«Fanatic believer of the Creator»
“This is indeed a problem. We need to consider how to resist the threat posed by the Nightmare Beast seeds to the city’s residents.” At this moment, the researchers were deep in thought, showing no signs of panic despite the sudden crisis. “The spread of Nightmare Beast seeds is primarily through contact. Therefore, it is necessary to completely isolate them to prevent any contact with the city.”
“The farmlands and grasslands must also be protected from parasitization. Based on the characteristics of the information we have so far, it is possible that the Nightmare Beast seeds can also spread through the wind.”
At this time, Min Zhizhou watched as the researchers engaged in a back-and-forth discussion, attempting to analyze the possible attack methods and traits of the Nightmare Beasts. The usually composed and steady adult man had turned pale as a sheet. The fear etched deep into his bones from repeated encounters with the Nightmare Beast seeds made it unbearable for him to see these people remain so devoid of urgency in the face of imminent danger.
“The most important thing right now isn’t to discuss how to resist the Nightmare Beast seeds, but to immediately gather everyone and evacuate! Some Nightmare Beasts are capable of retaining their intelligence. It’s highly likely that Nightmare Beasts have already entered the city to spread their seeds!” Min Zhizhou had led his team to survive in the Nightmare Beast Forest, long prepared for the possibility of dying from seed parasitization.
But he never expected to bring such a catastrophic disaster to this untouched haven. As guilt consumed him, his frustration toward the researchers’ nonchalant attitude only grew. The people living under the protection of this safe haven had never truly understood the terrifying nature of Nightmare Beasts.
“The Nightmare Beasts born from parasitized hosts possess different characteristics. Some are indistinguishable from ordinary humans. Once they infiltrate human society, the rapid outbreak of their seed spread can annihilate an entire city in an instant. In mobile cities, it’s better to kill a thousand by mistake than to let one go. We must immediately investigate whether any strangers have recently entered the city. If they have…” Min Zhizhou’s face was filled with panic. He could already envision the vibrant city, filled with sunlight and joy, turning into a dead zone in an instant. “It will be too late. Everything will be too late.”
Hearing Min Zhizhou’s words, He Fang’s face also turned pale. His city had a large population. If a Nightmare Beast had already infiltrated, considering the speed at which they followed Min Zhizhou into the city, his residents might already be doomed.
He Fang’s head buzzed with dread. Could it be that just one week after the game server went online, he would already face extinction?
“City Lord, please don’t listen to his alarmist talk. Don’t worry too much—try to stay calm.” A female researcher lowered her voice, her honeyed tone soothing He Fang as her soft palm lightly patted his shoulder. Leaning down slightly, she handed him a cup of drink. “Have some of this. It’s something I often make during my free time to help calm the nerves.”
He Fang, overwhelmed by the looming possibility of the city’s destruction, was consumed by despair. Three years of hard work, only to return to square one in an instant—he barely registered what the people around him were saying.
“This is something I made especially for you. I’ve never given it to anyone else. I hope to present it to my most esteemed City Lord. Please calm down and lead us to overcome the Nightmare Beasts together.”
The elegant and pristine face of the female researcher held an almost devout expression of reassurance. Her slender fingers held the pure white porcelain cup as she leaned slightly closer, bringing it to He Fang’s lips. Instinctively, He Fang opened his mouth and, with a stiff nod, took a sip of the drink.
A peculiar flavor, both sweet and tangy, suddenly overwhelmed He Fang’s taste buds, a sharp and stimulating sensation that dominated his senses. It felt like drinking an icy beverage on a sweltering summer day—refreshing, soothing, and instantly calming his agitated nerves.
What is this stuff? It’s incredible—its calming effect is comparable to anesthesia. He Fang stared at the drink, which had an unfriendly green hue, in utter amazement.
