Deep in the Living
Chapter 421 - 409 "Torrential Rain

Chapter 421: Chapter 409 "Torrential Rain

The pituitary array, like a dead star, trembles slightly, its surface covered with cracks.

Streams of gray, viscous matter seep out from the cracks,

first binding the cut-open skull, filling the wound, and repairing the brain.

Following this, this viscous matter slowly flows into the old spine, adhering to the fractures and slowly restoring normalcy.

Luo Di, who should have died, gradually takes the shallowest breaths, seemingly unable to be taken by death.

"Time to sprout?"

A familiar voice echoes in his mind, and Luo Di’s consciousness enters the pituitary space.

He looks at the fractured, moon-like pituitary, unexpectedly seeing a human face, with the cracks forming a mouth and the moon pits serving as eyes.

The voice comes from within,

it’s the voice of the Corner,

seeking permission from its "master," Luo Di.

It seems this death experience has pushed the already saturated pituitary even further, wanting to sprout through the existing cracks into the next stage.

And Luo Di would gain qualitative enhancement, overcoming the current crisis.

However,

Luo Di proactively steps forward, reaching to touch the surface of the pituitary, even glimpsing the sprouting seedling within through the cracks.

A calm voice enters the mix: "Wait a bit longer... I won’t die."

"Alright."

The intense desire to sprout is self-restrained, with excess energy used to repair the body, and Luo Di’s flesh slowly returns to a thin semblance of life.

Despite this, Luo Di doesn’t rush to wake up; he merely leaves his consciousness in the pituitary space, seemingly waiting for something.

Or maybe, intentionally showing vulnerability and offering himself up were part of a plan... because the Clown is here, and Luo Di must not be caught in the middle; only by dying can he alter the sequence.

Then,

The Squad Leader’s voice infiltrates his thoughts, reaching the pituitary space, her consciousness even materializing, since here she’s not guarded against.

"Luo Di, when did your brain become so useful!

To make such decisive judgment, it seems that Clown will likely be beaten badly by Jia Wen, and then we can look for opportunities."

"What’s the situation outside?"

The Squad Leader strides in the pituitary space, admiring the piled-up corpses and the moon-structured pituitary. "What else? You were beaten to death, I had my head crushed, and my toady was trashed.

The three primary targets eliminated,

only Sister Yu and the Clown who followed your scent remain.

Sister Yu is adept, somewhat famous inside the Corner, naturally making Jia Wen deal with her troublesome presence last.

Currently, priority is given to handling the Clown who sneaked in.

Once that Clown is dead or out, then it’s our turn... we have time now, mind if you share your Corner experiences with me?

The Eight Evil People, Sisterhood... why do they all fancy you, Luo Di? Two organizations surrounded you just as you entered the Corner."

Wu Wen places her hands behind her back, circles the pituitary once, then tiptoes to Luo Di, making a story-listening expression, seemingly completely unfazed by the danger outside.

Luo Di calms his emotions and narrates as simply as possible.

The more the Squad Leader listens, the worse her expression becomes.

"Strange... very strange.

The Clown killed your entire family, yet you didn’t kill his entire family? Why target you from the moment you set foot in the Corner?

Once would be excusable.

Twice, thrice... not only daring to invade Sisterhood territory but also risking to attend the real death game here, it’d be asking for death if they offended Mr. Question Mark.

A sheer maniac, driven by personal joy,

or is there a special motive?

Too strange; I’ve heard of the Eight Evil People long ago, never thought they’d be this insane.

With that, staying with Sisterhood should be fine."

"How about you, Squad Leader?"

"Me? Isn’t it because you arrived at the middle tier, I sensed from this side... after all, you once consumed my pituitary. I didn’t expect you’d come this quickly, and your positioning remains in the City of Sin, so I temporarily put aside matters to check."

"I meant you, Squad Leader, are now with..."

Just as Luo Di attempts to ask, warm lips press against his, with the tongue swirling within the mouth seemingly providing the answer.

Even though they are mere consciousness forms, the sensation is profound, the taste unchanged.

Lips break apart, the Squad Leader places her finger on the wet lip, continuing to halt Luo Di’s inquiries.

"Some things are better left unsaid; I’m doing well now.

Remain in Sisterhood; Hua Yuan genuinely likes you, staying there is indeed a great choice.

Once you advance further, come find me.

By then, I will be more prepared, even if Grandmother comes, I needn’t worry much. Besides, you’ve helped me a lot this time, I’ve longed to meet Sister Yu, never had the chance."

The Squad Leader’s eyes rapidly shifted, seemingly assessing the outside situation.

"Things are almost over outside; that Clown seems about to reach his limit.

The First Generation Zombie, it’s something many lords fear, accompanying us for practice, only with Mr. Question Mark might we get such treatment.

Luo Di, you must perform well; if favored by Mr. Question Mark, you can save much trouble in the Corner."

"Should I wake now?"

"I’ll notify you."

...

[Underground Garage]

Various shattered balloons lay scattered around,

The Clown’s true form is exposed, and due to the hunger virus, he’s become so thin there’s almost no fat left, skin and bones.

The suspenders he’s wearing are slack, both arms have been severed, with virus surrounding the wounds, unable to regenerate.

Even so,

The Clown maintains his smile.

He turns toward Luo Di’s "corpse" embedded in the wall, neither using the last opportunity to destroy it nor directing Jia Wen over.

Instead, he runs toward the garage exit at breakneck speed,

his running speed reaching an extremely exaggerated level, legs feeling like they have turned into wheels, this speed far surpassing earlier battles.

Even Jia Wen looks surprised,

"Oh? Hunger reached such a level, along with injuries, yet still able to run at such speed. In the confrontation with me earlier, did you not show your true strength?

No wonder the boss asked me to act above game standards.

This monster is different, but escape won’t be easy."

Jia Wen possesses extreme adaptability, with leg cell proliferation and virus altering the leg structure instantly chasing out.

Boom!

Underground garage exit explodes violently, smoke billowing outside, creating a gap for the Clown to escape through.

When Jia Wen pursues outside, he finds the Clown hasn’t gotten far. Obviously exhausted during the game, currently standing by the trash bin.

One hand holds a balloon representing a minion,

the other hand signals a thumbs-up, directed not at Jia Wen but to a spot in the underground garage.

Before Jia Wen makes a move,

Pop! The balloon bursts.

The minion dies, and per game rules, the Clown, the master, is forced to exit.

Looking at the shattered balloons scattered all around, Jia Wen feels puzzled, "This Clown clearly chased those people here, a conflicting existence, yet his actions seem to buy them time.

Simply a maniac? His logic remains unpredictable."

Jia Wen quickly returns to the underground garage, arranging more zombie piles tens of meters high at the exit to ensure no escape is possible.

But upon returning to the initially pitted wall, where a young man should be lying, finds it’s empty.

Hiss hiss hiss!

Ash disperses, heat releasing.

The underground garage’s fire system activates, sprinklers spread throughout the ceiling all open.

Whoosh~

Like rain, water drips down continuously from above.

Jia Wen perceives something and abruptly turns around,

"In the rainstorm"

A man cloaked in a black raincoat stands a short distance away, the knife in his hand is no longer the chainsaw knife specialized for flesh.

But a primitive, ordinary butcher knife... a gray butcher knife.