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墨書 Inktalez
After running just a few steps, Fatty noticed something was off. A light was shining from behind him.
Turning around, he saw the One-Eyed Beast Flashlight in my hand and realized I had made him walk in the dark without giving him the flashlight. Fatty began to complain incessantly. I knew that getting Fatty to shut up was as difficult as getting rid of him, so I simply ignored him, using the flashlight's bright beam to stop his occasional glances back at me.
However, it wasn't long before Fatty stopped looking back and complaining. It wasn't that the brightness of the flashlight prevented him from turning around; for someone like Fatty, whether he turned or not didn't affect his ability to grumble. It was the increasingly narrow path that forced him to focus on the ground below. Additionally, the sound of rushing water grew louder, completely drowning out his incessant chatter.
The ground alongside the stone walls of the Underground River had narrowed to the point where the beam of the One-Eyed Beast Flashlight could barely encompass it—of course, this was under the condition that I had adjusted it to its maximum aperture. Although there weren't significantly more stalactite columns on the ground, they left Fatty with little room to maneuver. He had to concentrate fully just to find a suitable path through the tight space.
I was more familiar with this section of the route than Fatty, and I knew we had reached the end of the Underground River. To our left lay a flat Flood Barrier. I didn't suggest jumping onto the Flood Barrier, even though it would increase our speed—especially Fatty's. However, the dangers on the Flood Barrier were equally great; if Heimanluo reverted to its original form in the shallow water there, it would be nearly undetectable and impossible to resist.
Moreover, the drop between the pavement and the ground was becoming increasingly steep, making it uncertain whether Fatty could manage to climb back up in his current state. I couldn't take that risk.
It was unexpected that Heimanluo hadn't caught up with us; I prayed it was because it had been injured rather than for any other reason. If it attempted another surprise attack on whoever was at the front, then both Fatty and I would be running straight into death.
With Fatty focused mainly on the ground ahead, I had to keep an eye on both him and our surroundings. The flashlight continuously scanned in various directions, especially behind us; aside from the sound of rushing water, I couldn't hear anything else. The only way to detect Heimanluo would be through sight.
Fortunately, Fatty's pace was slow enough that I could keep up while maintaining a comprehensive watch.
Suddenly, I faintly heard Fatty's shout. Raising my flashlight towards him, I saw he had stopped and was facing me, yelling something. I couldn't make out what he was saying clearly, but his finger pointed ahead as if indicating something in front of us.
I took a couple of steps forward and stood parallel to Fatty before finally hearing his voice: "There's a fire! Is that Tang Yumo?"
Looking up, I indeed saw a flickering torch in the distance. The figure beneath it was unclear, but it certainly wasn't Jack; their height and gender characteristics were unmistakable.
"Are you blind? Can't you tell male from female? Has Jack suddenly developed breasts?" I shouted dismissively at Fatty.
"Damn it! Of course I can tell male from female! But just because it's a female doesn't mean it's Tang Yumo! What is she doing there? Where's Jack? Did he leave her behind or what?"
Fatty's string of questions sent chills down my spine. Indeed, Jack wouldn't abandon Tang Yumo here alone; so what was going on? Underneath the torchlight stood only Tang Yumo herself; she faced away from us with her head slightly lowered as if looking down at something below. What could be down there?
Instinctively, I directed my flashlight toward the place where that shadow was gazing. It was a void of darkness.
“Damn it!” Fatty ’s furious shout pulled my attention back.
I turned my head and saw Fatty glaring at me with fiery eyes, fixated on something behind me.
The air was already bone-chilling, and Fatty ’s reaction made me feel as if I had fallen into an ice cellar. Without a doubt, I knew Heimanluo had caught up. The only thing that could make Fatty so furious and fearful was Heimanluo.
My body instantly pivoted toward where Fatty was looking, and I reached for my gun at my waist. But what unfolded before me left me dumbfounded.
Not far behind me stood a figure— Fatty.
If it weren't for my deep understanding of Fatty, I would have been completely confused. This Fatty looked just like the one beside me—same height, same build, same face. They seemed to be cut from the same mold. However, the Fatty in front of me had cold, emotionless eyes.
This was different from the Fatty I knew. The Fatty I was familiar with had eyes that could show ferocity, anger, and often a mischievous grin, but they were never devoid of emotion.
The Fatty before me stared at us expressionlessly, his cold eyes conveying no feelings or messages. It seemed he was merely there to observe us.
“Congratulations, you have a loyal fan,” I said while biting down on the One-Eyed Beast Flashlight, casting a sidelong glance at Fatty.
“Why is he wearing clothes? That damn thing didn’t wear anything when it turned into Tang Family Girl.”
“Maybe,” I couldn’t help but take the Flashlight out of my mouth. “He thinks that thing is too embarrassing.”
“Damn.” Fatty nearly spat out the One-Eyed Beast Flashlight he had just bitten down on; clearly, he understood what I meant immediately. But then he took the Flashlight out of his mouth—there was no way he would miss this chance for banter or admit defeat. “That depends on who you compare it to; compared to you, I feel no pressure. However, this gives me a reason to silence him.”
It felt like returning to my youth as I let out a feigned carefree laugh. “Your fan can handle it himself.”
“You’re mistaken; that’s not my fan—it’s just me. I can’t bring myself to do it. Let this version of me take care of it for you; I can’t bring myself to do it either,” Fatty said before turning around and running away.
I was stunned. He actually ran away, completely unexpected.
The expressionless Fatty's face twitched slightly; despite its stiffness, I could tell it was mimicking Fatty, imitating that annoying grin. However, it failed miserably, looking more like it was crying.
Even though I felt a psychological burden about shooting at the Heimanluo that resembled Fatty, I still pulled the trigger. My frozen fingers mechanically squeezed the trigger, producing a dull 'click, click' sound, and the bullets couldn't even manage a continuous fire.
I could clearly see the bullets entering Fatty's head across from me, but it seemed to cause almost no damage. The bullet holes were there, but as soon as the bullets penetrated its skull, the holes began to shrink, heal, and smooth out, as if what I had just witnessed was an illusion.
Moreover, at the moment my gun fired, the Fatty across from me charged towards me. Before I could empty my magazine, he was already right in front of me.
I had to fight back. I swung my stiff arm towards Fatty, shouting, " Fatty, remember this! I die by your hand. This debt is settled!"
I didn't even know who I was shouting at—was it for the two Fatty s or for myself? (To Be Continued...)
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