It’s been exactly seven years since Hua Yuan joined the Sisterhood, during which she came into contact with no fewer than twenty core sisters.
Even though her personality is highly invasive, she still got along with some of them.
She had also been arranged by her grandmother to carry out squad tasks, to eradicate certain dangerous entities threatening the Sisterhood or to compete for resources with other organizations.
But all the past cooperative experiences combined did not amount to the feeling she has now.
Hua Yuan has never had such tacit understanding with another,
nor has she ever felt this sensation of pushing herself to the limit, where she is brought back from the brink of death.
Even though she is incredibly weak at the moment, there’s a smile on her lips. Not the smile she has when invading others, but the most primitive, most ordinary one, seemingly related to humanity; a smile that was almost forgotten.
Unfortunately, this feeling did not last long, as Hua Yuan’s thoughts returned to the present—to this extremely dangerous island, to the Warrant incident.
"Are you planted here by the Investigation Bureau, or secretly trained by Grandmother as a ’Connector’?"
"Neither." Read full story at NoveI★Fire.net
Hua Yuan was somewhat surprised, "Oh? Quite honest, eh?
You could have claimed to be arranged by Grandmother, which would fit the current situation very well, and I wouldn’t have doubted you.
Is it related to Isabella? Never mind~ I’ll just ask you one last question! You’re here to help, right?"
"That’s fine~ What your true identity is, we can leave until all of this is over, if we’re both still alive then, to ask.
That battle just now was incredibly exhilarating for me, and I hope the follow-up can be even more so."
Luo Di was originally planning to confess outright, only to find that the usually domineering Hua Yuan did not press the issue.
At this critical juncture, mentioning Isabella’s death and the squad leader’s situation would likely plant the seeds of doubt, not conducive to teamwork.
From current experiences, to find and kill the Monster Avatar behind this island, the whole squad must give it their all and cooperate to the fullest extent.
If anyone dies or internal strife occurs, everyone will die here.
Since there’s no need to worry about identity issues anymore, Luo Di focused on the present, reviewing the recent fight with the deceased, recalling every detail.
He had faced simulation creatures created with borrowed corpses in Simulation Practice, hunted a variety of Pseudo-Persons, and engaged in three different types of close combat in the Fighting Hall.
But all those experiences, all those feelings, were different from the fight just now.
If he had to pinpoint the specific difference, Luo Di thought it was one word: "human."
The deceased who emerged from the black coffins had a human shape, but no fundamental humanity.
In the fight just now, Luo Di did not feel the excitement typical of a maniac killer.
"Hua Yuan, have you ever seen this kind of existence before?"
"I’ve killed some Pseudo-Persons who express ’Fear Embodiments’ related to the deceased; they can also emit an aura related to death, but they are completely different from this monstrosity.
Moreover, this thing to some extent has completely transcended the category of ’human’ and is a strange product born or created under certain conditions.
Perhaps, this is what the Monster Avatar mentioned as an ’experiment’?
The most terrifying thing is that this thing seems to be able to suppress the pituitary, or to target attributes related to the Corner.
My ’Invader’s Stance’ is pretty strong, you know~ Whether it’s sisters or elite Pseudo-Persons from other organizations, all who have seen my stance have been turned inside out.
When my most aggressive attack landed on that thing, the invasive effect was wiped out, and it even broke my fingers.
I’m even suspecting the nature of this thing’s experiments might be ’targeting the Corner,’ it’s so strange.
If it’s true, notwithstanding how the Corner would view it.
Shea, Sister Eye, and your dear Isabella could be in trouble. They are all Pseudo-Persons and don’t have Connectors like you to assist.
If their abilities are completely suppressed, it will be quite troublesome... I hope everyone can meet up smoothly at the hotel. If they’re all dead, we’ll have a hard time surviving afterwards."
Luo Di wasn’t too worried, as he was very aware of the squad leader’s capabilities, and Shea and Sister Eye were not weak either.
Now, the only thing needed was to ensure a smooth escape from the forest and a return to the hotel in the resort area.
Fortunately, ’Hell’s Spine’ obtained a lot of nutrition during the slaughter, continuously supplying energy to his body and repairing the injuries.
The saturation of the spine had already reached above 75%.
Otherwise, after being regenerated twice by Hua Yuan from inside out, coupled with such high-intensity combat, he guessed that he’d already be left with nothing but a pile of rotten flesh and broken bones.
Just as Luo Di closed his eyes and focused on the rapid regeneration of his body, a soft finger like a flower pistil poked from the side, gently tapping Luo Di’s arm.
