He Fang had logged off. Meanwhile, in the game, several key participants of this exploration journey had gathered together, discussing a highly significant matter.
“I’m against this. Has everyone already forgotten what happened last time when the Creator went missing in the Nightmare Beast Forest? Have you all so quickly forgotten the despair we felt back then?” Yuan Zhiran still remembered that brief yet agonizing few hours when they had suddenly lost contact with the Creator. He could not bear to experience that pain again.
“This time, we will make thorough preparations in advance and ensure everyone in the city feels reassured,” Zhu Yan said.
“But who can guarantee that nothing will go wrong? If something truly happens, who will take responsibility?” Yuan Zhiran was almost at odds with Zhu Yan. He still held a grudge over Zhu Yan’s reckless decision last time to let He Fang pilot for the first time.
“Every experiment comes with the possibility of failure. Every launch is the same,” Zhu Yan said, his cold gaze fixed on the agitated Yuan Zhiran.
At this moment, Yuan Zhiran’s striking features appeared even more intense, his pupils seemingly ablaze. “Even if there must be sacrifices, under no circumstances should the one sacrificed be the Creator!”
“The Creator will return to us,” Zhu Yan frowned.
“But can you ensure that no psychological harm will come to the Creator?!”
Zhu Yan stared at Yuan Zhiran with an indifferent expression. “You always hesitate and tread carefully in pursuit of peace. But can you truly understand that what the Creator longs for is adventure and the unknown?”
Yuan Zhiran’s face darkened. “After the last failure, have you truly felt no regret or self-reflection at all? The Creator’s safety should be our top priority.”
The argument between Zhu Yan and Yuan Zhiran was nearly at a breaking point, while the others sat quietly, unsure how to intervene.
Well, to be precise, the only one who had no idea how to interject was Guo Miaofeng, who had been sitting there the whole time, utterly confused. He had always assumed that the Creator intended for him to lead the team alone. It had never crossed his mind that the Creator would actually be joining the expedition as well.
Now sitting in the corner, Guo Miaofeng was filled with self-doubt. Could he ensure the Creator’s safety on this journey and bring them back unharmed? Could he meet the Creator’s expectations?
Ever since he had brought the Creator back from the mountain last time, Guo Miaofeng’s colleagues had taken turns giving him a thorough scolding. They pointed out every single one of his shortcomings, criticizing everything he had done wrong. Already aware that he wasn’t the sharpest, Guo Miaofeng had now fallen into deep confusion.
Meanwhile, Chong Ying sat beside Chong Xiao, earnestly cheering on his older brother. “Bro! The plane doesn’t have any rooms at all—it’s just a very small space. That means we’ll be stuck in close quarters with the Creator for a long time. You need to control yourself and, for heaven’s sake, don’t do anything stupid, got it?”
Chong Xiao’s dark eyes glanced at his younger brother before he shifted his gaze away, giving a barely perceptible nod.
But knowing exactly what kind of personality his brother had, Chong Ying wasn’t fooled by this half-hearted response. Frustrated beyond words, he clenched his fists. “Bro! You need to get yourself together! You can’t just let others outshine you like this!”
At that moment, Chong Xiao’s dark eyes lifted slightly and glanced past Chong Ying. Instantly, Chong Ying’s entire body stiffened as he realized something. Turning around, he was met with Yuan Zhiran’s icy, menacing expression—and immediately shrank back.
“You’re this happy to let the Creator leave?” Yuan Zhiran’s beautiful face was now tinged with coldness.
Chong Ying knew that Yuan Zhiran was truly furious this time, so he cautiously hesitated before saying, “But this is the Creator’s decision. NPCs aren’t supposed to interfere with a player’s will, right?”
Yuan Zhiran paused for a moment, shifting his gaze away. “It’s not impossible. An NPC’s settings and dialogue can influence a player’s choices to some extent.”
In a game, NPCs could provide different branching options that led players into various subplots based on their choices. Yuan Zhiran was already contemplating how to use the NPC mechanics to ensure that the Creator would stay in a safe place and wait for the exploration team to return.
“If you ask me, I believe my brother can definitely protect the Creator.” As a younger brother, Chong Ying had blind trust in his sibling.
Yuan Zhiran’s expression remained cold as he suddenly turned toward Guo Miaofeng, who had been silent the entire time. “Guo Miaofeng, what about you? Do you think the Creator should go with the expedition team?”
