Chapter 14: Saving Lives Despite the Risks

  *Bang!*

  *Da da da~*

  The sound of firecrackers and gunshots reverberated, leaving Gu Shanhai feeling a sense of numbness. He couldn't help but think they were a step too slow—now they were all firing their weapons.

  Given the commotion, it seemed likely the target had already met an unfortunate fate.

  "What's going on?" Gu Shanhai managed to wedge himself into the scene, observing the inhuman patient writhing on the ground. Despite suffering grievous injuries, the creature remained alive, its head blown off yet still moving.

  His companions regarded Gu Shanhai's curiosity with a mixture of incredulity and exasperation. "This teammate is something else," they thought.

  "It's still squirming despite being pounded like this. Let's take a closer look," Gu Shanhai remarked, retrieving a short knife from his belongings and preparing to dissect the creature.

  However, as the blade made contact with the monster's skin, an unexpected reaction occurred. Granulation tissue began proliferating rapidly, and the creature's body expanded, even expelling the bullets lodged within.

  "A second form, how intriguing," Gu Shanhai mused, delivering a swift strike.

  Instantly, a gaping hole tore through the monster's body, unleashing a noxious odor that pervaded the hospital corridor.

  "Ouch~" Rashomon recoiled instinctively, narrowly avoiding a bout of nausea. Her swift reaction spared Qingcheng White Fox from being caught in the crossfire.

  The others also struggled to contain their disgust as the foul stench assailed their senses.

  Even Gu Shanhai, though unflappable in his previous life, grimaced involuntarily. His current physical form lacked resilience, leaving him vulnerable to such sensations.

  "Hey, you, watch me get angry."

  *Boom!*

  Gu Shanhai conjured a potent fireball, a refined technique derived from the red flame talisman. But before he could unleash it, the corridor erupted in flames.

  The blast engulfed the group of five players head-on, reducing the monster to a charred husk in the blink of an eye—a sight reminiscent of flammable materials ignited.

  "Cough, are you all alright?" Gu Shanhai called out anxiously, hoping none of them had been harmed.

  Then he'd have to face the ensuing terror alone.

  "Brother, where did you learn that fireball technique? Its power seems a bit excessive," Qingcheng Baihu inquired, gingerly touching his singed face.

  While the damage wasn't severe, the impact was undeniable.

  "Actually, the fireball I conjured hasn't detonated yet," Gu Shanhai admitted with a hint of bewilderment. Yes, the fireball still rested in his hand.

  "Then what exploded just now?" Rashomon asked, adjusting her hair. She had initially thought the Qingcheng trio were reliable allies, but the player before her seemed just as likely to harm allies as enemies.

The three creatures in Qingcheng appeared rather peculiar. What else could cause such an explosion? It seemed reminiscent of methane fermentation within the creature from before. Though not as potent as methane gas, the force was still considerable.

Of course, it could be something other than methane, perhaps even flatulence.

However, they refrained from mentioning this, fearing it might upset the female player and jeopardize their earnings.

"Cough, let's not dwell on these matters. The explosion didn't inflict much harm, and it aided us in dealing with the monster. We've all received our rewards, so let's press on," urged Qingcheng Ziying hastily, hoping to divert Gu Shanhai's attention.

As long as their teammates weren't actually cheating, they welcomed more companions. After all, strength in numbers was advantageous, especially in the early stages of the game.

"Is it possible that these monsters were once innocent civilians?" Gu Shanhai suddenly proposed.

". . ." ×4

Would that mean they'd need to be bombed 999 times?

The damage was minimal, but the insult was profound. From their current perspective, the only way to eliminate these monsters seemed to be to incinerate them after their transformation, but even then, their foul odor caused explosions upon contact with fire.

"Probably not, after all."

"Do you think this clue is a joke?" Gu Shanhai glanced at Qingcheng White Fox, who seemed hesitant, before continuing, "So I suggest we split up, and when the time comes."

"Brother, have you ever watched a horror movie?" Qingcheng Chiju interjected.

"I have. What about it?"

"Then why suggest splitting up? What if each of us is picked off one by one? It's like a cliché horror plot; the cardinal rule is to stick together."

Upon hearing Qingcheng Chiju's words, Gu Shanhai fell silent.

"You make a valid point." Gu Shanhai conceded to Qingcheng Chiju's wisdom, but it seemed the monsters disagreed.

As they conversed, a dark figure suddenly descended from the ceiling and snatched Qingcheng Chiju away in an instant, astonishingly swift.

A person of considerable size was captured right under their noses, at an alarming speed. This indicated that the captor possessed strength far surpassing the previous encounter.

"Hurry, we must rescue them! What are you waiting for? They could be turned into breeding grounds for more monsters!" Gu Shanhai urged urgently.

Observing their discomfort, it became evident that they were unaccustomed to the increased difficulty of the mid-level area.

"Though I hate to say it, individuals like these typically don't target men, and they're not monster girls," Rashomon scoffed at Gu Shanhai's assumption.

Qingcheng Baihu and Qingcheng Ziying remained unfazed. To them, their fallen comrade was merely a casualty. Yet, the morbid excitement in their teammates' voices added an eerie dimension to the situation.

"It's not just men they're after. Based on my experience, they're after souls. Even if they're not intended as breeding grounds, we must rescue them before it's too late," Rashomon cautioned.

Pata

A head plummeted through the ceiling, eyes wide with terror.

Teammate -1.

In horror and puzzle-solving dungeons, players' deaths don't end the challenge but leave behind corpses or remnants.

Fortunately, everyone reacted swiftly, fleeing to avoid another abduction.

Rustling noises from above signaled the monsters' pursuit.

"I just want to know, this building is made of reinforced concrete; how can these things move through it?" Gu Shanhai grumbled as they ran.

"Brother, please refrain from speaking. Every time you open your mouth, we encounter trouble," Rashomon chided, exasperated.

"I'm just stating the facts. If these monsters hollowed out the interior, it means the hospital is essentially a crumbling structure on the verge of collapse," Gu Shanhai added.

"!!" ×3

The revelation stunned them. It was entirely plausible; otherwise, why would the creatures bother digging when they could confront them directly? It seemed more likely that the tunnels were already there.

(End of this chapter)