Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

The whole world is shrouded in darkness.

In the void of dreams, thoughts can be felt coming from all directions. These lively thoughts along with spirits and souls resonate like torches, illuminating the originally pitch-black night sky.

”Really useless ability.”

Fang Zheng opened his eyes and let out a helpless yawn.

After taking down Cthulhu, Fang Zheng gained two skills, namely [Dream Invasion] and [Transdimensional Touch]. The latter could add some fun for Fang Zheng, but the former was basically useless to him. The ability of [Dream Invasion] is just as its name suggests—it’s about invading others’ dreams. Cthulhu could use this method to invade the minds of mortals from the comfort of his home, brainwashing them and turning them into his believers—well, it’s quite useful for the big yellow octopus sealed in R’lyeh who can’t go outside.

But for Fang Zheng... not useful at all!

He’s not an Evil God, nor does he need to use this method for mental pollution to brainwash followers.

Initially, Fang Zheng thought about finding other uses for it, but after experimenting several times, he ultimately had to give up.

Honestly, he couldn’t find any current use for this thing at all.

Forget it, just leave it be.

Fang Zheng got out of bed, washed his face, and then opened the door to step out of the room.

The icy wind mixed with snowflakes rushed in, invigorating him. Looking out, snowflakes descended from the sky, slowly covering the earth in a blanket of snow.

”Ah, Master, you’re awake!”

At this time, Nymph also approached Fang Zheng cheerfully, raising her hand.

”Look, I made a snow rabbit!”

”Hmm, very cute, very cute.”

Seeing the lifelike snow rabbit in Nymph’s hand, like a sculpture, Fang Zheng smiled and patted the Little Angel’s head. And just then, another hearty voice sounded.

”Hey, Van Helsing, you’re awake!”

Fang Zheng lifted his head to see a white man dressed in a heavy fur coat, waving a bottle of liquor at him with a smile, and Fang Zheng nodded back.

”Yes, how’s everything going for you all.”

”Hahaha, thanks to you! Everything is going well!”

The white man raised his bottle again, gesturing towards Fang Zheng.

Indeed, Fang Zheng was now leading Nymph and Ryoko Asakura as part of an expedition team heading to Antarctica.

Afterward, Detective Valentine and Francis were busy exploring leads. With Fang Zheng’s funding (specifically from the Federal Reserve), their actions were quite effective, and soon Fang Zheng received news from them about a certain US geological research team planning to conduct surveys in Antarctica. Considering that he hadn’t been to Antarctica in his previous world, Fang Zheng contacted Miskatonic University and joined this Antarctic adventure as a sponsor.

By the way, Francis and Valentine went to investigate the meteorite crash event in New Orleans, so they didn’t travel together, but for Fang Zheng... it wasn’t a problem.

After all, they had crowbars and the pins Fang Zheng gave them to resist mental influences—if they still messed up, Fang Zheng really couldn’t help them, right?

The goal of this research team is to penetrate as far into the center of Antarctica as possible for geological surveys and studies. They number a total of sixteen people, either scientific experts or assistants and engineers, while Fang Zheng, Nymph, and Ryoko Asakura are like three idle people...

Of course, initially, the research team clearly didn’t want Fang Zheng and the others to join. To them, these people looked like idle rich kids seeking thrills, possibly causing trouble for the research team. But thanks to omnipotent capitalist society, as long as there’s money, there’s nothing unsolvable.

Um, provided there’s money.

”...!”

While Fang Zheng and Nymph were playing in the snow, a group of people strode out of a distant building, noisily discussing something.

”What’s up? What’s happening?”

Fang Zheng approached the white man drinking and asked, and the white man shook his head.

”It’s the disagreement between our commander and Professor Lake, sigh...”

”Oh, that again.”

Hearing the white man’s words, Fang Zheng nodded. Professor Lake was the biology professor on this expedition. His conflict with the expedition leader stemmed from a mysterious triangular geological layer they discovered when crossing a snow mountain by plane. Professor Lake wanted to investigate to the west and conduct a thorough examination of the mysterious geological layer. However, the other professor, who was the expedition leader, preferred to stick to their established goals. After all, this was Antarctica, and despite the ample resources provided by Fang Zheng’s funding, time was still of the essence.

