The Strange Experiment Subject was a humanoid figure with bulging muscles, each fiber exploding with power. The blue patient uniform was stretched taut, bulging outward, while black-red liquid covered its chest and its right hand was soaked in red fluid.
Most conspicuous was its head, where irregular bumps emerged one after another. Its eyes were scarlet red, flowing with a gloomy and Strange aura.
Tap...
Tap...
Those were the footsteps of the Strange Experiment Subject walking in the experiment hall. Every step shook the human heart.
Several newcomers, including Ai Hoshino, had unconsciously held their breath, deeply afraid that their breathing would attract the Strange Experiment Subject's attention.
That bloody appearance represented that several players had already died at its hands.
Don't look over here.
Don't discover us.
The newcomer players prayed in their hearts.
Even though the four old players remained expressionless and confident, completely unworried about the Strange Experiment Subject, the fear in the hearts of the newcomers continued to deepen.
The Strange Experiment Subject in the hall below walked step by step, its head swaying left and right, its scarlet eyes scanning, seeming to search for players existing in the hall.
But it did not seem to discover the seven players on the ten-meter-high platform.
Lin Ye watched, considering whether to test it a bit.
He looked toward Jack.
Among the four old players, he and Jack had basic trust. The 'Royal Casino' instance had established a certain tacit understanding between him and Jack.
Lin Ye pointed at himself, then pointed at the Strange Experiment Subject.
Jack understood.
Simply hiding was too passive; taking the initiative to attack and test seemed like a good method.
Holy Knight and Lilith also noticed the silent exchange between Lin Ye and Jack.
This guy, he isn't planning to start a fight, is he?!
Such guts?
A Level 3 rank in this instance mission was indeed the highest level among players, but comprehensively speaking, players of this level still lacked sufficient accumulation of skills, items, and Strange objects.
But thinking of Lin Ye's initial suggestion, they felt Lin Ye might really intend to do so.
Jack reached out a hand to indicate no problem.
Lin Ye looked toward Holy Knight and Lilith.
The two old players exchanged glances and finally made a decision.
They also agreed.
As for the thoughts of the remaining three newcomers? That wasn't important.
At this point,
Lin Ye made a gesture, signaling the six people to be mentally prepared for the Strange Experiment Subject's attack.
But at this moment,
The Strange Experiment Subject suddenly stopped its steps.
Ai Hoshino's heart sank instantly, and the few newcomers near her didn't fare much better.
Could it be... we were discovered?
Lin Ye stopped his hand and watched quietly.
"Roar..."
The Strange Experiment Subject let out a wild roar, the piercing sound striking in waves.
The young newcomer following Jack subconsciously wanted to run away, but was pinned firmly to the ground by Jack, unable to move.
This allowed the newcomer to react; reason took the upper hand, and he did not let out a scream of fear.
Clang...
A piercing sound of metal impact.
Lin Ye heard it clearly from his side.
Whoosh...
Thump thump...
The Strange Experiment Subject's static body moved in an instant, catapulting out and heading straight for the direction of the strange noise.
The hiding young man could no longer hold back the fear in his heart at this moment. He scrambled up frantically from the iron barrel he was hiding in, supporting himself with both hands as he tried to flee.
But facing the rapidly approaching Strange Experiment Subject, his hands suddenly lost their original strength. No matter how he tried to jump or exert force, he could not successfully break free.
"Huff huff huff..."
The young man's fear index increased exponentially.
The ugly Strange body, however, unexpectedly slowed down. It seemed it didn't want to kill the prey in a short time, appearing as if it wanted to tease and toy with him first.
Lin Ye took this in, adding a touch of vigilance to his gaze.
If it were a purely irrational Strange body,
It would actually be easier for them to deal with.
Lay traps, lure the Strange body into the setup.
But if the Strange Experiment Subject possessed rationality, then... the difficulty of dealing with the Strange body would greatly increase.
Clang...
The man-high gray iron barrel crashed down.
The young man ran out, stumbling and crawling, his weak body bursting with the explosive power of extreme survival instinct.
Thump...
The Strange Experiment Subject leaped and sprinted, catching up effortlessly. With a swing of its fist, the young man fell to the ground in response.
"Don't... don't kill me,"
He struggled, kicking his legs.
The waves of pain from his back made him grimace, but he didn't give up the hope of living.
"Save..."
"Save me!"
"Pfft..."
Blood spat from his mouth. The young man stared wide-eyed at the Strange body, and finally turned his head to look toward the high platform.
