Outside the window, the Blood Tide surged like waves, one after another, showing no sign of stopping.
The Parasitic Corpse consumed by the Nursery had also completely rotted away, while the roots of the Moonlight Orchid beneath the soil twitched faintly.
The effects brought by "Clear-Headed" left him feeling refreshed.
Having walked through a life-or-death situation, the release after extreme mental tension was the golden time for honing one's skills.
Zhou Kai gripped the Two-Handed Sword. With every swing, he felt his muscle memory being recalibrated and refined.
[ Soraka Swordsmanship Experience +2 ]
Before long, the last trace of warm light in the fireplace flickered and flowed into Zhou Kai's body.
[ Universal Experience Points +3 ]
Three points. This trip hadn't been for nothing.
"Panel."
[ Character: Zhou Kai ]
[ Status: Erosion, Clear-Headed (71h) ]
[ Skills: Comprehensive Combat lv3 (0/50), Light Footwork lv3 (8/50), Soraka Swordsmanship lv1 (9/15), Occultism lv1 (0/15), Falcon Strike Technique Lv1 (0/15) ]
[ Items: Residence Permit, Brand-New Two-Handed Sword, Blood-Stained Axe, oil lamp, Morning Star's Journal (Part Three, Part Two), Moonlight Orchid Seed (Plump), Moonlight Orchid Amulet (Damaged) ]
[ Universal Experience Points: 4 ]
"I dumped all nine points of experience into the amulet. Now I only have four left—better than nothing..."
The amulet was important. He had no choice but to repair it.
Besides, it might have some unexpected effect...
Zhou Kai stared at the panel, his gaze settling on the description beneath "Moonlight Orchid Amulet."
"When ill omens recede, tranquil moonlight shall grant you a prolonged Clear-Headed effect."
[ Universal Experience Points -1 ]
[ Moonlight Orchid Amulet (Damaged) → Moonlight Orchid Amulet (Worn) ]
The amulet's cracks visibly closed somewhat, restoring roughly one-third of its durability.
And he had won the gamble.
A line of text in the status panel refreshed and flickered.
[ Clear-Headed *2 (72h) ]
It worked!
For the next seventy-two hours, this would raise his training efficiency to an entirely new level.
It was a rare case of getting a huge return from a tiny investment.
"Keep going!"
With the doubled status effect on him, Zhou Kai felt as though he had endless energy, and his mind was unbelievably clear.
About another forty minutes passed.
[ Soraka Swordsmanship Experience +2 ]
The doubled buff took effect immediately, sending his experience gain efficiency soaring to more than one and a half times its usual rate.
[ Soraka Swordsmanship Experience +2 ]
Another hour later, his experience points ticked up again.
But this time, Zhou Kai's movements abruptly froze. He didn't dare continue.
Because...
Tap... tap...
Heavy dragging sounds came from the ceiling above, as though something massively overweight was sprawled across the roof, scraping at the tiles with its claws as it slowly moved.
Creak—
The wooden beams groaned under unbearable strain.
Dust sifted down.
Zhou Kai instinctively slowed his breathing, restrained his movements, and reduced his presence to the lowest possible level.
But that thing showed no intention of leaving. The noise of sharp claws scraping across wood remained suspended above him, as it sniffed around everywhere.
Zhou Kai's eyes narrowed as he slowly leaned the Two-Handed Sword against the wall.
He couldn't just wait.
Whether in the Nightmare or reality, wasting time was the most extravagant form of suicide.
He pulled out the two volumes of Morning Star's Journal from his pocket and, by the light of the lamp, began reading through them page by page.
The first one he had obtained was Morning Star's Journal Part Two. Its core information concerned the "Light Footwork" skill, along with a series of Occultism teachings for judging abnormalities in one's surroundings. The latter had manifested on the panel as the skill [ Occultism ].
The third journal contained the most information.
Besides the uses of the Moonlight Orchid and records of the Blood Tide, it also concealed many warnings that were equal parts speculation and implication.
For example...
[ ...We must learn to adapt to darkness. The Nightmare of the past should not have light. When the light of hope is exposed in darkness, what it attracts is not only Light Chasers, but also... monsters intent on extinguishing that light. Do not light lamps unless necessary. ]
[ ...The placement of these notes is completely irregular. I will randomly leave them behind in every place I have stayed... I first faced the Blood Tide in Room 653, but the things that caused me the greatest trouble were not those insects. ]
[ What was truly despairing was that, from my very first day here... ]
[ They knew of my existence. ]
[ ...Under their gaze, intrusion will be regarded as an invitation... ]
Click.
Zhou Kai instinctively twisted the oil lamp's switch, and the wavering flame abruptly went out.
The faint scent of diesel lingered beneath his nose. In the sudden darkness, Zhou Kai's expression became graver than ever.
"Damn, no wonder..."
"What kind of fucked-up place has rules like that?!"
Why had that strange man with a dough-like face been so obsessed with entering the Sanctuary?
Why had The Wanderer pushed open the floor-to-ceiling window right before his eyes?
Everything made sense now.
So I'd basically been a walking 'Welcome' doormat?
Without this journal, Zhou Kai figured he could die dozens of times and still never understand this rule.
Who could have imagined that in this cursed place, being blind with open eyes was actually the safest option?
Judging from his own experiences, this rule could probably extend to hearing and smell as well... Perhaps only living corpses with all five senses gone could avoid being treated as prey by those things.
But if all five senses were gone, how could one activate special buildings?
How could one resist the Blood Tide Beetles and the omnipresent freezing cold?
This Nightmare was forcing people to answer a multiple-choice question—a question whose choices led to different ways of dying.
But Zhou Kai had no intention of sitting around and waiting for death.
He no longer paid attention to the sounds on the roof. Sword in hand, he returned to the fireplace.
Keep training!
Fifteen minutes before The Wanderer's corpse was about to burn away completely.
Boom!
A deafening thunderclap exploded, as though it would tear the sky apart.
Immediately afterward, torrential rain came crashing down, announcing that the Blood Tide, which had lasted for more than five hours...
Was over.
Zhou Kai stopped swinging the greatsword.
[ Soraka Swordsmanship Experience +5 ]
[ Soraka Swordsmanship lv2 (3/25) ]
Strands of strength grew within his muscle fibers, while more practiced techniques branded themselves into his mind.
A sharp glint flashed in Zhou Kai's eyes.
Letting out a long breath, his combat strength had risen another level.
"Hah... I actually didn't need to use my 'emergency backup power source.'"
Zhou Kai glanced at the squid-like chunk of flesh not far from the fireplace—the head of the Diablo Parasitic Corpse.
His original plan had been to toss that head into the fire as well if the corpse burned out before the Blood Tide ended.
Now, it seemed he could give the entire head to the Nursery.
He had a feeling that offering a monster's complete corpse to a special building would yield greater rewards.
Using the Two-Handed Sword to skewer the "squid head," Zhou Kai made a trip down to the basement.
Afterward, he returned to the entrance, preparing to head out.
Through the crack in the door, lightning illuminated the hazy little town beyond the curtain of rain, its deadly silence carrying a dangerous clamor.
Zhou Kai's throat bobbed.
The Blood Tide had ended, but his own Nightmare was far from over.
Twelve hours... only half had passed.
"When you stop moving forward, darkness will follow like a shadow."
"I'm not qualified to rest yet."
With the sword on his back and the amulet clenched tightly in his hand, Zhou Kai stepped forward once again and left No. 777 Shelter.
Hopefully, nothing was waiting for him outside the door.
Under the flash of another bolt of lightning, Zhou Kai swept his gaze around and breathed a sigh of relief.
It should be safe.
Before you continue