Snapped out of his thoughts by the sudden mention of his name, Guo Miaofeng was clearly unaccustomed to dealing with such complex matters. Scratching his head, he awkwardly faced the overbearing, stunningly beautiful young man before him. “Does the Creator’s decision not count?”
Yuan Zhiran immediately refuted, “Of course it counts. But we need to ensure the Creator’s safety.”
“Does the Creator not know how dangerous it is?” Guo Miaofeng’s simple counter left Yuan Zhiran speechless. He looked at Guo Miaofeng with a complicated expression.
Just then, a soft chuckle rang out. Zhu Yan, clearly amused by the conversation, cast a subtle glance at Guo Miaofeng.
“Why don’t we conduct a small experiment?” Zhu Yan suggested. “Let’s see how the Creator chooses.”
Yuan Zhiran turned to him, finally letting go of his insistence. “Let’s hear it.”
—
He Fang had his own reasons for deciding to take the initiative and follow the expedition team into the Nightmare Beast Forest.
First, he believed that given the current speed of the aircraft, it would undoubtedly be able to reach the forest’s borders. After all, in reality, airplanes could cross half the globe without issue. While the rivers might twist and turn a little, they wouldn’t necessarily affect the overall speed.
He needed to see, with his own eyes, what the world beyond the Nightmare Beast Forest looked like. He had to be the first to grasp the situation outside, ahead of all the NPCs.
Moreover, any place he reached could be mapped out. By comparing his map with the one Guo Miaofeng had charted, they could avoid potential mistakes.
And most importantly…
He had to ensure the safety of his important NPCs. He didn’t want them to unknowingly disappear in a place beyond his sight.
Having confirmed the departure time, He Fang calculated the schedule and set an alarm for himself. After waking up the next day and having breakfast, he would be fully energized and ready to embark on his expedition.
Suddenly, a message popped up on his phone: “Dear customer, ‘Perfect Chicken Soup’ is launching a new delicious dish today—Calming Chicken Soup! Order now and get a buy-one-get-one-free deal, plus two complimentary bottles of cola. Don’t miss out!”
He Fang was stunned. Was there really such a good deal? Although he always thought that buy-one-get-one-free promotions were just marketing gimmicks, he had eaten at Perfect Chicken Soup before. While it was a bit pricey, the taste was excellent. Whether it was their roasted chicken or their nourishing chicken soup, the flavors were uniquely delicious. Feeling curious, He Fang opened the app and tapped into the store’s page.
At the top of the page, he immediately saw the featured promotion: “Calming Chicken Soup – Buy One, Get One Free.” Clicking on it, he read the description: “One whole chicken, a bowl of chicken soup, and a bowl of rice. Eat it, and you’ll sleep through the night without dreaming! Let our delicious food provide you with the perfect sleep! Comes with a free drink, too!”
He Fang raised an eyebrow. The purchase required buying two portions at once, but the price for one was about the same as the other dishes on the menu. Testing it out, he tapped on the order button and was surprised to see that the total really was only the price of a single portion.
Still somewhat skeptical, he placed the order. Even if the deal wasn’t as generous as advertised, just getting two free bottles of cola along with a hearty chicken soup meal was enough to make him satisfied. Besides, the restaurant had always been generous with their portions—one whole chicken plus soup was enough to last him two meals. It was definitely worth it.
As he played some relaxing games to pass the time, he waited for the delivery. Eventually, his phone buzzed with a notification: the food had been left at his doorstep.
He Fang noticed that the delivery wasn’t from the usual courier but from a completely unfamiliar number. Strangely, he felt relieved—he really couldn’t handle the enthusiasm of that blonde delivery guy from before.
When he saw the food, his eyes lit up.
Such a huge portion!
And two full sets!
This was amazing!
He eagerly opened the package, and the rich aroma of chicken and soup immediately hit him. Looking at the steaming hot, perfectly cooked rice, the glistening whole chicken still untouched in its packaging, He Fang suddenly felt like this meal had reached a whole new level. What a lucky day—this was going to be delicious!
Since he had two servings, he didn’t hold back. He devoured an entire chicken in one go. Completely stuffed, he had to walk around his room several times just to digest it.
Delicious—utterly satisfying without being greasy, and the flavor was amazing.
But after eating, drowsiness hit hard.
