Chapter 332: Breaking the Illusion

*Swish, swish, swish…*

Gecko and Lu Xin watched the changes around them in surprise.

After Chen Jing unleashed her ability they saw the bustling street transform drastically. Pedestrians who had been hurrying along or strolling leisurely suddenly looked alert. They anxiously surged towards Chen Jing Lu Xin and Gecko forming a three-layer deep human shield around them both in front and behind before continuing to move forward.

It was as if they suddenly gained nearly a hundred guards moving forward like a military phalanx.

Throughout this process Chen Jing’s eyes remained bloodshot.

She seemed to be under immense pressure her steps unsteady.

Seeing this Lu Xin and Gecko quickly moved to support her from either side. Chen Jing glanced at Gecko pushed him aside then draped an arm over Lu Xin’s shoulder using him for support as they moved quickly forward.

They strode forward like this, a large imposing group resembling gangsters heading into a brawl.

The surrounding people reacted as if they *were* watching gangsters about to fight quickly scattering to the sides.

They advanced rapidly crossing the street and heading towards the city center.

…

*Creeak…*

Finally as they ventured deeper into the city center other changes began to occur.

This seemingly prosperous and beautiful city was like a vast realistic curtain. When they were in the middle of it everything seemed normal and orderly. But as they pushed deeper it felt like an external force was pulling on the curtain stretching and distorting it accompanied by the faint muffled sound of bending steel.

“We’re doing it right…”

Lu Xin and the others paused slightly exchanging glances. They saw the relief in each other’s eyes.

The road ahead was stretching distorting.

Nearby buildings and sights also began to appear irregular.

Even the lights elongated stretching into bright lines.

This indicated that the tension in this fake city—or rather the false reality they were experiencing—had reached its limit. If this illusionary city had boundaries they were steadily breaking through them.

*”Phew…”*

Gecko muttered under his breath “Good thing we’re almost out. And good thing we didn’t stick around this godforsaken place looking for the source. The longer I stayed the less I wanted to leave. For a second there I was really drawn to those young girls…”

“That’s the influence of the memories.”

Chen Jing standing amidst the crowd her arm still resting on Lu Xin’s shoulder spoke softly “If I’m right the longer you stay here the deeper the pollution gets. Eventually you become trapped in the memories never wanting to leave…”

Hearing their words and seeing the lingering fear in their eyes Lu Xin paused taken aback for a moment.

*I can see this city too meaning the pollution source is affecting me as well but I don’t feel any desire to stay.*

“Don’t let your guard down.”

Gazing at the warped scenery around them Chen Jing warned in a low voice “I can sense something powerful deep within this fake street scene. It should still be watching us. It’ll try everything to attack especially now as we’re about to escape when our minds are most relaxed… I bet it’ll strike right about now…”

…

Gecko chuckled “Don’t worry Team Leader we all know the drill. Who’d actually relax at a time like this?”

Lu Xin froze again. *Wait I actually *did* relax…*

…

“Put on your protective hoods and goggles.”

Chen Jing spoke softly pulling up the attached hood from the back of her combat suit to cover her face. She then put on a pair of goggles adding quietly “The most dangerous thing in this city is the flesh pollution. That’s why I prepared these suits but remember they only offer limited protection…”

Lu Xin followed suit but Gecko didn’t put on his hood or gloves.

Chen Jing didn’t order Gecko to comply. She knew he wasn’t doing it to look cool. As a Spider-type Ability User agility and reaction to emergencies were paramount. Gecko wouldn’t compromise his sensitivity for safety.

As for Lu Xin…

…Lu Xin was always obedient. Besides he wasn’t purely Spider-type.

“Alright get ready… Charge!”

Seeing both team members ready Chen Jing took a deep breath and suddenly shouted.

In that instant they and the people shielding them abruptly surged outward accelerating several times over. Their movement seemed jarringly sudden.

The surrounding scenery warped even more dramatically due to their sudden acceleration resembling a tautly stretched and distorted oil painting. All light and shadow became bizarre and unreal.

At the same time a thick stench of rot and blood assaulted their nostrils.

It was like approaching a slaughterhouse that had lost power on a hot summer day filled with decay.

