Xu Lu raised her hand, sharp nails aimed at Shen Ling. Shen Ling retaliated with a brawl, resulting in a standard success.
The game master immediately said, “In a standard success versus standard success, the one with higher combat skill wins. Shen Ling has 45 points in brawling, while Xu Lu attacks with 75. Xu Lu wins, but her counterattack fails…”
“What’s the rush?” Shen Ling said. “I want to use a bonus die, 1d6.”
The game master asked, “Where did you get the bonus die?”
“Leftover from the previous room,” Shen Ling replied. “You said we couldn’t use it?”
Shen Ling used the 1d6 bonus die, turning the standard success into a difficult success with a roll of 6.
The game master was speechless.
He asked, “Who was the game master in the previous room?”
“Why does it matter?” Shen Ling replied.
“Check and you’ll see… Oh, Room 98, no wonder, that kid… forget it.”
Soft moonlight poured in from the window, illuminating Xu Lu. There was a momentary pause as her claws reached towards Shen Ling.
In that fleeting moment, Shen Ling aimed his gun at Xu Lu.
Due to Shen Ling’s physique, he gained a +1d4 bonus to his shooting.
He successfully retaliated.
The cold bullet pierced Xu Lu’s chest, crimson blood staining her yellow scales.
The shot caused significant damage to Xu Lu; her body swayed, almost falling.
In that moment, she unexpectedly emitted a sorrowful cry like a baby, as if pleading for mercy. Her body curled up, wings folding slightly, assuming a posture of vulnerability.
The game master said, “Everyone, make a Will check.”
Several players took turns rolling dice.
Xia He said, “It’s pitiful. Is there really no way to save Xu Lu? Shouldn’t we lock her up first and think of other ways?”
“I also think it’s tragic… she’s still a person, and so beautiful,” Han Qianqiu felt uneasy, saying, “She was even thinking about getting married before. Maybe there’s a way to reconcile her with her boyfriend.”
Yan Xiu looked at them coldly.
Shen Ling remained silent.
The game master said, “For each failed Will check, add a 1d6 penalty die.”
Xia He and Han Qianqiu exclaimed, “!!!”
The game master continued, “Xu Lu attacks again, targeting one of the two players who failed the Will check. Xia He is in stealth mode, so she attacks Han Qianqiu.”
“Holy crap!” exclaimed Han Qianqiu. “My Dodge is 30, and Brawling is 45. Should I choose to counterattack?”
“Yes,” replied Xia He.
“Then I’ll counterattack.”
But the counterattack check failed.
Xu Lu’s wings swept down, knocking Han Qianqiu to the ground, leaving him dazed with stars in his eyes.
“Loss of 10 health points. If a single loss exceeds half of total health, make a Constitution check to see if you faint.”
Han Qianqiu rolled the dice.
The game master said, “Congratulations, you fainted successfully.”
Xia He said, “Can I administer first aid?”
Before she could finish her sentence, the game master said, “Attack successful. Xu Lu adds another action, targeting Xia He.”
“Xu Lu has 45 points in Perception, which counters Stealth.” Worried that they might cause trouble again, the game master accelerated the pace of the battle. “Xia He had a standard success earlier, and Xu Lu… succeeded. Perception check succeeded, additional attack on Xia He. Successful hit, reward roll 1d6.”
Xia He exclaimed, “??? What kind of boss is this? Can act three times in one turn!?”
“Have you played online games before?” asked Xia He.
“…How would a paper man like you know about online games?” retorted Xia He.
“The boss has leveled up, gaining a new skill. As long as the check is successful, she can take additional actions. In other words, she might wipe out your entire team in this round. What are you going to do?”
“Evade,” said Xia He.
Xu Lu attacked Xia He. Despite Xia He’s attempt to dodge, Xu Lu’s attack range was extensive, and her wings managed to hit Xia He, knocking her aside.
Xia He felt dizzy, as if she was seeing an endless expanse of yellow sand before fainting.
The morale of the two consecutive failures plummeted. “… This boss skill is insane! The penalty dice added from failed Will checks make it impossible for us to pass any checks!”
The game master, embodying the ruthless combat machine, continued the assault. “Xu Lu attacks again, targeting Yan Xiu with Brawling.”
Yan Xiu said, “Counterattack.”
Xu Lu changed her target, retracting her wings and using her sharp cone-shaped feet to attack Yan Xiu.
Yan Xiu grabbed the ashtray nearby and hit Xu Lu’s feet with it, then swiftly struck with a police baton, causing Xu Lu’s forehead to bleed.
Xu Lu screamed.
The game master paused and said, “…”
The attack rhythm halted. Based on agility, Yan Xiu took action.
Yan Xiu dealt additional damage, causing Xu Lu to slump to the ground after suffering 8 points of damage.
Her wings were severely injured, unable to support her weight any longer. Her lower body bent like that of a wasp, with her legs curled up. She emitted the same baby-like cry for mercy.
But this time, the game master didn’t ask them to make any checks.
Shen Ling raised his gun and delivered the final blow to Xu Lu.
The bullet pierced through her forehead, blood streaming down her face.
Xu Lu stared blankly. In the final moments of her life, as her lifeblood drained away, she regained her consciousness.
In the pitch-black and clear pupils, Shen Ling’s figure was reflected.
The child smiled faintly, mouthing to Shen Ling, “I’m sorry, Doctor Shen, for making you worry.”