After all, resources are limited, and so is time. If they couldn’t achieve the goal of penetrating deep into the Antarctic during the brief summer, they would all be doomed in the winter.

Ultimately, Professor Lake took a portion of the team to explore the west, while the expedition leader stayed with the remaining team members at the camp. After all, this is Antarctica; calling 911 won’t help if something goes wrong.

Several days had passed since Professor Lake led his team on the research mission, and Fang Zheng learned from others at the camp that Professor Lake seemed to have made some major discovery. However, this didn’t concern them much, as Fang Zheng was primarily accompanying Nymph in observing Antarctic penguins and seals. Compared to fossils, the living, furry little creatures were obviously more interesting.

Just as Fang Zheng was considering whether to continue visiting the Antarctic penguin nests with Nymph today, a middle-aged man dressed in a heavy fur coat, goggles, and a fur hat approached them.

”Mr. Van Helsing, I’m very sorry to disturb you.”

”Professor Mike, what’s happened?”

Fang Zheng looked curiously at the man before him. He was the expedition leader, representing the geology department of Miskatonic University, Professor Mike, a rather stable man. However, he didn’t seem very stable at the moment.

”There’s been no contact from Professor Lake.”

Professor Mike’s expression was serious. Over the past days, the two parties had maintained contact via radio, and Fang Zheng was aware of most of the developments. Yesterday, Professor Lake had reportedly set up a camp at the designated location, and it seemed they’d made some world-altering discovery, leaving the whole camp ecstatic.

But then, after one night... there was no sound anymore?

”I’ve already contacted Captain Douglas; they’re planning to send over the last plane. We need to gather everyone in the camp and head over to Professor Lake’s location. Would you...?”

”No problem, we’ll go together.”

Fang Zheng nodded.

”Although we’re not versed in scientific research, I think we can still offer a bit of help in other areas.”

”That’s great.”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s response, Professor Mike relaxed a bit and smiled. The reason Fang Zheng and Nymph could join the expedition team wasn’t just because of Fang Zheng’s status as the ”funding backer.” More importantly, Fang Zheng and Nymph had used information modification to grant Ryoko Asakura the occupation qualification of a ”nurse.”

Given such a large expedition, no one could be certain whether someone might get injured or fall ill. Having a professional medical staff would naturally be more reassuring.

Now that there was no response from Professor Lake’s team, it might be due to a sudden geological disaster like an avalanche, or some other problem. In short, someone could be injured, and having a professional medical staff would obviously be better.

Fang Zheng, of course, didn’t mind. If he wasn’t looking for excitement, why would he come to Antarctica?

He had almost had his fill of playing with seals anyway.

And climbing more mountains would also be beneficial for his physical and mental health.

After obtaining the consent of all members, they quickly completed the loading of supplies and set off immediately after a short rest, heading towards Professor Lake’s camp.

During the four-and-a-half-hour flight, everyone seemed very uneasy. They repeatedly made radio calls to the camp, but received no response, which only intensified their deep-seated fears. After all, this was Antarctica. Apart from sudden geological disasters and weather, nothing should have such a devastating impact on such a well-equipped expedition team. Of course, up until now, everyone preferred to believe that there was possibly a malfunction or damage to Professor Lake’s radio transmission device, and they were waiting for rescue.

Finally, the plane located the camp established by Professor Lake in the hills between the mountains, and landed on a flat area not far away.

”Quick, let’s see what on earth has happened!”

As soon as the plane door opened, everyone eagerly disembarked, with Fang Zheng, Nymph, and Ryoko Asakura following the crowd towards the research camp not far away.

And the current state of the research camp was nothing short of chaos.

The windbreak barriers around were completely toppled, tents torn apart, and what stood out even more were the bright remnants on the white snow, which looked like a gruesome mixture of flesh and blood.

Everyone in the camp, including the animals, had become broken corpses.

”Oh God...”

Upon seeing this scene, many stood there for a long time before regaining their senses, while Fang Zheng furrowed his brow. He squinted his eyes, scanning the surroundings, then cast his gaze towards a few mounds in the distance.

It seems we’ve encountered trouble once again.