Chapter 801: Shattered Illusions

Just how many horrors does this Research Institute hide?

At that moment, staring at the eerie tentacle stretching into the corridor, Lu Xin felt his body tremble slightly.

Not only is there the Taboo Power in this institute, but many other oddities lurk as well.

After conveying information to him, the Taboo Power vanished, and those anomalies could no longer be suppressed.

How did Lu Tianming—one of those from before the Red Moon Incident—manage it?

A mental power left behind long ago has been lingering here for decades.

Not only can it transmit information to him, but it can also suppress countless bizarre forces within the institute.

It can even deter other mental powers, keeping them at bay for decades.

This is nothing short of a mental power beyond anything known.

……

……

“Bang bang bang……”

At the same time, as Lu Xin began to understand this Taboo Power more, Dr. An immediately started firing without hesitation.

Every bullet struck, unleashing a series of blue electric arcs.

The entire corridor was bathed in blue light, revealing the gruesome details of the black tentacles.

In an instant, a powerful impact surged into their minds.

Lu Xin, as well as Dr. Zhang, Dr. Wang, and even Dr. An gasped in unison.

It was something so immense and terrifying that words failed to capture its true horror.

Like octopus arms seven or eight meters thick—soft yet unyielding.

Their surfaces were covered in craters, but these weren’t ordinary suckers—they were human faces.

Every crevice displayed a human face.

With vacant smiles, as the tentacles brushed past, they fixed their gaze on Lu Xin and his companions.

“Bang bang bang……”

Dr. An’s bullets struck the tentacles, the electric arcs scorching patches of skin and faces into charred husks.

The tentacles writhed in agony, and the human faces suddenly emitted a silent wail; then, pairs of eyes sprang open, their hollow stares accompanied by a wild, fierce grin.

“Buzz buzz buzz……”

A torrent of mental energy flooded the corridor, turning their vision into a chaotic web of electric currents.

Even Dr. An dared not fire recklessly any longer, instead glancing quickly at Lu Xin behind her.

In that moment, a surge of terror overtook her, fearing that the mental pollution might blur the lines between the Lu Xin before her and the one behind. A volley of bullets was fired, only to hit the Lu Xin they were supposed to escort out…

In the blink of an eye, she confirmed that Lu Xin was being restrained by Dr. Zhang and Dr. Wang.

Just as she exhaled in relief and turned to prepare a counterattack, a sudden brightness filled the corridor.

Almost reflexively, she looked up and saw that the corridor lights had inexplicably turned on.

The unexpected glimmer left her head spinning slightly.

Forcing herself to steady her gaze around, Dr. An was suddenly even more shocked.

The tentacles and the myriad human faces that had extended from each door just moments ago…

Had vanished, replaced by research staff with varied expressions on their faces.

They wore neat, clean uniforms—some clutching file folders, others holding unidentified injection vials.

Simultaneously, the background changed from a dilapidated, grimy setting to one that was orderly and pristine.

They stared at the intruders as if they were strangers invading their territory.

“Security, security……”

At the mention of the gun in Dr. An’s hand, the scene erupted into chaotic shouts and panic.

“Someone’s broken in! They’re trying to abduct Lu Tianming……”

……

“Clatter…”

Distant heavy footsteps echoed, mingled with the sounds of clashing firearms and bullets being chambered.

A squad of fully armed soldiers charged in from the far end of the corridor, quickly forming a line and aiming their guns.

“What is this…”

Startled, Dr. An instinctively dove behind a vending machine.

She patted her glasses vigorously, nearly sending them flying.

But through her glasses, she saw a rapid montage of flickering images:

At one moment, a dim, ancient corridor filled with black shadows and tentacles; the next, a crisp, orderly hall as staff and armed security advanced step by step.

The stark alternation between these two scenes in the cramped space caused her head to throb painfully.

It was then she realized a terrifying truth: “No…”

“This power is pulling us back thirty years…”

……

“What?”

Dr. An’s loud warning was heard by Lu Xin and the two doctors.

