Outside the window, the blood tide surged like waves, one after another, with no sign of stopping.
The parasitic corpse swallowed by the nursery had also rotted away completely. In the soil, the roots of the Moonlit Orchid twitched faintly.
The effect brought by “Clear Mind” left him refreshed and invigorated.
Having walked the line between life and death, the relaxation that followed after his mind had been stretched taut was the golden hour for tempering skill.
Zhou Kai gripped the greatsword in both hands. With every swing, he felt his muscle memory being recalibrated and optimized.
【Soraka Swordsmanship EXP +2】
Before long, the last trace of warm light in the fireplace flickered and sank into Zhou Kai’s body.
【Universal EXP +3】
Three points. This trip hadn’t been for nothing.
“Panel.”
【Character: Zhou Kai】
【Status: Erosion, Clear Mind (71h)】
【Skills: Mixed Martial Arts lv3 (0/50), Light Footwork lv3 (8/50), Soraka Swordsmanship lv1 (9/15), Mysticism lv1 (0/15), Falcon Strike Lv1 (0/15)】
【Items: Residence Certificate, Brand-New Greatsword, Bloodstained Hatchet, Oil Lamp, Morning Star Notes (Part Three, Part Two), Moonlit Orchid Seed (Plump), Moonlit Orchid Amulet (Damaged)】
【Universal EXP: 4】
“I dumped all nine points of EXP into the amulet, and now I’ve only got four left. Better than nothing…”
The amulet was important. He had no choice but to repair it.
Besides, perhaps there would be an unexpected effect…
Zhou Kai stared at the panel, his gaze landing on the description of the “Moonlit Orchid Amulet.”
“When ill fortune recedes, tranquil moonlight will grant you a long-lasting Clear Mind effect.”
【Universal EXP -1】
【Moonlit Orchid Amulet (Damaged) → Moonlit Orchid Amulet (Worn)】
The cracks on the amulet visibly healed a little, its durability recovering by roughly a third.
And he had made the right bet.
In the status column, a line of text refreshed and flickered.
【Clear Mind *2 (72h)】
It worked!
For the next seventy-two hours, this would raise his training efficiency to a whole new level.
This was a rare case of risking little for a huge return.
“Continue!”
With the doubled status upon him, Zhou Kai felt as if his body was brimming with inexhaustible strength, and his mind was unbelievably clear.
Roughly another forty minutes passed.
【Soraka Swordsmanship EXP +2】
The effect of the double buff was immediate. His EXP gain efficiency had shot up to more than one and a half times its previous rate.
……
【Soraka Swordsmanship EXP +2】
Another hour later, his EXP jumped again.
But this time, Zhou Kai’s movements abruptly froze. He didn’t dare continue.
Because…
Tap… tap…
From the ceiling above came a heavy dragging sound, as though some overweight thing was sprawled on the roof, digging its claws into the tiles as it slowly moved.
Creak—
The wooden beams let out an overburdened groan.
Dust fell in a soft rustle.
Zhou Kai instinctively slowed his breathing and restrained his movements, lowering his presence to the minimum.
But that thing did not seem to have any intention of leaving. The noise of sharp claws scraping against wood remained suspended above his head, sniffing around in every direction.
Zhou Kai’s eyes narrowed. Slowly, he leaned the greatsword against the wall.
He couldn’t just wait.
Whether in the nightmare or in reality, wasting time was the most extravagant form of suicide.
He took the two Morning Star Notes from his pocket and, by the lamplight, began flipping through them page by page.
The first one he had obtained was Morning Star Notes: Part Two. Its core information was the “Light Footwork” skill, as well as a series of mysticism knowledge used to judge environmental abnormalities. The latter had manifested on the panel as the skill 【Mysticism】.
The one containing the most information was still the third volume.
Aside from the uses of the Moonlit Orchid and records of the blood tide, it also hid many warnings where speculation and implication coexisted.
For example…
【…We should learn to adapt to darkness. The nightmares of the past should not have light. When the light of hope is exposed within darkness, what it draws in is not only those who pursue light, but also… monsters intent on annihilating light. Unless necessary, lighting lamps is forbidden.】
【…The placement of the notes follows no pattern. I will randomly leave them behind in every place I have stayed… I first faced the blood tide in Room 653, but what brought me the greatest trouble was not those insects.】
【What is truly despairing is that from the very first day I came here…】
【They already knew of my existence.】
【…Under observation, intrusion will be regarded as an invitation…】
Click.
Zhou Kai instinctively turned the switch on the oil lamp, and the flickering flame suddenly went out.
The faint smell of diesel lingered at the tip of his nose. In the darkness that descended all at once, Zhou Kai’s expression was graver than ever before.
“Damn it, no wonder…”
“What kind of hellhole has rules like this?!”
Why had that dough-faced freak been so fixated on entering the shelter?
Why had the “wanderer” pushed open the French window right under his nose?
It all made sense now.
So before this, he had basically been a walking “Welcome” doormat?
If not for this notebook, Zhou Kai suspected he could die dozens of times and still fail to figure out the trick.
Who could have imagined that in this damned place, being blind with your eyes open was the safest way to survive!
Judging from his own experience, this rule could probably be applied to hearing, smell… Perhaps only a living corpse bereft of all five senses would avoid being treated as prey by those things.
But if all five senses were lost, how would one activate special buildings?
How would one resist the blood tide beetles and the omnipresent cold?
This nightmare was forcing people to answer multiple-choice questions—questions leading to different ways of dying.
But Zhou Kai had no intention of sitting still and waiting for death.
He no longer paid attention to the movement on the roof. Carrying his sword, he returned to the fireplace.
Keep training!
Fifteen minutes before the wanderer’s corpse was about to burn away completely.
Boom!
A thunderclap exploded, as if it were going to tear the sky apart.
Immediately after, torrential rain crashed down, announcing that the blood tide, which had lasted more than five hours…
Was over.
Zhou Kai stopped swinging the greatsword.
【Soraka Swordsmanship EXP +5】
【Soraka Swordsmanship lv2 (3/25)】
Threads of strength began to grow within his muscle fibers, and more practiced techniques were branded into his mind.
A sharp gleam flashed through Zhou Kai’s eyes.
Letting out a long breath, he knew his combat strength had climbed another step.
“Hah… I actually didn’t have to use my ‘backup hidden energy source.’”
Zhou Kai glanced at the squid-like chunk of flesh not far from the fireplace—the head of the Diablo parasitic corpse.
His original plan had been that if the corpse burned out before the blood tide ended, he would throw this head in as well to hold out a little longer.
Now it seemed this head could be handed over to the nursery intact.
He had a feeling that sacrificing a monster’s corpse whole to a special building would yield more.
Using his greatsword to skewer the “squid head,” Zhou Kai made a trip down to the basement.
Afterward, he returned to the doorway once more, preparing to go outside.
Through the crack in the door, lightning illuminated the indistinct shadows of the town within the rain curtain. Amid the deathly silence was a dangerous clamor.
Zhou Kai’s throat bobbed.
The blood tide had ended, but his nightmare was far from over.
Twelve hours… Only half had passed.
“When you stop in place, darkness will follow like a shadow.”
“I’m not qualified to rest yet.”
With his sword on his back and the amulet clenched tight, Zhou Kai stepped forward once more and walked out of Shelter 777.
Hopefully, there wouldn’t be anything waiting for him at the door.
By the light of another bolt of lightning, Zhou Kai swept his gaze around and let out a breath of relief.
It should be safe.