Water Ghost

When the anomalies invaded, black snow fell from the sky and settled on the earth. At first, people thought it was pollution or a once-in-a-millennium wonder.

Some were wary, some delighted, some worried, some exhilarated, and some celebrated.

But after the snow stopped, those who had been exposed to it the most began to behave abnormally, and surreal anomalies appeared in many places.

These anomalies appeared without any pattern. They claimed the places where they were born as their territories and created "killing rules" within them. Anyone trapped there who broke a rule would die without fail.

The more people an anomaly killed, the larger its territory grew, and the more killing rules it controlled. Only by killing an anomaly completely could that land be taken back from it.

In just ten years, the anomalies had ravaged humanity, reducing the world's population to three-fifths of its original size.

But the world could save itself.

007 had told him that the enormous task of "saving the world" was not originally supposed to fall to him.

The world had already chosen several future saviors and set numerous trials for them. This would ensure that they could grow strong enough in as little as ten years to deal with the world's ever-increasing anomalies and restore peace to humanity.

Simply put, they were this world's "protagonist party."

But the anomalies had grown faster than expected, and by the time the world realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

The originally planned ten years of growth would be far too long. In five years at most, the anomalies would spread their anomalous territories across the entire world. Humanity would then live forever in darkness under their control, forced to evade their killing rules and powerless to resist.

So the world had called for help, bringing in 007, who had chosen Lin Nieran to break the deadlock.

"No, now isn't the time."

Although 007 had said that "saving the world" was the protagonists' job, his own task was to spur them on and accelerate their growth.

007 had suggested that he help them openly or behind the scenes, establishing himself as both a mentor and a friend. That way, he could help them while also earning fame.

But he did not want to do that.

He had never liked putting his life in someone else's hands, but he also understood the principle of not putting all his eggs in one basket.

So he would help them, but that was not his entire plan.

007 did not understand. [What does the host intend to do?]

"If I want to keep earning fame in the long run, the first impression is the most important."

Lin Nieran smiled. He unfolded the map in his hands and traced the eastern region with his fingertip. When he looked up at 007, his eyes were pitch-black.

"I need a grand opening."

A few days later:

"We've arrived at the Class C Sushui danger zone in the eastern district. Target confirmed."

The fully equipped squad crouched before an eerie, foreboding building. On the anomaly concentration meter planted in the ground, three of the ten indicator lights glowed red, flashing continuously.

"Contamination confirmed at level three. Provisionally classified as Class D."

Captain Wang Ningshui kept his voice low as he reported, but in the city's deathly, gloomy silence, it still sounded a little too grating.

The squad member beside him could not help looking around. His gaze lingered on the gloomy weather, as if a supernatural filter had been placed over it, then swept across the littered asphalt road, the traffic lights constantly sparking because the anomaly had disrupted their signals, and the bloodstained walls and grass. At last, it settled on their target: a once-famous chain swimming facility.

After a long period of abandonment, the facility's decorations and sign had grown patches of greenish mold. An unpleasant, bloody smell mixed with damp air hit them in the face.

"Information received. Be careful and come back safe."

"Yes, sir."

Wang Ningshui hung up and suddenly glanced back at the deserted road. His gaze swept over several piles of clutter where someone might be hiding, and he frowned slightly.

"Captain... what is it?" A squad member followed his gaze, but there was no one around except them.

"...Nothing." Wang Ningshui took a deep breath and turned back to the building before them. "Prepare to enter."

"Tao Yu, set up the timer."

"Yes, sir."

A female squad member took a large machine from her back and bent down to install it beside the anomaly concentration meter.

Wang Ningshui had brought four people with him, making five in all. For a newly formed danger zone, that was already a pretty good team.

Tao Yu set the timer for two hours. If they failed to come out by then, it would send an alert.

It would be best if they could finish the mission within two hours, but if they still had not come out by then, they would most likely be done for. The timer could then serve as a warning and send news of their deaths back.

Wang Ningshui took a deep breath and led the way toward the swimming facility.

The facility was not particularly old, having still been open for business a few years ago. Up close, they could see that the walls and main entrance had been renovated, though there were dark red marks along the walls. The faint sound of dripping water also came from inside.

"Drip, drip—"

The sound was soft, but impossible to ignore.

A conspicuous sheet of white paper, entirely out of place here, was posted in front of the facility.

[Swimming facility anomaly killing rules—codename: Water Ghost

Anomaly Containment Bureau designation: D7891

Known killing rules:

1. The swimming facility's pool is dangerous. Do not approach it!

2. There is no food at the swimming facility, and neither the floor nor your body is melting. If there is, close your eyes and believe that you are conscious.

3. Do not touch any source of water, including your own urine and water you bring in.

4. Unknown

Reminder: The Water Ghost cannot move on land.

These rules were provided by the Containment Bureau's official exploration team 5. If you have wandered in by mistake, we hope they will help you.]

Although they already knew the rules, everyone stopped and read them again with great care.

The three seemingly simple rules were vital intelligence obtained at the cost of others' lives. Of them, the third appeared to be the most dangerous.

When the anomalies spread across Sushui District, this swimming facility was one of them. An advance team had gone in to investigate, and only after surviving a narrow escape in the swimming facility dungeon had they brought out three incomplete killing rules.

They had originally thought there would be no problem as long as they sealed it off and kept people out. But unexpectedly, rain had fallen over the area for no apparent reason yesterday. Although it had stopped shortly afterward, this was clearly a sign that the anomaly was spreading, so their superiors had urgently dispatched their team to investigate.

Wang Ningshui stared at the three rules, his facial muscles twitching sharply several times. He seemed to have recalled an extremely horrifying sight, and his breathing grew heavy.

"Captain..." Tao Yu looked at him with concern. Wang Ningshui had been one of the first group to clear the swimming facility, and one of the three survivors who had made it back.

The other two had lost all four limbs to melting. He was the only one who had escaped intact. For a long time afterward, he had been deeply afraid of water.

"I'm fine." Wang Ningshui quickly composed himself. "We already know the rules this time. There definitely won't be a problem."