As He Fang lay down on his bed, he realized for the first time just how incredibly comfortable it was.
The moment his head touched the pillow, he couldn’t get up.
The bed was the coziest, most relaxing place in the world.
He absolutely loved it.
He had originally planned to play games for a while longer, but before he knew it, he had sunk into a deep, inescapable sleep.
His alarm kept ringing, louder and more annoying than ever. He Fang had never found it this unbearable—perhaps not since his high school days.
He was so tired, utterly exhausted. His body felt sluggish, like it hadn’t fully woken up. He tried to sit up—no, he had sat up. He had even gone to wash up. But then, he blinked unconsciously—
And suddenly realized he was still in bed.
Had he only dreamed about getting up to wash up?
He had set an alarm—there must have been something really important he needed to do. Struggling through the haze of drowsiness, He Fang tried to recall his original plan from the mess of his muddled mind.
What was it again?
“Ah, the game.”
With a sudden jolt, He Fang flipped over and sat up—only to collapse right back onto the bed, overcome with exhaustion. Today, his bed seemed to have an even stronger pull than usual, making it utterly impossible to break free from its warm, soft, and comforting embrace. It was like a seductive little enchantress, luring him into its depths, wanting him to sink into its tender warmth forever.
And yet, no matter how overwhelmingly sleepy he was, his mind kept nagging at him—he had to log into the game. He had scheduled something important today.
Just a little longer… Just a short nap…
But what if he overslept?
Forcing himself up, He Fang sat on the bed, hoping that staying upright would help him wake up. But he was just too tired.
Too tired… Way too tired… Maybe he should just skip the game. He had already entrusted the task to Guo Miaofeng—that NPC might be a little slow-witted, but he had his own way of getting things done. He Fang was sure that, somehow, Guo Miaofeng would handle the situation.
He had to trust his NPC.
So sleepy…
So, so sleepy…
And yet, strangely, He Fang found that he couldn’t go back to sleep. No matter how comfortable the bed was, he still ended up getting up.
Half-conscious, he stumbled into the bathroom, hoping that washing up would help clear his head.
Sleep—he could always get more sleep later.
He could even sleep inside the game.
No matter what, he had to witness with his own eyes the moment “Ruins Without Restart” paved a new path.
He Fang splashed his face with cold water, finally waking up a little. He made himself a bowl of oatmeal with milk, then launched the game.
He arrived at the designated location right on time.
“I’m here, I’m here! I’m not late.” He Fang yawned. But then, he noticed something strange—everyone was looking at him with an odd expression. He froze for a moment. “Uh… what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Zhu Yan said, but he had an inscrutable smile on his face. He glanced at Yuan Zhiran, whose expression was particularly grim, and his smile deepened. “Very good. Lord City Master, let’s set off.”
“Alright.” He Fang glanced around. “Huh? Where’s that female researcher?”
“She had something to take care of, so I’m filling in for her,” Zhu Yan explained with a polite smile.
“But didn’t you say you wanted to focus on studying and didn’t want to come?” He Fang was puzzled.
Zhu Yan still maintained his usual cool demeanor, but whenever he spoke to He Fang, there was always a quiet warmth beneath his aloofness.
“I’ve arranged for all my lectures to be recorded. I’ll study them later. Given my intellect, I’m confident I can absorb the material even without attending class directly. Besides, I believe this journey will offer me plenty of valuable learning experiences as well.”
“Alright then.” He Fang didn’t particularly care which researcher accompanied them.
But if it was Zhu Yan, he actually felt a little more at ease.
Just then, someone suddenly hugged him from behind. A faint, floral fragrance—fresh and youthful—lingered in the air. The strikingly radiant boy, who always carried an air of brightness, now, for once, revealed a rare trace of vulnerability.
“City Lord,” the boy whispered, his voice soft yet firm, “you must come back safely.”
Was he… worried?
He Fang blinked, feeling a little uncertain.
Had NPCs really become advanced enough to express concern for him?
He gently patted Yuan Zhiran’s arm, which was still wrapped around him. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to keep you all safe.”
Yuan Zhiran froze for a moment. His rosy lips trembled slightly as if he wanted to argue, but in the end, he said, “Then… I’ll entrust my subordinates to your care.”
“Got it,” He Fang responded with a smile. “I’ll bring them back to you safe and sound.”
