Chapter 45 - Role Playing the Dark Horse Character

Chapter 45: Pendant Earrings The 'Cube' rotated, affecting those in the 'scrap' storage room—Tang and Mo Mo. The box shook as Tang and Mo Mo struggled to maintain their balance. In front of them, a blonde researcher with green eyes stood leisurely, as if his feet were rooted to the ground, unfazed by the chaos. Both girls were cautiously wary and fearful of this person. As Li Li and Yi Ming engaged in their dialogues elsewhere, a similar conversation was happening here. A phantom spoke of Mo Mo and You You’s fate—they were destined to either die together or You You would die while Mo Mo survived. "If you kill me, it will all end," You You said silently from inside the shaking nutrient tank. "No, I refuse!" Mo Mo clung tightly to the tank, her eyes—those belonging to You You—staring into his. "We promised to get through this together. Please, hold on a bit longer." She embraced the nutrient tank as if they were once again huddled together in a mad, unfeeling research facility. "I've found someone powerful. He can save us," Mo Mo spoke, unsure if she was convincing You You or herself. "We've endured even when I was blinded and at others' mercy. Just a little longer, please?" "I'm scared by myself, You You!" Inside the tank, You You's hollow eyes twitched into a silent smile. "But I want you to live on." Nonetheless, it became clear he longed for 'redemption.' Tang pursed her lips, refraining from criticizing Mo Mo. Instead, she turned to look at the suddenly appearing researcher, her green eyes filled with gravity. "Why are you telling me all this?" Tang couldn't fathom his motives. In response, the blond researcher adjusted his glasses, maintaining a smile as if nothing could touch his heart: "Let's just say, I'm intrigued." No, it was more likely because of her own resolve and the grand statements she’d made in front of Yi Ming. Though Yi Ming hadn't yet fulfilled her requests, Li Li was already set on upholding her promises. Prematurely lost first loves aren't a commodity. With Li Li around, neither of these two would die. Nobody could steal her limelight in that narrative! Just then, the tremors ceased. Simultaneously, the wall adjacent to the box shifted—the door within let out a creak as it opened. Tang and Mo Mo instinctively shifted their gaze. Through the door, darkness lay ahead. As they looked, white light illuminated. They saw a familiar face hanging beyond the door, his pallor indicating the rigidity of death. Yet this familiar person was also in the box with them, arms crossed, watching them with mild interest. It was Le Shan; the dead person was Le Shan. So who, or what, was in the room with them? Instantly, Tang took several steps back, while Mo Mo, after initial shock, showed an expression of delight. "You really came!" Her brown eyes, untouched by her powers, glistened with moisture. She released her grip on the tank and took a few steps forward. Clearly, she had guessed this 'Le Shan' was false and had already presumed who it might be. Mo Mo's initial aim was her. Li Li confirmed this. At this time, Yi Ming was trapped by her mechanism, while she split her attention to the phantom here. "You're quite the strategist," Li Li mused. Mo Mo had probably heard something from Hua Yizhi, prompting her to persuade Yi Ming to visit the Four-Way City, hoping to draw her out. Mo Mo had used Yi Ming, but it had reached the desired outcome. Regardless of sincerity, Yi Ming couldn't just ignore Mo Mo's plight. Mo Mo's plan was virtually foolproof, and she had succeeded, as Li Li had come to aid them. Being manipulated wasn’t pleasing for Li Li, but Mo Mo had no other options, and Li Li didn’t intend to punish her survival instincts. No need. Casually, she raised her hand. Her fake green eyes flickered red, and she snapped her fingers. "However, your struggle is quite fascinating." As her voice fell, her abilities activated, the illusion engulfing the space. "Consider this a reward." Infinite darkness enveloped the box. The blackness swallowed their vision, yet amidst it were specks of starlight. It felt like they were plunged into the night sky, into the vast universe. In the illusion, You You seemed to leave the nutrient tank as his eyes began to form. Simultaneously, Mo Mo's eyes went hollow, seemingly losing vision. Amidst this abrupt change, Li Li maintained her nonchalant tone, saying, "I'll restore you to the state before the experiments began. Any objections? I know you don't." This was the information Li Li gleaned from the collected data, restoring them to their pre-experiment forms through illusion. She wasn't interested in hearing their responses—she only needed to ensure their survival. The hypothetical probability of turning illusion into reality was absolute due to her ability level. A clear snap turned illusion into reality. The phantoms vanished, and she prepared to meet the play’s final scene. ... Yi Ming had broken through three boxes already. A metallic wall had been torn open to make a large hole. Moving swiftly internal to the 'Cube', his blue eyes hunted for a specific target. He dismantled all the metal mechanisms in his way. With his ability reaching C Rank, his touch made metal spikes bend and melt, aiding his advance. The 'Cube' shuddered, obstacles piling up as the puppet master maneuvered against Yi Ming, but he overcame them with increasing ease. Finally, he found himself in a new box, catching sight of the blonde researcher. Upon spotting him, the man nonchalantly adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. His smile was an infuriating beacon. Rage hardened Yi Ming’s fists as he shouted the man’s name, lunging for him. "Hei Ge!" He had detected the presence of an enemy from the man’s brazen demeanor. Which fueled his anger further. "What do you take our struggle to be!" he yelled, as his overstrained metal arm struck for the figure. "A game for your amusement?" Yet, his strike met only a phantom. The impact left air ripples as the illusion dispersed. The next moment, a gentle breeze touched Yi Ming’s back as an elbow struck his spine, sending him sprawling in three rolls. When Yi Ming finally managed to lift his head, the blond researcher stood, still smiling. A wave of his hand pinned Yi Ming to the