"Hey Mr. Di... since neither of our bodies can move much right now anyway, let’s chat a bit? Otherwise, it’s so boring.
If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as your agreement, because there’s something I have to make clear to you."
"You are one of the very few who has seen my full form, seen the Invader and the Flower Stance, and are still alive.
If I don’t explain my ’story’ well enough, I’m concerned you might misunderstand me for not being a girl, especially since something poked you before~
Moreover, we’re likely to die here afterward, so sharing a bit more might lessen some regrets in the end."
Hua Yuan’s seemingly gentle words actually carried an imperative nature, as if they were invading one’s thoughts, trying to leave a deep impression in Luo Di’s brain.
she stretched her palm in front of Luo Di, and her palm was able to split open into a structure similar to the Blood Flesh Corner, from which even tinier flower pistils grew, like hands, translucent and white.
"You must have noticed, or guessed by now.
My ’Fear Embodiment’ is not horror literature, but the group of men who once violated me.
Those terrible memories kept fermenting and worsening in my brain after the event, making each dream clearer and more terrifying.
But I’ve always been trying hard to persevere, taking medications and looking for related psychological treatment plans online. Because I have a dream I want to achieve, one I brought with me from the orphanage: I want to open a flower shop.
My personal situation was gradually getting better, and I actively engaged in normal life, continuing to go to school.
As a freshman in high school, I found work as a helper in a flower shop during the holidays, which allowed me to earn money and get familiar with the operations of a flower shop ahead of time.
the owner, who seemed like a good person, revealed a male expression similar to those in my nightmares upon finding out that I grew up in an orphanage and had no family.
He gradually began to touch me inappropriately,
and even locked up the shop early one day on purpose, leaving me behind.
I looked at the bouquet in my hand, not knowing what to do.
Until there was a voice in my brain, that wonderfully redemptive sound, which allowed me not to be at a disadvantage anymore, allowing me to aggressively violate others in turn.
So that thing that touched you, was just a concretized expression, and not something innate to me—I’m just a girl after all."
Luo Di did not respond at all, just quietly listening.
Hua Yuan continued to narrate her story:
I possess two different kinds of concretizations.
One is the normal Fear Embodiment, representing invasion. The other is in the form of flowers, seemingly unrelated to fear.
Perhaps it’s because I was holding flowers during the transformation process, this attribute related to [flowers] can also be expressed through concretization.
While I privately still like flowers a lot, I basically don’t use this ability.
After all, I don’t want to become something beautiful; it’s violating others that truly refreshes my body and soul.
But tonight, I had a completely different idea; I’ve reached higher phenomena, it’s as if I’ve touched that membrane, felt what’s called [the limit].
I’ve always victimized others centered on myself, never relying on someone else .
I never thought the floral form would be so useful, even being able to counter things akin to natural predators.
I’ve thought about many things during this rest, many things I had never considered before.
Perhaps after heading to the Corner, my ’path’ will become completely different, maybe turning into an even more terrifying monster than anticipated.
So I especially want to thank you... If Mr. Di hadn’t shown strength enough for me to trust, I wouldn’t have presented this form, which looks utterly useless and has no invasive effect."
Finally, Luo Di gave a response.
"Speaking of it, Mr. Di, your name is also a Disguise, isn’t it? Though, the real name doesn’t really matter, I prefer this way of calling you.
D is quite a nice letter.
Rest is about done~ Let’s go."
The two had just risen from under the tree and hadn’t yet decided which direction to leave the forest when a beam of light pierced the dark woods.
Looking towards the source of the light, the high beams were too dazzling to see anything more than an outline.
As the light source approached, the outline of the vehicle also became clearer.
Indeed, it was the same bus that had brought them to the island village, bearing the Mercury Group and travel agency’s cooperative logo.
Only, the bus’s tires were all gone, replaced by four Huge slippery tentacles of flesh, swiftly wriggling the vehicle through the woods.
The headlights were two blood-flesh eye sockets, stuffed full of glowing skulls.
Luo Di and Hua Yuan were just restored to a state capable of moving; they couldn’t withstand a fight in their bodies.
Just as they were preparing to bolt,
a comical accent came from inside the vehicle:
"Oh my! The two of you actually killed the [Black Death Face]!
I can’t believe it – that’s the most terrifying existence in the North District, representing the most dangerous shade of pitch black.
Your strength truly is fearsome! Hurry up and get on, I’ll take you out of here, and there will be a reward for your victory, too."