“Have you calmed down?” the female researcher asked gently. “Don’t worry too much. Perhaps we can contact the Civil Affairs Hal to get some information.” She dialed her phone as she spoke, her posture elegant and graceful. Her demeanor was serene and clean, her voice steady and soft, naturally pulling people into her calming rhythm.
The call connected almost immediately. She activated the speakerphone. A cold, detached female voice came through, devoid of emotion. “Civil Affairs Hall. What’s the matter?”
He Fang blinked in surprise, only to hear the female researcher say, “The City Lord would like to know if any temporary residents of unknown origin, possibly carrying infectious diseases, have recently entered the city.”
“Please hold on, City Lord.” The initially stiff and rigid voice instantly transformed into one that was sweet and charming, filled with joy and warmth. The coldness of the previous tone seemed to have been nothing more than an illusion. A moment later, the other party replied, “The only recent temporary resident of unknown origin is Min Zhizhou. We sent him to the hospital for a preliminary checkup in advance. He is not carrying any infectious items.”
“Thank you.” With that, the female researcher hung up the call. Smiling at He Fang, she reassured him, “You can rest assured. The city’s monitoring systems are exceptionally strict. There is absolutely no chance of anything slipping through.”
He Fang: “…” He silently took another sip of the calming drink.
A sudden sense of peace washed over him. His NPCs were all diligently performing their duties. Everything in the city was functioning smoothly.
Come to think of it, this data could also be cross-referenced on the game’s entry statistics page. Sure enough, there hadn’t been any records of unusual entries into the city recently.
He Fang glanced quietly at Min Zhizhou, who was sitting nearby. To think he had been influenced by an NPC into believing his city was on the brink of destruction.
“Even if no Nightmare Beasts have entered the city, their activity levels remain extremely high,” Min Zhizhou said, his complexion as pale as ever. Though slightly relieved to hear that the city hadn’t been infiltrated, his worry did not dissipate. “Those capable of working as mercenaries already have exceptionally high vitality. The longest recorded time for someone to survive after being parasitized is three months. We are still under threat from the Nightmare Beasts and must remain vigilant.”
The researchers, however, paid no attention to Min Zhizhou’s warning. Now that He Fang’s mood had stabilized, they resumed their conversation.
“While armor is easy to replicate, it isn’t suitable for our residents at the moment. If we suddenly issue a mandatory order requiring them to wear armor, it’s likely to spark resistance. We should first conduct a series of experiments to refine the armor until it’s more appropriate for civilian use.”
“Perhaps we could send reconnaissance robots into the Nightmare Beast Forest to probe the Nightmare Beast seeds. That way, we might find a more effective method to prevent parasitization by the seeds.”
“This is a matter of life and death, and you’re worried about resistance to armor? Does resistance matter more than lives?!” Min Zhizhou, frustrated at being ignored, became agitated and was about to stand up. However, the slender female researcher casually pressed a hand on his shoulder. He was instantly forced back into his seat. Though her delicate hand seemed frail, it was like an unbreakable shackle, rendering him immobile.
The researchers, ignoring Min Zhizhou’s outburst, resumed their heated discussion, completely dismissing his concerns.
Meanwhile, He Fang’s face turned pale again. He muttered under his breath, “Armor… right, can I afford to equip all the residents with a set of armor…”
Better safe than sorry. He Fang would rather spend more money now; finances could recover later. The game even had a loan system he could use to borrow funds and gradually repay them. But if the town was gone, if the residents were gone, then it would truly be game over.
With just a single statement from He Fang, the previously noisy researchers fell silent. The female researcher stepped forward to comfort him. “City Lord, things aren’t clear yet. The situation may not be as severe as it seems. Besides, while armor appears expensive to produce, the materials are actually quite common and the methods for crafting them are relatively straightforward. The main reason Mr. Min had such difficulty acquiring this equipment is due to the scarcity of resources outside the city.”
“That’s right, City Lord. You don’t need to worry too much right now,” another researcher chimed in. “I’ve already contacted the police department. They’ve intensified patrols. If there’s any suspected Nightmare Beast, they’ll immediately contain it.”
