Chapter 576 Take It Apart

Chapter 576: Tear It Down

Su Bai was no saint.

He never was. Even though he had never actively harmed anyone or reveled in slaughter, that didn't mean his heart was pure and unblemished.

It's just that no matter how strange or absurd the world humans walk in, they always instinctively throw on a layer of camouflage. That mask called "kindness" not only makes fellow humans lower their guard but also lulls the overconfident Eerie Entities into a false sense of security, mistakenly believing the human before them is mere weak and ordinary prey.

In his previous life, Su Bai walked alone under the red moon with his Evil Ghost Puzzle fragments. Back then, he didn't wear any masks, nor was there a need. Even though he also stood opposite the Eerie Entities, the impression he gave other human players was one of indifference, even tinged with a hint of malicious amusement.

In this life, the true battlefield of the nightmare world was still brewing. Su Bai couldn't yet separate from the other human players' group, so this friendly mask still served him well.

However, wearing the mask wasn't just a disguise for Su Bai; on some level, he also enjoyed the feeling of being an "ordinary person," an "ordinary player."

But when things reached a breaking point, when he realized he no longer needed to continue pretending or endure and concede, he would tear off that mask without hesitation.

It was as if he had stepped back onto those red-moon-drenched, hopeless streets, becoming once again that lone survivor who had to fight tooth and nail just to survive.

The Life Mother Tree now, whose form was once covered in countless emerald leaves and seemed to symbolize hope and new life, had long lost all vitality. What remained was a husk cobbled together from withered branches and dead leaves. Those thick, sturdy branches now resembled frenzied beasts, violently lashing at the Blood Vines protecting Su Bai and the others, letting out shrieks sharp enough to tear the air. Every blow was raw force and fury, as if intent on crushing everything that dared resist it.

From the fluctuations of the red moon's power, Su Bai could clearly perceive that this formidable strength was far more terrifying than Blood Epiphyllum's. Or rather, he had understood this the first time he sensed the fluctuations of "its" power.

The building they were in was not merely the Newborn Ward of Hospital No. 666. Beneath this building's structure lay a colossal tree that had long since completely fused with the building, losing its original form. Corridors, wards, the cafeteria... those seemingly normal spaces were, in reality, just parts of "it." In other words, these players were walking within "its" flesh and blood, like prey swallowed whole.

*"Hopeless humans, abandon your futile struggle!"*

"Its" voice rang out again, no longer gentle, filled with immense anger. The withered branches slammed heavily against the outer layer of Blood Vines.

Su Bai focused, holding his breath, able to feel the fluctuations of the red moon's power growing stronger and more agitated amidst this conflict, as if the thoroughly enraged "it" was finally ready to cut loose.

"Brother, my head feels so dizzy..."

Le Shiya's voice softly sounded from the side, soft and somewhat ethereal. Her body swayed slightly, as if she might collapse at any moment, yet she stubbornly clung tightly to a handful of Su Bai's clothes, desperately trying to keep herself upright. Her gaze was somewhat unfocused, pupils contracted, the signs she was about to pass out were showing.

Human players at this stage still couldn't comprehend what fluctuations of the red moon's power were; they would only experience some physical and mental adverse reactions under the oppression of immense power.

Blood butterflies soundlessly circled around. Su Bai "saw" Chi Yan gritting his teeth, forcing himself to endure, but the forced 'intense thirst' symptom was getting worse. The skin on his exposed face and neck already showed visible dry cracks. Meanwhile, scarlet blood trickled from the edges of Jie Ying's ears, slowly tracing down her cheeks.

Su Bai also covered his painfully throbbing eyes, his brow tightly furrowed. He knew it was the mutation of their illnesses, triggered by the nearly out-of-control power fluctuations of "it," making everyone's symptoms worse by the second.

This also made Su Bai think of Xu Rui and the others left in the stairwell. Perhaps those trapped on the fifteenth floor still had the strength to resist, but what about Xu Rui and his group?

Su Bai knew the heating-up stairwell couldn't last much longer. Neither could those players.

So, the moment Su Bai decided to provoke "it," he had already resolved to make it quick.

"Futile struggle?" A faint smile touched Su Bai's lips despite the desperate situation. "So what if this building is part of your body? Some things, when swallowed, can cause indigestion."

The connection with the puzzles only took an instant.

The Blood Vines protecting Su Bai transformed into countless blood butterflies scattering into the air. Just as Chi Yan and the others were startled by the loss of the vine wall's protection the next second, clusters of blue flames sprang to life around Su Bai's feet. The flames first licked the ground slowly, then suddenly surged upward, sweeping towards the swarming blood butterflies.