Shen Ling’s lips tightened. He crouched down, touching Xu Lu’s wings. They seemed delicate, but were unusually cold and hard, sharp enough to cut flesh.
Shen Ling held Xu Lu and said, “Your wings are beautiful,” his voice low, gentle. “Fly, Xu Lu.”
Satisfied, Xu Lu lifted the corners of her lips. Contentedly, she said, “My wings have always been beautiful.”
She slowly closed her eyes.
Like the closing of the heavens’ wings.
With a crisp sound, something fell from Xu Lu’s body. Shen Ling lowered his head to see it was a sparkling diamond ring.
Picking up the ring, Shen Ling inserted it onto Xu Lu’s sharp-nailed finger. The brilliance of the ring symbolized eternal love in this world, yet true eternity did not exist here.
But someone remembered it, making it eternal.
The death of the child plunged the room into unbearable silence until Director Zheng’s scream shattered everything. He knelt over Xu Lu’s contorted corpse, emitting cries of despair, “What have you all done! You madmen! You’ve ruined my sacrifice—my best sacrifice!!!”
Shen Ling aimed his gun at Director Zheng’s head. “What’s on the 6th floor of Block A? Xu Lu was a sacrifice raised by Liu Xiaotao. Where’s Liu Tianqiao? Where did the madness absorbed by Liu Tianqiao go?”
The muzzle pressed tightly against Director Zheng’s skull, the threat of death looming. Director Zheng gritted his teeth, refusing to speak.
“Wasn’t the fire that Liu Tianqiao set meant to burn that monster? He wanted the monster to die with him. You mentioned the game of 2048; this ward is 1024. Is there another 1024 that combines to form 2048? Where is it? Is it on the 6th floor of Block A!?”
“The radiance of the twin stars illuminates me. Even death cannot threaten me.” Director Zheng stared fiercely at Shen Ling, about to utter a venomous curse but was knocked unconscious by Yan Xiu with a single blow.
Yan Xiu searched him and found a keycard, Director Zheng’s access card.
They returned to Block A, but at the entrance of the 6th floor, they encountered an unexpected figure.
Zhao Xin was dressed in a smart skirt suit, her makeup exquisite, her hair meticulously tied up in a bun.
She looked politely and warmly at Shen Ling, as if it were the first time they had met downstairs, “Hello, Doctor Shen.”
Shen Ling halted his steps, nodding to her. “Hello, Secretary Zhao.”
Zhao Xin smiled and said, “Could we talk about something? You seem much smarter than I imagined.”
Xia He said, “My intuition tells me this person is not simple.”
“You don’t have to be afraid. I am human. I have any madness, any extraordinary ability. It’s because of this that I’m troubled. I want to ask you something. If you agree, I’ll let you in; otherwise,” she hesitated, looking at Shen Ling, “maybe I’ll do something neither of us wants to see.”
Shen Ling said, “Go ahead.”
“First, you have to answer me one question,” Zhao Xin said. “You’ve already controlled Director Zheng, haven’t you?”
“Yes,” Shen Ling nodded.
“Okay,” Zhao Xin smiled. “Then can I ask about that stone flute in your hand?”
“Yes,” Shen Ling informed Zhao Xin.
Zhao Xin breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Alright then. You’re so clever; you must have discovered many secrets. Like the existence of Liu Tianqiao. Let me reintroduce myself. I am a friend of Liu Tianqiao, once a practicing nurse in this psychiatric ward. But unfortunately, Liu Tianqiao forgot me, and I, in turn, forgot him.”
“When my practice ended, I left this ward. In my memory, there was no Liu Tianqiao. But somehow, I always felt like something was missing from my life. I was certain it was something important, but I forgot. My time was chaotic, wandering aimlessly in the world. Late at night, I would inexplicably burst into tears. A friend suggested I travel, so I went to the famous Hasanke town, where I saw the meteorite in the lake and suddenly remembered Liu Tianqiao.”
Zhao Xin said, “I found what I was missing. I remembered everything, remembered that we were in love. You don’t know Liu Tianqiao; what you saw was the monster he became. So, I want to tell you, he’s a bit reclusive and taciturn, but his emotions fluctuate only for Liu Xiaotao. He would do anything for her, which made me jealous of that child but also love him more. He’s a great older brother and a gentle, kind person. But the director ruined him and turned him into a monster.”
“I’ve been trying to become the director’s secretary to find out why Liu Tianqiao forgot me. I found out the director’s secrets but felt powerless. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t enter their world. I’m just an ordinary person; I can’t do anything. I’ve been trying to find a way to help Liu Tianqiao protect Liu Xiaotao, but I can’t do it,” Zhao Xin said sadly, furrowing her brows and forcing a smile. “Liu Xiaotao has also become a monster.”
She looked at Shen Ling, pleading, and said, “They’ve all become monsters, able to absorb each other’s madness. Please bring Liu Tianqiao back to me, with your flute, okay?”
Shen Ling: ‘…’
Han Qianqiu was confused, “What’s she saying? Why can’t I understand?”
Xia He sighed, explaining, “Liu Xiaotao and Liu Tianqiao are probably both alive. This girl is giving us a choice: use the flute to control Liu Tianqiao to absorb Liu Xiaotao’s madness, or use the flute to control Liu Xiaotao to absorb Liu Tianqiao’s madness.”
She took a deep breath, frowning in distress. “Liu Xiaotao and Liu Tianqiao, two brothers, only one can survive.”
