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墨書 Inktalez
"Not a reflection," Jack repeated, looking at me. "That's a real torch."
His words muddled my mind. I involuntarily cast a questioning glance at Fatty, only to find him staring back at me with an even more bewildered expression. He was too embarrassed to ask Jack for clarification. However, upon seeing my expression, he quickly averted his gaze.
"It's like the other one Fatty saw—oh no, two other versions of himself. They all exist in reality."
"How is that possible!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
Jack ignored the doubts and further questions, not even glancing at me or Fatty. Instead, he focused on the distant glow of the fire.
"Yes, I saw the torch fall just as you did. Only it transformed into a flashlight. The rope on the winch was long; I had hoped to descend along it, and during that process, I might have had the chance and time to clarify some of my doubts. But the rope broke."
Jack's gaze remained fixed on the torch, while Fatty and I focused on his face. At that moment, I noticed Jack withdrew his gaze and turned his face towards us—not looking directly at me but rather at Tang Yumo, who stood between us.
"Honestly, I find it suspicious that the rope broke. It was an old rope made of hemp and animal hide; it should have been quite sturdy. You know," Jack's eyes skipped over Tang Yumo and landed on me. "I'm willing to take risks and have prepared for the worst, but I still value my life too much to throw it away unnecessarily."
I shifted my gaze to Tang Yumo, who lay asleep or unconscious, feeling an unusual complexity of emotions. I didn't know whom to believe between these two or if this was simply a misunderstanding. Of course, I hoped it was just a misunderstanding. The helplessness of abandoning a teammate and being responsible for their death were two entirely different concepts.
But I nodded anyway. "I understand."
What I understood was that Jack was someone who valued his life—a person who could let go when necessary and knew how to make sacrifices at critical moments. Nothing more.
"What about that rope? You should have fallen with it. Just look at the break in that rope; it reveals the truth of the matter. She had no other tools; if she wanted to cut the rope, she could only use fire."
"I didn't find that rope. And you can see for yourself that in this place, logic cannot be applied as usual. It's true that I fell simultaneously with the rope; however, landing at the same time is not guaranteed."
Jack would usually have lashed out at Fatty without a second thought, but at this moment, both Fatty and I fell silent.
"Wait a minute," I shifted my numb backside. "Once I can move, I'll help you look for it. This cursed place isn't bigger than Tiananmen Square; there's no way we can't find that long rope."
Jack's gaze shifted to Tang Yumo's face. "I hope we can solve this mystery. Otherwise, having a ticking time bomb by our side will make everything we do nerve-wracking and add a lot of trouble down the line."
I was actually inclined to believe Jack. After all, Tang Yumo had the motive to do this. She was constantly preventing us from getting close to the Eternal Gate, especially after we had thoughts of destroying it.
"But the person who most wanted to see another version of themselves hasn't had their wish fulfilled; instead," Jack turned his gaze toward Fatty, though it seemed more directed at the torch behind him. "They were seen by another person who wasn't mentally prepared for it. Isn't that a tragedy?"
At this point, Jack's gaze returned to my face. However, his words seemed more like a soliloquy, lacking any expectation or desire for my response.
"From what I understand, this phenomenon—what Fatty saw as two versions of himself—represents the same person in different times or spaces. He ultimately knocked himself out, which seems more like one version of himself attacking another in the same space but at different times."
"So Heimanluo didn't come down!? He's still up there!" My excitement was palpable.
Jack's guess could be the best news so far, assuming it was true.
"But who the hell am I?!"
Clearly, not everyone shared in the excitement. Fatty was a prime example; his tone was almost frantic.
"If every version of myself I've seen is real and I knocked myself out, then who am I? Which one is me? American Guy, are you saying there are three versions of me in the same space? That means three broken-headed generals should have fallen down; maybe the one on top didn't get hurt? Forget about that for now—where are the other two versions of me? American Guy, don't mess with me! If you brought me here, you better have an explanation! Otherwise, this won't end well."
A troubled expression crossed Jack's face; clearly, he had forgotten that Fatty wasn't someone to be trifled with. If it were me in this situation, even if he couldn't explain it well, I'd just have to accept my bad luck. This was all just speculation on his part, and there wasn't much room for explanation. Moreover, any explanation would also fall under guessing.
Seeing Jack's troubled expression made me worry for him. However, I didn't intervene between them; Jack's theory might be far-fetched but still offered an explanation. In our current situation, the more outlandish the speculation, the closer it might be to uncovering the truth.
In this situation, anyone who can provide an explanation is nothing short of a genius. My thoughts are completely out of sync with Jack's rhythm; I need to sort through my ideas and figure out what Bai Ta is really thinking.
At that moment, I recalled Liu Squad Leader, a person whose strengths and weaknesses are equally apparent. If he were here, his extraordinary spatial imagination would undoubtedly allow him to sketch a holographic three-dimensional map for us. However, I worry that he might have already broken down. Everything here has a more metaphysical quality; someone like him, who believes in ghosts and gods yet fears them immensely, might be scared to death.
With Liu Squad Leader absent and Jack's explanations too vague, he seems even more troubled than I am, scratching his head and trying to come up with a way to explain things to Fatty. I have no choice but to rely on myself. I gather various pieces of information and guesses in my mind, attempting to trace a clue.
The most reliable and clear lead comes from Fatty. This segment is based on his personal experience, devoid of any speculation or imagination; even his thoughts and opinions reflect the most genuine feelings of the person involved. This is firsthand information that can serve as evidence to support all of Jack's conjectures.
I quickly fell into deep thought, comparing various pieces of information and guesses in my mind while beginning to form my own perspective.
Suddenly, a sharp scream jolted me from my reverie. It was so abrupt. While the three of us were lost in our thoughts, with the sounds of breathing and distant torches crackling clearly audible, this voice struck like a bolt from the blue.
"Heimanluo!" It was a piercing female voice. (To Be Continued.)
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