After Sunset, She Steered Resolutely Toward Death

How handsome could someone look when they were angry?

Greatness needs no explanation.jpg

After asking that question in the livestream, Digging Princess didn't say another unnecessary word. Instead, she clipped out the entire sequence from the moment Bai Fu saw herself about to be controlled to the moment she erupted in fury and sent Yulia flying, then played it repeatedly in the livestream.

Once, then again, and again.

Beginning with an enraged roar, followed by stomping Mutated No. 9 to vent her fury, and finally fusing all her repression, unwillingness, anger, and hatred together in that explosive "Enough!"—it all transformed into a punch powerful enough to break through the heavens!

That punch not only shattered the Wall of Sighs Yulia had constructed with her superpowers, but also smashed through the screen between the livestream viewers and the battlefield. Its fierce force crossed time and space and slammed into the hearts of the players.

First came the spiciness that struck the depths of their taste buds, followed by a lingering sweetness. Was this what falling in love felt like?

[I admit it, I've been taken captive by Bai Fu!]

[This damn charm is terrifying. It's overflowing from the screen! I can't even imagine how strong the immersion would be if I'd witnessed Bai Fu's sudden eruption in person.]

[Give us more! I love watching women fight!]

[Hnnngh, I'm so jealous! Digging Treasure, Fu Fu directly surpassed her limits to save you!]

[So cool! So freaking cool! It reminds me of the scene where Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan after watching Frieza kill Krillin!]

[I'm rich, I'm rich! Bai Fu killed the BOSS with that burst, and I directly earned over 600 experience points! Hahaha!]

At this moment, Fu Sect seemed to have unified the entire game.

Of course, "seemed" was still only "seemed." Fu Sect wasn't yet powerful enough to reach that point. But at least, Digging Princess's livestream had achieved a new milestone—

It had the highest popularity of every livestream in the game during the same time slot, and it had taken first place by an overwhelming margin. The second-place stream couldn't even see the taillights of Digging Princess's livestream.

[Thanks for the one XXX from XXX.]

Digging Princess's lips were practically worn smooth from talking. She had been livestreaming for two and a half years, but she had never experienced a day like this one.

This was the benefit of recognizing Bai Fu's extraordinary nature with her superhuman vision and clinging tightly to Bai Fu's coattails. She had decided that from now on, she absolutely had to work even harder to increase Bai Fu's Favorability.

Digging Princess's gains stimulated the other players. Although she had been the first mover, Bai Fu's storyline had only just begun. They still had a chance to surpass Digging Princess and become the player Bai Fu valued most!

Amid the celebration, even the players who hated Bai Fu the most found it difficult to attack her openly.

They could only silently leave Digging Princess's livestream, then go to other, less crowded streams and say that it was still too early to celebrate. The enormous threat of the Insect Tide had yet to be resolved, and Bai Fu might be finished by the end of it.

[That actually sounds right?]

The players at the scene suddenly came to their senses.

Although defeating Yulia was worth celebrating, what mattered more right now was finding a way to complete the [Insect Tide Invasion] mission. Otherwise, they and Bai Fu would all be in deep trouble soon.

"I'll go check on the situation!"

Patrick Star, who had suffered some injuries, limped toward the hidden door.

Before he even moved, Yago and Xia Shi had already set off. As professional agents, they were just as excited, but they still knew how to distinguish between urgent and unimportant matters. It wouldn't be too late to celebrate after completely resolving the Insect Tide.

Just as they entered the hidden door, Bai Fu walked out of the laboratory.

"I found it!"

Bai Fu raised her right hand. Resting in her palm was a semitransparent green cylinder. It was the lure bait.

She had searched the laboratory just now. As she had expected, there were indeed plenty of good things inside. The only problem was that she had no use for most of them.

For example, the mixers, cooling machines, and other equipment. Although those devices were old, they were still worth a great deal. They were simply too large, making it difficult even to move them out and sell them.

After searching the laboratory, Bai Fu found three things that were useful to her.

The first was a pistol with an attack power between 21 and 39, more than 50 percent stronger than the one she had obtained from Cao Wenliang.

