Act 1: Lessing

Foreword:

A genius can only be ignited by another genius.

--Gotthold Evrem Lessing

Amidst the wind and snow, a tall figure stood in front of the signal station at the hunting party's settlement.

That was Andro, wearing an electronic tracking bracelet, the former leader of the Madness Butterfly Sect's battle gang, a shameless traitor who was "ungrateful".

He first betrayed the Homo sapiens camp, and later betrayed his brothers in the War Gang; betrayal was a word that permeated the life of this strong man.

Fate is like a fast-paced, intense fighting game, never giving Andro any extra time to think. Often, there's only a split-second decision, and once made, there's no going back.

He didn't understand why they were still sending a team to the Elf Holy Land during the closed season. Perhaps it would be safer to listen to that priest and stay in the cage. After all, he had been on the run for most of his life, and finding a place to settle down was his ultimate dream.

The place he grew up in couldn't give him a sense of security, so he turned into a brave and ruthless henchman of a gang.

Hedland's prison life came to an end, so he returned to his old trades, but he couldn't adapt to the current society.

He likes games, fast food, and softcore pornographic ads. He likes stories that are easy to understand at a glance. If he had come to the Hot Spring Market earlier, perhaps he could have had a happy youth.

But time cannot be reversed, and there are no "what ifs".

Unbeknownst to Andro, after Saint Josh Joris's death, the station's interrogator, Lady Havana, saw the four war gang brothers as a thorn in her side—she wanted to send them to the hunting grounds during the closed season, to be devoured by devils and Barry.

This interrogator was ruthless; simply because the town's cannibalistic monster had died, she wanted these criminals who robbed the clinic to be buried with her spiritual totem.

This local was very familiar with the ecology and topography around the Elf Holy Land. The temperature in the rift valleys and mountains surrounding the Elf Holy Land could drop to minus twenty degrees Celsius, and the geological exploration team had a lot of equipment to transport back to Saladin. These clean-up tasks were left to a few prisoners in the cell.

Saint Josh's death was shrouded in mystery, Havana was seething with rage. The psychiatrist's cooking skills were extraordinary, and she would never be able to eat his dishes again. This drove her to madness, and she decided to personally kill these criminals, continue killing for their flesh, and absolutely not let them return alive to the tribunal in the Hot Spring Market.

This was a trivial matter in Havana's eyes.

--It's not unusual for the hunting party to have pathfinders disappear every month, or for a few strangers of unknown origin to die.

This hatred made her forget her mission, made her abandon her work at the outpost, and even gave up the opportunity for promotion in the spring. She believed that she could accomplish this task without leaving a trace, and do it perfectly.

On January 27th, the transport team arrived at Signal Tower No. 1 on Spinach Heights. It was 86 kilometers away from Saladin town as the crow flies. But to get back, they would have to travel 465 kilometers along winding mountain roads and through caves, which would have been a dead end for the explorers without reliable transportation.

Havana is the commander of the transport team, with three experienced pathfinders from the hunting party as guides, two biologists and four assistants, an electrical engineer, a road construction worker, a first-aid-experienced nurse, and thirteen exploration team warehouse workers with different responsibilities.

In addition to Wolf Brother Oscar and Jamie and his daughter, and Jiang Xueming, there's Big B, A Jie, Schopenhauer, and Andro.

There were thirty people in total, along with two trucks and a snowplow. After a four-day journey, they finally arrived at their first stop.

Upon arriving at Spinach Heights, Jiang Xueming immediately saw layers upon layers of lush fossil trees nestled in the deep ravines. These stone mountains, shaped like spinach leaves, had been transformed by human intervention, with iron frames and steel beams erected to create living units and scientific research platforms. This is how Spinach Heights got its name.

Ms. Havana assigned tasks to everyone, and the work given to the criminals was the hardest and most tiring outdoor work.

Jiang Xueming and Jamie, along with Wolf Brother, were organizing books and records in the settlement's geographical and hydrological database. They were going to take away all the documents and hard drives that the exploration team had accumulated over the year. Meanwhile, the four members of the Zhan Gang braved the wind and snow of the harsh land to climb the tower and onto the steel wire to maintain the fragile and easily damaged photoelectric system.