Yuan Zhiran watched as their Creator boarded the aircraft, yet his heart felt heavy.
He was truly worried about their Creator’s safety.
But he also understood that their Creator would never abandon any part of their world’s development so easily.
“I will give the Creator a choice, a moment to decide between reason and desire,” Zhu Yan had once said, his words still echoing in Yuan Zhiran’s mind. “But in the end, I will win. Even if to the Creator, all of this is just a game—when it comes to us within the game, he takes everything with absolute seriousness.”
Zhu Yan wasn’t the kind of person who would resort to tricks in a gamble like this.
And his unwavering confidence made Yuan Zhiran wonder—was it possible that he would never truly understand their Creator?
Perhaps it was precisely because he didn’t understand that he kept chasing after him, kept being drawn in by every unexpected twist, until, time and time again, he found himself utterly captivated by their Creator.
To Yuan Zhiran, the moment their creator appeared was like seeing a sky full of dazzling stars in the vast darkness.
——
He Fang silently looked at the row of temporary expedition team members, all clad in armor and wearing masks. His emotions were complicated.
Wow, all the designs from his cringy teenage phase actually got made.
No matter how intelligent these NPCs are, they probably still can’t grasp the concept of social death or aesthetic judgment, right? Someone, please save this poor kid—what kind of ultimate social-death-inducing exhibition of chūnibyō designs is this?
Honestly, this alone would’ve been fine.
He could pretend he was at an anime convention.
But what He Fang never expected was that one day, he’d actually have to wear one of these ridiculously chūnibyō designs himself. At that moment, he suddenly felt grateful for the mask on his face—otherwise, his expression of utter despair would’ve been completely exposed to the N-PCs around him. If they asked him whether he was feeling unwell, he wouldn’t even know how to explain.
Not that he could explain anything anyway.
What made it even worse was that, at the very least, the others were wearing normal male-designed armor. Meanwhile, He Fang couldn’t possibly admit that the one he was wearing was originally designed as female armor.
Sure, compared to the NPCs, who looked like they’d been sculpted from a model template, he was undeniably on the thinner side. But did that really justify making him wear women’s armor?!
Why didn’t his past self bother to properly draw the chest for this female armor design? Back then, he had been too embarrassed, so he just skipped it—but this was undeniably meant to be a women’s set!
He Fang lay half-slumped in the passenger seat, feeling utterly defeated.
His gaze shifted to the familiar white beast mask of the person behind him. After a few glances, the person finally spoke.
“It’s me, Min Zhizhou. There’s no need to keep guessing, City Lord,” came Min Zhizhou’s voice.
He Fang hadn’t expected Min Zhizhou to come along. “I didn’t include you in the escort list.”
He was well aware of how fragile Min Zhizhou was. To keep him from being eroded by the terrifying world outside the city, He Fang had chosen to keep this delicate yet strong-willed NPC within the city’s safety.
“I volunteered,” Min Zhizhou said, his tone carrying a sense of emotion.
“Aren’t you afraid?” He Fang asked.
“I am. Especially after experiencing a life so beautiful it feels like a dream, I fear what’s about to come more than anything.”
His response was exactly what He Fang had expected. It was easy to go from hardship to luxury, but to go from luxury back to hardship—few could endure that. That Min Zhizhou still had the courage to step out after tasting a life he’d never dared to dream of only reaffirmed to He Fang that bringing him into the city had been one of his best decisions.
“You really don’t have to come,” He Fang explained.
“It’s precisely because you didn’t require me to follow that I insisted on coming,” Min Zhizhou said. “If we’re venturing out, then I want to do whatever I can to help you. I’ve already lived days I never even dared to dream of. I’ve gained more than enough. If possible, I’d like others who have suffered as I once did to also experience the thriving life you’ve brought to this city.”
Hearing this, He Fang remained silent. Min Zhizhou’s resolve was unwavering.
And that was precisely what He Fang liked about him.
If even someone like him was forced to become a mercenary risking his life, then the situation outside must be unimaginably grim.
This time, their destination was clear. Looking out the window, He Fang could see a distinct river winding through the land, and beyond it, an endless stretch of pitch-black—the Nightmare Beast Forest. A vast expanse of darkness stretched as far as the eye could see as if it had no end.
Though there was a water source, even the riverbed was tainted. Deep beneath the surface, Revival Nightmaore Plants thrived, remnants of the life that had once perished in these waters.
