Chapter 491: The Doll’s Unforeseen Resolve

The doll could sense the people’s hatred and disgust, which stirred feelings of grievance and sadness in her—a detail no one had foreseen. Not only had Lu Xin been caught off guard, but even Professor Bai’s experimental plans and precautions made no mention of this.

But that was perfectly normal; any experiment brings with it a few unexpected nuances.

Lu Xin took a deep breath. Though he understood, he couldn’t help feeling a touch of worry…

Could the doll, who had never experienced such emotions before, really hold on?

……

……

In Lu Xin’s eyes, the doll managed a slight, tight-lipped smile.

Her wide eyes held a single, glistening tear that slowly slid down.

Yet her face hardened as she absorbed all the deep-seated hatred and disgust harbored by the Sea Country’s polluted individuals—like a little girl scolded publicly, quietly swallowing her grievances—and in a soft, calm voice she murmured, “This isn’t right. You need to get better soon…”

Only Lu Xin might have caught her words.

But her mental power broadcast that will, rapidly extending it to the distance.

Lu Xin let out a heavy sigh.

……

……

“Ho ho ho…”

The polluted individuals from Sea Country, even with their still feeble mental power, sensed the doll’s will. Yet within the nascent field, the mental force field barely enveloped them, its strength insufficient to affect them.

Consequently, their reactions grew even more frenzied.

For them, it felt like being trapped in a stifling room filled with hostile, cautionary vibes, with no escape and no clear enemy to target. They roared desperately like frustrated bulls, scrambling frantically across the fragmented deck.

Their eyes bloodshot, they had no idea whom to attack, venting an ever-growing surge of hatred.

The doll sensed every bit of that malice.

Yet she simply closed her eyes slightly, silently absorbing the hatred and, even more deeply, strengthening her mental field.

“Mental radiation in the unit area is gradually increasing…”

“Reached preset value: 20%… 30%… 45%…”

In the command center, the staff all stared nervously at the data on the display screen, their hearts pounding.

The initial field construction had been futile.

Only when the mental radiation within the field reached a certain threshold could it begin to cleanse.

It was a long process.

Yet under the doll’s persistence, the mental radiation steadily increased, step by step.

Changes on the Sea Country’s deck soon followed.

Those polluted individuals, unable to vent their pent-up anger and hatred, sensed the rising mental power all around. For them, it was like enjoying the most illusory and joyous pleasure in the world, until suddenly a will intervened, yanking them out of that bliss and forcing them to wake up.

It was as if a hand was frantically shaking them awake from a beautiful dream.

Thus, they grew increasingly angry and panicked.

They feared that the beautiful dream might slip away.

Finally, when the mental radiation reached the preset 60%, chaos erupted on the deck. Some individuals, overwhelmed by the force, experienced excruciating splits in pain—contorting, falling to their knees, and desperately pressing their foreheads to the deck.

Yet many showed sheer agony as they suddenly rushed toward the sea.

Determination etched on their faces, they charged straight into the ocean.

On such a night, their bodies were so weak that even the best swimmers faced a near-certain death if they plunged into the sea.

Still, no one seemed to care; as one person jumped in, more followed without hesitation.

They simply kept charging into the sea, as if desperate to escape the field.

Even Lu Xin, standing by the doll, noticed in the glow of the searchlights a group of people charging toward the sea. He was taken aback, unable to fathom their actions. After all, these people, lazy as they were—capable of starving—chased after pleasure with every fiber of their being, and yet they still resisted the approach of death.

It was much like at Qinggang when food and clean water were thrown around, yet most people still grabbed a bit to drink.

They might not taste a thing, but their instinct for survival endured.

Reflecting on this, he quickly recalled the experimental materials he had seen earlier and understood the situation.

The increasing mental radiation in the field was pressing in on them.

They realized that their beautiful dream might soon shatter, and fear took hold.

Those deeply affected by the “Mermaid’s Curse” only wanted to protect their “invisible lover.”

Jumping into the sea, for them, was akin to eloping with the one they cherished most.

However, the mental radiation level in the field still hadn’t reached the point where the doll could control their behavior.

So then, how could this problem be solved?

……

……

“Report: The rapid opening of the doll’s field has led to behavioral mutations among the polluted individuals…”

“The projected outcome may be a massive death toll among them…”

“……”

While Lu Xin pondered this, someone in the command center urgently reported the situation.

But it was clear that this change had been anticipated in Qinggang.

Seated centrally in the command center, Professor Bai—steady as an ironclad—commanded in a deep, resolute tone:

“Four auxiliary personnel, please prepare immediately. Begin the second phase test now!”

……

……

Professor Bai’s orders were simultaneously transmitted to Lu Xin’s channel.

Curious, he looked up toward the vast, dark sea.

What role would these auxiliary ability users play?

“Yes, all auxiliary ability users, prepare yourselves; the second phase test is about to begin!”

Following Professor Bai’s command, changes quickly swept over the surrounding Sea Country.

The first to react was the Drunkard.

This high school girl, clad in a black combat suit, knew just how important this mission was—so much so that she hadn’t even brought a thermos cup.

Upon receiving the order, she immediately grabbed a case. Looking up, she saw that on the Sea Country’s deck, countless people were in a frenzied scramble, shoving and jostling toward the edge before, like falling dumplings, leaping into the sea.

Taking a deep breath, she strode purposefully to the edge of the ship.

Stepping onto the railing, she cradled the case and, with another deep breath, shouted:

“Return All Swords to the Root…”

……

No sword appeared—not even one.

The Drunkard continued her shout, aiming at the deck while simultaneously opening the case.

In that instant, using her key, she linked her mental power with the doll through the signal tower.

Normally, her ability could affect others only within a ten-meter range and had its limits, but at that moment her mental power surged as if limitless, spreading uncontrollably before her eyes.

Three meters, ten meters, a hundred, three hundred meters, one kilometer, three kilometers…

Countless people were affected by her ability.

Those frantically charging toward the deck, now engulfed by the Drunkard’s power, began resembling headless flies—once barreling toward the edge, they suddenly lost all sense of direction. Some froze as if their legs were nailed to the ground; others spun in circles before dashing back onto the deck.

Their surroundings warped, and their sense of direction became a chaos. Those who aimed for the sea ended up rushing back to the deck, and those desperately trying to rise found their feet unable to grasp solid ground.

Their senses became utterly twisted—they could neither hear, see, nor feel reality.

Eventually, their bodies collapsed onto the deck, struggling like slumping mud.

While a couple of such cases might be bearable, this scene spread rapidly from the Drunkard’s vicinity like a massive marsh, trapping thousands of Sea Country residents.

……

……

At that moment, Lu Xin remained by the doll’s side to prevent further problems and to keep an eye on the situation with the four auxiliary ability users, while Han Bing’s voice timely relayed the others’ status.

“The Drunkard has already acted—using her ability to seal off the eastern escape route of the Sea Country’s polluted individuals.”

“During the previous Happy Town incident, she acquired a case left by the Technology Church. That case has now become her weapon, significantly boosting her power. Judging by current abilities, she’s arguably the strongest—aside from you and the doll—and under the doll’s mental influence, her strength can be enhanced even further…”

“In simple terms, this is the second application of the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan.”

“As auxiliary ability users, under the influence of the mental overlord’s field, their abilities can increase by at least one level!”

……

“Auxiliary personnel, you can enhance your abilities within the mental overlord’s field?”

Listening to Han Bing, Lu Xin felt both intrigued and oddly familiar.

Where had he seen that before?