A Good Big Boy

At dawn, the​⁠‌‌‌‌​​​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍⁠‍​⁠‍ power was restored.

Suddenly, several lines of text appeared on the electronic screen dumped on the street in the inner city.

[Do not turn on lights during the day, do not use water at night.]

[Jellyfish hunt live prey, while mantises eat their own kind.]

A mechanical male voice repeated the same message through the electronic devices all over the streets and alleys.

There was a very small hardware store on the corner of the street. The narrow gap behind the counter couldn’t even fit a chair. The shop owner died at the door and his corpse was already rotting.

“Xiao You, did you hear that?” Shanshan squatted behind the counter and whispered, “We don’t need to fear the mantises and jellyfish anymore. Can we go out now?”

She pulled her thin dress tighter around herself. “I want to go back to the resource station. That day, I clearly saw my dad through the crack in the door…”

Crouching across from her, Xiao You thought for a moment. “Okay.”

She hadn’t found food for three days, and she was also worried about her father.

She hesitantly said, “When we get back to the outer city, let’s separate. My dad was right, once he loses his job, there’s no way for someone from the outer city to be friends with someone from the inner city—”

Before she could finish, Shanshan lunged over and hugged her tightly, “Don’t say such depressing things! Once humanity restores order, everything will go back to normal! Then you can have a good talk with him. Your dad is much more reasonable than mine.”

The warm, soft breath clung tightly to Xiao You. She hesitated for only a moment before opening her arms and hugging the trembling body back with all her strength. “Alright. Until humanity restores order.”

Under the damp bridge, Luo Qing stared at her hands and feet in a daze. “Restoring the order of District 53…”

The mantis legs were nowhere to be seen. At this moment, she looked no different from before her distortion. But the fragmented mantis corpses scattered all over the ground and the cruel consciousness in her mind reminded her of the chasm that could never be crossed back.

She looked at the corner—her daughter was lying on the ground, with only human features above her neck.

Luo Qing walked over and knelt down, kissing those cloudy eyes, “Don’t be afraid. Mommy will take you to find more food.”

“Let the new humans rebuild the order of District 53.”

“The population density in the inner city is higher, but the infection rate is very low. Before our emergency landing, someone had already organized survival orders for everyone,” Zhu Tao handed An Yu a dirty, torn note. “Even though the information is incomplete, it helped most people get through the toughest days.”

An Yu was all too familiar with this handwriting.

“He scattered these notes all over the streets and destroyed all the streetlights in the inner city. It seems he is just a new recruit,” Zhu Tao pushed the carriage door open a crack and looked out at the hazy streets, softly saying, “It’s due to lovely people like him that I dare not forget that I should always be human.”

The light cast dividing line between light and dark across his face, and his deep purple eyes seemed serene yet sorrowful.

An Yu realized he had become more sensitive to others’ emotions than before, even though it had only been a few days since he set foot on that shuttle bus.

“As long as the human will is preserved, we are the same,” he said softly.

“No,” Zhu Tao turned back with a smile, “Although we can control ourselves from infecting humans, there is no absolute guarantee. In the Spire, only the high-level officers are allowed to go out freely; the rest of the Protectors can never return to human society. Have you seen 196th floor’s Ya Sa? He was an excellent student before he distorted, and he still often goes to the top of the Spire to look at his former school. You will understand once you see his back.”

After entering the inner city, the group abandoned their vehicle and set off on foot.

Qin Zhilu ordered everyone to search for [Frog Tongue] while Billy went alone to track down the real super-aberrant lurking in the shadows.

With Jiang Xiao around, An Yu tried to stay as far away from Qin Zhilu as possible.

“Are you scared?” Zhu Tao asked.

An Yu was looking at the back of Jiang Xiao’s head from a distance and subconsciously nodded.

“Then take this,” Zhu Tao handed him a small item. “Although Law says you’re stable, the octopus people are not comparable to those things in the outer city.”

An Yu was stunned and looked down at the small purple dried fruit in his palm.

