Bug Abuse? I Swear I'm Just Playing Normally!
Ch. 44 - Hybridization? Ghostflame and Wall-nut Fused!

Su Yuening glanced toward the dungeon painting and said, “ People still go into that dungeon, even knowing how dangerous it is… because it’s connected to Fengdu—the capital city of the underworld. Any dungeon involving the underworld is always the most dangerous…but also holds the greatest opportunities.”

Bai Wan blinked. “The underworld…actually exists in this world?”

As soon as he asked, he realized how foolish the question sounded. In a world where ghosts and dungeons were real, why wouldn’t the underworld exist?

Su Yuening nodded. “Our official research division has analyzed countless dungeons and confirmed that the underworld does exist… though maybe not in the way we traditionally think. It could be a mysterious alternate dimension, or perhaps an ancient, ultra-massive paranormal entity. No one knows for certain what the underworld really is.”

She continued, “And according to records from other game dungeons, there’s a particular entity tied to Hell. It always appears accompanied by the cries of vengeful souls. This being wears a white funeral robe, its face completely obscured, and wields a black iron chain. Because of how closely it resembles figures from traditional mythology, the headquarters gave it a name: Underworld Warden.”

“No one knows what kind of creature the Warden really is—ghost, monster, or something else. But what we do know is that in the Hell Visitor dungeon… there’s a rare chance to come into contact with the Warden’s black iron chain.”

“That chain is suspected to be the most powerful paranormal artifact humanity has ever encountered. Possibly… something that surpasses even abyssal-grade.”

Something beyond abyss…?

Bai Wan finally understood why people were willing to rush into Hell Visitor just to die. Even the Blood Husk Idol, his abyssal artifact, was already absurdly powerful. 

Something beyond that? He could hardly imagine it.

Su Yuening opened her mouth again, as if wanting to say more… but in the end, she held her tongue.

What she’d already shared was all she could safely say. Anything further would fall under top-secret intel—stuff she only knew because her sister had let it slip one night while drunk and rambling.

Apparently, the director of the official research division—the famed Paranormal Doctor—had devised a completely insane plan: to gather all of humanity’s top hunters, including the four S-rank captains… and even the most powerful, most mysterious figure of all—the Chief Commander, who had never once left the dark chamber he operated from, nor revealed his face.

The goal: to throw everything they had into storming the Hell Visitor dungeon.

Most high-level players were already bold enough, entering that dungeon just for a chance at the Warden’s black iron chain. But the madman known as the Doctor had his sights set even higher—he wanted to target the Warden itself.

His proposal? Pour all of humanity’s power into capturing a Warden alive—and study it.

Su Yuening could still remember the way her sister had drunkenly, wide-eyed, repeated the Doctor’s words that night:

“Humanity’s been too passive for too long. We rely on these paranormal dungeons just to survive. That won’t last. The underworld might be our breakthrough. If we can capture a Warden, unlock its power, we can finally understand what the underworld really is.”

That conversation had left a deep mark on her.

Someone was actually trying to steal power from a myth. To capture a legendary Warden. To become it. To forge an artificial “ultimate class”—the Warden—and rewrite the balance between humans and paranormals forever.

The Paranormal Doctor had pitched the wildest battle plan in human history. 

The plan was still under heavy debate. If it failed, humanity might never recover. But if it succeeded… humans might gain control over Warden-class powers, and a true understanding of the underworld.

It was the ultimate gamble.

…

Su Yuening fell silent, and Bai Wan sensed she was withholding something. He didn’t press. Instead, he picked up the Desolate Village invitation card from the counter.

Hell Visitor was far beyond him for now. His priority was acquiring his special class—Ghost Captain, and getting his Ghost Ship in the water.

Once that ship was sailing, even the legendary Warden might get bowled over by its hull.

As soon as Bai Wan touched the invitation, a purchase prompt popped up.

No hesitation. He spent 200 coins and took the black card in hand. A chilling energy seeped from it. This thing was worth a fortune—and now it was his.

