Chapter 25: The Shadow Tree

So enthusiastic…

Lu Xin sighed, watching the shadows fill the air, arms outstretched as they lunged towards him.

He’d been rushing forward with an eerie swiftness but instantly halted, leaping backward to dodge the first shadow’s attack. Then with another bizarre twist he lunged sideways at a different dark figure.

His hands shot out, grasping at the shadow’s flank.

Just like Sister pouncing on a toy.

…

…

“What is that?”

The Red Moon hung high overhead, casting down a dim crimson glow.

More than half the lighting equipment set up around the Wild Lake had been destroyed by the Mental Monster’s earlier shriek. The rest suffered severe circuit damage and without maintenance the lights flickered out one by one.

The fewer lights remained the thicker the Red Moon’s glow seemed.

Under this light, perhaps due to tricks of the eye, many people nearby caught glimpses of hazy images.

They saw that just as Lu Xin neared the core of the Pollution Source area the sludge burst open. A blurry mass of shadows flew out. The Red Moon’s light faintly outlined the shape of a Tree. This Tree possessed countless Vines and at the tip of each Vine grew human figures like Fruit.

These figures—men women old and young—appeared as indistinct unreal phantoms. Yet their frenzy was clear: faces contorted wildly waving Arms like bizarre man-eating plant Tentacles.

Their method of capture was to leap into the air and embrace their prey.

Judging by the fate of the three Investigation Team members earlier, being embraced likely meant being controlled.

The scene and its implications were chilling enough to make one’s scalp tingle.

Yet Lu Xin met these shadows head-on. He darted left and right twisting and turning his movements resembling something not quite human. Amidst the onslaught of countless shadows he dodged and counter-attacked lunging towards one prey after another.

A shadow lunged. He retreated slightly then surged forward again leaning just enough to the left to evade its grasp. He seized the shadow’s shoulder tore off its arm didn’t pause twisted nimbly to its right side and while it reached left he ripped off its right leg.

His movements were fluid yet bizarre circling the shadow completely in barely a second or two.

He had torn this shadow to pieces.

Only then did the other shadows arrive but Lu Xin had already flashed beside another target.

At that moment all the Vines of the ‘Tree’ surged towards him.

The ‘Fruit’ at the Vines’ tips desperately opened their arms trying to embrace Lu Xin. Judging by what happened to the three Investigation Team members the outcome of being caught by these humanoid Fruit was predictable. Moreover those three had only been temporarily restrained without Infection because they wore protective suits…

But Lu Xin wore no protective suit.

Therefore Lu Xin and this strange Tree were fighting over mere fractions of a second.

“If these shadows grab me first I’m doomed. But if Sister catches them first *they’re* doomed…”

“These shadows seem to be the Tree’s attack method…”

“But why do they all seem so familiar?”

…

In this frenzied twisted battle Lu Xin completely surrendered control to Sister.

The more dangerous the fight the less he could afford to interfere with Sister. One lapse in concentration and he’d be the one in trouble.

But while Sister fought he watched intently analyzing with all his might trying to understand the Mental Monster’s form and ponder what secrets it held.

…

…

Whether it was the Investigation Team by the Lake Qin Ran or the containment personnel further away.

Everyone was utterly silent simply staring dumbfounded at the scene in the Lake.

Under the eerie moonlight they could just barely make out the endlessly stretching Vines and the People growing at their tips.

It was a sight that sent chills down their spines making their hair stand on end and evoking a sense of encroaching madness just by looking.

They all held weapons but had no idea how to use them against such monsters.

Yet into this very scene one person charged bare-handed engaging the monster in combat.

Strangely amidst the dangerous and bizarre spectacle they faintly detected a ‘playful’ quality in Lu Xin’s movements. It was as if facing such a terrifying monster Lu Xin was excited even enjoying it…

He seemed even crazier than the mad monster itself!

…

…

“Are those figures at the Vines’ tips the People who sought revenge against Qin Ran before?”

“Their bodies were destroyed but their spiritual forms were devoured and fused by this monster…”

“That’s why they still remember seeking revenge on Qin Ran and only remember revenge…”

Meanwhile in the Main City’s Special Pollution Cleanup Department building Han Bing of the Information Analysis Team mechanically continued her analysis honed by intense routine training. Yet as she spoke her voice began to tremble uncontrollably.

“So those who sought revenge on Qin Ran before were merely ‘polluted bodies’ but these are the Mental Monster itself!”

“Then…”

Her gaze instinctively shifted towards Chen Jing. “What is he doing now?”

“He’s clearing the Pollution Source alone!”

Chen Jing stared at the somewhat blurry image on the screen recalling the video she’d seen on the Digital Camera.

After a pause she added, “In his own way!”

Nearby Han Bing was visibly stunned.

But Chen Jing’s composure influenced her and the rest of the Information Analysis Team. Although clearly startled herself by the sight of Lu Xin battling the Mental Monster alone Chen Jing forced herself to remain calm her face betraying no panic. Staring at the blurry display she commanded in a low voice, “Continue the information analysis!”

“Yes!”

Han Bing took a deep breath suppressing her unease and resumed her analysis: “Target confirmed as a super-level-one Mental Pollution Source likely not yet reaching level two. Its active Infection and attack on Investigation Team personnel indicate some level of autonomous consciousness. However the lake draining and detection process did not provoke it suggesting low autonomy limited to instinctual reactions…”

Level Assessment: D+

Infection Level: Low

Threat Level: Medium

Growth Method: Capturing and seizing residual spiritual bodies

…”

As she spoke her voice hesitated for a moment, “But if it grows by capturing and fusing other residual spiritual bodies and its consciousness is somewhat chaotic why did its initial behavior…”

Before she could finish Chen Jing voiced the thought: “Why did it focus solely on Qin Ran?”

“It was precisely because people sought revenge on Qin Ran that this Mental Pollution Incident was triggered…”

“So as the first ‘Avenger’ Cui Wang is the key?”

“Does finding Cui Wang’s body mean truly resolving this Mental Pollution Incident?”

…

Hearing Chen Jing’s analysis Corporal Han Bing paused then added, “Or perhaps… he’ll resolve it directly in his own way?”