“Don’t tell anyone,” Zhu Tao whispered. “Although my leaves are inexhaustible, I can only produce a grape every few months. My Commander said these little fruits of gratitude enhance mental resistance a thousand times better than the leaves. I’ve only secretly given them to him.”

An Yu instinctively clenched his palm, incredulous, “You’re giving it to me for free?”

“Yeah. Just consider it a celebration of you sharing a similar mutation with my Commander, although I think you don’t quite match.” Zhu Tao patted him. “Don’t worry too much, the formidable octopus guardian only appears near [Frog Tongue].”

The first search area was the northern containers and buildings. The Protectors moved independently, except for Lieutenant Rui Jin, who was also a human and stayed by An Yu’s side, checking the abandoned apartments room by room.

“An Yu…” he recalled, “I think I’ve heard my comrades mention you. Do you know Ling Qiu?”

An Yu was surprised, “You met Ling Qiu in the inner city?”

Rui Jin regretfully shook his head, “I only heard him mention you during training camp. But I can’t remember what he said; it’s been exhausting these past few days.”

“Is he doing well in the military?”

“Very well, all the veterans like him.” Rui Jin laughed a couple of times. “It’s rare for a new recruit to go directly on missions after coming out of training camp. He has a bright future. But who could have expected this mission…”

He paused and didn’t say anything more.

An Yu didn’t ask further. He quickly opened door after door, trying not to think too much.

After they finished sweeping the first floor, they encountered Ryan in the corridor.

Compared to Jiang Xiao’s aggressive demeanor,  Ryan’s silent gaze made An Yu even more uncomfortable.

Read at Mizushi Novels

Visit Mizushi Novels

Rui Jin nodded and headed upstairs. Just as An Yu was about to follow, Ryan suddenly said, “What’s the point of two humans sticking together?”

Support the original translation

Read on Mizushi Novels

An Yu pushed open a door, scanned every corner, then moved on to the next room.

Don't scrape

Don't copy

Suddenly, there was a click behind him.

Read at Mizushi Novels

Visit Mizushi Novels

A large group of sticky tentacles were wriggling under a human torso, and the tall and majestic shadow completely enveloped his shadow.

Support the original translation

Read on Mizushi Novels

He glanced at the survival value on his terminal and turned around.

Don't scrape

Don't copy

“Human, and he’s actually a true human at that…” The octopus-man seemed puzzled, its tentacles coiling into massive suction cups that latched onto the floor. Its upper body lowered from the air, bringing its stinky face close to An Yu’s nose, sniffing repeatedly.

Read at Mizushi Novels

Visit Mizushi Novels

A tentacle wrapped around An Yu’s neck and squeezed him against the wall. The faces in the tentacle contorted with excitement, lifting their tips to poke at his neck, like nurses searching for a vein.

Support the original translation

Read on Mizushi Novels

An Yu hesitated, “I’m afraid.”

Unconvincing.

Don't scrape

An Yu could feel that intense craving. Whenever he encountered them—mantises, jellyfish, octopuses—they all behaved the same way.

Don't copy

Read at Mizushi Novels

But just as the slimy face and hard teeth touched his skin, An Yu’s neck was suddenly released!

Visit Mizushi Novels

Support the original translation

It suddenly opened its eyes wide, “You’re poisonous, aren’t you?”

Read on Mizushi Novels

Don't scrape

No wonder even Jiang Xiao praised this “good boy” for its intelligence.

Don't copy

Read at Mizushi Novels

“You look too confident. Next time, you should appear more frightened. Unfortunately, there won’t be a next time.” The tentacles wrapped around him again and tightened around his neck. The octopus-man hissed in his ear, “Even if you’re poisonous, you’re still weak. A single squeeze, and you’re dead, right?”

Visit Mizushi Novels

Support the original translation

Shing!

Read on Mizushi Novels

Don't scrape

Blood spurted out! A fierce dizziness almost shattered his consciousness. Before An Yu could react, he had already appeared in the other corner of the room!

