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墨書 Inktalez
I cautiously approached the entrance. The ground, though uneven, was clean and free of debris, making no sound as I stepped forward. It felt like a scene from a silent film.
However, the moment I took my first step outside, something felt off. It was an unfamiliar sensation, unlike the usual feeling of stepping out; it was as if this foot that had moved forward did not belong to me, creating a sense of estrangement with each step.
I pressed my foot firmly against the ground. The rocky surface was solid; the issue lay not with the ground but within myself.
The One-Eyed Beast Flashlight continued to illuminate the dark archway ahead. Despite my strange feelings, I remained focused on my target. Any sudden danger would surely come from this entrance. I was certain there was nothing in this visible space.
I dismissed the odd thoughts and minimized their impact on me, stepping steadily toward the archway.
A familiar sight slowly emerged before me: an arched entrance made of Azure Brick Wall and a passage about three meters wide left me dumbfounded. This passage bore a striking resemblance to the Drainage Ditch beneath Lop Nur, even down to the arrangement of the Azure Bricks.
A chill rose from my feet, freezing me in place at this entrance as if I were petrified. I didn’t believe I had woken up back in Lop Nur's Underground Passage, but I knew this passage must be connected to it.
At that moment, a sound echoed in my ears—familiar yet terrifying. It resembled the incomprehensible noise I had heard at the Branch of the Underground Passage. There, I had lost my Boots; what would I lose this time? I hoped it wouldn’t be my life.
Instinctively, I lifted my head, arching my neck back at a ninety-degree angle, with the One-Eyed Beast Flashlight in my mouth and my AK-47 aimed at the ceiling. There was nothing there—only the grayish-brown rock.
I was relieved that a dark hole hadn’t appeared above my head, where my Boots had vanished into. If a hole had suddenly opened up, I think I would have lost it.
But the next moment, just as I was focusing on the space above me, feeling an overwhelming mix of tension and anxiety, I was struck by a sudden, immense force that sent my body tumbling through the air. In an instant, I crashed against the hard stone wall and then rebounded back to the ground.
It must have been my back that hit the wall; my head slammed against it hard. Thankfully, I didn’t face-plant into it, or else the One-Eyed Beast Flashlight would have surely lodged itself in my throat.
Still, that impact was enough to knock the wind out of me. I twitched on the ground a couple of times but couldn’t get back up. My head and back must have taken quite a beating, yet I felt no pain. Perhaps the blow had been so severe that it messed with my sensory nerves. The twitching of my limbs alone was enough to indicate just how hard I had hit.
Although my head buzzed and felt foggy, I wasn’t completely out of it. I turned my neck to search for whatever had attacked me. Soon enough, something came into view under the light of the One-Eyed Beast Flashlight—a Blood-Eyed Monster that filled me with dread.
This creature stood in the center of the space, its long tail arched against the Ceiling, its glowing Crimson Eyes expressionlessly fixed on me.
"Damn," I muttered under my breath as green and red liquid spewed from my mouth.
I desperately tried to control my twitching hands to grab for the AK-47 hanging at my chest but failed to grasp anything. My heart sank instantly. Looking down, I saw no sign of my assault rifle. Even my backpack seemed to have disappeared.
The mixture of green and red liquid poured from my mouth and oozed out from the gaps on either side of the One-Eyed Beast Flashlight. If this impact hadn’t shattered my liver or spleen, I must be incredibly lucky.
I wasn’t foolish enough to reach for a dagger; instead, I quickly turned my neck again, searching for my AK-47. My mind was still clear enough to know that I wasn’t as twisted as Jack; I could take on this Monster with just a knife or even bare fists if necessary.
I quickly spotted my belongings on the clean ground. I cursed under my breath: damn it.
The backpack was right at the arched entrance, but the AK-47 assault rifle was positioned between me and the Blood-Eyed Monster, and it was closer to it.
It was a gamble. As long as I could grab the AK-47, I was confident I could take it down in an instant. Otherwise, I would have to run. The problem was that in my current situation, both options—grabbing the gun or fleeing—were incredibly difficult.
The Blood-Eyed Monster stood tall, and in my experience, this posture indicated that it was about to attack. I had no time to recover my strength or tend to my wounds. As I locked eyes with this giant,
I trembled as I struggled to rise.
Damn it, even though I couldn't control my body accurately and my standing position felt awkward and unnatural, I felt no pain. It seemed my sensory nerves were truly malfunctioning. While this would allow me to act without pain affecting my movements to grab the gun, it also meant I couldn't assess my injuries; I had no idea which leg or arm was weak.
I had to get that gun; I sure as hell couldn't outrun it, and turning back would lead to a quicker death.
I attempted to take a step forward, but my body swayed dangerously close to falling. I didn't know if it was because of an injury in my leg or if my coordination hadn't returned. Although there was no sensation of pain, cold sweat drenched me from head to toe with that one step.
In this state, trying to grab the gun felt futile; we were too close together, and any movement from it would bring it right in front of me. I could only hope that it would underestimate my attack and remain where it was while I moved in.
My body shook violently a few times before I managed to take a second step. I couldn't even manage to walk steadily forward.
However, my eyes remained fixed on the creature—not to intimidate it; in fact, at this moment, I wouldn't intimidate any opponent. I was watching for its reactions. But then I noticed that this Blood-Eyed Monster's eyes were not quite like those of its kind that I'd seen before. These Crimson Eyes emitted an unstable light, flickering on and off. Was it injured? A glimmer of hope sparked within me.
But that hope shattered as suddenly as it had appeared. Just as I took my third step, the Blood-Eyed Monster moved.
It swung its steel whip-like tail towards us, but this time, the target was not me; it was the AK-47 between us.
This gun was my only hope. As I saw that long-tailed creature lash out at the AK-47, I couldn't help but shout. In an instant, amidst my desperate cry, the AK-47 was sent flying, disintegrating into at least four or five pieces in mid-air. I even saw the hard wooden stock split in half.
At that moment, my heart felt colder and more shattered than the broken AK-47. I had no means left to fight back; all I could do was run.
The archway made of Azure Brick Wall was right behind me, and my backpack was in that direction as well. As I ran past my backpack, I didn't even glance at it; at that moment, it felt meaningless to me. In truth, running held little significance; it was merely a reflex driven by the instinct to survive.
To Be Continued...
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