The Eldritch Files

[”Miss Ai, can I also get that Spell specially approved by the Disaster Management Bureau ahead of time?”]

That evening, Han Su carefully considered the framework for the capture plan provided by the Doctor, then sent a query to Miss Ai.

[”Relevant authorization detected. Sending now.”]

Miss Ai’s reply was as swift as ever. Han Su saw the Spell: [”I command you: appear in the Light!”]

’A Zero Sequence Spell?’

’The principle is so simple, just like the Strange Bird Tutor’s original idea.’

It used a Spell that forcibly activated contamination to disrupt the hidden tracks of aberrations and lure them to a designated location.

This type of Spell had two uses. The first was to chant it in an area of suspected contamination, forcibly activating it and drawing it toward oneself. The second was to visualize the image of an aberration in one’s mind, chant the Spell, and entice the aberration to manifest in reality.

[”What about the blocking process?”]

[”What is thought becomes the boundary.”]

[”...”]

Han Su asked a few more questions, one by one, and gradually came to an understanding. The power of a Zero Sequence Encrypted Spell might be limited, but it was indeed the most widely used type in the Disaster Management Bureau’s work.

Both the luring and blocking procedures could be completed using Spells from the Zero Sequence.

[”So, how do I requisition the special weapon that can eliminate the Ghost Truck?”]

[”It will be issued immediately after Mr. Butcher submits the Ghost Truck capture mission. Furthermore, it must be returned to the Disaster Management Bureau within twenty-four hours of being issued, regardless of whether it is damaged. In other words, once Mr. Butcher requisitions the special weapon, he must complete the mission within twenty-four hours.”]

Miss Ai replied: [”However, we have detected that Mr. Butcher has the authorization to review information about the special weapon in advance. Please review the attached files!”]

Along with the information, Han Su saw the Nail of the Dead Sea that the Doctor had mentioned before.

This thing was less a nail and more a structurally complex spear.

It was assembled from various different metal components, giving it a strange, high-tech appearance.

The method of use couldn’t be simpler: just activate the spear and thrust it into the core of the Ghost Truck. This would destroy the aberration’s anchor to reality, eliminating it.

Like the low-sensitivity fiber material he was still wearing on his hand, this so-called Nail of the Dead Sea was another special item exclusive to the Disaster Management Bureau.

”Looking at it this way, it really is simple...”

Just as Han Su was studying the details, his phone suddenly BEEPED. It was a new message from Miss Ai: [”D+ Level Mission: Please proceed to Midtown Library between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM to investigate and resolve the Death Believers’ Penetration incident.”]

Han Su found this rather bizarre. He replied: [”I’m about to take on the Ghost Truck, and I still have to accept other missions?”]

Miss Ai replied: [”After completing the Crystal Plague incident with an outstanding performance, the esteemed Mr. Butcher was automatically granted a seven-day rest and recuperation leave. That leave has now ended. Accepting routine missions is both reasonable and logical.”]

[”Given Mr. Butcher’s current special status between that of an Executioner and an Investigator, the three missions issued have also been selected via a special process, you know!”]

[”Haste makes waste. Perhaps within these three missions, Mr. Butcher will find better ideas and inspiration!”]

[”Good luck!”]

[”...”]

Han Su looked at Miss Ai’s replies and felt it was a little strange. ’You’re a machine. Can’t you just talk without all the cutesy particles?’

Besides, he had a strange feeling that her words were a bit odd, as if she were hinting at something. This made him hold back his initial impulse to refuse. He took a closer look at the first mission she had sent and was slightly surprised.

’Midtown Library... Isn’t that the place I used to go to look up information all the time?’

’I’m so familiar with that place. How could there be contamination there?’

’And what’s this about Death Believers?’

After some deliberation, he didn’t dwell on it. He fully charged his electric baton and took a taxi to the library.

It was only seven o’clock when he arrived, still a long way from the mission’s start time. Han Su found a familiar seat, took out some books about the pre-Reconstruction era, and began to search through them.

By now, he was quite certain that the gloomy Ancient Castle must be connected to many things in the real world.

’Was the reason I couldn’t find any clues before because of that peeping tom Song Chushi mentioned?’

’Now that he’s in the middle of his transformation, will my search go more smoothly?’

Bit by bit, he became absorbed in his reading. Even after the mission’s start time had passed, Han Su merely glanced around before continuing to read.

The entire library was empty. There was nothing but the pale, white glow of the incandescent lights.

”Hello there, student.”

But just as he was engrossed in his reading, a pleasant voice suddenly sounded by his ear. ”I just saw you looking through materials on the Radiation Era. Are you also interested in that period of history?”

Han Su froze, turning his head in surprise. He saw a long-haired female student clutching a stack of books.

She had a friendly face and a youthful air, and she was looking at him with curiosity.