Amidst the chaos, they struggled to grasp the true meaning of her words.

Yet as Dr. An shouted, Lu Xin too observed the shifting images before him.

He didn’t wear the special glasses that Dr. An did, but his innate ability allowed him to see the mental monster clearly.

Thus, at that moment, he saw the scene with even greater clarity than the others.

The vivid, near-real images—the terrified expressions of nurses and research staff, the dark, ominous barrels and the meticulous sounds of bullets chambering—rendered the scene indisputably real.

Illusions.

In an instant, Lu Xin grasped the key element.

Only the power of illusion could weave such lifelike images.

Traversing time and space was impossible.

Yet, on a mental level, pulling someone back thirty years was surprisingly easy.

Just like everyone can easily recall memories from the past.

So when he recalled those memories, wasn’t his mind already back in that time?

If he could distort his memory—forcing his past self to have a happy childhood, even to the point of completely believing it—then, from his perspective, who could deny he had already changed the past?

A person can be like that.

And when the power of illusion grows strong enough to affect everyone, it works the same way.

Illusory power can traverse time and change everything.

Now, without realizing it, they were enveloped by this power—transported back thirty years to a scene where research staff and caregivers were held at gunpoint in a corner by fully armed security.

Of course, this was all a fabrication.

But in an illusory world, being shot to death is as real as it gets.

That’s why Dr. An didn’t say it was an ‘illusion’ and instead claimed they’d been dragged back thirty years.

Because when lost in illusion, the world becomes as real as reality itself.

……

……

“Let me take over…”

Recognizing the urgency, Lu Xin forced himself to break free from the chaotic information stream.

He waved his arms, freeing himself from the grip of the two doctors.

He wasn’t a critically injured patient needing protection; in fact, against such a horrifying illusory force, only he could hope to counter it with his own mental power.

With that thought, his feet planted firmly on the ground, he took a deep breath and smashed his fist into the floor.

“Swish!”

Black particles flickered in his eyes.

Where his fist impacted the ground, a burst of mental energy rippled outward.

The spotless floor, centered on his fist, suddenly spread the darkness and dust that had been hidden beneath.

Where the energy reached, all research staff and caregivers vanished; the bright lights extinguished in an instant. The illusory scene of thirty years was being forcibly drawn back into the stark reality by his mental power.

……

……

“The Tyrant has struck—his power has reset to the initial stage of the Fifth Tier.”

“Activate Genesis Hard Drive, Group Four. Calculate his maximum illusory power and cover him completely.”

“No one can cover the Tyrant’s power.”

“But we can cover his illusory power; if we hold out until the preset time, it will equate to subduing the Tyrant’s power.”

……

……

While his own illusory power spread and tore through the institute’s mirage, Lu Xin suddenly heard a vague conversation nearby—as if two staff members were calmly speaking right by his ear.

In the next moment, a jolt of fear ran through him; goosebumps erupted all over his body.

An even crazier force surged in from all directions, instantly inundating the Research Institute.

The reality he had carved out with his own illusory power was quickly overwhelmed.

Suddenly, the surrounding lights blazed up, rendering everything blindingly white.

He found that his surroundings had reverted to the appearance of thirty years ago.

Panicked researchers, caregivers, and a team of fully armed security now stood right before him.

Even his own clothes had transformed into blue-and-white striped uniforms, no longer the dark tactical gear.

Under such formidable power, he seemed to have reverted to Lu Tianming of years past, not the person he was now.

“How can this be?”

Lu Xin’s head rang as he swung his fist down at the floor once more.

Crack, crack…

The resounding impact left the floor and walls grimy with dirt.

But in a flash, they returned to their previous state.

Yet his own illusory power was completely depleted, showing no effect whatsoever.

It was an utterly unbelievable sight.

However, the torrent of information merging with reality in his mind quickly revealed the reason.

Genesis Hard Drive.

Genesis Hard Drive possesses enough power to engulf all mental entities in the world.

In a way, Genesis Hard Drive is the Abyss itself.