These blue flames wouldn't harm Su Bai, but they could set the blood butterflies, which were also puzzle abilities, ablaze.

And those mindless blood butterflies, under Su Bai's control, thus carried the flames from the netherworld, each one hurling itself unhesitatingly at the thick, dry, crack-riddled branches ahead.

Using the blood butterflies as a medium, Xiao Huo's flames quickly climbed onto the withered branches, spreading across the surface of "its" body. The fire wasn't fierce, but it was tenacious. Each burning spot carried an unquenchable obsession, as if determined to consume "it" from its very roots.

*"Rare to find such delicious food."*

The upper half of Xiao Huo's form slowly materialized within the blue flames, his tone also full of greed and anticipation: *"Filthy, ugly desires, wrapped in pretty, glossy candy wrappers. Xiao Bai, can I really eat it all?"*

Su Bai stood at the center of the flames, his expression unchanged. He had already guessed that this giant tree, whose exterior was utterly rotten and whose interior was filled with sick desires, would definitely suit Xiao Huo's unique tastes. But even so, he decisively shook his head and said, "Hold back a bit. You're responsible for assisting from the side."

Although Xiao Huo possessed the special ability to devour filth, in the eyes of the other puzzles, he was still just a "not fully grown" little one, who couldn't even properly control his own power yet. Going all out carried an extreme risk of losing control. Even if he could truly devour the Eerie Entity before them, the commotion caused would be enough to attract the attention of those "eyes."

*"..."* A conflicted expression appeared on Xiao Huo's face, and the flickering of the flames weakened accordingly, like a small animal retracting its claws.

However, after the blue flames climbed onto the withered branches, although those dry, dead-wood-like limbs didn't suffer visible damage immediately, it was enough for "it" to sense that something was amiss.

*"What is this thing——!"*

"Its" voice carried anger and pain, causing the entire corridor to tremble slightly: *"Human, what have you done!"*

Su Bai remained silent, but several completely different figures appeared behind him.

For the current Su Bai, he could already withstand multiple puzzles fighting simultaneously. After all, with Xiao Huo unable to go all out, they could only rely on numbers to win.

Not to mention there were a few restless puzzles who, long before "it" finished its condescending rambling, had already been barely containing their urge to make an appearance. They were just waiting for Su Bai's signal to eagerly jump out.

*"It is indeed a rare giant, worthy of our magnificent entrance."* The Eerie Entity holding a black umbrella walked to the front of Su Bai, its tone carrying a hint of wistful regret. *"If we could dress up our master a bit, it would be even more fitting for such a grand occasion."*

*"Perverted black umbrella, now is not the time for that!"* The upper body composed of blue flames snarled nearby.

Following closely, thick black mist surged forth. A giant dog, completely black and massive, slowly emerged from the fog. Its eyes were crimson, teeth sharp, with most of its form shrouded within layers of swirling mist. On Su Bai's other side, the ghost bride in her wedding dress appeared without a sound, her sharp nails gleaming with a pale, cold light under the illumination.

She and the giant dog stood on either side of Su Bai, quietly watching the withered-branch monster ahead.

Then, a cool and eerily beautiful figure also arrived gracefully.

It was a female ghost with her hair tied high, adorned with a blooming bright flower in her updo. She wore a completely plain white ancient-style dress, her features lovely but her complexion pale as paper, making her unnaturally black-purple lips even more striking.

*"Master, Granny Bai intended to act, but at such an old age, she should rest more. So, let this servant come to assist."* The female ghost approached a few steps, her figure so light it seemed weightless. Her voice was sweet and melodious, like an opera singer whispering in one's ear, enough to make an ordinary person's bones go soft.

And the very second her words fell, the final puzzle also appeared.

*"Don't forget to open the door when you can't hold on."* Yao, no, Wu Hang's puzzle fragment left by Su Bai's side stepped forward. The red-eyed boy actually bore a six or seven out of ten resemblance to the Wu Hang Su Bai had met on Bus No. 444.

Su Bai didn't know how Wu Hang had made one of his avatars become a puzzle, but he could sense that Wu Hang appearing as "Yao" didn't possess that terrifyingly powerful strength.

*"Xiao Bai, what do we do next?"*

Xiao Huo's upper body, composed of blue flames, leaned forward slightly, his tone unable to contain excitement and eagerness. Although he couldn't exert his full power, with just one word from Su Bai, he could immediately pounce and eat his fill as much as possible.

"Do you even need to ask?"

Su Bai slowly raised his eyes, his gaze fixed directly on the withered branches ahead that were still struggling madly to assail them amidst the flames. His tone was calm, yet it carried an unshakable resolve.

"Since 'it' has already merged with this place..."

"Then tear it down."