Eldritch Horror Theatre

In a cramped room where a fight could break out at any moment, a man suddenly tore off his shirt.

Shadow Nightmare’s move was undoubtedly shocking, causing Fu Qian to frown.

Even more horrifying was the body exposed beneath his torn clothes.

A web of dark red bloodlines covered his entire upper body, carved deeply into the flesh.

With his every breath, the bloodlines wriggled slightly, looking as if they might come alive and take flight at any moment.

”Crimson Frenzy!”

Behind him, Tan Mingxue let out a shout.

”Just what I’d expect from Team Leader Tan. You recognized it at a glance.”

Shadow Nightmare looked smug, flashing Fu Qian a provocative smile.

”This should help you calm down, shouldn’t it? Your excellency, the mysterious expert of unknown origins.””It won’t.”

Fu Qian coldly cracked his wrists.

”If you have nothing else to say, consider those your last words.”

”Wait!”

This time, Shadow Nightmare and Tan Mingxue shouted in unison.

Seeing that Fu Qian was actually preparing to kill him, the two reacted with surprising unanimity.

The smile froze on Shadow Nightmare’s face.

”Are you crazy? You’d rather we die together just to kill me?”

”Are you trying to get us all killed?”

Tan Mingxue was equally shocked and furious.

”If you kill him, the Crimson Frenzy will spread and we’ll all die!”

”Is this thing really that powerful?”

Fu Qian frowned.

”You don’t even know what Crimson Frenzy is?”

Tan Mingxue gaped at Fu Qian in disbelief.

”No. I thought he tore his clothes off to show me his scars—to tell me he’s fighting through his injuries with an iron will.”

Iron will, my ass!

Tan Mingxue and Shadow Nightmare both nearly coughed up blood.

”Crimson Frenzy... you can think of it as a poison, or a curse.”

Barely managing to calm herself, Tan Mingxue explained rapidly.

”Once infected with this thing, the blood in your entire body will gradually heat up until it boils.

And as your flesh decays, the blood vessels gradually migrate to the surface of your skin to form this bloody web. They say if the host is strong enough, these veins will completely detach after death, becoming an independent entity and even gaining true living characteristics.”

”It’s extremely contagious. If you kill him here, it will instantly fill the room, and none of us will escape.”

”But it’s not without its benefits. Once infected, your speed, strength, and overall Combat Power increase drastically. To some extent, it acts as a stimulant.”

Taking a deep breath, Tan Mingxue looked at Shadow Nightmare.

”As expected of the infamous Shadow of Annihilation—to actually get your hands on something like this!”

”This stuff is extremely expensive. It took a lot of effort to obtain, and I originally hadn’t planned on using it here.”

Finding someone who recognized its value finally allowed Shadow Nightmare to regain some confidence, and he scoffed.

”Unfortunately, an unexpected variable appeared, so I had to use it as insurance.”

”Didn’t you consider the consequences of doing this?”

Tan Mingxue gritted her teeth.

”Relax. Since I dared to use it, I naturally have foolproof countermeasures. After I send her on her way, I’ll have plenty of time to deal with this problem.”

Shadow Nightmare pointed at Wen Li, though his eyes remained fixed on Fu Qian.

”Shadow of Annihilation... Sounds like a group?”

Fu Qian ignored him and looked at Tan Mingxue.

”That’s right. They’re a notorious assassin group made up of three transcendents. They’re responsible for several massacres and have always been on the Night Watchers’ wanted list.”

”Let me guess... there’s also a stone man who can enlarge his body, and a professional skilled in hypnosis and poisoning?”

”Exactly. The three of them always act together, and Shadow Nightmare is the absolute core of the group.”

”I see. Then it all adds up.”

Fu Qian nodded in satisfaction.

You three brothers owe me way too much SAN Value.

”Although I don’t know where you popped out of... you’re undeniably strong. I admit I’m no match for you, even with Crimson Frenzy.”

Shadow Nightmare stared at Fu Qian.

”But now, the initiative is back in my hands.”

”I also have to thank you for bringing everyone here. It allows the Crimson Frenzy to reach its maximum potential.”

”Now you only have two choices: step aside and let me kill Wen Li, or kill me and die with me. Either way, Wen Li dies.”

”I think even a child could figure out this multiple-choice question.”

”Of course, we could also just stay locked in a stalemate. In an hour at most, the Crimson Frenzy in my body will erupt, and the result will be exactly the same.”

”Did you hear that?”

When Shadow Nightmare finished his long speech, Fu Qian turned back and called out to Wen Li.

”You’re going to die. How does it feel?”

...

Wen Li’s body trembled again. She only managed to stay standing by leaning against the wall.

She naturally felt awful.

Way too much had happened today.

Starting from just moments ago, a rapid-fire series of twists had sent her emotions on a rollercoaster ride.

First she was poisoned, then saved, then taken hostage by her rescuer, and then told she only had one day to live.

By some stroke of luck, the Night Watchers had arrived in time to rescue her, but her captor was simply too strong. Then, just as she finally saw hope in their reinforcements, she discovered the other Night Watcher was actually an assassin in disguise.

Now she was firmly trapped in a certain-death situation. For a moment, all hope turned to ash; she was physically and mentally exhausted.

”What does it feel like to wait for death? Tell me.”

”Fear, and perhaps a sliver of relief.”

Wen Li took a breath, her voice trembling.

”You can laugh at this weakness, but I’m not an expert used to life and death like you people. Please forgive me for not being able to face it calmly.”

”Very good. You’re honest enough.”

Instead of mocking her as expected, Fu Qian praised her.

”Now, watch closely.”

The next moment, Fu Qian vanished from where he stood.

”You...”

A massive sense of crisis hit. Shadow Nightmare didn’t even have time to dodge before his neck was seized in an iron grip, and he was slammed violently against the wall behind him with a loud crash.

”Fu Qian, don’t be reckless!”

This scene made Tan Mingxue pale instantly, and she stumbled back a few steps almost subconsciously.

”Qi Xue will bring people here soon.”

”Stop with the self-deception.”

”They can’t hear us talking from the outside. Are you sure this ’Qi Xue’ will actually contact the Night Watchers when he gets here?”

...

”Now, want to hear my thoughts?”

Gripping Shadow Nightmare’s neck, Fu Qian slowly hoisted him into the air with a smile.

”Using mutual destruction as a bargaining chip to complete your mission looks courageous. Unfortunately, your fearlessness is built on the assumption that you absolutely won’t die.”

”That is completely different from truly not fearing death.”

”Look at you now. Even after falling into my hands, you subconsciously don’t dare to resist, terrified that the thing on your body will burst. Has this helped you recognize your true nature?”

Fu Qian tightened his grip. The bloody veins on Shadow Nightmare’s body twitched violently, looking as if they could burst at any second.

”We... can talk... talk...”

Using the last sliver of his strength, Shadow Nightmare managed to spit out a few words.

”...Mutual destruction... isn’t necessary...”

”You still don’t get it.”

”It’s necessary. Extremely necessary.”

Fu Qian shook his head as he looked at Wen Li.

”Do you understand now?”

”I...”

The fear of dying at any second surged through Wen Li’s heart.

Yet, seeing the previously arrogant Shadow Nightmare being held by the neck like a dog gave her an inexplicable sense of relief.

She felt her emotions shifting drastically.

The next moment, Wen Li fell into a strange sort of tranquility.

”I... think I understand.”