Min Zhizhou suddenly shot to his feet, only to be forcefully pressed down again by the female researcher. He said anxiously, “Contain it? How? You can’t approach Nightmare Beasts! If you get close, you’ll definitely be parasitized! Why don’t any of you have a sense of crisis?!”
“Exactly! Why don’t any of you have a sense of crisis?!” He Fang, now infected by Min Zhizhou’s urgency, also stood up.
The researchers turned their attention to He Fang. Suddenly, He Fang froze as a realization struck him.
Wait… isn’t managing the people in the city his job?
He hadn’t yet processed that the one who truly needed a sense of crisis was himself!
“Right, I’m the one who should be giving the orders now.” He Fang, who had carefully prepared for natural disasters and emergencies during planning, had never imagined he’d face an apocalypse. None of his preparations applied to this scenario. He could only think of the simplest solution: “How about we start digging an air-raid shelter right now?”
No, that wouldn’t do. He needed to log out and Google it.
Without warning, He Fang logged out on the spot, his figure vanishing from the research facility.
The room fell silent as the researchers exchanged bewildered looks.
The Creator was gone.
The once-composed and dignified researchers instantly dropped their facades. One of them furiously smashed a paper cup on the floor and pointed at Min Zhizhou, venting his anger like a volcano erupting. “Do you think we don’t know? You’ve said everything that needs to be said, and we know everything we need to know! Do we need you to worry? Huh?! Do we?! You actually made the Creator so anxious and upset! If the Creator gets sick from the stress, can you afford to take responsibility?!”
“If everyone dies and the City Lord gets infected, can you bear the consequences?!” Min Zhizhou retorted immediately. Though he couldn’t physically resist, he had to make these people understand the danger of Nightmare Beasts.
These people, who had never experienced the horrors of Nightmare Beasts, would undoubtedly suffer if they approached those terrifying creatures with contempt. Even if it cost him his life, Min Zhizhou was determined to make them take the threat of Nightmare Beasts seriously!
“You think you know everything? Do you really think you understand it all?” The researcher was furious. “How do you even know that the Nightmare Beasts will definitely parasitize us?!”
“Nightmare Beast seeds can parasitize any living being—anything! Even the footprints you leave on the ground, the clothes you make, and the strongest metals humanity prides itself on can all become nutrients for Nightmare Beast seeds, drained completely dry!” Min Zhizhou strained his neck, raising his voice to outmatch the researcher’s.
“If it’s really as powerful as you claim, then why is the grass thriving so vibrantly at the border where it meets the Nightmare Beast Forest?!” The researcher immediately shouted back, childishly raising their volume to assert dominance.
Min Zhizhou: “…”
He froze, momentarily stunned.
Wait.
Why?
He vividly remembered when he first arrived here, puzzled as to why the pitch-black Nightmare Beast Forest seemed to avoid parasitizing the lush, green grassland right next to it. Not only did it refrain from doing so, but there was also an unmistakably clear boundary line separating the two areas.
Rather than the Nightmare Beast Forest being incapable of expanding, it looked more like it actively avoided parasitizing this area.
“You don’t know a thing, yet you stand here shouting, using your extremely limited and narrow perspective to criticize the perfect city crafted by our noble Creator. You’re ignorant! Narrow-minded! Stupid!” The researcher’s first arrow struck deeply into Min Zhizhou’s chest.
“You think we’ve done nothing? From the very beginning, we’ve been investigating what lies within the darkness of that land. To this day, we’ve received no reports of danger. We will spare no effort to protect our Creator’s safety! How could we ever allow such an unknown area to threaten our revered Creator?!” The researcher’s second arrow pierced Min Zhizhou without mercy.
“You, a mere drifter, not even a recognized resident—if you ever witnessed the holy brilliance of our Creator illuminating that darkness, bringing new territory and vitality to our city, you would drop to your knees. Even that wouldn’t suffice to express your awe!” The researcher’s third arrow struck with brutal precision.