After a day's work, everyone gathered in the canteen for lunch. Workers from different fields formed small groups, all whispering amongst themselves in a mysterious manner.

Jiang Xueming learned about the Elf Holy Land from the hunting party, but finding a suitable elf for his little sister Benni was no easy task. The situation inside the Elf Holy Land was very complicated, and winter was the worst time to go into the mountains to search for spirits, as the cold would cause these lively fairies to hide in the soil and hibernate in caves.

Various monstrous beasts, unable to find food, will also leave the Elf Holy Land and venture near human settlements in search of heat and food.

This time, Xue Ming went into the mountains with the transport team just to explore the area and understand the basic ecology around the Elf Holy Land, and then make plans when the ice melts.

"Honey Badger, eat this, eat this." Big B from the next table came over to Xue Ming's table and stuffed the chicken leg he had brought into Xue Ming's bowl.

As the saying goes, "Those who offer unsolicited favors are either up to no good or are thieves."

Xue Ming casually placed the chicken leg into Benni's bowl and asked in a low voice, "What is it?"

"I am the one," Big B, who was frostbitten during his work. His clown-like face was cracked from the cold, and dark red blood blew out from it in the dry, cold mountain wind. "Could you please put in a good word for me with Commander Havana? The burden on our shoulders is too heavy. We work eight hours a day, turning the lighthouse and signal tower back and forth, turning it sixteen times."

"This tower is at least thirty meters tall. We made a mistake; robbing the hospital was wrong, and we admit our mistake."

"But if this continues..."

As Big B was speaking, he suddenly felt a lump in his throat, sensing the threat of Death God.

"This can't go on. It's so cold; your body can't take it."

Havana knew how to kill these Blood-giving Monsters. Their average body temperature wouldn't exceed 27 degrees Celsius. In this environment, without a suitable condiment, they wouldn't be able to eat a single bite of human flesh. Even before the beastification disease broke out, these four little ones would die at their workstations sooner or later. Perhaps they were too hypothermic and rolled down the spiral iron staircase of the tower, or perhaps they were delirious and fell asleep in the warm tower top, only to go mad and die the next day in the abnormal spiritual pressure environment.

Jiang Xueming had little compassion for these Blood-giving Monsters. He knew nothing about Big B and A Jie's criminal records or the severity of their sentences, but Andro's crimes did not warrant death.

He first asked a few questions to understand Big B's basic demands. Then, thinking of Havana's mourning for Saint Josh Joris and her empathy for this cannibalistic monster, the reason wasn't hard to guess: this interrogator at the outpost clearly had murderous intent and was drooling over these criminals. He was just waiting for the four little ones of the War Gang to be frozen solid.

Jiang Xueming asked, "Have you discussed this with Commander Havana?"

Big B immediately nodded. "I mentioned it right after I finished cleaning the tower. The lighthouse is old-fashioned, and the fuel needs to be changed four times a day. Climbing up and down takes at least half an hour, and you can't rush it. If you're even slightly careless and distracted, you might fall down the iron ladder."

Jiang Xueming then asked, "What did she say?"

Big B squatted down beside the priest. The clown's face was wrinkled and his expression was extremely ugly. "She called us lowly people, that we should do menial work, and if we do it well, we can get a reduced sentence; if we don't, we'll die here. Die here."

"She's lying to you. What power does she have to reduce your sentence, you scoundrel? How dare she boast about getting you out of jail?" Jiang Xueming's tone grew colder and colder. "Big B, I've told you before, you're going to stay in jail no matter what. The iron cage is protecting you. People like you, who are essentially blood donors, are practically endangered in today's underworld."

Big B immediately pleaded for help, "My priest, I sincerely repent to God. If you give me a chance, I will definitely fast, be baptized, and sincerely believe in the religion. Please help me."

As he said this, Big B clasped his hands together, revealing his palms covered in scars. His palms were wrapped in strips of cloth, and he didn't even have a pair of work gloves; they were makeshift cold-weather protection materials that the brothers had made on the spot.

Jamie and his daughter listened intently. Uncle Jamie, focused on eating, didn't bother to interrupt—the life or death of these criminals was of little concern to him; he was a nobody and only cared about his daughter's health.

Benni, the medium, is different. She has Inspiration and can even personally experience Big B's pain.

