously. At this moment, it was as if he had a split personality. His clear consciousness told him that it would be very dangerous to approach the black door, but another personality took control of his body and forcibly moved towards the black door.
When Shen Ge was less than five meters from the black door, an intense sense of fear suddenly gripped him. This feeling was familiar, eerily similar to the bizarre, trembling fear he experienced in the room full of “eyes” within the spire in末日 Rong City!
Click.
Click.
At this moment, Shen Ge’s hand had involuntarily gripped the doorknob. The sound of the doorknob turning felt like an invisible hand squeezing Shen Ge’s heart, suppressing its beating and amplifying his fear.
Creeeak—
With a jarring screech, the door was slowly pushed open.
Behind the door, however, was not a room at all. To say that the door was “opened” was more like a fat giant cutting open his belly, which was filled with disgusting fat and internal organs.
Horrifyingly, those flesh-foam-like fat blobs were covered in eyes, all originally fixed on the center of the “room.” As the door opened, they simultaneously turned their gaze towards Shen Ge at the doorway.
Shen Ge found his body completely frozen, fear was constantly devouring his consciousness, and he seemed unable to do anything except breathe.
Once again, Shen Ge witnessed that unforgettable scene—
A room full of eyes stared at him. The space echoed with his childhood voice: “Found you, found you, found you!”
The sound grew more urgent and shrill!
“Ah—”
“Ahhh!!!”
Shen Ge felt his head was about to explode. In that instant, it was as if countless pieces of information flooded his mind, causing his memories to become chaotic.
Memories that were once “vague” became clear, and memories that were once “clear” became blurry. Familiar scenes flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern, making it impossible for Shen Ge to distinguish which were real and which were “false memories”!
Shen Ge roared in agony, the air around him trembling violently. The strange energy emanating from his body stubbornly resisted the strange energy surging from the room. The two different strange energies collided violently, as if trying to tear the entire space apart.
Just then, with a piercing creak, a door opened not far behind him, followed by Hu Tinglan’s voice—
“Agent Shen? Is that you? Agent Shen?”
Her voice was filled with surprise and fear, as if she too had just experienced something terrifying.
But this sudden voice shattered the tranquility of the corridor, jolting Shen Ge, who was nearly losing consciousness, back to his senses.
Shen Ge felt his consciousness being devoured by an unknown force. He endured the intense pain in his head and gritted his teeth, saying to Xiao Qi, “Inject…all…of…the…red mist…into…my…body!”
“Master, that’s too dangerous!”
“Now!”
As an artificial intelligence, the foundation of Little Seven’s instruction was Shen Ge’s commands. Even if Shen Ge ordered it to kill him, it would execute without hesitation!
Immediately, Little Seven retracted the rotting blood tentacles that were attached to the wall, restored the Red Mist Armor to normal mode, and then injected all the weird energy into Shen Ge’s body.
Shen Ge’s supernatural power surged rapidly while simultaneously declining at an alarming rate, causing the air to vibrate and tremble even more violently!
Without Little Seven controlling the red mist armor to adhere to the wall and obstruct his way, Shen Ge had already stepped one foot into the room before him. Just as he was about to enter completely, he suddenly raised his hand and slammed it against the wall beside him—
“One Hundredfold Power Amplification!”
BOOM!
Instantly, the entire building seemed to shake violently, followed by a deafening rumble of collapse!