This pungent overpowering smell contrasted sharply with the clean prosperous street before them.

Immediately after something heavy felt like it was plummeting towards their heads from above.

“I’ll handle what’s above…”

Gecko muttered instantly drawing his gun.

Looking up there was nothing there but the feeling of rushing wind pressing down was incredibly real.

This was why Gecko didn’t wear protective gear. As a Spider-type Ability User even if his core ability didn’t include exceptional senses once his body control reached a certain level he could discern hidden dangers through subtle details.

Shouting he fired upwards towards the rushing wind purely on instinct without even looking.

*Crackle…*

A blue electric arc flared overhead faintly outlining the shape of a fleshy tentacle.

The arc from the special bullet caused some burning and stiffness in the flesh tentacle slowing its movement slightly.

Simultaneously the red glow in Chen Jing’s eyes intensified and the people around them surged forward with large strides.

Lu Xin supported Chen Jing by the shoulder guiding her forward while glancing at his sister beside him. She already understood his meaning and dashed ahead with a grin her speed surpassing even the human “shields”.

*Crash…*

As they burst out distinct shattering sounds echoed around them. The entire scene instantly collapsed and fragmented.

Lu Xin felt his vision darken and realized the surrounding prosperity and lights had all vanished.

The three of them now stood in the middle of a dilapidated street. Flanking them were no bustling scenes only dark cavernous buildings. The street was damaged deserted and empty except for large pale solitary lamps placed every hundred or two hundred meters illuminating the decay. Abandoned cars were parked haphazardly everywhere.

Crowded around them now was a group of vaguely humanoid monsters with bizarre expressions their bodies covered in swollen rotting flesh. They stood stock-still beside them like wooden posts appearing loyal and brave like bodyguards.

Behind them a charred tentacle rapidly retracted into the nearby shadows.

Ahead two other tentacles were also withdrawing leaving severed sections writhing on the ground like loaches.

Just as they made their final dash out the tentacle attacking from above had been sensed by Gecko and injured with a special bullet. Several tentacles had also lunged from the front but Sister had intercepted them rushing ahead.

…

“Whoa so *these* things were protecting us just now?”

Gecko tilted his head looking at the motionless flesh monsters still under Chen Jing’s influence beside him. He frowned then suddenly shuddered as if recalling something. “Wait the girls in short skirts on the street earlier… were they these things too?”

Neither Lu Xin nor Chen Jing had the energy to deal with him.

“We finally made it out…”

Chen Jing murmured taking a few steps forward with Lu Xin’s support putting some distance between them and the flesh monsters.

Then the persistent red glow in her pupils abruptly vanished.

At the same moment Lu Xin distinctly felt her body grow heavier. He quickly wrapped an arm around her waist to support her. Due to the prolonged intense use of her ability her face was deathly pale and she seemed on the verge of fainting held up only by his support.

Seeing Lu Xin’s arm around Chen Jing’s waist Gecko felt so envious he wanted to turn around and scratch the wall.

“You can let go now.”

Chen Jing said softly to Lu Xin after catching her breath.

“Oh!”

Lu Xin reacted retracting the hand that had been around Chen Jing’s waist. His fist had remained clenched the entire time.

Chen Jing gave Lu Xin an approving glance then looked back at the dark shadowy city.

They had all seen the horrifying flesh tentacles retract into the dark buildings on either side.

Looking at the endless rows of buildings in this city who knew what strange and terrifying things lurked inside?

Could every single building in this city hide such monsters?

…

“Black Table probably wants us to chase after these monsters…”

Chen Jing said in a low voice “But our goal is to stop the experiment. Ignore them head straight for the lab!”

Hearing her Lu Xin and Gecko both looked ahead.

They had now reached the area near the center of Water Buffalo City and noticed some differences compared to the outskirts.

Scattered lights were positioned in various places casting a dim glow trying to illuminate the ruins under the Red Moon. No people could be seen in the surrounding dilapidated buildings only occasional gazes felt from the darkness.

The large building visible even from the outskirts of Water Buffalo City was now only two or three streets away.

Red lights occasionally flashed on top of that building typically used as indicators for helicopters flying at night. This seemed to further confirm that the building was the lab they were looking for.

Relatives should be in that building.”