The second was a small medical kit containing one bottle of painkiller, two bottles of recovery medicine, and one bottle of a standard anti-mutant life toxin drug.

The third was two bottles of enhancement medicine.

[APT-011 Prototype (Progress: 92.257%)]

[Quality]: Purple

[Additional Effect]: A new drug Yulia developed using extracts from mutant behemoths. It was listed as a Level-One Project of The Truth Society. After use, there is a 90% chance that the target will activate the special talent [Evolution Blood], and a 10% chance that the target will become mutated.

[Evolution Blood]: Special talent template. Strength +2, Agility +2, Physique +4, Inspiration +3, Physique-to-Health conversion rate increased by 100%, mutation infection resistance +30%, and unlocks the special skill [Psychic Boiling].

[Psychic Boiling]: When attacking, converts 10% of Psychic Energy into an equal amount of basic physical damage. This damage benefits from critical-hit bonuses.

[Remark]: After obtaining an alien bloodline, you will automatically be targeted by the [Human Alliance], which upholds "human supremacy" and the "pure-blood theory." Please consider carefully.

Bai Fu's eyes lit up when she saw the enhancement medicine's description.

A special template?

Wasn't this exactly what she had always been pursuing? Although the bonuses from this special template couldn't be called heaven-defying, they were still enough to raise her strength by a significant amount.

The [Physique-to-Health conversion rate increased by 100%] alone would double her health, greatly increasing her chances of survival.

However, two problems now stood before her.

The first problem was that the medicine had a 10% chance of turning her into a mindless mutated monster. The odds didn't look high, but she truly didn't dare to gamble recklessly. Unlike the players, she had no chance to start over.

The second problem was that the medicine's production progress was only 92.257%. Although the value was slowly increasing, it would take at least five or six more hours to reach 100%. During that time, if the two bottles of enhancement medicine were discovered by the two agents from the Gene Primordial outside, she might not be able to claim them for herself.

With that thought, Bai Fu decisively carried the lure bait out of the laboratory and stopped Yago and Xia Shi outside.

I'll delay them for now, then see if I can find a chance to come back and take the enhancement medicine.

The first step of her plan had succeeded. Yago and Xia Shi's attention was completely drawn to the lure bait, leaving them no time to pay attention to the laboratory.

"Fortunately, that woman wasn't lying."

"With this, we can lure the Insect Tide away?" Patrick Star asked curiously.

Xia Shi shook her head. "It only means there's hope. Whether we can lure them away depends on whether those mimic bugs give us the opportunity. Let's go. Time is pressing. We'll check on the Insect Tide first."

At first, the players didn't understand what Xia Shi meant. But after following Yago and Xia Shi to the outskirts of the Abandoned Cooling Plant, they did.

"This, this, this..."

"Holy crap, my trypophobia is acting up."

"There's mucus everywhere. Ugh~"

Outside the fence, gray-brown insects roughly the size of adult huskies were frantically ramming into it. They piled over one another, sometimes tumbling down and sometimes scurrying left and right, constantly making a grating clicking sound.

Just seeing the disgusting sight made the players' scalps go numb. After hearing that ear-piercing noise, they felt even worse.

The players watching from the livestream were no better.

[Turn the camera away! I don't want to see bugs! I want to see Fu Fu!]

[Stop filming, stop filming! Film any more and I'm unfollowing!]

[Hiss, what cool bugs.]

[Shit, there's a pervert.]

Insects seemed to possess a special kind of magic. Seeing a single one wasn't too bad, but once they gathered in dense masses, they made people shudder with fear.

"The situation isn't good."

Yago looked around.

Under the influence of the Insect Tide, the Abandoned Cooling Plant had already descended into chaos.

The residents living on the outskirts were desperately fleeing toward the center as if they had gone mad. Several roads were completely jammed, and small-scale trampling incidents had even broken out.

This was no good news.

The residents' panicked flight meant that no one was guarding the area near the fence. It was easy to predict that the fence would be destroyed by the insects far faster than expected.

