When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 363: Why Him?

Chapter 363: Why Him?

Guttural cries emanated from Ying’s throat as her body teetered precariously. The stem sprouting out of her back swayed as well, looking both haunting and captivating in equal measure. Everyone watched in horror as a massive green leaf blossomed out of the stem, its color bright and vibrant, a stark contrast to the crimson blood that splattered on its surface.

Alienation: 72%

"AHHH!!"

"Fuck!" Shen Nianzu spat out a curse under his breath. He broke out into a run toward Ying, as he shouted to the others, "Knock her out! Come on, we have to stop her alienation before it’s too late!"

By now, Shen Nianzu’s right arm was fully encased in steel, and he could feel unsettling coldness creeping into his shoulder area. Hence he could only rely on his left hand to summon a ball. That’s right, it was the same ball he had thrown to the Chrono beast who had disguised itself as Jin Jiuchi, the prop that would transform into a rubbery net once it touched the enemy!

Shen Nianzu’s goal was only one: he had to suppress Ying’s movements first and foremost!

He charged ahead, his left arm poised to hurl the prop forward, his sharp gaze focused on Ying’s unmoving figure. He could see Gu Luoxin and Noir on either side of him, having guessed his plan and was ready to assist him. With that silent reassurance, Shen Nianzu threw the ball forward with all of his strength.

However, it sailed through the air unimpeded because Ying had suddenly vanished from the spot!

"What...?" Shen Nianzu froze for a split second before he abruptly snapped his gaze up, his pupils dilating as they reflected the sight of a massive green leaf rapidly descending upon him!

"Xiao Shen—!!!"

Shen Nianzu only had a fraction of a second to shield his vital areas before the leaf slammed into him with the force of a train wreck, sending him flying in a high arc in midair and crashing into the opposite wall with enough force to form spider web-like cracks!

"Cough—!" Blood spurted from Shen Nianzu’s mouth as he crumpled to the ground, his head ringing and eyes blurry. He clutched his chest, gasping for breath, as he was certain that he had broken a few ribs.

Impossible... that man-eating plan... how could it be so powerful? Or was it because of Ying?

No, this wasn’t the time to dwell over this matter. He had to deal with Ying first!

Shen Nianzu struggled to rise to his feet while clinging to the wall, but he almost collapsed yet again under the weight of another coughing fit. A persistent ringing filled his ears, pain throbbed at the back of his head, and a severe vertigo overwhelmed him. It seemed like he had received quite a severe concussion from the earlier impact. Not to mention, even though the wounds he received from the battle against Medeia had been healed by the prop, he still couldn’t quite summon his full energy yet, having drained it to the absolute maximum from the battle against the Chrono beasts.

He fought against the urge to retch and raised his head to witness the scene of Gu Luoxin’s cyan kingkong wrestling against the plant on Ying’s back, which had evolved into three leaves, each to fend off one player.

It was not easy to get close to Ying; not only did they have to contend with the plant on her back, but the other creatures joined in the fray as well, presumably sensing the shift of power in the battlefield. The cacophony of cries and growls from the seven creature types blended with the chaotic sounds of the battlefield, while the heavy stench of blood pervaded the air.

Move, Shen Nianzu told himself. Move... move, you have to move!

Gritting his teeth, Shen Nianzu steeled himself and began to take his first step. Yet all of a sudden, the world tilted on its axis and the next thing he knew, he found himself gazing at the starry skyscapes above.

Alienation: 88%

Disbelief coursed through Shen Nianzu. Why... why couldn’t he move? Why?!

He painstakingly propped himself up and glanced at his own body, only to realize that his legs had also transformed into metal. No wonder his entire body felt so cold and heavy. So it was not only because of the injuries and blood loss...

The strain on his chest intensified, and he coughed out another mouthful of blood. This time, he felt it vividly as the cold metal devoured his skin and flesh, not unlike a deadly virus consuming everything on its path. He seemed to hear Gu Luoxin and Qiuqiu’s shrill screams, but he could no longer be certain, not when his world was drowning in the ominous symphony from the ringing in his ears.

No, he couldn’t give up here. It was not easy for him to break free from his curse... he refused to succumb in this forsaken place!

Unwillingness surged in his heart and despair bled into his eyes. Alas, the tug on his consciousness was too strong, and he was no match against the heavy drag of his eyelids. He clenched his fists so hard that under normal circumstances, his nails would have sunk into flesh and drawn out blood. But right now, Shen Nianzu couldn’t even bleed, let alone use the pain to sober himself up, because his limbs had hardened into gleaming steel.

He desperately tried to keep his eyelids open, his blurry gaze landing on the shifting stars above.

Alienation: 90%

There seemed to be another string of words forming after that, but at that moment, Shen Nianzu’s vision plunged into darkness.

He felt himself sinking further and further down into the abyss.

.

.

Blub blub...

Gulu... gulu gulu...

Despair— it was the most vivid emotion Shen Nianzu could feel within himself at that moment. Kicking his feet, he frantically propelled himself upwards until his head breached the surface of the water.

"Cough cough cough...!" Choking on the water that had flown down the wrong pipeline, Shen Nianzu struggled to gulp in air into his aching lungs, his limbs flailing to keep himself afloat. Above him, booming thunder struck, the silver lightning illuminating the players struggling in the midst of the dark ocean, surrounded by bloodthirsty creatures swimming beneath.

"Ah—help! Please help!!"

"I don’t want to die, please! Let me out! Let me out of this damned place!"

"Keep on swimming! The ship is just a few hundred meters ahead! Come on, we will be able to leave soon!"

Following that loud instruction, Shen Nianzu turned and caught sight of a massive ship through his blurry vision. His teeth chattered nonstop, wet strands of hair clung to his face, and the biting wind only served to strip the temperature off his body. He had almost exerted all of his strength just to stay afloat, how was he supposed to swim to that ship? Even though it was only mere meters ahead, Shen Nianzu felt as though there was an insurmountable chasm separating them.

He couldn’t help but feel despair in his heart.

Why... why him? Why must he be chosen for this?

He had just returned from yet another medical check-up and was told that he might soon lose his eyesight forever. Then in a blink of an eye, he found himself stranded in a bus with a bunch of strangers whose faces he couldn’t even discern clearly, sent into an isolated island where he had been trapped in for a week.

And when they could finally escape... when he thought that he could evade death once more... he was met with this kind of predicament!

Did God think that he had not suffered enough, and thus wanted to punish him with this?

Shen Nianzu resisted the urge to cry, knowing that it would not do him any good. This was but a forsaken place, and he had learned in a hard way that he couldn’t rely on anyone but himself.

But how was he supposed to do that, when his body was starting to fail him?

No... he shouldn’t give up. He must not give up until the end!

Gritting his teeth, Shen Nianzu forced his heavy and sluggish body to move, his feet kicking desperately against the relentless wave. However, at that moment, a piercing scream echoed close behind him and he turned in shock to find another player struggling to break free from the ferocious creature that had caught their feet!

"Help— help me! I don’t want to die!!!"

The player struggled with their all, creating waves after waves of chaotic ripples around. They seemed to be moving closer and closer to Shen Nianzu, or that’s what he discerned through his blurred vision. Alarm bells rang in Shen Nianzu’s mind, and he swam back, desperate to get away.

But it was too late!

In that instant, the desperate hand of the other player seized his ankle, and he was dragged into the belly of the ocean!