The Desolate Village dungeon would open in a month, and thanks to this ticket, he’d be able to enter.

Just as he pocketed it, a vague image surfaced in his mind. A girl’s face—fuzzy and indistinct. She seemed familiar, like an old friend… but he couldn’t remember who she was.

She stared at him with quiet resentment.

Then, slowly, faded away.

What the hell?

Bai Wan was stunned. Again?

The first time was when Captain Zhou had mentioned the Desolate Village. A similar image had flashed into his mind. Back then, he’d thought it was a paranormal messing with him. But this time, he could clearly see her expression—one of deep, bitter grievance.

Damn… that looked like the face of a wronged ex!

No way—I’ve been single my whole life!

Bai Wan suddenly felt a little panicked.

Meanwhile, Su Yuening was giving him a strange look. She watched his changing expression with growing suspicion.

Why was Bai Wan staring at a dungeon ticket… like he’d just ghosted a girl?

Wait… have NEETs evolved so far they can now fantasize about dungeon tickets? Have we reached that point?! That’s terrifying.

Bai Wan shook his head. He couldn’t figure it out. In the end, he tucked the invite into his pocket and resumed browsing for other treasures.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

There—a purple card, folded neatly on one of the shelves.

Recipe: Five Ghosts Descend

Quality: Rare

Description: According to legend, the Envoy of Fengdu commands five terrifying ghosts.

After consuming Five Ghosts Descend, one can temporarily borrow the five ghosts from the Envoy of Fengdu. This card contains the full recipe.

Price: 50 Paranormal Coins.

Bai Wan stared, blinking.

Envoy of Fengdu…? Fengdu meant underworld… so, Envoy of the Underworld?

Then he remembered what Su Yuening had just told him. A mysterious being in the underworld. The one HQ had labeled a Warden.

So this “Envoy of Fengdu”… could be another name for the Warden?

Five Ghosts Descend. Temporarily borrow the five ghosts from the Envoy. It sounds powerful. No wonder it’s considered rare. 

The price was decent. Bai Wan bought it on the spot.

Su Yuening, however, was still watching him with curiosity.

Bai Wan felt her gaze and gave her a weird look. “What is it?”

It turned out—she couldn’t see the recipe card at all. Apparently, only players who owned Granny Nami could see that menu.

What a useful crew member.

After the purchase, Bai Wan kept scanning the shelves, looking for more goodies.

Then, he froze.

There were tons of items on the rack—all those rare treasures covered in flickering blue ghost flame. But one shelf…

The ghostflame itself had a price tag.

Ghostflame

Description: A mysterious spectral fire acquired by the Skeleton Merchant from a forbidden zone, at the risk of death. Placed here solely to enhance the shop’s decor.

Price: 0 Ghost Coins.

Bai Wan just stared at it.

Zero coins? Is this… another bug?

The ghostflame—meant as decoration—was actually available for purchase now?

No way he was letting that go to waste.

He pointed without hesitation. “Boss! I want this one!”

The room went silent. Even the ghostflame flickered for a few seconds, stunned.

The system paused for a long moment before a dialog box finally popped up.

[Congratulations. You have successfully purchased Ghost flame. Cost: 0 Paranormal Coins.]

Ghostflame: ???

What the hell? I’m just a decoration! No one said I was for sale!

Whoosh!

The blue flames that had once been draped across the shelves now gathered in front of Bai Wan.

And then—the system's voice echoed in his head.

[Hybrid material detected. Your bug skill Sunflower That Absorbs Sunlight has activated Hybridization.

You can now hybridize plants using special materials.

Due to your skill being only Level 1, you cannot manually choose combinations. Random hybridization will now begin.

Ding!—Random plant selected: Wall-nut

Hybrid material: Ghostflame

Commencing hybridization…]

Bai Wan stood frozen.

Wall-nut and Ghostflame…?

Isn’t that… a little cursed? What kind of nightmare plant is that gonna create…?