Moreover, because Number Nine had scattered the lure bait near the Wildfire Gang's entrance, the residents' escape toward the center of the Abandoned Cooling Plant would not save them. Instead, they would become the mimic bugs' primary targets.

"Here's what we'll do. A few of you go explain the situation to the residents. The rest of you come with me to stop the insects from getting inside. We need to wait for an opportunity. When the Insect Tide opens a gap, we'll take the lure bait we found in the laboratory and send it out."

Yago skillfully began assigning tasks, but none of the players responded. One after another, they turned their eyes toward Bai Fu.

Yago: "..."

He could only cast Bai Fu a pleading look.

Bai Fu said, "Everyone, follow Mr. Yago's orders for now. I know you want to protect me, but our priority is to hold the Abandoned Cooling Plant."

The moment she spoke, the players immediately obeyed.

The corner of Yago's mouth twitched. There was nothing he could do. Who had told Bai Fu to fly into a rage and blast those two members of The Truth Society apart for these people?

He had never expected them to truly hold back the Insect Tide. The fence around a small place like the Abandoned Cooling Plant was crude and couldn't withstand the mimic bugs' tearing claws and corrosive venom.

He only hoped to delay them for as long as possible. That way, even if the plan to lure away the Insect Tide failed, he could live a little longer. Perhaps he might even hold out until Lynn's reinforcements arrived.

But soon, he realized that something was wrong.

"Damn it, the Insect Tide is too huge!"

Looking at the wall before him, which had collapsed beneath the sheer weight of the insects, Yago's scalp went numb. Although the players immediately rushed over to block the breach, they could hold back one collapsed wall—but could they hold back dozens or hundreds of them?

"Help!"

"I don't want to die yet, Mom!"

"This is divine punishment! This is God's punishment for the impure! Hahaha!"

The fleeing residents became even more chaotic. Some of them had even given up on running and instead dropped to their knees, closing their eyes and praying.

What good is praying now?!

Bai Fu's expression turned solemn. They had reached the crucial moment. She couldn't let things continue developing like this. Otherwise, everyone would crowd toward the Wildfire Gang, and she would lose her chance to obtain the enhancement medicine.

That was the special template she had longed for ever since transmigrating into this world.

She could only bring out her final tactic. If she executed it properly, she could obtain the enhancement medicine and farm another wave of Favorability from the players.

"Listen to me. We can't just wait passively like this!"

"Huh?"

Xia Shi, Yago, Digging Princess, and the others all turned their heads.

Bai Fu explained, "If we just wait here, how long will it take before an opportunity appears to rush out with the lure bait? We have to take the initiative and lure those insects over, forcing them to reveal an opening."

Everyone agreed with this proposal, but—

"Who will carry the lure bait out?"

Yago asked this question.

This mission was extremely dangerous. Those who stayed at the Abandoned Cooling Plant to resist the Insect Tide still had a sliver of hope, but anyone who accepted this task was practically being sentenced to death.

Convert to My Fu was the first to step forward. "Let me do it."

"No. This isn't a mission you can complete." Bai Fu immediately stopped him. "To lure away the Insect Tide, you have to throw the lure bait somewhere far from the Abandoned Cooling Plant. With your strength, you're very likely to die on the way. If that happens, all our efforts will be wasted."

Her words were a little hurtful, but they were realistic. The players weren't afraid of dying, but their current strength truly wasn't enough to complete the task.

Then, among everyone present, the only person who could carry it out was—

A bad premonition suddenly arose in the hearts of the players.

"I'll carry out this mission myself."

Bai Fu stood up.

"No!"

At that moment, every player surrounding her shouted in unison.

A faint smile curled across Bai Fu's face. "I know. I know how you feel. But I'm the only one here who can do this. Mr. Yago and Miss Xia Shi are skilled at fighting with firearms. I'm different. I'm skilled at close combat. Don't worry. Ordinary mimic bugs can't hurt me."

She wasn't lying.