Don't copy

Read at Mizushi Novels

His back exploded in unprecedented pain, as if a layer of skin had been quenched by fire, and the tentacle that struck him excitedly writhed in excitement in the air.

Visit Mizushi Novels

Support the original translation

The octopus-man laughed wildly, “So you do have an ability! But in this small room, where can you run?”

The tentacles below it instantly swelled to several times their size, almost filling the entire space. No matter which corner An Yu teleported to, a heavy whip immediately followed!

After the fourth strike, An Yu couldn’t hold on any longer.

The continuous teleportation drained his stamina, and that feeling returned—an icy clarity mingled with an irresistible drowsiness. He tried his best to resist the impending presence of that thing, but this time, the resistance was particularly difficult.

The octopus-man suddenly asked, “Can you remove the poison?”

“Wha…t?” An Yu weakly raised his head.

The creature looked troubled, “Cut out the source of the poison from your body and let me eat you.”

It was like a lunatic demanding their food to reduce calories in order to lose weight.

I guess only places with good food conditions can produce such madmen.

The octopus-man began to preach, “I can assure you that merging with me will be very pleasurable. Look, they’re all very happy.”

The tentacles squirmed together, emitting a collective, maniacal laugh.

An Yu frowned slightly.

He suddenly realized that it might not be him who was irritated at the moment, but the existence that he desperately wanted to resist – that existence hated aberrants very much.

He closed his eyes and recalled the terrifying moment when Qin Zhilu held a gun to his throat. Fear helped keep him alert.

“Why should I agree?”

The octopus-man spoke like an orator, “The world has changed. Only fools are willing to succumb to darkness, while the wise take advantage of the situation to become masters. My brothers and sisters are also facing this choice. Ambitious people freely merge with human bodies, while the cowardly live forever under others’ skins. How will you choose?”

A terrible thought flashed through An Yu’s mind.

But before he could think about it carefully, the octopus-man’s tentacles wrapped around him again.

He gritted his teeth and once again burst to the other corner of the room!

This was already the fifth time. His heart pounded like thunder, and his ears were ringing so hard that he could barely hear other sounds.

He knew very well—this would likely be the last time he could use teleportation while conscious.

However, the tentacles’ lashes were relentless, and the octopus-man was determined to break his resistance with this ruthless strike!

An Yu almost choked out in pain, and he suspected that his spine was broken. The terminal was already sounding alarms, but the brutal tentacle raised once more. He gritted his teeth in despair, closed his eyes and tried to activate his ability again —

Crack!

The entire cabinet split neatly, shards scattering everywhere!

However, An Yu was unharmed.

“Did I miss?” the octopus-man chuckled, “Sorry, I got too excited.”

An Yu stood on his knees, staring blankly into space.

The tentacle had just grazed his hair but hadn’t harmed him at all.

Deep within his consciousness, the resounding roar grew stronger—a sign that he had just successfully used his power, but he himself did not move.

Before he could ponder further, another lash came!

Once again, it brushed past him!

This time, An Yu saw clearly in the midst of intense dizziness —the tentacle, just as it was about to touch him, suddenly moved, flickering outward by a few millimeters.

In the reflection of shattered glass, his golden eyes were unexpectedly coated with a layer of icy, bright crimson. The red pupils reflected a small piece of space in front of him. In the instant the tentacle flickered, that space also experienced a momentary compression and rebound.

The octopus-man grew serious. “What’s going on…”

An Yu’s strength was at its limit. That thing was about to descend— as long as he dares to try to break through again…

Suddenly, there was a heavy dragging sound from outside, like another, bigger octopus person.

“No way…” He weakly looked at the door.

The ground trembled as that thing approached.

Ling Qiu had clearly said that heartless, wretched dogs usually have good luck.

An Yu desperately thought about whether he was not heartless or wretched enough.

In theory, he shouldn’t be this unlucky; he had pushed both of these conditions to the extreme.

He was so weak, there’s no way he was enough for two octopus-men to eat.