Chapter Thirty: Collapse
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August 18, 1993, 9:10 AM
Somewhere in the Umbrella Underground Laboratory
After knocking out the security guard before him, he pulled out his last grenade, stabbed the man, stuffed the grenade into the guard’s screaming mouth, yanked out the fuse, and leapt aside.
With a thunderous explosion, another one was taken care of.
Zhu Cunjia slumped to the floor, gasping for breath as he finished his last sandwich.
These security guards had incredibly high life values, making them difficult to kill. Fortunately, he was close now—just one final hidden stash left.
Tang Xiaoxiao was probably already dead. With the substitution card in effect, he couldn’t use his points, which would end up benefiting that guy for nothing. However, the hidden stash here was very likely to contain something immediately usable.
The first stash at the hotel had been food and medicine; the second, purely universal points; the third, gold that could be exchanged for universal points, obtained at the bank. This last stash was likely to be a serum, or perhaps even the formula for mastering and using the T-virus. Once he got his hands on it, his combat power would soar, and his chances of survival would improve.
A gunshot rang out behind him. There was no time to think.
August 18, 1993, 9:14 AM
Somewhere in the Umbrella Underground Laboratory
When someone reported that the clown was still struggling and the fight continued, Manager A was quite displeased.
This trivial matter (in his eyes, it was indeed trivial, since the intruder hadn’t exposed his most terrifying secrets) was not worth any further effort.
A team of over a hundred, and inside their own base, had failed to capture a single person after more than an hour. Clearly, the security force needed reorganization.
As for Johnson, though his suggestions were decent, his combat ability was sorely lacking. There was no need to rush his promotion. As for the one they’d just caught...
“Send him to Lab Five,” Manager A finally ordered.
August 18, 1993, 9:38 AM
Somewhere in the Umbrella Underground Laboratory
When Tang Xiaoxiao awoke, she found herself lying on an examination table.
“The target is awake,” a man’s voice announced.
“Are you sure we’re injecting him? Didn’t Security want to interrogate him?” another, weaker voice questioned.
“As long as he doesn’t die within twenty-four hours, it’s fine. He’ll be dealt with in the end anyway...”
They were talking about her? No, she didn’t want to die. Tang Xiaoxiao’s tears streamed down her face.
How could she survive? “Please... don’t kill me... I’ll tell you everything...”
The two lab coat-clad men looked at her. “Awake, are you? Tell us everything. What do you know?”
“They’ve been staying at that hotel these past days...” she sobbed out.
Her account was disjointed. They were a small group; after entering the city, they’d first robbed a bank, then the TV station, and today they’d come here to take something. She claimed innocence, saying she was forced to act with them...
The two exchanged glances, and one spoke. “Since he’s been sent here by higher-ups, we’ll do things by the book.”
“Exactly. I don’t want unnecessary trouble either.”
Then Tang Xiaoxiao saw them approach with a syringe. She wailed, struggling fiercely, trying to barter more secrets for her life.
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But the two men showed no intention of stopping. A needle jabbed into her arm, and she realized she could no longer control her body. Then another green serum was injected into her vein, and she felt her strength draining away...
Her eyelids closed involuntarily.
August 18, 1993, 9:42 AM
18th Floor, Unnamed Building, 200 meters above the Umbrella Underground Laboratory
“Your teammate, Number 19571, has been eliminated.”
Upon receiving this news, Wang Luo, Yang Wentian, and Zhou Yingxiong were playing cards.
“She lasted quite a while,” Yang Wentian said, tossing out two tens.
“Yeah,” Wang Luo replied, laying down a pair of kings.
Zhou Yingxiong played a pair of twos, then a straight, taking the lead.
“Not bad, Zhou,” Yang Wentian said, fishing out his last few dollars. “That’s all I’ve got left.”
Zhou Yingxiong grinned, pocketing the money. “Playing cards with friends is my favorite thing—some drinks would make it perfect.”
“We’ll have a proper drink later,” Yang Wentian said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Can’t exchange food in the space, but you can exchange for money.”
“If she had another chance, what would she choose?” Wang Luo threw down his cards and got up. “She wasn’t bad looking, you know.”
“You care about appearances?” Yang Wentian laughed.
“I do. She reeked of reality. I’m not saying being realistic is bad, but she went too far.”
He turned his back to his friends.