Her 26 points of Physique completely overwhelmed the mimic bugs. Unless a large swarm of them sprayed venom at her simultaneously, she had no need to worry about being injured. Even if she was surrounded, she still wasn't afraid. She had the Spiritual Energy Restraint she had obtained from Number Seven.

But the players didn't know that. All they knew was that Bai Fu wanted to sacrifice herself.

How could this be allowed?!

They had finally overcome Yulia. Surely happiness and a beautiful future awaited them now. How could it turn into a life-and-death separation?

"There has to be another way!"

Bai Fu shouted, "Don't be obstinate. We're out of time. The sun has already set. After night falls, the Insect Tide will become even more dangerous. We have to lure it away as quickly as possible."

"But..."

The players she had scolded did not retreat.

Bai Fu stared at them for a long time. Finally, she sighed, moved away from the crowd, and walked beneath a light. She gazed into the distance at the chaotic mass of refugees.

In a very calm tone, she said, "This is where I used to live. There are many familiar smiling faces here. And you're here too, the legendary heroes. Do you remember what I said when I came to find you that day? I can't just sit by and watch this place become a paradise for monsters."

Digging Princess had originally wanted to say something, but when she saw that lonely figure beneath the light, she suddenly felt as if something had lodged itself in her throat.

That was the day Bai Fu risked her life to inform them that the Wildfire Gang had attacked, wasn't it?

—I'm beginning to understand why you're qualified to be the legendary heroes.

—You don't understand. You don't understand anything!

One line after another began echoing in Digging Princess's mind. She had played many games, but this was the first time she had experienced something so special.

Here, she was herself. She wasn't anyone else. Here, she didn't need to peer into another world through a screen. Instead, she had truly become part of this world.

Digging Princess suddenly felt a little annoyed. Why did this game have to be so immersive?

It wasn't only Digging Princess. The other players reacted similarly. They wanted to do something, but what could they do?

"I can't accept this!"

"But this is life. Things will always go wrong sometimes." Bai Fu smiled, then turned toward Yago. "Mr. Yago, could you lend me your car?"

"Huh? The car? Sure, no problem, but... do you really have to go?" Yago's feelings were complicated.

Bai Fu said, "Mr. Yago, I think you understand that this is the best option we have right now."

Yago fell silent.

Yes. Rationally speaking, this was the best option. They only had to sacrifice a very small number of people.

But the person being sacrificed was Bai Fu—an especially interesting person in this wasteland, someone who made people instinctively want to become her friend.

He gritted his teeth for a long while, then finally tossed over the car keys.

"I'll wait for you to come back."

Xia Shi immediately followed and handed Bai Fu all her weapons. "I'll wait for you to come back."

"Thank you."

Bai Fu climbed into the car.

Just as she was about to start the engine, Patrick Star suddenly rushed over.

"Take me with you. At the critical moment, I can jump out of the car and lure away some of the insects."

"I can do it too!" Convert to My Fu was the second to rush over.

A group of players blocked the car like that. Bai Fu wore an expression of helplessness, but in the end, she picked five players to bring along. She couldn't take more because the car only had room for that many people.

The operation finally began.

Under Yago's direction, some of the players deliberately provoked the mimic bugs, then drew them toward other areas. Their actions succeeded, and soon they created a small opening in the Insect Tide.

Bai Fu raised her right hand high and waved from side to side.

Goodbye, everyone!

After sunset, at the edge of the Abandoned Cooling Plant, Yago, Xia Shi, hundreds of players, and countless more watching the livestream gazed at the silver-haired girl, who wasn't very tall.

For love.

For the land she loved, for the people who lived there, and for the players who had placed their hopes in her.

When the car's engine began to roar, the silver-haired girl resolutely drove toward the towering wall in the wilderness, the one known as Death.

The first comment to drift across the livestream read—

[My heart has been stolen by Bai Fu. Perhaps I'll never feel joy or sorrow again.]

PS: Thanks to Dongxia Chanmíng for the tip.

Something's been off today. The back of my right elbow has been aching the whole time. Thankfully, I got a little writing done this morning; otherwise, I'd have been worried I wouldn't finish before midnight.