The Secret of the Church (Part 1)

"Help... help me..." A weak, miserable voice echoed through the vast, empty hall, drifting away into the void.

This was the Ravens Gate Church!

It was a pivotal scene from the original film. A dark, cold, and perilous house of worship.

In the movie, Alice rode her Harley-Davidson motorcycle like a savior, smashing through the church's stained glass. Amidst a kaleidoscope of light, she descended like an angel, looking cool and heroic as she dispatched several Lickers.

Accompanied by that passionate, stirring music, it was a truly breathtaking spectacle.

This should have been an ordinary church. The only reason it became famous was that it served as the site of Alice's first battle after she evolved through the T-Virus!

Within the church, a place of sanctity and solemnity, Alice used her newly awakened superpowers to slay the ugly, vicious Lickers, saving the police officer, the reporter, and the American youth. The final Licker was pinned beneath a cross, only for Alice to shatter its skull with a single gunshot—it wasn't hard to imagine that this scene was meant to signify a final judgment upon the sinful and dark in the presence of Jesus Christ—in the name of the Father!

Such is the nature of American cinema, steeped in religious faith and the typical hero-worship of the West!

In the "University," many "students" who had experienced this film regarded this place as the best spot to "grind for points" or get close to the protagonist, Alice.

Of course, it was also the place with the highest mortality rate...

Likewise, in this session, some students from Class 04 of the 12th Grade thought themselves clever and came here, hoping to bask in Alice's "protagonist halo." In their eyes, as long as they followed Alice, they would surely survive this Entrance Exam safely.

And in truth, that was exactly the case. Without the flashy entrance from the original work, Alice had led a large group of "dead weight" into the church this time. The kind-hearted and superpowered Alice had indeed shown full sympathy for this group of "international students from China" and promised to protect them. Almost all the rookies who had proactively abandoned their "seniors" believed they had found a safe harbor. Compared to the unreliable "seniors," they were more willing to trust the invincible "protagonist halo."

But was that really the case?

The world has never lacked smart people, and of course, it has never lacked those who think themselves too clever by half.

Convinced that everything would be smooth sailing from here on out, they were suddenly cast from heaven into hell.

More Lickers than in the original film swarmed into the church, unleashing a frenzied slaughter upon these rookies who thought they had found a loophole in the "Headmaster's" design. Blood almost instantly stained the entire church—the blood-soaked cross seemed to be mocking and judging them.

This was the "Headmaster's" wrath!

Anyone who dared to provoke him, failing to follow the rules he had set and instead trying to exploit loopholes and play clever, would face his severe punishment. Alice was indeed protecting them, but she was only one person; how could she possibly handle so many Lickers?

In the end, the group scrambled out of the church, crawling and stumbling, looking utterly pathetic and filled with regret. They regretted not listening to the teachings of the seniors; how could the "Headmaster's" loopholes be so easily exploited!?

After everyone had fled the church, it welcomed two more guests.

Liu Xiatian and Xiong Ba.

Clearly, they were not here to pray or attend service.

Liu Xiatian had insisted on coming. Xiong Ba, on the other hand, seemed indifferent, walking in a leisurely, relaxed manner as if this church were his intended destination as well. As for his purpose in coming here, Liu Xiatian had no idea. But Liu Xiatian didn't care; as long as he stayed beside the tall and formidable teaching assistant, he felt a great sense of security, and he didn't bother thinking about anything else.

However, the moment he stepped into the church, the overwhelming stench of blood hit him, causing Liu Xiatian to collapse to the side and vomit uncontrollably, retching until the world spun.

"Th-this..."

Suddenly, he seemed to hear a faint cry for help. "Senior, there's someone over there."

Xiong Ba ignored him entirely and sat down on one of the church pews, showing no concern for the blood, severed limbs, and gore covering the floor.