They had been traveling from the city into the Nightmare Beast Forest for quite some time now, following the stream as their guide. Yet the darkness remained boundless, seemingly moving along with them, ever-present.
And yet… everything had been eerily safe.
In this world, the true horror wasn’t zombies or mutated beasts—it was Nightmare Beast Seeds. Unlike traditional threats, these seeds weren’t overwhelmingly aggressive. Instead, they spread silently, like a virus creeping into every corner of existence. That was likely the reason they had once been able to wipe out life on such a massive scale.
Gazing at the river flowing beneath them, He Fang couldn’t help but wonder—how many lush forests once thrived here? How many prosperous cities had stood in these lands?
A world that should have been filled with beauty had instead been swallowed whole by this abyss of darkness.
He Fang opened his system map, but as expected, it remained locked. Without finding an exit, he couldn’t fully access it. For now, his only reliable guide was the map drawn by Guo Miaofeng.
Fortunately, ever since he had accepted the map that Guo Miaofeng had secretly charted of the Nightmare Beast Forest, his system had directly copied it in full onto his own map. This confirmed one thing—as long as his NPCs could reach a location, he could integrate the map into his system.
Their current journey was mainly to verify the accuracy of the map. Once he managed to get out, his system map would generate a complete route, allowing him to compare it with Guo Miaofeng’s version. Though he felt a bit guilty admitting it, he had to acknowledge that Guo Miaofeng’s map was far more detailed than his own.
He Fang glanced sideways at Guo Miaofeng, who was in the driver’s seat, still tirelessly sketching. Not once had he paused.
“It’s so quiet,” He Fang finally couldn’t help but say.
The moment his words fell, Chong Ying gave Chong Xiao a heavy jab in the side. Chong Xiao didn’t dodge, taking the hit from his younger brother head-on. However, he remained silent as ever, like a closed-off vault that refused to utter a single word.
Chong Ying was beyond frustrated with this mute-like behavior. If not for the helmet he was wearing, he would’ve yanked out his brother’s hair in sheer exasperation.
“This is normal. Based on my assessment, our journey this time shouldn’t be dangerous,” Zhu Yan spoke up, taking the initiative to respond to He Fang. “The Nightmare Beast Seeds in the forest seem to have a shared connection. Once they realize they can’t find a viable host, all of them abandon the attempt, as if they share a collective consciousness.”
“If the Revival Nightmare Plant won’t attack us, does that mean the Nightmare Beasts will?” He Fang asked, unable to suppress his concern. After all, those creatures had once breached the city, attempting to parasitize them.
“I believe they will,” Min Zhizhou said, making his judgment based on experience. “When the Nightmare Beast Seeds parasitize a living being, they alter its thoughts—but only its thoughts, not its consciousness. The being remains alive, but it gains the Nightmare Beast Seed’s instinct—the instinct to parasitize.”
He Fang still remembered when Min Zhizhou’s squad had approached him back then. Even in that state, they had likely retained their thoughts and remained his teammates.
“Didn’t you ever hesitate? No matter what, they were still your family, your friends.”
It was a question He Fang had never dared to ask Min Zhizhou before. But in this overwhelmingly silent environment, he felt as if he had been granted the courage to finally voice it.
“That’s exactly why humanity fell so quickly.”
Because people hesitated. Because they couldn’t bring themselves to act against their loved ones. And so, the Nightmare Beast Seeds continued to spread endlessly.
Just then, He Fang suddenly noticed movement deep within the Nightmare Beast Forest. He quickly activated the magnifier on the aircraft’s window display—
What he saw was an entire pride of lions, wandering through the darkness.
“Alive? Or Nightmare Beasts?” He Fang asked immediately. Even after zooming in, he couldn’t see any light in the lions’ eyes—they had likely already turned into Nightmare Beasts.
The pride moved sluggishly, without any clear destination, as if they were simply drifting forward.
“They’re Nightmare Beasts,” Min Zhizhou confirmed after observing the scene.
“How can you be so sure?” He Fang was puzzled.
“Instinct.” Min Zhizhou kept his gaze on the pride. “It’s a sense honed over time, just like how a trained person can distinguish between citric acid and acetic acid.”
“…That’s an oddly fitting comparison.”
“This is good news.”