ground with six surgical knives. Effortless, as though Yi Ming held no threat at all. And Li Li, flexing her fingers, responded with just a smile: "Certainly." As if she were wearing a mask adhesive to her face. Li Li spoke, removing her white gloves. Before their eyes, her disguise shimmered like a wave, transforming across its crest. A silver mask covered her left eye, golden hair turned black, and green eyes shifted into deep crimson. She had become Hei Ge. "The strong shape the rules, the weak adapt," she uttered with a sly smile, her red eyes narrowing. "You've shown me quite the drama." Detached from the situation, she mocked, stomping on Yi Ming’s sore spot: "But as things stand, you can't do anything." In response, Yi Ming grit his teeth, issuing a growl from his throat like a threatened stray dog. The words sent him back to that rainy day, back to his most helpless and painful memory. The person in front of him, just like then, easily squashed what he cherished underfoot. "Don't harm them!" His voice came out raspy. In contrast to his disorder, Li Li was far more composed. When she first arrived in the comic world, she had been just an ordinary person, barely keeping stride with Yi Ming. But now, she controlled her powers and martial skills effortlessly against Yi Ming. These were the fruits of all the sleepless nights in the comic world, where she forced her own advancement. "Bargaining with me?" she raised an eyebrow, waving her hand dismissively. The surgical knives pinning Yi Ming vanished instantly, and with renewed fury, Yi Ming charged forward again, determined to defeat the person standing before him. However, their abilities were miles apart. His powerful punches were effortlessly blocked, and even a swift kick was caught mid-air and flung back with ease. "Angry, are you? Remember what you're feeling and your current predicament," came the unhurried voice through the dust, as if all previous actions had been executed effortlessly, and Yi Ming's efforts meant nothing. His back crashed against the wall, breaking through into the next chamber. The figure emerged from the dust leisurely, as if on a stroll. She paused before the hole in the wall, and the mechanical wall shifted, revealing dark gun barrels. Almost simultaneously, Li Li raised her hand. The machinery hummed quietly as the guns aimed at Yi Ming, who was sliding down the wall. Flashes erupted. "Bang, bang, bang!" Bullets sped toward Yi Ming in a straight line. Yi Ming struggled to raise his metalized arm to block them, but exhaustion overtook him. The moment he lifted his arm, weary muscles gave out, and it dropped again. He had nothing to shield himself. In that instant, time seemed to slow. The bullet's orange-yellow tip reflected the incandescent light within the box, exuding a lethal aura. The scent of gunpowder filled his nostrils, and through the dust, the black-haired, red-eyed man smiled superiorly, watching his powerlessness. 'What can you do?' his smile seemed to say. 'Who can you kill?' Suddenly, from the side, several long blades appeared, aligning in front of Yi Ming. The silver blades gleamed briefly, and Yi Ming saw his reflection—a determined expression, his teeth gritted, brows furrowed, eyes burning with a fire. In an instant, the blades deflected the bullets and embedded themselves into the opposite wall, ringing with a clear note. Was he saved? Yi Ming struggled to stand, but the tremor in his calves prevented him from straightening his legs. Who was it? Meanwhile, the black-haired youth in front halted his actions. The guns retreated into the wall with a wave of his hand, and the instigator's smile faded, replaced by a look of disinterest. As if knowing what had happened, yet perhaps simply losing interest, finding it tedious. "Let’s end it here," the black-haired man said, turning his face slightly as if looking towards where the blades had emerged, but soon turned back with a smile toward Yi Ming. "I have more pressing matters now." Yi Ming glared at the man, supporting himself on the ground, trying to stand yet falling back down with a grunt of frustration. The familiar sound of a snapping finger echoed in the deceptively spacious yet confined space, and amidst the smoke of gunpowder, the man with the silver-edged mask raised his hand. "I hope next time we meet, I’ll be impressed by your growth," the black-haired man curved his mouth into a smile, his crimson eyes behind the mask gazing lazily at Yi Ming. He toyed with the title on his tongue, "Low rank, no, mid-rank." Hei Ge's words always ignited Yi Ming's fury. "Wait..." Yi Ming attempted to stop him, supporting himself in an effort to stand, but once more succumbed to the pain, falling back down, his throat unable to give voice to his cries. At that moment, birdsong unexpectedly broke into the sealed 'Cube.' It was a flock of crows. They surrounded the dark figure, their wings obscuring the smile on his lips. In the next moment, both the crows and the man vanished from sight. Like an illusion disappearing or a magic trick's enigma. In a flash, everything vanished, as if never there. Suddenly, energy surged within and Yi Ming leapt towards where the crows had vanished, only to fall forward onto the ground. Bitterly, he clenched his jaw, his vision blurring. At that moment, he turned his head towards where the blades had been launched from. The mechanical wall bore several dark cavities, and the blades had pierced through to shield him from the bullets. Inside one of the inky openings, Yi Ming suddenly glimpsed a flash of blue. It was a cool, ethereal blue, like a faint light in the dark, cold yet bright. It swayed gently as if observing him. "Yi Ming!" He heard Tang's voice. Through his increasingly blurred vision, the blue shimmered briefly, disappearing into the darkness as Tang's healing abilities enveloped his head in warmth. Was it the owner of that blue who saved him? The thought crossed his dizzy mind. With the enemy gone, the threat was lifted, and companions arrived. Fatigue washed over him and that blue aura seemed to delve into his mind, swirling around. In the end, he remembered seeing something matching that blue, dark and cold. It was on... A pair of pendant earrings. As the memory surfaced, darkness fully claimed his consciousness.