This little bird-demon girl had already suffered from the beastification disease since childhood. Without human flesh, her bloodline unit was able to survive the outbreak of the beastification disease. However, without the protection of the holy blood, she would have become a hybrid monster like her. Benni naturally glanced at the dining table of the war gang criminals.

The brothers all looked dejected and depressed.

A Jie could no longer be arrogant. His face was bruised, his down jacket was collapsed and torn in many places, he had taken a hard fall.

Schopenhauer was still wearing his spinal braces and couldn't turn his head at all. He stared blankly ahead, his lips pale and his eyes lifeless.

The one with the most wounds was Andro. This honest and simple-minded strong man was full of resentment, his heart burning with anger from the torment of his work. The steel cable basket in the tower had cut the skin on his hands, and his trouser legs were torn, revealing a bloody and mangled part of his calves. Although in the eyes of the Blood-giving Monster, these were just flesh wounds, the temperature here was already close to zero degrees Celsius, and they could not recover by relying on their natural healing ability alone.

"Please help them, Father?" Benni said without hesitation, "Please help them."

Xue Ming immediately said, "Little girl, I've already helped them, and God has helped them too."

Before deciding to rob the clinic, they could have stopped and found a job with Saladin, but they didn't.

Once inside the infirmary, they could have stopped, returned the hostages and money, and honestly confessed Saint Josh Joris's true identity to the military post, thus redeeming themselves through meritorious service. But they didn't do that.

On their way to the Xue Ming and fleeing towards the Mimir Hot Spring Market, they could have stopped and spared the priest's life, but they didn't.

Once inside the cell, Xue Ming told them to stay obediently in the iron cage, but Havana had lured them to this dangerous settlement with just a few words and a one-sided story, intending for them to do deadly work.

Benni was very stubborn. Looking at the chicken leg in her bowl, she returned the gift to Jiang Xueming's plate.

--Like a child throwing a tantrum, her eyes were filled with resentment as she stared at Xue Ming.

Xue Ming couldn't quite understand Benni's thoughts, so he asked her directly.

"What are you thinking, Benni? You want me to meddle in this? Even if this Big B is from the War Gang? It wasn't Uncle Jamie, your father, or that reckless young man who came to ask for a gun who killed your mother."

"These are the people who harmed your mother. Think it through."

Upon hearing this, Big B's expression turned very ugly.

Benni, upon hearing this, also began to feel frustrated and anxious. She found it difficult to think about complex problems; as if a piece of her soul was missing, her intelligence had also diminished. She started scratching her hair and tearing at her feathers.

"No, no, no, I won't say anymore." Jiang Xueming put the chicken leg back into Benni's bowl, finally giving in. "How about this— Big B, come here."

Big B put his mouth close to the priest's and listened intently.

"I'm in the same class as you guys. No matter how wicked Havana is, she wouldn't dare harm me—if Maquire finds out I lost my life in the mountains, he'll definitely investigate. Then, that woman Havana won't be able to join the Red Stone Rock Band anymore; if the accident liability is determined, she'll be a prisoner."

"Father," Big B didn't know what to say, and suddenly burst into tears. "Father, you're like my own father."

After eating and drinking their fill, Oscar did his post-meal exercise on the Wool Sheep's take-off and landing platform, while Wolf Brother, running into the cold environment, became calmer and more handsome.

This might be the awakening of the Siberia Husky's bloodline. His brain was overheated from being in the Hot Spring Market full of pyroxene, causing the CPU in his brain to overheat and making him talk nonsense every day.

Oscar howled into the deep valley, soon producing a clattering sound as his teeth chattered and his tongue flicked.

Xue Ming happened to be on his way to Havana's office when he heard these strange noises and asked what was going on.

"Brother Wolf? What are you yelling about?"

Oscar explained, "Besides the Spuantong ladybug, there are many other insects in the Elf Holy Land. The most common one in the caves is a pig-headed scorpion—they are plump and round, with wings on their heads and a stinger hanging from the end of their bodies, just like balloons, hence the name balloon scorpion."

"Was that sound a greeting to them?" Xue Ming asked, intrigued.