Where reality mirrors, the Abyss is omnipresent.

Even his own illusory power pale in comparison—it was on an entirely different scale.

No individual force can match the power of Genesis Hard Drive.

Under its overwhelming influence, his own illusory power was instantly swallowed.

The only thing he could use to threaten this mirage was the Black Particles within him.

But even the power of the Black Particles could only temporarily obliterate a portion of the illusory power.

And that small fraction was quickly replenished by the enormous remaining force.

In the end, he was trapped within the illusion too.

……

……

“Don’t make a move…”

At the same time, as Lu Xin considered summoning the Black Particles to shatter the mirage, Dr. An’s urgent warning rang out. With a hint of desperation, she shouted, “Don’t engage too deeply with this illusory power or you’ll just play right into their hands. Stay put—I will, I promise, find a way out for you…”

“This…”

It was the first time Lu Xin had heard such advice, and it left him extremely unsettled.

Yet deep down, he knew Dr. An was right, with no better solution in sight.

“Do not change your position carelessly…”

Dr. An’s stern voice echoed again from ahead, now more commanding: “Stick with me when we make a break for it.”

At that moment, she darted behind a vending machine, pulling out her submachine gun and firing ahead.

But only ordinary bullets flew from the muzzle.

Even so, she had to constantly remind Lu Xin and the others not to change position.

Because in an illusion, allies could turn into foes at any moment.

“Rat-a-tat-tat…”

Her fierce shooting sent bullet fragments flying throughout the institute; the fully armed guards were startled into hiding, and those who couldn’t escape were riddled with bullet holes, convulsing on the ground.

One of the limitations of illusory power:

The more real the illusory world seems, the more it adheres to physical laws.

When someone inside the illusion is hit by a bullet from within, they die mentally.

Likewise, a character drawn within the mirage hit by a bullet will also die; otherwise, the illusion wouldn’t be convincing.

Unless one’s power vastly exceeds that of their opponent, the illusion will crumble into a bizarre scene.

Another point is that illusory power does not merely distort visuals.

It gradually alters a person—from their superficial perception, layer by layer.

They may see the terror of the illusion, but in truth, this is only the beginning of its nightmare.

Those trapped in its power will first lose clarity of perception, then desire, emotion, instincts—even memories—all synchronizing with the illusion, step by step.

By then, the chance to discern reality is lost forever, trapped within the illusory realm.

So, they must escape as quickly as possible.

……

……

“Follow me!”

At that moment, Dr. An abruptly rose, firing as she shouted, “Watch your step—keep your pace in sync with mine!”

Amid her commanding shouts, she leaped up, kicked off her shoes, and landed barefoot.

With suppressive fire ahead, she strode forward decisively.

At this point, she had activated her ‘Profiling’ ability.

By feeling the ground with her bare feet to connect with reality, she used her profiling skill to deduce what reality should be like, seeking an exit. Keeping Lu Xin and the others in sync ensured they wouldn’t get separated or lost, leaving openings for the bizarre forces.

“This might not work…”

Tugged along by Dr. Zhang and Dr. Wang, Lu Xin followed, his heart pounding with tension.

Inside, all he felt was a relentless pressure.

He had to admit Dr. An’s choice was the best possible, yet it was ultimately futile.

The illusory force they faced was simply too overwhelming.

Dr. An’s method might help them cover ten or twenty meters, but how could it carry them out of the entire institute?

Moreover, she had clearly spied on him just moments ago.

Her eyes were already bleeding, and she had obviously reached her limit.

She wouldn’t last much longer.

In this desperate gamble, they knew the risk, but what else could they do?

Rely on the Black Particles to lash out wildly?

That might collapse the underground corridors of the institute, crushing everyone beneath the debris.

Call upon family power?

But Father had just reclaimed his authority and was reevaluating his strength—it was unlikely he could catch up in time.

And Mom…

…Mom’s Insight might have pierced through the illusion, but she was asleep.

Waking her forcibly could inflict irreversible harm.