Just then, Zhu Yan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. “Even if they’ve become Nightmare Beasts, they are still living beings. The Nightmare Beast Forest has existed for a long time. Based on Min Zhizhou’s explanation, there shouldn’t be any creatures still capable of movement within it. And yet, here they are.”
It took He Fang a moment to process this, but then his eyes widened. “You mean—?!”
“They must be wild animals that wandered in from outside the forest,” Zhu Yan stated, his voice cold and emotionless beneath his armored mask. “They were likely deceived by the Nightmare Beast Forest’s deceptive stillness and unknowingly entered. Once inside, they were parasitized by the Revival Nightmare Plant’s Nightmare Beast Seeds.”
Lions.
He Fang had never expected the first real sign of hope to come in the form of lions. Lions from the outside.
Even if these lions had already become Nightmare Beasts over the past month or two and had been roaming aimlessly, their mere presence suggested something incredible—they weren’t far from the exit.
He Fang found it hard to believe.
At that moment, the lions seemed to notice them in the sky. They lifted their heads high, their expressions turning ferocious as if they wanted to attack. But they couldn’t fly. They could only glare up at them with raw, vicious intent, their murderous eyes locked onto their airborne prey.
He Fang turned his head away, unwilling to look any longer.
As they continued forward, he began to see scattered Nightmare Beasts that were still able to move.
“What a vast body of water—is that a river?” Guo Miaofeng suddenly asked.
He Fang immediately looked ahead. It was an enormous black expanse of water, forming a massive, irregular circle. Though the surface had visible ripples from the wind, it still had an eerie, stagnant quality—like a pool of dead water.
“That’s a lake,” He Fang corrected.
“But… this lake—there’s nowhere else to go.” Guo Miaofeng’s voice carried a hint of concern.
He Fang frowned deeply. He pulled up his map, and sure enough, the route ahead had been cut off by the lake.
“Circle around the lake’s perimeter. See if there’s a stream extending outward.”
In He Fang’s plan, the final extension of the waterway should have been a river. He hadn’t expected it to turn into a lake instead.
Guo Miaofeng piloted the aircraft lower, gradually descending.
Suddenly—
A piercing bird cry rang through the air.
From the depths of the black Nightmare Beast Forest, a massive flock of dark-feathered birds erupted into the sky. There were so many of them, their sheer numbers shrouded the entire space, swallowing the landscape in a wave of shadow.
“They’re avian Nightmare Beasts,” Min Zhizhou tensed up, his entire body on high alert. “Their lifespan is extremely short, but they’re incredibly difficult to eliminate. If a flock of them launches a coordinated attack, there’s basically no way to counter it.”
“But for us, they’re just a bunch of crazed birds trying to attack,” Zhu Yan said coldly.
“Can we ignore them?” He Fang asked.
“They’ll interfere with the aircraft’s controls,” Guo Miaofeng furrowed his brows as he temporarily brought the aircraft to a hover. “If they get into the thrusters, it could cause a malfunction.”
“They won’t,” Zhu Yan half-squinted his eyes. “I already accounted for this. It won’t be an issue.”
Guo Miaofeng quietly exhaled in relief. “Then the only problem is visibility, which shouldn’t be too serious.”
“I’ll take over the controls,” He Fang narrowed his eyes, already deep in thought. “Min Zhizhou, work with Guo Miaofeng to analyze the distribution of the Revival Nightmare Plants.”
“Got it.” Guo Miaofeng responded promptly, immediately teaming up with Min Zhizhou to mark the Revival Nightmare Plants’ spread.
Meanwhile, Zhu Yan silently observed He Fang. Even though the helmet of his armor prevented him from seeing the Creator’s face, he could vividly picture the expression beneath it—focused, meticulous, unraveling each thread to find the core of the problem, driven by a deep curiosity and a spirit of exploration. When He Fang was lost in thought like this, he was more captivating than ever.
At the same time, Zhu Yan also noticed another pair of eyes fixed on He Fang. That soldier, Chong Xiao, had clearly also been caught in the moment, drawn in by He Fang’s intense charm.
Chong Ying, clearly exasperated, leaned in to whisper urgently to his brother, “Bro, if you don’t do something soon, someone else is going to steal all the attention!”
