Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 105 - 083. Soul Shock

Chapter 105: 083. Soul Shock

"Hmm, the video comes from the Mingji Humanitarian Rescue Organization—it’s a police profile and AI restoration—Imprint Humanity? By the name, it should be a gentle and benevolent medical aid institution, yet to target such a place, this Li Aozi... truly despicable."

"I don’t feel like he’s a good person... Organizations involved with Frost Plated are generally not very friendly. Let’s take a look at this Li Aozi’s criminal video."

Luo Le muttered as he opened the video projection.

The next moment, as they faced a bloody scene, the system urgently popped up a window:

[Warning! The content you are watching may cause severe psychological harm!]

[We have activated a cognitive filter for you, and the related images have been processed.]

[You have witnessed images severely damaging to the soul, acquiring a negative effect—Shock]

"Ugh!"

Lu Run vomited on the spot, his pupils sharply constricting from the fright.

Even though most of the video’s content had been filtered, Xue Nian and Luo Le, two robust men who had served in the military and had been imprisoned for involuntary manslaughter, couldn’t bear it either.

"Damn, is this purgatory?"

"I quit—why do I have to watch this kind of video? This is just torture and torment. I want to file a complaint. I’m just a convict of involuntary manslaughter, how can they show me this stuff?!"

Continuously from the projection, the screams of women and the incessant pounding of bone breaking and flesh being pulverized permeated the air, flames engulfed persons whole without killing them outright, slowly watching their skin blister and then shrivel and contract.

"So disgusting... What a joke, how can the brain actually make images this realistic?" Luo Le said feeling nauseated.

Those heart-wrenching cries profoundly triggered the hidden panic in their hearts—the pain of despair and torture, giving the three men an exceptionally shocking psychological blow.

Xue Nian was particularly furious: "I can’t forgive that guy, he’s too evil, even if it’s just a virtual NPC, I want to work overtime to hammer him to death..."

However, just when they had assumed that Li Aozi, the cause of all this carnage, was an absolute butcher, a calm voice came from the video:

"Now, you know pain? Compared to the evils you have created, these are negligible."

"Since history won’t imprint your sins, then I will imprint them myself!"

[Ding! You have triggered the hidden task—"Trace Back Ming Trace"]

[Type]: Investigation

[Time Limit]: 90 hours

[Difficulty]: Brave

(Note: Brave! The operational difficulty of this level is lower than a B-level task but tests your determination and courage more, and you need to have a fair heart or pretend to have one to maximize the benefits of the task.)

[Introduction]:

The synthetic human waiter at GTB isn’t too bright and gave you an un-muted original crime record.

This record has raised your suspicion — Li Aozi, this mysterious and dangerous man, is he really just a murderous madman?

Is his slaughter for pleasure, or is there another reason?

Regardless, for money and the justice in your heart (if you really have any), you must uncover this mystery. Let the truth be revealed.

[Settlement Conditions]:

A. "Lawful Good" — Wrong is wrong, capture/kill Leo Aozi (Warning: Target extremely dangerous, you lack prerequisites)

Reward: 1 million experience, main attribute +15 points.

B. "Lawful Neutral" — Right or wrong doesn’t concern me, justice lies in the hearts of the people, clarify the truth about Mingji Humanity and Leo Aozi (You are high enough level to complete it and can avoid combat with the target)

Reward: 150,000 experience, main attribute +1 point, Leo Aozi favorability +30;

C. "Lawful Evil" — Even though you’re wrong, I’m no saint, join forces with Leo Aozi to annihilate all Bounty Hunters and Frost Plated mercenaries, contribution to damage dealt must reach 10% (You can easily complete this and can avoid combat with the target)

Reward: 80,000 experience, Leo Aozi favorability +50, unlock the "Mutant" profession inheritance if you haven’t obtained a main profession.

"It’s a hidden task!" Xue Nian said in surprise, "Looking at the description, there seems to be a hidden agenda behind the killings."

"Wow, such hefty rewards, that’s a week’s worth of grinding." Luo Le clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Um, what’s the situation here?"

Lu Run was confused.

"This Leo Aozi, is he a bad guy or what? No matter what, he has killed so many people."

The two who were just furious at Leo Aozi are now continuously marveling at the task panel.

"Killing many? Even if he kills bad guys, he still kills, but I admire the latter—need I say more? Leo Aozi must be wronged. Otherwise, why all these rewards!"

Luo Le patted his shoulder, urging repeatedly:

"Hurry up, young man, register as a Bounty Hunter and handle the exit procedures, we’re heading to the Outer World to do tasks, I mean—document Leo Aozi!"

"Eh, why are you guys suddenly so eager to work?"

"Nonsense, the company requires testers to reach max level before the players, so they can check for system flaws in various high-risk areas."

Luo Le couldn’t wait:

"The current version cap is level 30, this one task could boost our main profession by 5 levels! After this, no more overtime!"

"So, are we still going to hunt him?" Lu Run scratched his head.

"Hunt my ass, didn’t you see what level he is?"

Even the usually calm Xue Nian couldn’t hold back any longer:

"Go go go! Let’s rush! Records say Leo Aozi was spotted in the warlord settlement—Triangle Town in the Outer World, what are you waiting for!"

The two hurriedly registered as Bounty Hunters, started hustling to buy weapons, food, equipment, and quickly boarded a GTB field vehicle. In less than two hours, they were already on their way to the Outer World.

As the two big guys excitedly discussed and searched for task information on one side, occasionally moved by the prospect of not having to do overtime and where to go drinking afterward, Lu Run couldn’t shake off a nagging feeling.

Although he had never played the game, Leo Aozi’s words "Compared to the sins you created, these are nothing" echoed continuously in his ears.

This incredibly real world, its ability to touch someone’s soul inadvertently made him immerse himself in it.

The anxious faces of the rookie Bounty Hunters, the crafty GTB agents, the silent old hunters, the variety of accents and misspellings, grammatically incorrect but seemingly fine dialogue, the dirty, smelly people, and the chairs that were not just uncomfortable to sit on but pinched because of oversized screws... all of it felt incredibly vivid to him.

’Is this really just a game?’

Lu Run reopened his terminal and began watching Leo Aozi’s criminal record from the beginning.