Chapter 5

While examining the research mission board, Bai Lang discovered that it could be paged through. The first page was for "Mission Overview and Tips," and the following pages were personal boards, consisting of several sections:

Code 1445032. Name: Bai Lang.

Lineage: Subhuman (Special Type).

Attributes: Strength 5, Speed 5, Stamina 5, Spirit 5, Perception 4, Charm 3.

(Stat 5 is not bad; the average attributes of a healthy human are 5. Your physical condition has been enhanced and solidified by the Paradise, freeing you from sub-health. These attributes are constant.)

Abilities: Empty (5 slots, pending solidification.)

Titles: None.

Notes: All personal data is provided by Paradise for reference only. It is normal for there to be differences from the actual situation.

...

After browsing the attribute section, he had no intuitive understanding of these "Stat 5" values. However, he did indeed feel energetic, with sharper senses and a healthier, stronger body. Under the influence of the crimson broken moon overhead, his mental state was restless and somewhat agitated.

A series of unexpected events had left him highly stimulated, but he had become calm and composed instead.

This "Fire-Transmitting Paradise" exuded a flavor reminiscent of the "God Space." However, considering the "Dark Ring" imprint on his wrist and the massive "Burning Black Hole" in the distant sky, he remained pessimistic. This place might be an even more malevolent "Dark Souls Space" than the "God Space"? He hoped the trial mission wasn't about "transmitting fire."

When he focused on the "Subhuman Lineage" section, the board information changed again:

...

Subhuman Lineage: After an unnatural death, the body will automatically regenerate and reconstruct, ignoring the conservation of mass and energy, reviving to the moment of death in the theoretically healthiest state.

Ability 1: Body Reconstruction (Pending Activation)

Note: First, you need to die once. Are you eager? You won't regret it.

Ability 2: Black Phantom / IBM Particles (Unawakened)

Note: If you're afraid to die, what do you expect?

...

Closing the board, Bai Lang felt a surge of frustration, cursing that this space must be broken. Why did it always add strange notes to affect people's moods?

What exactly were Subhumans? He had never heard of them. Although the description sounded beautiful, Bai Lang didn't fully trust it. He barely understood his current situation, and no one in their right mind would choose to die on the spot just because of a prompt.

Even if the board's content was true, how strong a heart would someone need to immediately commit suicide after learning this? He couldn't do it. If it was a scam, wouldn't he die in vain? How stupid would that be?

"Hey, are you awake? Come over here!"

At the edge of the rooftop not far away, a group of awakened figures gathered and waved to Bai Lang.

At the same time, two young girls separated from the group and walked over together. One had an ordinary appearance, while the other was more beautiful. They began to squat on the ground, trying to wake up others who were still asleep.

People have a herd mentality, and Bai Lang was no exception.

Calmly, he put aside his concerns and walked straight toward the two girls. He decided to help others first, to build a harmless "benevolent person" image, and then join the main group.

"Good people" always lower others' guard and can more easily integrate into a group.

...

"Thank you!"

Seeing Bai Lang offer to help, the unfamiliar girl didn't refuse. She just nodded at him and started her work. Soon, the three of them worked together to wake up more sleepers, including what seemed to be a non-human. Bai Lang stealthily pulled the person's ear, waking them up in pain, and thought to himself: genuine!

Finally, he mingled with the crowd, listening to their conversations and exclamations, gradually making his way to the edge of the rooftop.

During the listening process, he lowered his presence, spoke little, and observed quietly. He found that the group's mentality was very stable, with strong adaptability. Except for a few who couldn't accept the reality and broke down in tears, some even showed enthusiastic and excited expressions, seemingly very happy and excited?

Soon, these people began discussing their "experiences before entering Paradise," and without exception, they all encountered death.

The largest group of students had been in a tragic car accident during a trip and appeared here together. The two girls who helped earlier were from this group. Others had been killed by robbery, suicide, or drowning in the shower...

However, what made him most uncomfortable was a group of over ten men and women. Listening to their arguments and curses, he discovered that they all seemed to have died in the battle at "Mokuhei Station" and were then transported to this strange world.

And Bai Lang... was precisely the trigger for that tragic incident! Could it be that these people were all beneficiaries of his actions?

...

Soon, Bai Lang discovered the so-called "Guide."

She was a unique and beautiful woman with black medium-length hair and a purple cheongsam. She was sitting on the edge of the rooftop, leaning against a GG brand, with one leg dangling in the cold, windy air, her skirt flapping in the wind.

She held a lady's smoking pipe, puffing smoke at the "Red Moon," blowing out smoke rings that were scattered by the wind. She completely ignored the crowd... This woman had a toxic charm, beautiful like a painting.

Not far behind her, a man lay on the ground with his limbs broken in reverse, discarded carelessly. No one dared to approach and help him. The other awakened people gathered around in small groups, anxiously waiting for judgment.

...

When the last awakened person reached the edge of the rooftop, the cheongsam woman finished her smoke, tapped the pipe to remove the ash, and finally turned to face the crowd, revealing a stunning face.

Bai Lang sighed inwardly, there were many beautiful women in this world, each with a toxic charm, impossible to look away from, but they were all dangerous female demons, to be admired from a distance but not to be trifled with.

"First, let me introduce myself. I am the guide for this trial. I know you all have many questions and even doubt the reality of your surroundings. But I don't care to explain, nor do I care about your thoughts. What happens next will tell you the answers, and you can judge for yourselves."

"Alright, everyone, look at the due south of this city!" The woman turned her smoking pipe, pointing to a direction in the dead city, and continued, "About 2.5 kilometers away, there is a bright light. That is the base camp for your trial. I have prepared a small gift for you in the camp. Those who survive can claim it with the 'Black Ring Mark.' At that time, I will answer some of your questions."

Upon hearing her words, the anxious crowd erupted into noisy debates and arguments. Some were loudly questioning, trying to manipulate public opinion for moral coercion. The cheongsam woman just sneered and watched the crowd's performance silently.

After a pause, she spoke to herself, "Are you done arguing? Shut up! You've all died once, and your survival is a debt to the space. If you're dissatisfied, jump off from here and die again to pay back your life. Instead of wasting energy arguing here, why not focus on escaping? Concentrate and perceive the board in front of you, which contains mission-related information, and compare it with what I just said."

"Additionally, the top floor of this building contains some weapons for your use. A final gentle reminder: the more 'survivors' gather, the more likely you are to attract monster attacks. But being alone also increases your death rate. This is a minor test, aimed at eliminating useless waste and leaving valuable individuals. As long as you are a bit braver, faster, and luckier, it's easy to reach the destination."

"That's all. Any other questions? If not, let's say goodbye pleasantly!"

As she spoke, the cheongsam woman conjured a grenade out of thin air, pulled the pin, and threw it in a beautiful arc outside the building.

Immediately, the grenade exploded in mid-air, turning into a burning fireball, accompanied by a thunderous explosion. The shockwave shattered the glass, awakening the dead city.

For a moment, Bai Lang heard sharp, high-pitched screams from all corners of the city, echoing each other.

The calm night was suddenly stirred like a pot of boiling oil, instantly boiling and bursting. The monsters lurking nearby, hidden in the darkness, were attracted by the fire and stimulated by the explosion, beginning to converge on this isolated building.