Chapter 8: Foundation

Only ten minutes remained in the half-hour item search.

The group of four met up quickly based on shared locations. Just as Anna wanted to show off, she realized that everyone had found potential items that could initiate the practice,

According to everyone's brief descriptions, finding the items was not difficult. Once they approached the vicinity of the items, they could clearly feel the environmental changes caused by the items, even a very direct attraction.

The four items were:

Luo Di found the "Redwood Gold Inlaid Box",

Anna found the "Sheep Head Hexagram Metal Box",

Gao Yuxuan found an "ancient book sealed with bones",

Wu Wen found a "red umbrella tied with ink bottle string",

As the four items were presented, the monitoring screens of the institute focused on them immediately.

The employees who bet on the corresponding items showed excited expressions one by one, but the ultimate prize was just one, and it was up to these youngsters to make their choice.

Director Qin also placed her bets among them,

However, her concern was not in the final bet, but the rare worried look on her face, suggesting that one of the four items could be quite dangerous.

Wu Wen's father had a comparatively close relationship with their research institute and could be considered a major sponsor; she must ensure nothing went wrong with this practice.

"I hope we don't pick that thing~ Otherwise, we'll need to notify the medical team in the city to be on standby in advance."

...

The four different items were placed on a flat-surfaced stone.

With eight minutes remaining, everyone was to choose one to initiate the corresponding event.

"Shall we vote to decide?" class monitor Wu Wen sought everyone's opinion.

Deputy class monitor Gao Yuxuan volunteered his suggestion: "I propose that everyone gives a quick explanation of these items based on their own knowledge reserves.

I prefer to select an item of moderate difficulty since this is our first practice and our first time working together.

Personally, I feel that the red umbrella may correspond to an anomaly that cannot be killed, or even a Spiritual Body structure, and is not suitable for selection.

The ancient book may correspond to a summoning ceremony or curse-related anomaly, which is also not easy to deal with.

I suggest choosing one from the two boxes."

"Don't choose this metal box! I've always had a bad feeling about it…"

The usually brave blonde Anna shared her experience searching for the metal box, especially the "tongue clicking" sound, which still sent shivers down her spine reflecting on it.

Luo Di was rather interested in Anna's recount and offered his own insight, "Sheep head, Hexagram, it might correspond to some kind of Demon, typical of Western exorcism. Once this item is chosen, there might be a Possession situation, indeed not recommended."

Although he loved B-movies, he had seen other Western horror films as well, and knew a thing or two.

The class monitor looked at everyone with satisfaction, especially glad that the two typically quiet boys were actively participating.

"According to our discussion, we quickly eliminated three, leaving only the wood box found by Luo Di as an option? Speaking of which, Luo Di, did you encounter any strange situations when finding the wood box, or something unsettling like what Anna experienced?"

"Just some cold wind, I estimate that the Simulated Anomaly behind the wood box is of moderate difficulty."

The class monitor looked at the time that was running out, "Then that's settled! Who wants to try activating this wood box?"

"Wenwen, I remember you seem to be quite versed in these little things."

"Tch~ Anna, I was trying to encourage the gentlemen to participate more. Fine, I'll do it."

Wu Wen took out a Swiss Army knife, pressed her ear to the surface of the wood box, and after a series of proficient movements~ click! The locked wood box was opened.

Stored inside the wood box was an old copper key.

At the same time, a broadcast echoed through the woods.

§ An anomaly event has commenced. Please head to the summit region as soon as possible §

...

Inside the institute,

Three staff members chose correctly, splitting the winnings with excitement on their faces.

Although Director Qin did not choose the winning item, she also heaved a sigh of relief as the four did not select the problematic and dangerous item.

In an unnoticed corner of the institute, an ordinary-looking employee watched it all unfold, constantly muttering under his breath:

"They already had it... why didn't they choose it, why not select it?"

[In the Mountains]

Anna stared at the items left unchosen on the stone, "What about these things? It doesn't feel right just to leave them here."

The class monitor nodded, "Indeed not ideal~ How about we return these items to their original places while on our way up the mountain? It won't waste more than a few minutes."

"Okay."

The red umbrella was discovered beneath a huge boulder, with symbols drawn with cinnabar on its surface.

The ancient book was found amongst the moss-covered abandoned tents, with some scratch marks left by fingers around it.

What remained was the metallic box in Anna's hands. After climbing a hilly path, the team arrived at a bare clearing in the woods.

Not only were there no plants growing here, there was also an inexplicable dry heat; the temperature was noticeably several degrees higher than the surrounding area.

Anna moved at a slow pace, sticking close to a crevice in the ground. Just as she was about to return the ominous object to its original place...

Click~

The strange clicking sound came again, feeling as though it was reverberating inside Anna's skull.

Clear, sudden, and chilling,

the shock made the metal box slip from Anna's grip.

The metal box happened to fall into the crevice, dropping about half a meter.

With a clank! it landed in the depths.

This action startled Anna, who quickly took out a flashlight to observe the situation below. Fortunately, the metal box was neither broken nor deformed, as the quality of the metal material was excellent.

As one might expect, this kind of metal box intended for storing items must have undergone special processing, not so easily shattered from a fall.

Perhaps considering the box's ominousness,

Anna bent down, ready to return the metal box to its initial place,

but just as she was about to reach across the crevice, a figure suddenly attacked, grabbing her arm with a slap!

It was Luo Di,

he had noticed something off about Anna and intervened for safety, also handing her a tree branch.

"Don't use your hands."

"Oh."

Anna took the branch and moved the metal box back to its original position; the clicking sound by her ear did not occur again.

Just as she was about to thank Luo Di, who had just helped her, a pair of hands pushed her from behind, ushering her quickly up the mountain.

The person behind her was the class monitor, "Don't waste time, let's hurry up the mountain."

As the four left the forest region where not even weeds could grow, the branch used to move the metal box was left behind and soon completely withered, even turning to ash and vanishing with the wind.

…

[Item activated]

The two girls walking together were talking about the new type of simulation,

"Wenwen, how do you think the research institute simulates such realistic [Anomalies]? Is it some kind of brand-new biotechnology or something?"

"Maybe it's corpses?"

"Corpses? You mean the institute repurposes the corpses of killed Pseudo-People, remaking them into controllable Practice Units?"

"Yeah~ That's what makes it realistic."

"Eh~ If that's really the case, it's kind of disgusting. Still, after admissions, we'll need to face real anomalies and the Pseudo-People that could appear around us at any time. Getting used to it in advance is pretty good.

If this kind of practice becomes widespread, people's survival rates could greatly increase in the future."

Climbing this hundred-meter hill took more time than expected,

and as they drew closer to the summit, the temperature gradually dropped.

Occasional gusts of cold wind would blow through the woods, and the clouds grew dense, covering the bright sun,

Finally, the four of them crossed the last ring of trees before the mountaintop and an old Chinese-style mansion came into view.

It consisted of front and back courtyards, a surrounding wall, and the two-story main building.

The prominent white lantern hanging at the main gate facing everyone,

with the character [Condolence] on it, made the three with Huaxia blood flowing through them feel quite uncomfortable,

Anna had also studied the related culture in her textbooks. She only knew it had to do with death and didn't have any particular feelings.

The redwood door,

adorned with gold,

a large copper lock hung on it.

Wu Wen took out the copper key she had obtained earlier from the box; click— a perfect fit, and the lock opened.

This also signified that this field practice had officially begun.