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墨書 Inktalez
At the small outpost in front of the Stone Gate, two idle mercenaries were lazily keeping watch, occasionally exchanging a few words to pass the time. The air around them was stifling, and the darkness deep within the cave made them uneasy, but they had grown accustomed to the dangers and did not appear overly tense.
Suddenly, they spotted four figures slowly approaching down the corridor—another team of mercenaries returning with Allison and Samuel. Upon seeing this, the two stationed mercenaries immediately stood up, ready to greet their comrades. However, when they got a good look at Samuel, their brows furrowed in concern.
Samuel's expression was abnormal; his face was pale, and his eyes were unfocused, as if he were trapped in a state of extreme fear. He muttered to himself, mumbling incoherent phrases while his hands trembled uncontrollably, as if he could not manage his emotions. Allison supported him, her face filled with anxiety and worry.
Witnessing this scene, one of the stationed mercenaries couldn't help but laugh, a smirk on his face as he teased, "Ha! I knew this guy would be the first to crack! See? I was right!"
The other mercenary joined in the laughter, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, this kid has been on edge since the start; I figured he wouldn't last long."
Their laughter echoed in the small outpost, but this flippant attitude clearly did not resonate with the returning mercenaries and Allison. She snapped sharply, "Stop making those stupid jokes! Samuel is in serious trouble; he needs quiet!"
Hearing Allison's serious tone, the two stationed mercenaries quickly wiped their smiles away, realizing that the situation was far more severe than they had imagined. They exchanged worried glances; their smiles vanished instantly, replaced by unease and doubt.
"What happened to Samuel?" one of them whispered, concern etched on his face.
"He... he suffered a tremendous mental shock inside," Allison explained briefly, trying to maintain her composure despite the anxiety that was evident in her eyes. She understood that Samuel's condition was merely a reflection of deeper issues within the entire team, and in this eerie cave, they would face even more unknowns and dangers.
Allison anxiously watched Samuel; his state had spiraled completely out of control as if he were being consumed by some invisible terror. His eyes were wide open, pupils dilated with overwhelming fear and confusion, as if battling an irresistible demon. Samuel's breathing was rapid and erratic; his chest heaved violently as sweat poured down his forehead and cheeks, soaking his clothes.
His hands clawed at the ground incessantly, nails scraping against the surface with a piercing sound. The edges of his nails had already split open, blood seeping out and mingling with the dirt beneath his fingertips. Samuel's struggles intensified; his legs kicked wildly as if trying to kick away the unbearable pain from within him. He emitted uncontrollable groans of agony that sounded both pleading and like a desperate animal cornered.
Allison's heart tightened; she knew she had to calm Samuel down immediately or he might hurt himself. She quickly pulled a sedative from her medical kit, her hands trembling as she attempted to insert the needle into Samuel's arm. However, his thrashing made this simple action exceedingly difficult.
“Samuel! Calm down!” Allison shouted urgently, trying to bring Samuel back to his senses, but her voice seemed unable to penetrate the wall of fear within him. His eyes were hollow and vacant, as if he had fallen into an abyss from which there was no escape.
Seeing that Allison alone could not control Samuel, the mercenaries nearby finally stepped in to help. They quickly surrounded him and forcefully pinned him to the ground. Two mercenaries held down his shoulders while another gripped his legs tightly, trying to stop him from kicking wildly. Samuel struggled desperately, attempting to break free from their hold, his muscles tensing with a strength that surprised the mercenaries.
“Damn it, where does he get all this strength?” one of the mercenaries gritted his teeth, straining to keep Samuel pinned down, veins bulging on his forehead. They could feel every muscle in Samuel's body straining as if his instinct for survival had completely overridden his reason.
Finally seizing the opportunity, Allison plunged a syringe into Samuel's arm and quickly injected a sedative. As the drug entered his bloodstream, Samuel's struggles gradually weakened, and the strength in his arms slowly faded away. His breathing became steadier, the frantic thrashing subsiding into a weary exhaustion.
The mercenaries finally released their grip and got up from the ground, panting heavily, their faces filled with shock and confusion. They had never witnessed someone exhibit such extreme panic, which made the atmosphere in the cave even more unsettling.
“What happened to him?” one mercenary asked, concern and bewilderment evident in his eyes.
Allison knelt beside Samuel, gently stroking his forehead with trembling hands, confirming that he had calmed down, yet her anxiety remained unabated. She knew that Samuel's breakdown was merely a surface symptom; some malevolent force in this place was quietly affecting everyone.
“He’s suffered a tremendous psychological shock,” Allison whispered, her voice tinged with unmistakable fatigue and worry. “We need to let him rest; this environment is too dangerous for his mental state.”
The mercenaries nodded, their faces etched with concern. They carefully lifted Samuel and laid him on a flat patch of ground so he could find some peace in this small outpost. Although his body had relaxed, deep traces of fear still lingered on Samuel's face, as if he might plunge back into that endless nightmare at any moment.
Allison sat beside Samuel, letting out a deep sigh. She realized that this expedition was far more perilous than she had anticipated; this young technician was merely the first to break down, but she feared he would not be the last.
Standing next to Samuel, looking at his pale face filled her with doubt and unease. This mission was supposed to be an exploration of technology and history; however, it had unexpectedly spiraled into a nightmare filled with fear and uncertainty.
Allison couldn’t understand why the mission had turned out this way. Her years of experience as a doctor in war zones had accustomed her to bloodshed, brutality, and death, but this time felt entirely different. The fear on the battlefield was predictable and understandable—coming from enemy bullets and bombs—but in this eerie cave, the fear she felt seemed to emanate from an invisible darkness that was inexplicable and unpredictable.
She looked down at Samuel lying on the ground, his breathing had become steady, as if the sedative had finally taken effect. Yet, the pallor of his face and the furrowed brow still revealed the fear deep within him. This fear was not merely a result of external pressures; it felt like an invisible force was eroding his spirit, consuming him bit by bit.
A chill ran down Allison's spine, permeating her entire being. The darkness here was not just due to a lack of light; it stemmed from some incomprehensible power, as if an unfathomable abyss was constantly devouring everyone's sanity and beliefs.
She tried to recall everything she had learned, searching for theories that could explain this abnormal phenomenon, but everything here seemed to lose its meaning. Medicine, science, even her battlefield experience could not provide her with answers. This sense of helplessness was something she had never experienced before, and the unknown fear left her feeling profoundly powerless.
Taking a deep breath, she attempted to calm herself, but that indescribable fear clung to her like a shadow, difficult to dispel. She gazed into the depths of the cave; the darkness appeared as an endless abyss, seemingly beckoning them, tempting them to step closer to an unknowable fate.
"There is a darkness here that seems bottomless," Allison silently told herself. No matter what this mission would ultimately bring, there was no turning back. All she could do was pray that she and everyone in her team could remain alert in this unfathomable darkness and not be consumed.
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