Chapter 3: The Abyss Box

Lin Ye sighed. He felt that if he could close that eerie box, this simulation should end, but he couldn't close it.

'The box is already 3/4 open. Did the previous two people open it?'

'No, the anomaly likely occurred because the box was opened, which is why we were sent here.'

'Closing the box requires some kind of energy. Then what about opening it? Does that also need energy?'

'Could those two D-Class personnel and the Captain have involuntarily provided the energy to open the box?'

'If I enter first, could I easily close the box?'

Soon, the prison transport stopped again in front of the villa.

Lin Ye didn't waste words, stepping forward to let the team members put the helmet on him.

No one objected since this was a suicide mission anyway. Nobody would stop Lin Ye from going first.

The figure opened its eyes, blood-red pupils faintly glowing in the darkness.

The instant Lin Ye saw it, his body began decomposing into small fragments. These fragments then twisted and realigned from the center, finally reassembling into a brand new object.

Bzzzt...

Lin Ye stared blankly into space. He hadn't actually felt pain, but some distortion transcending his nervous system lingered in his body, leaving him temporarily unable to even move a finger.

Fortunately, this distorted sensation soon faded, allowing Lin Ye to think clearly again.

'Can't go in first. First entry means certain death.'

'Have to try entering second. If that doesn't work either...'

When the prison transport stopped before the villa this time, Lin Ye waited until No.1 entered before stepping forward to request being second.

Again, no one stopped him from entering. Lin Ye expertly put on the helmet and waited for the Captain's orders.

Several minutes later, the Captain ordered Lin Ye to enter. Without hesitation, Lin Ye strode into the villa.

This time, the shadow wasn't in the main hall. Avoiding unnecessary glances, Lin Ye rushed straight for the staircase to the second floor.

On the second floor, the black box sat on the coffee table as before, but its lid was only opened less than a quarter.

'So opening the box consumes lives. Those horrors must have escaped from inside.'

Lin Ye wasted no time, dashing to the coffee table to attempt closing the box.

"Wait! What are you doing?"

The Captain's voice came through the earpiece.

It might have really been the Captain, or not. Either way, Lin Ye ignored it.

If he failed again this time, he'd have to consider more radical measures.

The lid remained ice-cold. Though the 'heat' drained slower than last time, Lin Ye gradually lost sensation in his body. Worse, something seemed to be approaching from behind.

No sound, no other sensory changes - yet he could feel it.

Lin Ye's body began fragmenting and twisting. Fortunately, he could barely feel anything by then, just managing to push the lid shut.

The moment the lid closed, all sensations vanished. Lin Ye collapsed, staring at the dark ceiling before losing consciousness completely.

Lin Ye climbed out of bed in the shelter, feeling no discomfort - until he saw the object in his room and froze.

It was an inverted orange human reassembly specimen, mounted on the wall like a painting, brazenly displaying itself to Lin Ye.

"Holy shit!!! You followed me here?!"

Cold sweat drenched Lin Ye's back as if he'd woken from a nightmare to find the monster from his dreams in reality.

But he quickly realized this must be one of the simulator's reward items.

Besides the 'wall art', five other items lay on the floor: a loaded pistol, a simple food pack, a basic medical kit, a complete set of military combat gear, and a dagger.

The pistol was an unfamiliar model with ten rounds.

The food pack contained five energy bars and two energy drinks without ingredient lists - Lin Ye had no idea what they were made of.

The medical kit held three metal syringes labeled: Emergency, Treatment, Lifesaver, plus a roll of bandages, anti-inflammatory pills and painkillers.

The combat gear fit well and wasn't too heavy, allowing free movement.

The dagger was just a regular but well-made one.

Opening the system panel, Lin Ye found two notifications - one about the Abyss Box usage right, the other his new title.

"Improved treatment? Why not promote me to C-Class?"

Lin Ye looked exasperated. He'd prefer less challenging work.

"This... won't give me a monster, will it?"

After consideration, Lin Ye decided to use it. The system stated the shelter was absolutely safe, and since his abilities came from the system, anything from the box shouldn't break system rules.

Absolute safety only lasted seven days, so best use it now.

Lin Ye selected to open the Abyss Box in the system.

A pitch-black box appeared in the shelter's center, identical to the simulation version.

The Abyss Box opened automatically, disgorging countless bizarre objects that filled the entire shelter.

Lin Ye was stunned. When the box opened, he'd felt himself die countless ways simultaneously as indescribable horrors flooded the shelter.

Thankfully, system protection saved him.

After processing, Lin Ye's shelter now resembled some horror movie basement, crammed with grotesque items:

Bottles of unknown material glowing white, toy animals covered in strange fur, a penguin with a moving eye, indistinct hanging paintings...

Even Lin Ye's body was covered in butterfly-like creatures with trembling aqua-blue wings, seeming ready to take flight any moment.