Chapter 72

1. A young man with natural silver messy hair, appearing around 20 years old, possessing a handsome face resembling Timothée Chalamet’s features. 2. His left eye shimmers like the night sky, with a silver crescent moon in the pupil, while his right eye is covered with gauze, likely due to injury or another reason. 3. All his physical characteristics align with those of a human. He wears a common white hospital gown and walks barefoot up a hillside. 4. Beside him walks a "female doctor" he had met at the clinic, an IV drip connected to the back of his right hand. 5. From the front, he appears entirely normal, but on his back clings a humanoid body—only half a torso, one arm, and a head protruding. It’s none other than the theater owner, Elton John. As the young man ascends the hilltop, the moon hanging in the night sky seems to draw nearer, growing larger and rounder—like a searchlight zeroing in on the clinic’s front yard. He maintains a constant smile, his eyes brimming with admiration for Yi Chen. In contrast, Little Grape, who had fallen asleep due to exhaustion, abruptly opens eyes upon seeing the young man, his fur nearly bristling in alarm. "William... from now on, don't think about resisting. I'll try to create an opportunity for you to escape. If there’s no chance of escape, choose to surrender immediately. Staying alive is the most important thing right now, even if it means surviving like that rat. As long as you're alive, there’s meaning." "Understood." As Yi Chen’s gaze fixes on the mysterious young man, other things slowly start to appear. Through his understanding of living ancient texts, he perceives writhing maggot-like lines intertwining above the man’s head, eventually forming a vital symbol of an open-source patient: A long brass frame, its base engraved with a crescent moon relief, floats above his head. The frame is filled with a liquid essence that radiates the moon’s glow. The frame bears a title and name: §Moonscar - Lorien§ With the title revealed, there’s no room for doubt. This individual is the one who caused the “False Moon Incident,” reducing Vinal City and Twilight Clinic to ruins. He is a unique pathogen classified under "open source"—an entity Yi Chen has no hope of defeating at this stage. Given the situation, it’s highly likely this person has been observing everything since the first day they arrived in Vinal City. At this moment, countless questions swirl in Yi Chen’s mind: - Why did the organization falsely claim that "Moonscar" had been killed, leaving us to face such an insurmountable danger? - Or could it be that "Moonscar" was indeed killed in some sense, and this is merely a fragment or substitute of him? - Why does he remain in Vinal City? Is he not afraid of exposure and another pursuit by the organization? - Or is there a specific reason that compels him to stay here, a reason tied to his "death" during the False Moon Incident? As Yi Chen’s mind races to find a breakthrough in this sea of information, Edmund also senses something amiss and steps out of the clinic. The young man waves his hand lightly. The living moon seems to respond to his will, casting its radiance over Edmund, Juliana, and Dagobert, instantly transforming their bodies into particles and making them vanish. ŗ????Nօ????ĘŞ “Don’t worry, I’ve simply sent them away. Now it’s time for our conversation.” As he speaks, Moonscar steps into the clinic’s front yard. “Mr. William, I’ve been here for exactly 1 minute and 41 seconds. Have your doubts and speculations about me been resolved? Go ahead, share your thoughts.” Having absorbed Mr. Lee’s brain matter earlier, Yi Chen’s cognitive capabilities are now heightened, allowing him to arrive at a precise conclusion. “The organization’s intelligence is undoubtedly accurate. You were indeed killed during the False Moon Incident. However, what was destroyed was one of your ‘two bodies,’ and possibly even the main body. Based on the organization’s records, during the incident, two moons hung over Vinal City’s sky. Now there’s only one… this indirectly proves that you lost one of your significant forms. You’ve remained here because, on one hand, you’re absolutely confident in your ability to conceal yourself. On the other hand, you require time to recuperate and restore your strength, all while selecting a suitable candidate among the remaining Moonfolk to replace your ‘missing body,’ allowing you to regain your original . Deep within the clinic, Mr. Lee, who can communicate with the moon and even establish a “co-located space,” is undoubtedly your ideal choice.” ** Once again, Yi Chen’s deductions are met with applause. “You’re truly remarkable~ It’s only been less than four days since you arrived here, and you’ve deduced so much. However, your reasoning still has some errors and gaps. Allow me to complete the story for you.” Moonscar, like a frail patient stepping out for some fresh air under the support of a female doctor, began to narrate the tale as they slowly moved under the moonlight. “At the Twilight Clinic, I underwent a special treatment that split my consciousness into two. As I escaped and my condition worsened, the split consciousness gradually materialized into two entities, though still part of a single whole. I must admit, Dr. McCoff is quite skilled. Sёarᴄh the nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When he killed my ‘False Moon Form,’ I seized the opportunity to fake my death and hid deep within the city. After all, my objective had already been achieved. Such a massive disturbance was bound to alert your human organizations to the secrets behind the clinic. I believe the gravely injured Dr. McCoff will face a bitter and despairing twilight of his life—perhaps even without one. As you’ve deduced, I was indeed severely injured and needed a long period of rest and recovery. During this time, I took the opportunity to observe those little survivors, to see if any had the potential to become my ‘other half.’ Little Lee was a decent choice; he was my initial candidate. However, That useless fellow couldn’t possibly create the ‘Moon Space.’ Everything here is my masterpiece; I merely let Little Lee believe it was his creation. The doctors and nurses here are my carefully crafted designs, though they’re not entirely complete.” As he spoke, he reached out to touch the female doctor’s metallic staff and let his fingers slide along the IV tube, causing the long legs below to tremble incessantly. “Your arrival has presented me with more and better options. Take Mr. John from the theater. Although he’s just a Moonfolk, he and I share a remarkable ‘compatibility.’ However, neither Mr. John nor Little Li can compare to another … someone extraordinary, someone so perfect that I’ve personally come to meet them.” As he said this, Moonscar arrived before Yi Chen, extending his IV-connected right hand. “Mr. William, I can sense a familiar scent from you—a scent of one who has endured the utmost pain, who has experienced the twilight of life. Come with me! Let’s journey to the moon together. I will show you the truth of this world and explore its deeper mysteries.” Confronted with Moonscar’s grand oration, Yi Chen could distinctly feel that if he showed any resistance or said anything to stall for time, he would be killed on the spot. Abandon humanity and cling to life? Or hold onto his beliefs and face death resolutely? Yi Chen took a deep breath. “I… refuse.” The words had barely left his mouth. A violent shattering sound echoed from the sky. The round moon above fractured like a broken mirror. A gentleman’s cane, topped with a high-hat design, pierced through the shattered moon and landed between the two of them, forming a semi-transparent black barrier to separate them. Immediately after, two figures, one black and one white, stepped into this overlapping space.