Having chosen to hide inside an iron barrel in the hall and observe through the gap between the barrel and lid, he knew of Lin Ye and the several old players.
"You guys..."
Clang...
A strange impact sound suddenly rang out behind the Strange body.
It was an iron block threw over by Lin Ye; this was an item he had picked up on the way here.
The Strange Experiment Subject's movements stopped abruptly, and it quickly turned its head to look in the direction behind it.
It reacted to sound.
It searched for humans through sound.
"Save... save me."
The young man cried hoarsely for help toward Lin Ye and the others.
But no one gave any response.
What responded to him was a strike from the Strange Experiment Subject. Its palm straightened, turning into a blade shape. With a Swish!, it inserted rapidly. The young man's chest was pierced instantly, and a large amount of fresh blood gushed out.
Puu-waaah!
A heart-rending scream echoed in the silent hall.
The young man breathed his last, completely dead, turning into a warm corpse.
Ai Hoshino subconsciously clenched her teeth, her eyes staring tightly at that blood-stained corpse.
For her, it actually wasn't the first time seeing a corpse. Back in the 'Love Hotel', she had also seen a corpse, and it was even the corpse of a clone. But witnessing a fresh life being taken away by the Strange Experiment Subject with her own eyes now, this impact was completely different.
If she were alone, without Lin Ye by her side, she felt she would definitely go mad from fear.
Wanting to pass the instance mission alive would be an almost impossible thing.
Ai Hoshino couldn't help but look toward Lin Ye, her starry eyes flickering with an expression of gratitude.
Without Lin Ye, there would be no present and future Ai Hoshino.
Whoosh!
Thud!
Another iron block was thrown over, making a crisp impact sound beside the Strange Experiment Subject.
It looked toward the direction of the iron block,
But it completely failed to notice Lin Ye, who had already stood up on the high platform.
"Has rationality, has certain thinking capabilities, but not particularly high."
"Vision has problems."
He had already stood up, openly exposing himself within the range of the opponent's vision, yet the opponent still didn't have much of a reaction.
Jack, Lilith, and the others also discovered this issue.
The Strange Experiment Subject couldn't see them, at least not from too far away.
They had discovered the Strange body's weakness.
The newcomers revealed looks of joy one after another.
The Strange Experiment Subject looked around, but found nothing, and chose a direction to walk away step by step.
After its figure disappeared for a while, a newcomer let out a long breath. "Phew, this guy can't see us."
"We are very safe here!"
Lin Ye's face sank instantly.
"Quick, move, it's coming."
"Eh!"
Lilith was stunned.
But Jack immediately took out the weapon stored in his Storage Grid, a long axe that was pitch-black and reflected a metallic luster.
This was a prop from the Strange Game.
After receiving the Strange Invitation Mission, Jack had applied to the organization for this alloy long axe.
Holy Knight faced it as if confronting a formidable enemy.
"It's here."
The moment Lin Ye spoke, a figure burst into the hall in an instant.
This time,
It was no longer searching without direction, but rapidly approaching straight for the high platform where Lin Ye and the others were. Its massive body still burst forth with speed far exceeding that of an average person.
Thump thump thump...
Thump thump thump...
The heavy footsteps rang out continuously.
"Newcomers go first. We old players will stay behind to test its level?"
Lin Ye proposed.
They had witnessed the entire process of the Strange Experiment Subject dispatching the average newcomer, but the newcomer died too quickly and simply, so they couldn't judge the Strange body's strength very well.
Now,
Four old players were here.
If the four could cooperate, test the Strange body's true strength, they might even find an opportunity to kill the Strange body.
"Who takes point?"
Lilith asked.
The person taking point had the highest danger factor.
"I'll be first,"
Lin Ye said directly.
He had already decided to test it; being first or later didn't matter to him.
"I'll be second,"
Jack said immediately at this time. Meanwhile, Lin Ye had already moved, crossing over and rushing toward the incoming Strange Experiment Subject with a single step.
With a few leaps, he quickly jumped off the high platform, and the Strange Experiment Subject had also arrived for the kill.
"Roar..."
Seeming more excited to face this human, Lin Ye, who actively attacked, its entire ugly and ferocious body emitted heightened emotions.
Boom...
The right fist with explosive muscles swung down heavily, emitting a booming sound of heavy impact.
The floor tiles cracked, spiderweb-like fissures spreading rapidly.
But the direction it swung its fist at had long since lost Lin Ye's figure.