Sister…

Sister’s Spider-type ability wouldn’t help here…

……

……

“Bang bang…”

While Lu Xin pondered, the surrounding scene grew increasingly brutal.

Dr. An’s body jerked violently as she fell to one knee.

Her white coat was stained with a spreading pool of blood—an illusory bullet had struck her.

It was unclear if she’d been hit in reality, but in the illusion, the bleeding, pain, and wound effects were terrifyingly real.

“Bastard, I’ve never even slept with a man, so how the hell am I stuck here…”

Gritting her teeth, Dr. An staggered to her feet, returning fire and shuffling forward.

Blood trickled along her black stockings, streaking the floor.

She advanced, profiling the reality of this mirage as she exchanged gunfire with the foes within.

Her condition steadily deteriorated, her voice growing more agitated.

As she cursed while moving, a wail bordering on tears seeped into her words: “Bastards, those damn Lin bastards…”

“Jump off the building and end it all—what am I supposed to do…”

“I already bought the ring to propose to you…”

“Am I really so devoid of femininity that I can’t make you want to stay in this world?”

“…”

Listening to Dr. An’s cries, Lu Xin felt a sudden surge of deep sadness and helplessness.

Faced with such a colossal illusion, he didn’t know what to do.

All he truly possessed was the power of Black Particles, but that force was naturally meant for destruction, not protection. He’d faced this dilemma too many times already, realizing he couldn’t use it to protect anyone.

What alternative did he have besides Black Particles?

What else could possibly solve this damned illusion…

……

……

“Brother…”

Just as the surge of helplessness and sorrow peaked within him, a clear voice suddenly broke through.

Lu Xin paused, “Sister?”

For a fleeting moment, a strong sense of joy welled up inside him, only to be quickly dispelled.

In this illusory world, he couldn’t even see his sister.

And though she was the only family member who could help him now, her power was still far too weak.

Lu Xin hardly dared hope—in fact, he wished she would escape quickly, lest she too be harmed by the illusion.

……

“Don’t worry, brother—I’m coming…”

And as these thoughts flashed in his mind, his sister’s voice echoed again. Soon, the air around him filled with a fluctuating, buzzing sound as a glimmering copper-tipped blade appeared before him, as if a tiny copper spear was slicing through the air around him relentlessly.

The air was quickly cut into chaotic fragments by that minuscule blade, only to be shredded by a pale little hand.

From the shattered space on the other side, his sister’s small head emerged, curiously studying Lu Xin.

“Brother, were you just fumbling around like a blind cat?”

“…”

“This…”

As her words faded, the once-lifelike illusory scenes around them suddenly twisted and convulsed violently, as if the rupture in this place had triggered a collapse effect across the illusion.

Before their eyes, the scene reverted to the mysterious, thick tentacles.

Startled by the collapse, the tentacles swiftly retracted into the side rooms of the corridor.

Meanwhile, the myriad faces above continued to shift their expressions, emitting assorted shrieks:

“Hurry, call security…”

“Oh my, this is so scary…”

“Don’t! They have heavy weaponry—such fierce firepower…”

“…”

Lu Xin stood there, nearly dumbfounded, glancing at his sister in disbelief.

There she hung upside down from the ceiling, looking at him curiously, tinged with worry.

Clutched in her hand was an intricately patterned gold-threaded steel pen.

In truth, what she had seen wasn’t a blade tip at all, but the brass tip of that very pen.

Moments earlier, his sister had used this pen to slice through and utterly shatter the illusory world.

“You…”

Lu Xin was stunned, scarcely able to believe his eyes as he looked at his sister.

He couldn’t understand how she managed to do it.

Until his pupils constricted slightly, and his gaze fell upon the pen in her hand—a surge of shock made his hair stand on end.

“When did you steal the Fire-Thief’s pen?”

“…”

“Huh?”

His sister, equally startled, fumbled to shove the pen into her small backpack, exclaiming, “I didn’t!”

She hurriedly added, “You must have seen it wrong…”