An Alternative Growth-Type Anomaly

As the saying goes, a loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Although the arrival of [Dead Zero▪Indefinite] temporarily relieved the crisis within the castle, an even greater danger was already brewing.

An immortal body, Skill that can be sealed, and the fact that the opponent can use all the sealed Skill... these three elements form a cyclical, ever-increasing sequence.

When faced with Anomaly that possess various unique rules, unless one's own Strength has reached a level where brute force can overcome skill, one is merely nourishment to increase the strength of the Anomaly.

After all, human capabilities are sometimes limited, while the Inhuman Existence are endless.

Those present were all intelligent people. After Bai Zhi spoke those words outright, the expressions of Fireworks of Romance and Dead Zero Ling changed slightly.

Unless they can defeat their opponent with basic attacks, once the opponent takes away their access to powerful Skill, the gap in strength between the two will only narrow, leading to a complete reversal of the situation.

Although Bai Zhi also hoped that Dead Zero's move just now was a basic attack, he was not one to deceive himself.

In Bai Zhi's memory, there is only one person who can use a basic attack as Ultimate Skill. This person is a household name, someone everyone knows. No one is unaware of him, and you will automatically think of him whenever you hear someone mention a certain word.

--Yes, you guessed it, it's that guy who treats every basic attack as Ultimate Skill.

"So our situation has gotten worse now?"

Fireworks of Romance frowned deeply.

"But we are clearly..."

"There's no point in discussing this when facing an enemy that's practically unkillable... Even if we could kill them again, so what?"

Bai Zhi shook his head.

"Skill are being sealed one by one, while the opponent's Skill are increasing. If this continues, the balance of power will eventually reverse. This is a unique kind of growth-type Anomaly, and our goal was never this in the first place."

What are we supposed to do?

Without asking any further questions, the Dead Zero, turned to look at him and spoke calmly.

"Find clues, collect puzzle pieces..."

Picking up a strange, all-black garment from the ground, Bai Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the corpses on the ground, whose recovery rate was increasing at an abnormal pace over time.

"Before this day ends, I must enter the true Core Zone of m•hetushu. com."

Inside the Rose Manor, danger lurks everywhere.

Stepping outside the castle risks a decrease in Sanity Value. Once affected by the [Mutation Curse], the [Doll Curse] within the Player will immediately erupt.

The castle is also fraught with danger. As far as we know, the enemy has gained access to several Skills, especially Bai Zhi's [Shadow Escape] ability. Combined with the final Slash from Dead Zero, these two Skill together are more than just 1+1.

As for the [Treasure of the Chef], which was also sealed and learned by the other party... well, that should save them a lot of effort when setting the banquet table tonight.

Faced with such Anomaly allows one to be immortal and constantly steal your Strength, direct confrontation is always the most foolish course of action.

Thanks to Dead Zero's intervention, before the true Master of the castle fully recovered, all the Maid and guards in the castle seemed to be in a state similar to being frozen.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Bai Zhi and his two companions hid in Anna's room.

"You... are you?"

Anna was initially slightly surprised to see so many people enter her room at Single-use, but when she saw Bai Zhi in the middle, her surprise immediately turned into delight.

"My father is willing..."

"Let's continue with the previous question. Is there anything you wish for that I can help you fulfill?"

With a slight smile, Bai Zhi interrupted the other person.

"Take this opportunity and say whatever you want to say."

"... desire?"

Anna paused for a moment, slightly taken aback.

"Today is your birthday, and I'm here to grant your wish. Just tell me what you want to achieve."

Looking out the window behind Anna at the bright sunshine, Bai Zhi smiled and spoke.

"You must have some wishes you really want to fulfill, right?"

"I... I want to see Catherine."

Anna opened her mouth, but at the last moment she uttered this request.

"Catherine said a lot of things to me that I couldn't understand. She wanted to take me away from here, which is absolutely forbidden, so Father and the others put her in solitary confinement. Do you know where Catherine is now?"

"... Know."

Recalling the Torture Chamber that Anna had led him to in the castle outside, which resembled a secret room, Bai Zhi sighed softly.

"I'll take you there."

Because of Dead Zero's earlier attack, the castle is now eerily quiet.

The castle, which had been bustling with activity in preparation for the evening's party, was now deathly silent, like a desolate ghost town. The Maid in the castle corridors, who seemed to have been put on a "no" sign, looked somewhat like the nurses from Silent Hill.

The four of them walked through the still castle, as if they were walking through a strange painting.

"Don't you feel scared looking at this scene?"

Pointing to the Maid who stood frozen in place like statues, Fireworks of Romance asked Anna with a hint of confusion.

Compared to Dollmaker Anna outside, the Princess Anna inside seemed more like a common. However, faced with these clearly illogical scenes, she remained completely unfazed, which couldn't help but pique Anna's curiosity.

"Fear? What is fear?"

Anna looked up, her face full of curiosity.

"Uh... I'm scared, I'm just..."

For a moment, she was stumped by the question, so Fireworks of Romance simply turned her head to look at Bai Zhi.

"Chu Yuxun, what are you afraid of?"

"... Fear is a type of dread."

Bai Zhi glanced at the other person.

"Did you hear that? Fear is a type of dread."

Turning his head, Fireworks of Romance began to lecture Anna in a serious manner.

"Then what is fear?"

Anna blinked.

"Yes, then what is fear?"

The Fireworks of Romance has turned its head once again.

"Fear represents the unknown..."

Exhaling, Bai Zhi stopped and looked at the hard wall in front of him, then reached out and patted a spot on the wall a few times.

With a loud rumble, the wall slid aside, revealing a long, dark passageway behind it.

"Wait, how did you know there was a trap here?"

Looking at the dark passage in front of him, and then turning back to look at Bai Zhi, Fireworks of Romance's face was full of doubt.

"Just guessing."

Shrugging, Bai Zhi took the lead and walked inside, with a slightly nervous Anna following closely behind.

"Tch, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't..."

With a slight smirk, Fireworks of Romance and Romance followed behind.

"..."

--The last of the Dead Zero, silently watched her retreating figure.