"Roar..."
That was a miserable scream of pain.
Jack and Lilith were both stunned.
In the blink of an eye, the Strange Experiment Subject swung a punch, hit the floor tiles, and then let out a scream.
This... isn't right!
It hurts just from hitting the floor tiles?
That's too lacking in style.
Also, where did Lin Ye go? In the blink of an eye, an instant, where did he go?
The moment the Strange Experiment Subject struggled to turn around,
The few old players finally saw Lin Ye, who had been obscured by the Strange body.
"How is that possible..."
Holy Knight's eyes widened. He recalled repeatedly, but had no memory regarding Lin Ye moving.
How did he do it?
What is this situation?
Lilith wasn't doing much better.
She guessed that Lin Ye had either put his free attribute points into speed or had skills involving movement.
This escape ability, top-notch!
Lilith was envious.
Jack raised his evaluation of Lin Ye once again.
That experience in the 'Royal Casino' was still unforgettable to this day. Fleecing the Royal Casino in the inner world ruthlessly—what other player had done that?
Lin Ye immediately retreated two steps, clutching the alloy dagger tightly in his hand.
In the short twenty seconds of Time Stop, he had not only attempted to stab into the Strange body's flesh to destroy the heart but also tried cutting its neck and other fatal human areas.
But the Strange body's physique was abnormally hard, its muscles developed.
The only thing he damaged were the Strange body's eyes.
At this moment, the Strange body kept its eyes closed, black-red liquid flowing out, screaming continuously.
"Jack."
"Coming."
The red-haired burly man jumped with one step, swinging his dagger—no, long axe—and accompanied by his body's descent, he chopped down fiercely toward the Strange body.
Whoosh...
The Strange body had its eyes closed, but it dodged instinctively.
The long axe landed on the floor tiles, making a dull impact sound.
Jack missed his first strike but immediately followed up with a second.
Swish swish! The long axe whistled. The sharp blade edge finally cut into the Strange body's flesh, but... the effect wasn't very significant.
Lin Ye had been watching closely.
His dagger was suitable for piercing.
His own strength attribute was lower than Jack's, and the dagger's killing power was definitely lower than the axe's.
But even so,
Jack's heavy axe strike didn't cause much damage to the Strange body.
"Is the shell this hard? Or must we use the Experiment Center's weapons?"
Lin Ye's remark attracted the attention of Holy Knight and Lilith; at least the two of them hadn't thought of the 'weapon restriction' point immediately.
"Try mine. Blue quality weapon, Light Sword. Comes with special damage against the Strange."
"Hah..."
The blond youth old player, Holy Knight, drew his sword. The one-handed sword was permeated with a faint pure white light.
Swish! The sound of breaking air rang out abruptly.
Sizzle!
A burning sound.
But it only lasted for less than half a second before disappearing.
"..."
Holy Knight was shocked.
No killing power at all!
Hard as steel, can't cut in at all.
Holy Knight slashed wildly with all his might, but didn't even leave a scratch.
"Roar roar roar..."
The Strange Experiment Subject waved its arms frantically, destroying everything around it indiscriminately like a titan.
Lin Ye had long since dodged far away.
Jack also actively retreated from the combat range when Holy Knight took action.
Only Holy Knight faced danger, but in the end, his luck was good, and he wasn't injured.
Whoosh...
A piercing sound whistled past Holy Knight's ear. An arrow broke through the air, shooting straight at the Strange Experiment Subject.
It was Lilith.
She used a bow and arrow as her weapon.
Her petite figure drawing a small silver bow was unexpectedly a good match.
"Can't shoot in."
Lilith said in a regretful tone.
At this time,
The manic Strange body suddenly changed direction and fled with thump thump thump sounds.
Lin Ye didn't chase.
Jack and the others didn't chase either. In the brief exchange just now, they realized they couldn't cause effective damage to the Strange body.
If not for the Strange body having its eyes taken by Lin Ye right at the start...
The situation on their side wouldn't be this good.
Holy Knight walked toward Lilith with heavy steps.
"Did you want to shoot me to death?!"
Holy Knight recalled the scene just now, terrified in hindsight, his back uncontrollably overflowing with cold sweat.
If this little loli wanted to kill him just now, he would have found it hard to survive.
If he died, he would die for nothing. Lin Ye and Jack couldn't possibly avenge him.
"Ah, this, that... I really didn't, Brother Holy Knight."