An intense sense of strangeness welled up in his heart in an instant. The hairs on Han Su’s body stood on end, but he maintained an exceptionally calm expression as he slowly replied:

”Yes, I am. And you? Are you very familiar with it?”

”I wouldn’t say very familiar, but I’ve read many books about this period of history, so I know a little bit about it.”

The long-haired student sat down next to Han Su, a seemingly bashful look on her face. ”That period of history is so interesting!”

”Legend says they had completely different life forms and levels of civilization from us. Can you imagine? During the Radiation Era, there was even a mysterious mechanical civilization built entirely around copper that possessed the characteristics of life.”

”...”

The sense of strangeness in Han Su’s heart grew stronger, but he still looked at the female student politely and played along. ”Copper that possessed the characteristics of life? What’s the principle behind that?”

Seeing him ask a question, the long-haired student’s mood seemed to brighten considerably. She grew more enthusiastic and said earnestly, ”It’s a high-level substance. One needs extremely profound and esoteric knowledge to Understand its existence.”

”Once, the Seekers of Knowledge, the Machina, the Chaos, the Sea Beasts, the Giants, and this most mysterious Copper Civilization were all active in their respective eras, saving humanity and guiding its path. It’s just a pity they were betrayed by the Emperor and the Twelve Knights and sealed away in the dust of history.”

”But many people believe that these abandoned Gods will return to take their revenge on all of human civilization!”

”...”

”Revenge?”

Han Su widened his eyes slightly, as if he were hearing this for the first time.

”That’s right!”

The female student said seriously, ”Because during the Radiation Era, the Gods saved humanity from the brink of annihilation. With their frail mortal bodies, it would have been impossible for humans to survive the terrifyingly intense impact and the mutated beasts of that era.”

”The Gods protected humanity, allowing the human race to continue. That’s why, in some ancient texts and religions, the Radiation Era is also called the ’Age of Gods’.”

”But humanity betrayed the Gods and sealed them away.”

”They issued religious prohibitions for the sole purpose of making humanity completely forget the existence of the Gods, to let them be utterly annihilated from history. This is considered the most shameful betrayal.”

”Now, they have begun to excavate the ruins of the Gods, wanting to inherit the legacy of the Age of Gods, yet they are unwilling to acknowledge the Gods’ existence. They’ve even placed layers of restrictions on the study of that period of history, allowing access only by special permission.”

”The goal is to inherit the legacy while simultaneously excluding the source of all this mysterious, great power from reality.”

”This shameless behavior has already drawn the wrath of the Gods.”

”They have already decided to destroy humanity and cultivate a new species to become the masters of the earth.”

Han Su listened without a change in expression, only asking slowly, ”Aren’t the Gods sealed away? How can they take revenge on humanity?”

”Heh heh, the Gods are immortal.”

The long-haired student seemed to find Han Su’s question amusing. She laughed and shook her head, saying, ”The Gods have infinite time, but humanity’s seals cannot last forever.”

”Everyone knows that when the Tide arrives, the Gods will surely break their seals. When that time comes, the cataclysm that will destroy humanity will descend once more.”

”At that time, everyone will die. Everyone will have to pay the price for their sins, unless...”

Han Su’s eyes flickered. ”Unless what?”

The long-haired student was silent for a moment before saying, ”Unless you convert to the Gods in advance, willingly become their lamb, and atone for the sins of your ancestors.”

”Only then can you be spared when the wrath of the Gods descends.”

When the long-haired student was recounting history, she seemed pure and lovely. But when she spoke of the Gods, she became visibly agitated. A strange light seemed to flicker in her eyes, and her voice carried a certain madness:

”Besides, converting to the Gods brings countless unimaginable benefits! The Gods are surreal, omnipotent! They have Mastered the lost art of mechanical creation, Mastered the code of biological evolution, and Mastered the ability of spiritual ascension! They can even alter reality!”

”They can help us fulfill all of our strongest desires, and they can even help us...”

At this moment, her expression was almost fanatical. ”...transcend old age, sickness, and death! Transcend disaster and hardship, and ascend to a higher Life Level...”

”Like you?”

Han Su, seemingly mesmerized, nodded vigorously while simultaneously pulling up the relevant file.

It was a news report sent by Miss Ai:

[University Student, Obsessed with Researching Pre-Era History, Hangs Self in Library!]

The report consisted of just a single photograph. It was marked with the word ”Redacted,” signifying that although this report had once been public, it had long since vanished from the public eye.

Enlarging the picture, he could see the student hanging from the ceiling. On the floor beneath her feet and on the surrounding walls, incomprehensible symbols were drawn everywhere, exuding an air of madness and strangeness.

And it was her: long hair draped over her shoulders, her face purple and swollen. But her eyes were wide open, and her tongue lolled out, as if she were staring at the whole world with mockery and hatred.