Herrscher of Reason's Arknights

But once is enough, otherwise it would be too unbearable.

Like a sudden ray of light after a long period of darkness, the two of them, supporting each other, walked for an unknown amount of time before finally seeing an escalator leading upwards!

Maybe if we climb up from here, we can see the street above!

When faced with immense hope, people can always disregard their physical pain and are filled with strength.

Just climb up.

As long as you climb up, you can escape to safety, whether you call for help or get to the ground.

Both girls were rather short, especially Swire, who struggled to climb the metal ladder, not caring even if it dirtied her newly bought clothes.

The girl's black shoes stepped on the metal rod, and she seemed to be only inches away from the iron cap above her head.

Although she was a descendant of a large family and was indeed much weaker in terms of physical strength, the girl, who had not yet learned any enhancement techniques related to Originium Arts, could only rely on her courage in the face of hope and her last bit of excitement to support her as she climbed upwards.

As the girl struggled to climb, one hand finally touched the metal lid!

Moreover, the cover has no locks; you can open it simply by pushing it upwards with your hand!

As long as you call for help or climb over the wall, you can escape. Now that the villain is dead, as long as you bring the Guard Bureau people here, all the problems can be solved. The clues to your friend will no longer be a problem. Even the criminal has been found. How far away is the truth?

Using her hands to grip the ground, the girl was finally able to push her body out of the narrow well opening. Standing on the high ground, the outside world suddenly opened up before her.

However, the girl's eyes narrowed!

There were no streets, no crowds, nothing at all. There was something...

It's just a narrow alleyway that seems to stretch endlessly.

"Why?"

Swire's green eyes trembled uncontrollably.

There was no way out, and there was no sewer system at all.

Outside, there is a labyrinth of countless alleys just like the one here, stretching as far as the eye can see.

"What's going on... what is this...?"

I have to... I absolutely have to run.

Where did they run off to?

Despair crept into her heart, but gave her no chance. Just as despair arrived, something suddenly wrapped around the girl's hair!

"Ahhh!!"

"Hee hee... Hohohohohohohohoho!!"

The girl, forced to look up due to the pain, then witnessed a scene she would never forget.

What met his eyes was a face so ugly it was distorted, as if scorched by flames. The dry, cracked skin gradually split open, creating a bloody gash that looked like a strange, split smile extending to the ears below the eyes!

That was the man's true face after the explosion burned off the bandages on his face!

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

"Wow...ho...ho...you can really run fast."

With a movement that resembled inhaling, countless blood bubbles gushed out, and the next moment a gaping maw suddenly opened wide!

Even for a daughter of an ancient family, the sudden appearance of such an ugly and bizarre face was too terrifying for the girl.

Why didn't they escape?

Why is this happening? !

With nowhere to escape, no matter how much strength I used, I returned to this place, this alley filled with mist and despair, from what seemed like reality.

A terrifying smile spread across the monster's twisted face as it slowly retracted its long, outstretched arm, pulling its captured prey toward itself.

"No! Don't come any closer!"

The fire serpent spewed out again, but the flames seemed unable to harm the man in front of him anymore.

No, this guy can no longer be called human; he's a complete monster!

No...no no no no no!!!

They wanted to call for help, but who could hear them?

This place doesn't exist in the real world; it's a hunting ground for monsters. Once you enter, there's no chance of ever leaving.

There was nothing around but deathly silence.

Even the wellhead had disappeared. Swire had no idea how she ended up here. If the wellhead was gone, then what about the girl?

What was that we just saw?

All of this seems to be a nightmare orchestrated by someone.

From the very beginning, she had already lost the right to escape.

"No...no no!!...Waaah, help me...help me!"

As if abandoned by the whole world, the fate intertwined with disappointment and despair turned into a dark malice, just like the monster's dark smile.

Swire tried countless times to pull away the hand gripping his hair, but no matter what he did, he couldn't budge it. The excruciating pain from having his hair pulled was the perfect appetizer for his despair, causing his prey to struggle in agony. He was helplessly dragged along, failing countless times. The monster's savage grin seemed imminent.

The powerless fire serpent once again billowed smoke and air, but to no avail. His friends were still not saved, and even Yelena had disappeared.

I don't want to die, absolutely not.