Lilith said, blinking her big cute eyes.
"Lilith, watch it."
Lin Ye's calm voice came over.
He didn't believe Lilith was unintentional.
Lilith clearly could have chosen a better angle and timing to act, yet she deliberately shot the arrow grazing Holy Knight's face. If this wasn't intentional, it was absolutely impossible.
"Ah, woo ah! Big Brother, Lilith really didn't do it on purpose. Really, please believe Lilith."
The blond little loli's tender voice rang out. "Brother Holy Knight, I'm sorry. I apologize to you, a sincere apology."
Holy Knight's belly full of grievances was stuck in his throat without any outlet.
"I..."
Lin Ye spoke a step ahead. "Lilith, this group of ours is temporary, but your behavior is not allowed. There will not be a next time."
He wasn't the leader of this group, nor had he received everyone's submission.
But Lin Ye still spoke up.
Players were of all kinds and had different personalities. Under their current performance, what kind of heart was hidden, no one knew.
This was a survival mission.
It was completely different from the Royal Casino.
Acts of harming each other between players were completely possible.
Now Lilith dared to shoot grazing Holy Knight's cheek. Next time she would dare to graze, or even shoot at him. Lin Ye resolutely resisted and opposed this.
Open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to defend against.
"Eh, eh, eh, I..."
Lin Ye watched with cold eyes.
Jack definitely stood on Lin Ye's side. Holy Knight, recovering his senses now, also immediately stated his position.
Three Level 3 players reached a consensus.
Lilith corrected her attitude. "Sorry, there won't be a next time. Please rest assured."
Level 3 and Level 2 only differed by one level. The gap wasn't huge, but it wasn't small either.
Lilith remembered that Jack's experience was about to reach Level 4.
Being forced to leave this team because of her own probing at this time was an unwise choice.
On the high platform, the three newcomers witnessed the whole process.
This exchange ended with the Strange Experiment Subject fleeing in defeat.
Too amazing!
"Our choice to follow the old players was truly too correct."
They could live.
They could absolutely live.
But Jack soon grabbed the newcomer following him and threw him onto the ground.
"Big Brother Jack, I, I..."
He also realized his own problem.
But he didn't want to die.
"Your mistake attracted the Strange Experiment Subject."
"..."
The young man's face was full of pleading. "Sorry, Big Brother Jack, give me one more chance? I beg you, please."
But Jack had a cold face. "You can leave. Otherwise, I will break your legs and throw you here."
The young man trembled.
"I really..."
Jack took a step closer, raising his hand to swing the long axe, scaring the young man into springing up and fleeing.
The female newcomer took this scene into her eyes, her heart trembling uncontrollably.
If she also made a clear mistake, she would also be driven away by the old players!
She constantly reminded herself that she absolutely must not make mistakes.
The group returned to the high platform.
As far as the current situation was concerned, they had the ability to protect themselves.
But everyone knew the Strange Experiment Subject's strength could absolutely not remain at this level.
They had to find professional weapons that could kill the Strange Experiment Subject.
Bzz bzz bzz...
The broadcast sounded, a burst of electric current noise.
The time was exactly one hour.
[105, 2... Material Reserve Room, unlocked... Please... proceed as soon as possible...]
[Strange Erosion... Potion, use... can stop... mutation.]
[Please stand... stand fast.]
Is this the location of the supplies?
Coming only now!
Subsequently, a burst of noisy sound followed, and there was no more usable information.
But for all surviving players, this was huge encouragement.
Many players hadn't found weapons and items, thinking they had been picked up by other players with good luck.
But now it seemed that wasn't the case at all.
Many players finally understood why they hadn't discovered the weapons and supplies that existed in the broadcast announcement until now.
The weapons and supplies were in the unopened area!
Now, they could finally obtain weapons.
Kyou Fujibayashi couldn't help but admire; Sawada Yoriko had predicted it all. New information really appeared at the one-hour mark.
As expected of an old player who had lived through two games!
"Yi-chan, you are too amazing."
"Just a guess."
Sawada Yoriko smiled slightly. "After Kyou experiences this instance mission, you will also have certain guessing ideas regarding the Strange Game's methods of giving information hints."
"No way."
"Kyou, you definitely will."
"Next, we..."
"Of course we go. Staying in place means only waiting for death."
Inside there, there must be key items or weapons related to their survival for the next three hours.
If they didn't obtain them, they could only wait to die.
They had to act.
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on Patreon. with 50 advanced chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Leanzin