Oscar nodded. "Yes, the venom of these balloon scorpions is potent and requires Universal Elixir. I was just about to give them a shout to see if they were asleep or had eaten enough. That way, we'd be prepared if they suddenly attacked the settlement in swarms—the people at the workstation rarely have a chance to look up while they're working, and these balloon scorpions sting you without you even feeling it. It's like a tiny needle, about the thickness of a toothpick, piercing your head from the top; it's impossible to defend against."

"If the prey is poisoned, its body will stiffen and it will lose consciousness. The poisoners will swarm it, drag the unconscious prey down the valley to its death, and then slowly digest its flesh."

As he said this, Wolf changed his tone again.

Xue Ming found the name strangely familiar.

"That's the cry of the human-faced eagle." Wolf Brother was like a broadcaster of a monster's little language. "If you're interested, I can also demonstrate the hyena language I just learned, which is also a close relative of ours."

"You are really talented." Jiang Xueming didn't hold back her praise. With Oscar around, the journey seemed to have become much easier.

"Hey! Only geniuses can ignite geniuses!" Wolf Brother launched into a round of mutual flattery. "Honey Badger, where are you headed?"

As Jiang Xueming walked, he replied, "I'm going to talk to Havana about something."

"Okay!" Oscar nodded in response, "Then I'll keep calling."

As soon as Xue Ming left, a worker from the signal station, who had been following him, ran up to Oscar Xue Ming greeted him warmly.

"Mr. Oscar?"

Wolf Brother turned around and glanced at the newcomer; it was a complete stranger.

"Oh, greetings! May I ask your name?"

The visitor did not give his name, but instead directly invoked Hunwei's name.

"[Return To Innocence]!"

The sudden surge of psionic energy made Jiang Xueming abruptly turn around to look—

Oscar's eyes glazed over, his sternum was broken, and his chest caved in along with his down jacket, as if he had been punched by a huge force. Blood gushed from his mouth and nose, and his heart stopped. His once golden wolf eyes turned dead gray, and he stepped into the Gate of Death.

Xue Ming quickly ran across the platform back to the Wool Sheep landing platform. Oscar's mouth was still spitting blood, and the big wolf was swaying and almost fell off the platform into the abyss.

It wasn't until Xue Ming grabbed Wolf Brother back into his hands and felt the remnants of soul power on Wolf Brother's chest that he was certain that this was an attack using soul power.

But where did the attack come from? Who was it? Was someone following him? Did they walk with him up the iron stairs to this platform?

Why do I have absolutely no recollection of this? Why?

He carried Oscar back to the canteen, carefully walked up the narrow iron stairs, and squeezed through the gate with the giant wolf on his back. Several workers from the workstations were eating when they saw Oscar's miserable state with blood flowing from his mouth and nose, and immediately went to help.

Xue Ming retrieved the Universal Elixir from the medical room and, together with the explorer in charge of emergency care, treated Wolf Brother's fractured chest cavity. Only after Wolf Brother regained consciousness and sneezed several times, expelling all the blood clots from his chest and lungs, did Xue Ming feel slightly relieved.

The speed of this soul-powered attack exceeded his expectations. There was nowhere to hide around the Wool Sheep platform. No matter how weak Oscar was, he was still the wolf mother's child. The enemy's soul power could paralyze Oscar in an instant and allow him to escape unscathed. The remnants of the soul power left behind could not even be accurately tracked. Judging from Xue Ming's Inspiration, this guy seemed to have vanished into thin air, like an invisible and intangible ghost, like a curse.

"Did you see that? Someone's attacking you, Oscar!"

When Oscar woke up, he only felt a dull pain in his chest, without any awareness of it, as if he had lost that part of his memory.

"Huh? How did I get here? Oh! Oh, is dinner served?"

The big wolf straightened up from the long table in the cafeteria and looked at the people curiously.

"Someone attacked me? What attack? Oh! Oh! I went to the platform to shout a few times to help you find the surrounding monsters, how did I faint? I..."

This series of strange and inexplicable words sent chills down Xue Ming's spine.

Oscar seemed to have no recollection of what attacked him, not even the form of the Soul Might or its specific abilities. He was like an infant, only able to passively take the beating.

"Oscar! Tell Havana to call everyone over! There's a guy with Soul Might hidden in our team—"

"--This guy wants to kill you!"