A Glimpse into the Dark Abyss

The passage was narrow and very long.

Under the dim lights, Inspector Lestrade walked ahead while Li Wei followed, keeping his footsteps as quiet as possible. Neither knew what lay inside, but instinct told them that something dangerous was lurking there.

At last, they reached the end, where another iron door stood shut. Inspector Lestrade gestured to Li Wei, then reached out and slowly opened it. Using the half-open door as cover, he cautiously leaned out to peer inside.

Apparently deciding there was no danger, he pushed the door open and walked in.

Li Wei followed him into the room. Incidentally, although Li Wei had told Katie to wait outside, she had stuck to him like glue, and he simply couldn't shake her off.

At first glance, the place really did resemble a hospital operating room. Everything around them was pure white, and the cabinets and tables along either side held all kinds of chemicals and specimens. In the middle of the room, Li Wei spotted the steam-powered surgical equipment.

It consisted of a cold, rectangular box with a bright surgical lamp suspended above it. Things resembling mechanical arms spread out on either side, their mounted scalpels reflecting a cold, lifeless gleam under the lamp.

If the operating table was the center of a flower, those mechanical arms and their scalpels were layer upon layer of steel petals.

Of course, there was nothing remotely romantic about it.

"Is this the machine you were talking about? Why does it look like a torture device to me?"

Inspector Lestrade studied the apparatus and muttered under his breath. Li Wei nodded in agreement.

It looked less like surgical equipment than an instrument of torture. Who had nothing better to do than build something like this? Li Wei could easily picture someone lying on it, only for the mechanical arms to go haywire and their sharp scalpels to mercilessly mince the unfortunate victim.

But the problem now wasn't the strange machine. It was what lay on it.

A bright red, distinctly eerie magic circle surrounded the operating table. Li Wei couldn't tell whether it had been drawn in red paint or blood, though common sense suggested the latter. On top of that, three glass jars stood on the operating table.

This time, Li Wei didn't even need his powers of observation to search for clues. Any idiot could see that the most important things in this room were the magic circle covering the operating table and the three jars sitting on it.

Li Wei and Inspector Lestrade exchanged a silent glance. The inspector made a gesture.

"You first?"

"I'm surprised, Mr. Lestrade. I thought you wouldn't take any of this seriously."

"I'm getting old, lad. I've seen plenty of strange things. Trust me, this wouldn't be the first. You, on the other hand-I thought you young men of the steam age would dismiss this as superstition."

"It never hurts to be careful. We only get one life, after all."

They exchanged a few quiet words, staring at the operating table, but neither showed any intention of approaching. There didn't seem to be any traps, yet the magic circle gave them an uneasy feeling, as if those outstretched mechanical arms would spring to life and tear them limb from limb if they went near it.

Even the seemingly stubborn Katie was hiding off to one side, keeping well away from the eerie operating table.

"Anyway, there's nobody here. Why don't we just call for backup?"

Li Wei was perfectly happy to play it safe. He hadn't lived nearly long enough yet.

"Hahaha, backup? It's a bit early for that. We haven't even found anything yet."

Inspector Lestrade laughed, lowered his pistol, and strode toward the operating table. Li Wei stayed where he was, gripping his gun and watching ahead, alert for anything unexpected.

To their surprise, however, nothing happened, even when Inspector Lestrade reached the operating table and picked up one of the glass jars. He glanced around again, then opened the jar under the surgical lamp.

"Ugh, what's that smell?!"

A pungent chemical odor immediately wafted out, making Inspector Lestrade wave a hand in front of his nose. Li Wei froze when he caught the scent. He remembered it clearly-it was the very same smell he had noticed on the courtesan killer!

Almost at the same instant, Li Wei's keen "perception" kicked in again. Above the surgical lamp, he saw a mass of darkness writhing. It looked like...

"Get down!"

Inspector Lestrade's years of experience served him well. At Li Wei's shout, he instantly curled up like a hedgehog and dropped beneath the operating table. Just as he ducked, a gleaming scalpel stabbed down from above. A moment later, and it would have skewered his head!

Li Wei raised his gun, aimed at the dark shape above, and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The gunshot rang through the silent room like a muffled thunderclap. The dark shape shuddered, let out a piercing shriek, and fell from the ceiling, slamming into the floor.

Only then did Li Wei get a clear look at it.

"My God, what the hell is that?!"

Inspector Lestrade's scream neatly summed up how both men felt, because the dark shape beneath the surgical lamp wasn't human!

Or at least, not entirely!

Its body was larger than an ordinary human's, wrapped in a huge, tattered cloak. Its head looked like a human face stretched into the shape of a horse's, and the arms and legs protruding from the cloak were little more than skin and bone. Between the fingers of both hands, it held an array of scalpels!

"Kill it!"

As a man from the modern world, Li Wei had seen plenty of bizarre, disgusting creatures in films and games. He could handle a monster that wasn't even particularly grotesque by those standards. Inspector Lestrade, on the other hand, was far more shaken. He had clearly never encountered anything like this and was almost paralyzed with fear. Only when Li Wei shouted did he snap out of it, raise his gun, and pull the trigger with a yell.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!!!