Resentment, regret, and despair have all turned into tears.

However, it was all in vain. After the immense fear and helpless despair, all that remained was a slowly rising view and limbs devoid of feeling.

All the fatigue she had accumulated came back at this moment. Exhausted, Swire was like a doll hanging upside down, with only the tears in the corners of her eyes proving that she was still alive.

The monsters feed by dragging their prey into their bodies like slimes, and then digesting them little by little.

Finally, they spit out the undigested bones—simple to the point of being cruel.

After all, the prey will not die completely until it is fully digested. Before that, there is nothing to do but watch the horrific scenes unfold and feel your body being slowly devoured.

"Sisi... Hehehehehe."

The monster seemed to feel a sense of pleasure, but that wasn't enough, because the hunt was not over yet.

He did not rush to devour the little girl.

The next moment, the world that filled the maze was "upside down," and the gray smoke, hanging upside down, became the sky, as lifeless as an old television screen covered with snowflakes.

The monstrous man hung like a bat in his hunting grounds, controlling the entangled girl as she looked down into the alley below.

"Don't forget, you still have a comrade-in-arms... Hehehehe, look at her demise."

"The monster said with pleasure."

P.S.: Currently writing the outline; I'll be updating like crazy these next few days!!

Section 82, Chapter 79: [Come, Sweet Death]

What just happened?

Standing in the station, Yelena looked around at everything with a sense of bewilderment.

Where is this place?

The station was bustling with people, and a train carriage painted green was parked in front of the platform.

This is···?

Wasn't it in the sewer before?

why? !

Suddenly, a woman pushed her way out of the crowd.

She was a rather tall woman from Cats.

Her long silver hair and long ears clearly indicated her identity.

That's... Mom?

The blazing sun obscured the woman's face, yet it gave her an incredibly familiar and warm feeling.

It's as if the absolute bond of blood ties is at work.

I really want to rely on someone.

"·····Mother?"

Yelena hesitated as she looked at the woman in front of her.

The confusion between memory and reality left Yelena with no choice but to try to call out the answer in her heart.

"Hmm! Yelena, be good. It must be lonely waiting here all by yourself."

The woman smiled gently, a smile that seemed to melt away all coldness.

That was my mother, a relative who was both distant and familiar.

As she spoke, the woman gently took the girl's hand. In her other hand, she was carrying a suitcase, as if she were about to go on a long trip.

"Where are we going...?"

The girl glanced blankly at the train that was stopped on the platform not far away. It had no origin and no idea where it was going. The railway tracks in the distance seemed to have no end.

"Going to the new home, Yelena, don't you think it's too hard here? The north is too cold, there's nothing here. Mom is planning to go to the south, it's very warm there."

"It's a true utopia!"

The woman spoke with a longing expression.

Fantasy town?

The girl didn't understand the word at all.

"It's the most wonderful place, where there will be no more troubles, no more disasters, and no more infections."

Seeing that the girl didn't quite understand what she was saying, the woman smiled and pinched the girl's cheek.

"Silly girl, you'll see when you get there, I promise."

He then took the girl's hand and walked towards the train.

However, after taking a few steps, the girl suddenly stopped, and the woman's hand also stopped.

A world where there is no more pain, no more discrimination, no more suffering, and no more being surrounded by cold.

Yes, how could a girl forget you, that curse bestowed upon her by fate?

A fate that can never again be embraced or warmed...

"What's wrong? Is Yelena unhappy?"

The girl stood there stunned, while the woman turned around, seemingly worried.

However, it was only because the girl saw something in the direction behind the woman... a nightmare she least wanted to recall.

In the crowd, an Ursus policeman raised a crossbow and began firing at the crowd!

In an instant, on the platform, screams and wails filled the air; fear spread like wildfire like a virus!

That is the nightmare.

The next moment, the girl's eyes narrowed sharply, becoming as small as needles.

Because a crossbow bolt was stuck in the woman's back.

It was just to protect her.

The spine cracked as it struck the metal arrow.

Warm blood was splattered on Little Yelena's face.

The suitcase opened due to the impact with the ground, and its contents were scattered all over the floor.

Those were photographs, many photographs, seemingly quite distant; each family photo was scattered by the wind blowing across the platform.