Doll Survival Game - Chapter 137
Above the sky…
Zhang Mimi’s face showed a look of astonishment.
The man in the white coat noticed Zhang Mimi’s expression and became even more certain that their memories had been damaged. Without waiting for Luo Yiran to ask further, he decided to reveal everything directly.
In the setting of this instance, the ground had become uninhabitable due to the presence of a species of human-eating insects. Later, the seas flooded all the continents, forcing humanity to retreat to the skies.
After stabilizing their existence in the sky, humanity began to redevelop entertainment, and full-immersion games became one of the most popular forms of amusement.
“Monster World” was the latest full-immersion game released by the company Tianhong, boasting the best immersive experience on the market.
However, there was also a pirated version of “Monster World,” and ironically, it was also produced by Tianhong.
The version Luo Yiran and the others had entered was the pirated one.
According to the white coat’s understanding, players who entered the pirated version could not escape on their own. These pirated versions were secretly produced to give those in deep despair-those who wanted to end their lives-a chance to feel happiness again.
This was the reason given to those who sought an escape from their pain. The deeper reason, of course, was money and life.
The “money” referred to the high prices charged to those who wanted to see loved ones they had lost or possess things they could no longer have. These people were often willing to give up everything for these illusions.
As for “life”…
“Monster World” was part of Tianhong’s portfolio, and its primary operational site was located beneath their headquarters-hidden in plain sight.
To date, many had encountered the pirated version, but no one had exposed it. The main reason was that they were being watched by monsters.
In Sky City, countless monsters of unknown origin now lived among the population in hiding.
Tianhong’s upper management had colluded with these monsters. Not only did they charge exorbitant fees to bring people into the pirated “Monster World,” but according to the pirated version’s design, players would eventually enter a self-illusion from which they could never wake.
Being unable to wake was no different from death. Tianhong would then hand these people over to the monsters as food.
Fresh food.
Luo Yiran and his group were also considered food, but they hadn’t paid a high price for the pirated version-they had been randomly captured.
As the number of monsters grew, the voluntary customers for the pirated version were no longer sufficient to feed them, so they resorted to abducting people.
Luo Yiran glanced at the two monster corpses behind them.
The white coat curled up in fear, casting a terrified glance at Xia Lang. “He’s the first human to kill a monster… No, he must be a monster himself! How else could he kill a monster with just a few knives?”
Yuan Mo tightened his grip around Xia Lang, retorting angrily on his behalf, “You’re the monster! Trash!”
The white coat showed no reaction to the insult. His eyes grew vacant, and his body trembled as he muttered about what might happen next. “But… it won’t matter… More monsters will come… Hahaha… It’s over! It’s all over!”
“No…! The chairman… The chairman must have a solution…”
Zhang Mimi looked at Luo Yiran.
Luo Yiran stood up. “We’ve got enough information.”
Any gaps in the story could be filled in later. This guy was just a low-level pawn; he wouldn’t know anything more.
Luo Yiran’s gaze lingered on the white coat, who was muttering to himself. His eyes rested on the man’s stiff facial features-likely because he was an NPC.
Still, he hadn’t lied.
Zhang Mimi scratched his head. “Shouldn’t we ask about our identities?”
Luo Yiran raised his eyes. “He already said we were randomly captured.”
Even if their identities could be traced, this man wouldn’t be the one to do it. The fact that they had resorted to random abductions instead of carefully selecting people whose disappearances wouldn’t be easily noticed indicated that the number of monsters had become uncontrollable.
Zhang Mimi nodded. “Oh, right…”
Then he thought of something. “If this place is part of a company, why hasn’t anyone come down to check?”
Luo Yiran let his hand fall to his side, the silver thread dangling from his fingers. His voice was light. “They’re observing.”
“I just checked. All the visible surveillance cameras here are broken. They won’t come down without knowing the situation.”
Just checked? Zhang Mimi recalled that Luo Yiran had only glanced around the room once…
The white coat continued muttering to himself like a man possessed. Yuan Mo, holding Xia Lang’s gradually cooling body, moved a little farther away from him. Then, hesitantly, he asked, “What about Xia Lang?”
He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him here.
Luo Yiran fell silent, but his gaze never landed on Xia Lang.
-Except for a brief glance after emerging from his self-illusion, Luo Yiran hadn’t looked at Xia Lang since.
The Dead Woman’s body twisted and melted into a puddle of sludge, but it was slowly regaining a humanoid shape. Her mouth, located near the bottom of the “sludge,” spoke: “You can’t take him with you.”
“…” Yuan Mo suddenly felt a wave of sorrow.
He had witnessed many deaths, but apart from his brother, he had never been close to anyone else. The deaths of others had become mundane.
But now, he had a group of friends. If any of them were to die, he would feel the pain.
The Dead Woman’s “mud-like” body slithered toward Luo Yiran. “Leave him to me. I can make sure his body doesn’t decay.”