Outside the aircraft, the sharp, rapid sound of impact rang out—thwack, thwack, thwack! The avian Nightmare Beasts were hurling themselves against the aircraft’s exterior with relentless force. They soared up to the highest possible distance before diving down at full speed, crashing into what they perceived to be the aircraft’s weakest points.
They didn’t fear death.
They didn’t feel pain.
Even when their heads were crushed into pulp, their bloodied, mangled bodies would still manage to spread their wings and take flight once more—desperate to smear every last bit of their flesh onto the aircraft.
“Tch, the bloodstains are blocking too much of our vision,” Min Zhizhou frowned.
“I could go outside and draw their attention?” Guo Miaofeng suggested.
“Is there any chance we can make them flee like last time, by showing them something terrifying?” Chong Ying asked from the side.
“Humans have the instinct to flee because human thought is complex,” Zhu Yan replied. “But birds are different. Their thinking is simple, easier to manipulate, so a scare tactic might not work.”
He added, “These things really are annoying. Even if they’re not much of a threat, they’re still disgusting.”
Zhu Yan, who had always been a stickler for cleanliness, found these filthy creatures utterly repulsive. The fact that their vile, tainted blood was smeared all over the aircraft—the aircraft carrying their Creator—was enough to fill him with overwhelming disgust. Even if he were to tear them apart limb by limb, it wouldn’t be enough to satisfy his fury.
Beneath his mask, Zhu Yan’s expression grew darker and darker. The worst part? These mindless, thoughtless creatures couldn’t even feel pain. There was no way to make them suffer, no way to truly exact revenge. The realization only made him even angrier.
“Shall we kill them?” Chong Ying suddenly asked.
“Can we?” Min Zhizhou asked, a bit doubtful.
“We can,” Chong Ying replied. He glanced at their Creator, who was still deep in thought, then at his own older brother, who had remained completely silent and nearly invisible up to this point. If they didn’t do something soon, they were going to get completely overshadowed. Without hesitation, Chong Ying pulled Chong Xiao over and said, “My brother and I will handle it. We’ll make sure these disgusting things never move again.”
Chong Ying headed to the back of the aircraft, retrieving the stored anti-Nightmare Beast weapons. His gaze swept past the glass, locking onto the revolting flock of Nightmare Birds outside. A restless, eager light flickered across the sharp features of the young man’s face.
“Let’s see who’s faster—Nightmare Birds or me!” Chong Ying shoved one of the anti-Nightmare Beast weapons into Chong Xiao’s hand. “Open the door for a moment, then close it. Don’t worry, we won’t let a single one of these nasty things inside. Even I find them disgusting.”
Though Chong Ying wasn’t the most physically gifted, he had undergone rigorous training. The moment the hatch opened, he swiftly fired off several brilliant light projectiles before Chong Xiao grabbed him by the waist and leaped onto the top of the aircraft.
“Brother, cover me and take care of any stragglers!” Chong Ying’s eyes gleamed with exhilaration. “Wipe them all out! We can’t let our esteemed City Lord have his eyes sullied by these filthy creatures!”
With the anti-Nightmare Beast gun strapped to his waist, Chong Ying unleashed an advanced rapid-fire Gatling variant, its sheer firepower breaking through the oppressive darkness of the Nightmare Beast Forest. Despite the weapon’s uncontrollable recoil and the impossibility of precise aim, his accuracy was terrifyingly high. The dazzling flashes of light didn’t faze him in the slightest—his eyes, hidden behind his mask, remained locked onto the swarming mass of birds. Not a single one would be allowed near the aircraft.
Meanwhile, Chong Xiao, more suited for close combat, moved with deadly precision. Every Avian Nightmare Beast that slipped past Chong Ying’s barrage met a swift and elegant demise, cleaved cleanly in two by the blade of his anti-Nightmare Beast sword. Though the birds were larger than the light-blade itself, each strike landed so accurately that they never even had the chance to struggle midair before being sliced apart.
These two brothers were, after all, the strongest in the city.
“They’re even noisier than the Nightmare Beasts,” Zhu Yan muttered. He was well aware that Chong Ying was trying to steal the spotlight, but he had to admit—despite the racket, at least those irritating creatures had stopped crashing into the aircraft.
Zhu Yan narrowed his eyes at the red stains on the plane, his brows furrowing slightly. If he remembered correctly, Nightmare Beasts weren’t supposed to have blood.