Min Zhizhou stared wide-eyed, suddenly questioning his entire existence.
“A self-important, mediocre, yet inexplicably confident middle-aged man who’s accomplished nothing. Hah.” The female researcher nearby expressed her disdain for Min Zhizhou in a low voice. “Our Creator finally spent time in our research lab. I only got six hours, twenty-seven minutes, and three seconds of observation time. How is that enough?! It’s not enough! If it weren’t for you, would the Creator have left?!”
Min Zhizhou: “…”
His emotions were a swirling mess. He wanted to respond, but he realized he couldn’t get a word in edgewise.
At that moment, the young researcher who had accompanied He Fang into the small room earlier approached Min Zhizhou with a bright smile. Standing in front of him, the researcher asked warmly, “Do you have any questions? I can answer anything for you.”
“…” Min Zhizhou found the expression of the young researcher in front of him rather odd. Such a handsome face, yet it seemed wasted on such an unusual demeanor. Despite his reservations, Min Zhizhou voiced his doubt, “Have you already conducted research on the Nightmare Beast Forest?”
Judging by what the other researchers had said earlier, this seemed highly plausible.
“That’s right,” the young researcher replied with a soft laugh. “So far, we haven’t found anything that poses a threat to the city.”
“That’s impossible! Any exploration would require the use of living creations, and there’s no way they would emerge unscathed. Every investigation would inevitably result in death,” Min Zhizhou protested, refusing to believe that the Revival Nightmare Plant, which preys on all traces of life in the Nightmare Beast Forest, would leave any living trace untouched.
“Perhaps it’s because we aren’t living beings, but creations of the Creator,” the young researcher suggested, his tone tinged with an inexplicable daze. He appeared far more cheerful than anyone else present. “We are noble creations of the Creator, fundamentally different from lower forms of life, hahaha.”
Min Zhizhou could hardly believe what he was hearing. He felt there had to be some underlying reason he couldn’t comprehend.
“Honestly, I was so excited to demonstrate our intelligence, diligence, and dedication to the Creator, but halfway through, the Creator fell asleep. Was it my voice that lulled the Creator into a trance?” The young researcher looked genuinely proud.
Min Zhizhou: “…”
“The Creator’s sleeping posture is so adorable, even the sound of his breathing is charming beyond words. I can’t take it anymore. When the Creator starts worrying, I feel like giving up all my most precious belongings to ensure the Creator enjoys the most comfortable rest.”
Min Zhizhou: “…”
“I’ve been reapplying my makeup every day just to look presentable for the Creator. I’ve been waking up four hours early each morning just to prepare myself in case the Creator visits. After all this effort, I finally managed to get the Creator to glance at me a few more times, but now the Creator is gone. Gone!”
Min Zhizhou: “…”
Listening to the scolding he’d been receiving from the surrounding researchers, Min Zhizhou’s expression shifted from blank to deeply conflicted. While he had already sensed an undercurrent of fervent reverence toward He Fang from the earlier “lifting the armor” incident, he now realized this went far beyond mere fanaticism. This was borderline psychotic.
Min Zhizhou turned to look at the researchers, who had now completely shed their polite facades. Yet, when he glanced at the young researcher beside him—still poised and graceful—he felt that this individual stood apart from the others. Unable to resist his curiosity, Min Zhizhou asked, “Don’t you feel any regret about the City Lord’s departure?”
“Hm?” The young researcher looked at Min Zhizhou with a radiant smile, his expression utterly enraptured. “I’ve already witnessed a scene today that fulfills me for the rest of my life. My brief existence has been worth it.”
Min Zhizhou: “…” I don’t get it. I’m not engaging. I’m not discussing this.
This environment was clearly beyond his understanding.
In a way, both parties are logically correct in both of their arguments. Love this! ❤️