These words came from his heart. But there were other things he couldn’t say.
When he was with her, he was awkward and stiff. From his initial, rambling, incoherent attempts to impress her, to trying to open up in their second meeting, seeking some soulful connection, he’d been utterly inept.
For someone like him, unaccustomed to interacting with women, that was only natural. He knew it too. If only she hadn’t despised him for his flaws, hadn’t looked down on him, he could have saved her.
Did he love her? No. Still, she was his kind. As a man, he should protect women. If only she hadn’t despised him, hadn’t scorned him, hadn’t spat on him...
Sorry, truly sorry. I was too weak. I lacked the authority to correct your views, the charm to attract your notice.
I don’t even have the right to forgive you.
He remembered their conversations, sitting side by side at the window under the light, and tears finally fell from his eyes.
For her, and for himself.
August 18, 1993, 9:54 AM
Central Area, Umbrella Underground Laboratory
It was right before him.
Zhu Cunjia, breathing heavily, held on to his last hope.
His supplies were long gone. Both his pistol and submachine gun were out of ammo, and his grenades were gone. His life value now stood at 12 out of 229.
Tang Xiaoxiao was dead—the plunder card wasted. Outside the door, more enemies were approaching. Two bullets and his life would be over.
But if he could just hold out, survive these last five minutes, he’d return to the space. The rewards from the substitution card would transform him completely.
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The final hidden stash was contained in a white box. There was no time for hesitation; he opened it quickly.
“You have unlocked the Demon’s Secret Stash (Fourth Stash).”
“Demon’s Secret Stash quest complete. You have obtained Demon Card—Enhance (Level 6 privilege).”
“The Enhance card is consumable: it can increase the privilege level of any Demon Card you choose (level 6 or below) by one.”
“You have obtained Demon Card—Tenacity (very rare, level 5 privilege).”
“The Tenacity card is consumable. After use, you cannot attack for ten minutes, but all damage received is reduced by 99%. If faced with a lethal blow, defensive items on your person will be used automatically.”
A flood of ecstatic emotion surged through his mind like a torrent. He’d survived. He’d won. The rewards would be immense! Everything would change from this moment on! He didn’t even check what else the box contained, nor did he care about the remaining rewards.
You have schemes, tricks, traps—so what? I survived! With this card, survival and clearing this scenario are guaranteed! Next time! In the future, just see if I don’t torment you to death! It’ll be my loss if you die too easily! I’ll make sure you taste every kind of torture this space has to offer!
Footsteps sounded outside the door. Zhu Cunjia picked up the card, ready to use it.
But at the last moment, he hesitated.
Could it really be so convenient...?
A Demon Card, so easily obtained? He flipped the card over. On its back was a pale, cold, ferocious grin.
Very much like Wang Luo’s clown mask.
Demon Cards often tricked their users, appearing normal until after use, when the trap was sprung... He’d already experienced such things in this scenario. So, was this a trap?
He turned it back over, studying the instructions repeatedly.
Right, all Demon Cards required life points to use. So why did this one require neither points nor life value?
He only had 12 health left—even using a level 6 card would kill him instantly. So what was the true cost of using this level 5 card?
What if the card’s requirement was in invisible ink, only revealed by heat or water? What if the cost wasn’t specified, forcing the user to discover it by trial, only to find it required 500 life points?
He looked once more at the back—the grinning face almost overlapped with Wang Luo’s. Was this his trick? Was he the demon behind the card, entering the scenario himself to deceive me?
Or perhaps he was just scaring himself? Maybe this card truly required no cost? Maybe he was just lucky, saved from the jaws of death?
No, that’s impossible. Demon Cards always required blood, a pact with life itself! There was no way around that!!!
The door behind him opened. No more time for the man whose mind, battered by anger, suspicion, fear, and ecstasy, was now teetering on the edge of collapse, his judgment lost.
In his panic, he made a choice he might have pondered deeply under normal circumstances—a card he feared, but would use in a moment of crisis.
Demon Card: Substitute (Level 6)
Using this card consumes all current life points and universal points.
In the next scenario, maximum life will be fixed at the value upon use.
After use, the user is considered dead in the current scenario, but will revive after settlement. One retains items, universal points, and talent information gained in the scenario, but loses all other benefits from it.
No matter. At least I survived.
As consciousness faded, this was Zhu Cunjia’s final thought.