Yuan Mo froze for a moment, then exploded with laughter, finding it absurd. “Wasn’t it you who killed him?”
The flesh-colored sludge surged upward. The Dead Woman’s eyes were still rolling on the ground, but her mouth floated to the top. “Yes. Because it’s something I had to do. Essentially, it’s no different from your desperate attempts to survive.”
Yuan Mo was about to curse, but Luo Yiran interrupted, “Alright.”
The corners of the Dead Woman’s mouth lifted. Her voice softened slightly as she spoke to Luo Yiran, “In the future, you can come see him.”
The emphasis she placed on the word “future” made Luo Yiran realize she was implying something.
Was she hinting that in the new mode to come, they might be able to visit other bosses more easily?
Luo Yiran pondered for a moment, then nodded.
Yuan Mo stared at Luo Yiran in shock.
Still avoiding Xia Lang, Luo Yiran said, “Let’s go. Be cautious on the way out… Once we’re back, prepare for the new instance.”
The new instance… an organizational battle! Yuan Mo clenched his fists-revival potions, they needed to acquire more revival potions.
“Wait.” The Dead Woman’s body had taken on a rough shape. Her twisted fingers held a book that Luo Yiran recognized-it was the monster communicator.
The Dead Woman handed it over. “Take this with you. I’ll ask the Demon for a new one… We’ll use this to communicate in the future.”
Luo Yiran looked up.
The Dead Woman’s eyes had returned to their proper place. Her writhing body looked grotesque and bizarre, but her smile was incredibly gentle. “Don’t worry. We’ll notify the other bosses that the owner of this book has changed to you, so they won’t speak to you recklessly.”
Though that wasn’t guaranteed. Some bosses despised humans and might leave insulting messages for Luo Yiran.
Whether Luo Yiran had considered this possibility was unclear, but he accepted the book without much hesitation, then turned and headed straight for the stairs.
Yuan Mo picked up Xia Lang and looked at Luo Yiran. “Ran, take a look at him.”
Luo Yiran didn’t stop, continuing upward. His somewhat cold voice drifted from ahead. “No need. He won’t respond to me right now.”
After a slight pause, Luo Yiran added, “We’ll talk when he can respond.”
The Dead Woman extended her hand toward Yuan Mo.
Yuan Mo knew the Dead Woman was different from other bosses, but so what? She was still a boss, still an enemy to the players.
So he didn’t move immediately.
Zhang Mimi stood to the side, watching the Dead Woman. His hands clenched slightly, his posture one of guarded vigilance.
The Dead Woman suddenly laughed. “If it were the Demon, he’d surely say, ‘It’s just a piece of rotting flesh. Why would I care about it?'”
Zhang Mimi and Yuan Mo’s expressions darkened.
The Dead Woman’s outstretched hand remained, and she said, “It’s the same for me… but at this moment, it carries another layer of meaning.”
“?”
The curve of the Dead Woman’s smile didn’t change, but the feeling it conveyed did. She seemed a bit obsessive and twisted as she said, “He is proof of my friendship with Luo Yiran.”
Zhang Mimi and Yuan Mo: “…”
[Congratulations to player Luo Yiran for successfully completing “Lin Na’s Last Day.” This instance’s score: 91. Average score across all games: 82.]
A score… They had almost forgotten about the scoring. After all, the reason they had entered the Dead Woman’s minor instance in the first place was for the score.
As white light illuminated his vision, Luo Yiran opened his eyes. He wasn’t surprised to see the familiar small villa before him. In the brief moment of daze, he thought-so, in that false illusion, it was the last time he’d see Xia Lang’s smile.
“…”
No, it wouldn’t be the last time.
Luo Yiran lowered his head, looking at his ball-jointed hands. His body had returned to its original form, and also-
He opened the holographic display, intending to check the monster communicator. But to his surprise, the communicator wasn’t in the item bar; instead, it was in the friends list on the holographic display.
Luo Yiran narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze moving over the two groups automatically assigned by the system: the upper group, [Friends (Players)], and the lower group, [Monster Communicator].
After a moment of silence, Luo Yiran switched the holographic display to another interface, then looked up at Zhang Mimi and Yuan Mo.
Yuan Mo, appearing somber, said nothing. Zhang Mimi, unable to bear the heavy atmosphere, started making small talk. “It’s strange that there was no one outside the basement, huh?”
Luo Yiran replied, “They might still be further up.”
Zhang Mimi awkwardly added, “Yeah, knowing the danger below, they probably stayed away…”
Before he could finish, the sound of footsteps descending from above interrupted him.
“Ranran~” Via’s cheerful voice came from the staircase. “How was your instance? Let me tell you, ours was intense-everyone got seriously injured…”
Via stopped at the landing, looking at the three people on the first floor. “…Where’s Xia Lang?”
