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墨書 Inktalez
Jack shrugged habitually. "I have no objections, although it won't change anything. This is a mature specimen, and its spores have already spread out. They have fully infected the monsters in the Underground Cavern. This is evident from the behavior of the Long-Tailed Monster and the Giant Bat. I just don't like facing this ugly thing, and I want to put an end to my actions."
I knew Jack regretted bringing this specimen into the Underground Cavern. His action had caused us significant trouble. My decision to burn this specimen along with the Anti-Zombie Fungus stemmed from my belief that it wouldn't restore the original human thoughts of the monsters in the Underground Cavern but instead would give them new thoughts—like Tang Yumo's, a devil's mindset.
I patted my pocket, only to remember that I had lost my lighter. I turned to Fatty. "Fat Brother, could you please light it? Once we deal with this trouble, let's hurry to the end of the Underground River and see if we can go down."
"Sure thing."
Fatty wouldn't oppose me on this matter. Although he had been at odds with Jack regarding this issue, my stance changed everything.
The filamentous fungus ignited quickly and soon turned to ash. However, its host, although completely dead and hollowed out inside, seemed not to catch fire easily; the lighter couldn't ignite it at all. Fatty spat on the ground, pulled out a piece of fish oil, cut off a chunk, and placed it under the worm. The fire from the fish oil instantly ignited the worm.
The burning fish oil and worm emitted a peculiar aroma. Fatty couldn't help but say, "If only we had some cumin and a bit of pepper, we could roast it and eat it. What a waste to burn it like this."
His comment didn't resonate with anyone; in fact, no one responded. Clearly, not everyone was as carefree as he was.
I recalled the medic who went missing in Lop Nur's Underground Passage, always carrying various seasonings with him. That time, thirteen people had fallen into the Underground Passage. Only four of us made it out alive. Meanwhile, many warriors and members of the Archaeology team and Materials Scientists who were hiding from the Black Sandstorm at the base also perished. Would our fate be any better this time? How many would survive leaving this place?
The fire ignited by the fish oil not only set the worm ablaze but also emitted an enticing aroma that illuminated the four of us. Though this small flame was unremarkable, its light rivaled that of a torch; before it, two glow sticks looked more like fireflies.
My thoughts were completely thrown into disarray by Jack. My mind was filled with the information he had fed me, and my vigilance had dissipated. I was unaware of our earlier loud argument and didn’t think there was anything wrong with my decision to burn the bugs or with Fatty igniting the fish oil. I was still mulling over the information Jack had given me and his judgments, feeling that something was off, that there were illogical aspects.
I mentally went through the information and judgments he provided, of course, assuming that both he and Tang Yumo's information were credible.
First, the Giant Bat and Long-Tailed Monster in the Underground Cavern were mutations generated from certain special groups within the Hakka People. This kind of mutation could not merely be a physical change without affecting the brain. I leaned towards the idea that, for ease of control, the Zombie Fungus altered or damaged their brains while inducing mutations in the Hakka People. It was modified in a way that facilitated control.
However, I found it hard to believe that such mutations among the Hakka People were voluntary; no one would willingly turn themselves into a monster beyond their control. At least, I wouldn’t. The Hakka People who fled to Europe also indirectly supported my viewpoint.
So what was the purpose behind these actions of the Hakka People? That was a question mark.
If it was to protect the sacred ground of the Hakka People, then their construction of the Pit Vortex was already the strongest defensive measure. There was no need for them to go to such lengths, allowing their kin to wander endlessly in the Underground Cavern in a fate worse than death.
Moreover, these monsters remained a ticking time bomb; if any Anti-Zombie Fungus appeared in the Underground Cavern, it would trigger a Secondary Mutation among the monsters there. The creatures resulting from a Secondary Mutation were terrifying. I had already experienced their methods and still felt lingering fear. Additionally, there was a possibility that Secondary Mutation creatures could escape from the Underground Cavern, exposing the secrets of the Hakka People—something absolutely unacceptable to them.
Furthermore, the role of Anti-Zombie Fungus was also quite strange.
If Anti-Zombie Fungus lacked the ability to control and kill larger hosts, then why did the behavior of Giant Bats and Long-Tailed Monsters become even more abnormal after it killed Zombie Fungus? It seemed as if these monsters were still under some form of control or influence; their actions certainly did not reflect human thought.
Even if Zombie Fungus altered both the bodies and brains of Hakka People, it couldn’t completely erase their initial memories. If that were true, it wouldn’t be an alteration but rather a complete recreation. Destruction couldn’t be so thorough; if it were completely destroyed, then those Giant Bats and Long-Tailed Monsters not controlled by Zombie Fungus should be mindless fools without even survival instincts.
Could it be that Jack’s judgment was flawed? What he referred to as Anti-Zombie Fungus might actually be another type of Zombie Fungus—one with greater power that not only killed off existing Zombie Fungus but also took over its original hosts, driving the monsters in the Underground Cavern into madness and causing even stranger behaviors.
“Do you know why I want to check out the end of the Underground River? All mysterious events and sources of power in the Underground Cavern are located there. That Anti-Zombie Fungus outside of the Underground Cavern poses almost no threat; it doesn’t even threaten bugs. But here, its power has increased significantly, completely altering the balance of forces within the Underground Cavern.”
"You should also feel that the Underground Cavern has made you stronger. Of course, this is reflected in me and others as well. Don't you think it was not just a coincidence that I was able to leave here alive last time? A San actually became a Listener. The Zombie Fungus can control massive creatures like the Giant Bat and the Long-Tailed Monster. These things are all miracles, supported by immense energy. It's truly something to yearn for."
Jack's almost murmured words interrupted my thoughts.
The fire had dimmed; the fish oil burned at a high temperature, and even though the insects were quite resilient, they had turned to ash. The flickering flames began to waver, casting a rosy glow on Tang Yumo's face that shifted between shades of red and blue.
In just a short while, Jack's facial hair had grown thick like weeds. He spoke without looking at me, his gaze fixed on the fire, as if he were enamored with the dying light of sunset, reluctantly waiting for that last flicker to extinguish.
Jack's musings did not break the silence; instead, they deepened it. I knew not everyone longed for that place; some were quite resistant to it. Yet everyone couldn't help but glance downstream toward the Underground River.
Suddenly, I heard two very clear footsteps behind me.
"Pat pat." (To Be Continued...)
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