Liu Xiatian swallowed hard, unable to stop himself from walking over. As he stepped on a patch of floor free of blood and reached the cross, he was suddenly horrified. "It's... it's you... Senior, it's the guy whose arm you... you tore off!"

A man covered in blood was pinned beneath the cross, clinging to his final thread of life, muttering mindlessly for help. His dull eyes didn't even register Liu Xiatian; he just kept saying in a trembling voice, "Help... help me..."

Liu Xiatian couldn't help but shudder, taking a step back. "This is... too miserable..."

But the next moment, he suddenly felt his cheek go cold, as if some liquid had dripped onto his face, accompanied by a stench that made him want to retch.

Instinctively, he reached up to wipe it...

"Ah!!"

A black shadow plummeted from the ceiling, pouncing on Liu Xiatian and pinning him to the ground.

Before Liu Xiatian could react, a massive, tooth-filled maw clamped down on his skull.

Crack!

With a crisp sound, Liu Xiatian's head was crushed in a single bite, red and white matter splattering everywhere like a squeezed orange...

Needless to say, this was a hideous, blood-drenched Licker.

Lickers, also known as tongue-beasts, are the second stage of evolution for T-Virus mutated organisms. They have no skin, their flesh and blood are fully exposed, and their brains are visible. They possess greater strength and speed, moving through the darkness like ghosts. Although they lack eyes, they have evolved thermal sensors far more potent than sight; in the darkness, they are the nightmare of all living things!

In a single encounter, Liu Xiatian was sent back to the lobby. And Xiao Zhang, who had been pinned under the cross, had his brain shattered by a swipe of the Licker's claw, finishing him off completely.

Then, the Licker turned abruptly, aiming its bloody brain and gaping maw at Xiong Ba.

However, it didn't rush forward to strike Xiong Ba. Instead, it seemed extremely wary of him, merely circling and hissing at him.

As for Xiong Ba, he remained as leisurely as ever. He didn't seem to care at all about the Licker's menacing gaze, simply crossing his legs and waiting for something.

"Roar-gh!!"

The Licker let out a roar at Xiong Ba, finally unable to restrain itself. Pushing off with all four limbs, its blood-red body soared through the air, lunging toward Xiong Ba!

Only then did Xiong Ba let out a cold snort. "Seeking death!"

He stood up and suddenly bent his knees, pushing off the ground. His nearly two-meter frame vaulted high into the air like a pouncing wolf!

Almost the moment he took flight, every muscle in Xiong Ba's body bulged, his clothes straining to the point of bursting. At the same time, an incomparably cold and bloody aura radiated from him, and a pale red mist began to burn around his body like flames. Faintly, one could see the red mist taking the shape of a wolf pelt draped over Xiong Ba's shoulders!

Man and beast met in mid-air.

Roar!

Hah!

Xiong Ba let out a low shout, violently lashing out with his right leg while suspended in mid-air. That thick, sturdy leg transformed into a steel whip, carving a black shadow through the air accompanied by a series of sonic booms.

Crack!!

In an instant, the Licker's entire head was shattered by Xiong Ba's kick.

One strike to end the enemy!

System: You have dealt headshot damage to the Licker. One-hit kill.

System: You have killed the Licker. Reward: 50 Study Points.

System: Sophomore student Xiong Ba, "Teaching Assistant" title effect activated. Reward reduced by 50%. Actual reward: 25 Study Points.

"The Headmaster is such a stingy man." Xiong Ba curled his lip, the pale red mist surrounding his body dissipating as his bulging muscles deflated. He slumped back into his chair, looking thoroughly bored.

"You're late."

Suddenly, Xiong Ba, who had been resting with his eyes closed, spoke out of the blue.

His voice, light as the wind, echoed through the cathedral hall before fading into nothingness.

The cathedral returned to silence.

"If you don't show yourself, I'm going to drag you out and beat you to a pulp, Otaku! Your Black Mist Stealth might be able to fool others, but you can't fool my nose." Xiong Ba said suddenly, sounding very impatient.