“Nightmare Beasts shouldn’t have blood. These birds might have just been parasitized.” Zhu Yan suddenly heard He Fang murmuring from the cockpit.
He Fang was working hard to piece together all the information in his mind. According to Min Zhizhou, the stronger the life force of a creature, the longer it could survive after being parasitized. Insects were likely drained almost instantly, while the lions they had encountered an hour ago had lasted much longer. Given the aircraft’s speed, those lions had probably been Nightmare Beasts for quite some time.
But these birds—there were so many of them, densely packed together. Birds had much weaker vitality compared to lions, meaning the parasitization process should have been extremely quick. There shouldn’t have been this much blood left. This suggested that the Nightmare Beast seeds had only recently infected them.
So where had these birds come from?
The lake had reached its end, but at the very edge, He Fang noticed something strange. A naturally formed lake should have dense trees surrounding it, with a deep, sloping shoreline. This lake fit that description—except for one peculiar opening at its farthest point.
It was almost as if…
“It looks like there was once an outlet here, but it was forcibly sealed off,” Zhu Yan finished He Fang’s unspoken thought. Only then did He Fang realize he had been speaking aloud.
He Fang looked up. “If someone wanted to stop the Nightmare Beast Forest from spreading, simply blocking a single lake wouldn’t be enough. That means humans might have taken additional measures to contain it.”
Zhu Yan nodded, agreeing with He Fang’s analysis.
He Fang continued, “The Nightmare Beast Forest has a clear boundary—one side is darkness and the other is light. We may not be able to see true light yet, but we could be just a step away from it.”
Under his mask, Zhu Yan’s expression relaxed slightly. There was a hint of pride in his tone as he responded, “Yes, City Lord.”
“City Lord, the map is ready.” At that moment, Guo Miaofeng unfolded the map in front of He Fang.
“I can’t guarantee I’ve found every single one, but this is the most accurate distribution of the Revival Nightmare Plants I could deduce,” Min Zhizhou said.
He Fang studied the map intently and slowly analyzed, “Based on the distribution of Revival Nightmare Plants from the city’s outskirts, we can see that they exist even at the city’s edge. But here—there’s absolutely nothing. That could mean that this area no longer has any signs of life.”
“It looks almost like a deliberately drawn boundary,” Zhu Yan remarked as he examined the map.
He Fang and Zhu Yan exchanged a glance before simultaneously turning toward the same direction—a pitch-black void, with no glimmer of light escaping from it. But…
“Do you think it’s possible?” He Fang asked hesitantly. He wanted reassurance from his NPC.
“I am absolutely certain of your judgment, City Lord.” Zhu Yan found himself unable to resist the allure of his Creator at this moment. The Creator seemed to be seeking his opinion, yet it felt more like a display of power—like a superior proving their strength. And he, in turn, could only offer unwavering faith, affirmation, and devotion.
“Then let’s give it a try.” He Fang, seated in the cockpit, steadily pushed the controls forward. “Guo Miaofeng, keep updating the map. I’m going to leave this lake for now—make sure we don’t lose our heading!”
“Yes, City Lord.” Guo Miaofeng responded with utmost seriousness.
He Fang narrowed his eyes slightly, his hands steady on the controls. Without the obstruction of the Avian Nightmare Beasts, he was certain that there would be no deviation in their course.
Meanwhile, atop the aircraft, Chong Xiao sensed something and suddenly dropped to one knee, slamming his palm down to pin Chong Ying against the plane.
All the Avian Nightmare Beasts had been completely wiped out. Chong Ying, who hadn’t even had the chance to celebrate, was now restrained in such an undignified position by his own brother. He felt utterly humiliated.
“Brother! You’re going to make the City Lord laugh at me like this!” Chong Ying protested angrily, puffing up his cheeks as he struggled to break free from Chong Xiao’s grip. “If it were the City Lord, you definitely wouldn’t pin him down like this—you’d be hugging him in your arms! I want a hug too! Otherwise, I’m not helping you score points next time!”
But Chong Xiao remained silent, his gaze locked dead ahead in the direction their aircraft was moving.
Noticing the sudden acceleration, Chong Ying instinctively followed his brother’s line of sight.
They were still advancing through endless darkness—vast and boundless.
But in that fleeting moment, from the depths of that cold, impenetrable void, a sudden light burst forth.
This scene is so exciting! Cliffhanger 😭