This is a bizarre rule, isn't it? It's supposed to grant me many children and good fortune

The air seemed to freeze; everyone waited—

Either nothing happens, or the abyss descends.

"Click."

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the armor's visor, revealing a gigantic, pitch-black maw that opened wide, unleashing a suction force capable of devouring everything.

Kane's body stiffened instantly, his bones cracking under the strain.

Immediately, his skin and flesh lost color and moisture at a visible speed, rapidly drying out until only a layer of withered gray skin remained, clinging tightly to his skeleton.

"Click."

The faceplate closed up again.

The hall fell silent once again.

Marcus slumped to the ground, propped himself up on his arms, staring intently at the shriveled corpse—

Just a minute ago, he was still a living person, a friend who would joke and laugh with him.

Immediately afterwards, a suppressed sob came from a corner of the hall. A girl from another group squatted down and covered her mouth with her hands.

Fear spread among the people like a plague.

Lin Feng stood still, his gaze sweeping over the corpses of Kane and Singh, finally settling on the armor that had just been used to kill someone.

The visor was sealed tightly, and behind the cross-shaped peephole was a deathly blackness, as if it was not the one that had just swallowed a life.

"If I'm not mistaken," Lin Feng's voice broke the silence, "the shadow Kane saw just now was a fake."

"Don't panic, everyone. As long as you carefully identify the problem, you won't repeat the same mistake."

After hearing Lin Feng's words, Marcus added:

"Kane... he does have mild nearsightedness."

"His inability to see the shadow clearly is likely related to his eyesight."

"Don't panic, everyone. As long as your eyes are fine, you'll be alright."

These words did have a calming effect, and many people relaxed their tense shoulders.

At the same time, several people who considered themselves to have poor eyesight frowned even more, rubbing their eyes anxiously, as if the armor might pounce on them at any moment because of this weakness.

Lin Feng took in everyone's reactions and said in a deep voice:

"That's how the world of ghost stories is—every step is fraught with danger, and people could die at any moment."

"If you shrink back in fear because of this, you'll only die faster."

"I hope everyone will stay focused and continue to finish their work!"

Seeing that the atmosphere was still somewhat tense, Evelyn added:

"Just like in 'The Old Man and the Sea,' man is not made for defeat."

"The people in Jack London's stories who struggled in the wasteland survived only because of their unwavering will to never give up."

"We're in the same situation now; fear won't bring us survival!"

These words were like a glimmer of light in a dark room, rekindling the will to survive in everyone's eyes.

They picked up the rags again, walked towards the silent and eerie armor, and continued their unfinished work.

…………

About fifteen minutes later, each group completed the task of wiping the armor.

Lin Feng surveyed the crowd and quickly selected his men:

"Marcus, Okonje, Mark, and Jansen, you four are the strongest. You're more than capable of carrying a suit of armor. The moving work is yours."

Then he pointed out ten people who were physically weaker and told them to step aside and wait.

In the event of an emergency, they would only be a burden; it would be safer to stay away from the scene.

Then he arranged for Wasim, Evelyn, and August to accompany him and protect both sides of the moving team, and selected a few other people of decent physique to go to the new platform to provide support.

Everyone agreed with Lin Feng's allocation and nodded in unison.

Lin Feng looked at the seven silent, dark silver armored figures:

"Let's begin, first one, Wendix."

August walked up to Wendix, straightened his collar, lowered his voice, and pronounced the name slowly and deliberately:

"Windix".

One second, two seconds, and the only sound in the deathly silent hall was the faint sound of breathing.

"Buzz—"

A deep, metallic vibration emanated from inside the armor's breastplate, distant and eerie.

August immediately bowed and said solemnly, "I'm sorry to bother you today."

The armor remained completely still, offering no response whatsoever.

August looked at Lin Feng, who gently closed his eyes, opened them a few seconds later, and nodded.

"It can be moved."

He just quietly initiated an infinite simulation, and the simulation results show that there is no danger in moving the object.

Marcus and his three companions stepped forward, each grasping the shoulder armor, waist armor, and leg armor of the armor, and together lifted it from the base.

Although the armor was heavy, four strong men worked together to lift one piece steadily.

However, the instant the armor detached from its base, everyone saw it simultaneously—

The base is covered with dense runes, like some kind of ancient seal.

At this moment, dark red liquid was seeping out from the grooves of those runes, as if the wounds pressed down by armor were finally being exposed.

The blood seeped out quickly, but turned black even faster.

In just a few seconds, the bright red turned into charred black, as if it had been burned away by some force.

"This is..." Marcus's pupils shrank, and he almost lost his grip.

"Never mind, keep moving." Lin Feng's tone remained completely calm.

He said this, but his heart sank a little.

That sentence from the armor maintenance manual was burning into my mind like a branding iron—

These seven bodies must never be moved.

The things it suppresses are unnameable, indescribable, and cannot be released.

The taboo has been triggered.

However, with the current situation unclear and no clues available, it is not the time to escalate the conflict.

The four men steadied themselves and carried the armor toward the new pedestal.

The first dozen or so steps were relatively easy, but after walking half the distance, the weight on the four people's shoulders suddenly increased, as if someone was constantly pouring lead into their armor.

"W-why is it getting heavier and heavier?!" Jason gritted his teeth, veins bulging.

"Me too!" Mark's voice trembled, and his arms began to shake.

The four strong men soon could not hold on any longer. They staggered, their knees buckled, and they were about to be crushed to the ground by the empty shell of armor.

Upon seeing this, Vassim, Evelyn, and August immediately rushed to help, supporting the shoulders and waist of the armor from both sides.

Even with all seven people exerting their strength, they still felt a heavy weight beneath their feet, as if they were carrying not armor, but a constantly growing iron mountain.

"I can't hold on any longer—" August growled, his knuckles turning white.

Lin Feng's eyes turned cold. He raised his hand, put on the Silent Grip, stepped forward, and delivered a clean and decisive blow to the armor without hesitation.

"Snap—"

A crisp sound exploded in the empty hall.

"Behave yourself!"

The Silent One's force field poured into the armor, abruptly severing a certain amplification spell being cast inside.

The armor shuddered violently.

The darkness behind the visor seemed to freeze for a moment.

It wasn't anger, it wasn't fear.

It's confusion.

It has existed for a long time and has witnessed countless humans scream, tremble, wither, and die in its presence.

Yet not a single human has ever slapped it into silence.

The six men carrying the armor felt the weight on their shoulders suddenly disappear.

"It's lighter!" Marcus exclaimed incredulously, "It's lighter all of a sudden!"

"Lin Feng is awesome!" Jason shouted, almost in tears.

Lin Feng said calmly, "Don't stop, keep moving."