Inspector Lestrade emptied his gun in one burst, but it did little good. The monster moved far faster than a human. Every bullet struck its fluttering cloak, not one hitting its body. Using all four limbs, it scurried across the wall like a gecko, swiftly dodging his shots.

But Inspector Lestrade's attack wasn't entirely useless. As the monster dodged, Li Wei seized the brief opening! He raised his gun, and at that moment, time seemed to stand still. Everything around him slowed, even the monster's agile movements unfolding as though in slow motion... Li Wei felt as if the revolver in his hand was an extension of his body. He didn't even need the sights to tell where its muzzle was pointing.

Then he pulled the trigger.

Bang!!

It all happened in a flash. Inspector Lestrade had emptied his gun and was frantically trying to reload. The monster, having leaped clear of his shots, clung to the wall on all fours, arched its body, and lunged at him!

As Li Wei's gunshot rang out, the monster screamed. But the scalpel in its hand kept moving, plunging into Inspector Lestrade's abdomen. With a muffled grunt, the inspector fell backward onto the floor.

That didn't kill it?

Li Wei stared in surprise at the monster still writhing on the floor. He had aimed straight at its eye and shot it in the head.

Don't tell me this thing is immortal!

Whatever, I'll try a few more shots! Judging by its reaction, bullets at least do something to it!

With that thought, Li Wei strode forward and aimed his gun once more at the desperately struggling monster.

But just as both of them were about to attack, a sudden rush of air came from behind him! Li Wei sensed something sharp slicing through the air toward him!

At that instant, Katie's urgent voice rang out.

"Watch out!"

At Katie's cry, Li Wei immediately abandoned his attack and rolled aside. Something flew past from behind, almost grazing his body. He rolled across the floor and looked up. When he saw the enemy before him, his blood ran cold.

What the hell is that?

Before Li Wei was a baby-or rather, a baby-sized monster. Its body was semiliquid, its skin and muscles showing signs of melting. Sharp, blade-like nails grew from its hands!

"Waaah... waaah...!"

Several more identical monsters crawled out nearby. They stood in front of the larger monster as if protecting it, letting out chilling infant cries.

Holy crap, this isn't a mystery anymore! I've walked straight into a horror movie!

The eerie monsters made Li Wei's scalp prickle. But he had no time for complaints. The moment he spotted them, they screamed and sprang at him like little dogs!

Bang!

Li Wei reacted quickly. As the monsters leaped into the air, he raised his pistol and pulled the trigger. Gunfire rang out, and two of the little monsters' heads burst apart. At the same time, a third lunged at him from the side. Li Wei could even see the tiny, sharp teeth lining its open mouth like rows of saw blades!

"Hey!"

Just as Li Wei was about to block the monster with his arm, a sharp cry came from beside him. A petite figure darted out. Before he could shout, she stepped forward and drove a fist into the little monster, sending it flying!

Then Li Wei saw Katie standing in front of him, both fists clenched, her face alight with excitement.

"That's a monster, right? A real monster? So fairy tales aren't made up! Man-eating monsters really do exist?!"

I get how you feel, but why do you look so eager? Your eyes are shining like you've just met Santa Claus and all your dreams have come true!

Watching the excited girl standing in front of him, Li Wei was rather lost for words.

Wouldn't most girls go weak at the knees or faint outright if they saw something like this?

Under the lights, Li Wei even noticed the gleaming silver metal gloves on Katie's hands. Well, she had certainly come prepared.

"Waaaaah!"

Katie's intervention quickly caught the little monsters' attention. They let out piercing screams, turned, and charged at her.

An ordinary girl would probably have been scared out of her wits at the mere sight of these monsters. Katie clearly wasn't. Faced with the creatures lunging at her, she looked positively thrilled, though her movements were cautious. She repeatedly dodged their attacks, prioritizing not getting hit, and counterattacked whenever they left an opening.

What is this young lady's deal?

Much as Li Wei wanted an answer, he knew he couldn't let this opportunity slip away. Katie was holding the monsters' aggro like a proper main tank, which made his job as the damage dealer perfectly clear!

Li Wei raised his gun, aimed at the monsters, and concentrated. Once again, time slowed to a crawl before his eyes. At the same time, waves of stabbing pain rose from deep inside his brain!

"Ugh!"

Gritting through the strange discomfort, Li Wei aimed at the monsters and pulled the trigger!

Bang, bang, bang, bang!!

With four gunshots, the four monsters swarming Katie took bullets to the head. At the same instant, the world before Li Wei's eyes returned to its normal speed!

"Hah... hah... hah..."

Li Wei held his gun and gasped for breath. He felt utterly exhausted, as though he had just run ten thousand meters!

"Aaaah!!"

But the fight wasn't over. Seeing the little monsters killed, the larger creature, which had been writhing and wailing, suddenly screamed and lunged at Li Wei. Katie shifted in front of him, her two small fists flashing out. Li Wei heard heavy impacts, and the next moment, the monster recoiled again. Katie kept her fists clenched and stared it down.

Li Wei caught his breath, then quickly pulled a speedloader from his pocket and loaded six rounds into the cylinder. He snapped it shut, cocked the hammer, and aimed at the monster. With Katie tanking in front of him, he was confident he could finish it off this time!

But just then... a voice suddenly rang out from the doorway.

"Stop right there!"